Bonus: Musings of the Female Courier

"Ahhh, honestly… you’re making this big sister lose heart here."

The woman let out a long, heavy sigh, as if releasing every trace of fatigue and frustration through her lips, and leaned her weight against the railing.

From her vantage point atop the pedestrian bridge, the city stretched out below, bustling with countless students enjoying this special day. Each one was clad in a gym uniform and headband, chatting cheerfully with their classmates.

Originally, she had no reason whatsoever to be part of this scene. In fact, she’d been on the verge of having to get involved… but that plan itself had fallen apart entirely.

And yet, why was she here now—?

"…Telling me I don’t have to play decoy but should do spy work instead. Big sister’s a courier, you know? People who push such unreasonable requests tend to get disliked, you realize?"

That was the reason why Oriana Thomson, courier by trade, had been saddled with a mission so poorly suited to her.


Chapter 1: No Wind from the Cooper’s Shop — Psicopics
Bonus: Musings of the Female Courier


The problem was proximity—far too close for comfort. If one had to sum up the current situation in a single phrase, that would be the most fitting.

From the Index Retrieval Battle that began on July 20th, to the Misawa Cram School Siege, the Angel Fall Incident, the Make-Up Personality Awakening Case, the Sherry Cromwell Intrusion, the Orsola Aquinas Kidnapping, and the Endymion Tower Collapse Attempt—The Anglican Church had been far too entangled with Academy City. By late August, their members were visiting the city almost every single week.

And now, word had come in: an esper from Academy City had sent a personal invitation letter to the Anglican Church.

The Roman Catholic Church, already wary of Academy City’s rise and working to counter the spread of the science side, now found itself forced to consider a major change in policy.

After all, it had been discovered that Academy City was building magical defenses—crafted by specialists in the arts of sorcery—specifically for the Daihaseisai.

A flawless activation of Croce di Pietro was planned, using both the Stab Sword transaction and Oriana Thomson herself as a double decoy.

However, the magic relied on the constellations—more precisely, a magic circle drawn upon the celestial dome. Its weakness was simple: if the sky above the caster was obscured, the spell could not be activated.

If Academy City were to figure that out—?

The possibility was not zero.

Especially when the opposition had the Anglican Church’s Necessarius—the so-called “Church of Necessary Evil”—experts in counter-magic itself.

The recent increase in close contact, and even the invitation from an esper, might already be measures taken with that knowledge in mind. Acting now could very well result in the catastrophic loss of the Church’s prized spiritual tool.

《…I must ask you to refrain from such indecent expressions.》

The voice from the talisman rebuked Oriana’s flippant remark.

Her uptight partner had a habit of lodging such complaints whenever she got cheeky.

Oriana, for her part, felt that her partner’s prudish reactions were a refreshing little pick-me-up during such harsh assignments. Of course, if she actually said that aloud, the stiff-necked partner would probably be at a loss for words.

"Oh my? If you’re going to start groaning at just this, I can’t say I’m hopeful for your endurance."

《That is exactly why—》

"Yes, yes, I know. But you could at least spare a thought for big sister’s frayed nerves. Even I get tense when I’m forced into a job I’m not used to, you know?"

The voice from the talisman fell silent for a moment.

Understandable, really. For the talisman’s owner to think so, the situation had to be overflowing with irregularities.

While the Roman Catholic Church—more precisely, the talisman’s owner—had decided to withdraw in light of the uncontrollable irregularities, doing nothing was obviously out of the question.

With the Anglican Church steadily drawing closer to the science side, strengthening those ties, the Roman Catholic Church could not simply watch in silence or risk being left behind entirely.

The result: Oriana had been ordered to “enter enemy territory and observe the movements of key individuals.”

But—

"…Especially in a situation like this."

Shifting her gaze further toward the edge of the cityscape, Oriana spotted them—

A blonde-haired, blue-eyed young lady and a red-haired priest.

Sure enough, the current surveillance target, Reicia Blackguard, was openly making contact with the magic side.

And she was doing so with the ease of someone thoroughly accustomed to it, as if the basic truth—that the magic side was an enemy faction to the science side—had long since slipped her mind.

No, she likely didn’t care about that truth in the slightest.

(…Come to think of it, that girl was the singularity.)

In preparation for this infiltration, Oriana had researched Reicia Blackguard. She knew that it had been Reicia who had brought the Index Retrieval Battle to an end, who had secured magic-side cooperation during the Make-Up Personality Awakening Case, and who had initiated contact with the magic side ahead of the Daihaseisai.

Unconfirmed reports even claimed she had acted as liaison with the Anglican Church during the Sherry Cromwell Intrusion.

While Kamijou Touma might be the one visibly fighting on the front lines—retaining Index, bridging the two sides, and winning the flashy battles—it was Reicia Blackguard, behind the scenes, who steadily drew the magic and science sides closer together.

From a certain point of view, she could be considered the greater threat to the Roman Catholic Church… to the point where Oriana could say it outright.

"Bringing along a Saint, not just any magician, huh…? Even for a singularity, that’s a little too abnormal, don’t you think?"

《It’s possible she saw through our plan, took the initiative, and came to hinder us.》

"I think that’s reading a bit too much into it…"

Casually shifting her gaze, Oriana looked toward the rooftop of a distant building. There, standing was an East Asian woman wearing jeans cut off at the thigh—the Saint, Kanzaki Kaori.

Because Oriana was a professional, her true identity remained undiscovered at this distance. But any average magician would have to prepare for a life-threatening situation.

Even in such a tense environment, Oriana continued her analysis based on the information she had been given.

"But why would a Saint show up just because a high-ranking esper on the science side—a mere student—called out to her? …It can’t just be personal acquaintances. Clearly, the organization must have some ulterior motive."

In the magic side, the title “Saint” carries immense weight. No fool would bring out a nuclear weapon over a casual friendship. Since Kanzaki Kaori was involved, there had to be a corresponding reason.

Yet the Roman Catholic Church had officially withdrawn from Academy City, even abandoning the bluff of the Croce di Pietro transaction. Under those circumstances, there should be no reason to bring out a Saint.

"…Or perhaps she herself. That’s also a possibility."

Oriana tilted her head at the talisman’s voice. Actually, she probably understood its meaning. But her ‘kind’ nature probably didn’t want to accept that answer.

“Because in the magic side, a ‘Saint’ is often crudely called a ‘nuclear weapon.’ If the reason to bring out a Saint fits this situation… wouldn’t that be something extraordinary enough to warrant even inviting the Saint herself?”

“...Are you saying the Anglican Church is trying to eliminate Reicia Blackguard?”

“As a possibility, yes.”

Oriana thought, No, that can’t be.

Though ultimately canceled, Oriana had thoroughly analyzed enemy forces for the upcoming battle involving the Croce di Pietro activation. She was well aware of the personalities of key enemies like Kamijou Touma, Index, and Kanzaki Kaori. Particularly with Kanzaki Kaori, she had even profiled possible contingencies.

That Saint would never abandon someone she cared for. That was the simplest evaluation of Kanzaki Kaori, shaped by the Orsola Aquinas Kidnapping Incident.

More than that... to treat a girl trying to bridge two worlds in such a way would be utterly hopeless.

Perhaps sensing Oriana’s feelings, the talisman’s voice continued with a softer tone.

“Or perhaps Kanzaki Kaori hasn’t even been told the mission’s purpose. Publicly, this could be a show of force against a faction that deeply fears Saints—hence the spreading of false information about the Croce di Pietro.”

“So, does that mean the Anglican Church—or rather, the Archbishop—sees that girl as such a threat?”

Oriana knew well.

No matter how admirable Reicia Blackguard’s way of life, the world wouldn’t end in a happy ending just for that.

Sometimes, what you risk your life to deliver is actually a curse for the recipient. The path Reicia chose out of goodwill could lead to an era of bloody, merciless war.

That’s why, the organization’s top might well decide to crush it before it starts.

And if that is the case—

It no longer matters whether it’s the Roman Catholic Church, the Anglican Church, science, or magic.

As a magician bearing the name Basis104, a cornerstone, Oriana could never overlook such a situation.

To ignore it would mean losing even the single prayer left in her heart.

Perhaps to stir Oriana’s resolve, the talisman’s voice spoke again, almost pushing her away.

“Isn’t it your job to find that out?”

“You’re really something, you know that?”

Her tone was almost exasperated, but Oriana’s expression showed no displeasure. She was prepared to carry out any task for the sake of her magic name.

“Well then, I’ll be watching. …Though, big sister might find ‘just watching’ a little unsatisfying.”

“That’s why you…”

Dismissing the talisman’s nagging, Oriana focused on her current surveillance target: Reicia Blackguard.

Having parted ways with the Anglican magician, Reicia seemed to be on her way to join her comrades. Her profile showed no sign of concern about the dark underworld—they say innocence shines brightest in a smile like hers.

Thus, the divergence was sealed here.

May this girl’s smile never be taken away—

Oddly enough, the woman who inadvertently stole that girl’s happiness in the true history prayed to the god she believed in.

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