Chapter 108: A Difference in Aesthetics

And so we headed for the observatory in District 21.

District 21──this district is responsible for Academy City’s water supply. Unlike most of Academy City, which prides itself on science and cutting-edge development, District 21 is unusual for having a great deal of nature preserved. While most of Academy City is flat, this district is notable for being largely mountainous, with numerous natural parks and observatories.

The one we were heading to this time, “Mars Soil Mars World,” was one of them.

《I just remembered something》

On the way. While I was using Crack’s wings to carry everyone (Kakine-san had brushed me off with “You should be the one doing that,” even though I’d heard he’d been carrying Kamijou-san partway before this…), I spoke to Reicia-chan inside my thoughts.

《Bisai-san… I think you were in one of the stories I “read” in my previous life》

《Eh!? Truly!? I don’t recall anything of the sort though…》

《Well, just hearing your family name and a location wouldn’t be enough to connect it. I only remembered when I heard “Mars Soil Mars World.”》

──“A Certain Magical Index SP.”
It had been suddenly published around the time New Testament Volume 2 came out. Back then I had read it while grumbling, “They must’ve put this out because Birdway suddenly appears and it makes no sense otherwise!!” and “Why are they introducing a heroine in a side story!?” That frustration had left the memory vivid.

And in that story──Bisai-san had appeared as an enemy. If I recall correctly, she kidnapped Index for some reason, which triggered Touma-san’s wrath. My memory is fuzzy.

I think in that story, microorganisms had banded together into something like a single living being…? Um, a concentration-gradient computer…? Maybe not. Anyway, this world sure likes to apply all sorts of computational theories to biological systems.

《…Ah~, was it the one using microbial cilia for a spring-type computer?》

《That’s oddly specific》

《Kuriba was researching something along those lines. To reproduce the human brain’s specs with a computer would take countless supercomputers, so I believe she was exploring alternative computational algorithms. Among them was a method using microbial cilia for massive parallel processing. I don’t know if it was ever adopted though…》

《Ah… I see》

Come to think of it, Reicia-chan used to exchange emails with Kuriba-san quite a lot. Looking even more smug, she added:

《Incidentally, I even gave her some advice on algorithms myself. About molecular computer mechanisms and such… Though unfortunately it never came to fruition due to technical issues》

Hmm… Right, I’d nearly forgotten. Reicia-chan was also one of Academy City’s foremost researchers in intermolecular forces. That said, trying to casually push for algorithms nowhere near practical use yet really was typical of the uncompromising Reicia-chan back then.

《…Shiren. From your silence, I sense a rather rude implication》

《What, you’re self-aware enough to notice immediately?》

Grrrraaaaahhh!! Reicia-chan sulked, so I decided to leave her alone for now and focused on ability calculations.

Since both Kakine-san and I were Level 5 espers, moving from District 7 to District 21 was quick enough. We descended near the observatory built on a mountain peak…

“Bisai!!”

“Sei… vern… -san…”

──She was a girl about high school age.

She gave the impression of wearing a costume. A school blazer uniform, but in a way that looked oddly out of place, as though an adult were wearing it. It wasn’t about proportions. The aura she gave off was far too maturely alluring for a girl her age.

But──Bisai-san was clearly in a defeated state, battered and bloodied from combat with someone.

Frenda-san rushed straight to her side and helped her up.

“Who did this to you…!”

“Be… careful. ‘They’… can’t be handled with ordinary forces. I too tried to defend Mars Soil over there… but the best I could manage was protecting myself enough to survive…”

…Most likely, Bisai-san was also a denizen of the dark side.
Someone with strength at least on par with Frenda-san. And even she was reduced to this state, only able to defend herself. Those wounds were grave. Certainly, Gensei-san was that much of a monster──but wait? “They”…?

DOBAOOOON!!!!

Suddenly, a corner of the observatory scattered apart like water splashing off a water slide.

“What…!?”

At first I thought it was Gensei-san’s destructive work. But I realized immediately: if it were just him, there’d be no need for such flashy demolition. And more importantly…

“Ghh… GAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!?!?!”

──He shouldn’t be the one flying and coughing up blood like that.

Yes. Bisai-san had referred to the threat as “They.”
So then──who exactly was Gensei-san chasing?

“Oooh, that was one hell of a flight! Nailed the shot!! Or what, huh!? Gyaahahahahaha!!!!”

From beyond the rubble appeared a man with half his face tattooed, spiky blond hair, grinning with glee.

Kihara──Amata.

And beside him stood a mechanical girl──the Doppelgänger, another Kuriba-san.

Unlike before, she wasn’t clad in a surgical gown, but in a white, robe-like garment and holding a huge spear of the same material in her right hand. Her skin was a natural brown, without the patchwork scars, and her hair was pure white.

That appearance was clearly far removed from anything like “soul possession.”

“Let’s go, puppet. The performance check’s done. Smash that fairytale geezer and finish our job.”

“…Understood.”

With that, Amata-san and the other Kuriba-san floated into the air, chasing after the hurtling Gensei-san at tremendous speed.

I could tell their position, but still… how was this other Kuriba-san managing to hold such an advantage against Gensei-san, who wielded angel-class output?

“…Good grief. Another irregular. Looks like it’s about time to call it a night.”

As I watched the two disappear into the night sky, Kakine-san muttered behind me. Fair enough. With this many irregulars piling up, it was exhausting. I knew the feeling.

Turning back, I heard:

“Soo, here’s the deal. It’s a cliché threat, but… don’t. Move. An. Inch.”

──I froze to the core.

Somehow Kakine-san had put distance between us, and from him emanated an “intent to kill” so sharp it prickled my skin.

“Oi, you can come out now.”

At his words, three girls emerged from hiding.

One, a blonde in a crimson dress.
One, with two-side-up hair, dressed in a bizarre fusion of military fashion and mountain-girl gear.
And the last──

“Kuriba… -san!?”

──It was Kuriba Ryoko herself.

Chapter 3 — The Worth of a Soul Is Worthless　Double(Square)_Faith.
Episode 91: A Difference in Aesthetics　Dark_Hero / Villainess.

"...Second place. What is the meaning of this?"

A low growl slipped from my lips.
This was—Reicia-chan’s fury.

"Ah, don’t worry. I’ll explain everything from start to finish. But before that—You lot really are idiots, aren’t you?"

Kakine’s first words were nothing but scorn. The storm unleashed by the opening of a "fissure" crashed against him, but of course, it was swatted aside by nothing more than a single sweep of his Dark Matter.

"Hey, hey, don’t get mad. Can’t be helped, right? …Did you forget what my objective was?"

"…………"

"My goal is Gensei’s brain. To peek at the research data inside there on personality-activation Makeup. That’s the only reason I’ve been tagging along with you lot."

……!
I see. But once it became clear that Norikae-san had a time limit, we shifted to a plan of forcing Gensei-san out with Touma-san’s right hand. That no longer aligned with Kakine’s interests…!

"Originally, I planned to use this Ryouko Kuriba as a hostage to extract information from you. But the data crammed into that old bastard’s head looks far more useful than what you people have. I’ll be making use of him here."

"B-but…! In that case, wouldn’t it be fine if we just thought of a way that doesn’t rely on Touma-san’s right hand!? We still have time! It’s too soon to part ways! We could still—!"

"Even when your friend’s being used as a hostage, you’re still clinging to harmony? That’s some flower-field thinking, like Oyafune Monaka."

I hurriedly tried to argue, but Kakine snorted and tossed it aside.

"In a situation where Gensei is coughing up blood and being blown around like some pitiful mess? I told you before—this is the cutoff point."

"……!"

"The situation’s changed. And I’ll say it again: Don’t move. Before Gensei gets killed, I’ll snatch him from the side and pull the info out of his head. As for Norikae Onorei—give it up."

"Wasn’t he the bastard who made you suffer in the first place?" Kakine said lightly.

…That girl in the red dress—she must be Mental Out.
Damn it, if she’s here, then we really can’t move carelessly. Even Kamijou-san would fall under her control if he doesn’t block her with his right hand. If we start infighting now, we’re doomed.

"…Haa. Pathetic, really."

At that moment, my mouth moved on its own, spitting words of mockery.
It was Reicia-chan. …But the raging fury from before had faded. What spilled out instead was pity.

"The hell did you just say?"

"I said it’s pathetic. Because isn’t it? The second-ranked esper of Academy City, taking hostages and shouting ‘Freeze!’? And after all that, the best you can come up with are cowardly excuses? If that’s not pathetic, what is?"

"You little…!"

"You’re not cut out to play the villain. Ever since you started acting the part, everything—your words, your actions—has been utterly paper-thin. Wouldn’t it be better to quit this path altogether?"

That was the pride of a villainess, a true Villainess.
…Yes, I could agree with her. Because Kakine’s ‘evil’… this way of acting was nothing but resignation. A reluctant, passive escape.

I know the difference. It’s not about moral good or evil. Not about legality or justice. It’s about how one faces the world. I’ve seen it up close—the ‘Villainous Hero’ who defied the world itself with unshakable defiance, and saved me.

"…Hah, well, I guess I'll let you chirp all you want. After all, your Achilles tendon is right in my grasp. Can't blame you for wanting to throw a few insults around."

"Oh, and one more thing."

Reicia-chan this time flashed a mocking smile that practically dripped with malice toward Kakine-san.

"The weakness of a mental telepath lies in machines. You see, when it comes to handling subordinates, you can't even compare to me."

And right after that provocation—

With a sudden "GABAA!!", a feline-shaped mechanical unit leapt out from behind cover and snatched back Kuriba-san from the girl's hand.

──T:GD.

It was the robot remotely controlled by Baba-san, built by the Doctor.

"Splendid work, Baba. As expected from you."

『Well, this much is nothing. You distracted the enemy with your talking, so my job was a whole lot easier.』

…Ah, right. Now I remember.

Baba-san had already come to the area near the observatory using T:GD. In other words, he’d been hiding nearby, preparing for unforeseen situations. And Reicia-chan had noticed that, which is why she deliberately provoked Kakine-san, counting on Baba-san’s intervention… I-I didn’t notice at all…!

So that’s why Reicia-chan’s anger cooled so suddenly earlier.

"────!!"

"…Don’t. If you accidentally hit a hostage, you’ll regret it later."

The girl with twin side-up hair reflexively raised her weapon—but Psychometer Mental Out-san held her back. She’s a sniper from "School."

…………Alright, now things are finally on equal footing.

"…This isn’t looking good. I’ll retreat for now."

"Heh, heheh…! Retreat? Gokusai-san, that’s such a waste…! You and I could’ve had all the time in the world to kill each other to our hearts’ content…!!"

…Ugh, I’m getting a seriously nasty chill from this…!!

Anyway, I already know the sniper-san is Level 0, a complete non-esper. If I face her head-on, I can just distort the bullet’s trajectory using wind currents as anti-sniper countermeasures and neutralize her.

Kamijou-san can’t negate long-range shots, so I need to take her out quickly—

…Huh?

I deployed my airflow just as I thought—but the currents didn’t behave according to my calculations at all.

It was as if something… was twisting them out of shape.

"Hey, hey. What’d I tell you? Don’t go charging in on your own. You’re already about to get taken out, aren’t you…?"

"Oh my, Yobou-san. Weren’t you supposed to be staying behind and keeping watch?"

"…I am your instructor, you know."

Standing there was the boy with the headgear.

If I remember right, he’s a telekinetic—someone with psychokinesis. If that’s the case, then it makes perfect sense why my airflow was being distorted.

"…I was certain I had completely crushed your spirit beyond repair, though?"

"That’s exactly why. Yeah, I admit it—I’m the loser whose heart got shattered by you, Kakine-san. Even now, just remembering it makes me tremble. But… don’t think for a second that I ever threw away my pride in my ability."

The headgear swayed unnaturally, despite there being no wind.
As if reflecting the burning fighting spirit of the boy called Yobou.

"I’m not letting it end with me staying a loser forever. The only person I’ll accept standing beneath is you, Kakine-san…!!"

"My, my. Yobou-san, how unusually passionate of you. But since this is such a precious reunion with my dear friend… I simply can’t let myself hold back, either."

"Sorry, but I’m your opponent. As a bodyguard maid, I can’t allow a suspicious person like you to get anywhere near my employer."

Between me and Sniper-san, a maid stepped forward—Adabana-san, dressed in her maid uniform.
She raised her massive macuahuitl like a shield, speaking without even glancing my way.

"I’ll handle the sniper. Lady Blackguard, I leave the headgear to you."

"Understood."

That was my plan from the start anyway.
I turned to face Yobou-san, preparing for the final piece of this puzzle—

"Heh. Yobou’s got more guts than I gave him credit for. Alright then… no point in getting jumped from the side while I’m going after Gensei, so I’ll crush you all right here, nice and quick. After that, I’ll go deal with Gensei."

"……Not happening."

Standing directly in front of Kakine-san was none other than Kamijou-san.

"I don’t know how heavy the burden you’re carrying is. I get that there are people you want to save, and that’s what’s driving you this far. …But I can’t accept the way you’re doing it."

"Then what? Standing there with just that weird right hand of yours, what exactly are you gonna do against Academy City’s Number Two?"

"I’ll kill it. Your illusion."

"…Try me."

With that, Kakine-san’s body took to the air.
Three pure-white wings unfurled wide, as Academy City’s Number Two painted an almost otherworldly scene in motion.

"Your so-called right-hand ‘common sense’ doesn’t mean jack against my illusion!"

And with blinding, condensed killing intent of pure white heat, he brought it down.