Kazakiri Hyouka

"Huh? N-No way... That uncle promised me that all those Level Upper users would wake up unharmed in the end." Misaka Mikoto was equally stunned upon hearing that, then refuted it somewhat uncertainly.

"Who knows what that guy is even doing!? According to what that underground operative said, that bastard uncle seems to be gathering ten thousand souls!" Shirai Kuroko shouted in anguish, venting the frustration in her heart.

"Gathering souls!? How could something like that be possible!?" Misaka Mikoto stared in utter disbelief at Rod in the center.

"Quick, Onee-sama, come stop him with me! Before he makes an irreparable mistake, there must still be a way to fix this!" Shirai Kuroko grabbed Misaka Mikoto's hand. At that moment, her only thought was to stop Rod from continuing down the wrong path.

"Wait—" Before Misaka Mikoto could react, Shirai Kuroko seized her and used teleportation toward Rod.

Around ten thousand souls gathered upon the AIM Burst, causing the once wildly agitated creature to gradually calm down. Its body slowly shrank, taking on the form of the original fetus. A pure white glow radiated from it, its features no longer hideous or terrifying. Its eyes remained closed, as though it had fallen into peaceful slumber.

The golden ring above its head gradually solidified. Seeing this, the two girls who had arrived before Rod could not help stopping in their tracks.

"What is going on?" Misaka Mikoto asked Rod, her beautiful eyes wide.

"Almost done." Rod raised a hand toward the white fetus, only for Shirai Kuroko to press it down. Like a koala, she clung to Rod's arm and hung from it.

Feeling the softness pressing against his arm, Rod fell into rare silence.

The sight left Misaka Mikoto beside them with her mouth agape, her face full of disbelief—and even despair.

"What are you doing?" Rod extended his other arm and peeled Shirai Kuroko off him. Several black lines appeared on his forehead as he asked speechlessly.

"That's my line! What did you do, you bastard!? Don't tell me you really are like one of those evil spirit mages in novels, gathering souls for some kind of sacrifice!?" Shirai Kuroko demanded through gritted teeth.

"How could it be something so low-grade? I merely made a key. I'll return it once I'm done using it." Rod shook his head with an amused smile, denying Shirai Kuroko's accusation.

"Who knows what you—ugh..." Shirai Kuroko still had no intention of letting Rod off, but she was caught off guard and failed to dodge. Rod struck the back of her neck with a chop, sending her into a deep, baby-like sleep.

"Hm? N-No, no, no..." After seeing Rod knock Shirai Kuroko out, Misaka Mikoto saw him turn expressionlessly toward her and even raise his hand in a demonstrative chopping gesture.

Misaka Mikoto first tilted her little head in confusion. Then, once she understood, she frantically shook her head, her refusal unmistakable.

"Then take Kuroko away." Rod tossed Shirai Kuroko to Misaka Mikoto, making the latter's temple twitch slightly.

He actually called Kuroko by her name, even though he's never called me by mine.

"What's wrong?" Rod asked in confusion when Misaka Mikoto did not move.

"Nothing... It's just... my... my na..." Misaka Mikoto's face reddened at his question, a dizzying blush spreading across her cheeks. Her eyes turned into spirals, showing that she had reached the absolute limit of embarrassment.

"Na? Name? Sigh... Then I'll leave Kuroko to you, Mikoto." After giving it some thought, Rod understood. He sighed in amusement before speaking.

Mikoto... Mikoto... Rod's deep, magnetic voice echoed over and over in Misaka Mikoto's mind. In an instant, steam like that from boiling water burst from the top of her head.

"Yes! I understand!" Misaka Mikoto's eyes remained spirals as she dazedly carried Shirai Kuroko away.

"Yare yare daze~" Rod sighed, then refocused his attention on the "key."

His hand seized the white fetus, and the spell activated. Boundless white radiance suddenly enveloped the space.

It seemed as though a long time had passed, yet it also seemed to have lasted only an instant.

His consciousness arrived in an identical scene. Yet this scene differed from reality. If he had to describe it, the sight before Rod now was as illusory and unreal as a mirage.

The space Rod had entered was called the Imaginary Number District: Five Elements Agency.

The true nature of the Imaginary Number District was the AIM Diffusion Field naturally emitted by the 2.3 million students of Academy City. It existed in a phase different from that of humanity. Completely overlapping with Academy City, every blade of grass and tree here resembled a projection of the city.

"You're here, aren't you, Kazakiri Hyouka?"

The moment those words fell, the figure of a girl gradually condensed before him. She had long black hair tinged slightly brown, extending roughly to her thighs. A lock of straight hair beside her ear was tied with a rubber hair tie and stuck out to the side.

She wore a pair of thin-framed glasses that gave her an intellectual air, though for some reason they had slipped down slightly. Her neat features were obscured by those somewhat unfashionable large glasses, and her face was completely free of makeup. She had a lovely figure, with ample breasts enough to suffocate any kitten buried in them.

Behind her glasses were a pair of trembling beautiful eyes, cautiously watching Rod like a startled little rabbit. She possessed a quality that made people want to bully her, somewhat like Uiharu Kazari.

"Y-You are...?" Kazakiri Hyouka asked tremblingly.

"Rod. I came specifically to see you. Let's make a deal. I can give you a body—a living body that can freely interact with others. In return, I need to plant a bomb in your core." Rod's utterly straightforward words left the girl completely dumbfounded.

What was that supposed to mean? Plant a bomb in her core? And he just said it so bluntly? Kazakiri Hyouka's head filled with question marks.

"Have you made up your mind?" Rod continued asking, making the already confused Kazakiri Hyouka panic even more.

"W-Wait, that's not right, is it? Planting a bomb is... is very dangerous!" Kazakiri Hyouka no longer even knew what she was saying. Yet at the thought that she might leave this illusory city, stand alive beneath the sunlight, and enjoy everything she had once longed for, ripples spread through her heart.

"Then forget it." Rod casually waved a hand, seemingly preparing to leave.

"Please wait..." In her panic, Kazakiri Hyouka hurriedly reached for Rod's arm, but the instant she touched it, her own arm passed straight through. There was no substance to it.

"Now then, make your choice, girl." Words like a demon's whisper sounded beside her ear. An alluring blush spread across the girl's cheeks, while wisps of mist filled her beautiful eyes.