Is Ability Level Really Important?

At that moment, Uiharu Kazari received a phone call that disrupted the cheerful atmosphere. Saten Ruiko, as in the original story, had used the [Level Upper], and along with her three friends, they were all affected, with one already unconscious.

This was not unexpected by Selene. In Academy City, is the level of superpowers important? The answer is yes. Academy City is very realistic; the strength and potential of your ability level basically determine the level of support you receive from above and even your social status within the city.

Don't talk about how this violates human rights equality; the Board of Directors isn't running a charity. Even though they publicly claim to treat all students equally, in reality, those with lower-level abilities face very different situations—those who understand, understand.

Moreover, after spending a lot of time with two Level 5 superpowered individuals, Saten Ruiko's longing for superpowers is certainly greater than in the original story.

In this regard, Selene cannot persuade or has no way to persuade her. She cannot stand on high ground and criticize those who aspire to higher peaks. Even well-intentioned advice might come off as very hypocritical.

More importantly, Saten Ruiko's use of [Level Upper] may not necessarily be a bad thing...

"How could this happen, Saten, calm down... It's not just me. There's also Shirai, Misaka-senpai, Selene-senpai, and many others who don't care about these things. Saten, where are you? I'll come over right away..." Hearing that Saten Ruiko was also affected, Uiharu Kazari was extremely anxious and was about to rush over because Saten was her important friend.

"...Saten, believe me, you'll be fine..."

"Let me handle this." Selene quickly took hold of the panicked Uiharu Kazari, indicating that everything was under control, and took the phone from her hand.

"Hello, Saten? This is Selene."

"...Ah, Selene-senpai?" On the other end of the line, hearing Selene's voice, Saten Ruiko fell silent.

After a while, Saten Ruiko spoke again, her voice very low, "Um, senpai... You know about my situation, right... Senpai, do you think superpower levels are important in Academy City?"

"If I say it's not important, would you believe me? In Academy City, the answer is definitely yes. Superpower levels are very important. They determine your income, the level of education you receive, the amount of official support you can get, and even to some extent, your social status..."

In response to Saten Ruiko's question, Selene did not offer comfort but instead spoke the truth.

As soon as Selene finished speaking, she startled the trio who were eavesdropping nearby, causing them to gesture frantically and whisper, "Hey, Selene, take it easy. Is this how you comfort someone?!"

"Just as I thought..." On the other end of the line, hearing the answer, Saten Ruiko's voice became even lower, "Are powerless people defective? Or is this my punishment for desiring power? Did I cause harm to my friends...?"

"Well, you could say that. Considering social reality and the fact that others got involved, it does seem that way." After speaking, Selene quickly reassured the nearly panicked trio that she knew what she was doing, "But it's not all bad..."

"Actually, although Level 0 is called powerless, it doesn't mean there's truly no ability. It's just that the brain's computational power isn't enough to manifest their superpowers. So personally, I support your use of [Level Upper]."

"Eh?! You mean..." Saten Ruiko's voice fluctuated with disbelief, "But isn't that cheating?"

"Yes, it's cheating—a shortcut. From my perspective as a Level 5, this kind of thing is really not worth much..." Selene interrupted Saten Ruiko, paused, and continued, "But this is only in comparison to high-level ability users like us. It still has certain benefits for low-level ability users."

"[Level Upper] can indeed raise your ability level; that's undeniable. Although it has a low ceiling and there are side effects, you already know that."

"Then..." Saten Ruiko asked in surprise, "Why do you support my use of [Level Upper], senpai?"

"This is the key point: except for the side effect of unconsciousness, using [Level Upper] is actually beneficial for low-level users." Saying this, Selene couldn't help but laugh, "Think about it, even if your abilities fade later, having experienced a higher level of power gives you an advantage over those who started from scratch."

"Any statement about harm that doesn't consider applicable range and dosage is irresponsible."

"Then... Senpai, are you saying..." Saten Ruiko's voice now had a hint of joy, completely different from her previous despair as if she had found hope, "Can I normally improve my level in the future?!"

"Exactly! But you'll need to rediscover that feeling to gradually enhance your abilities..." Selene replied, "However, I believe that Saten will surely make good use of this opportunity."

"As for the rest, you don't have to worry. Even if you do fall unconscious, aren't you confident with me around? Just take it as a good nap!"

Returning the phone to Uiharu Kazari, Selene let out a deep sigh and wiped the virtual sweat from her forehead. Comforting people is more exhausting than fighting.

"Wow, Selene-senpai, you're amazing..." Having the speakerphone on, everyone heard that Saten Ruiko's emotions had returned to normal. Uiharu Kazari was stunned as she took back the phone, and then she became extremely surprised.

Thinking about Selene's words, she got excited, "Maybe I should use [Level Upper] too... Eek! What are you doing, Shirai?!"

Before she could finish, Uiharu Kazari, lost in her imagination, was brought back to reality by a karate chop from Shirai Kuroko, "Come on, Uiharu, don't make things more complicated."

"Hmm... Make things more complicated? You're just afraid I'll surpass you..."

"Huh?!"

"Uh... Nothing, I'm going to find Saten now..." Uiharu Kazari quickly ran off under Shirai Kuroko's deadly gaze before she could finish her retort.

At that moment, without anyone noticing, Selene quietly added a safeguard on Uiharu Kazari.

"Sigh!" Watching Uiharu Kazari run off, Shirai Kuroko shook her head helplessly, but, "When did this happen with Saten..."

Shirai Kuroko was not aware of what had just happened. She had been busy dealing with students causing trouble using [Level Upper] and had been too occupied to pay much attention to Saten Ruiko's situation.

"That day was partly my fault," Misaka Mikoto sighed lightly, hearing this. "That afternoon, I noticed her mood was a bit off, so I went to find Saten and comfort her. But... is the level of ability really that important?"