"Ding, the group owner uploaded a memory copy."
"Ding, the group owner uploaded a memory copy."
Just a Normal Group Owner: "I've uploaded the memory copies for the Zombie World and Campione!—check them out if you're interested."
Just a Normal Group Owner: "I didn't watch the Uncle Nine world all that thoroughly, so I may have missed some parts. As for Campione!, I only watched the anime; I don't know what happens later in the novels."
There was nothing to be done—there was simply too much to watch. Campione! hadn't gripped her enough to make her dig into the novels after finishing the anime.
Just a Normal Group Owner: "@Electromaster, has that Railgun plan been handled?"
Electromaster: "Don't call me 'Railgun'!"
Electromaster: "The plan… there's no way it could be done that fast."
Electromaster: "Frustrated.jpg"
As for Accelerator's power, she couldn't think of any way to beat him.
Sure, unfamiliar phenomena could skew his calculations or even make them impossible, but that didn't mean he would just stand there and let you hit him. She couldn't shut him down the way Touma Kamijou could, either.
There was also one more point—the most important one of all: she didn't have enough points.
At best, she could afford a Chakra Seed.
Lately she had been racking her brain for ways to earn points.
But the technology she could actually access in Academy City wasn't worth much.
Child of Nature: "If it's about dealing with Accelerator, talismans from the Uncle Nine world might do something."
Child of Nature: "Elemental-type attacks—no matter what energy system they're laced with—still rest on certain formulaic bases. They're like magic. At most they'll make Accelerator's calculations deviate; they won't make them absolutely inapplicable."
Child of Nature: "Personally, I suggest buying charms like Sleep Talismans, Curse Talismans, and Control Talismans."
Child of Nature: "The talisman system from that other world is essentially auxiliary charms—I don't think he'll be able to 'calculate' them."
Just a Normal Group Owner: "But after he's put to sleep, won't Accelerator still react on reflex?"
Child of Nature: "Then don't let him wake up."
Child of Nature: "Keep him asleep until he starves."
Child of Nature: "Shrug.jpg"
Just a Normal Group Owner: "Hiss—"
Richest Man: "That's dark!"
Richest Man: "If Academy City's strongest Esper starved to death, that would be massive news."
Electromaster: "Hold on—let me check how many points those charms cost."
Electromaster: "A Sleep Talisman is a hundred points per sheet?"
Electromaster: "Gekota eyes lighting up.jpg"
Electromaster: "Heh-heh-heh-heh—"
Electromaster: "I think I can have a nice talk with him."
Electromaster: "Accelerator, you don't want to starve to death, do you?"
Just a Normal Group Owner: "Why does that last line make me think of a very sketchy plotline?"
Electromaster: "Gekota head tilt.jpg"
Electromaster: "@Child of Nature, is there anything in Academy City that can be exchanged for points?"
Electromaster: "Setting aside other people's esper abilities and the research-institute technology."
Child of Nature: "…"
Child of Nature: "You're setting aside a bit too much."
Child of Nature: "Index is off-limits for now, and she's inside Academy City to begin with…"
It felt like she was making things deliberately hard.
Electromaster: "Gekota, full of anticipation.jpg"
Child of Nature: "If you don't mind, you could try checking churches. Go into them one by one and use the Recycle function. If you're lucky and come across a church established by the Magic Side—or one that just happens to have Magic Side knowledge in it—"
Child of Nature: "It's just that the probability is relatively low."
For the moment, he couldn't think of anything better.
The magical knowledge in Index's head was of extremely high value. If humans could learn all of it and grasp its essence, they would be only a step away from becoming a Magic God.
Converted into points, that would be a terrifying number.
But there was still some time before the story began in earnest; and even then, getting hold of that knowledge wouldn't be easy.
Accelerator's problem, by comparison, was easier. A Sleep Talisman costing a hundred points wasn't much.
Even lending some to Mikoto Misaka wouldn't be a big deal.
But Misaka wasn't just thinking about the Level 6 Shift Project; she was also thinking about future crises.
Points, to her, were a pressing need.
Electromaster: "Gekota clapping.jpg"
Electromaster: "So that's possible?!"
Electromaster: "I'm going right now!"
Electromaster: "Wait—would that count as stealing?"
Mikoto Misaka suddenly realized this might not be quite right.
Child of Nature: "…"
Child of Nature: "The chat group's Recycle function can copy the contents—duplicate the knowledge and then recycle it."
Child of Nature: "It won't harm the original manuscript."
Richest Man: "Don't be so rigid, Railgun."
Richest Man: "Besides, stuff in a normal church is usually open to the public, right? Spreading the faith and all."
Boil Daigu into Soup: "On that point, I think you should learn from me, Railgun."
Electromaster: "Then… should I go now?"
Mikoto Misaka felt herself wavering. Church books really were freely browsable most of the time. Even if she actually found something from the Magic Side, it shouldn't be a big deal—after all, they were the ones who put it there.
And the chat group's function wouldn't damage the original.
The Index world.
Mikoto Misaka didn't realize that her current hesitation, that quickening of interest, was being clearly monitored by someone.
In a windowless building, a glass containment unit stood at the center, encircled by cables and conduits of every kind.
Inside the container, an inverted figure gazed calmly at the screens showing Mikoto Misaka.
On a neighboring display, the footage replayed every one of Mikoto's inexplicable expressions from a short while ago up to now—smiles, surprise, delight, shock—as well as moments when she murmured to herself.
Not only that: the monitors also recorded the changes in Mikoto's heart rate at each moment, and her exchanges with Kuroko Shirai, which touched on the Level 6 Shift Project.
"Based on the current data, there's over a ninety-percent chance that the Third Rank has received a boon from an unknown existence beyond our comprehension."
"What do you think?"
Though he was asking a question, Aleister's tone was preternaturally calm.
"A greatness surpassing even the Magic Gods has never been seen."
From the empty air, a voice sounded slowly, and Aleister took no notice of it.
He simply watched Mikoto Misaka on the screen, a faint expectation in his eyes.
"An existence that neither you nor I can perceive… Brandon White, Angel Yan, Whitebeard—unknown beings. It's hard to understand the manner in which they grant their gifts."
"Where do these beings come from?"
(End of chapter)