Book Artist: "You are clearly the one panicking the most! Even Ruiko-chan, the person actually involved, isn't as shaken as you!"
Curly-Haired Boy: "But the world of A Certain Magical Index is too terrifying! Why would a Biblical angel destroy the world over something like that? Aren't angels supposed to be cute creatures with soft features who let humans pamper them?"
Book Artist: "What kind of erotic fantasy version of heaven are you living in?"
This is an Actor: "The angels in that world are more akin to artificial intelligence programs than living beings. They lack emotions and simply execute a set of predetermined laws."
Scarlet Snake Fairy: "Master An, you make it sound as if those angels are quite pitiable."
This is an Actor: "Indeed. To possess immense power without rationality or the ability to reason makes one nothing more than a weapon—a tool of a higher power."
Curly-Haired Boy: "Hey, isn't that detached perspective a bit arrogant?"
This is an Actor: "I am merely stating facts from the perspective of an intelligent life form. To be non-human does not mean one should be non-self. To abandon one's own existence is to become a mere prop for others to manipulate."
Curly-Haired Boy: "Are you being possessed by Aizen's spirit again?! Cut it out!"
This is an Actor: "Do you not understand? To accommodate your limited comprehension, I phrased that so simply even a ten-year-old could follow. It seems I overestimated you."
Curly-Haired Boy: "Shut up, you bastard! How could I not understand? I was just complaining about your tone, that's all! Yeah, that's it!"
This is an Actor: "Oh? Is it?"
Curly-Haired Boy: "Nonsense, of course! How could Gin-san be worse than a ten-year-old? There's a limit to how much you can look down on a man, asshole!"
Book Artist: "Then could you please translate what An Ran-san just said?"
Curly-Haired Boy: "Anyway, moving on! Even if Ruiko-chan's world is full of danger, judging by the plot, there aren't any major crises in her personal life trajectory. That's a relief."
Book Artist: "Changing the subject, are we?"
Curly-Haired Boy: "Quiet, you brat!"
Skirt-Lifting Maniac: "It's true, I haven't encountered a life-threatening crisis yet, and I should be thankful for that. However... if I can... I want to stop the tragedy right in front of me."
As she sent the message, Saten Ruiko watched Misaka Mikoto with a complicated gaze. The brown-haired girl was currently laughing and bickering with Shirai Kuroko across from her.
This innocent girl didn't know yet that her clones were being slaughtered like livestock. Once she learned the truth, how deep would her heart sink into the abyss? Saten shuddered. If she were in Mikoto's shoes, she would likely have a mental breakdown instantly.
"Um, is there something on my face?" Noticing the stare, Misaka Mikoto scratched her cheek in confusion.
"No, I just realized that Misaka-san is very... straightforward," Saten Ruiko replied, letting out a breath and shaking her head slightly. "You aren't quite the intimidating Level 5 I expected."
Though young, Saten was remarkably mature. She knew the catastrophic consequences of revealing the "plot" prematurely, so she focused on maintaining a facade of calm.
Curly-Haired Boy: "Huh? Save the tragedy in front of you? You're just a junior high student—that's big talk! Wait until you're a high schooler! In this country, only high school students are allowed to save the world!"
Scarlet Snake Fairy: "Gintoki, be a bit more tactful."
Skirt-Lifting Maniac: "I know I'm being overconfident. But I really can't just sit here and watch this happen!"
Book Artist: "Ruiko-chan, a sense of justice is good. But don't be impulsive."
This is an Actor: "By 'tragedy,' do you refer to the Misaka Sisters?"
Skirt-Lifting Maniac: "Yeah."
This is an Actor: "Then you must know the true nature of the enemy you face?"
Skirt-Lifting Maniac: "...Aleister."
That was the crux of it. If she wanted to save the clones, the true enemy was Aleister Crowley—the General Superintendent of Academy City and the greatest magician of the 20th century. A man willing to pit science against magic and humanity against itself for his own ends.
This is an Actor: "Good. It seems you understand. So, facing such an opponent, what are your chances of success?"
Scarlet Snake Fairy: "The gap is so vast it borders on despair."
Book Artist: "Chances of winning? There are none. Not like this."
Skirt-Lifting Maniac: "Is there really nothing I can do?"
This is an Actor: "It depends on how far you are willing to go. If your goal is simply to stop the slaughter of the Misaka Sisters, the solution is actually quite simple."
Skirt-Lifting Maniac: "How? Please teach me, An Ran-san!"
This is an Actor: "Identify the location of the next experiment for the Level 6 Shift project, then guide Kamijou Touma to that site."
Book Artist: "Ah! That would work! It's like forcing the original story to happen ahead of schedule!"
Curly-Haired Boy: "Humph, An Ran! You're still leagues behind my wisdom, but I suppose you're somewhat useful."
Book Artist: "You really have a talent for self-flattery."
Skirt-Lifting Maniac: "But wouldn't that be like manipulating Kamijou-senpai? Isn't that unkind?"
Scarlet Snake Fairy: "There is nothing wrong with it. In Aleister's eyes, he is already a pawn."
Curly-Haired Boy: "Exactly! Those philandering protagonists should be put to work! Damn, how does a guy with spiky hair even get a harem?"
Book Artist: "So, you're just jealous of the harem?"
Watching the group members descend into a heated debate over Kamijou Touma, Aizen stopped participating.
In truth, there was a massive flaw in the advice he gave Saten. How would an ordinary student find a top-secret experimental site in a city as technologically advanced as Academy City? The secrecy surrounding the Level 6 Shift project was absolute.
Unless she happened to stumble upon a clone in the street like Mikoto did in the original story, her chances were virtually zero. In the original timeline, Mikoto met the sisters because Aleister needed her to find them so she would lead Kamijou Touma to stop the project—allowing Aleister to legitimately distribute the sisters across the globe for his network.
Saten Ruiko was not part of Aleister's plan.
But this was exactly what Aizen intended. He didn't actually expect Saten to succeed. Until the group's "travel" feature was unlocked, he didn't want his members walking into uncontrollable death traps. He provided a solution that would vent Saten's sense of justice without actually putting her in the crosshairs.
"It's dawn," Aizen murmured, raising his eyes to the monitor on his right.
Aaaaagh!
A heart-wrenching scream erupted from the surveillance feed. Aizen's lips curved into an amused, thin smile. "The fun is about to begin."