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STIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIYYYYLLLLLLLL!!

The sky is dyed red. The ‘Apostle’s Cross’ would be activated within the next hour. It can be five minutes later, or an hour later.

In the orange sky that is gradually turning purple, the first star starts to shine. However, it’s the only one shining. It’s impossible to confirm the formation of the complex constellation.

Just when nobody knows when it’s the end of the world.

Kamijou Touma and Oriana Thompson are engaging in a fierce fight.

“!!”

There’s still around 3 metres left. Facing Kamijou, who’s still clenching his fists, not letting go of his target, Oriana continues to maintain a minimum distance as she moves backwards, tearing another flashcard apart with her mouth.

The spell is activated.

Unnatural blue flames spurt out from the ground, getting between Kamijou and Oriana. However, Kamijou doesn’t stop in his tracks, instead hitting the flame wall with his right fist.

The flame wall seems like it’s going to avoid Kamijou’s fist, as it bends backwards, forming a ‘<’ shape.

“!!”

Kamijou’s fist cuts through the air, and the flames that are bending towards the sides strongly wrap around his body.

His centre of gravity is already tilting forward, and now he can no longer back away.

Even so, his right hand can’t reach it.

There’s not enough time for him to swing his right fist around to block whichever wall.

If so.

(Got to move forward…)

Kamijou gathers his strength on his feet that are going to be tripped up by the flame wall in front of him.

(A little further!!)

He continues to move forward like an arrow, swinging his fist at the deepest part of this ‘<’ shaped wall.

PAM!! With the sound of a balloon being burst, the flame wall scatters all around.

Oriana Thompson is just ahead.

She tears another flashcard.

She completely ignores Stiyl, who’s right beside her, aiming only at Kamijou.

But just as the spell is being activated, Kamijou leaps into Oriana’s arms. The asphalt road spikes that she originally intended to release fire from an unexpected place, like attacking an enemy with artillery, using the largest angle.

This time, Kamijou clenches his right fist again, and swings it at Oriana’s face again.

But,

Just as the fist is about to make contact, Oriana uses those long legs of hers to trip Kamijou from the inside to the outside. Kamijou loses his balance, and the fist that’s supposed to hit ends up hitting the sky. In order to avoid this fall, Kamijou places a knee on the ground to support himself.

“Oh my, your head is in a rather embarrassing position.”

Oriana slams another kick into Kamijou’s face.

“GYAA…AAHHH!?”

Kamijou can’t help but cry out, as the spinning kick sends him flying aside.

(Not enough…)

Kamijou uses the momentum caused as he’s rolls back up. At the same time, Oriana tears another flashcard. She tosses a softball-sized glass ball from her left hand. On the other hand, Kamijou picks himself up from the rubble of the asphalt ground, and does a flying tackle.

Clang!! The glass ball is destroyed. The fragments move inwards, piercing through the rubble of the asphalt ground, landing straight onto the ground.

(Just this alone isn’t enough.)

Kamijou uses this time to rush back at Oriana.

In contrast, Oriana rushes back into Kamijou’s arms at a terrifying speed.

“Wha…!!”

There’s no time to even dodge or block.

Oriana, who’s closing in at such a short distance, tears another flashcard with her mouth. Her hand slips from Kamijou’s abdomen to his chest.

In that instant.

The feeling of a bluster. With a ‘bam’ blunt sound, Kamijou’s body arches back in a ‘<’ shape, and floats up with the chest as the centre. He continues to gulp heavily down his throat, and as his feet leave the ground by 40cm, he is completely unable to move around with his body.

“Dong.”

With the sound of a fool being hit, Oriana sends another punch into Kamijou’s chest.

“Eh…ugh…!!”

With a muffled sound, the fist sends Kamijou flying backwards by 3 metres.

(I can’t beat Oriana with just this…!!)

Lying on the ground, his hands supporting him, Kamijou feels the bitterness as his grits his teeth.

Oriana specializes in using close ranged combat with her body, and long ranged combat with her spells. No matter how much Kamijou waves his hands and feet around to fight, or how many times he missed by a step, it’s like there’s a protective barrier between both of them, his feet normally being dodged at the last minute.

If so, he can’t attack Oriana like this.

No matter how much he tries to chase her, no matter how much he tries to hassle her, no matter how he desperately swing his fist about, it’s the same.

“Hoho! Seems like the sky’s going to be dark soon.”

Oriana Thompson closes in on Kamijou.

Such a seemingly defenseless action has in fact no blind spots.

(Damn it…)

Though it’s too late, he realises that this is Oriana’s battle plan. Oriana doesn’t use her best moves right at the start. She maintains an appropriate balance of power between the two of them, and when the enemy gets carried away and misses, gives a strong counterattack. This is probably a battle technique that she learnt to minimize the using of her spells, since she ‘can’t use spells that she used before’.

She isn’t mocking the enemy.

To Oriana Thompson, this is the best blueprint for her.

“At this time, kids should be heading home, right? Or are you going to have an exciting night with this nee-chan?”

Facing Oriana, who’s approaching him, Kamijou rolls on the ground, and maintaining a low posture, leaps up at Oriana.

A fierce conflict between these two is renewed.

Kamijou dodges and blocks the enemy’s attack, but his fist still can’t hit her.

(One more step…)

He clenches his fist, attacking from the blind spots, enduring the pain.

(There’s still one step, if there’s any…if there’s any way to help me gain advantage!!)

He continues to swing his fist, strongly wishing.

Just like this, he continues to repeat this attack that seems to be blocked by an invisible wall, one that can’t hit the enemy.


Stiyl Magnus’ consciousness is still murky.

(Ugh…ah…)

His world is upside down, pain can be felt from his jaw, as he feels that he lost his balance. It took three seconds for him to realise that he has fallen.

The strength in his hands and feet are gradually recovering, but this is still too slow.

In comparison to his large physique, he doesn’t have the strength required for close-ranged combat. This isn’t because Stiyl doesn’t train himself, but rather it’s a fundamental issue.

He’s using runes cards and codified spells, which require a lot of magical power. Magic isn’t created from nothing, it’s a power that can only be created by undergoing different magical exercises within the body.

To an ordinary magician, this isn’t too difficult for them. But for people who use a pope-level spell like Stiyl’s ‘Innocentius’, it’s a different thing altogether. Repeating the same mundane motion over and over again, and the magical ‘activity’ will pressurise Stiyl’s body. Thus, he’ll use up more energy. In other words, this means that his insides and outsides are working at the same time.

Unlike Kanzaki Kaori, he isn’t a Saint chosen by God.

Unlike Tsuchimikado Motoharu, he isn’t a genius magician who specialises in a certain type of spells.

Even so, he has a reason to fight.

Thus, he learnt all about these runes from this Christian organization and got the pope-level spell ‘Innocentius’. The price is that he has to abandon any possibility of close ranged combat, to the state where he can’t light any fire without using rune cards.

But the reaction caused by this determination is now corroding his body.

(Damn…it…)

His consciousness is wavering.

In this situation, he can hear the sound of a fist being swung and spells colliding. That amateur is still fighting. Even if he’s hit, even if he’s knocked down, he won’t back down, he won’t give up. He will grit his teeth and clench his fist.

The amateur who he can never be like.

No matter how much time passes, he will never be able to reach that position.

Still,

‘One of the five elements that constructs this world, o great creator of flames.’

He has spells that he learnt in order to protect a certain girl.

To fight against those who trample on that smile. For this purpose, he endured blood-shedding pain to learn this flame magic. This is the result of him putting in all his effort to learn this magic, with a slight feeling pushing him forward.

“The light of salvation that gives birth to life, the light of judgment that punishes evildoers.”

Stiyl Magnus knows.

Such a spell is already useless. There’s already someone standing beside that petite girl. Thus, this spell is completely useless now.

“While bringing peace and stability at the same time, it also destroys the cold and dark misfortune.”

Even so, this spell is also able to protect people other than that girl.

For example, a wide-eyed teary petite girl whose hands are dyed in someone else’s blood, and has to depend on something that is so completely useless and such a stupid technique.

For example, a girl who’s not a magician, but because she has a Cross on her chest, she was misidentified as one, and is now in her own pool of blood.

“Fire is the name, sword is the title!”

However, such an action won’t bring Stiyl any consolation. It’s like making a cake for your favourite person, only for it to be eaten by a complete stranger who tells you that “it’s delicious”. No matter how someone praises you for it, it can’t hide that empty feeling inside.

“Show yourself.”

Even so, if he helps them, he can still protect that certain girl’s smile in the end.

If protecting Academy City can protect that person’s smile,

Stiyl Magnus will gladly accept this task.

Using all his strength just to help some other unrelated people.

And because of this slight lingering feeling, he has to beat this enemy now.

“‘Swallow thyself’, turn it into power—‘Innocentius’!!”

From the insides of his robes, a large number of cards fly out. The runes fly out like a paper avalanche, and with him as the centre, they stick onto the cracked and devastated ground.

The flames shoot out.

The flames are released like a red lotus, moving inwards, and disappearing. In the middle is a black humanoid figure, the 3,000 degree Celsius god is standing just beside him.

“…Go, ‘Innocentius’—”

The magician says this as he slowly gets up.

He supports his hands and feet, standing up in a shaky manner.

Even so, he will not bend that axle of his body and soul.

He shouts out to the sky.

His sorcery name,

“FORTIS 931!!”

The thing that he seals onto his soul, on this ‘Innocentius’ that he worked so hard to set up is…

(-"I PROVE WHY MY NAME IS THE STRONGEST HERE!!"-)


The sky is gradually turning deep purple.

As if ink has smudged through the back of a paper, the stars are starting to appear in the sky. Right now, there are two or three lights. In another 10 minutes, the sky might be full of stars. The stars won’t start shining when it’s night time, as a more accurate term is that the they’re always shining, but don’t really stand out because of the sun. Thus, as the sky grows darker with time, the first class stars, second class, third class, and so on will all appear in the sky.

As the glow of the night sky is about to appear.

Oriana Thompson glances around and sees the light of the flames that cover the slightly dark sky.

“STIYL!!”

Kamijou notices this abnormal change as well, but the other person carries a smile that’s different from Oriana, a cynical one, and without turning back, shouts out his own sorcery name. As if it’s responding to him, the intensity of the light increases.

“!!”

Right now, Oriana is facing a pursuing Kamijou, as she continues to retreat. At this moment, the large humanoid figure got behind her, and makes a sound that indicates that it’s consuming oxygen. Its large orange arm swings down.

“This nee-chan…has no interest in getting tortured by a candle!!”

She moves aside, dodging Kamijou’s fist, and using this movement, moves to Kamijou’s right.

As if she’s planning to use the boy as a shield, Oriana moves Kamijou around, using him to block the incoming flame god that’s coming in from another side.

“…”

Stiyl, who’s standing from slightly far away, frowns.

“Die together.”

“WAAHHH!!”

Kamijou frantically backs away, and after that, ‘Innocentius’ right arm swings to the side. The abnormally long arm burns the back of Kamijou’s hair, aiming towards Oriana’s upper body.

Even though the boy is in a position where he would definitely be consumed by the flames.

“Wha…!!”

At the moment when a really surprised Oriana jumps back,

“THAT’S DANGEROUS, IDIOT!!”

This time, Kamijou swings a right hook at the giant flame god’s right arm. The large arm is extinguished, but it then continues on in an abnormal manner.

3,000 degrees Celsius, hellish flames that would melt any skin on even the slightest contact.

(Ugh!!)

Even if she knows that it won’t hit her, Oriana’s movements froze as the flames move in an unexpected manner. In the meantime, Kamijou takes a huge step and moves in front of her.

(Oh no…)

Just as Oriana’s about to use her hand to block.

The fist that has all of Kamijou’s weight on it is swung towards her defence. Because of the explosive sound just now, Oriana has completely no time to dodge this. Numbness and pain can be felt in both her hands.

“!!”

Oriana thinks, this is really bad.

Oriana, who would normally maintain this distance and fight back with magic or physical objects, doesn’t want this to become a simple grappling or punching match. Though she dislikes the difference between genders, but facing someone whose style of combat is to use his own fists, it’s foolish for her as a female to fight physically when she normally fights intelligently.

Oriana is unable to interpret Kamijou’s movements, so she continues to move backwards, as if she’s bending her body back.

“Dust to dust, earth to earth. Red Vampire Hunter Cross!!”

A new flame blows everything apart.

Stiyl, who’s holding a red flame sword in the right hand, and a blue one in the left hand, rushes in fast to Kamijou’s back.

(Oh no…!)

Oriana bites her tongue. Though being hit once or twice by the boy’s fist won’t cause any critical injury, the flame swords are different. Their explosiveness is much more dangerous than their cutting capability, such that she’ll be reduced to nothing with even the slightest touch, not even the bone will be left.

(I should first settle that magician—)

Oriana’s concentration moves from Kamijou to Stiyl.

“Eh…?”

Another one follows up.

As Stiyl continues to run, he trips because of the debris on the asphalt floor.

“Go back home, you stinking magician!!”

Kamijou shouts as he extends his fist towards Oriana.

Oriana, who’s stunned, immediately regains her concentration and protects her face.

“Shut up, amateur!”

Stiyl, who has fallen behind Kamijou, knocks the flame sword onto the ground. With a loud explosive sound, a large and strong gust surges forward like a wall. Kamijou, feeling the pressure come in from behind, loses his balance and misses his target.

The fist passes through the gap in Oriana’s defence.

It hits somewhere slightly below the face—the middle of her chest.

Dong! It sounded like someone stamping hard onto the ground.

“Ke…Ah…AHHHHHH!!”

Oriana’s breathing is interrupted, as she backs off and falls. She can’t breathe properly as she continues to roll backwards, trying to maintain the distance. She wants to tear a flashcard, but her mouth is trembling so much that she can’t do it properly.

It was a direct hit.

The reason is simple, because she couldn’t anticipate Kamijou and Stiyl’s movements.

If they were just working individually, Oriana would definitely read them, lure them, counter them, and win without even a scratch.

But—

“Innocentius!”

Stiyl gives the instructions, and the giant flame god continues to advance. Just as Oriana’s about to turn around and dodge, Stiyl moves in from behind and chants a new spell.

“O flames, give the pain of a giant—”

This is the spell that he needs to chant in order to create his main weapon, the flame sword. Just as Stiyl is about to pass by Kamijou, however,

“Stop blocking, idiot!”

“How about you get aside!!”

The duo’s teamwork rating is 0, as both their powers are obstructing each other. But their messy movements are still directed at Oriana.

(I can’t read them…!?)

She finally tears a flashcard after much difficulty and blocks the flame sword with the ice sword that she created. However, Kamijou knocks into Stiyl’s back, and is absolutely merciless towards his own ally. No matter what, it looks like he’s attacking Stiyl. With this increase in force, Oriana heavily bends backwards. At this moment, the flame sword that Stiyl continued to use breaks.

It’s one thing when they’re just assisting each other, but in this situation, they’re basically pulling each other down. It’s like getting involved in their own battle. However, this makes it harder to read.

As both sides aren’t targeting Oriana, she can’t tell when the real attack will come. The timing is extremely tight, it’s like a bullet bouncing about in a small and enclosed room.

“WOOOHH…!!”

Oriana, who’s still backpedalling, continues to swing her ice sword amidst this chaos.

She’s aiming for Stiyl’s waist.

However, this isn’t the real target. Even if the enemy can dodge the ice sword, she can instantly manipulate the ice particles and assimilate them into a sword, and redirect it in the direction where Stiyl dodges. In this situation, Oriana’s wrists can no longer withstand the sudden change in centre of gravity, and she nearly broke her wrists.

(Anyway, I have to hit you! Let this nee-chan’s move render you weak on the waist!!)

The ice sword is attacking at a terrifying pace, piercing towards Stiyl’s waist.

Just before that.

“!!”

Kamijou, who was behind, gets in front and blocks the ice sword with his right hand. In an instant, Oriana’s weapon is destroyed.(Normally...they would be arguing. But to think that they would be helping each other even now?)

Before she can even express her surprise, Kamijou and Stiyl are already prepared to make their next move.

Kamijou Touma is bending low, readying his right hand.

Behind him, Stiyl Magnus is also clenching his fist.

Maybe both parties have no intentions at all,

But this is a partnership formed by blind attacks on each other.

—Both of them are working together, launching their attacks at the same time.

Kamijou and Stiyl’s fist are coming at the same time.

Oriana Thompson thinks about which side should she be blocking, and responds too late.

Bonk!

Being punched in the face and abdomen, Oriana’s body strongly flies back.

“Eh…ack…!!’

She slams onto the ground hard. She feels that she’s showing an extremely ugly movement as she is knocked down. She can’t breathe properly, her balance is unstable, and the strength is now gone from her legs.

In this blurry vision, Oriana sees it.

They’re coming in from the front.

Obviously, she knows what the ‘enemies’ now would do if she is to let her guard down. Even if she knows this, Oriana can’t get up due to the impact she suffered. Her confused brain is unable to issue commands to her weak and powerless body.

(I lost…?)

She sees the flashcards which are attached to the metal ring, drop in front of her.

The flashcard which signifies her power.

(I’ve…already…lost…?)

This fact made her hands even weaker. Amidst this blurry consciousness, she intends to hand her body over to this weakness that’s striking like waves.

(The…solution, what would happen…)

A certain thing catches Oriana’s attention, which is gradually heading towards darkness.

A doubt that she has repeated for countless times.

Oriana thinks about it. She almost vomits it out, but swallows it again.

She again reaffirms the bitterness of that question.

(This…nee-chan…wishes…for an absolute solution…)

Regarding Oriana’s actions, everyone has different views about it. Some are thankful, and some will leave in vengeance. What should she do? To not get the answer when she’s troubled. Everyone has different views about it, what an individual does, somebody else will perceive it differently. No matter how firmly Oriana believes in her rules, not everyone will accept it, which will cause differences.

In this world, there’s nothing that’s absolutely correct.

As long as everyone has their own thoughts, this would happen.

(No matter whether it’s the emperor, pope, president, fuhrer, prime minister, it doesn’t matter. I want to fight for others…)

It’s not that she doesn’t want to know the answer.

It’s because there’s no answer, that she decides to create her own answer.

An answer that nobody will doubt.

An answer that everyone will be satisfied with.

(I want to win…)

Oriana extends her trembling hand forward.

So she’s been working hard till now. If so, what’s Oriana doing here?

(…So, give me a clear guide. To be able to let everyone be happy, being able to avoid creating conflict due to the differences in values, I want such a wonderful world!!)

She again repeats this wish of hers.

Oriana opens her eyes.

The blood flows into her head. Due to this reaction, her heart starts to beat.

(I want to win…)

Oriana extends her trembling hand to the ground.

Her feet can’t move, she can’t support her own weight. Thus, she does something much simpler and yet more effective.

(I want to win, I want to create an answer! My…my name is—)

The flashcards attached to the gold ring is on the ground.

Oriana Thompson again grabs the weapon which she once let go.

“—BASIS 104, "FROM THE FOUNDATION TO CARRY"!!”


Kamijou hears this cry.

It’s not Japanese, nor is it in simple English. It’s of an unknown foreign language.

Stiyl realises earlier than Kamijou the significance of that name.

“GET DOWN, AMATEUR!!”

Stiyl kicks Kamijou’s back, and without caring that he’s on the ground, immediately summons ‘Innocentius’, which is on standby. Just as the giant flame god covers his front like a shield.

Tch!

On the floor, Oriana Thompson uses her mouth to tear another flashcard.

BOOM!!

Fresh blood is scattered all over the place.

What Oriana releases is an ice ball the size of a soccerball. The ball leaves her hand, and from the centre, explodes out. The large amount of shrapnel rains down in a fan-like shape.


The hail of blades almost pierces through Kamijou’s head, as he still remains on the floor.

It then pierces through Stiyl Magnus, who’s behind him.

The sound of these sharp blades cutting through flesh is unexpectedly hard and blunt.

Or is that the sound of bones breaking?

Stiyl bends down on his knees before lying flat on the ground. Blood is streaming out of his body. ‘Innocentius’ painfully twists its body before vanishing in all directions.

No words.

Not even a groan.

“St…”

Kamijou looks up in disbelief.

“STIYL—!!”

“Where are you going?”

A certain voice prevents Kamijou from getting to Stiyl.

Kamijou turns around. Oriana is standing 7 metres away from him, holding tightly onto the flashcards.

“Boy, your target…should be me, right…”

“You…you…”

Kamijou carelessly lets this out.

The sky is gradually turning from purple to the dark blue of the night sky. There’s almost no time left till the constellation appears. Though the amateur can’t really see when will the sun set completely, there seems to be around 5 minutes left.

The ‘Apostle’s Cross’ can be used.

This is the most important thing that he has to remember.

“Stop messing around. How many people do you want to hurt before you are satisfied?”

But this is what Kamijou Touma could let out first.

These words come out before his brain could even process them.

He can’t just leave Stiyl lying on the floor. However, Oriana is not giving him time to do any emergency procedures. Thus, he has to get rid of the person that is blocking him.

In contrast, Oriana smiles,

“This nee-chan is forced to do it anyway.”

That kind of expression looks empty, as if some part of it was blown away, and the rest of it was erased.

“I hate this, that’s why I have to battle. You people may think that I am stupid, but don’t look at me like that, I have my own reason. Come on, boy. You’re the last chess piece left to defend Academy City. As long as I beat you, this nee-chan’s mission is done. After that, the Roman Catholics’ ‘Apostle’s Cross’ will show what nee-chan wanted.”

“What…purpose?”

Kamijou exerts more force into his fingers.

“You already said that you’ll let others decide the future, and yet you’re talking so selfish and ignorant. Fukiyose fell, Himegami was attacked, Tsuchimikado’s hands and feet are injured, and Stiyl was used as a shield! These aren’t of your own intention, but under orders by the Roman Catholics? How can you let this such shallow thinking take after other people’s happiness!?”

“This nee-chan is…”

Oriana carefully measures the distance as she silently mutters.

It’s not that she has rigour left, but rather, she’s trying to conserve her energy.

“…It’s alright no matter who it is. No matter whether it’s the Roman Catholics, or if it’s anyone else. It’s not important to listen to someone else, it’s the same as selecting a politician. To you little boy, should it be too hard? But, a politician and an artiste are different, right? A politician doesn’t choose by his own interests. As long as it’s someone who can make this nee-chan happy, it’s alright even if he’s the prime minister, right?”

She repeats her shallow breathing, as if she’s going to cough out blood.

She says.

Oriana Thompson isn’t someone without her own personal goals.

As long as she can achieve this personal goal, she’s willing to listen to anyone.

“To be honest, this nee-chan has no qualms with being allies with Academy City. But because this nee-chan has links with the magic world, I turned out to be theirs…no matter what, the ‘Apostle’s Cross’ can fulfil this nee-chan’s wish.”

“Your aim? That’s the emperor who gets world domination, and becomes as stupid as an idiot?”

Facing Oriana, who’s carefully measuring the distance, Kamijou doesn’t care as he takes another step forward.

As both of them have different viewpoints, Oriana lets out a smile.

“That’s why I say, that is the business of this nee-chan’s superiors. This nee-chan isn’t unhappy about whoever’s giving the orders. As long as it can protect this nee-chan’s daily life, it’s alright no matter who gets dominated. Think about it, boy. On this planet, how many religions believe in considering good and evil?”

“…”

“The answer? Many, very many, so many that you can’t count them all. And the most fundamental thing is the Christian’s ‘Structure of faith’. After that, there are many more explanations. In the end, everyone has few morals. To simply put it, it’s like a ‘Roman Catholic, Oriana Thompson Sect’.”

Oriana holds tightly onto the flashcard, as if she’s going to crush it.

Like Kamijou, she takes a step forward.

“I say, boy. There are many developments in this world that nobody can imagine. For example, giving a seat to an old lady while on a double decker bus, only to have a seat that’s used by a terrorist hidden underneath it. Or to bring a lost child back to Church, only to find out that he’s an escaped British Puritan magician, and in the end, that child was sent to the execution tower. Listen to me, I just helped a child retrieve a balloon from a tree today, but is this really related to ‘happiness’? This nee-chan can’t really tell anymore.”

She says these words.

Matching the firmness in these words, Oriana again closes in.

There’s still 6 metres left between them.

“Boy, can you imagine it? The feeling of realising that trap when everything’s over. Though I know I have to do it, I still get that feeling of seeing the person in front of me getting hurt when everything’s over. I can’t do anything, and yet I have to do something. Then what is this nee-chan supposed to do?”

Hearing this.

Kamijou Touma still continues to approach in a similar manner.

There’s now 5 metres left between them.

“Don’t you find it strange? People should love their neighbours, and yet they can’t protect the person beside them. So this nee-chan hopes that anyone other than nee-chan, even if I don’t know who that person is, I hope that the person controlling this world from somewhere can give me the answer.”

Oriana slightly grits her teeth.

As if she’s trying to get rid of this bitter feeling, she again closes in.

There’s now 4 metres left between them.

“It’s alright no matter who it is, please dominate and standardise the messed-up stands and views of this world.”

This is Oriana Thompson’s goal

Because of the word ‘coincidence’, Oriana, whose good intentions were betrayed, doesn’t want to be betrayed again, and doesn’t want this sort of betrayal to hurt anyone beside her.

However, this goal is too great, it’s impossible for Oriana alone to do it.

Thus, she’s putting this hope onto someone stronger, more powerful, and superior.

An absolute solution.

In order not to create a tragedy because of a mistake, a misunderstanding, or just a brush through.

“This nee-chan…wants to protect everything.”

She makes a stand.

As if she’s going to use everything she has.

“Thus, I have to use the ‘Apostle’s Cross’ to take over Academy City. By doing this, all the expanding views will merge together.”

What Oriana wants to say is ‘get out of my way’, not to get involved in this, and her own way is the ‘right’ way, thus many people will be saved, and there’s nothing to refute it. She’s expressing all these wordlessly, like a wall ahead.

However,

“Is this all what your ‘goal’ is about?”

Kamijou takes another huge step forward.

There’s now 3 metres left between them.

“If so, then someone like you is too cheap. I know that you aren’t a bad person, but to call yourself justice is too cheap. To go for this level of ‘goal’, to hand over everyone in Academy City over to you, I won’t allow it.”

“What did…you…say?”

Oriana’s eyebrows collapse.

This minor change destroys her beautiful round face.

“Boy, stop saying this when you haven’t seen the real world yet. There’s no anguish, groans, or cries of rage, not even the sound of someone begging for forgiveness…there’s just ‘discontent’! There’s no hope for a 10-year old child, there’s no despair for a 100-year old person! Both of them can only look stunned as everything happens around them! Just because you have never seen that expres—”

“If it’s just this.”

Kamijou interrupts her and takes another step forward.

There’s now two metres left between them.

“This is still no reason to just choose Academy City as an attack target. To use an excuse like jumping off a building because of someone, such a fact has never changed. Never.”

—For example, a lady named Orsola Aquinas.

She specialises in evangelising the Gospel to unknown land. In the past, a certain nun named Anieze Sanctis mentioned this before. Is this the result of trying to unite all the ideals and faiths that are going about, working hard to ensure that everyone’s happy?

—For example, a boy named Tsuchimikado Motoharu.

He should know that no matter how humans try, it’s impossible to unite society as a whole. Thus, he chose to work for Academy City and the British Puritans in the shadows, trying to ease the differences and misgivings with society that most people will easily have.

Even if their methods are different.

Their actions are to protect those who are there for them.

This thing called thoughts isn’t something that can be classified crudely by religion or international borders.

If one’s values and stand has a form, everyone will have it. Though this thing may cause conflicts, on the other hand, it causes conflicts because it is important.

No matter who the person is, there are some things that people cannot let aside.

It’s because Orsola and Tsuchimikado know this that they won’t go over that line. They won’t choose to step over that line like that, to destroy the values that other people have, to use a simple method that only benefits oneself. They want to use their own methods to confront other people’s values and beliefs.

Thus, Kamijou says this.

It’s his own values, stand and beliefs that are shaped through pain.

“Your questions are something that everyone will feel, and everyone’s way of dealing with it is different. It’s not because of a large ‘goal’, and I could have granted your wish without any conditions.”

Kamijou says as he clenches his fist tight, moving forward at the same time.

There’s now only one metre left between them.

“I don’t know such difficult things like having a personal viewpoint and values. But, I hate it when Stiyl and Tsuchimikado are hurt. I want to go out and see the night tour with Index and Himegami, I want to run wild and have fun with Aogami Pierce and Komoe-sensei. If all these can be combined together into a ‘thought’, I’ll do my best to protect it.”

It’s now at a distance where a punch can connect.

“There are many things that I’m also unable to succeed in. It was the same with Anieze. However, even if I were to stay around and do nothing, it’s not going to do anything! Even if I fail and fall, when I fall, the events will still carry on. I tell myself to get up and protect the others! No matter what the outcome is, no matter how everything doesn’t go the way I plan it, even so, those who are hurt by the people who betrayed them should have more reason to stand back up! The most important thing is that everyone can laugh and have a wonderful life!! You have no right to abandon other people’s lives midway through!”

Kamijou Touma finally says,

“—What do you want now, Oriana Thompson? To hand yourself over to others just because of a single mistake? Or are you going to make that mistake and after that, helping others who made the same mistake!?”

“Ha.”

Oriana laughs.

This is different from the previous ones. There’s no sense of danger hidden in it, it’s a very ordinary smile.

After that, she inhales deeply.

“!”

She tears another flashcard.

A certain spell is activated, but Kamijou swings his right fist at the spell’s main body.

An explosion occurs between them, as both of them are sent flying away by the power of the Imagine Breaker. A bluish-white flash occurs during this shockwave, as Kamijou inadvertently backtracks by 2 to 3 steps. Oriana follow suit as well.

The distance between these two increases back to 3 metres.

Oriana pulls the flashcard to her mouth, but this time, she’s not just using one spell. Instead, she pulls the metal ring that’s attached to all these thick pieces of paper.

Several pieces of flashcards were released all of a sudden.

Oriana swings her right arm that’s holding the metal ring to the side.

“With this, everything will be over.”

The pieces of paper are scattered around like snow.

In a horizontal manner, text font words appear on these pieces of paper like blades appearing on snow.

In pitch black, the words read ‘All of Symbol’.

“Using all my talents—”

As if she’s repeating this sentence, the avalanche of paper creates a pure white explosion. The flash distorts itself like melted candy, grafting onto Oriana’s right arm. The explosive flash that stopped there looks like it’s trying to resist getting pulled by Oriana, like stretched-out chewing gum.

Oriana pulls her right arm back.

“—Release all the souls and destroy the enemy ahead!!”

After that, she strongly swings her arm down like she’s pitching, and a strong white-coloured explosion occurs beside Kamijou.

BOOM!! Oriana hears this sound.

The white light that’s stretching like candy maintains its shape as it swings around. There’s no definite shape, and this contraption will often change into random shapes. With its movements, the air that touches the light is sucked in at an extremely fast speed. It is unknown which one is distorted, the light or the gravity, as the scene in front suddenly changes.

The real identity of that white light is a large ‘gravity’.

All the matter that touches the light is sucked in and crushed by the pressure. As all the matter is being compressed in such a short time, from the outside, it looks like it is being eaten by a large space.

As all the air has been removed, in order to fill up the void left behind, all the gas matter starts to move about violently, and even the original light and gravity would be sucked in.

(Come on.)

Oriana waves all her flashcards to create her largest spell, showing a smile of despair. A flash of light starts moving in a clockwise direction, aimed at Kamijou. Seeing the asphalt road being dragged up by the air and being crushed by the light.

(If so, everything ends here, right?)

Facing this strike that’s coming in horizontally, the boy swings his right hand up without hesitation.

“WOO—OOOOOOOOHH!!”

He releases a cry.

With the sound of glass breaking, the pure white light breaks apart upon touching that hand.

Hearing the sound of something being spat out,

Whoosh!

Everything that was compressed in the white light releases.

“!!”

As Kamijou didn’t foresee this happening, his thoughts go blank.

Like air.

An air body flying about all over the place like the mouth of a balloon being released, regaining its original shape, and the force released blasts against Kamijou like a storm.

Like the asphalt road.

The pieces of rock that were crushed by the huge pressure, and are now stones the size of beans, like popcorn regaining its original size. The stone pieces that are released are now riding the storm and acting like bullets.

The stone storm continues to rage.

With a blunt ‘tong’, a piece of the asphalt road the size of a fist hits Kamijou’s right fist. Before he can even feel pain, more stones directly hit his abdomen, chest, thighs—till the moment the back of his head is hit; he can’t even feel pain anymore.

(This…person…to think that she actually predicted that…it would be destroyed by the Imagine Breaker…!?)

“GYYAAAAHHHH!!”

With blood scattered all over the place, and the feeling of his skin getting peeled, Kamijou’s body is about to fall to the side. He knows that his vision is tilted slightly, but he doesn’t know what can be done to correct it.

As his thoughts start to vanish, Oriana, who finished using all her flashcards, came running over.

She’s planning to deal the final blow. Not by magic, but to crush Kamijou’s bones with her fist that’s as hard as granite.

The strength in his legs is gradually disappearing.

It’s difficult for him to even stand.

In this situation, it’ll be impossible for him to even block Oriana’s attack, let alone dodge.

If he’s going to be hit like that, Kamijou’s body will be crushed.

(Damn…it…)

―Fukiyose Seiri said,

Have you ever thought about making Daihaseisai a success?

―Himegami Aisa said,

Komoe-sensei and Stiyl are arguing, please come and stop them.

―Stiyl Magnus said,

Don’t expect too much.

―Tsuchimikado Motoharu said,

If we catch her here, everything will be over.

The thing that each of them actually wished for is all to preserve the smiles of the people, both the citizens of Academy City and the tourists who are here for Daihaseisai. Though the scale and quality may differ, everyone wants to maintain and protect the lives that they have now.

Kamijou himself said it before.

He said to Himegami Aisa, who was on the ground in blood, that he’ll go to her room before the night tour starts. This isn’t just a battle with this magician, it’s also the realisation of having to battle for others.

This is regarding the feelings of these people who express their own views.

(How can I—)

In his shaky consciousness, Kamijou grits his teeth.

Forcefully.

(HOW CAN I LET IT END HERE—!!!)

“GYA…AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!”

His legs finally start to move.

The visions that’s tilted to the side is supported by the earth.

Oriana Thompson’s just ahead.

She’s about to swing her fist down.

“Wh…why!?”

Her eyes widen in surprise. Most likely, she didn’t expect a counterattack. Oriana, who was focusing on attacking, didn’t have time to set her defense up.

In his blurry consciousness, Kamijou Touma clenches his right fist in a refined manner.

Forcefully, firmly, not willing to let go.

After that.

Both parties exchanged fists.

Kamijou Touma’s strike hits Oriana directly on the face.

The magician’s body rolls backwards in a forceful manner.

Just as Kamijou is looking around, looking for something that can be used as a bandage.

“There’s nothing to worry. Everything will be over soon.”

He can hear a voice.

It’s the voice of a female. One that seems older than Oriana.

Kamijou looks around, there’s no new person around. The voice came from near where Oriana is lying at.”

“…The boundary that prevents communication is cut…”

After much difficulty, Stiyl managed to say these words.

Kamijou thought, this must be a spell meant to replace a wireless walkie-talkie or cellphone.

(If so, the one speaking is…)

Lidvia Lorenzetti.

Like Oriana Thompson, she is also responsible for planning to activate the ‘Apostle’s Cross’ inside Academy City, the person who wanted to dominate this entire area to take over the entire science faction.

She says,

“After a while, the ‘Apostle’s Cross’ will activate. Academy City will work to the Roman Catholics’ favour. Thus, you don’t have to worry even if you’re hurt. No matter what, including those wounds, the entirety of Academy City will be reversed.”

That means,

The ‘Apostle’s Cross’ is not with Oriana, but with Lidvia.

At the same time,

“YOU PLAN TO GET RID OF US MEDDLERS HERE!?”

Kamijou inadvertently shouts out.

Lidvia remains unmoved as she says.

“You seem to be mistaken. I just want to say, we’ll take care of your wounds, and treat you up. Of course, if these are beneficial to the Roman Catholics.”

What?

Kamijou can’t help but frown.

“…Ignore her, Kamijou Touma.”

Stiyl, who’s on the ground, softly whispers.

“Since they’re going to use the ‘Apostle’s Cross’, Lidvia and the spiritual tool should be somewhere close by. With your right hand, you can definitely destroy all the spiritual functions. So hurry, Lidiva should be somewhere near this runway—”

“—To avoid any misunderstandings, let me tell you first.”

Lidvia seem to intend to shut Stiyl up as she says,

“The ‘Apostle’s Cross’ is not in Academy City.”

Kamijou inadvertently turns to look at Oriana, who’s on the ground.

Lidvia’s voice, which is coming from there, coldly states,

“You people seemed to have checked all the ‘observatories’ in Academy City, but this is just a decoy. Seems like you weren’t able to consider the ‘observatories’ outside Academy City.”

The outside.

It took several seconds for Kamijou and Stiyl to understand these words.

“The Holy See, which was created by the ‘Apostle’s Cross’, once occupied 47,000 square kilometers of land at its peak. Right now, it’s at 200 square kilometers. Of course, we have calculated, even if it’s outside Academy City, it can take over the entire city.”

“Damn it.”

Stiyl blurts out these words.

Now lying on the ground, he can’t even move his limbs as he would like.

“We…were tricked, Kamijou Touma…hurry up and contact Tsuchimikado! Oriana must have…purposely attracted our attention…right from the beginning!!”

“That’s right. Her mission is to investigate the related personnel and combat capability, and to divert all the attention in the wrong direction. If she really wanted to hide, she could have used the ‘dispel bystander’ spell or any spell that can remove her presence. However, there won’t be any fish if there’s no bait. Thus, she purposely appeared here.”

The nun’s voice steadily continues.

“It takes a long time to use the ‘Apostle’s Cross’, but the main point is that the ‘observatory’ has to be fixed. The most worrying thing is for all your main combatants to know where all the ‘observatories’ are beforehand.”

Lidvia Lorenzetti calmly reveals the truth.

“To us, it’s important to prevent this from becoming the focus, so Oriana purposely moved around Academy City, doing things that look like there’s an intention behind it, to force all your combatants to focus solely within Academy City. I have the ‘Apostle’s Cross’, and before the time came, I was waiting in a hotel outside Academy City all this while, and in fact, the ‘Apostle’s Cross’ was to be set up outside Academy City. Seems like our plan wasn’t discovered.”

“This…”

Kamijou grits his teeth, but he can’t think of any specific countermeasure.

“I want Oriana to not use any ‘dispel bystander’ or ‘presence cut’ spells. At first, when the ‘Chaos and calm on the surface’ was destroyed, it was the preparation phase to begin battle. That time, we panicked. If Oriana was caught too early, we wouldn’t be able to achieve our objective.”

To plan out all these elaborately, is it because she has all the trumps?

Lidvia’s voice continues to ring inside Kamijou’s ears.

“Too bad. Unfortunately, she was beaten. However, the ‘Apostle’s Cross’ will change this situation such that it would be beneficial to us. In conclusion, her failure is nothing but a trivial matter. As long as we can use the ‘Apostle’s Cross’ from outside Academy City to take over Academy City, we can overturn this situation around, which would end up being as how we planned it in the beginning.”

Though Lidvia’s words are mild, they made Kamijou feel that all their efforts up till now were wasted.

Kamijou uses his trembling hand to pull the handphone from his shorts pocket. Just as he’s looking for a record of Tsuchimikado’s number on the handphone display,

“It’s useless.”

Most likely, besides the voice, it also shows what’s going on. Lidvia dully says,

“Right now, for you to try and locate me now, it’s a little too far. Even if you have reinforcements on the streets, I believe that everything would be over before they can arrive.”

“…(The long range strike… ‘Red spell’ won’t work?)”

Stiyl continues to lie on the ground as he speaks in a barely audible voice.

“…(First seeking, then attacking. Right now, Tsuchimikado is unable to…use spells consecutively. We’re lucky if he can even squeeze one off with his current state…)”

“Damn it! What can we do now!?”

Kamijou roars, but he can’t think of any concrete plan to fight back.

In this atmosphere of despair, only Lidvia Lorenzetti’s voice echoes throughout.

“How do you view the changes to Academy City after the ‘Apostle’s Cross’ is used?”

Hearing this, Stiyl moves his lips.

“…Compared to Sodom and Gomorrah (Note: These were the legendary cities that indulged in promiscuous acts. God sent sulphur and fire down onto these cities, destroying all the land, the people, and even the living things down there.)…it might be a little better. But what you people are doing…is no different from destroying those cities. To the Roman Catholics, you’ll send all those irritating places…into oblivion, and then use force to display God’s power…at his end, St. George…did something similar to the Roman Temple.”

“This is your misunderstanding.”

Lidvia immediately says.

“To us, the most important thing is to yield the rampant science faction, that’s all it is. Right now, science is arrogant, like the old Roman pagans. So we have to act like what they did in the past, to deny all of what they believe in, to use our power to demonstrate God’s authority.”

Her tone changed.

The words that were cut halfway are now completely linked up.

“Science’s views, science’s views, science’s views…the word ‘science’ here is no longer just simple knowledge, but a pagan cult in itself. Unfortunately, people will just believe the words ‘Science’s views’ without any condition. They never used their own eyes to confirm it, how stupid is that?”

That true, Science may be heading in the wrong direction at times.

Even if Science is correct, how can anyone say that Science is the absolute truth? One has to think through it before calling it Science.

Common knowledge and Science—if so, will continue to improve over time. Till 1930, nobody discovered Pluto. That was also a time where people said that blue-ray diodes were impossible.

Even if Science is correct, the scientific framework may be imperfect. If one is to add in the words ‘Science is correct’ without thinking, it’s like saying that ‘the teacher is never wrong’.

“We feel that it’s the Science side invading the Church, and so we can’t let this slide. Human hands have stained God’s almighty name, so it’s right to clean with human hands, right?”

Kamijou doesn’t even bother with Lidvia’s words.

It’s impossible to talk with her.

Kamijou pulls out his handphone and confirms the time. The moment he looks up at the sky, the sky has turned completely purple.

Like ink smudging through the paper, stars are scattered everywhere in the sky.

This is the worst situation.

It’s almost over.

“We’ll take you in, and won’t destroy Academy City. Such a boring festival like Daihaseisai is only a perfect demonstration site for us to force the Science side to submit to the Church. We’ll let you forsake this pagan religion before accepting you as our dear fellow comrades.”

Stiyl moves his wounded body and pulls a blood-stained rune card from his arms. Like Lidvia, he may be trying to use a communication spell.

“Go…call…Tsuchimikado.”

Stiyl tries to squeeze out a voice.

“…It’s called the ‘all-around reality array’, right? That spell that searches out Oriana’s counterspell. Use it on Lidvia’s message, and find out where she is. After that, I’ll use my communicating spell, and call my allies outside to…”

“There’s no use. There’s only 120 seconds before the ‘Apostle’s Cross’ is used. No, it’s 107 seconds now. I can say this now: checkmate.”

107 seconds.

Even if they find out where Lidvia is, nobody can get there. They’ll use up all the time by just calling the injured Tsuchimikado here.

Stiyl Magnus gasps.

On the other side of the communicating spell, Lidvia Lorenzetti reveals a smile.

Kamijou grits his teeth as he looks up at the purple sky that is becoming starry.

(Is there any way…)

The feeling of not giving up continues to circle around him.

(…IS THERE AN ULTIMATE TRUMP CARD THAT CAN REVERSE THIS SITUATION!!)

Kamijou racks his brain as if he’s desperately grabbing straw. —The ‘Apostle’s Cross, the most important spiritual tool that the Roman Catholics have can take over a land of 47,000 square kilometres. It’s a spell that uses constellations, not using the actual constellation location, but the appearance that it appears as in the night. After investigating the characteristics and features, they chose the most effective one out of the 88 constellations, and now they’re ready to collect the starlight on the ground.

“—!!”

Kamijou Touma grabs his phone.

“Tsuchimikado! Don’t ask anything. Listen to me. How many possible places outside Academy City can they use the ‘Apostle’s Cross’ and still take over Academy City!?”

“Wha…at are you…saying, Kami-yan?”

This interrupted voice probably indicates that he does not know what is going on here.

However, Kamijou has no time and intention to elaborate. He again shouts,

“NO NEED TO EXPLAIN THE SPECIFICS. AMONG ALL THE CONDITIONS THAT I MENTIONED, WHERE’S THE FURTHEST POINT!?”

“…There should be 5 of them outside. Among them…the one furthest away is north of Academy City, about 1,700 metres away…Kami-yan, what’s going on…”

“Sorry, Tsuchimikado, I don’t have time to explain it.”

After apologising, Kamijou hangs up the phone while ignoring the other person’s questions. After that he activates the search function of his communication function. It’s the electronic version of the Daihaseisai tour guidebook.

(I know the distance. The time…there’s 55 seconds left. Can it work!!?)

“Right now, it’s impossible to do anything now. So let me destroy that last hope of yours, I’m now no longer at that aforementioned location.”

Kamijou ignores that voice which seems to be lying as he continues to operate his phone desperately.

On the display, it’s the map of Academy City.

(Not this.)

Kamijou closes the tab and opens a new one.

(Not this. Not this either.)

He closes another screen, and opens another one. This map is only meant for those ‘who lost their guidebooks and need information’, so it can’t fit in all the contents of that thick guidebook. It’s inconvenient too, and Kamijou still can’t find the information that he wants.

Even so, Kamijou continues to work on the phone.

When he finally sees the display, the phone in his hand drops.

Klak Klak.

The light sound of plastic dropping rang on the evening runway. But, that’s just it. Kamijou wants to pick up the phone, but he can’t do so. His trembling fingers can’t move successfully, and he can’t even do a simple action.

There’s still 40 seconds till everything is over.

This last period of time will just be wasted by Lidvia’s words.

“No matter what, no matter what method you use, it’s impossible to get to where I am now.”

She continues in her polite tone, as if she’s bowing over and apologising.

“Everything is over. Including you people, I’ll make this world a better place.”

As if he has given up, Kamijou lets out a ‘ha’ laugh.

“That’s right, everything is over.”

There’s still 20 seconds left.

“Ahh, damn it, saying that I’ll keep my promise.”

On the front of his vision, it’s not the stars that are about to appear.

“That’s right. Even though I was confident and agreed with Himegami, I ended up like this. I’m really disappointed.”

He looks at the handphone that’s lying on the ground.

“You think so too right, Lidvia?”

There’s still 5 seconds left.

“Even when I have broken your illusion.”

“What?”

Just as Lidvia raises her doubt.

Dong!!

A strong bright light appears from the ground, and the darkness in the night is eradicated immediately.

It’s the light released by the light bulbs, neon lights, laser lights, focus lights and many more that were set up all over Academy City. Though the 23rd School District has nothing to do with Daihaseisai, the nearby International Airport starts to shine like the decorative lights on a Christmas tree. Fast-paced music can be heard from afar with many electronic tunes. It sounds like the background music at a children’s theme park.

“It’s exactly 6:30 PM now.”

Kamijou Touma picks up his handphone, and looks at the screen.

On the simple digital edition of the guidebook, the words are written ‘night parade’.

“Don’t you know when the night parade starts?”

“What…”

Light continues to cover Academy City.

Before he realises it, the stars that were shining in the night sky vanish upon being shown by the ground lights. It’s like a metropolis, where it’s impossible to see the stars due to all the light. The weaker starlights are all absorbed into the strong floodlights.

“Really…I already promised Himegami to visit her at the hospital before this starts, and in the end, I still couldn’t make it. Damn it, I really lost face there.”

Kamijou clicks his tongue bitterly.

“That’s right. According to Tsuchimikado, the furthest location outside Academy City which can still take over Academy City is about 1,700 metres away. If it’s just that distance, with this large amount of light in Academy City, it should cover the entire sky.”

Then, Kamijou continues,

“If even the furthest place can be covered, no matter where you are, the other places will be covered as well, right? Lidvia Lorenzetti.”

“—”

The remaining 5 seconds have passed.

But there’s still no change to the world.

“Thinking about it, we’re all boring supporting roles.”

This is the moment when a most-powerful spell that uses starlight,

Succumbs to all the artificial light released here.

“For me, not being able to catch you now, I can’t say anything big. But didn’t you not look down on Daihaseisai’s authority? Haven’t you now lost to all the light that everyone released? The security system, what balance between Science and Magic, these are all decorations for today. You should have checked out who’s the main character for Daihaseisai.”

It’s not Kamijou Touma, it’s not Stiyl Magnus, it’s not Tsuchimikado Motoharu, it’s definitely not Oriana Thompson, and definitely not Lidvia Lorenzetti. They’re Fukiyose Seiri, who wanted Daihaseisai to succeed, Himegami Aisa, who was in her own blood due to coincidence, Tsukuyomi Komoe, who was crying as she tried to save her student who was drowning in her own blood.

These people gathered together to protect Daihaseisai.

Using this large amount of light. The intention to use this light to create wonderful memories.

“…”

Facing Kamijou’s words, the other party has no reply.

Right now, what is Lidvia thinking as she looks up at the sky?

“So how? Seems like you can’t shake Daihaseisai anymore, right? I don’t know anything about the power balance between the Science side and the Magic side, but if you destroy the ‘Apostle’s Cross’, get out of here quietly, and not do anything to Academy City, I won’t have anything with that. What do you think?”

“…You think so?”

A low tension can be felt in Lidvia’s voice.

It feels like she’ll explode the moment she moves a finger.

“I’m a respected Roman Catholic, and I don’t feel that I did anything wrong to Academy City. It’s meaningless to accept your proposal.”

“Really?”

Kamijou quietly replies.

He slightly shifts his vision.

Tsuchimikado Motoharu is climbing over the fence and approaching. The only man who can use a spell to detect the magic source is slowly moving over.

Even if Tsuchimikado is to accurately find out the ‘observatory’ where the ‘Apostle’s Cross’ was used, before Kamijou and company can head there, Lidvia should be carrying the ‘Apostle’s Cross’ and escaping. It’s already difficult for them while they had their chase, and there’s a considerable time and distance for them to cover in order to get outside.

But, there are many magical organisations of different sizes waiting for this opportunity outside the city.

No matter what they think about Academy City, it’s a righteous cause for them to capture Oriana and Lidvia. And also, it’s disturbing that the whereabouts of the ‘Apostle’s Cross’ is still unknown. Regarding this, they’ll be able to settle the situation regarding Lidvia by asking for help from the British Puritans.

Thus,

By using the ‘all-around reality array’ that Tsuchimikado prepares, letting Stiyl know the source of Lidvia’s communicating spell, then contacting the English Puritans reinforcements that are waiting outside Academy City, and letting them do their thing, everything will be over.

Besides that, Kamijou Touma has nothing else to do.

Finally, he laughs, and says,

“Go run and scamper around as if you’re running in a sports meet, Lidvia Lorenzetti.”

She’s in her own private jet.

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

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

Beside her, there’s a Cross that’s wrapped in white cloth.

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

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

She hates the technology that is used in religion today, but on the other hand, she has to accept the science that they have to use. For example, when there was no printing, preparing a Bible alone required a lot of time and effort. It’s impossible to ignore the use of science in the development of the Church and all the religious paintings. To religious leaders, this is a dispute that arises 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 increases the possibility of them evangelising to those who do not know about Christ.

This is the problem of using all these, Lidvia sighs,

(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 glances around.

In front of her is the cockpit door. Right now, the door opens. From Lidvia’s position, one can see the back of the driver calmly operating the dashboard controls.

Which side does he believe in? Lidvia wonders.

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

As he continues 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 looks unbelievable, but Lidvia isn’t smiling.

A man who uses tools, a man who believes in God.

A difference does 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 it and forget God’s almighty name.)

After thinking about this, she gently sighs.

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

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

“Hohoho.”

However, she still continues to laugh.

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

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

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

What is she saying? Is it a suicidal wish?

Before the plan can be put to work, she’ll have to return to the Vatican. Lidvia will definitely be reprimanded for the failure of her reckless action. Before she can even request help to save Oriana, her own life is at peril.

However,

The more difficult the task in front of her,

The higher the place that she will aim at.

As long as she thinks about breaking through all these, Lidvia Lorenzetti will feel an incomparable amount of delight. It’s like a sportsman meeting his career rival.

“Mardi Gras.”

The words come 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’s almost similar to the ‘Carnival’ celebrated in New Orleans, U.S.A., and the Fastnacht in Germany.

The reason why Lidvia is called this is—

“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’s a candy or a whip that she receives, she’ll give the same response.

In other words, there’s basically no one who can stop her from doing anything. A person who’ll be delighted no matter what she’s given, a person who’ll continue to smile and proceed on. If something prevents her from advancing, it will 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 knows that the pilot in the cockpit will be terrified by her eccentricity. However, Lidvia can even use this sort of suspicion as motivation.

At this moment,

“Hello, anybody in?”

A female’s voice suddenly rings.

Lidvia’s shoulders jerks. There’s no attendant in this personal plane. There’s also a sound of panic from the cockpit. Seems like the pilot doesn’t know anything.

But Lidvia knows.

That female’s voice—

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

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

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

A powerful enemy, and to her, a lamb that has 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 seems to be some sort of spiritual tool stuck on the outside of the plane’s body.

Even so, it’s impossible to pull it out from here. It can’t possibly stick onto the plane’s body as it moves at ultrasonic speed. Basically, there’ll be a difference in pressure the moment the door is 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 means that the flight was secured after they took off from Japan.

If so, the only thing she can think of is,

(Is it with the help of Academy City…)

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

The signal spiritual tool attached onto the plane would mean that the location of this plane is leaked to England. Even if she changes the landing area, the enemy can 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 getting 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 remains 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 Thompson 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, is 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 gets even more sonorous.

As she declared loudly that she won’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 are dripping out of her eyes.

Those wild eyes of hers that are 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 has been speaking for several minutes, is showing a ferocious expression that can bite even a thick metal plate. Hearing such a voice that is definitely unstable, Laura’s response is—

“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 remains significantly silent,

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

What?

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

BAM!!

A loud sound can be heard.

The sound comes from the side.

She frantically turns around.

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

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

Even when she realised it, it’s too late.

The deck, which was cut apart, is 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’s more like a detonation pressure moving through the plane. The sofas and table, which were bolted to the floor, is mercilessly pulled out, flying in the 8,000 metres high sky.

“!!”

Lidvia frantically uses 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 leaves the floor, forcing her out of the plane.

“A!”

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

The 8,000 metres high sky further emphasizes the darkness of the night. There’re no clouds in the sky, just a bright moon and numerous stars around it. As the clouds are underneath, there’s nothing that can conceal these celestial bodies.

(Eh, ack, ah…!! Breathe—!!)

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

Beside Lidvia, who’s stunned and terrified, something is flying alongside her.

In front of her, falling at the same speed, is 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 is so intricate, it’s 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’s 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 any moment’s notice.

But Lidvia rejects 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 sees it.

The figure of the personal jet floating above her is becoming even smaller. This is the only thing that can correct her sense of distance in this wild world.

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

The ‘Apostle’s Cross’.

Though the magical power of that spiritual tool is very high, its durability isn’t much different from an antique. To fall from an altitude of 8,000 metres, even if the bottom’s the surface of the ocean, it’ll be smashed.

“…!! I won’t allow you to do that!!”

Lidvia breathes in some oxygen and says this.

She opens her arms wide and mutters a spell which causes her to descend like a feather. This is originally a defensive spell that can 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 sounds even more aggressive and competitive as she gets 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 grinded, 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’ can open her arms wide, laugh, and accept this.

The card stopping beside Lidvia lets 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 looks up.

At that moment,

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

It’s the pilot.

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

The moonlight is shining on the pilot.

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

That’s right.

Like those people that Lidvia 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 falls beside Lidvia. A 150cm long, 70cm wide, 10cm thick marble slab; the power of it when it falls 400 metres above ground is 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 falls beside Lidvia.

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

“Ugh…eh! WOOAAHHHHHHHHHH!!”

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

“Look, the second one is coming.”

A really cheerful voice comes from the card.

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

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

(I…won’t…be able to…receive…)

She holds 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 sees it.

She’s nearing the pilot, that face which is dirtied by tears and snot due to this 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 wants to say it, she’s unable to squeeze out the voice in her heart.

She can’t catch everything.

If she does this, everyone will fall.

She can only discard things that can be discarded.

However,

The situation is 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 thinks of this, the competitiveness in Lidvia becomes even wilder. Her sweat isn’t of pain or nervousness, it has something even ferocious.

Besides Lidvia, who’s 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 breaks inside Lidvia’s body.

(Tram…ple…?)

Due to loss of blood, her consciousness is wavering. Thus, she can only think of this.

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

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

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

“Ha…haha.”

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

As if she welcoming back a lover who’s coming back.

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

“HAHAHA! AHAHAHAHMWAHAHAHAHA!!”

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

After that,

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

The Windowless Building in Academy City.

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

As there’s no stairs, lifts or even ventilation, in this place where one can only access this place with the help of a teleporter, a ‘human’ is silently positioned in the middle.

The General Director of Academy City.

The ‘human’, Aleister Crowley.

“Hn.”

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

He’s floating upside down in the cylinder.

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

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

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

He mutters to himself.

No matter what Oriana and Lidvia’s personal motives are, or what they could do, they won’t be able to do this without the help of the Roman Catholics. More accurately, Oriana and Lidvia 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 is somewhat more logical.

The mastermind controlling Oriana Thompson and Lidvia Lorenzetti.

The Roman Catholics.

“…This situation got really big.”

Aleister says in a tone that indicates that he can’t stand this threat anymore.

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

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

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

If in the future, the British Puritans look up and gather another 1 or 2 billion believers, what will happen to the Roman Catholics?

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

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

Second, new forces, including ‘Ursula 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, will be greatly shaken. The Roman Catholics, who are insistent on being the world’s number one, would be cautious against such instability.

The action this time should be 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 is now the leader of the Science world which manages everything. He’s now looking at this scenario with contempt.

“But…”

He whispers in an uninterested tone.

Because they are ugly people who are struggling, there’s no point in seeing them struggle. But this time, to use an ‘Apostle’s Cross’ level spiritual tool, it’s 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’ was settled by a certain boy, to be honest, it wasn’t handled well. It’s 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 thinks, a rectangular display appears on the screen.

It’s a detailed world map, and there are 9,969 indicated red lights. This is a worldwide distribution of where the ESPer development programs are done. He intends to use these and the slumbering Imaginary Districts in Academy City to carry out a plan that will stop magical activity on a global scale.

However,

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

Aleister thinks, this is supposed to be a plan that’s not meant to be pushed forward.

Can’t be helped.

(If so…)

With this voice in his heart, a new display overlaps the map which shows where the ESPers are being developed.

What appears on the rectangular screen is a rectangular glass box.

A bent silver rod is floating in it.

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

In the darkness, the ‘human’ laughs.

Is that from the greatest scientist in the world?

Or is that from the strongest magician in the world?

Is he a man, or a woman?

An adult, or a child?

A Saint, or a convict?

What that person is thinking, nobody knows.