Izumi noticed the group arriving behind him and immediately broke into a grin.
"Perfect timing," he said lightly. "You're just in time."
His gaze landed on one particular girl.
"Hey, Queen. Get over here—I'll need your help."
Not long ago, after learning the truth—that she had been deceived all along—Kaori Kanzaki had suffered both physically and mentally under Izumi's restraints. Eventually, she gave up resisting and sought him out directly.
Her request was simple.
A way to save Index.
In exchange, she was willing to offer anything.
Izumi, naturally, had no intention of letting such an opportunity slip.
And thus—
This strange scene unfolded.
Misaki froze, confusion written all over her face. She had arrived filled with questions…
…but now, she didn't even know where to begin.
Meanwhile, Index puffed her cheeks in annoyance.
"Hey! What are you making me do?!"
"I already opened my mouth, okay?! Hurry up!"
She obediently opened her mouth wide, as if urging him to just get it over with.
Izumi smiled faintly.
Then—
Under Kanzaki's horrified gaze—
He produced a dagger.
"Wait—DON'T!!"
Too late.
The blade pierced straight into Index's mouth.
A sharp crack echoed.
Something invisible shattered.
Index's pupils instantly lost their warmth.
Her voice turned mechanical.
"Warning… defense system compromised…"
"Initiating automatic countermeasures—"
Before she could finish—
Izumi placed a hand on her head.
"Be quiet."
Like a command to the world itself—
Silence fell.
Index collapsed instantly, unconscious.
Everyone present stood frozen.
Kanzaki's eyes trembled.
"That was…?"
Izumi casually explained, as if discussing something trivial.
"Index exists to regulate and counter magical systems worldwide."
"But that power is too dangerous. If mishandled, it could destroy the world."
"So the people behind her installed safeguards—like a 'collar' and an automatic grimoire system."
"That system allows full access to the 103,000 grimoires if she's threatened."
"I destroyed the collar… so naturally, it activated."
He paused, narrowing his eyes at the unconscious girl.
"…Honestly, it's a nuisance."
"Let's just remove it while we're at it."
Without hesitation, Izumi activated the Third Magic.
His hand moved—not on her body—
But her soul.
He reached in and forcibly extracted the "automatic system" embedded within her very existence.
Then—
Crushed it.
Kanzaki stared in disbelief.
She didn't even fully understand what had just happened.
But one thing was certain.
This man…
…was far beyond her comprehension.
Izumi exhaled softly, then turned his attention elsewhere.
"Alright."
He spoke directly into their minds.
"Misaki. Mitsuari. Your turn."
"Copy everything in her head."
"Every grimoire."
He added a warning.
"Only copy."
"Do NOT read them."
"Unless you feel like dying."
Both girls froze.
A chill ran down their spines.
That warning… was not a joke.
They nodded.
As their powers activated, Izumi lowered his mental defenses just enough.
Their abilities flowed into him—
Touching his mind.
But instead of uncovering his secrets…
They saw something else.
Stacks upon stacks of… very questionable material.
Misaki's face turned crimson instantly.
"Y-you—!!"
"Focus," Izumi cut her off calmly.
"That's your own fault."
Clicking her tongue, Misaki suppressed her embarrassment and continued.
Together with Mitsuari, they carefully extracted—
All 103,000 grimoires.
Not reading.
Not interpreting.
Just copying.
Minutes later—
They collapsed.
Pale.
Breathing heavily.
Drained.
Izumi frowned slightly.
"…Just copying caused this much rejection?"
"Seems worse than I expected."
In this world—
Esper powers and magic were fundamentally incompatible.
Even touching magic carried consequences.
And they had just brushed against the entirety of magical knowledge.
Without lingering, Izumi gave his next order.
"Restore her lost memories."
This time, he spoke aloud.
Kanzaki's head snapped up.
"You can… do that?"
Izumi shrugged.
"Of course."
"Why else would I call them back?"
(A convenient lie.)
There was no way he'd reveal he had just taken everything.
The truth?
The so-called "memory deletion" wasn't destruction.
Just sealing.
And with two powerful mental espers working together—
Breaking that seal was trivial.
Moments later—
It was done.
Izumi handed the unconscious Index back to Kanzaki.
"She's yours."
"Take care of her."
"When she wakes up… she'll remember everything."
Kanzaki held her tightly, eyes trembling with emotion.
"…Thank you."
Izumi waved it off, already browsing the flood of knowledge now stored within him.
He turned and walked away with Misaki and Mitsuari.
Outside—
The moment they stepped out—
Misaki vomited.
Then Mitsuari followed.
Their bodies rejected what they had just done.
Their faces were pale as paper.
Izumi sighed.
"Just copying did this much damage…"
"…Magic really doesn't play nice with espers."
He glanced back briefly.
Then smirked.
"Still…"
"Worth it."