By the time Morpheus returned Misaka Mikoto to the real-world Academy City, the day had shifted from morning to evening.
After bidding farewell to a flustered Misaka Mikoto, Morpheus left Tokiwadai Middle School.
He strolled through the streets outside Academy City, taking in the city's nightlife.
It wasn't much different from other cities' nights.
Bright lights, bustling streets with people coming and going.
Except most of these people were students; adults were rare.
After all, in a city of 2.3 million, 1.8 million were students, so adults were less common on the streets.
Just as Morpheus was about to head home, a small girl in a nun's outfit rushed out of an alley, crashing into him with a thud.
Morpheus was unfazed, but the girl staggered, nearly falling to the ground.
Quick on his feet, Morpheus grabbed her before she hit the ground, steadying her.
The girl had waist-length silver hair, green eyes, and snow-white skin.
She looked about fourteen or fifteen, but compared to the average height for her age, she was slightly petite, giving a younger impression.
Though small and light, her body temperature seemed slightly higher than normal.
Despite wearing no perfume, her skin emitted a faint, sweet fragrance.
She wore a pure white silk nun's robe with gold embroidery, extravagantly luxurious.
It looked like an ankle-length dress, but her headpiece was distinct, wrapped in cloth rather than a typical nun's habit.
Normally, nun robes are black, but hers was pure white, adorned with gold embroidery at every edge, reminiscent of a fine teacup.
With one glance, Morpheus confirmed her identity.
Well, well—this was Index.
Knowing her identity, Morpheus recognized her outfit as the Walking Church.
This robe incorporated the bare minimum elements of a "church," essentially a "church in the form of clothing," hence the name Walking Church.
The fabric's weave, stitching, and embroidery were meticulously calculated, perfectly replicating the Shroud of Turin—the cloth that wrapped a saint pierced by the Lance of Longinus.
Thus, the Walking Church's strength was papal-grade, or in scientific terms, nuclear-grade.
Its barrier rivaled the Great Cathedral of London, unbreakable unless the legendary Dragon of Saint George returned.
No physical or magical attack could penetrate it.
The Walking Church relied on magical energy to function as an ultimate defensive barrier, but its "otherworldly power" made it easily detectable by magicians, leaving Index vulnerable to pursuit.
So even when chased, Index could remain unharmed.
However, in the original plot, this robe was destroyed by Touma Kamijou's Imagine Breaker.
With critical seams undone, it was held together by large safety pins.
Though it lost its defensive function, it became quite breathable.
But why was she crashing into him instead of meeting Touma Kamijou?
Did Aleister mess with the script?
That shouldn't be possible. With Morpheus's current power, Aleister couldn't scheme against him.
Perhaps this was just pure coincidence?
"Sorry, sorry!"
Index snapped back, rubbing her sore nose and apologizing to Morpheus.
"I was running too fast and didn't watch where I was going. Please forgive me."
"No problem," Morpheus waved it off. "It's just a small thing. But you're in such a hurry—someone chasing you?"
Index shook her head. "Sorry, I can't say."
She had no intention of dragging a bystander like Morpheus into her mess. She moved to bypass him and continue fleeing.
But Morpheus grabbed her arm. Index froze.
"Come with me."
Morpheus led her toward a deserted area, soon arriving at an empty park.
Index, alarmed, said, "We shouldn't be here. We need to leave quickly."
"Don't worry. With me here, no one can hurt you."
Morpheus patted his chest, assuring Index. Since he'd run into her today, it was fate. And when fate called, he'd handle what needed handling.
Besides, he had nothing better to do.
"Big talk."
As soon as Morpheus spoke, a mocking voice came from behind.
Under the bright moonlight, a man and a woman emerged from the shadows.
The man was tall, with shoulder-length red hair, fingers adorned with large silver rings, ears studded with earrings, and a barcode-like tattoo under his right eye. Dressed in an exaggerated priest outfit, he reeked of cologne and nicotine.
This was one of Index's pursuers.
Stiyl Magnus.
A rune magician from the Necessarius, the Church of Necessary Evil. A genius who fully analyzed the 24 existing runes and developed six new ones with unique powers, excelling particularly in fire magic.
But here's the kicker—he was only fourteen, around Index's age.
Still a minor.
Honestly, when Morpheus learned his age, he had the same expression as a certain bandit leader.
This guy's eight?
No, this guy's fourteen?
He looked way too mature.
Morpheus's gaze shifted from Stiyl to the woman.
Waist-length black hair tied in a ponytail.
A Japanese sword, called a "Reitou," hung at her waist, sheathed. It was used in Shinto rain-making rituals, over two meters long.
But calling her a "japanese beauty" didn't quite fit.
She wore old jeans and a white short-sleeved T-shirt.
For some reason, the left leg of her jeans was completely missing up to the thigh.
Her T-shirt's excess fabric was tied at the waist, exposing her navel.
She wore knee-high boots, with the sword tucked into a leather belt. She looked like a sheriff from a Western, except her gun was a Japanese sword.
The woman said nothing, staring coldly at Morpheus with clear killing intent in her eyes.
***
Bonus Chapter:
100 Power Stones = 1 BC
300 Power Stones = 2 BC
500 Power Stones = 3 BC
700 Power Stones = 4 BC
1000 Power Stones = 5 BC
***
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