Chapter 1: Hex Suspect of the Magician World. Part 2

He didn't know whether it was a minute or an hour.

Like a patient with fever, he woke up due to thirst. Behind him was the solid floor, and as he looked around, there was the vestiges of wreckage all around.

It seemed like Kamijou hadn't been taken someplace else. This place seemed to be the first level of the Wadatsumi resort. Most probably, he had been out for only a short while.

Tsuchimikado and Kanzaki were kneeling beside him.

After such a large commotion, Mikoto and Index still hadn't come downstairs. Normally, they would have woken up even if they were asleep. In other words, that meant that Kanzaki or someone else used something similar to the Opila rune that Stiyl had used, Kamijou pondered.

Then, Kamijou noticed Misaka Imouto wearing a T-shirt, shorts and apron among the magicians. She was trembling as she looked around to see the damage to the shop.

Right now, her identity should be that of a shop attendant there.

"I set up an 'empty area' spell, but the shop workers are unexpectedly sleeping at the first level. Good thing that the boss is settling some stuff on the second floor."

Hearing Kanzaki say that, Misaka Imouto trembled.

Her expression was like someone who just witnessed a crime syndicate committing a crime, looking extremely terrified as she didn't know how she would be 'dealt with'.

Kanzaki stroked the nodachi's blade as she said, "For your own safety, let me warn you. You must not talk about what happened today. If you think that this nodachi is a fake, you can just ignore it."

Kanzaki sounded really scary, but Kamijou noticed that Tsuchimikado, who was beside him, was about to burst into laughter...so she wasn't serious?

Then, Kamijou noticed that slightly far away in the shadows was a red nun.

(Who is that?)

Kamijou felt puzzled. Thinking back, she did save him, but who is she?

"Ah, she's not an enemy." Kanzaki noticed Kamijou's gaze as she said, "She's a member of Annihilatus."

Kanzaki's words had some strange language mixed in it, and Kamijou didn't understand.

Tsuchimikado seemed to understand his worries and said, "If the Anglican Church can be said to specialize in hunting witches, then the Russian Orthodox Church specialises in hunting ghosts, like will-o'wisp, spectres and pregnant spirits...all sorts of things that shouldn't exist are within their perimeters."

Kamijou again turned to look at the blond girl who was hidden in the shadows.

Seeing other people talk about herself, the red nun still remained still.

Maybe this communication breakdown in the magic world wasn't rare, as Kanzaki then explained, "Her name is Misha Kreutzev. She sucked out the poison from your wound, so you should thank her."

Sucked the poison out of the wound—on hearing that, Kamijou's ears inadvertently turn red. The wound was on the face, and though it was just healing, Kamijou couldn't help but sweat.

"Is...is that so..." Kamijou said with a hoarse voice, "Thanks, I would have been killed if you didn't step in..."

The smile that Kamijou barely forced out instantly froze.

Misha, who was originally standing slightly far away, instantly closed in to Kamijou. She used her right hand to draw out the saw that was hanging at her waist, and before Kamijou could even blink, she used the saw teeth to hold down Kamijou's neck.

Nobody could react in time, let alone Kamijou, even Tsuchimikado and Kanzaki couldn't stop her even though they were standing nearby. Kamijou could feel an icy feeling on his neck.

Kamijou lifted up his head and looked at Misha Kreutzev, who was holding onto the saw. Through the long bangs, he could see that her eyes had no hint of hesitation, and her irises were much colder than the saw.

Misha asked with a flat robotic-like tone, "My first question: Were you the one who cast Angel Fall?"

Kamijou was so scared he couldn't say anything. Tsuchimikado and Kanzaki also look stunned as they stared at Misha.

"Hold...hold on a minute! Misha Kreutzev. Didn't you assume that Kamijou Touma wasn't the culprit behind Angel Fall before you protected him and drew the poison out of him?"

In regards to Kanzaki's questions, Misha turned her eyes and said to Kanzaki.

"My first answer: I came here to prevent Angel Fall. I couldn't get the answer from this boy, so I'm asking him now."

With the saw placed against his neck, Kamijou stared at Misha's face. Misha also turned her eyes away from Kanzaki's face and onto Kamijou's face, as if seeing Kamijou's eyes.

"Repeating my first question again: Were you the one who cast Angel Fall?"

"...No."

"My second question: Can you prove it?"

Misha said what seemed to be pre-prepared questions. Maybe she expected that Kamijou could be lying.

"I don't have any proof, but I don't understand magic at all."

Misha slightly tilted her head to a side, seemingly expressing the suspicion in her heart.

Kanzaki sighed, and said, "As a member of Necessarius of the Anglican Church, I can explain this."

Then, Kanzaki started to explain to Misha that since Kamijou had no knowledge of magic at all, he couldn't possibly be the one who triggered Angel Fall. And if an esper used magic, the burden would be too great on the body, but Kamijou didn't look like he had any wounds on him. Perhaps Kamijou hadn't been affected by Angel Fall because of his right hand's Imagine Breaker ability. With that power, any supernatural power would be erased with just a single touch.

Misha continued to pay attention to every single word and she nodded several times. Finally, she stared at Kamijou; or more accurately, his right hand. Maybe the Imagine Breaker had piqued her interest."

"Values, 40, 9, 30, 7. Total is 86."

BOOM! A water pillar spurted out from the floor behind Misha. Most likely, a water pipe had burst.

"Respond. Mem ' tet ' lamed ' zayin (Oh water, form as a holy snake, and strike through like a sword)."

After Misha said that, the water pillar curved its head down like a snake, and then like a mythical Hydra or a Yamata dragon, it formed several snakes. Before Kamijou's mind could even process the danger, the water snakes came attacking like spears.

TUMP TUMP TUMP! One after another, water pillars continued to shoot out from the floor surrounding Kamijou.

And one of those pillars came at Kamijou's face directly.

"WAH!"

Kamijou frantically used his right hand to block the water pillar. The water pillar that got blocked exploded like a balloon that was filled with water, and the water splattered all over the place. However, it seemed like Kamijou was protected by an invisible shield, as there was not a single drop of water on him.

Misha carefully looked at the water that had splattered onto the floor.

"Correct answer. The Anglican's view matches the result of the experiment just now. This answer is enough to remove the suspicion. Boy, I apologize for scaring you because of a wrong answer."

"Instead of that, you already attacked me, right? And who in the world doesn't look into the eyes when she apologises?"

"My third question: Since you're not the culprit, who's the one who cast Angel Fall? It's a fact that the phenomenon is centred around here, do you have any thoughts of who may be the one?"

"You aren't listening to me! Seems like you aren't reflecting about it at all!"

Kamijou lay on the floor and saw the large hole in it.

At that moment, Misaka Imouto, who didn't understand what was going on at all, could only tremble as she secretly talked to Kamijou. Maybe she had finally calmed down somewhat.

"Can...can I ask you...what kind of special effects movie are you filming? And...wasn't the one who escaped just now Hino Jinsaku? Are you guys the undercover cops who often appear on TV?"

"For your own safety, I suggest that you don't interfere with our affairs."

Misaka Imouto's question was shot down completely by Kanzaki.

But Misaka Imouto's words caused Kamijou to realise something.

"Hold...hold on! That guy is Hino Jinsaku to you?"

"Who else? Anyway, who do we claim the damages from? Hino, the police, or the broadcasting agency?"

In a shock, Kamijou didn't know what to say.

For example, on the second floor, there was Aogami Pierce in nun robes.

To everyone, that guy was Index, but to Kamijou, he was Aogami Pierce.

That was the difference between the inside and the appearance.

But to both Kamijou and Misaka Imouto, he was still Hino Jinsaku.

Inside and appearance were the same? That meant...

"That guy...didn't get switched?"

Kamijou explained that to the magicians, and everyone looked somewhat grim.

"My fourth question: Is it the one who just escaped?"

Misha looked in the direction where Hino Jinsaku escaped. Just as Misha intended to dash out, Kanzaki grabbed her shoulder.

"Hold on, since we're aiming for the same thing, why don't we act together?"

"My fifth question: What benefits does this have to me?"

"Let me ask you then? Do you specialize in hunting humans? Are these tools on you famous interrogation tools of the tower of London? We locals don't use such things; an ordinary axe is still better than a gold or silver one."

Kanzaki continued.

"You people at the Russian Orthodox Church should specialize in exorcism, right? Hunting humans isn't a strong point of yours, and we of the Anglican Church are good in these. With us helping you out, it shouldn't be a bad thing to you."

"...Good answer. Thank you for your proposal."

Misha stretched her small hand out. Kanzaki was stunned for a moment, before realizing that she wanted to shake hands, and then smiled as she reached her own hand out to shake hands.

While both of them were talking, Kamijou, who was beside them, asked, "Alright, what should we do now? Do we go chase after him?"

"Your enthusiasm is good, and I really want Tsuchimikado to learn from you. But right now, your job is to recover. While you recover, it's best that we guard you. We don't know what Hino wants, and it's not like he won't attack in the middle of the night while you're asleep."

Hearing Kanzaki's words, Misha said, My sixth question: Since the priority of the people that require protection is smaller, should I head out alone to hunt the suspect?"

"We don't know how strong the enemy is, so it's not a good thing to scatter our strength. In the worst case scenario, he may have obtained the power of an angel."

Misha didn't seem satisfied with that answer, but she didn't say anything else. Maybe she already regretted agreeing to work together.

However, Kanzaki ignored her and continued, "First, we have to discuss the plan with Kreutzev, and next, we have to repair the damages. Once these are done, we'll protect your safety...Tsuchimikado, why do you look so unwilling?"

Kanzaki's words made Kamijou feel that something was amiss.

Because if that was the case, they couldn't sleep. For the sake of Kamijou sleeping, they had to work hard, which Kamijou couldn't accept. Even though he was injured, that was because Kamijou hadn't paid enough attention, so he couldn't give an excuse.

Even though he thought that way, Kamijou didn't say anything, as his throat was dry and painful, as if it was burning.

At that moment, Kanzaki actually looked at Kamijou tenderly, which was completely different from her usual expression.

"We'll discuss the details with Kreutzev, and I'll tell you that later. Right now, you really need to rest. If we let ordinary civilians get hurt, it'll be really shameful on our part."

"Ya. How sad will it be if an ordinary civilian dies while the expert lives?"

Tsuchimikado said in a rare lonely tone.

Maybe those people felt like they had their own responsibilities. Kamijou sighed.

(Hm? Go...go back to my room?)

Kamijou suddenly felt that something was not right.

"Ah...AHHHHHHHHHHHH! DAMN IT! INDEX!"

An idea suddenly flashed through Kamijou's mind, and then he jumped up, contrary to the expectations for an injured person.

Abandoning the speechless people, Kamijou frantically dashed up the stairs to the second level.

The handrails of the stairs had some mysterious words carved in with a knife, but once Kamijou's right hand grabbed the handrail, he seemed to hear the sound of glass breaking. Maybe the 'empty area' spell got destroyed, but Kamijou didn't have time to care about that at all.

He wasn't going for his room, and not Mikoto's room.

Kamijou tugged hard at Kamijou Touya's room. Even if the room was locked, he intended to force the door open.

BAM! With a shocking force, the door was forced open. The lights in the room were turned off, and there were two futons on the floor.

Kamijou Touya was just about to attack Index, who was sleeping in the futon.

Of course, to Touya, the person in front of him was his wife Shiina, so he wouldn't feel guilty about it.

But to Kamijou, his almost 35-year-old father was currently attacking a probably less than 14-year-old Index. That scene couldn't even be described as weird; it was already a nightmare.

"STOP STOP STOP STOP STOP! HOLD IT RIGHT THERE!"

Kamijou completely ignored the dizziness caused by the poison left inside him as he leapt between the two futons.

Touya was shocked.

And as for Index, who was acting as his mother, she was still sleeping deeply even with this commotion.

"...(T-Touma! How can you rush in at this most awkward moment?)"

"SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP! WE'RE SLEEPING TOGETHER, THREE OF US! SURE-KILL, PARENT AND CHILD RELATIONSHIP BATTLE!"

Just like that, the midnight battle began.

Kanzaki's care for the injured wasn't effective at all, because Kamijou Touma wasn't able to sleep during the entire night.