Chapter 166: Collision
──To be honest, Shiren thought this might actually be hell.
The inside of the van was surprisingly spacious. Even with three rows packed full of people, it was comfortable enough to ride in. The problem wasn’t the vehicle itself—it was the atmosphere inside.
Hamazura sat behind the wheel, while Kinuhata and Takitsubo had taken the back row. In other words, the entirety of Item was here.
Being surrounded on both sides wasn’t necessarily bad—Shiren didn’t particularly dislike or fear Kinuhata or Takitsubo.
The real problem was in the passenger seat: Mugino Shizuri, who had been glaring daggers at Shiren through the rearview mirror ever since they’d started driving.
"U-um… I really am grateful that you saved me back there…"
"Don’t get the wrong idea. Our main job was to round up those two idiots who decided to go rogue. You were just an extra pickup along the way. …Right, Frenda? Hamazura?"
"Eek!! She turned this way!!"
If Frenda stayed quiet, Mugino’s attention would probably shift back to Shiren—at least, that was the plan. But naturally, such a shallow attempt at self-preservation didn’t work.
Watching Frenda and Hamazura flail in panic, their faces pale, Shiren couldn’t help speaking up.
"Those two didn’t help me as Item members. They helped me as personal friends, answering a private request. They shouldn’t be punished for that."
"The fact that Item members are even on speaking terms with you is already a damn joke, don’t you think?"
"Th-that’s…!"
There was no room for argument there.
Still, if Mugino had actually intended to purge Frenda and Hamazura, she wouldn’t have brought Shiren along in the first place. And besides, Mugino had mentioned something earlier about “taking her to the big boss.”
"…Well, whatever. As long as you don’t leak Item’s operational details, I’ll settle for a punishment-level beating. But if you betray us, I’ll crush you dead."
Tossing out that blood-soaked promise as casually as a weather report, Mugino continued.
"So. ‘The Other Fourth Ranked.’ Is it true you can’t use your power anymore?"
"Eh—"
The seal on Jagged Edge.
It was one of Shiren’s most closely guarded secrets—something she desperately wanted to keep hidden. For Mugino, someone from another dark-side faction entirely, to know about it… how was that even possible?
『──Looks like the result of an information leak.』
Bāba’s voice came through the communicator, taut with frustration.
『Naturally, we’ve kept your data under heavy encryption. But someone’s been spreading rumors that you lost Jagged Edge.』
"……Aleister, perhaps?"
『Most likely.』
That didn’t take long to deduce. Given the source, motive, and means of distribution, there was really only one possible culprit.
"I’ve been a target for the Dark Side’s researchers ever since I became the newest Level 5. The only reason I’m still standing is because GMDW and Member have been working together to protect me. But if word spreads that I’ve lost my abilities, those researchers will see it as their chance to hunt me down. That’s what we’re dealing with, right?"
『Exactly. But so far, their attempts haven’t gone smoothly. With the whole Right Seat of God mess, most of the Dark Side’s forces are tied up elsewhere. You’ve seen it yourself—heroes and villains alike are busy dealing with that.』
So Aleister’s plan had backfired. Then again, that kind of miscalculation was nothing new for him.
Still, one question remained: why was Mugino Shizuri helping her?
If Aleister had leaked Shiren’s weakness but it hadn’t put her in immediate danger, Mugino had no real reason to get personally involved.
"…Mugino-san, may I ask—why did you help me?"
"Oi, I told you already—"
"Even if it was ‘just because,’ that doesn’t make sense. You gain nothing from this. I’m perfectly aware you dislike me. And besides, it’s true I contacted your subordinates without authorization."
"…Haah. Are you seriously asking me that right now?"
Shiren tilted her head slightly, unsure if she’d said something foolish again—Reicia often called her “naively optimistic,” after all. Mugino’s reply came, dripping with murderous irritation.
"You lost your powers after running away with a win still on the scoreboard, and you think I’m just gonna let that slide?"
"A-ah, yes. That’s… fair, I suppose."
In short, Mugino Shizuri simply couldn’t stand the idea that Reicia Blackguard had lost her weapon before Mugino could settle their score—a very Level 5-like reason indeed.
"Listen up. I still haven’t accepted that you two are stronger than me. And now one of you disappears and your powers vanish with them? ‘Guess there’s no rematch’? That’s not how this works, got it?"
"I won’t question your motives, but… I am truly grateful for your cooperation."
"…Tch. Anyway, using Item’s network, I dug into Aleister’s current location. Intel says he’s headed to District 15—to the Celestial Aquarium."
"…Celestial Aquarium? Why there, of all places?"
Shiren recognized the name immediately.
Not just because it had appeared in the “Canon,” but because it was a well-known dating spot—a massive glass-walled aquarium. She’d even looked it up recently, when Reicia had dragged her along to help scout date locations. The memory was still fresh… and not particularly pleasant.
That said, it didn’t sound like the kind of place where a mastermind like Aleister would stage an operation.
"Maybe your partner’s going on a date with Aleister or something."
"──Mugino. Shizuri."
"Hey, come on, it was just a joke! You can’t just ignore context and go full rage mode like that!"
As Shiren’s temple twitched in instant fury, Mugino flinched slightly and backed off. Poking landmines like that never led anywhere fun. Deciding it wasn’t worth it, she changed the subject.
"Anyway, according to intel, you’ve got some strange new ability lodged in that right hand of yours, don’t you?"
"……So you even know that much already?"
『…Yeah. The leak’s gotten pretty detailed. Aleister must be seriously wary of that right hand. If this weren’t an emergency, researchers would already be lining up to dissect you for it.』
"…So we should assume any information advantage we had is gone, then."
If Shiren’s guess was right—that she’d already defeated Aqua and Terra—then it was only a matter of time before the Dark Side regrouped.
Within ten minutes, the attacks could start. And once that happened, even reaching Aleister—let alone rescuing Reicia—would become nearly impossible. This was their best, and possibly only, chance.
Aleister’s exact goal was still unclear, but now that they had a confirmed destination, hesitation would only cost them everything.
If they let this opportunity slip, he’d vanish again—and any hope of ending things here would vanish with him.
…Mugino must have understood that too.
"That said, don’t get me wrong. I’m not your ally. My help ends here. If I’ve laid the groundwork this far and you still screw it up, then you were just that weak, got it?"
"That’s more than enough."
Though Mugino’s tone was cold, Shiren could sense something rare beneath it—Mugino Shizuri’s version of a compromise, maybe even a flicker of goodwill.
By all rights, they were enemies. Mugino had every reason to despise her. But the fact that she’d chosen to help, even indirectly, spoke of something deeper. Twisted as it was, there was still a trace of kindness buried there.
And realizing that was enough for Shiren to finally lower her guard.
From the back seat, Kinuhata let out a weary sigh.
"How do I put this… she’s, like, the kind of person you really don’t wanna have as an enemy, but also kinda don’t wanna have as an ally either. It’s like she paves your motives in layers of good intentions you never asked for and somehow makes you feel guilty about it. She’s our natural predator or something."
"Mm… signal’s unstable…"
"……I guess Takitsubo-san doesn’t really agree."
Either way, their destination was clear.
The city roads were eerily empty, a side effect of the chaos caused by the Right Seat. The van sped smoothly through the deserted streets—until the high-rise silhouette of the Celestial Aquarium finally came into view.
Hamazura pulled over by the roadside, flashing a grin.
"Heh, figures it’s a date spot—parking’s a breeze!"
"We have to move! Before Aleister disappears again!"
Shiren leapt out of the van—
—and then thoom!!!
Someone landed right in front of her with an explosive shockwave that shattered the pavement beneath their feet.
"……Wh—what…!?"
Her gasp wasn’t from the sheer impact, nor the man’s overwhelming presence.
It was because she recognized him.
The man standing before her was none other than Acqua—the very one she thought she’d left behind.
"Tch—this karma again—!"
"First," he rumbled, his voice echoing like thunder, "I shall begin with that right hand."
With a sickening rush, water burst around Shiren’s right arm—faster than she could even react.
It wasn’t just a bind. The sheer pressure of it crushed the air from her lungs, locking her body in place. Even a single twitch of her fingers became impossible, her voice drowned beneath the suffocating torrent.
She would have blacked out right then—
—if not for the streak of annihilating light that split the space between her and Acqua a heartbeat later.
"…Tch. Useless already, huh? Fine. Go on ahead. We’ll take care of this one."
"Dost thou truly believe thou canst do so?"
"Do you think you can stop us?"
With a thunderous wham!, the van was sent flying, soaring nearly five meters into the air.
Frenda and Hamazura had already bailed out just in time, while Kinuhata and Takitsubo burst through the crumpled roof as it came crashing back down.
Ignoring the chaos behind her, Shiren broke into a sprint toward the Celestial Aquarium.
Watching her retreating form, Mugino clicked her tongue in irritation.
"So in the end, we’re just here to stall, huh? …Well, fine. I’ve always wanted to see what the so-called ‘strongest product’ of that off-campus esper development looks like."
"…From what I see, all of thee are combatants. That shall make this easier."
Facing Acqua—who now hefted a massive club of solid ice—Mugino’s lips twisted into a feral grin.
And then, the clash of titans began.
Final Chapter — I Don’t Know What “Predetermined Harmony” Means - Theory_"was"_Broken.
Episode 139: Collision – Primary "K"
At the same time—
Deep within the Celestial Aquarium, a confrontation had reached its climax.
On one side stood the king of this city—Aleister Crowley.
On the other—
Amata Kihara.
"Ha…! Ha…!"
"Tch. What the hell…? This is boring. Is that all it takes? Aren’t you supposed to be tougher than this, Aleister Crowley?"
Aleister was already down on one knee, clearly at a disadvantage.
Beside him, Reicia Blackguard—still clad in her black-and-white nightdress—was nowhere to be seen. Somehow, the two had split up, each acting on their own.
"Planning something sneaky again, huh? Is that why that bitch Reicia Blackguard you specifically summoned isn’t here? But showing up like this, weak and pathetic… that’s just pointless, isn’t it?"
"…Amata Kihara… you’re not… him… are you…?"
Amata spoke with mocking amusement, while Aleister gasped for breath, struggling to form his words.
The man wearing Amata Kihara’s face frowned slightly, annoyed by the insinuation.
"Don’t act like I deceived anyone. It’s all a matter of definition. In some ways, I am a continuation of Amata Kihara—but in other ways, I’m not. After all, his body went through the rather monumental event of death. So something irregular like this should be expected, don’t you think?"
"Wrong."
Aleister’s rebuttal came sharp and absolute.
"Amata Kihara is dead. I ordered it—his brainstem was destroyed. That is an immutable fact. The dead do not return. If one appears to, it’s nothing more than a well-constructed illusion."
Then who, exactly, was the man now overwhelming Aleister Crowley?
Aleister already knew the answer.
"Amata Kihara was the embodiment of inheritance. Just as he passed down his unique combat style—just as Accelerator inherited knowledge in a one-way fashion. Kihara’s ability to learn and teach, to transfer his methodology, was beyond human limits. That’s why he was chosen as a leader of the Dark Side."
The man who resembled Amata Kihara listened with mild disinterest, as though hearing a stranger recount his own biography.
"In the world I created—one split cleanly between science and magic—this phenomenon should never have occurred. Yet the same applies within magic itself. Those who inherit knowledge, who record it and rewrite it—those who compose grimoires—are called magicians."
What heights might Amata Kihara have reached if not for the uninspired restrictions imposed by the archetype controller—the prototype control system?
And yet, in this twisted history, he had indeed reached that final point.
"Exactly. You’re right. Amata Kihara had the talent of a magician. For one day—just a single day—he awakened that talent. Conveniently, he had a perfect reference case: Oriana Thomson…"
As he spoke, the right half of the man’s face shimmered with multicolored flames, emotion flickering beneath the glow.
"Of course, that wasn’t his goal. The prototype existed, but he lacked the knowledge to bring it to full autonomous operation. I moved because of you. Through your brainstem, through magic, I executed the spellwork. And so—I was finally able to act."
In other words—
The man now standing before Aleister was none other than—
"The Grimoire of Kihara – Primary K."
"Call me that, Aleister Crowley."
…The original grimoire.
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