Chapter 176: The Instinct of a Grimoire (Part 1)
"Tch... Illusions are useless, and now you’re darting around at the speed of sound? You’ve really become quite the nuisance."
As he spoke, Stiyl raised his flaming sword.
Once the enemy had gained the physical abilities of a Saint, there was no longer any chance for Stiyl and the others to win. From the very beginning, fighting against the Original of a grimoire had been an uphill battle. At this point, the only thing awaiting them was a merciless defeat.
And yet, they didn’t back down.
"Hey, you sure about this? Keep going like that and you’ll die."
"So what? Ah, I suppose someone like you—a mere scientist—wouldn’t understand. To a magician who bears a true magic name, the threat of death is meaningless."
Even with death staring him in the face, Stiyl was still smiling.
At that, Kihara’s Grimoire—who had mirrored his stance with a fiery sword of his own—suddenly froze.
"What’s wrong? Don’t tell me you’ve lost your nerve against the likes of us."
"Nooo... I’ve just gotten... scared..."
A wet, sticky grin spread across Kihara’s Grimoire’s face as he spoke.
"Now that I think about it, there were some strange things from the start. If you really meant to crush me here, there’d be no reason to move the Library away from the battlefield. While you were wasting time surrounding me with those mirages, you could’ve had the Library analyze my nature. Then, with proper magic, it would’ve been entirely possible to find a way to kill me—or seal me away."
In a magical battle, Index was the ultimate wild card.
If Kanzaki’s strength had been devoted to protecting Index rather than attacking, they could have ensured her safety while taking full advantage of her intellect. Without question, that would have been the best option available to Stiyl and Kanzaki.
But the fact that they hadn’t chosen that path could mean only one thing.
"You two decided not to drag her into the fight. Which means you must’ve made a certain decision. You pulled the Library away, and in the worst-case scenario, planned to settle this by dragging me down with you—somewhere out of her sight. Dying together, wasn’t it?"
"!!"
For example—
What if the possibility that Kihara’s Grimoire might inherit the principles of a Saint had been part of their calculations from the very beginning?
And what if, as a contingency for that outcome, Stiyl had engraved an anti-Saint spell into his own body, prepared to take Kihara’s Grimoire down with him?
"Hit the mark, did I? Man, that was close. If we’d kept fighting, I probably would’ve been killed—my immortality as an Original bypassed by the strongest weapon you managed to craft."
"…!! Kanzaki! Don’t let him escape!!"
"No can do. I’m getting outta here. Ain’t that right, King of Witch Hunters?!"
With a thunderous whoosh, a giant of flame and heavy fuel—two meters tall—rose up between them, blocking their path.
It was the embodiment of the title “strongest,” crafted by a single genius. Even for a Saint, breaking through it immediately was impossible.
"Damn it...!! He broke through...!!!!"
And with that, Kihara’s Grimoire retreated from the battlefield at sonic speed.
Final Chapter – I Don’t Believe in Predestination - Theory “was” Broken.
Episode 147: The Instinct of a Grimoire (Part 1) - Goodwill_Bearer.
──Meanwhile, Oriana and Index moved swiftly through the city’s shadows, heading toward Shiren and the others.
"Oriana, why are we taking the long way around? Shouldn’t we hurry to meet up with Shiren and the others?"
"If those two are managing to keep Kihara’s Grimoire occupied, that’d be ideal... but I wouldn’t count on it."
Oriana’s eyes scanned their surroundings sharply as she spoke.
"The opponent is an Original. Even if two professionals from the Church of England are working together, that doesn’t guarantee they can contain it. And if that Original isn’t interested in fighting head-on, the time they can keep it pinned down will vanish faster than a stain on the ceiling."
"That’s...!"
"Shh."
Index opened her mouth to argue further, but Oriana silenced her with a gesture.
──From afar came the faint clack, clack of footsteps.
"(It’s Kihara’s Grimoire.)"
"(…How can you tell?)"
"(Please, I’m a professional too, you know? I remember the footsteps of my targets. …This way.)"
Saying that, Oriana took Index’s hand and began to run, leading her away from the sound.
To Index, it made no sense—but that was exactly the kind of skill that defined Oriana Thomson, the Route Disturber who specialized in evasion and misdirection. Sure enough, Kihara’s Grimoire’s footsteps gradually receded, while the two steadily drew closer to Shiren’s location.
Yet Oriana’s expression remained grim.
"My instincts are telling me—this time, we’re not getting away."
"What!? Why not!?"
A bead of cold sweat slid down Oriana’s cheek.
"The pursuit’s too relaxed. That means our general position has already been pinpointed by some kind of magic. The only reason we haven’t been attacked yet is probably that they haven’t locked down our exact coordinates. If they launched a blind strike, Shiren and the others would immediately know where we are."
"No way..."
The realization left Index frozen in disbelief.
It was no wonder. If their escape was already playing out in the enemy’s hand, then no matter how they moved, it would make no difference. If even a seasoned evasion expert like Oriana couldn’t shake them, there was nothing Index could do.
Seeing the unease on the girl’s face, Oriana smiled softly—and stopped in her tracks.
"That’s why we’ll split up here, okay? Don’t worry. You’ve made it far enough that you can reach Shiren and the others on your own."
"…! What about you, Oriana!?"
"Me? Let’s see..."
Twirling the Stenographic Original Short Hand in her hand like a toy, Oriana let a mischievous grin curl her lips.
"Maybe I’ll go have a little fight with an Original☆"
The next instant, the Short Hand in Oriana’s hand exploded into motion, wrapping around her entire body. Her already revealing outfit disintegrated like burning paper, while the pages of the Short Hand, expanding beyond their physical mass, covered her form like a skintight, hollowed-out leotard of scripture.
"…‘Original’ Oriana Thomson. I’ve witnessed the answer reached by the other ‘Basis_104.’ As a magician, it’s my duty to carry on that answer—to pass down its conclusion."
Her appearance now mirrored the other sentient Original—Oriana Thomson herself, the one who had once fought Index and her companions.
"That form..."
"A woman has to grow up sometime, you know? Magic is the imitation of miracles. So if I can’t even imitate that miracle, I’d hardly be worthy of calling myself a magician, would I?"
"Well, well—Original, Original, Original, huh? This place is crawling with them. What is this, an Original Library? …Oh wait, guess that’d make you the head librarian."
A voice called down from a nearby rooftop.
The man landed with a heavy thud, cracking the pavement beneath him. It was Kihara’s Grimoire, now standing before Oriana and Index.
"So, this is just a stalling tactic, huh? If I let that one get away, it’ll be a pain later. Guess I’ll crush you both here and now, fake Original."
"Basis_104, the one who bears the foundation. At least have the courtesy to call me by name, Original."
With that exchange, words turned to violence.
Four chromatic vortices erupted simultaneously, colliding in a blinding explosion of raw magic.
──Kihara’s Grimoire had been created from the template of the Original Oriana Thomson. And now, the spell Oriana wore—her current form—was likewise modeled after that same Original.
In other words, their core structures were identical. No matter how much Kihara’s Grimoire tried to inherit Oriana’s current form, the result would remain unchanged.
However—
"Don’t think you’ve won just because we started from the same baseline! I’ve upgraded since then!!"
Boom!! Kihara’s Grimoire vanished in an instant.
It was a sonic-speed maneuver—an ability granted by “inheriting” the structure of a Saint. No matter how much Oriana had acquired the functions of the shorthand Original Grimoire, there was still a gap she could never fully bridge.
Naturally, before Oriana could even register the movement, Kihara’s Grimoire had already circled behind her—
—and was met with a deafening CLAAANG!!! as its killing strike was intercepted by the swirling vortex of four colors.
"What…!?"
"Hehe, right now, I’m wearing the Original Grimoire, you see? The baseline Original has an automatic defense mechanism. Oriana Thomson herself can’t move at sonic speed, but fused with the shorthand Original Grimoire, that changes. Understand now?"
"Then…"
"Thinking of retreating to attack Index instead? Too bad."
Kihara’s Grimoire attempted another sonic-speed rush toward Index—but a giant green arm erupted from the vortex, swatting it aside.
As if the Original itself had moved to protect her.
"────That girl is already this book’s reader."
The Original Grimoires exist to spread knowledge instinctively. That’s why they protect those who attempt to read and understand them—the “readers”—and eliminate those who intend them harm. Index had already deciphered what remained of Oriana Thomson’s shorthand Original Grimoire, even when the script was fragmented and nearly illegible. A Grimoire would never fail to protect such an exemplary reader.
Speaking as if channeling the will of the Original itself, Oriana declared:
"I won’t let you lay a hand on her."
"Heh… I see. So you’ve managed to tame the Original Grimoire itself. Guess that’s what makes a real magician."
Even though Kihara’s Grimoire could no longer strike Index due to the expanded automatic defenses, it still smiled.
Then sparks burst around it—arcs of electricity flickering with numbers. Phantom rune cards scattered through the air like confetti.
"Trying to use magic you ‘inherited’ from one of Index’s magician friends? Sorry, that level of force won’t break through my defenses."
"I know. Don’t rush me. The one I’m trying to break through isn’t the Original."
KRAAASH!!!
In the next instant, the entire area was engulfed in a wall of fire.
(…!? He’s cutting off his own escape routes? What is he planning…?)
"The technique of ‘spiritual leg sweep’ works by interfering with perception. It doesn’t affect something that moves automatically, like the Original Grimoire. But the fun part is—if I impose the image of fire strongly enough, even imaginary flames can burn you. You’ll feel the air heat up, even though it isn’t real."
As Kihara’s Grimoire spoke, Oriana felt her strength ebb. Her body swayed; if not for the control of the Original surrounding her, she might have already collapsed.
"And then there’s this one—yeah, this is a good one. You can even make someone believe they’re suffocating from the fire’s combustion. Just a little push, and the body reacts automatically."
"……!! Useless! Even if I die of oxygen deprivation, the shorthand Original Grimoire will continue fighting to protect its reader! You’ll never get past this point!"
"Yeah, the Original might keep fighting… but what about that kid who just ran off?"
Oriana’s eyes widened.
Beyond the illusory flames, she saw the shadow of a young girl.
"Run!! His target is probably you…!"
"Even so!!"
Index’s voice cut through the fire as she dashed back.
"I can’t just let Oriana die alone to protect me! If that’s the kind of half-baked bad ending we’re heading for, I’d rather take the risk and fight for a happy ending where everyone comes back alive!!"
"You foolish girl…!!"
Even as the one she meant to protect ran back into danger—and despite being cornered herself—Oriana’s lips curved into a faint smile.
It was precisely because this girl was such a fool that she was worth risking her life for. Oriana Thomson had become a magician to serve as a foundation for someone this good and pure.
"The essence of the Original Grimoire—Shorthand Original—is its ability to freely combine the four elemental attributes, allowing for infinitely adaptable magical phenomena. I understand that now… because I properly deciphered it. So please—lend me your strength, Oriana!"
Index’s voice reached Oriana’s back, as if speaking through a pane of glass, while Oriana stood at the edge of the phantom flames.
At that moment, the two Orianas nodded in unison. Wings of four colors blossomed from Oriana’s back—no, not wings. A massive palette, a single board where the four hues overlapped and blended together.
"To the blank canvas, I paint my companion. In color—yellow. In numerical value—5, 200, 2, 8. In direction—west. Cross the winds and summon my comrade to this place!"
—A palette of ever-shifting, limitless magic.
—The combined intellect of 103,000 Grimoires.
With those powers combined, there was nothing in this world that could not be done.
And in this case—this was the result.
"Whoa!? Where the hell did we just end up!?"
"Magic…? Considering it worked even with Kamijou-san’s right hand in mind, the caster must be quite formidable."
"Wait! …This looks like we’ve walked straight into a battlefield."
"Ugh… I don’t think I’m nearly well-equipped for this kind of scene…"
Kamijou Touma.
Shiren Blackguard.
Misaka Mikoto.
Shokuhou Misaki.
"…Tch. Damn it. Things just got real annoying."
The four heroes now stood face-to-face with the Original Grimoire.
—At the same time.
Inside the Windowless Building, that “human” began to move.
"…Well then. It’s about time."
A short distance away, a blonde-haired, blue-eyed woman leaned against the wall, arms crossed, her elegant black-and-white nightdress flowing softly around her.
Casting his gaze toward her, Aleister spoke, a silver staff materializing in his hand.
"I suppose I’ll be on my way now."
"Very well. Do give it your best—for Shiren’s sake. I’ll act once I receive the signal."
Though Reicia’s tone was curt, a subtle warmth threaded through her words—an undercurrent of trust.
That alone proved how much this “human” had already earned.
Aleister Crowley stepped through the shattered opening of the Windowless Building and into the outside world. A quiet smirk curved his lips.
The situation had already reached the point where a helping hand alone could no longer resolve it.
Now then.
When you stand before a partner who cannot be saved by simply reaching out your hand… what will you do?
Author's Note
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