The System Scan finally concluded.
Because Yuuya had officially "become" a Level 5, the Chief Director of the testing team practically begged him to choose their research institution as his designated ability developer. He promised Yuuya VIP access to their cutting-edge facilities for a precise, unlimited calibration of his powers, noting that today's test was only a rough estimate of his upper limits.
Yuuya didn't refuse. He actually wanted to know the specific, raw data of his abilities. Moreover, his multiple powers would definitely be exposed eventually, so having an official research institution cover for his "development" was a convenient shield.
Besides, this particular institute was a normal, above-ground facility. It wasn't one of the dark, unethical laboratories operating in the City's shadows. Although Academy City was infamous for its horrific Dark Side experiments, those institutions only accounted for a fraction of the city's vast scientific infrastructure.
...
When Yuuya returned to his class, the atmosphere had shifted.
On the surface, his classmates tried to act normally, but Yuuya clearly felt a palpable sense of alienation.
It was unavoidable. Once a person steps that far away from the norm, they deviate from the "mainstream" environment. A Level 5 was practically a different species. They were celebrities, weapons, and monsters all rolled into one. It was natural for normal students to subconsciously distance themselves.
However, there were still people in the class who approached him without hesitation.
"Wow, that's amazing~ nya! Takahashi-san, you actually became a Level 5! That's really unexpected, nya!"
A boy with short, spiky blond hair, an unbuttoned shirt, sunglasses, and a gold chain around his neck slung an arm around Yuuya's shoulder. He looked like a stereotypical delinquent and spoke with a bizarre, surfer-slang accent.
Tsuchimikado Motoharu. "Tsuchimikado, your sweet, whiny 'nya' is giving me goosebumps," Yuuya said with a look of disdain, brushing the boy's arm off.
Normally, his relationship with Tsuchimikado was just that of ordinary classmates. Tsuchimikado had never taken the initiative to approach him like this before.
'Did he discover something different about me?' Yuuya wondered, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"There's nothing I can do about it, nya~ By the way, Takahashi-kun, have you encountered any... strange things lately?"
Tsuchimikado casually scratched the back of his head. His eyes flickered behind his blue sunglasses before returning to their usual goofy squint.
He appeared cheerful on the surface, but internally, Tsuchimikado was experiencing intense, suffocating terror.
'The fluctuations in magical power coming off him... it's at least equivalent to the total mana pool of an Elite-level Mage! I can even feel the phantom presence of Magic Circuits!'
Tsuchimikado's mind raced.
'What on earth is going on?! The spatial power he just used on the field didn't show any trace of mana; it was definitively an Esper ability. But why does such a massive amount of magical power reside in his body?!'
Tsuchimikado remained outwardly composed, but his spy instincts were screaming.
Only Magicians possess mana. Only Espers possess Personal Realities. That was the absolute, unbreakable law of the world.
The problem arose when both existed in one person at the same time. The two forces were absolutely incompatible. It was a lesson learned through bloodshed—Esper-Magic Rejection.
As an Onmyouji—a Magician who used earth and water veins to cast spells externally to minimize the use of internal mana—Tsuchimikado still suffered massive internal hemorrhaging every time he used magic. If it weren't for his Level 0 Esper ability, Auto-Rebirth (a faint physical regeneration power), his blood vessels would rupture and he would die on the spot. Even then, casting the weakest spell caused his body to tear itself apart.
'With the Esper output of a Level 5... and the total mana of an Elite Mage... how the hell is his body not exploding?!'
Tsuchimikado sensed a terrifying conspiracy.
'This is very bad. What exactly is Takahashi's true identity? If the Magic Side discovers this, they will think Academy City has successfully synthesized and controlled magic. It will trigger World War III!'
Cold sweat instantly beaded on Tsuchimikado's forehead.
The delicate peace between the Science Side and the Magic Side was maintained precisely because both sides possessed powers the other couldn't comprehend, and each tacitly agreed not to intrude on the other's territory. But the Magic Side deeply resented Science. They were looking for any excuse to launch a crusade.
If Science had cracked the code to use Magic safely... the fragile treaty would burn.
"Eh? Tsuchimikado, why are you sweating so much? It's not that hot today," Yuuya asked, feigning innocent concern as he watched the spy practically leaking cold sweat.
"It's alright, nya! Sweating a bit helps eliminate toxins from the body! Takahashi-san, you'll have to protect me now that you're a big shot Level 5, nya!" Tsuchimikado laughed it off, wiping his forehead.
"You really are an opportunist," Yuuya replied sarcastically.
A smirk played on Yuuya's lips. 'Was all that cold sweat because he sensed the mana from me? Does he think I'm a spy from the Roman Orthodox Church or something?'
At that moment, a boy with spiky black hair jogged over, scratching his head apologetically.
"Um, Takahashi-kun! Here is the 1,000 yen I owe you. Thank you for your help the other day! Kamijou Touma will remember this debt of gratitude!"
Tsuchimikado kept smiling, but his unease spiked again.
'Was he drawn here because of Touma's Imagine Breaker? But why did it take a month for him to expose his power?'
"It's no problem," Yuuya said to Touma. "But... are you sure you have the money?"
"Of course!" Touma confidently patted his pocket to retrieve his wallet.
He froze. His expression stiffened.
He turned his pocket inside out. A moth fluttered out. There was nothing there.
Touma's face quickly turned pale, draining of all life as if he were a corpse.
"My... my wallet..."
"Please accept my condolences," Yuuya sighed, patting Touma on the shoulder.
"Fukou da—!!" Touma dropped to his knees, screaming his misfortune to the heavens.
Yuuya glanced at Komoe-sensei, who was busy consoling Touma, and decided to slip away. He needed to catch up with Kiyama Harumi.
Floating above Kiyama's head was a glowing Silver Treasure Chest.
However, just as he walked toward the parking lot, he saw Kiyama standing by her car, holding her phone to her ear. Her exhausted expression underwent a drastic, horrifying change. She dropped her clipboard and hurriedly fumbled with her car keys, her hands shaking violently.
Yuuya's eyes narrowed. 'What major event could cause Kiyama-sensei to panic like that?'
"Let's go and see."
Snap.
Using his Move Point, Yuuya instantly appeared beside Kiyama just as she opened her car door.
"Why are you in such a hurry, Kiyama-sensei?" Yuuya asked.
Kiyama gasped, startled by his sudden appearance. But desperation overrode her shock. She grabbed Yuuya's arm, her fingernails digging into his sleeve.
"Takahashi! Quickly! Use your spatial ability!" she shouted, her voice cracking with pure terror. "Take me to the MAR Hospital! Now!"
MAR Hospital. Yuuya's eyes widened. That was the specific medical facility that had taken in the comatose Child Errors.
'Kihara Gensei made his move,' Yuuya realized instantly. 'Something has happened to the children!'
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