As far as she could remember, Kamijou Touma had saved Amakusa Shiki countless times.
That's right...Compared to those, this matter is particularly important in the Pope's heart.
All of this made her willing to do anything to compensate Kamijou Touma.
But... the Othinus in front of him, the demon god who should be remembered by history.
She actually threw away this emotion and gratitude as if it were useless garbage and simply erased all the stories. Such a cruel and outrageous act arbitrarily changed everyone's perception of the world.
To be honest, although it is a beautiful story, although it is a story of an ideal utopian state.
But--
In a world without Touma, why can people who were like enemies before they met Kamijou Touma stand together so happily and even play ball with each other?
Will she and Stiyl, who are ready to face all of this alone, run into Index's life again for their ridiculous selfish desires?
The answer is [No].
It is true that there are many things in this world that turn the impossible into chance, but... there are also many things in this world that cannot be correct by simply [thinking from a different angle].
"God's crack..."
It was hilarious to hear this girl, who was usually not good at speaking, actually say such words.
Looking at the female pope standing proudly in front of him, Kamijou Touma's gradually gloomy mood was slowly recovering.
That's right, even in that parallel universe in the future, the existence of Kamijou Touma is not necessary.
However, in this world that is still full of pain and sorrow, no one can deny the causes and effects created by Kamijou Touma.
Perhaps these causes and effects are completely different from what the masterminds behind many events would hope for.
but--
Among these things, Kamijou Touma did more than once what only he could do!!
Kanzaki Kaori's statement and evaluation can definitely be regarded as the best criticism of Othinus.
After all the words were said, silence was the magic index tonight.
Immediately——
The brown-haired girl, who was a little slow, broke the silence belatedly and became the third person to speak.
"I...my situation is exactly the same! Why are you so selfish to think that in the world you constructed, the fake person who can calmly talk to that bastard Accelerator is me!"
Unlike the previous two reasonable comments, Misaka Mikoto's hatred for Accelerator did not diminish in the slightest.
No...maybe it has decreased a bit, but it has definitely not reached the point where we can interact with each other with a smile.
Even though I witnessed him risking his life for the final work, even though I witnessed him saving the final work from danger many times, but... the feud between the two had already been formed, and even if it had not reached the point of fighting to the death, it had already reached the point of never speaking to each other again.
Thinking she would have a good conversation with this guy? Such a dream!
and--
The people surrounding Kamijou Touma were not the only ones who shared the same thought as her.
As Misaka Mikoto spoke frankly from the heart, someone's voice seemed to be heard from the far end in the thick fog simulated in this virtual space.
"I say, you want me to get along peacefully with that third place railgun? What a joke! It's disgusting just by hearing it!"
This sound is...
Accelerator!?
Kamijou Touma looked over in surprise.
This is the first time the two have met in real life.
The thin figure with silver hair is the same as in the video.
Revealed an attitude that was not to be trifled with.
Next to him, a young man in a magenta suit was standing at the far end, looking equally cool and unrestrained. However, he had no intention of speaking.
This man is the Fire of the Right... Kamijou Touma will never forget the battle at the Star of Bethlehem, nor will he forget the scene where this magician sacrificed his life to release the magic called fairy transformation to the demon god.
At this moment, with Accelerator's entrance, those people in the imaginary scene created by Othinus, who were in a perfect timeline because Kamijou Touma did not exist, criticized Othinus's idea one by one.
That is the judgment they made today with the support of the powerful data of [Opinion].
They...don't want Kamijou Touma to be influenced or changed, and they don't want their own world to be changed.
Even if such thoughts will be questioned and speculated by the demon.
"You...everyone..."
Looking at this scene, seeing everyone in the video clips united in their hatred of the enemy.
The scene, which could never be imagined, moved the boy's heart.
On the other side...
"But this is indeed your greatest wish, isn't it? To be able to play with Index, to be able to perfectly replace Kamijou Touma's position, to be able to do everything you can for him."
"As for you, the reason you think this way is simply because Kamijou Touma's intervention has already caused the conflict between the two parties to a point where no one can mediate and restore the situation, isn't that right?"
In this frivolous tone, he commented on Accelerator who seemed to be the messenger of justice.
Immediately——
Othinus remained calm and composed, sneering at the hypothesis raised by Kanzaki Kaori: "The reason you think so is simply because of the current situation, isn't it?"
It is not surprising that human beings are animals that are satisfied with the status quo. This is a reality that has been repeatedly confirmed by history.
However, even if Othinus's mentality was not unbalanced.
As more and more people entered.
This world she had created specifically to defeat Kamijou Touma was becoming increasingly untenable.
[This behavior is called redemption? It is nothing but a childish act of self-deception, forcibly filling in certain factors that cannot be erased. ]
However, such accusations and thoughts only remain on the superficial surface and are something that only exists in the human world.
In the Demon God's realm, a world lacking both material and spiritual power, such a thing naturally does not exist.
The disputes over ideas and obsessions were nothing more than distractions that should have been eliminated before they stepped into the threshold of the Demon God.
"That's a courage and perseverance that I have to admire. But if you only think from this narrow perspective, it's probably too early for you to understand what Othinus is thinking."
The monk who had been staying in the simulated world for a long time, staying in a corner away from the conflict, was watching this scene with great interest.
The face, as decayed and ancient as a mummy, revealed a playful expression.
The feeling of freshness is an extremely rare thing in the world beyond the six realms where the devil resides.
"In our field, subjective fighting emotions will be erased. Even the reasons for fighting are... Unprovoked fighting cannot redeem anyone."
The message of his language is very ambiguous, as if it encompasses his own thoughts about all living beings.
And at this moment, accompanied by the conversation between you and me.
The scene finally reached the final scene.
Kamijou Touma, who is no longer needed by the world, will completely disappear.
Kamijou Touma...decided to die.
Under the stunned or shocked gaze of the audience——
The young man, whose heart was already broken, took tired steps.
As the gray-yellow lens sways, it gradually moves towards the distance.
It was a tall and majestic building.
Along with this scene, the audience in front of the video were looking at it with a grim or mocking expression.
The long-lost narration sounded again.
[Everything I did and couldn't do has a happy ending]
[The world is pacified, and all the sorrows around us are gradually resolved]
[In this quiet and peaceful new world, even without the boy named Kamijou Touma, everything is still going on in an orderly manner]
The boy's numb yet calm expression was so glaring in his voice.
In front of the screen, the audience's discussion was so intense.
「But──」
[Never think about giving up your own life, young man——]
[As long as you keep working hard and persevere...the 'meaning of existence' you are pursuing is waiting for you at the end of the road]
[She...will give you unlimited courage.]
Those words rang out as if they were announced in advance.
Accompanying——
In the video, Touma walks into the building.
Take the elevator and press the button for the roof.
Although this elevator was quiet, smooth, and fast, which was in keeping with Academy City's style, it still took more than a minute to reach the rooftop. Although I didn't know how many floors there were, it was probably at least three hundred meters high.
There is no need to explain what would happen to an ordinary human being if he fell from a roof.
Even if there were trees or a thick rescue mat underneath, it would still be impossible to save your life.
"ah..."
then.
The elevator stopped with a soft electronic sound.
The metal automatic door opened wide to the left and right.
"That's true..."
There is a dazzling world ahead.
The sky was more golden than orange, and the cool breeze was like a glass of water in the desert, nourishing Kamijou's heart. The boy slowly crossed the rooftop and reached the edge. Perhaps because it was not open to the general public, there were no railings to prevent falling, and there was only a naked landscape in front of him. The world of supreme happiness. The little lights in front of him were all praising youth, and the small sounds of the celebratory music even reached the rooftops, without the sound of the guards and ambulances that would spoil the view. I guess they were no longer needed here, so they could not be heard.
"It's a very suitable place to meet the end of life, Othinus. I can't create such a perfect place by myself."
Until now.
I worked hard to solve many incidents along the way.
"Daibase Festival".
And the Fuse Wind Slash incident on September 30th.
There was also the suppression of rebellions throughout Britain.
Even World War III.
...But what will happen next?
I have no intention of protecting the world, nor do I have a large-scale goal like "saving all mankind". However, having said that, is the short history that follows really what Kamijou Touma expected? Othinus is the leader of the "troublemakers". As long as they don't mess around, maybe it won't turn out like that. But on the other hand, I have also thought about this - if the "troublemakers" and Othinus don't take action, will everything be happy? Really? If they don't raise their heads, will it just be someone else who messes up the world?
"Troublemaker".
Euthinus.
In a sense, this trend has been cut short.
No matter how problematic the process is, the definite result is right in front of us. After this, there will surely be no more "others" that Kamijou is worried about. Othinus will not create the soil for such things to happen naturally, and will not allow "incomplete swings" such as misfortune and tragedy to exist.
Even if it is essentially a dictatorship based on selfishness and arrogance, and even if the clean and neurotic God does not consider the people's problems one by one, what she does will still bring true peace and happiness. Regardless of whether she is at the mercy of God or not, everyone can achieve success equally. In this way, people should not care about what happens in the process.
Everyone wants to be happy.
Because the ultimate direction of human beings is focused only on this point.
After all, people don't want methods or processes.
Just the highest score left at the end.
"…"
Kamijou gazed at the golden streets for a while.but--
The world shown in the video where "Only Kamijou Touma" does not exist is surprisingly peaceful.
Index was laughing.
Stiyl and Kanzaki had not lost her.
The sisters are laughing.
Misaka Mikoto and Accelerator have redeemed themselves for the sins they carried.
Alice is laughing.
Shirley Cromwell doesn't have to hate science.
Oriana Townsend, Wind of the Front, God's Right Seat, Kumokawa Maria, and maybe even someone Kamijou Touma didn't know. Everyone was redeemed in this world without incidents, debts, or broken hearts.
No matter how twisted its roots may be.
No matter how unnatural it may seem to the person watching from beginning to end.
Kamijou still couldn't conclude that their smiles were fake.
I don't think I can create better happiness.
That picture.
It shouldn't be ruined by the willfulness of a mere high school student.
"Maybe... that world would be a better place?"
These words were not spoken by Kamijou Touma, but by a viewer who entered the live editing room.
The loudness is just right.
After all, in this space, no one knows each other.
No one cares about an audience member expressing his or her opinion.
However...this audience member definitely had no idea how much his light-hearted summary based on the conclusion would hurt the heart of Kamijou Touma, who was so close to him at the moment.
This sentence...is like the last screw holding down the coffin lid.
It completely wiped out the last bit of dignity that the boy named Kamijou Touma believed he had.
If even the audience thinks so... then—
What should he think?
Anger...uncontrollable anger.
I wanted to grab the other person and ask him/her at the top of my lungs why he/she said that.
But in the final analysis, the boy knew very well that he had no right to be angry, as the man was merely summarizing his own point of view.
[Humans] are essentially pragmatic creatures. Since we have the ability to change the status quo, even if it means disrupting the past timeline and pushing everything in a better direction, that would be the best thing to do.
"That's right. Even though you are called the protagonist by the editing system...even though you have all kinds of connections with others, you still can't really be your best. All you can do is indulge yourself."
Othinus's light words echoed in my ears.
This caused Kamijou Touma to clench his fists. Of course, he did not let the world created by Othinus in the video completely affect his emotions, because he also knew that it was virtual, and it was definitely a world built after the causal relationship was erased, but...
When you actually witness those tragedies being erased, watching the scenes in the video.
He responded in silence again, unable to completely erase these tangled and depressed emotions.
That's right...even as the protagonist, there are things that cannot be done.
But is this really the case?
"Do you think this world is imperfect?"
"That's a world where everyone can be happy and feel joyful."
That soft and confident voice followed closely and rang out again.
The result was Kamijou Touma's complete silence.
Yes, he was completely silent. He no longer had any desire to defend himself or respond, and just stared at the video.
That's right...
Everything is developing in everyone's favor.
"Who says it's not?"
The demon girl smiled at that.
All of this is under your control in the video editing screen.
And at this moment, my real self has already seized the initiative in discourse from these images.
Just when Othinus thought he had won the game and had already laid the foundation for his future victory from the edited footage.
What she never expected was that although the blueprint was beautiful.
But——
Some things cannot be completely erased by the so-called beautiful blueprint...
A world where no one grieves, no one is sad?
"No way! Um... this is definitely not the case!!!"
The silver-haired nun, who had always been kind and simple, suddenly spoke.
At this moment when Touma was depressed and Othinus was feeling proud of himself.
The girl, who had always maintained a peaceful attitude and was full of innocence, suddenly looked at Othinus angrily.
As the library of the magic path, no one knows better than her how terrifying and huge the demon is.
No one knows better than she does how different the two sides are in terms of their abilities when witnessing the Demon God.
But, when I saw Kamijou Touma's depression, when I saw him get depressed, when I saw that all this happened naturally as Othinus said.
For the first time, determination and resoluteness appeared in the girl's clear blue eyes.
She spoke without any hesitation: "I don't recognize such a world!"
"Well... not just me! Anyone who sees these images will not recognize the world you have conceived, which exists only to defeat Touma's will!!"
"Touma is feeling miserable!"
As she said this, the girl who seemed to have suffered a great deal of injustice suddenly became bright and sharp.
Almost at the same time as she spoke, she looked away, staring at Touma, who had not intervened in the conversation:
"Hey..Touma, do you remember when we first met?"
"Even though I have the knowledge of 103,000 magic books, but... what kind of life did I lead before I met you? Have you forgotten?"
It is an absurd state of running around, constantly trying to escape, with no idea of one's own future and past, mistakenly believing that one's life is nothing but a farce and constantly staging the drama of chase and escape.
The person who broke these shackles and allowed the girl to truly regain her human identity and do what she wanted... was Kamijou Touma!
Chapter 194: When Misaka Consciousness Collective Knocks on the Door
What does it feel like when an honest person who has always been quiet and decent in getting along with others gets angry?
It was a voice that, even from a distance, could still be heard accusingly and with anger in its words.
"Index..." Touma stared at the angry silver-haired nun.
There was a deafening voice in his head.
When you witness the world view created by Othinus.
There wasn't much turmoil in his heart.
Because he knows very well.
These things that were fabricated by Euthinus at will are all fictitious.
This demon god improvised it to torture himself.
As for these worldviews, are they really the world lines where Kamijou Touma is not there?
wrong!
This is another worldview that is completely different from the past, all the causes and effects, and all the things that Kamijou Touma has known his friends have experienced. That's all!
"Hey, Touma! Do you remember the days when we first met and got to know each other?"
When the young man pondered over the past, his slightly cold heart was slightly moved.
The gentle and contemptuous voice of the silver-haired nun gradually covered up the coldness in Othinus's complacent and arrogant words.
He looked up.
Witness the silver-haired nun completely ignoring Othinus's gaze.
She looked at me tenderly and reservedly, her thin lips slightly moving as she softly recounted the past events that had brought her to a different future: "Well... although considering Touma's condition after he lost his memory, he should have known nothing about it, but... since you have seen the edited video, you should have known it."
"Do you remember what kind of life I lived before I met Touma?"
What kind of life is it...
That is hell on earth.
This is something so outrageous that no one can believe it.
Make use of human memory.
The rulers of the magic side use this method to deceive the younger generations on the magic side.
How ridiculous!
And they did this just to prevent Index from escaping their control.
For this greed.
Not hesitating to kill her youth.
If there hadn't been any awareness and salvation.
This truth will remain unknown.
Regardless of her.
Or perhaps the duo of Kamiya and Steve, who had always taken special care of her and were eagerly looking forward to her awakening, were completely affected by the lie woven by the top leaders that was limited to the intelligence network.
As soon as the words were spoken, it made people wake up!
In that video, they witnessed another worldview.
This is something that everyone has forgotten because of the influence of that false utopia.
But the reality...
[This carefree mode of getting along is a lie!!!]
"That's right. This is definitely not the kind of betrayal we would have faced in a world without Kamijou Touma."
Before Index spoke, no one was able to break the deadlock.
But she came out as soon as she said this.
The Puritan duo, who had been silent until then, took the initiative to break the silence after a brief silence.
Even more surprising;
The first person to break this unfavorable situation was not Stiyl, but the usually taciturn Kamijou Kaori.
Kamiya Kaori has never been a talkative person.
But, this time.
The moment Index spoke, the cool and elegant Amakusa-style Pope was the first to break the silence.
Not just for her personally.
And it's not just for Kamijou Touma.
It's not just for Index.