The Indifferent Selene

"What if I say no?" Although Selene's face remained expressionless, her heart was torn by the hopeful looks from Misaka Mikoto and Uiharu Kazari.

"Save?" "Not save?"

In her mind, a devilish Selene with bat wings suddenly appeared. The devil told Selene, "Just pretend you didn't see anything! What does it have to do with you? Even if you experimented on her, she should consider it an honor. Helping her would be such a hassle! Just get back to what you were doing!"

At that moment, an angelic Selene with yellow wings appeared on the other side. She told Selene, "As a friend, how can you be indifferent to a friend's call for help? Besides, you used her—how can you just walk away like a 'jerk' and leave it at that?"

Selene's thoughts wavered between the angel and the devil, and as the two little figures bickered, she started to get a headache.

...

But reflecting on her ultimate goal, wasn't it all about becoming stronger, gaining power? Why was she feeling so constrained?

Naivety must have its limits. Up until now, she'd played along because there were no conflicts of interest, but they shouldn't mistake her for their babysitter.

Perhaps due to the influence of her past life, she ended up befriending them, and dealing with these so-called friends' problems was already her limit. They shouldn't push their luck; their friends weren't her "friends."

Ultimately, rational thinking prevailed, and Selene coldly said, "This has nothing to do with me... If you want to help, go ahead... It's none of my business!"

Though from an emotional standpoint, helping seemed the only choice—with the influence of her past life's correct values, her classmates' pleading, and the stirring deep within her heart...

But from a rational perspective, Selene was purely a creature of interest.

A focus on self-interest is the right approach; not helping is the best option. The benefits Kihara Gensei provided were substantial, and not contradicting the Board of Directors' decisions, of which she was a member, ensured her the most continued benefit. Saving Kiyama Harumi and her students offered no return, and might even cost her.

As the Herrscher's consciousness increasingly influenced her, Selene's mindset grew colder, her indifference to life intensifying daily. Apart from those she knew well, others became increasingly insignificant in her eyes.

"Why should I help her? This is a decision approved by the Board of Directors. As a director, how can I lead by breaking the decision passed?" Selene said coldly.

"..." Hearing this, Uiharu Kazari lowered her head slowly. Yes... she was indeed wrong, taking advantage of being Selene's friend to make her do something against her own interest. "I'm really selfish!"

Selene looked at her without speaking.

At this point, Kiyama Harumi's emotions were no longer agitated. She looked calmly at Uiharu Kazari, "Thank you for thinking of me. Don't worry, just live well in this cold city; everything is already over..."

"Yes, the farce is over."

After hearing Selene's words, Kiyama Harumi gave up. She sat down as if all the strength had been drained from her body, collapsing to the ground to Misaka Mikoto's cry.

"Professor Kiyama?" Uiharu Kazari reached out, intending to help Kiyama Harumi, trying to get her away from the "dangerous building."

Faced with Uiharu Kazari's gentle inquiry, Kiyama Harumi didn't respond, and a gentle snore that followed proved she had fallen into sleep.

"Don't touch her. This should be a side effect of her overusing the Imaginary Network."

Just as Uiharu Kazari was about to touch Kiyama Harumi, Selene coldly stopped her. Selene knew that Kiyama Harumi was definitely not feeling well at the moment.

Her physical issues were more than just aftereffects. She had been fighting non-stop, first against Misaka Mikoto, then attacked by Mugino Shizuri, and finally encountering Kakine Teitoku.

After all this fighting, she had somehow held on. Selene could only say that Kiyama Harumi's willpower was strong; saving her students had almost become her lifelong obsession.

Meanwhile, on the other side, a few Anti-Skill officers who had finished bandaging their wounds quickly approached, ready to formally arrest Kiyama Harumi.

Noticing their painful expressions as they walked, Selene frowned slightly.

Healing Magic!

In Selene's hand, a pure white ball of light began to gather, emitting a soft glow that was very comforting, easing the weariness of the body.

The next moment, as Selene waved her hand, the white healing light expanded instantly, enveloping the Anti-Skill officers who were bandaging their wounds and, at the same time, covering Kiyama Harumi, who was lying on the ground.

The Anti-Skill officers were shocked to see the healing barrier enveloping them. In an instant, the officers, who were groaning in pain from their wounds, stopped their "hissing," and their furrowed brows gradually relaxed.

The wounds from the battle were covered with a thin layer of white light.

Moments later, the wounds began to heal, and apart from their battle-worn, dusty uniforms, they no longer showed signs of injury.

Even Yomikawa Aiho, surprised by her healed wounds, was shocked, having never heard of a healing ability in Academy City. "What... kind of ability is this?"

Looking at Selene's figure, which seemed divine yet demonic and impossible to look at directly, Yomikawa Aiho murmured, "To have such a group healing ability... it's unimaginable, Level 5's Number One..."

Selene looked coldly at the sleeping Kiyama Harumi, saying coolly, "Kiyama Harumi is fine now. I've already repaired the physical damage, and as for her mental fatigue, it's up to her."

Although her face remained expressionless, Selene still admired Kiyama Harumi in her heart. Her willpower was truly remarkable, whether it was enduring damage from battles with various Level 5s or the excruciating pain from the Honkai strengthening serum.

But that was all. Selene could only see her as a good teacher.

Her experiences had nothing to do with Selene. As for Uiharu Kazari and Misaka Mikoto wanting to help her, they could do as they wished. Selene did not intend to interfere.

"Hey, you can arrest her now." Saying this, after removing part of her visible Herrscher armor, Selene clapped her hands and turned to the Anti-Skill officers not far away.

"Oh, understood!" The timid and hesitant Haruue Erii stood up straight and saluted, responding instinctively to Selene's command.

"But..." Seeing the Anti-Skill officers about to arrest Kiyama Harumi, Uiharu Kazari wanted to say something but was stopped by Shirai Kuroko.

"Enough, Uiharu!" By then, Shirai Kuroko had finished giving her statement inside the Anti-Skill vehicle and came out, placing a hand on Uiharu Kazari's shoulder and speaking with a blank expression, "I don't know why you care about her so much, but what Kiyama Harumi did unquestionably warrants arrest. You can't deny that."

Hearing this, Uiharu Kazari calmed down. As a Judgment member, she couldn't break the rules, and this wouldn't change just because she liked Kiyama Harumi.

Watching as the Anti-Skill officers took the unconscious Kiyama Harumi away, Misaka Mikoto and Uiharu Kazari had complex expressions, while Shirai Kuroko remained unfazed due to her lack of fondness for Kiyama Harumi.

After everything was settled, Selene looked at the two "little ones" deep in thought and said blandly, "It's over. Do you have anything to say?"