Toaru Majutsu no Index

Volume 16, Chapter 4: Who is Protected by Whom? Leader_is_All_Members.

Part 1

Misaka Mikoto was trudging through the late night town. In order to get a Gekota strap, she had gone through the trouble of taking a bath in a bathhouse in District 22, but as was typical, she had encountered a dangerous event involving a "no oxygen alert" or some such. After that ordeal, while taking a break inside the building, she realized that it was already late at night. She was feeling completely chilled and even the meaning behind taking the bath seemed to have disappeared.

"Aw, darnit... In the end I guess I'll end up using the bath back at the dorm anyway," she thought, but for some reason, the entrance to District 22 had been sealed.

Currently, the event surrounding the "no oxygen alert" seemed to have been settled and the seal on the entrances to the building itself had been lifted. It seemed that because of some system malfunction, the middle aged man in charge of the gate was frantically scratching his head.

Normally Mikoto would've voiced a complaint, but behind the middle aged man a loud sound of a large number of feet pacing impatiently back and forth could be heard, angry roars and reprimands flying past each other. The man's complexion seemed to pale with each one. In this situation, making a complaint as a customer would be pitiful, Misaka thought, and gave up on grinding her teeth.

(Hum, I wonder what happened)

Looking at it like this, Mikoto was an owner of troublesome disposition evenly balanced by that of a certain boy. She wondered a bit about the fuss that had been at his side, however.

"Nyowah!?"

Suddenly with a crackle, something like static electricity flashed from the bangs on Mikoto's forehead. It was somewhat rare for her ability to run wild, even to a slight degree.

Mikoto put on a civil smile and lowered her head before the startled middle aged man and retreated from there. This was a characteristic peculiar to Academy City perhaps, as not being able to control your own power by yourself was something that was unexpectedly embarrassing.

During this time, she got the urge to poke her head into some trouble. If she were, at this time, to meet a magician, they might suspect that this was "clearing out the people", the effects of techniques that exerted influence over peoples' senses affecting the techniques for controlling one's own power.

(But what was that just earlier?)

Inclining her head, she decided that for now, there was nothing she could do to get to the surface until the gates started working. She looked at an information map of District 22, and decided to head over to a highly rated hotel in the 7th layer.

(I wonder if I can do a drop-in check-in at this hour... Even so, I'm worried about the dorm manager. I probably should call Kuroko and have her teleport me out of here.)

While thinking this, she descended the spiraling staircase into the 7th layer.

Suddenly, from the darkness ahead, someone's figure appeared. The figure was clearly not walking normally. More than unusual, it looked shaky and suspicious. A degenerate? Mikoto narrowed her eyebrows, but as the figure appeared below a street light her face was stunned by surprise.

It was Kamijou Touma.

"Wai-, what're you doing!?"

Mikoto hurriedly rushed up to him. Normally she wouldn't show this reaction. She knew that this boy normally loitered around town during night, to Mikoto it was an undesirable but inseparable relationship. Even though they often butted heads and fought, worrying was rare.

However, Mikoto now faced a situation that forced them out of their normal behavior patterns. This was because Kamijou Touma was in an abnormal condition.

His face was pale as if he had been immersed in a sea of ice. The bandages wrapped all over his body had slid off due to moving too much. Some of them were even dyed red. The clothing he was wearing was also strange. It was not the student clothes she was used to seeing, but rather it looked like the surgical gown of a hospital patient.

"Misaka...?"

Kamijou said this as he barely kept his posture by leaning against the pillar of a street light. There were electrodes taped to his cheek and arm, the cords even being dragging along the ground after him. Were they forcibly pulled loose? Looking at his eyes Mikoto's shock was renewed.

It wasn't noticeable unless you looked close, but Kamijou's pupils were dilated the wrong way. His eyes weren't focused. It was like he was gazing at scenery through foggy glass. From Kamijou's own expression, it looked as though he didn't realize it himself, or as if he couldn't afford to pay a trivial thing like that any mind as he braced himself.

"..."

Kamijou's lips moved a little, but Mikoto's ear couldn't pick up what he was saying. However, he separated himself from the street light with a slow movement and began walking again. He attempted to pass Mikoto by but at that moment his knees gave in. As he was about to fall to the ground, Mikoto frantically supported him.

"Idiot! You, what's up with those injuries!? Those electrode cords... don't tell me you ran away from some hospital!?"

"I have to... go."

Because of their close distance she could finally hear Kamijou's voice.

"They are, probably, still fighting. That's why, I have to go..."

Just from hearing some fragmented words Mikoto could tell his entire body was shaking. She had a vague sense that this boy had been involved with countless incidents that she knew nothing of, but she had believed that these were something like extensions of brawls. In the past, once, he had defeated the strongest esper in Academy City, but she had thought that this would be a once-in-a-lifetime accomplishment. Who could have predicted that he would be on the brink of life and death like that countless times?

At the same time, if this was so, then there was something else Mikoto could accept.

(... Memory loss)

If he was always fighting battles that shaved off the edges of his life span like this, there was no way his body would come out unscathed every time. Was the cause of the memory loss a mental shock, or the result of a structural problem in the brain? Mikoto didn't know. However, whatever the reason for the memory loss, it came within the realm of plausibility. Kamijou Touma's body had been battered to that extent.

(I need to stop him), Mikoto thought. This boy was dragging his body that looked like it was dying, experiencing something enough to take his memories away, and still trying to face some unknown crisis.

"...?"

Kamijou looked perplexedly at his own arm that was being held fast by Mikoto. His face showed that he could not grasp why Mikoto didn't budge. It showed that he sincerely believed that nobody would help him or even raise their voice for him as long as he kept all things that could potentially worry others a secret.

This small thing angered her.

From the bottom of her heart.

"Why... won't you say anything?"

Mikoto realized she had murmured that aloud. Knowing she could not take them back, she couldn't stop the words.

"'I want you to help me,' or, 'Lend me your power...' No, not even something concrete like that. Just something simple like 'I'm afraid,' or 'I'm worried,' at least say something like that!"

"Misaka,... what're you say-..."

"I know."

Mikoto said it to cut off his attempts to even now keep on deceiving, no, to keep Mikoto from getting entangled.

"I know that you've lost your memories!"

At that instant, Kamijou's shoulders made a big movement. Big, as if he was seeing tremors that would decide his life. Seeing the bewildered Kamijou, Mikoto also felt a huge shock.

So what.

Mikoto had once in the past, really had her life saved by this boy. Not only her alone, but together with 10000 girls that she should protect, as well.

At that time, he had appeared before Mikoto who was trying, all alone, to take on the strongest Level 5 of Academy City. He had appeared in a way that trampled all over Mikoto's heart, who had planned to burden everything on herself and die. His method certainly was a way of doing things that didn't have a shred of delicacy, a dirty method that even invaded her privacy. However, Misaka Mikoto and the Sisters had been saved that way.

She wouldn't deny Kamijou Touma that one method. It would be fine should even this boy be saved by that way of doing things. That was why Mikoto said it.

"I know there's something big you're holding inside by yourself, but is that really something you need to carry by yourself? Getting beat up like this, even losing all the memories inside your head, what reason is there that you need to keep fighting all by yourself?"

Kamijou listened to these words. The fact that he was keeping quiet encouraged Mikoto to press further.

"I too can fight"

As if challenging head on, slamming her will straight ahead. The things she couldn't say until now, just naturally burst out from her mouth.

"I too can be of use to you!"

This wasn't because she had the position as the third-ranked Level 5 of Academy City. It was not based on a small perspective like that. Even if she were to lose her power at this very instant and become just a Level 0, Mikoto could swear that she would tell him the exact same thing.

"There's no reason for you to keep getting hurt by yourself! So tell me. Where are you going now, who are you trying to fight!? I will fight today. I'll put you at ease."

"Mi- saka..."

"The feelings people go through waiting for you, have a taste of it at least once! Lay down on the hospital bed and try knowing the feeling of a person who can't do anything but watch from a safe distance! It was the same when you saved the Sisters. You told me to ask you for help, then you alone go to challenge Academy City's strongest Level 5. Why don't your own ideologies apply to yourself as well? Why are you the only one not asking for help!?"

While yelling, Mikoto gazed at Kamijou's face. Somehow there was astonishment. However, that was not because something he didn't know had been thrust before him. It was surprise that things he had been hiding had been exposed. This meant he still had his memories of Accelerator and the Sisters.

At this, Mikoto felt relieved, but on the other hand she was also disgusted at her own selfishness of mixing her feelings into this dire situation. In this state where she should be worrying about Kamijou's well being, she instead acted to wipe away her own anxieties.

Kamijou Touma didn't notice, or if he did, he let it slide.

"A-anyway! Let's go! To the hospital! Even if I tell it to you with words, you still won't listen so I won't let you go until we're at the hospital!!"

Mikoto, while still holding Kamijou's arm with one hand, pulled out her cell phone with her other and opened a map to start looking for the hospital.

"... I see"

Kamijou had been dumbfounded for a while, but eventually started to slowly move his lips. It could also be seen as a smile.

"You found out, eh?"

Even when he was about to collapse, Kamijou's body housed a strange power. Mikoto judged it to be the most dangerous situation. That was why her hand wouldn't let go of Kamijou's arm.

"But you're wrong," Kamijou spoke as if seal to any further attempt of Mikoto to speak.

"Since I don't have my memories, I don't know the specifics." Kamijou Touma's core hadn't been broken.

"I can't remember my past self. I can no longer picture how I felt while facing that final moment. But when it comes to this stuff about 'you're getting beaten up', 'you fought until you lost your memories', and 'there is no reason for you alone to continue getting hurt'..."

His memory loss had been discovered. That in itself should have been an incredibly major event. However, the true core of Kamijou Touma did not lie in his memory loss.

"I doubt I put myself at such risk that I lost my memories so that I could say things like that."

Mikoto's facial expression stopped.

That conclusion was the real foundation that Kamijou Touma held. Because of that, the boy hid the fact of his memory loss. That someone was at fault, if he hadn't moved it wouldn't have come to this, saying something boring like that to keep someone from getting hurt.

A past that he could no longer recall.

"Though I can't remember the events from before, even so, it is because of them I'm able to stand here. The 'me' from the past still motivates the 'me' that can't remember anything today. What he left behind isn't in the 'head', but in the 'heart'. So, it doesn't matter if I can't remember, I still understand what I need to do."

Kamijou Touma probably held a vague "something" that even he couldn't grasp as a source of pride. Because of his beliefs, he didn't have regrets. If he were to meet his past self, he would be able to say "Thank you," with a smile and without hesitation. This boy believed this without doubt.

"Sorry Misaka. You hurry back."

She realized her hand had let go. Kamijou Touma's arm moved with abnormally strong force.

"I'm going. It's not something I can entrust to others. It's not like there's a compulsion that I be the one to do it... Just, I'm going. In the end it doesn't change anything. If a cogwheel slides out of place and I lose my memories, it doesn't change what I should do. Kamijou Touma isn't the kind of person that lets something small like losing a bit of memories stop him."

The boy showed his back to Mikoto and began walking anew. If she had thought of following that unreliable walking figure, she surely could have done so.

(What do I do...)

However, Mikoto didn't move. His back was just there. If she reached out her hand it would reach.

(He didn't say I was wrong. I need to get him to a hospital right away. There's even the option that I go with him together to his battlefield... But, I know he isn't lying. Probably, in this situation, the fact that he's standing on his own legs has a special meaning to it.)

During this time, Kamijou moved.

During the time that Mikoto was worrying, Kamijou moved.

(But, something like that, I can't stop. Right now seeing him off has to be the right answer. Holding both hands, praying to God that he will come back in one piece is the most correct thing to do. All other options, whatever they are, are pointless. He definitely isn't wishing for anything like that...)

The unreliable back was getting further away. There was no time.

Even though she had to stop him, Mikoto didn't move.

(What do I do? I can't come to terms with it at all)

Probably, in all that Kamijou Touma said, there wasn't a single lie. He had simply let his true feelings be known. Even so, because he wanted to, he decided on fighting. If she needed a reason, it would be because that opinion needed to be respected. She understood this. Even an idiot would have to understood this.

But she couldn't accept it.

No matter what, she couldn't.

(.... I see.)

In an unknowing amount of time, She moved her hand to her own chest.

The girl called Misaka Mikoto had realized something.

It wasn't anything that had to do with reason or logic or dignity or appearances or shame or reputation, it was just a part of her very own heart, evidently the nucleus of the human Misaka Mikoto herself. The wretched, unsightly, selfish, unreasonable - and yet despite all this, honest and frank and "human".

The name of this feeling, Mikoto didn't know. What kind it was sorted under, she didn't realize yet. However, today, this day, this time, this moment, Misaka Mikoto knew.

Inside her slept an enormous feeling that could easily shake her being. A feeling that could easily destroy any control that one of the seven Level 5s of Academy City had over their inner selves as part of their Personal Reality.

Kamijou Touma's back disappeared in the darkness.

Misaka Mikoto couldn't stop him in the end.

The reason was not because her spirit had been beaten because of his actions.

It was because part of the emotion she had realized pressed against her chest in such a manner that she couldn't move a single finger.

Part 2

Acqua of the Back's mace was ringing.

It was not like it was some special nor some spiritual item, it was just purely human effort. The moment Kanzaki used this special spell called 'Yuisen', her power would momentarily increase. But against Acqua, she didn't know when she would reach her limit. With this, the difference between the two increased, and finally--she reached her limit.

An explosion.

As Kanzaki used her Shichiten Shichitou to receive the mace, her whole body was sent flying backwards.

"GGYYYYAAAA!!!!?"

Having battled continuously, Kanzaki's body looked like it was about to crush the hill of rubble as it flew away for a hundred meters without bouncing back. Her body became a cannonball as it destroyed every single hill of rubble and turned every single scrap of concrete into dust.

"Is this the end, Saint of the Far East?"

The feeling hidden within Acqua's words was disappointment.

But after being buried inside the rubble, Kanzaki was unable to even move her body, let alone respond to him.

The strength she had now wasn't even half of the amount that shot up her blood.

(...Is there anything...)

No such things as petty tricks or tactics.

How should she battle with that man when there was such a disparity in 'power'?

(...What's the real form of...that power...?)

Kanzaki spat out some blood as she wondered.

Having used all the power in this body of a Saint to use this spell called ‘Yuisen’, Kanzaki understood that a Saint’s attributes far exceeded what a human could do. ‘Yuisen’ had originally been created as a one-strike sword technique. If she didn’t do it like this, she may end up destroying her own body.

But Acqua broke through this impossible possibility front up.

Thus, he could pull the distance between himself and Kanzaki.

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(—I don’t have...enough power to exert magic...on ‘Yuisen’.)

This spell wouldn’t just increase movement, it also prevented the muscles from exceeding what humans could endure and get destroyed, making sure that while the speed drastically increased, the entire body balance wouldn’t be lost. This was a ‘crystallization’ of all sorts of spells. If one wanted to go even further than that, or add in something else, the balance between all these spells would break down. Using the current pieces and piecing them together like a jigsaw puzzle, it was impossible to add a new piece in.

This was the limit of a Saint who mainly used close-ranged combat.

Maybe Acqua had some body defense spell that was even more refined than this.

Though Kanzaki thought of a few possibilities herself, no matter what, she failed.

As expected, there would be a problem if she powered up to his level. If she used a similar power to that of Acqua’s. If anyone tried to use the power that Acqua used, at that moment, an ordinary person’s body would have eroded, whether physically or magically.

(Acqua’s...power is...)

Normally, the power given to a Saint couldn’t be used entirely.

Since they were people who had similar body characteristics with the Son of God, Saints were those who were said to have inherited his power; even if it was just a part of it, in the end, it was not something that a human could grasp.

They had a part of that power, but trying to grasp a part of that part of power was already tough for a Saint.

This was the real identity of a Saint.

No matter how they built this up, there would be a divide that they couldn’t surpass. If one had to describe it, it would be like finally getting hold of a power only for it to scatter like fog. Thus, there was a limit to using the power created through the Idol Theory with their own willpower.

However, this wasn’t completely bad. If Saints could use such power at 100%, the high pressure would cause the Saint’s body to self-destruct. This was more of a self-defense instinct than magic, since when they were babies, they controlled that power without knowing anything about magic.

However,

(...Acqua, he doesn’t have the limit of being...a Saint...?...That power...has it already overcome what...a human can already control...?)

Needless to say, besides being a Saint, Acqua had the power of God’s Right Seat. The reason for him to be called Acqua of the Back was because he had the element of the Archangel Power of God. Normally, one would think that it was just a natural addition of power, but in reality, this increased power doubled the burden on him.

Yes.

What was amazing was that Acqua had already controlled 200% of that power and still hadn’t gone amok, his facial expression not changing at all.

(...That’s impossible. This isn’t something that can be excused through a word like ‘quality’ or ‘genius’. These two incompatible elements of a Saint and God’s Right Seat are both in the same body. This is already impossible on its own...)

This term called ‘talent’, it was a forceful yet acceptable one.

But this was different.

Since Kanzaki was within this level, she understood.

Talent, ability, these terms weren’t such convenient things in reality.

(...Is there anything...)

Kanzaki heard a small sound.

It was the sound of Acqua of the Back standing in front of Kanzaki.

(...Saint, and God’s Right Seat...)

Seeing this strong opponent in front of her, Kanzaki pondered.

(...Why must these two powers coexist in such a place...!)

“Ugh!!”

Before Acqua could step forward, Kanzaki, who was lying on the floor, rolled to the side.

And forcefully picked up the Shichiten Shichitou that was on the floor.

At the same time, Acqua swing the mace that was over 5 meters in length and delivered a huge strike as it appeared that he was taking out the rubble and the floor.

Originally used for a sudden strike, Kanzaki’s sword could only turn attack into defense.

The mace and sword clashed with each other, letting out an intense metallic sound. Before the mace pressed down on her, Kanzaki looked like she was about to be blown away, but she stabbed her sword into the ground to reduce the impact. However, she fell about 10m behind before finally stopping.

“So are you going to fight on?”

Sounding impressed, Acqua said.

But this was of an attitude of looking down from above.

“What chances of making a comeback? It doesn’t exist anymore. As long as you think about the number of special moves that you have and possibly can use, you can understand the outcome. If you want to pray, maybe a miracle will happen, but relying on those things isn’t going to destroy such a rare breed of people called ‘Saints’.”

"...A rare number of them, huh?"

Battered and tattered, Kanzaki muttered.

With a tone that was from deep within her heart.

"This isn't a power gotten through your own effort, but forcefully through birth. You've had such a thing since birth, do you feel satisfied with that?"

"So what if you say that?"

Acqua had no intention of responding at all.

"I should have said it before. Among those mutters of beliefs, how many of them are real?"

Kanzaki and Acqua flew off at the same time.

Both of them clashed from the front, and sparks flew due to metal clashing.

"The reason you would be so angry is because of that, right? Having such an overwhelming difference in strength when compared to those Amakusa members who are only ordinary humans, they actually got involved in a battle between Saints. All because of this, right?"

"...!!"

"But this is the battlefield. Natural differences in ability, the attributes of the weapons in one's hands, the number of fighters. The rules of the battlefield is to continue fighting head on even after knowing the differences in depth. If you're complaining that you hate to get involved, then you shouldn't be standing 'here' in the first place, and should have scrammed earlier."

The situation between these two couldn't even be called neck-to-neck.

Losing to Acqua's pressure, Kanzaki's body continued to fall back.

"Letting those without power fight; there's no need for that no matter how you look at it."

Seeing Kanzaki about to collapse, Acqua said,

"Blades clashing with each other, it's alright as long as it's a soldier."

This could be said to be one of Acqua's beliefs.

In contrast to the other members of God's Right Seat, this man had said before that he just wanted to crush the boy's right hand.

Not an angel, but the Divine Mother--these were truly fragments of what a person with 'Divine Mother's Mercy' thought.

To be honest, Kanzaki herself had thought of the same thing.

In such a cruel place called the battlefield, and no matter whether one was trained or not, a person's fighting prowess couldn't be measured. No matter how well armed a person was, anyone that wanted to die would die. If they hated this, they could only let Kanzaki, a Saint destroy all the risks and let them fight on a certainly safe battlefield. There was no other way.

Even if only considering the battle ability of both sides, there was still a threat from an ambush. But the real battlefield was different, there would be some nightmarish mishaps in perfect scenarios, and to grasp control of everything and prevent all these mishaps from happening was impossible.

Kanzaki blamed this on her own immaturity.

As her own power was insufficient, she couldn't control that ever-changing battle scenario, causing her important comrades to get hurt. She had thought this 'at that time', and as the Supreme Pontiff, she couldn't endure this fact and left the Amakusa.

However,

(This is...)

Kanzaki Kaori placed herself in Acqua of the Back's shoes and bit her teeth hard.

(Such an arrogant way of thinking.)

The Amakusa magicians died because they were too weak. If they all had power similar to that of a Saint, they wouldn't die. Was that true? Such a thing was impossible. Then what about that boy? That boy fought with everyone, won together with everyone, laughed together with everyone. What was he?

In the end, she wasn't able to say anything like fighting together. This wasn't because Kanzaki Kaori didn't trust the Amakusa-style Remix of Church's ability. It was neither character nor spirit, but ability. Because of that, Kanzaki was unable to entrust herself to anyone. This way, she wouldn't be bogged down by her companion nor be burdened by unnecessary losses.

Was the Amakusa-style Remix of Church really that weak?

Who was really the weak one?

Even if she barely managed to win in such a pitiful state, what could she get?

Even if things developed the way everyone hoped, even if the world moved in a positive direction, in the ultimate end, could she bring those people along when they didn't become her strength?

They would definitely be left behind.

In the surrounding atmosphere of smiles and laughter, only one person would be on the sidelines.

A Saint.

One that was born with abilities that no others had--continuing to use the special privilege of being 'a chosen person'. How foolish, how arrogant must she continue to be like this?

"I am truly...a big idiot."

Kanzaki Kaori said such words.

All the things that she had done till now were actually a subconscious form of violence.

In other words, things were like that.

Acqua of the Back, God's Right Seat, Kanzaki Kaori was like them.

'The Special One' managed everything, and the 'others' just needed to shut up and obey, this was for your own good, there was no need to do anything meaningless, don't use too many limited resources, everyone just needed to smile, no need to do anything else, just shut up and obey. Without knowing it, Kanzaki had made such a request to her comrades.

"--"

Kanzaki rubbed her bloodied lips a bit and readied her Shichiten Shichitou.

What she should do.

(I've already understood.)

In the real sense, the one option she could choose to save her 'companions'.

The one option that could really recognize her 'companions' without a single one of them being lost in the spotlight.

(I understood it completely!)

The one definite enemy, the mistake that Acqua of the Back made, the one choice she should choose to correct this error.

The mystery in solving Acqua of the Back's power, the one way to resist that overwhelming power.

(I completely understood it!!)

Once a problem was solved, the remaining problems would unravel one by one. The Shichiten Shichitou in her hands let out a sound, and this was Kanzaki Kaori's last ounce of strength. She believed she was right, and would not regret using this power that she believed in.

The enemy was Acqua of the Back, who used the power of a Saint and God's Right Seat.

In the face of the strongest enemy ever, Kanzaki Kaori made her final move.

Part 3

As the two Saints battled it out 30m above the 5th level, at the volcanic crater-shaped opening on the 4th level, the Amakusa members were staring blankly at the battle. At this moment, they clearly heard a voice.

"...Give..."

It was the voice of a real Saint, one of only 20 in the world.

"...Please give me."

The voice of the original former Supreme Pontiff that led them.

"LEND ME POWER! LEND ME YOUR POWER!!"

Kanzaki Kaori's voice.

At first, Tatemiya, Itsuwa, and the rest, they didn't understand what she said. No matter how well their brains processed it, they couldn't believe that this was directed at them.

But truly, Kanzaki said these words to Tatemiya and the rest.

It was that Kanzaki Kaori who they thought they would never catch up to in their entire lives, it was that Kanzaki Kaori who they thought was different from them ever since she had been born, it was that Kanzaki Kaori who had said that she didn't want to hurt her companions and left them.

Right now, she was asking for help.

Now that she was facing an enemy she couldn't beat, she was asking for help.

"—AH"

At this moment, some people could feel their bodies trembling.

And some others felt tears welling up in their eyes.

This meant that Kanzaki Kaori's words and action were such a touching thing.

They were finally recognized by that Supreme Pontiff.

They were no longer her baggage, but companions who were able to stand beside her and fight alongside her.

This had never happened before.

Why had things developed to such an extent that Kanzaki Kaori finally asked the Amakusa-style Remix of Church for help?

The reason was simple.

Even if it was Kanzaki Kaori, there were also enemies that she couldn't beat.

Even so, she had a reason to why she had to stand in front of that enemy.

Also,

The one hope left available for them to beat this tough enemy.

These extremely ordinary Amakusa members like Tatemiya and Itsuwa.

"..."

At this moment, at this instant, nobody was willing a waste another second.

The people who were so weak that they had dropped their weapons picked up their weapons, one by one.

Nobody rejected her request.

All of them were bandaged up, and there were some with blood seeping through the bandages; some of them had their bandages broken, but all of this didn't matter anymore.

Even if each one of them and their comrades were facing an opponent they couldn't handle on their own, even if it was that 'monster' who caused that Kanzaki Kaori to get involved in such a hard battle, even if they were going to stand up in front of him again, nobody would be afraid. Their hearts were filled with delight, to be able to be the Supreme Pontiff's strength, to fight alongside that person again, the delight of such a thing caused them to forget about all their pain.

Some of them let out a battle cry of motivation, some of them shed tears as they looked like the happiest people on Earth, and some silently basked in this happiness. The people leaning on the walls finally used their own feet to stand up, their ‘substitute’ Supreme Pontiff Tatemiya Saiji finally feeling that the heavy responsibility on his shoulders was lifted as he sighed.

“...Let’s go.”

As the substitute leader of the Amakusa-style Remix of Church, Tatemiya Saiji gave his last instructions.

But it seemed this wasn’t enough, so he used all his feelings, and again,

“GO!! TO WHERE THE AMAKUSA SHOULD GO!!”

With that shout, the Amakusa members jumped in, one after another, towards the battlefield.

They knew how weak they were,

But even so, their reason for fighting didn’t waver.

Thus, the Amakusa-style Remix of Church united to fight against this tough foe.

With that one leader they recognized, to fight alongside that woman.

Part 4

(What...?)

Acqua of the Back was unable to understand the rationality behind Kanzaki’s action.

In a battle between Saints, anyone could guess the outcome when ordinary magicians were involved. And normally, Kanzaki hated this, this was the reason why she had brought Acqua of the Back away from the battlefield, and even prepared a special battlefield like this.

However,

“WOOOOHHH!!”

Some of them raised their swords and rushed over, some raised their spears high. The dead-looking people suddenly gathered around, forming a formation around a battered Kanzaki like they were protecting her.

To Acqua, this was just a wall made of candy.

He readied his mace and warned.

“And you asked the weak for help...are you willing to risk other people’s lives to save yours?”

“Do you really think so?”

Kanzaki Kaori gripped the Shichiten Shichitou with both of her bloodied hands as she said this.

A smile appeared on her face.

“Truly, as there were a lot of my comrades who got injured, I was afraid of such a thing, so I once thought of leaving the Amakusa-style Remix of Church.”

But at this point, Kanzaki paused forcefully.

“It wasn’t their weakness that triggered those tragedies.”

“...”

“It was me, who thought that they were ‘weak’, who didn’t believe in their abilities that caused these tragedies. Deep down, I looked down on them, not willing to leave my back to them. Just like that, I put aside a strength I should have, continuing to fight even though I was immature, and ending up revealing such a large hole in front of the enemy! Such arrogance, this prideful thought of ‘I’ll protect you all’, I WAS THE ONE WHO CAUSED ALL THESE!!”

She found her own weakness, but those who continued to move forward would get stronger and mature.

A new strength slowly seeped into Kanzaki Kaori’s battered body.

“Thus I overcame it. I believe in them, I want to leave my back to them, to utilize our ability to the maximum. I want to get back my Amakusa-style Church!! We’re all leaders of each other, everyone’s our friend!! THERE’S NO NEED FOR A HIGHER UP LIKE A ‘SAINT’!!”

(What...?)

Truly, Kanzaki Kaori had now gotten back a power that she hadn’t believed in before.

That was her core.

The emotional core that those who absolutely believed in their own actions had, a strong core.

However, the fact that there wasn’t much of a winning chance still remained. Even if she added 50 people, it was just a gathering of birds to Acqua, there was no problem at all. He had no need to use his full force to face the Amakusa. In the battle with Kanzaki, they would be blown away by whatever shockwaves like the background.

(So you’re going to create a group psychology? That’s just a misconception.)

“A baseless hope is just wishful thinking.”

Strength filled up Acqua’s body.

“DO YOU THINK SUCH A THING CAN SURPASS ME!!”

As if he was sweeping all the useless things aside, Acqua forcefully swung his mace. Kanzaki Kaori didn’t look afraid at all as she dashed into the range of the mace.

The Shichiten Shichitou and the mace clash, but in order to reduce the impact, numerous Amakusa members immediately cast a defensive spell. No matter how much emotional support they had, the difference in strength between these two sides wouldn’t change. But even so, even at this point, Kanzaki continued to clash with Acqua.

“As a Saint is born with similar body attributes as the Son of God, many people would follow the Idol Theory and accept a part of the Power of God.”

According to the information, Kanzaki and the Amakusa should have been separated from each other for quite a few years.

But they didn’t need to communicate verbally, just clearing this blank period instantly.

“But even if it’s that kind of a ‘Saint’, that power can’t be used indiscriminately like you. And yet you have power that exceeds even a normal Saint. Why is that?”

The clash between those two was just an illusion.

Acqua immediately counterattacked, and the formation that included Kanzaki and the Amakusa members immediately wavered.

Even so, the Amakusa-style Remix of Church continued to fight on.

“—The answer is simple, it’s because of ‘Divine Mother Worship’!!”

Yes, thinking about it carefully, Acqua didn’t hide it at all. He had proclaimed it before.

He was one that used the power of the Divine Mother.

But Acqua of the Back should originally control the power of the Archangel Power of God. In contrast to the merciful Divine Mother, the Power of God was an existence that had blazed Sodom and Gomorrah down, and continued to remain active for the final judgment when the world would be destroyed; and there were even more legends of direct attacks. So why did he have to avoid using such ‘an attack that was easy to understand’, and go about in a roundabout way to use the Divine Mother’s power?

“Your body attribute isn’t just that of the Power of God, right? Besides the Power of God, a part of it is similar to the Divine Mother, so you could get the Divine Mother’s power!!”

The Son of God and the Divine Mother had a mother and son relationship. It wouldn't be strange if they had similar characteristics between them.

Also, the Divine Mother wasn’t just No 2 behind the Son of God in Christianity, even if she was placed in front of other Saints, she existed because she managed to bear the Son of God, so she did have a tremendous power. And there were many who praised the Divine Mother through the Divine Mother Worship, a Divine Mother who treated everyone equally mercifully, unlike the strict and just Son of God who ruled the world. This even gave the higher ups of the Roman Catholic Church a dangerous feeling that ‘wouldn’t the Divine Mother Worship become independent on its own?’

The Saint and the Divine Mother.

If there was anyone who had both of these attributes,

That person was Acqua of the Back.

Most likely, this was an ability he had been born with, and after becoming a member of God’s Right Seat, his ability blossomed further.

How tremendous was the power bounded to his body?

“You had both of these existences overlapped within you when you were born. So just on the basic power of a Saint alone, I’ll lose to you.”

Normally, God’s Right Seat members were different from humans. They were aimed at the position of The One Above God. So thus, they were not aimed at just being an ordinary Saint.

As Kanzaki herself was an ordinary Saint, it was hard for her to imagine that. But if some people had a ‘certain power’ that was higher than that of a Saint or an angel, maybe they had some element of being able to stabilize once they surpassed a limit, like a plane stabilizing after flying at a high velocity.

It was an existence that was even further than a Saint.

A high and stable limit.

Acqua had the elements of a Saint and the Divine Mother, so unlike the Saints who were stable when they 'moved at low speed’, he continued to maintain a highly stable state. Thus, he could control the tremendous power that would otherwise have gotten out of control.

However,

“However, you do have a ‘weakness’.”

Kanzaki said.

Yes, in contrast to a slow flying plane, it was a lot riskier and difficult to fly a plane that was flying at several times the speed of sound, anyone could understand that.

“You have a downside that's weaker than I, no, all the Saints in the world have when there’s a spell meant to take on a Saint!”

At this moment, Kanzaki paused.

Not facing Acqua, but at her companions.

In other words,

“—Saint Destroyer!!”

“...”

“No matter what attack, you deflected it with your mace or directly avoided it. It was only during that attack that you used a magical mean to do a real ‘defense’. In other words, that’s our chance of winning!!”

If it were an ordinary human, trying to master a Saint’s power completely was difficult. Trying to use both the powers of God’s Right Seat and a Saint was impossible, and this was what Kanzaki, an actual Saint, understood.

At first, Kanzaki had wondered if there was a special spell that could completely support these two things perfectly.

Though she hadn’t managed to find an answer, this was to be expected.

Because such a thing didn’t exist in the first place.

“The ‘Saint Destroyer’ was never tested before, and there weren’t any other practical examples. So Acqua, you couldn’t predict what would happen to you after you took that, right!!”

The reason why Acqua would defend against the ‘Saint Destroyer’ with all he had was because after taking the hit, he wouldn’t just lose some part of his power or be unable to use his power for several seconds.

“The ‘Saint Destroyer’ forcefully destroys anyone with a body similar to that of the Son of God, robbing the internal power and causing the Saint to be unable to move. Normally, you would return to normal after several seconds, but for you Acqua, who has both the attributes of a Saint and the Divine Mother, what the outcome will be obvious—ACQUA WILL SELF-DESTRUCT!!”

The spell he had cast used the delicate naturally-born-with attribute of a Saint being superior to a human.

In other words, this wasn’t something that could be done through human means.

Normally, a God-like technique would cause everything to destruct if the equilibrium was destroyed. Like an engine that could run up to 1000km/h, as there was such a powerful force, it needed delicate care. Thus, Acqua had used his full power to defend against it.

“...”

Being seen through, Acqua didn't say anything.

But his expression changed.

A smile.

This was different from the arrogant smile. He, who could be considered perfect, had only that particular weakness. And right now, that weakness had been spotted, yet this man called Acqua revealed a mighty smile.

The fact that his weakness had been spotted didn't cause him to panic.

A battle wasn't something like this.

Facing Acqua's continuous attacks that were becoming even more vicious, Kanzaki barely managed to block them all with her Shichiten Shichitou before exhaling a bit. She adjusted her sword a bit, intending to use the impact of the shockwaves formed by the sword.

These impacts weren't aimed at Acqua, but aimed at destroying the buildings behind him.

In the midst of the rubble, there was something buried within it. It was a rusted spiky metal wire.

(...I see, so that's your aim, huh...?)

The moment Acqua looked up, the numerous gold needles so happened to form a circle. After that, Kanzaki used her wires and Nanasen to give a definition of pain to the pile of rubble, as if she was carving something on it.

Finally, what appeared was a huge Cross, a sharp iron picket, and a crown of roses.

In other words,

"The symbols of the crucifixion of the Son of God!"

Since he had inherited a part of a Saint's power, he should have inherited the weaknesses as well. Even so, if this was enough to beat a Saint, nobody would need to work so hard.

Honestly, to an ordinary Saint like Kanzaki, it wouldn't have much effect on her.

However,

Acqua of the Back was a 'special Saint'.

Compared to the mere 20 Saints in the entire world, he had an even rarer attribute. He had both the power of a Saint and the Divine Mother at the same time. At the same time when he had this tremendous power, he had to balance these two powers. This was why Kanzaki Kaori would choose the symbol of 'execution'.

The 'execution' spell may seem unrelated to the Divine Mother, but in this situation, that was not so.

Yes,

For the Divine Mother was assumed as the largest point of suspicion in Christian History.

“—!!"

At this moment, Kanzaki sensed something that exceeded physical concepts floating up around Acqua.

This was a change that even a 'normal Saint' could sense.

In other words, Acqua, he,

"Is wavering."

Kanzaki said with complete belief.

With Acqua at center, what existed were the powers of a Saint and the Divine Mother. Both of them were affected by the outside environment, and there was an intense fight inside his body, even letting out an ugly cry.

If it was now, they could do it.

Thus, Kanzaki Kaori shouted from deep within her heart.

The Lance of Longinus.

"ALL'S READY!! THOSE WIELDING THE SPEAR, NOW'S THE TIME FOR EXECUTION!"

"!!"

Wielding the key to the 'Saint Destroyer', on hearing Kanzaki's words, Itsuwa immediately pulled out a wet handkerchief and wrapped it around her Friuli Spear and got into a ready position.

"...Interesting."

But before that could happen, Acqua took action.

"The Amakusa-style Church, huh? This name is worthy of being carved on my chest!!"

At the same time he said this, Acqua jumped 20m up into the air-- no, he broke through the volcanic crater-like opening that connected the 4th and 5th levels, jumping up at least twice the height of the previous one. Though there were tens, hundreds of steel wires dancing about in the air, these couldn't stop Acqua's movements.

The volcanic crater-like hole let out a giant moon-like glow from the streets.

His back facing this artificial moon, Acqua readied his mace.

"--The Divine Mother shall remove all evil."

A while back, that meteor-like destructive power had slammed onto the Earth and defeated Kanzaki in one hit, and even if Kanzaki was at her best condition, she wouldn't be able to endure it. Besides, the jump this time was twice the height of the previous one, and the entire Amakusa definitely wouldn't be able to take this hit. The entire 5th level may end up getting destroyed.

"Sometimes, depicting this power called the Truth of God, LET YOUR MERCY RISE TO THE HEAVENS!!"

A huge velocity, and a falling Acqua. The mace that was basking in moonlight dragged a bluish-white tail behind it.

(Is it over!?)

The defensive array was formed by numerous steel wires, and Kanzaki herself wanted to protect that pile of metal through magic. But this wasn't enough, this one hit from Acqua mercilessly aimed at the floor.

Having taken one hit from it, Kanzaki knew that if she took another of that hit, she would definitely die. And not only Kanzaki, it was likely that even the Amakusa members around her would be dead.

(The last grain of hope...!!)

Beside Kanzaki, who was clenching her teeth, Itsuwa raised her spear over her head. However, the spell ‘Saint Destroyer’ wouldn’t be completed in time.

(Can’t give up...)

Kanzaki Kaori reached out for the Shichiten Shichitou.

Having turned into the avatar of destruction, Acqua continued to fall. Looking up, Kanzaki glared at him as she stamped hard onto the plaza, pulled out the sword and placed it at a streamlined position.

This wasn’t a stand meant for her to counterattack.

It was all to defend. Collecting all the symbols throughout history, forming this spell at the last second, turning Kanzaki Kaori into a shield.

(HOW CAN I GIVE UP LIKE THIS!!)

Acqua of the Back used all his strength to rush to the ground.

Light scattered all over the place.

Kanzaki Kaori’s eyes, ears, nose, tongue, skin, all her senses were slowly disappearing.

Part 5

Destruction.

Such a simple term, yet impossible to understand.

Her five senses were gone, what was left was only white. Maybe the sound of rubble blown away, or maybe the impact that blew everywhere, or maybe the dust flying about, or maybe the smell of rust, or anything that got destroyed, none of them registered in her head. A real destruction, pure destruction, was it real at a level where 'there was nothing'?

(...)

Seemed like her whitened senses would need some time to recover.

And Kanzaki knew.

Though it was bit by bit, she knew for sure that her senses were recovering.

The fact that she was not losing her senses but recovering them meant...

(What's going, on...?)

The one attack that Acqua of the Back used should have caused absolute destruction. Including Kanzaki, all the Amakusa members shouldn't be left alive. However, the situation now seemed like Acqua's spell had gotten destroyed, like nothing got destroyed.

(Van, ish...? The spell, magic, vanished?)

Kanzaki slowly looked up.

No matter good or evil, strong or weak, this act erased them all.

She could only think of the one person able to do such a crazy thing.

"Im-, possible..."

Her senses were back.

Her words reached her ears; as if they had waited for this opportunity, all her senses returned to her. Even if she met a nightmare with Acqua's attacks, what really happened was that 'nothing happened'. It was the same scene as before, and the one person standing in the middle was,

Kamijou Touma.

Having taken Acqua's magic attack directly from the front, the boy continued to stand there as he gripped the mace like he was about to crush it.

Truthfully, if the attack Acqua of the Back had used was just pure physical power, Kamijou's right hand would have been crushed to dust already. But it was a magical attack, and no matter what kind of supernatural power it was, that boy's right hand could eliminate all of it.

Acqua's attack had been eliminated because most of it was magic.

The boy's right hand had neutralized that attack without any mercy.

"WHA...!!"

"---..."

Facing a shocked Acqua, the bloodied Kamijou spoke, but his words didn't reach Acqua's ears. After which, Kamijou slowly fell as if he had gotten hit by the mace, not because he had used up all his strength, but because he sealed up Acqua.

"Ugh!!"

Seeing this, Kanzaki took action.

With just Kamijou alone, it was likely that one sweep from Acqua's mace would have sent him flying. But the moment Acqua was shocked, Kanzaki used this opportunity, abandoned her Shichiten Shichitou and forcefully grabbed Acqua's giant mace and shoulder.

"YOU BASTARD!!"

Acqua seemed to shout something, but those two weren't listening.

Thoroughly battered, Kamijou and Kanzaki both looked at the same direction.

In other words, Itsuwa of the Amakusa-style Church.

They were looking at Itsuwa the ordinary magician.

"Leave the rest to me..."

Itsuwa used a handkerchief to wrap the handle of the spear, and the other Amakusa members got ready to prepare it.

"—I WILL DEFINITELY HIT HIM!!"

With this roar, Itsuwa exploded.

Her petite body surrounded by numerous spells, Itsuwa accelerated and rushed at Acqua.

Acqua tried to dodge her attack.

But his own power as a Saint was sealed by Kanzaki, who was also a Saint. Trying to shake her off and use a God’s Right Seat’s spell, he was negated by Kamijou’s right hand.

“Oh.”

He couldn’t move for a few seconds.

But with this, it was no problem.

“OOOOOOOOHHHHHHH!!!”

At this moment, Acqua let out a howl.

It was not because of fear.

He knew he couldn’t avoid it, and yet, with an unwavering will, turned around and faced a charging Itsuwa. The moment he took that step forward, he let out a war cry to raise his battle spirit.

‘Saint Destroyer’.

Itsuwa’s spear scattered, forming a lightning bolt. This spell that surpassed physical laws controlled the entire space and attacked Acqua.

The air and sounds of the vibrations exploded.

The lightning struck Acqua’s abdomen, flying out from the back, and this time, it really pierced through his entire body.

As Acqua was hit directly, Kamijou and Kanzaki unconsciously let go.

Crosses of light appeared behind Acqua’s back, different from the color of the fireworks, and extended out to both left and right before exploding. However, the middle point of these Crosses looked like they pierced and intersected at some point, causing Acqua to fly back with the impact.

Having been hit by the ‘Saint Destroyer’, Acqua’s body bounced off the concrete a few times, and the giant mace left his hands. Acqua ended up in the artificial lake on the 5th level. It seemed like he was a cannonball that was shot into the water as his body vanished completely inside the water, causing a new change at that moment.

The havoc of magic.

Acqua of the Back self-destructed.

The elements of the Saint and the Divine Mother reacted to the ‘Saint Destroyer’ attack, starting to fight each other and causing a chain reaction that the ‘Saint Destroyer’ shouldn’t have been able to do within his body.

The lake in the darkness of the night was surrounded by something like a flash of daylight. Kamijou and the rest could only see white, and their ears could only hear the sound of a large amount of water being boiled, an uncomfortable sound.

The moment Kanzaki Kaori opened her eyes, Acqua didn’t exist anymore.

However, the water in the artificial lake had boiled off, and the surroundings were a mess, as the pillars of steam that were as big as the surface area of the lake collided with the huge pillars and ceiling before scattering all over the place. It was like a huge 1000 year-old tree that was full of energy, showing how explosive Acqua’s explosion had been.

Between the lines 4

10 years ago, on that manless barge.

William Orville's stroking the face that had been punched.

The one that punched him was Knight Leader.

In the middle of these two silent men, not knowing what to do, was the third princess of England, marked with the seal of inaptness. And because of that seal, there wasn't any problems even after she left the castle for so long.

"That was for tricking me and going off on your own."

Knight Leader cracked his knuckles and showed William a look that he wouldn't show to the social world as he walked to him.

"It's not over yet, I still haven't given you one for leaving England. So let me confirm this. I'm not mistaken, am I right? Are you really planning to leave England?"

"Yes, I want to get out."

The moment William made the response, Knight Leader's fist again sunk deep into William's face, sending him flying backwards. The intense sound of flesh clashing caused the third princess to be so scared that she let out a small whimper and covered her face with both hands.

However, the one who had been hit, William, didn't look bothered by it.

"...You, are you drunk?"

"If I were really drunk, I would have smashed you with a wine bottle."

Knight Leader put down the backpack he was carrying and rummaged through it, looking for something.

"Here's a good bottle of whiskey from Scotland, there's no drop of caramel inside, it's a classic that's brewed from the colour of the whiskey barrel. Well, looks like I’ll just ignore it. You’re going off today, so let me beat you to death before that.”

“So what on earth were you angry about in the first place?”

William asked. At this moment, Knight Leader stopped what he was doing.

After a while, he said.

“You really can’t shake off the habit of being a mercenary.”

“Don’t you know what it means by being unable to climb further? Seems like you don’t.”

“I spent so much effort and finally managed to get you to join us as a Knight...yet you wasted that good intention. Are you planning to be like some great artist, to only get recognised several hundred years after your death? Do you really want such a life? Your actions aren’t any different from those kinds of people.”

“I don’t really know anything about art, and I know nothing about those artists’ lifestyles.”

“...So what’s your goal? Since you rejected my offer so adamantly, you must have some sort of reason.”

“Nothing really special.”

William Orville answered with a cold tone.

“I said it before, a Knight and a mercenary are different. Though the Knights in this country have great authority, there are still problems that they can’t solve. It’s the same for me as a mercenary. Though I have freedom, it’s really hard for me to get the trust of other people or organisations.”

“...You.”

“No matter which side it is, there are flaws everywhere. After today’s turmoil, you should understand. The larger an organisation, the more things it can’t control, so there’s a need for someone to observe from outside an organisation, and this person can’t be a special existence. Society’s like a machine made of many gears, everyone continues to affect each other, rotating in reverse. This fact can’t be forgotten.”

William was right. Knowing his character, Knight Leader remained silent. Seeing his old friend like this, William smiled.

“So why would the Royal Family be so willing to use such a forceful method to increase their territory? I’m mindful of the reason behind this. England’s a country made up of the Royal Family, the Knights of England and the Anglican Church. The Royal Family is very easily influenced by the Anglican Church, so please consider it some more.”

Hearing these words, the leader of the Anglican Church appeared in Knight Leader’s mind.

The Archbishop, Laura Stuart.

The one woman standing on the pinnacle, both Knight Leader and the Archbishop were standing at the same position. However, she continued to make Knight Leader uncomfortable. She was that kind of a woman.

William continued,

“The problem’s not just within England. The Roman Catholic Church, the Russian Orthodox Church, and Academy City, their actions are getting unpredictable. The entire world’s stupidly moving along, and in this situation, this thing called an ‘organisation’ will go out of control easily.”

“So you won’t consider being a member of the Knights of England and be a firm foundation for this country? Have you even thought of it?”

“Do you think that this can solve all the problems? Today’s case is the best example. I’ll choose to protect this country from the outside, so you’ll protect it from the inside. With this, our choices will be a lot wider. Even if one side goes out of control, the other side can stop him.”

“Looks like it’s pointless to continue talking like this.”

Knight Leader looked lonely as he said. As if he wanted to chase this loneliness away, he passed the bottle of Scottish whiskey to William.

“This is a farewell gift. Lord Chamberlain said this is his prized work this year.”

“...Such a high-class. Isn’t it a pity for me to drink it alone?”

“Then find some companions on the way and share this with them.”

Seeing Knight Leader look like he was squabbling, William could only sigh. No matter where they went, these two people’s status as a Knight and a mercenary wouldn’t change. William thought it was really amazing that they could be that close for so long.

“Oh yes, I should have a heraldry that’s being made by a craftsman outside London. Help me cancel the order. If it remains, the obsession will remain as well.”

These were the final parting words that the mercenary said.

No special action or ritual; if Knight Leader looked like an aristocrat that had territory, William looked like an unrestrained mercenary.

After the mercenary left, Knight Leader muttered to himself.

“...How could you leave it behind.”

The third princess stared at Knight Leader’s face, but it seemed that Knight Leader himself didn’t realize that he let out a voice.

“...How could you throw it away like that, you scoundrel.”