Saint

As Zhang Qi calmly recited an ancient incantation, the mercury seemed to come alive.

It swiftly formed a smooth, mirror-like circular barrier before the two of them, perfectly blocking the path of the invisible slash.

The razor-sharp force capable of tearing through asphalt struck the mercury barrier, yet it vanished like a mud ox sinking into the sea after sending ripples across its surface.

"Wha—what—what?!!!"

Touma Kamijou's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.

He stared blankly at the shield made of liquid metal before him, then turned in disbelief toward the ever-composed physics teacher behind him.

Magic? Mr. Zhang Qi—could actually use magic like this?

Although Mr. Zhang Qi had been discussing occult knowledge with Index these past two days, could magic really be learned that quickly?

"Just as I thought—"

Unlike Touma Kamijou's shock, the black-haired woman's expression became unprecedentedly grave the instant she saw the strange mercury spell. Her grip on her sword tightened unconsciously, her gaze sharp as an eagle's.

Judging from the structure of the spell, what he had used was neither magic based on the Christian theological system nor any school belonging to the English Puritan Church or its allies that she knew of.

That meant the man whom the spiky-haired boy called "teacher" was a magician from some unknown faction.

Since he was an unrelated third party and intended to interfere with the retrieval of Index Librorum Prohibitorum, then—there was no need for her to hold back any longer.

"Seven Flash!"

Her cool voice rang through the deathly silent alley without a trace of emotion.

The next moment, Kaori Kanzaki made her move along with those words. She did not swing her sword. Instead, she slightly spread her fingers.

Countless steel wires, nearly impossible to catch with the naked eye, extended from her