novelThe Witch-Hunter Moves Along With the Flames. (2)
| ← Ch.011 | Ch.013 → |
"Not quite, " Stiyl said, still facing forward."The emphasis is in the core. The Gregorian Chant requires the simultaneous controlling of 2, 000 people or it fails. If we can find the core of the 2, 000 people and destroy it, we'll end the Gregorian Chant.
The two of them ran down the long corridor and finally arrived near the staircase. At the same moment, they noticed a large number of blue-white orbs deluging in. They were pincered.
"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 for a while. Do you have some secret plan?" It was true. For someone who had barely escaped the jaws of death, Stiyl seemed much too calm.
"Hm. I do have a plan. I've just been wondering whether I should use it."
"ARE YOU KIDDING ME!? IF YOU HAVE ONE, HURRY UP AND USE IT!"
With an "oh", Stiyl happily looked at Kamijou's face. In face of the abnormal smile, Kamijou inadvertently held his breath and became more alert.
Don. Stiyl pushed Kamijou down the stairs.
"What..." Before he could even react, he had lost his balance and had tumbled down the stairs. The numerous stabs of pain surrounded him and it was impossible to even cry out, for if he did, he would have likely bit his tongue.
"Bad luck, scarecrow." Stiyl's joyful voice was audible from above. Dazed, Kamijou could see him running away in the opposite direction, upstairs. Then, the flood approached and split both ways, and rushed at Kamijou like flowing water.
"That bastard!"
Kamijou dragged his pained body and ran downwards. Stiyl's words passed through his thoughts. They were in Aureolus' stronghold, a place filled with mana. Like an entirely red picture, if any blue (in this case Stiyl's) paint was added, the enemy would soon realize something was amiss. On the other hand, if Stiyl avoided using magic, he would go unnoticed.
However, it was different for Kamijou. His Imagine Breaker endlessly erased the red color. Stiyl had the option to use or not to use, but Kamijou was like a perpetual transmitter.
All in all, Kamijou was brought there to be a convenient decoy to abandon. He had thought Stiyl's lack of planning was irrational but in truth this reasoning lied at the heart.
...Damn it! Eh. Hold on, something's not right. Kamijou's heart rang an alarm but he knew not why. As the current Kamijou could think of no reason, it must have been the pre-amnesia Kamijou warning him.
As his thoughts raced, a fresh set of footsteps interrupted him, coming from below... and blocking his escape route.
"...!"
The deluging orbs continued to converge onto Kamijou, but he could not possibly stop. So, instead he dashed and peered downstairs. There was a girl, one whom he had never met and whose uniform was unfamiliar, awaiting Kamijou. She was perhaps a candidate, one or two years older than Kamijou, with black braids and rounded spectacles. In all honestly it did not seem that she could fight, let alone use magic.
"The flames punish sin; purgatory governs the flames. Purgatory was created to burn sinners, the only violence God recognizes."
What came out of her cute lips caused Kamijou unhappiness. Each time she spoke, the blue-white orb in front of her grew in size. It seemed the front and back of the coin had flipped. The girl should have been a student on the front but became a magician on the back. This was perhaps true for every Misawa Cram student. Though in truth, Kamijou could have easily knocked the girl down.
I can win this...!
Kamijou clenched his right fist, and, though he could not definitively defeat 2, 000 individuals, one or two of the orbs were no threat. Kamijou clenched his fist tighter as if to confirm the existence of Imagine Breaker.
Then, with a "crack!" the girl's face exploded as if fire crackers were planted beneath her skin.
"What...?"
Simultaneous to Kamijou's shock, the girl's fingers, nose, under the cloths... released miniature explosions, one after the other. The explosions were small enough that they only burned holes a few centimeters wide on her skin.
"Violence... is the affirmation of death. Affirmation is... recognition. Re... cog... ni..." Each time the girl spoke a single word, her body cracked further. Her lips eventually began to crack as well and blood flowed out of her mouth, showing her innards were severely damaged. Despite the damage, she continued to speak. In reality, it was more like she could not talk. She seemed like a frog being controlled by a machine, her leg muscles twitched against her will from the continuous electrocution.
Don't tell me...
Anxiety rose up in Kamijou's stomach and his knowledge was informing him, though he knew not where the ridiculous information came from.
Espers can't use magic. Though espers and magicians were similar in their abilities to utilize supernatural powers, the applications were different. The "circuits" in espers were different from those of ordinary humans; even if they attempted to imitate a magician, they would be unsuccessful.
That in mind, they were in Academy City. All students there had undertaken some esper development curriculum. With this assumption, what would have happened if espers unable to use magic... did?
"Stop... it..." Kamijou muttered, forgetting his personal situation.
The circuitry was incompatible, his brain told him this. Though Kamijou himself knew little magic basis, the feeling may have been like a generator meant to run on batteries being run through an alternating current. Though the current might flow and the circuit might work, such an unreasonable method would burn out the circuit.
"STOP IT! YOU CAN TELL YOUR OWN BODY IS IN TROUBLE!!" He had forgotten to even clench his fist. At that moment, though it felt like there was a gun pointed at his head, he dashed down the stairs without a thought.
"...tion. Re... st... with... in. Within... refers... to... the world. Connect your inner... self with the outside... world." The girl suddenly let out a deep sound and went silent.
The bridge between her eyebrows exploded and the blue-white orb she casted disappeared, leaving behind a fresh red wound. Her last sound seemed to betray the fatality of the wound while the girl swayed about and tumbled forward on the stairs.
Kamijou's mind was informing him... A human body is heavy. Even a girl of petite size can be truly heavy if carried around like luggage. If you're burdened with several extra kilograms, evading the flood of orbs will be impossible.
Kamijou's mind was informing him... This girl's even an enemy. There will be no merits to saving her, you might even be attacked. If you consider life as the largest priority, leave this enemy behind and escape.
Kamijou's mind was informing him... Most importantly, a severely wounded casualty like her can't possibly be saved. Not only are her wounds obviously fatal, she's been poisoned by a religious science.
"..." Hearing the voices in his mind caused Kamijou to gnash his teeth."STOP MESSING AROUND!"
Kamijou still decided to rush down the stairs and reached his hand out to save the girl that was ready to collapse. It was true that the girl was heavy and it was also true that it was already difficult for him to make an escape and it was again true that with extra luggage, he could not possibly outrun the tidal wave of orbs. The girl was an enemy, a physically and emotionally wounded one at that, and Kamijou understood it.
Even so, there was no reason to abandon a wounded girl and let her be devoured by the coming deluge of orbs. Even if he searched the entire world, he would never find a reason to justify such an action.
Most likely, the girl had not intended for it to happen. She believed she was just joining an ordinary cram school but upon enrollment was soon manipulated by the science religion. Unknowingly, she became a pawn.
Kamijou remember the knight who had died in front of the lift. Most people could not have possibly left the injured there alone, even if an enemy.
"Guu... Damn it!"
Don! The girl collapsed onto Kamijou's chest and she seemed even lighter than expected, even if this were only true from the perspective of people. As luggage, she could have been considered extremely heavy and, as this happened halfway down the stairs, Kamijou almost fell down as he attempted to maintain his balance.
Carrying the bloodied girl, Kamijou intended to continue his run down the stairs and he checked behind himself.
"..."
The flood had already appeared before him.
Kamijou began to frantically swat at orbs with his right hand while he rushed down the final steps with the girl cradled in his left arm. An unconscious person was quite a bit heavier than he had expected, as if he were swimming with a metal ball weighing him down.
He wanted to jump, but his body was grounded by the extra weight. That slight lag allowed the thousands of balls to form a swirling vortex around him.
"...!!"
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 balls like metal in acid... devoured by uncountable worms...
"...?"
Nothing had happened. For some time, nothing happened. There was a strange sensation of stopped time and Kamijou did not dare open his eyes recklessly. He was in some fantasy world that would have broken if he opened his eyes and time would flow again. Regardless, it was imperative he did open his eyes.
With a fearful sensation, like for someone disarming a bomb, Kamijou carefully opened his eyes.
"...Ah?"
He could see, but he could not understand. It was like time stopped. The phenomenon he was witnessing could only have been explained by time stopping. The vortex of orbs that was about to swallow him had stopped as if it were a still image.
After a moment, the seemingly impatient orbs began to move. However, instead of swallowing Kamijou whole, they slowly deliberately dropped to the ground like apples from a tree. Upon ground contact, they submerged.
Then, a new set of footsteps was heard. Kamijou did not understand. Even so, he sought the footsteps that he heard coming from below and stared down. The stairs were linked to the entrance of a corridor where the shining sunset gleamed into the dark emergency staircase.
From there, Deep Blood Himegami Aisa observed upward, as if in the bottom of a well.
Part 6
Stiyl watched as an expended flaming sword vanished. Card runes scattered into the air like sakura petals. There was an ordinary corridor a floor above Kamijou's location, where Stiyl knew the core of the Gregorian Chant was.
He was a magician. To him, the detection of mana flow was a specialty and such a feat was simple. Though the energy harnessed by each individual student was miniscule, the power to control 2, 000 people from a single point made the core's location obvious.
"...I see. So this is considered hidden, huh?" muttered Stiyl with a cigarette in his mouth.
Hiding oneself on the front of the coin was an absolute defense against those on the back. The individuals on the back could do nothing to the front, even if it were just the removal of a Christmas wrapper. By putting the core inside of an ordinary wall, it was perfectly defended. Even if an enemy magician were to find the location, if it were impenetrable, the core was safe.
"First I have to wrap the core in the wall itself." Stiyl uninterestedly puffed smoke while he created formless flames. If there were slight distortions in walls or windows that created gaps of barely one millimeter, he could force flames in with the intense 3000 Celsius heat.
The knowledge contained on the front was unsuited for the back. If Aureolus desired a perfect defense, his best option was to place the core into a plastic bag and tie it.
At any rate, without seeing the core, Stiyl destroyed it and it seemed he managed to end the Gregorian Chant.
"...Speaking of which..." Stiyl shook his cigarette."Looking at this bloody trail, it seems like even the alchemist has fallen so far since we met. A real bloody road should be made with one's own blood, right?"
An esper and magician's physical makeup were different. If espers even attempted magic, the unstable mana would rip apart the blood vessels and nerves in the body. In fact, there were numerous collapsed students on the corridor, even the area around his very feet. Some were still trembling while others were immobile. Searching the rooms would likely have resulted in hellish sights ten times worse than what he saw. On top of the sights, an unknown, thick smell of rust floated about.
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 seemed unable to bear it any longer.
Then, he heard the clear sound of footsteps approaching him from another direction. The steps were confident, had an unsuppressed volume, and seemed to fully express their killing intent, prepared to deliver the killing blow.
If an illustration were needed, it was like daring to knock on an enemy's door while fully intending to attack. Absolute confidence. It was a declaration of war with the firm belief of success, a preemptive declaration of victory.
The owner of the footsteps spoke."Naturally, by using the pseudo-Gregorian Chant, I knew I could lure you to the core, no matter where you were hiding." The footsteps prolonging, he continued."Certainly, there should be two intruders... where's the other one? Was that familiar of your swallowed by the Gregorian Chant?"
"I'd be really happy if that happened." Stiyl said."But, that guy's life'll be longer than you'd think. Also, he's not something cute like a familiar." Stiyl chucked and turned to face the owner of the footsteps, his eyes no longer smiling by the end of the turn.
The footsteps came from a pair of Italian leather shoes. The long legs and two meter tall build were wrapped in an expensive, white western suit. His name was Aureolus, and 18 year old male. He had dyed green hair to signify his control of one of the five elements, earth, while the slicked hairstyle made the Caucasian male all the more unique.
If others were dressed so ridiculously, perhaps they would have been ridiculed. But, for the middle-aged-looking man, his cloths were appropriate.
"What now? What do you intend to do by luring me here when you aren't a fighter? You should know that you alone can't stop me. Or rather, how many magic tools do you have on you, you antique salesman?"
"..."
The words seemed taboo for Aureolus. For alchemists to step up and fight on the frontlines, it was imperative that they equip themselves with weapons and spiritual tools. Aureolus would have had to use tens, even hundreds, of magic tools to simply be on par with Stiyl.
"Idiot. Can't you tell that I don't have any on me?"
"I guess so. But, this entire building itself is like a sacred city, one large magic tool. Even if you don't use any tools to protect yourself, the surrounding environment will automatically help you. Hm... The problem is, why did you come out? If you stayed put, the sacred city would have fought for you. And, even if you're out here, you're still just relying on the power of the sacred city. Why are you here? Or rather, what can you do here?
"You bastard...!"
Like a snake slithering out of its hole, a cold knife shot out of Aureolus' right sleeve with a swoosh.
A dart...? Stiyl frowned. Though it seemed like a dart, it was the size of a dagger. As Stiyl began to believe it was throwing weapon...
"Transmute!!" Immediately, the huge dart flew out like a bullet at Stiyl's eye with a golden chain attached at the end. Stiyl bent his body downwards and the snake-like golden dart 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 dart stabbed into the back of a fallen student.
"..." Stiyl wondered what to say."...?"
BAM! As if piercing a balloon, the student's body burst into bits and fluids. It was as if someone had used a powerful acid to dissolve the body but... something was strange. It was not an ordinary liquid but a shiny gold... It was pure gold that melted from the intense heat. With a swish, the chain curled and the dart was back into Aureolus' sleeve.
"Why are you so shocked?" Aureolus again raised his right hand."I'm an alchemist and, I suppose, you know how I got this name."
Stiyl was speechless. The representative magic called alchemy, which was theorized to be able to convert lead into pure gold, truly existed. However, if such a project were to be carried out using modern materials, it would have taken seven trillion yen and a total of three years, a spell with quite the hefty price.
However, Aureolus had actually managed to achieve the magic in less than a second. It was impossibly fast, an unsurpassable record.
"Anyone who's touched by my Instant Alchemy Limen Magna, will be forcefully transmuted into pure gold. It can't be defended from nor avoided. Now, show me your ace, your Innocentius. I'm truly interested to see whether the shapeless flames can turn into gold." The golden dagger lunged out of his sleeve like a snake.
"..." But, Stiyl did not speak. He seemed incredulous of the situation and completely rooted to his location.
"Hm. Inevitable. It's to be expected you would be shocked after seeing my Limen Magna. But, don't get killed too easily, I'm not satisfied yet. That attitude of your from five seconds ago can't be compensated even if you died 10, 000 times."
"So, why must you do something so meaningless?" With surprise, Stiyl Magnus muttered like a child who saw a ghost.
"What...?" The alchemist was shocked.
"What's so surprising about what I'm saying? The point of magic is to experiment, not get results, right? Even if an expert can make a magic drug in five seconds, what's the difference if the drug's effects are the same?"
Acting like he had seen something truly idiotic, Stiyl sighed."It's the same with what you did. Limen Magna? How stupid. How is this any different from dumping acid on someone?"
"...Just..."
"I know you're trying really hard, but it's too much of an overkill to use Innocentius for this. Besides, he's watching a house and I have no need for him here."
"...JUST SHUT UP!!!"
In an attempt to block out the mockery, Aureolus released another Limen Magna from his right sleeve. The dart flew out with the alchemist's rage and, as the strike was much too quick, formed afterimages of several golden lasers. A barrage of ten in one second, the flesh and blood body of the magician Stiyl could not match the velocities. In the end, six of the ten stabbed through the head and abdomen like a sewing machine.
"And, what's with this? Haven't you realized you're just a magic tool?" The runic cards owned by Stiyl danced about in the air. His upper body was pierced into the shape of a honeycomb and there was even a hole through his head the width of an arm. However, Stiyl Magnus' extremely bored and unenthusiastic voice still continued.
"WHAT ARE YOU SAYING!?"
Extremely stunned, Aureolus continued to fire Limen Magna and Stiyl's tatter upper body was continually pierced and his formerly unharmed lower body was also gaining holes.
"Using basic materials and Germanic Cross to materialize a soul... it really does like something a Roman Catholic priest would do. But, I'm just looking for the real Aureolus Izzard. Will the fake Aureolus please step aside?" Stiyl said, while his body swayed in the air. He gradually became transparent, seemingly about to disappear at any moment, but he continued to remain standing.
"What are you talking about!? These words defy basic premises! Obviously I created Limen Magna. Where else would this power come from?"
"Of course it came from the real Aureolus Izzard. I believe you're beginning to realize something wrong, right? Alright, let me ask you a question. Fake Aureolus, why did you start to learn alchemy?"
"...Is there even a need to ask?" Aureolus said, raising Limen Magna."The only aim of alchemy is to seek truth. I specialize in humans. Seeing how high I can go while maintaining a humane concept is the answer I seek."
For example, by consuming a poisonous plant hallucinogen, 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 sought was not a breakthrough that sacrificed one's own humanity, but how high humans could climb while maintaining their form and pride. Such was his goal of Aureolus, the descendant of the so-called famous magician-doctor Paracelsus, as an alchemist, which was also his greatest pride.
"If that's the case, why do you want a vampire, something said to surpass human understanding?"
The words of the magician crushed his beliefs.
"..."
"Hmph. See? You don't understand. You don't understand anything. 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 with basic ideas in your mind that can't even understand why Aureolus Izzard would go against his fundamental beliefs to do this."
If he truly knew nothing, how could he have been the true Aureolus Izzard? The magician that should have been physically ravaged spoke with more arrogance than the alchemist
"Also, about that Limen Magna of yours, since magic exists for research, how could Aureolus Izzard be proud to say he completed such a spell? Only a child would be happy to be cured after taking flu medicine, right?"
"Ugh... Ah..." There were too many arguments for Aureolus to counter. However, Aureolus could not prevent from listening because Stiyl's words were like the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, placing themselves in the deficiencies of the alchemist's heart. He truly could not ignore him.
"I'll say it as many times as you like. You're a fake. I'm looking for the real Aureolus Izzard, not you. Though it'd be easy to destroy one or two of your security functions, I'm not too willing since your face is so familiar. Get as from here as you can."
The fake Aureolus could take no more. It was not an issue of being a fake. The point was that he had spent immeasurable effort to create that one and only spell, how could it have originated from another person?
The fake Aureolus decided to use his full power to crush the enemy before him, raising his blade.
"Also, you should understand this one clearly. How could the real Aureolus Izzard lose so easily?" said a voice from behind the alchemist. In a moment, a warm, oven-like atmosphere brushed past the alchemist's face. Then, in a formerly empty place, Stiyl Magnus appeared.
A mirage...?! The fake Aureolus began to back away.
The so-called mirage was a phenomenon caused by thermal expansion that caused light to refract. Thus, it was possible for Stiyl to seemingly melt into the air or cause himself to appear somewhere like a movie projection. Such a fake image was what was repeatedly speared by Limen Magna. The true Stiyl had hidden himself in the air and crept behind Aureolus.
Aureolus thoroughly perceived Stiyl's tactic in but a moment. It was with such mirages that Stiyl avoided Limen Magna. However, the illusions that were speared seemed to cause mental falsehoods for the alchemist and the moments where the illusion and body overlapped were the most precarious.
If Stiyl stopped to think, he would have been filled with holes.
As the false Aureolus dragged his thought back to reality, a sword of flames appeared in Stiyl's right hand, which swung vertically and hacked his left hand and leg off. The cuts were extremely smooth, like a hot knife slicing butter. The parts sliced by 3000 Celsius flames did not even bleed.
"Uuah... Ah..." What dominated the alchemist's mind was not the bodily pain.
Also, you should understand this one clearly. How could the real Aureolus Izzard lose so easily? Stiyl's words echoed in his mind and shook it. It was true, Aureolus Izzard was certainly invincible and overwhelming, never knowing either failure or retreat. He could only have been called a perfect saint.
But... what was his currently sorry state? As of then, was he no different from a frightened cat that used all sorts of gimmicks for protection and trembled before attacks?
"A...AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!"
The fake Aureolus finally lost all sanity. Despite his lack of an arm and a leg, the fake alchemist still fired Limen Magna. Stiyl, still wary of the golden dart, raised his flaming sword. However, Limen Magna flew off in a completely different direction, stabbing the students gathered on the floor and causing the entire floor to overflow with molten gold.
Then, Aureolus stabbed Limen Magna into the molten gold, perhaps having the ability to manipulate pure gold like how a magnet attracts iron sand, splattering gold all over. Of course, this included the area around Stiyl Magnus, who responded with casual blocking and a flame-sword explosion. Though the numerous droplets of gold were not blockable, the storm repelled them. Stiyl then created a new sword and sliced apart the smoke surrounding him. He saw no signs of the fake Aureolus, who had possibly escaped during the explosion, and hesitated whether to chase after him, but decided otherwise. The five meter corridor before him was covered in high temperature, lava-like molten gold that would result in burns if the distance was not jumped.
It seemed he could only make a detour, but, lucky for him, Misawa Cram School consisted of four buildings and each was linked through an overhead corridor.
There's nowhere I can't go if I don't mind some detours. Stiyl pondered.
Part 7
"It looks bad but the injuries aren't serious. Treatment will do." calmly said Deep Blood Himegami Aisa. Kamijou had dragged the Misawa student, the girl with braids, onto the corridor.
"BU-BUT SHE'S COVERED IN BLOOD!" Kamijou placed the girl on the floor and could not help but roar at Deep Blood's words. The unknown school's summer uniform was dyed a fresh red and her face, hands and other visible skin were damaged, looking like a layer of plastic was wrapped over them.
"Only her damaged skin caused damage to the capillaries. Had her arteries ruptured, it would have been worse. The blood would have gushed like a fountain.
"How... do you..."
You're not a doctor. And even if you were, you'd need to thoroughly examine this. How can you make a prognosis just like that? Kamijou thought.
"I'm well informed about blood flow than other people." Kamijou was stunned and automatically recalled the name of Himegami Aisa's ability.
"Help me!" Kamijou's reaction went unnoticed, likely because she began emergency treatment and proceeded to undress the wounded girl in front of the boy.
"Uwah! Hold on..."
"Don't overreact. It's disrespectful to the injured."
Though Kamijou was panicked for whatever reason, considering it, it was wrong to think that it was a girl's naked body. It was similar to how quickly a doctor would be fired if they were excited because of a patient's naked body. Himegami then, like a doctor or paramedic, used a handkerchief to stop the bleeding and, since it would not suffice for the bleeding wrists, used Kamijou's belt to tie her wrists. The ruptured abdominal muscles were then stitched together with the injured girl's hair and needles from a sewing box.
Kamijou could do little but follow Himegami's directions and lift the arms higher than her heart or use the handkerchief to press the wounds. Doing such things caused his hands to stain red and, considering it was because of attempts to save a life rather than hurt, caused a rather remarkable feeling for Kamijou.
"Anyways, she's alright." Himegami, whose miko outfit was stained with blood, spoke with little impact."We managed to stop her blood loss. It'll take 15 minutes for the blood to clot but once it does, the wounds will be patched up. However, the sterilization's incomplete. Though there won't be any danger for the next couple hours, it'd be best to send her to a hospital just to be safe.
"..." Kamijou stared at the injured individual on the floor. She was about Kamijou's age but her wounds were so sever it was a difficult fact to imagine. Psychology, it was unlikely she was faring any better. It was true that he should have been happy that they saved a life, but, the fact that she had lost everything bothered Kamijou.
"We did what we could. Now... we can only leave it to Academy City's technology." He said, still staring. As the wounds were internally caused, her damaged skin stuck to her flesh like damaged plastic sheets.
"It'll only take plastic surgery. She just needs the skin from her arm." Himegami Aisa noted with an according knowledge of modern medicine.
"..." However, Kamijou still found it unbelievable that the arm could have been used as a replacement for facial dermis."Speaking of which, you were amazing just now. Are you a certain doctor that operates without a license?" [1] [2]
"I'm not a doctor." Himegami continued before Kamijou could ask what she was."I'm a spellcaster."
"..." Kamijou recalled that she had previously said something similar."Eh? On what basis are you a spellcaster?"
"I have a magic wand."
"O...Oi! 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.
He collapsed onto the floor, the current activities allowing Kamijou's tension to be seemingly released. It was an easing feeling in an out-of-the-way, unknown place where many people were killed. It would have even been unsurprising to find someone in tears. Even if they managed to save one or two people, it would have been insignificant compared to the hellish sight.
However, saving a person was still something to be happy with.
"If she needs a hospital..." Regardless of anything else, he could not leave an injured person there. No matter how they intended to deal with Misawa Cram School and Aureolus Izzard, finding an ambulance took first priority."I'm going back. We can't leave a wounded person here and it'll be better to let the ambulance wait at the entrance."
"Mm. That's true. Since it's not just one person, we can save travel time by calling the ambulance here."
"...Don't say it like it doesn't involve you."
"?" Himegami stared at Kamijou with inexplicability. Perhaps because of her long-term imprisonment, her mind had not considered running away.
"Eh... I meant you don't have to be locked up in here. Let's get out of here. In fact, we came here to save you." Himegami, unresponsive and frozen, revealed a frozen look of surprise."What is it? Did I say something weird?" "..." Himegami responded softly."...Why?"
"Why, what? Do I need a reason to save others?"
Himegami, shocked once more, remained stiff with what seemed like a blush, which was perhaps just Kamijou's imagination.
"But... I..." Himegami Aisa seemed like she had wanted to say something. However, she was then interrupted by the sound of something being dragged which was followed by the sound of heavy breathing. Kamijou had heard no one speak but still felt the negative feelings of hatred and anger, as if an echo of his mind.
"Damn it! Damn it! Exactly why am I so injured! He's supposed to be material but he's dragging me down... Kuku... huhu... dragging me down? Dragging me down? That's interesting, isn't it Aureolus Izzard! You don't even have a leg for others to pull! Kuku! Kukuku! You bastards looked down on me! In the end I'M GOING TO MELT ALL OF YOU...!" said an abnormally loud male voice, sounding like crashing echoes.
With an extremely loud swoosh and the sound of dragging, the man escaped down the stairs and into the corridor. Kamijou was stunned by the green-haired foreigner in a white suit. His left arm and leg were sliced off at the joints and slanted golden sticks were attached the damage parts, serving as crutches. It should have been painful but the man seemed unperturbed. His sweaty, exaggerated face perhaps betrayed the anger, hatred, ecstasy and insanity that served as anesthetic for the man.
Additionally, in each hand, his normal right hand and prosthetic left, were the collars of bloodied boys and girls, three on each for a total of six.
"Wh-What's going on?"
The man stared at Kamijou with bloodshot eyes."Kid, what're you doing here? Only magicians are allow here! Are you an intruder? A friend of that flame magician?"
He was approximately three meters away and continued to allow his saliva to fly. However, Kamijou stood his ground."You... those people."
"Of course these are just materials! Alchemy requires materials! Why're you looking at them? That's weird! Aureolus Izzard and his Limen Magna stand before you and you're looking at the materials!? I should be perfect!! Why are you unmoved!?! What do I lack!?"
The name Aureolus Izzard shocked Kamijou, finally caused him to back away. However, Himegami Aisa, beside him, maintained her expression.
"Poor thing... If you hadn't realized the truth, you could have continued to be Aureolus Izzard."
"Ku...!? Damn you!!" With Aureolus' growl flew a large golden dart from the right sleeve, which quickly spun around the alchemist, the golden chain making some sort of boundary.
The dart pierced through the bloody students that Aureolus had dragged with him. The six students immediately melted into something gold. It was no ordinary fluid. The mercury-like metallic substance's hissing and the noisy beast-like breathing of the steam proved that the fluid was molten metal.
"Wha— DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT YOU'RE DOING YOU BASTARD?!" Seeing this, Kamijou Touma worried for the melted students, ignoring the murderous technique itself. Aureolus faced Kamijou, seething with anger.
"Of course. ACCEPT YOUR FATE!" Aureolus cried out and the golden dart and chain spun around the alchemist with increasing velocity. Even the surrounding golden dirt flew in mid air like a tornado. It seemed like a wall, yet like a tsunami and yet like a meteor crashing into the sea. It raised waves around Aureolus that extended to the ceiling.
During this, from the corner of his eye, he saw Himegami move. She wordlessly bent down and lifted the injured girl before backing away. Staggering slightly but visibly not anxious, she clearly knew she had to back away and get clear of the attack range.
Luckily, the fluid formed by the spike was different from water. Rather, it was more like sticky, melted chocolate. Even if it were to crash like a tsunami, splash damage would not have been a factor.
Kamijou followed the burdened Himegami's lead and backed away. Then, a hole appeared in the golden tsunami from whence a golden dart lunged with terrifying speed.
"...!?" Though he would have dodged it, as he was backing off, he could not find proper balance in such short notice. Instead, he chose to use right hand to grab the attack that approached.
The sound of ripping muscles was heard from his hand. The golden dart was not so easily caught; it retreated and returned to the golden storm. The cut palm felt hot, as if scalded by a metal plate.
After a moment, the golden tsunami began to rise. Kamijou jumped backwards and then rolled, avoiding the molten hot attack. The golden sea separated Kamijou and Aureolus a distance of three meters.
...Ku. Damn it. I have no feeling in my right hand! Kamijou grit his teeth at the difficulty of clenching his right hand's five fingers. The right hand that could negate any miracle had no power to block a small knife.
"What—What's going on?" After the gold tsunami subsided, Aureolus reappeared, seeming to be more anxious, perhaps even confused, than Kamijou. The golden dart in his hand began to disintegrate like sand.
Kamijou's right hand, Imagine Breaker, began its effect. The dart was something imbued with super natural power, which was destroyed upon contact with his hand. The wound on Kamijou's hand was caused by the blade just before destruction.
"Just what exactly is up with your range hand? Certainly... it won't change? Without question, my Limen Magna is alchemy's pinnacle! It's a miracle that even two schools, Bohemia and Vienna, abandoned thinking it impossible! This is unbelievable! Exactly what did you use to negate my theory!?"
Limen... Magna? Kamijou felt his wound pulsate with his heartbeat. He automatically frowned and analyzed. By "change" does he mean that molten metal?
"Ha. How satisfying! Haha! THIS IS SATISFYING. YOU'RE TRULY FASCINATING, BOY! WHAT'S YOUR BODY'S SECRET? LET ME, A MAGIC DOCTOR, DISSECT YOU AND ANSWER ALL THE QUESTIONS!!!"
Aureolus swung his right hand vertically and revealed a new dart that was pointed at the spot between Kamijou's eyebrows, exacting the killing intent held in his eyes.
He's coming!?
The dart nearly reached his forehead. Kamijou had frantically used his right hand to block his face, swatting the dart aside, causing a sharp, cut-like pain in his own hand.
"Tch!" Aureolus attempted to use his chain to counter, but Kamijou's right hand shattered it like glass before he could catch it. Another dart appeared from his right sleeve.
Just as Kamijou prepared to dodge, golden darts fired out like machine guns from Aureolus' suit.
It was fast. The firing, the damaging and preparation for the next each lasted less than a fifth of a second. The level was no longer something a human could handle. However, Kamijou could not simply run away or even turn his back on others. The smallest mistake would have allowed for a dart to lance his chest or other vitals.
Luckily, the dart, though fast, had a relatively simple trajectory. It continued to fire in straight lines which were much easier to predict than the straights and hooks of a boxer.
"Ku! Ahh!!"
Though Kamijou knew he ran the risk of cutting his hand, he could only choose to deflect with Imagine Breaker. Considering the dart's ability to transform, he would have been melted into gold if he had blocked with anything else. Thus, after some time, the remains of darts and chains surrounded him.
"HAHA! HAHAHAHA! SUCH AN INTERESTING HUMAN SPECIMEN! IT'S NOT EVEN USING A CHANT TO ABSORB THE MAGIC OR A LANCE OF LONGINUS GOD SLAYER! IT USES ITS BARE HAND TO DESTROY MY LIMEN MAGNA!" Though he was continuously unable to kill his enemy, Aureolus seemed quite ecstatic. He was like an adventurer exploring some mysterious place that none had reached prior."IT'S NOT ENOUGH! HAHA! BOY! THIS ISN'T ENOUGH TO TEST YOUR LIMITS!"
The speeds of the golden dart's destruction and regeneration more than doubled, continuously ripping the air and flying at Kamijou.
Kamijou's hand was already stained in blood, unable to even clench into a fist.
Da-Damn it...! MY FINGERS MIGHT GET SLICED! As Kamijou experienced the frightening thought invade his body, a dart unexpectedly missed and whizzed past the slowly moving Kamijou
"The enemy missed" was much too optimistic a thought. Standing behind Kamijou was Himegami Aisa and the injured girl!
"HIME—!"
Kamijou turned his head around and attempted to yell. However, facing where the dart originated, the action was too slow. It was aimed for the area between her eyes. Perhaps Aureolus' extreme mental confusion caused him to not consider showing any mercy for the Deep Blood he had labored to obtain.
Before them was the shocked look of Himegami Aisa's face. Kamijou attempted to shout... but the sound of a dart piercing flesh was heard. In fact, there was a shocked cry whose origin Kamijou was unsure of. He could not tell because the scene before him was much too pitiful and much too unexpected.
The golden dart had not pierced Himegami Aisa.
Instead, the thoroughly injured girl that she was carrying, a girl who could not possibly lift a finger, had actually moved her hand to protect Himegami.
The dart deeply pierced into her soft hand but the girl did not show a look of pain. Instead, she used her other hand to gently push Himegami's chest, swaying her and forcing her one step away from the girl.
She seemed to mutter something with an extremely weak voice. She went unheard... but she smiled.
Rather than a smile for her, it was one for the consoling of others.
Then, the anonymous girl was simply transmuted into flowing gold.
For an instant, Kamijou seemed to shout something. He knew not what he shouted but he had nearly ruptured his throat. The alchemist also seemed taken aback and, likely due to luck (or a lack of it), the golden chain stopped winding.
Kamijou grabbed the chain, not with his sure-kill right hand but instead his left. His instincts told him that only the dart could carry out Limen Magna because, if the chains could, Aureolus would have swung the chain rather than fire the dart because of the extended lateral range.
"Ugh...!" Aureolus naturally attempted to pull the chain back but was held straight like a rope in tug-of-war as Kamijou used his foot to hold it in place. Aureolus himself was the one pulled.
And... in front of him was the fiery liquid gold he had created!
"GUOAHHHHHHHH!!"
Upon stepping into the golden fluid, Aureolus attempted to escape, but could not. The golden chain had become a bind, restricting his movements.
Aureolus roared and released the chain hidden within his suit, managing to eventually drag himself out of the gold. Although the contact was only two seconds, his foot was smoking.
Perhaps understanding he could no longer bind him with the chain, Kamijou's bloodied hand abandoned it.
Should he run? Or should he attack?
As Aureolus hesitated, he witnessed something unbelievable. Kamijou bent over in an attempt to maximize his jumping distance and jump over the golden stream in order to attack the opposite alchemist.
In truth, the abandonment of the chain had nothing to do with locking Aureolus in place. As for the leaping distance, anyone could have told him it was impossible. The gold stream between them was three meters wide, which was possible with a running start, but impossible starting at rest.
Even so, Kamijou's eyes lacked hesitation.
It was as if he were saying that even if he were to fail and jumped into the burning gold, then he just had to beat the enemy before him before he was burned.
The intense, unrestrained emotions caused Aureolus his fear.
The next instant, Kamijou jumped without hesitation.
It had seemed like a suicidal jump... but it was not toward Aureolus. Instead, his foot landed on a slightly protruded platform window in the corridor that allowed in the shining sunset; Kamijou flew at him!
"...!"
Kamijou had already jumped before Aureolus could prepare an attack, and from a position much higher than both Aureolus and the floor. The alchemist's survival instincts told him to respond quickly and use a dart to shoot Kamijou out of the air. However, as he rushed to raise Limen Magna, he realized that Kamijou Touma was overhead. If he used Limen Magna, the fiery gold would have rained down.
"Apparently, I didn't foresee this...!"
Actions, pride and a burning foot were all abandoned by Aureolus as he frantically rolled to flee Kamijou's attack. In comparison to the shame of losing to an ordinary person, a non-magician, unendurable damage was a greater fear.
All the alchemist could do was crash about as he ran away on his battered legs, into the darkness.
Part 8
The fake Aureolus continued to tread the corridor's long, seemingly endless distance. After he was grabbed by the boy, he had lost all of his power, which was over all trivial. The golden dart was merely a materialized tool. Limen Magna's actual identity was the entire fortress called Misawa Cram School.
Even if the tool's mana supply were cut off, as long as the main body was supplied with mana and the shape was recreated, it was reusable. Though, this was not the reason for the fake's escape. The power in the boy's right hand had seemed limitless. No matter how much mana was placed from the main body into each dart, the right hand still eroded it. If such a cycle had continued, the body would have eventually been depleted of mana, a possible crisis that sent chills down Aureolus' spine.
"Ku, damn..." The fake Aureolus still planned the next step. Even if Limen Magna itself were ineffective, both Stiyl and the boy had to carefully avoid the molten gold."...In other words, if there's so much gold they can't dodge, they'll be powerless. Ha. I have 1982 pieces of material in here and naturally, it'll be more than enough to be rid of them."
The area of question was large, but it was still a building. If he chose to pour enormous amounts of gold from the top level like water bursting from a dam, he could have easily flooded the levels below. Just imagining it, just imagining it consume his unhappy feelings was enjoyable for the alchemist.
"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'RE INCOMPLETE! HOW COULD I DIE! NO, THERE'RE MORE! THERE ARE STILL 50, 000 HUMAN SPECIMENS IN THE WORLD WORTH RESEARCHING! HAHA! IT'S JUST A PITY THAT THE BOY MUST DIE BEFORE I GET TO UNDERSTAND THE SECRETS OF HIS BODY!"
Fortunately, the alchemist had placed the cram school students on the back of the coin and now he simply had to gather these materials. Once done, all that remained was the trivial matter of piercing Limen Magna through them. Giving it consideration, Stiyl had destroyed the core of the Gregorian Chant replica, the tool that allowed him to manipulate the students' actions.
"Regardless of anything, these guys are against me..." Anger ripped the air like a burning blade but the sounds of footsteps behind him were even sharper."...!?"
Aureolus' back seemed to visibly shrink as he heard the footsteps. When afraid, ordinary people would typically choose to run away. It was a normal response. People would choose to run rather than endure irritating and painful events. If possible, they would ignore it.
However, the footsteps disallowed the alchemist even the ability to act on primitive instincts associated with normality. The footsteps contained killing intent, bringing with them despair. If he had turned away, he believed, he would have chopped into 100 pieces. Thus, Aureolus could only seek its source. His heart told him to crazily run away without looking and his mind was already unable to endure the pain. However, like a puppet, the alchemist could only look on.
There, ten meters way, Kamijou Touma stood like a savage beast that had escaped a laboratory.
"Wh-What's going..." He did not understand. He was supposed to be perfect. How could someone have pushed him so far?
But, Kamijou Touma truly stood there.
"...Have you had enough fun?"
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 had seen Hell. He saw people die before him and he understood that somewhere, he knew not where, many had died. But, he had managed to save just one injured girl. The alchemist before him had taken away his heart's one saving grace. Kamijou spoke not of this for if he had the time to speak, the efforts were better spent elsewhere. His eyes glared at his enemy a look filled with the iron inferno of murder.
"Ugh..." Aureolus disorderedly raised Limen Magna out of pure fear, which gave Kamijou even more determination.
Wordlessly, his feet dashed, or rather exploded, with all his might towards the alchemist. Consumed by fear and anxiety, Aureolus fired the dart at Kamijou's face to keep him from approaching. In response, Kamijou crouched like a spider and easily dodged, even taking an additional step at the same time.
"!?"
The alchemist's nervousness rose. However, even if his restlessness caused Limen Magna to be less effective, he could still prepare six in a single second. He recovered the dart and once again fired at the boy's face.
Having already bent down, Kamijou had nowhere to go. He used his right fist to land an uppercut into the alchemist's abdomen, shattering the dart and chain in the same stroke. The perfect counterattack had seemingly predicted the dart's path.
Crouching down was a ploy. If there were no retreat options coupled with a large opening, the enemy would predictably attack. Thus, the straightforward trajectory was much too simple compared to the rule-less alleyway brawls. With a distance of ten meters, just dodging the first dart would not have covered the distance. Kamijou had devised this tactic as a way to dodge second attack.
And... if he could do it...
"Wait!" With a stunned, twisted expression, Aureolus roared in an attempt to fire a third. However, before it could happen, Kamijou's fist had found its way to the alchemist's face. Then, without slowing down, despite the one-head difference in height, Kamijou smashed his forehead into Aureolus' jaw.
Having taken two direct strikes to the head, Aureolus stumbled to the floor. He attempted to roll away but Kamijou did not allow. He stamped heavily onto the gold prosthetic and maneuvered his foot to remove it. With the sound of crushing fruit, the wound, which was given makeshift treatment, ripped.
"GYYYYAAAAAAAAH!!!" Aureolus screamed in pain and shot another Limen Magna at Kamijou, who was about to sit on the alchemist.
Despite the risk, Kamijou used his left hand to grab the golden chain in order to keep it intact. It seemed he had not considered that the slightest mistake would have turned him into gold.
He twisted his left hand and tied the golden chain to his arm. Once Limen Magna was completely sealed, Kamijou looked down upon the alchemist.
Idiotic... if this keeps up I'll be killed. Aureolus' better judgment had him cut the golden chain linked to the inside of his suit. Having previously balanced his balance with the chain's resistance, Kamijou swayed. Utilizing this opportunity, Aureolus rolled away and escaped Kamijou's clutches. The alchemist cried in his own heart. Rather than the Limen Magna he so believed in be destroyed, he had abandoned it of his own will, questioning his entire belief system.
He had believed that he could save his life if he abandoned everything, which would have been for nothing if it failed. However, Aureolus could not walk, let alone run, with his prosthetic leg ripped out.
Kamijou raised the golden chain and whipped the crawling Aureolus. The heavy hit caused the air to leave his lungs, 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. The boy was not acting on emotion, simply because he could not. His mind was infuriated and blank, reality having little hold.
"I—gya—sp-spare—me."
The words seemed to douse Kamijou's brain in cold water, clearing him of his anger. It was an unreasonable request. How many had he killed? Considering how many, there was only one option. Even in superhero movies with special effects that were shown to children, none would have hesitated to kill such a person.
But, Aureolus was inhuman. He knew he could not run, but he continued to stretch his arms to struggle.
Kamijou began to recall the knight, abandoned in the hall, the students who still continued incanting the Gregorian Chant, damaging their own bodies, and the anonymous girl who was morphed into gold because she protected Himegami. He knew there was only one option.
Kamijou wordlessly tugged at the golden chain... but... in the end chose to let go.
Aureolus crawled away on the floor, only capable of escaping the boy who had caused his downfall, wondering what misfortunes befell him. He was relieved to be living.
He was still human, how could Kamijou have killed him?
The fake Aureolus no longer even knew what floor it was. Though he managed to tumble down a few floors, he no longer had the strength to crawl. His body no longer had the energy. His back rested against the wall of the dark emergency staircase while he stared at his remaining hand.
Since he was punched by the boy, he felt like the strength that supported him was being taken away. The sense of powerlessness told him that a certain mana source was cut off.
It was then that the fake Aureolus realized. He was not human. If the existence that provided him energy ceased to exist, he could not even stand. He was like Limen Magna, a tool amongst numerous substitutes.
"Ahh..." The alchemist sighed as the feeling in his fingers gradually faded. He somehow felt satisfied.
What is this? Whether it's Limen Magna or this body, magic is negated on contact. What is that boy's right hand? Thinking of such things, the alchemist was like a teenager looking through a telescope, his eyes sparkling with the thirst for knowledge.
The greatest question in his heart appeared: How much humanity can you maintain while you raise existence and pride?
Aureolus seemed to find his answer. Though the boy's abnormal power was a part of it, it was the fact that, though he had such power, he still grew angered and saddened like a human.
Considering it, his tragic fate seemed meaningless. A scholar who found his final answer had no reason to live on and think.
Footsteps...
He weakly looked up the stairs and found Stiyl standing there.
"Naturally I can see that... you haven't gotten tired of killing me?" said the self-mocking alchemist."Even if you leave me alone, I'll certainly die anyways. Why do you still want to kill me?"
"Yeah. It's true I have no interest in killing you. Besides, that child didn't interact with you." Stiyl responded with disinterest."Speaking of which, a member of the 13 Knights was killed. I suppose you didn't do that, right?"
The fake Aureolus continued to lean and continued to stare up. His weapon was Limen Magna. Though he could not turn anything and everything into gold, it could not have possibly forced the enchanted knight's armor into that dented shape.
"...Hmph, speaking of that... Certainly, I never killed any of them."
"What?"
"Inevitably, I lost. You can go ahead and think of the reason." Aureolus said with a smirk."Speaking of which, since you're not interested in me, why're you here? Naturally, can't I die alone?"
"It's the complete opposite you idiot. I'm here to send you off. Could you endure dying by yourself like this?"
"..." For some time, the alchemist stared blankly at Stiyl.
Then, he smiled.
It was a rarity for the man, but he smiled. Though a fake, he was a scholar and, as of then, was extremely satisfied that he had managed to obtain the answer to humanity's highest limit.
There was still some time until he died, less than ten minutes.
He was a scholar. In the remaining time, he would think of a new question to ponder, perhaps a research topic waiting for him.
However, the alchemist lacked the time to ponder. For a scholar, it was Hell to have doubts that were not researchable before death. It was an unavoidably unhappy feeling of regret.
It was also why Stiyl spoke.
"Before you find that sweet question and ponder hard, let me send you off while your goals are complete."
"Hmph." Aureolus smiled."I can't tell if you're an angel or the devil."
"Those two are similar beings that only differ from whom they take their orders from." Stiyl slowly walked down the stairs."I prove why my name is the strongest. Fortis931." Stiyl's black coat writhed and numerous runic carts scattered about like sakura petals.
"Magic name, huh?" muttered Aureolus as Stiyl walked down the stairs. What was his magic name? The alchemist began to recall."Oh. I remember."
My honor is for the world—Honos628.
Having finally remember his name and purpose, the alchemist's eyes narrowed.
"Do I need to make a final prayer for you as a priest, alchemist?" Down the stairs, Stiyl Magnus spoke as he arrived before the man.
"Stop dragging this out. You're just a magician."
The moment the fake Aureolus replied, Stiyl's flames entered him through the mouth, quickly consuming the inside of his body. The flames burst out from every opening and the abdomen shattered, splitting him in two. Copious flames continued to burst out and Aureolus' upper body shot out like a rocket.
Part 9
In a certain student dormitory, or rather, a certain student dormitory's bathtub, the girl named Index, watching over the house, was exchanging looks with the stray cat named Sphinx. The calico cat seemed an indoor cat, lacking a cute personality. It did not chase after thrown balls of yarn, nested under tables even after being called and snatched people's food while they ate. The final point was significant to Index, who had a voracious appetite, and to Kamijou Touma, who cooked for her.
It seemed imperative that she train it. Having decided to abandon the loving treatment, she now battled the bubble covered calico cat. As a side note, Index read through Kamijou's elaborate explanation of how to operate the bathroom's automatic hot water supply and had gingerly figured it out.
...But, where did Touma go?
A few questions rested in her mind. The first was from during the conversation. It was not because Kamijou had said that he had wanted to test whether the phone would work but rather when Kamijou had so easily forgiven that she had eaten his pudding.
Speaking of which, it was the same for the shampoo-bubble covered cat whose fur was standing up. To put it simply, Kamijou did not do what he did not want to do. Even if he knew there was no other way, if he truly did not want to do it, he would pursue an alternative.
It was truly odd that Kamijou had not pursued those two things that he disagreed with.
Having decided, Index nodded her head. She exited the bathroom and donned her habit, 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 was not an option. In all honesty, Index knew not how to operate the phone and since Kamijou's residence phone had a faxing function, there were so many buttons that Index did not know where to begin.
Would she give up? As Index considered returning to the room, she noticed what appeared to be a tarot card stuck on the wall. It was the runic imprint that the magician Stiyl Magnus utilized.
"..." Index stared at the card with distrust. Something was happening. Kamijou had surely gone alone to deal with something.
Index recalled that a few days ago, she had met the feeling-less teenager. Despair and anxiety caused Index restlessness.
Run. She could only run.
Luckily, with the knowledge of 103, 000 grimoires, she understood the workings of Stiyl's magic. The runes required the magician to continuously provide mana to maintain it.
For example, when a soul is lost, a thin string-like something would link the soul and body. Though Index could not use magic, she could trace the mana to prevent from getting lost.
And, like that, Index ran off for the battlefield while neglecting to even lock the door.
She did not know that that action would bring about the worst consequences.
Notes
1. ↑ Black Jack
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