To Aru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Discussion (Archives)

[cubicjack]

Kanzaki SS part 7 summary:

Spoiler for kanzaki ss pt 7:

Kanzaki and co are sent to investigate the incident of famous Norse myth related magic cabals being attacked on after another in western Europe. The attacker(s) stole information and spiritual devices from the victims' bases, and it's possible that he/she is (or they are) planning something big. And because the Necessarius does not have the responsibility to protect the cabals, Kanzaki can use them for any purpose if the situation calls for it.

They arrive in Ostend, Belgium, in the base of the "Champions from the Sea" - the magic cabal that was most recently attacked, and also the 3rd most powerful Norse myth cabal. There, Kanzaki and co learn 3 things:
1) All 1302 members of the cabal were badly injured in the exact same places, but not dead.
2) It's not a group of people who attacked these cabals. It's 1 person.
3) The attacker attacked the cabals starting from the most powerful one.

As such, they have decided to go to the attacker's next target, "Those Who Know the Words on the Sword of God", to ambush him/her.

After going there, Kanzaki went in alone to negotiate with the members of the cabal. Meanwhile, the jeans shop owner told the tour guide that the attacker is probably another Saint.

After a show of power, Kanzaki convinced the members of the cabal to leave the place, then the jeans shop owner and the tour guide came in to help prepare for the ambush. It appears that the memebers of the cabal mistook Kanzaki for a person named "Brunhild", who's actually the attacker.

While they were wondering whether Brunhild would realize that it's an ambush, they hear a voice, but didn't know ehre it came from. That voice is from the Brunhild. Immediately after, large projectiles came flying in, breaking the walls of the base. Kanzaki wanted to slice the projectiles in half, but she noticed that those projectiles were actually the bodies of the people who were just convinced to leave the base. The Brunhild was using them as weapons.

After being hit by the human cannonball, Brunhild charged towards Kanzaki and they started fighting. Brunhild's clothes were strange. Feathered cap, one piece dress, pants, knee and elbow guards, and a breast plate. It looks really messed up, but in the magic sense, her clothes form a set of medival armor. The weapon that she used was a Claymore. It's a huge sword, one that could deal substantial damage even without any sort of skills or tactics. However, it is clear the Brunhild is also skillfully using the sword.

After some fighting, Kanzaki eventually damaged Brunhild's sword, and Brunhild also noticed it. Brunhild was about to retreat. Kanzaki wanted to press on and defeat her right here, but the jeans shop owner and the tourguide were also inside. Further damage to the base would be dangerous for them. Then Brunhild told Kanzaki that they will meet again when she finishes the Gungnir and left the scene.

After searching the database, they found out that Brunhild is indeed a Saint. She was also part of a small cabal that was destroyed 5 years ago.

They took the injured to a nearby Necessarius hideout to treat them. However, Brunhild cast some kind of magic on the victims to prevent healing magic from being cast on them and to halt their bodies' natural healing abilities. Kanzaki was trying to get information out of one of the victims, about Brunhild and the cabal that she belonged to. However, he said he'd rather die than talk about it. That is, until Kanzaki told him that Brunhild plans to show up again once she completes the Gungnir, the spear used by Odin.

Brunhild is a Saint, but at the time she is also a Valkyrie. The people from the other Norse magicians think that her Saint side corrupts their history and culture, and that she is a disgrace. They called her "Hel". So the 5 most powerful Norse myth magic cabals teamed up and destroyed Brunhild's cabal.

Suddenly, they hear Brunhild's voice again. But this time, it's coming from the person that Kanzaki was interrogating. Brunhild hijacked the guy's body and spoke out of his mouth. Through the guy's mouth, Brunhild mentioned some of the other things that they did to her and those around her, but didn't give details. She also mentioned that once she completes the Gungnir, she's gonna drag every one of them into the underworld, living up to the name of "Hel". She's gonna go through with her plan even if it means destroying the balance of the magic side. A normal person would not be able to create, let alone wield, such a divine weapon. However, being a Saint and a Valkyrie, she is definitely not normal.

When the talk was over, she gave the guy an option to commit suicide by biting his own tongue off, then released control of him. The guy really attempted to do so, but Kanzaki put her hand in his mouth and stopped him. The guy's jaw was dislocated, and Kanzaki hand was injured.

Then Kanzaki used her wires and magic to detect the flow of magic inside the guy and traced Bruihild's location. When she was heading towards Brunhild's whereabouts, she thought about the words that the guy managed to squeeze out with his jaw dislocated - the "final rune". Of the runes that Odin used, all of them existed for clear and simple-to-understand purposes, except for one. No one knows what that rune does or how it's used, except for Odin himself. It's a possibility that once that final rune is understood, the Gungnir will be truly complete. She also wondered why Brunhild needs the Gungnir, when she already has to ability make people suffer. But whatever the reason is, Brunhild must be stopped.

Part 7 and 8 are actually one arc, but I'll post the other part later.

[Chaos2Frozen]

Ahh, the part I've been waiting for, one question though- What is a Valkyrie? Is she born as one or do you have to train to become one?

[Miraluka]

Originally Posted by Chaos2Frozen

Ahh, the part I've been waiting for, one question though- What is a Valkyrie? Is she born as one or do you have to train to become one?

Quoting wiki:

In Norse mythology, a valkyrie (from Old Norse valkyrja "chooser of the slain") is one of a host of female figures who decide who will die in battle. The valkyries bring their chosen to the afterlife hall of the slain, Valhalla, ruled over by the god Odin, where the deceased warriors become einherjar. There, when the einherjar are not preparing for the events of Ragnarök, the valkyries bear them mead. Valkyries also appear as lovers of heroes and other mortals, where they are sometimes described as the daughters of royalty, sometimes accompanied by ravens, and sometimes connected to swans.

About Hel:

In Norse mythology, Hel is a being who presides over a realm of the same name, where she receives a portion of the dead. Hel is attested in the Poetic Edda, compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional sources, and the Prose Edda, written in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson. In addition, she is mentioned in poems recorded in Heimskringla and Egils saga that date from the 9th and 10th century respectively. An episode in the Latin work Gesta Danorum, written in the 12th century by Saxo Grammaticus, is generally considered to refer to Hel, and Hel may appear on various Migration Period bracteates.

In the Poetic Edda, Prose Edda, and Heimskringla, Hel is referred to as a daughter of Loki, and to "go to Hel" is to die. In the Prose Edda book Gylfaginning, Hel is described as having been appointed by the god Odin as ruler of a realm of the same name, located in Niflheim. In the same source, her appearance is described as half-black and half-flesh colored, and as further having a gloomy, down-cast appearance. The Prose Edda details that Hel rules over vast mansions, her servants in her underworld realm, and as playing a key role in the attempted resurrection of the god Baldr.

[Chaos2Frozen]

...I meant what is a 'Valkyrie' in Toaruverse She's obviously human so the standard explanation shouldn't count.

[Miraluka]

Originally Posted by Chaos2Frozen

...I meant what is a 'Valkyrie' in Toaruverse She's obviously human so the standard explanation shouldn't count.

Just like the saints who are based on the concept of saints in real life but with a great power, with some kind of blessings from Heaven (for the valkyries should be Valhalla, right? ) and the proper teachings to train her as one. I hope more details to be clear.

And LOL at calling Brunhild, Hel, does the author has in mind to include Hel's brothers, Fenrir and Jormungand in the novels for Odinus' saga??

[Endscape]

Perhaps she's similar to Acqua? The position and magic of a valkyrie is something you have to acquire.

Anyway, a question. I had thought that Bardway and Kanzaki were friends, but the summary clears up that misunderstanding. Did they become friends later on or something?

I wonder if Kanzaki is going to do a 'befriending' on Brunhild, though?

[Miraluka]

Kaori and Bardway ... friends? No way , the latter is too spoiled even for a ice lady like Kaori. And that, says much.

About these mini-novels I noticed there is a frequent use of the number 3, maybe it has a special meaning in the Norse magic.

[Endscape]

Ahh, wasn't it Kaori and Bardway in that beach pic? The one where Kaori's wearing the one piece?

[Miraluka]

Originally Posted by Endscape

Ahh, wasn't it Kaori and Bardway in that beach pic? The one where Kaori's wearing the one piece?

Nop, Bardawy is the little girl in a dress, the other one in a swuimsuit is a non named character called tour guide girl.

[I_am_Kami]

Originally Posted by Endscape

I wonder if Kanzaki is going to do a 'befriending' on Brunhild, though?

Doesn't she. Isnt that a pic in one of the Index SS?



Also, Wondering if anyone thought the same. Is there a probability touma is part of the L.6 project? Like, accelerator becoming strong so touma could beat him and become strong? Then so on and so forth till he "awakens" his power. Cuz the way i view it touma is supposed to be "the one higher than god"

[Chaos2Frozen]

Originally Posted by Wilfriback

Just like the saints who are based on the concept of saints in real life but with a great power, with some kind of blessings from Heaven (for the valkyries should be Valhalla, right? ) and the proper teachings to train her as one. I hope more details to be clear.

So... We don't know yet ?

Originally Posted by Wilfriback

And LOL at calling Brunhild, Hel, does the author has in mind to include Hel's brothers, Fenrir and Jormungand in the novels for Odinus' saga??

No, I'm certain it's just the Norse way of calling someone the "Devil".

But everybody knows the real Hel wears glasses

[Asuras]

Spoiler for For size:

Valhalla.

Spoiler for SS2:

Brunhild is killed right? What happens to Valkryie, her apprentice? And is that, leopard skin she's wearing?

[ellifeedn]

Has the series ever talked about the Muslims? Now I know talking about them is a touchy subject, but really, they number about 1.5 billion believers (a lot of whom are actually devout) and are a significant part of the world order. I'll be surprised if the author never includes them at any point in the series while including an obscure South American religion that probably has a recurring appearance (meaning showing up at least twice).

[Asuras]

Originally Posted by ellifeedn

Now I know talking about them is a touchy subject

Why should it be? I have no qualms against any religion speaking its feelings. Only when they become overzealous holier-than-thou jackwads that I say "no more."

Are you Muslim? I understand how it would feel when Christianity is mentioned so much more often than Islam in anime that you enjoy. Maybe he will? I hope he includes everyone in fact; the great history of Islam is (really) much larger than Christianity itself. I think it would make for a great topic in TAMNI.

[Miraluka]

Originally Posted by ellifeedn

Has the series ever talked about the Muslims? Now I know talking about them is a touchy subject, but really, they number about 1.5 billion believers (a lot of whom are actually devout) and are a significant part of the world order. I'll be surprised if the author never includes them at any point in the series while including an obscure South American religion that probably has a recurring appearance (meaning showing up at least twice).

They're mentioned by Biagio Busoni in the volume 11.

[ellifeedn]

I'm not Muslim or a part of any religion, though I sort of agree with the ideas of Deism. I only say talking about them is touchy because of all the extremists and the violent actions they cause and that having Muslim magicians attack Academy City may reflect real life a little too closely for some people's taste.

[Asuras]

Originally Posted by ellifeedn

I'm not Muslim or a part of any religion, though I sort of agree with the ideas of Deism. I only say talking about them is touchy because of all the extremists and the violent actions they cause and that having Muslim magicians attack Academy City may reflect real life a little too closely for some people's taste.

True, some may take their over-exaggerative fears to the worst level. However, it does not mean that one's imagination can be limited because an extremist group of a relatively peaceful religion. People assume more often than not that Islam is violent and evil, all because of such things as 9/11.

Quite sad really.

[Nya~n]

You could say the same about the RCC's antagonism towards AC for their science and heresy. Crusades, anyone? It's just that people relate to Islam in a more touchy manner because it's a recent event.

[Asuras]

Religion as a whole may have been good at first to get people to abide by moral standards and ethics, but it only serves to hinder our progression today.

[Master Assassin]

Being a Muslim myself (why hello there people), you would think I'd react negatively against even the mere mentioning of the word "Muslims bad!" by that one character because for some reason, the majority of Muslims I know don't like any negative portrayal of their people and religion in fiction.

I however feel neutral about that, one of the reasons is that I'm reading a fictional story and as of such, I do know what to believe and what I shouldn't. Besides, it's a work of fiction after all and I'm enjoying it for the laughs. That shouldn't hurt as long as I don't take the fiction seriously and begin, say, considering this series as a religious book - which, of course, would make me get the label "INFIDEL" straight away by others.

While a good portion of other people like me are being neutral about this, I do worry what will happen if the sensitive ones do hear about Biagio Busoni (whatever his name is) though. Oh, the horror of protests I can imagine going on everywhere!

... Religious uproar regarding content of fictional works... where have I heard that before? NGE?