Toaru Majutsu no Index-Volume 10, Epilogue: The Awaiting People after the Conclusion. Those_Who_Hold_Out_a_Hand.

Part 1

The sun had completely set, and the night parade was in full swing.

The guards who had come rushing over discovered Kamijou and company wounded, and sent them over to the hospital. It would not have been strange for them to have sent them to a hospital that had metal window, but for some reason, they had been sent to the hospital that Kamijou was at. Considering that the school districts were different, the higher ups may have exerted some pressure, but right now, Kamijou was unable to think about this.

Upon receiving contact, both of Kamijou’s parents, Touya and Shiina seemed to have waited in the waiting room for their son’s operation to be over. Most likely, both of them were tired from watching the matches that were going on during Daihaseisai; and once the hospital staff finished treating these wounds, both of them were so tired that they were now on the couch, lying on each other’s shoulders. Kamijou had immediately asked a nurse to put a blanket on them.

“...In other words, Touma didn’t say anything to me, and went off to fight a magical battle that involves the fate of the world and Academy City, and got so badly wounded that he was sent back to the hospital again?”

Index, who had already changed back into her nun robes, coldly stared at Kamijou. Kamijou, who was kneeling on the patient’s bed, said,

“Index-hime, why, as the patient, am I forced to kneel on a hospital bed?”

“Touma, Touma. Can I punch you?”

I’M SORRY!! Kamijou immediately bent over, put his head into the soft blanket, and apologised. The combination of clenching his right fist and the cute action of bending his head down looked really scary.

Index unhappily raised her head.

Kamijou, who sensed this crisis, lifted his head up and revealed a smile, trying to get on Index’s good side.

“But...but that’s that. Stiyl and Tsuchimikado are all right. And Index, wasn’t there a good reason why you couldn’t take part in this battle?”

“Then before that, Touma?”

Am I digging my own grave? Kamijou again bent down to beg for forgiveness.

Showing a really unhappy face, Index said,

“Even if there’s a magic searching spell placed around me, do you really think that I can’t do anything? I can use a handphone or something to call you and give you advice!!”

“I can’t agree with you on that, Index! You don’t even know how to charge up a zero-yen phone, it makes it impossible for me to imagine you using a phone. Also, the moment you hear that a magician is involved, even without me saying anything, you’ll immediately ‘dongdongdong’ rush over to the centre of these events!!”

“Dongdongdong!? Touma, why do I feel that your explanation seems to imply that I’m an idiot!?”

“Peh, for you to not even realise that is...I’M JOKING! I’M JOKING! I’M JOKING!!”

Seeing Index, who was revealing her teeth, Kamijou Touma was terrified such that his skin was tingling.

“Wait a second, Index! Aren’t you going to graduate from that kiddy method of biting others to become a mature female?”

Kamijou purposely used the words ‘kiddy’ and ‘mature woman’ to shake Index up. Hearing this, the nun Index, who was climbing onto the bed, intending to bite Kamijou’s head, suddenly stopped.

“...Touma, can you understand why I am so angry?”

“Eh? Aren’t you angry because I left you alone for the whole day—”

“Itadakimasu (TN: I'm tucking in)! Thank you for your hospitality!!”

Eh!? Don’t tell me she’s angry because of this...!? Kamijou swallowed the cry of despair that he was going to let out. Overcoming the bitterness and embarrassment, Index again took a step forward and bit onto Kamijou’s head with even more force.

Kamijou continued to struggle on the bed.

“I’LL DIE!! I’M SORRY FOR FEELING THAT THAT WAS SOMEWHAT NOT ENOUGH IN THE PAST! THIS IS ALREADY PAST MY TOLERANCE LEVEL!!”

“Stop saying things that will confuse others, and reflect on this properly! I was really worried about you!!”

Just as Kamijou’s head was getting bitten, the door to the patient’s room opened, and new visitors walked in.

Misaka Mikoto and Shirai Kuroko.

“That...er, about that, I came over to look for Kuroko, and decided to come over in the meantime. There seems to be some fruit left...eh?”

“Ara ara, this is truly a pleasant scene.”

On first glance, the girl on the patient bed was biting onto the boy’s face from the front, and it looked like the boy’s face was pressed onto the girl’s chest. (Well, from a bystander’s viewpoint at least.)

Sitting on a athletic-type wheelchair, Shirai placed a hand on her face.

“Ahh, you guys are already so intimate that you forgot the timing and location now! These two are really unbelievable, to be at such a high level...come to think of it, onee-sama, to coincidentally see such a thing, what should we do? I’m somewhat embarrassed.”

DOES IT LOOK LIKE THAT!?

Just as Kamijou was about to shout this out,

“I’m very serious now, stop meddling, short-hair!”

(Index-hime!?)

“—”

The fruit basket that Mikoto was holding dropped onto the floor.

She immediately became expressionless.

“Kuroko...? Can an ordinary citizen help Judgement in maintaining discipline? I have a proper reason to prevent impure interaction between opposite genders here. Can I send this male here flying...?”

“Mm. please kindly adjust this mister’s rotten character— WA! TOO SCARY!? ONEE-SAMA, TO START THESE SPARKS, THAT’S A LITTLE TOO MUCH!! THIS IS A HOSPITAL!!”

“Ah, I see.”

Mikoto cut off the electric flow that was around her body. In a hospital, even electronic devices like handphones were forbidden.

“Damn it.”

Misaka Mikoto, who was forced to seal her trump card, cursed and said,

“Never mind, I’ll settle everything with you slowly after Daihaseisai. Have you seen the final results of today? Tokiwadai Middle School has comfortably surpassed your school, and is in the lead. Don’t tell me you forgotten that the loser has to accept the winner’s demands?”

“How...however, even if you mention about the penalty game now...wait a second, Index, let go of me now! LET GO! LET GO! IT HURTS!!”

Kamijou swung his hands around, finally pulling away the nun who was still biting him.

After that, he again stared at Mikoto’s face.

“As...as you can see, I got involved in some situation, and am now covered with wounds. Even if I wanted to, I can't participate fully in Daihaseisai now. In this situation, how are you going to decide the winner?”

“...Let’s see.”

Mikoto folded her arms, and seeing Kamijou’s almost teary expression, gently sighed. Her anger ceased as her eyebrows, which had been raised in anger, relaxed slightly. At the same time she relaxed her shoulders, she revealed a slight smile. Just as Kamijou saw this and was silently grinning,

“How about you work hard and continue on?”

“JUST THIS!? I’VE ALREADY SAID THAT IT’S IMPOSSIBLE! THIS KAMIJOU ONII-SAN IS ALMOST 80% DEAD! IF I WORK ANY HARDER, I’LL DIE!! ALSO, FUKIYOSE AND TSUCHIMIKADO, THERE ARE MANY MORE ABSENTEES BESIDES ME!? EVEN IF WE CAN’T JUST FORGET ABOUT THE DEAL, YOU COULD AT LEAST GIVE ME A DISCOUNT...AHHHHHHHHHHH! YOU’RE LEAVING ME JUST LIKE THIS!!??”

The two girls quickly left the room, and Index immediately chomped onto Kamijou’s head again. Seemed like she was really angry now, as the previous one didn’t seem to be enough.

“Touma, what are the people outside Academy City doing?”

“IT HURTS! LET GO OF ME, IT REALLY HURTS!!...Eh? They were contacted by Stiyl, and now all of them are outside looking for them. Tsuchimikado says that most of these organisations just want the extremely important ‘Apostle’s Cross’ instead of being allies with Academy City or the British Puritans.”

“...So that means that nothing is settled yet.”

“Yes, but,”

Kamijou paused,

“Stiyl was wounded really badly, such that he needed to enter the ICU, he clearly stated that there’s no problem. Wonder what that means?”

Part 2

14 hours later,

Lidvia Lorenzetti was 8,000 metres above France.

She was in her own private jet.

The black leather seats were lined along the walls, and there was a large central table bolted to the floor. It was a set up for a party. There were decorative lights on the walls, and there was a small chandelier imitation hanging from the ceiling. The interior was made of black wood and a luxury carpet, like a luxury cruise.

Lidvia was alone, sitting next to the exit of the deck.

Beside her, there was a Cross that was wrapped in white cloth. fr𝚎e𝙬𝚎𝚋𝚗૦ν𝚎𝒍.c૦m

Compared to the large passenger jets used at an International Airport, it was rather small, and even in Japan, it was considered rare. But for countries that were larger than Japan by several times, such as the United States and Russia, air travel was quintessential for long distance travel. Like for Russia, just moving through the whole of Russia by train would take 2 weeks.

Of course, Lidvia’s base of operations was in Europe. Because she had to move through the European Union, she had to use the power of the plane.

She hated the technology that was used in religion today, but on the other hand, she had to accept the science that they had to use. For example, when there was no printing, preparing a Bible alone required a lot of time and effort. It was impossible to ignore the use of science in the development of the Church and all the religious paintings. To religious leaders, this was a dispute that arose from the Renaissance. And with the technology after that, the development of trains and planes, allowing women and children with low physical ability to safely go for their pilgrimage. And with internet becoming commonplace, it increased the possibility of them evangelising to those who did not know about Christ.

This was the problem of using all these, Lidvia sighed,

(Believing in an idol that has no life and is completely physical. It’s like the pagans of the evil Roman Empire in the past.)

After this slight motion, she glanced around.

In front of her was the cockpit door. Right now, the door opened. From Lidvia’s position, she could see the back of the driver calmly operating the dashboard controls.

Which side does he believe in? Lidvia wondered.

This personal jet was Oriana’s own possession; there was no presence of any Roman Catholics. But the pilot should be a Roman Catholic. Of course, he was probably just a believer to a relatively minor degree, unlike Oriana or Lidvia.

As he continued to operate this lump of iron to fly every day, he would draw a Cross on the runway and pray for a safe journey.

This scene looked unbelievable, but Lidvia wasn’t smiling.

A man who used tools, a man who believed in God.

A difference did just occur from now. 2,000 years ago, when the ‘Son of God’ was alive and evangelising, people were probably using tools to bake their bread.

More importantly,

(It’s not denying all the scientific tools, but one can’t over rely on them and forget God’s almighty name.)

After thinking about this, she gently sighed.

Right now, Lidvia was not only unable to display God’s almighty name, she had to submit to the power of science.

In actual fact, Lidvia was escaping right now. Though she had managed to protect the ‘Apostle’s Cross’ from the enemy, even if she wanted to use the same attack over and over again, all the ‘observatories’ where she could use the ‘Apostle’s Cross’ were secured. The ‘Apostle’s Cross’ couldn’t work if it was not exposed to the night sky. But if the opponent built a simple structure above these ‘observatories’, she couldn’t use the ‘Apostle’s Cross’ around Academy City. And in this highly difficult scenario, the important fighting ‘sinner’ Oriana Thomson had been captured by the enemy.

“Hohoho.”

However, she still continued to laugh.

“How pitiful...ahh, how pitiful, Oriana Thomson. Ho, hoho. I have to save her. I have to personally save that lost ‘sinner’ who was arrested...”

Lidvia Lorenzetti normally used the misfortunes and disadvantageous situations as her motivation to continue.

“To barge into Academy City, to fight with 2.3 million people, to safely save Oriana, and to peacefully end all these.”

What was she saying? Was it a suicidal wish?

Before the plan could be put to work, she would have to return to the Vatican. Lidvia would definitely be reprimanded for the failure of her reckless action. Before she could even request help to save Oriana, her own life was at peril.

However,

The more difficult the task in front of her,

The higher she would aim.

As long as she thought about breaking through all these, Lidvia Lorenzetti would feel an incomparable amount of delight. It was like a sportsman meeting his career rival.

“Mardi Gras.”

The words came from the popular Christian holiday before Quadragesima (Note for Mardi Gras: French for ‘Fat Tuesday’. During the Christian’s fasting festival, also known as Quadragesima, which is the first Sunday in Lent, as the people cannot eat any meat during the 40 days, people will eat loads and loads of fatty food during the three days before the fast to store their energy.) It was almost similar to the ‘Carnival’ celebrated in New Orleans, U.S.A., and the Fastnacht in Germany.

The reason why Lidvia was called this was—

“Ho, hoho. Hahaha!! I’ll move on. No matter whether it’s fortune or misfortune, no matter whether it’s a smooth ride or a stormy one, I’ll take them on! I’ll fulfil the meaning of the word ‘Carnival’ and eat up all this reality that’s going to be spiritual food for me!”

No matter whether it was a candy or a whip that she received, she would give the same response.

In other words, there was basically no one who could stop her from doing anything. A person who would be delighted no matter what she was given, a person who would continue to smile and proceed on. If something prevented her from advancing, it would only cause Lidvia to move forward, as preventing her would be suicide in the first place.

“First, we’ll settle the stuff inside the Roman Catholics. Then, I’ll have to propose a battle plan to save Oriana, and finally, attack Academy City! Wahaha, what a large obstacle! And is it ever so sweet!”

She knew that the pilot in the cockpit would be terrified by her eccentricity. However, Lidvia could even use this sort of suspicion as motivation.

At this moment,

“Hello, anybody in?”

A female’s voice suddenly rang.

Lidvia’s shoulders jerked. There was no attendant in this personal plane. There was also a sound of panic from the cockpit. Seemed like the pilot didn’t know anything.

But Lidvia knew.

That female’s voice—

“I’m the Archbishop of the British Puritans, Laura Stuart. Don’t say that I didn’t introduce myself, yes? Lidvia-san.” She sounded rather happy.

A female who had a much more important title than the ‘Mardi Gras’, such that in modern Church society, she was an indispensable figure. According to rumours, this monster had authority that equalled or even exceeded the queen of England.

Lidvia gasped, this having the double meaning of joy and terror.

A powerful enemy, and to her, a lamb that had inexplicable charm.

“...Why, this personal jet...?”

“Hoho. You seemed to have changed your name, huh. To take flight not from Italy, but from France. But do you think that such a little trick can fool me? I ordered the staff of Haneda Airport to stick a little present on the wall of the plane when you stopped.”

“...”

There seemed to be some sort of spiritual tool stuck on the outside of the plane’s body.

Even so, it was impossible to pull it out from here. It couldn’t possibly stick onto the plane’s body as it moved at ultrasonic speed. Basically, there would be a difference in pressure the moment the door was opened.

But, did the British Puritans really find this plane on their own?

If so, when she first brought the ‘Apostle’s Cross’ onto this Japanese flight, there should have been something. Since nothing happened, it meant that the flight was secured after they took off from Japan.

If so, the only thing she could think of was,

(Is it with the help of Academy City...)

No matter what, the situation now was bleak for her.

The signal spiritual tool attached onto the plane would mean that the location of this plane was leaked to England. Even if she changed the landing area, the enemy could easily catch Lidvia at the airport.

Even so,

“Ho.”

“You’re so weird. To laugh even louder when you’re being pressured. Don’t tell me that it can’t be corrected?”

“It’s like swimming and diving. The further the distance, the larger the pain, but the bigger the delight on reaching the goal.”

“You really like to find pleasure in pain and torture. No, it’s more like enjoying getting difficult people to succumb to you, that’s sadism. To get this sweet delight, I presume you’re going to attack Academy City again?”

“—”

Facing Laura’s irritating voice, Lidvia remained silent for a while.

“Academy City still owes me something.”

“Who said that when someone punched you on the right side of your face, that you’ll extend out your left side as well? Oriana Thomson was deported to London. Even if you are to go back to the Vatican to regroup and plan, your beloved Oriana is no longer in Academy City.

“No, suppressing Academy City, and then demanding for Oriana, that’s meaningful. Taking over that land will result in the Roman Catholics’ victory. Once we achieve this, the British Puritans would be vanquished on a single command."

On her face, was a smile.

One full of darkness, fanatics, aggressiveness like a beast, a smile unlike one expected of a nun.

“I won’t forgive them. If Academy City didn’t resist like that, everyone would have been happy. Those magicians, and the boy assisting them. If not for them, I would be taking this plane with Oriana!”

This fanatic cry got even more sonorous.

As she declared loudly that she wouldn’t forgive, that competitiveness got even more intense.

“SO I WON’T FORGIVE THEM. BUT I’M HAPPY, TO MEET A LARGER ‘OBSTACLE’, THE DELIGHT OF OVERCOMING THE DIFFICULTY WILL BE EVEN GREATER! THIS SO CALLED OVERCOMING, IS TO CRUSH ON OBSTACLES LIKE THIS!!”

Tears were dripping from her eyes.

Those wild eyes of hers that were so feisty forgot to blink.

“TO NOT ATTACK ENGLAND DIRECTLY, BUT TO DELIBERATELY TAKE THE LONG ROUTE AND ATTACK ACADEMY CITY, AND THEN TO SAVE ORIANA, SUCH DIFFICULTY SUITS ME!! I MUST THANK GOD FOR GIVING ME SUCH A WONDERFUL MEAL! THE THICKER THE MEAT, THE CHEWIER IT IS!! I’LL LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING YOU THE NEXT TIME!! AHHAHAHAHA!!”

Lidvia, who had been speaking for several minutes, was showing a ferocious expression that could bite even a thick metal plate. Hearing such a voice that was definitely unstable, Laura’s response was—

“Ho...hoho.”

“...? To me, that’s something to laugh about, but I don’t understand what you find funny about it.”

“What? The reason is simple. Seeing that the obstacle ahead is even greater, the larger the difficulty, the moment when one breaks through these difficulties must be delightful, right?”

After the spiritual tool remained significantly silent,

“Such words may have some sense, you trapped mouse.”

What?

Just as Lidvia was trying to understand the meaning of this sentence.

BAM!!

A loud sound could be heard.

The sound came from the side.

She frantically turned around.

A rectangle was cut around the entrance of the personal jet. With an orange glow, the metal melted due to heat.

(This...Archbishop...she...actually set up a spiritual tool on the door...!?)

Even though she realised it, it was too late.

The deck, which had been cut apart, was being blown apart by the stormy winds of the night sky. At the same time, like a balloon being released, because of air pressure, the air inside the plane was blown out. Instead of calling it the wind, it was more like a detonation pressure moving through the plane. The sofas and table, which had been bolted to the floor, were mercilessly pulled out, flying in the 8,000 metres high sky.

“!!”

Lidvia frantically used all her five fingers to grab onto the edge of the wall, but she couldn’t even hold on for 2 seconds. Like dust being blown away, her body left the floor, and she was pulled out of the plane.

“A!”

Just like this, she was unable to even make a sound.

The 8,000 metres high sky further emphasized the darkness of the night. There were no clouds in the sky, just a bright moon and numerous stars around it. As the clouds were underneath, there was nothing that could conceal these celestial bodies.

(Eh, ack, ah...!! Breathe—!!)

No matter how one tried to breathe, in high altitude, one couldn’t feel that he was breathing in oxygen, just an icy feeling that was burning the chest. As the altitude was too high, Lidvia didn’t feel that she was falling. Rather, her body was under the wrong impression that she was being pushed up by a great pressure.

Beside Lidvia, who was stunned and terrified, something was flying alongside her.

In front of her, falling at the same speed, was a card. Like a thin plastic material, with black marker writing on it, no history, no style, like a spiritual tool meant to fool a child. However, the magic array on it was so intricate, it was even more sophisticated than a carefully woven Persian carpet.

“Haha! Lidvia, it’s a pity that your ability is merely to this extent. If you’re willing to give up on the Vatican and follow me, I’ll save you without any harm done to you.”

If she was saying this now, Laura must have prepared a backup plan. She may have prepared a group of British Puritans below, ready to catch Lidvia and retreat at a moment’s notice.

But Lidvia rejected it.

“What...are...you saying? Don’t be ridiculous!!”

“Really? Then fall with ‘that thing’ and make a wide hole in the ground!”

At this moment Lidvia saw it.

The figure of the personal jet floating above her was becoming even smaller. It was the only thing that could correct her sense of distance in this wild world.

The door of the personal jet opened, and a Cross-shaped item wrapped in white clot flew out.

The ‘Apostle’s Cross’.

Though the magical power of that spiritual tool was very high, its durability wasn’t much different from an antique. To fall from an altitude of 8,000 metres, even if it hit the surface of the ocean, it would be smashed.

“...!! I won’t allow you to do that!!”

Lidvia breathed in some oxygen and said this.

She opened her arms wide and muttered a spell which caused her to descend like a feather. This was originally a defensive spell that could slow down anything. Using it under gravity, the effect would be like a parachute.

“Calculating the descending trajectory of the ‘Apostle’s Cross’, I should be able to make it. No, I have to make it! Time is short, which makes it all the more interesting!!’

Lidvia sounded even more aggressive and competitive as she got ready to receive the falling Cross.

“The plane is about 400 metres from you. At this stage, for you to lower your speed now, even if you can catch this giant slab of marble and fall freely, do you intend to be ground up, Lidvia?”

“It’s because of this situation, I’m saying that it’s interesting, Archbishop!! Indeed, even with my spells, even if I use my maximum power, it’s impossible to catch the ‘Apostle’s Cross’. However, this is why! Facing this sort of emergency situation, to be able to accept and enjoy this trial! MWAHAHAHA!!”

Even in this perilous situation, the ‘Mardi Gras’ could open her arms wide, laugh, and accept this.

The card stopping beside Lidvia let out a chuckle.

“To use this spell alone, just you and the huge marble Cross should be the limit for you.”

“So...what...?”

“Then, what are you going to do with that?”

Hearing the voice, Lidvia looked up.

At that moment,

From the opening made on the personal jet, another human figure flew out.

It was the pilot.

He swung his limbs around frantically, and it didn’t look like he had prepared a parachute. To be forced to fly at an altitude of 8,000 metres without any preparations, it was amazing that he was still conscious. However, he did look a bit too frantic.

The moonlight was shining on the pilot.

As if he was being rubbed around by air, descending in a chaotic orbit, tears and fright appeared on his face due to this sudden situation.

That was right.

Like those people that Lidvia had met up till now, the ‘sinners’ that were forsaken by society and the world.

“!!”

“Lidvia, now that you’re at your limit, which do you choose? The biggest spiritual tool in the world, or a poor lost lamb? Hoho, if you’re willing to kneel down and apologise, I will immediately provide aid, no?”

“You...! This is a trap that you set up, and yet you dare to say this!!”

“No time for chit-chat, you know. Look, the first one is dropping.”

“Ugh!!”

The Cross, wrapped in white cloth, mercilessly fell beside Lidvia. A 150cm long, 70cm wide, 10cm thick marble slab; the power of it falling from 400 metres above ground would be enough to destroy a ship.

(Putting a defensive barrier in front, the thickness should be enough to withstand this. If I purposely break the thick wall and slow down—)

After that, the huge slab of stone fell beside Lidvia.

The defensive wall, which was originally very thick, broke because of this impact. The speed was lowered by a significant extent, but it still hit Lidvia directly on the chest.

“Ugh...eh! WOOAAHHHHHHHHHH!!”

Blood oozed out from between her teeth, but Lidvia still used both hands to grab onto the heavy Cross. All her fingers were grabbing tightly onto the white cloth of the ‘Apostle’s Cross’.

“Look, the second one is coming.”

A really cheerful voice came from the card.

Lidvia was losing her consciousness due to pain, loss of blood and lack of oxygen, but she still forced herself to look up.

The pilot of the personal jet was also falling towards Lidvia. To Lidvia, who was covered in wounds, it was like a catapult shot used to destroy a wall.

(I...won’t...be able to...receive...)

She held tightly onto the Cross.

(Too much...everyone will...fall...together...must protect the spiritual tool, then I have to give up on the pilot...but...if I give up on this, I can save a life...)

Lidvia saw it.

She was nearing the pilot, that face which was dirtied by tears and snot due to the unreasonable violence.

“Oh, Lidvia. You declared before that you’ll save the sinners, then you should be able to save those innocent victims, right?”

“You dare...”

Even if she wanted to say it, she was unable to squeeze out the voice in her heart.

She couldn’t catch everything.

If she did that, everyone would fall.

She could only discard things that could be discarded.

However,

The situation was now extremely difficult.

(No...now, think...if this continues...everyone will die...but...however...ugh, got to endure this! This...sweet feeling? If I don’t give up...!!)

The more she thought, the competitiveness in Lidvia becomes even wilder. Her sweat wasn’t of pain or nervousness, it had something even ferocious.

Besides Lidvia, who was gritting her teeth, trying to endure this, a voice came from beside.

A slippery one.

As if a wonderful spring was poured onto bewitchingly dry land.

Like the irresistible temptation of the devil.

“What, Lidvia, I thought that you’re going to catch both of them? When the obstacle ahead is even higher...after crossing all these, to trample me, who created these difficulties, won’t you feel even more delighted?”

Pacha.

Something broke inside Lidvia’s body.

(Tram...ple...?)

Due to loss of blood, her consciousness was wavering. Thus, she could only think of this.

(I...want...to...smash...that snobbish...Archbishop’s...arrogance...)

This extremely ferocious feeling could only be gotten after achieving ‘that’.

However, she didn’t realise that this was also Laura’s trap.

“Ha...haha.”

She opened her mouth wide, as the saliva, mixed with blood, flowed out of it. The pilot, who was supposed to be caught by her, gave an even louder scream on seeing her face. Lidvia’s face was full of an astonishing amount of competitiveness and aggression. She grabbed onto the Cross and opened her hands wide.

As if she welcoming back a lover.

She seemed to be saying that the impact, which would strike anytime soon, no matter how painful it was, would delight her.

“HAHAHA! AHAHAHAHMWAHAHAHAHA!!”

With blood, sweat, saliva and snot, Lidvia Lorenzetti revealed a large smile.

After that,

The pilot’s body slammed hard into hers. Due to the large impact, an unspeakable feeling passed through Lidvia’s body.

Part 3

The Windowless Building in Academy City.

This construct was made of a unique material, and could withstand the heat and shockwave caused by a nuclear explosion. It was Academy City’s strongest fortress.

As there were no stairs, lifts or even ventilation, in this place that one could only access with the help of a teleporter, a ‘human’ was silently positioned in the middle.

The General Director of Academy City.

The ‘human’, Aleister Crowley.

“Hn.”

He was in the dark room, which was rather large, and somewhat chilly. There was a large glass cylinder in the middle, and in it, there was red liquid. The glass cylinder was attached with numerous cables and wires of different sizes that covered the floor. They were attached to a rectangular apparatus on the wall. In this room that wasn’t illuminated, the green and red lights on the dashboard looked like shining stars in the night.

He was floating upside down in the cylinder.

The green surgical clothes swayed silently in the fluid, the decolourised silver hair entangling it.

This person, it was unknown if he was a man or a woman, an adult or a child, a Saint or a convict. Anyway, only the word ‘human’ could describe him.

“To use the ‘Apostle’s Cross’ to take over Academy City and ensure the welfare of the world?”

He muttered to himself.

No matter what Oriana and Lidvia’s personal motives were, or what they could do, they wouldn’t be able to do this without the help of the Roman Catholics. More accurately, Oriana and Lidvia had caught on to the proposed plan by the Roman Catholics and got to work, intending to do this for their own benefit. Such a guess was somewhat more logical.

The mastermind controlling Oriana Thomson and Lidvia Lorenzetti.

The Roman Catholics.

“...This situation got really big.”

Aleister said in a tone that indicated that he couldn’t stand this threat anymore.

In the past, the Roman Catholics would carry out such insidious acts, from as far back as when Galileo had been alive. While the base of the world had been controlled by Christianity in the past, it was now unavoidably and gradually shifting towards the Science side. The control of the world was slowly, but surely, shaking.

The Roman Catholics, on the exterior, were the self-proclaimed world’s largest religion, but there was a problem.

Right now, the magical world could be divided into three main pillars: Rome, Russia and England. Among them, the largest sect was the Roman Catholics, who had 2 billion believers; this was one way of saying it...but on the other hand, the Roman Catholics had gathered 2 billion people, but they could only match England, which had a population of 90 million. Also, not all of England’s citizens belonged to the British Puritans.

If in the future, the British Puritans looked up and gathered another 1 or 2 billion believers, what would happen to the Roman Catholics?

They had been declaring that they had 2 billion believers, but in reality, they didn’t have that many believers. Because of this reason, one had to make reservations about this problem. Also, there had been some recent entries that one had to take note of.

First, the destruction of the main fighting strength of the Roman Catholics, the ‘Gregorian Chant’ and the ‘Agnese Forces’.

Second, new forces, including ‘Orsola Aquinas’ and the ‘Amakusa Catholics’ joining the British Puritans.

Because of these scenarios, the balance of the magical world, which was maintained with much difficulty, was greatly shaken. The Roman Catholics, who were insistent on being the world’s number one, would be cautious against such instability.

The action this time was likely due to such a background.

Right now, what would the expressions of the governing Roman Catholic pope and Cardinals be?

As one who once abandoned magic, Aleister was now the leader of the Science world which managed everything. He was now looking at this scenario with contempt.

“But...”

He whispered in an uninterested tone.

Because they were ugly people who were struggling, there was no point in seeing them struggle. But this time, to use an ‘Apostle’s Cross’ level spiritual tool, it was hard to imagine the attack of the Roman Catholics ending like this. After this, there may be more spiritual tools of that level. Though the matter of the ‘Apostle’s Cross’ had been settled by a certain boy, to be honest, it hadn’t been handled well. It was hard to guarantee that the same method would work next time.

(If so, I have to bring forward our plan. Really, this isn’t a simple plan to be used for these trivial matters.)

As Aleister thought, a rectangular display appeared on the screen.

It was a detailed world map, and there were 9,969 indicated red lights. It was a worldwide distribution of where the esper development programs were done. He intended to use these and the slumbering Imaginary Districts in Academy City to carry out a plan that would stop magical activity on a global scale.

However,

(The important Imagine Breaker’s development is still unstable. Can I really use this?)

Aleister thought, this was supposed to be a plan that was not meant to be pushed forward.

Can’t be helped.

(If so...)

With this voice in his heart, a new display overlapped the map which showed where the espers were being developed.

What appeared on the rectangular screen was a rectangular glass box.

A bent silver rod was floating in it.

(I may have to consider the possibility that I have to take action personally. Ho...hoho.)

In the darkness, the ‘human’ laughed.

Was that from the greatest scientist in the world?

Or was that from the strongest magician in the world?

Was he a man, or a woman?

An adult, or a child?

A Saint, or a convict?

What that person was thinking, nobody knew.

He just revealed a smile.

Part 4

In the morning, Himegami Aisa woke up on the hospital bed.

The room that she was in wasn’t a private single room like Kamijou, but rather an ordinary 6 person ward that was separated by curtains for personal space. Of course, all the patients living in this room were all females, but of different ages. There was also a girl of similar age to Himegami.

“...”

Himegami’s lax expression shifted to the ceiling before she slowly moved her upper body up to sit on the bed.

“What are you doing here so early in the morning?”

The plain voice was directed at the edge of the hospital bed. The nun wearing pure white robes was sitting on the floor, her upper body leaning on the railing, as she continued to sleep on the edge of the hospital bed.

Himegami, who had just woken up, looked like she wanted to sleep, but this nun also looked like she wanted to sleep as well. The person living with her (or rather, the homeowner) would often be sent to this hospital because of injuries. This white nun seemed used to sleeping overnight at a hospital. The way she slept on the couch in an individual ward or the bench in the waiting room was famous among the nurses. Right now, the rumour had developed such that the mysterious girl who lurked around in the hospital liked television, snacks and toys.

The British nun, Index, woke up, her eyes narrowed.

“Ho...because the hospital staff mentioned that I can’t use the bench during daytime, I came over to Aisa to seek refuge. Such a comfortable bed...”

Her animal instincts seemed to have led her to desire for a warm and comfortable bed.

However,

“Oi oi, a quilt is meant to cover, not for biting. Also, don’t drool whenever you want it, I’ll be the one scolded.”

“How warm...”

Index didn’t seem to care as she pressed her face against the quilt. As her face was placed near Himegami’s thigh, there was an itchy feeling. This girl seemed to be in an afternoon lesson in spring, as 70-80% of her consciousness was still in dreamland. After thinking for a while, Himegami opened a 1-metre tall mini ice box that was beside the bed.

“I’ll use the ice from the freezer to wake you up, heh.”

“SO COLD!!!!???”

After the rectangular ice block touched the nun’s forehead, the nun inadvertently screamed. Not only her, everyone else in the room woke up. Himegami backed away, lowered her head and apologised. As if she couldn’t stand everyone staring at her, she pressed on the remote and closed the curtain separating them.

Index caught the ice block that she had knocked away from her forehead. Without noticing Himegami’s expression, she placed the ice block into her mouth.

“Aisa’s all right, right? I heard that our magician used some sloppy healing spell to heal you.”

“Actually, I had already lost consciousness when they were healing me. But the frog-faced doctor said that all the tests results are okay, I should be able to recover fully.”

Himegami said this as she adjusted the collar of her pyjamas. The Cross was shining. Her body, covered by this cloth, was wrapped in bandages in a certain manner over her chest and lower abdomen, but all the blood vessels that were used to maintain her life seemed to have recovered.

To a girl, Himegami Aisa would also worry that scars would be left on her body. Regarding this, the frog-faced doctor revealed a weird smile, saying, “Hoho, who do you think I am? As long as it’s something a patient requires, I will provide everything for them. Hohohohoho, I love to be relied on by patients.” Come to think of it, when the right arm of a certain boy had been cut, there hadn't been any scar left behind.

Himegami stared at the bandages inside her pyjamas.

(It’s supposed to be a wound so deep that the bones can be seen.)

Though that red-haired priest had just done an emergency ‘life maintenance’, it was a magic spell that could restore wounds that were thought to be too deep. Before this, there had been something that she wanted to abandon in despair, and now it was pricking Himegami’s heart like thorns.

But,

But there was something more important than them.

“The frog-face doctor said that I can be discharged either today or tomorrow. However, with this body, I probably won’t be able to take part in the matches.”

“??? Aisa, why do you look somewhat lonely?”

Index looked at her in an unbelievable manner.

Himegami wordlessly shook her head, however, just like this, the thoughts in her head wouldn’t dispel.

Thus, she said the thing that she originally intended to keep silent about,

“That guy, did he do something reckless again?”

“Hn, that’s right!”

Index said in a clear and cheery tone,

“I haven’t asked about the details, but it seems like the Roman Catholics magicians took advantage of the Daihaseisai to attack. And this time, Touma didn’t bother discussing things with me before running head on into battle and telling me afterwards.”

As she said this, Index seemed to be angry as she started to bite on the edge of the quilt.

But Himegami didn’t seem to notice.

Or rather, she had no time to take that into account.

(Because the magicians from the Roman Catholic Church were here.)

In the end, a certain boy clenched his fist, and went to battle for this reason.

This was an obvious thing. For Kamijou to be with a real magician and arrive beside an injured Himegami, it was likely that they had been battling before she fell. For Himegami Aisa to fall, the boy would rage on seeing her like this. This was like making a detour midway through as they were trying to complete their ‘biggest objective’.

(—)

At first, when she became a prisoner of the alchemist, she wondered, why did the boy work so hard to help her? Himegami again wondered. In fact, there was nothing between Kamijou Touma and Himegami Aisa that required Kamijou to work so hard.

(It doesn’t matter no matter who the person is, huh.)

The person that the boy saved wasn’t Himegami Aisa.

As long as the person was present, he would save the person no matter who the person was.

Even if Himegami Aisa wasn’t present.

In his consciousness, she didn’t exist.

The other party was saved by him. Such an action, especially to Kamijou Touma, wasn’t really special. Because to him, that was a daily action. Just looking at these weeks alone, about every 1 or 2 weeks, he would swing his fist and change another person’s life.

(I...)

Himegami remained in a sitting posture on the hospital bed as she pondered.

She was not like the girl in front of her who was biting on a quilt, who had power and knowledge that others would find worth in saving. And it was not like she had someone who she could safely rely on the moment the person was beside her, a person who she could interact with without anything between them.

(I, really...)

Himegami slightly lowered her head, her hands lightly grabbing onto the quilt above her knees.

She couldn’t think of any reason for her to be with that boy.

When Himegami Aisa was in trouble, Kamijou Touma would help out no matter when it was. But, if Kamijou and Himegami had no reason to be together, such actions would be meaningless. In other words, even if he did anything for Himegami, Kamijou was just helping others pay the bill meaninglessly. In most situations, what he paid with would often be his wounds.

(Actually...I really shouldn't let him...save me.)

Such a chilly thought appeared in her mind.

Like right now, Himegami herself didn’t have any special ability or talent that was worthy for others to risk their lives to save her. The power in her body would only cause people to be injured or quarrel. This repulsive ability formed her character. In studies or sports, or anything other than ability, there was nothing that she could beat others in.

This sounded really stupid.

(Why?)

Why must she be saved?

(Why save me?)

Was there a problem? There should be a mistake.

(He already...already promised me.)

And yet he hadn’t fulfilled the promise. He had said that he would visit her before the night parade.

(If so, my values...)

If such a gentle sentence could pressure that person named Kamijou Touma.

(What’s my reason for existing here?)

“...I seem to be...everyone’s baggage.”

She said such cold words, which echoed in her chest.

In contrast, the girl biting onto the quilt suddenly stopped.

Besides having power and knowledge that others would risk their lives to save, she had a warm heart that others would find happiness in while being with her.

The nun said,

“Not so, Touma and Aisa seem to be happy together.”

Eh?

At this moment, Himegami Aisa was unable to understand the meaning of this sentence.

But, that pure white nun, who had already been protected by others, slammed her cheeks and continued to bite on the quilt.

“Because Touma has been swinging his right fist too much, some part of the skin on his fist was cut.”

She angrily explained to Himegami.

“Basically, for Touma to go to this extent when he hates inconvenience, this should be the reason. Regarding rules and regulations, or for the sake of the world, Touma won’t be serious about it. If it’s anything that he finds irritating...like running away when he’s fighting against many people, he won’t even make a tofu hamburger for me to eat, and completely ignore my lecturing.”

But, Index continued on,

“Touma will always follow what he decides on. Whether it’s becoming enemies with several hundred nuns, or whether it’s heading to the cage of an alchemist who’s controlling several thousand people, he would not back down. Touma has already decided on protecting Himegami. Thus, speaking of the Roman Catholic magicians, or the chaos in Academy City, the most important thing was that Himegami got involved with such unimportant things, he couldn’t forgive them.”

Himegami Aisa heard these words.

She just remained silent as she heard them.

“Because Touma has already protected so many people, he couldn’t understand this clearly. But his feeling of wanting to protect Aisa won’t decrease. He definitely won’t think that Aisa is troublesome. If he was like that, there wouldn’t be so many people gathering around Touma. Since Touma won’t mention this, no one will talk about this, the shackled chains won’t be obvious. But if one knows about all the shackles, the chains formed will be even further and meaningful.

After Index finished speaking, an air of silence hung around them.

Himegami wanted to say something, but she realised that she couldn’t make a voice. Her lower jaw and lips were trembling slightly.

She pondered on what was the feeling that caused this trembling.

“Say, Fukiyose-san, what’s with you, coming all the way to a patient’s room and giving him a slap! If you’re so energetic, shouldn't there be no need for you to remain in the hospital!?”

“YOU...YOU SHUT UP!! ANYONE WOULD BE SHOCKED AND TERRIFIED ON SEEING A BOY’S NAKED BODY ALL OF A SUDDEN!!”

“But aren’t you the one who suddenly barged into my room when I was changing?”

“KAMIJOU TOUMA! PREPARE YOURSELF! ARE YOU STILL SLEEPY? THEN, TO BOOST YOUR BRAIN ACTIVITY, YOU NEED RED TEA WITH LOTS AND LOTS OF TANNIC ACID, THERE’S LOADS OF IT INSIDE, SO DRINK UP!!”

“HOT!! HOT!! YOU...YOU IDIOT! IS THERE A NEED TO HIDE YOUR EMBARRASSMENT BY DUNKING HOT TEA INTO SOMEONE’S THROAT!!”

A ruckus came from the corridor.

Accompanied by frantic footsteps that weren’t suitable for a quiet morning hospital room.

“Himegami’s room should be here, but isn’t it too inconvenient to come over so suddenly?”

“Eh? Himegami may not say much, but it doesn’t mean that she likes to be silent. Just observe, her lips will curl up slightly when she’s happy. I thought that Fukiyose-san would know about this, since she likes to take care of others silently.”

“Likes to take care of others?...Who are you talking about?”

“Eh. I’m talking about you. You didn’t know where Himegami’s room is, yet you came over to find me, and you spent 30 minutes fussing about what fruits to buy at the fruit shop, so you should be someone who likes to think about your friends...HOT!? I SAID THAT YOU CAN’T STUFF DOWN RED TEA LIKE THAT! FORGET ABOUT HOW ACTIVE MY MIND IS, JUST HURRY UP AND GET HIMEGAMI TO OUR CLASSMATES! I even borrowed a wheelchair here.”

“Today’s first match is the extremely draining inter-school male cavalry match. Group A battle. Why can’t I arrange for the injured to go over and cheer for them!?”

Index stopped biting onto the quilt and looked in the direction where the sound came from. All she saw was a curtain separating them. Himegami also looked in the direction where Index was looking, still grabbing onto a remote control that could open and close the curtains.

“You...do you know what that guy, why does he continue to fight even with all those injuries?” f𝘳ℯℯ𝙬𝒆𝚋𝐧oν𝑒Ɩ.c𝑜𝙢

“About that, I don’t know either.”

Index replied without any hesitation.

“I asked him before, and he said that he’s doing it for himself. Maybe to Touma, that’s happiness?”

Himegami pressed the button on the remote control.

The curtains opened.

In front of Himegami Aisa, was the world that she was looking forward to.