"Kanzaki, where've you been?"
The sun had set. Academy City's neon lights kept it bright as day. At the city's edge, technically still within its borders, atop a high-rise, a man in a priest's coat with fiery red hair spoke, cigarette in mouth.
"Visiting old friends… Never mind that, Stiyl, where's Index now?"
Kanzaki Kaori, former Pontiff of Amakusa-Style Remix of Church, member of the Anglican Church's Necessarius, and one of the world's twenty Saints.
Beside her, Stiyl—full name Stiyl Magnus—also of Necessarius, a prodigious magician. Despite his tall, mature appearance, he was only fourteen.
"Hurry up. We can't let Academy City notice. Recover… Index, quickly!"
Kanzaki paused, a flicker of sorrow in her eyes, before speaking firmly.
"Sure about that, Kanzaki? Why not… let her have a bit more fun?"
"…"
Kanzaki fell silent at Stiyl's words, pondering.
This was the science side's stronghold—dangerous for her and Stiyl. As a Saint, one of only twenty worldwide, she was confident, but operating in enemy territory carried risks. Index, the Index Librorum Prohibitorum, should be retrieved swiftly.
But…
"Wait… someone's approaching Index. Kanzaki, get ready!"
A figure contacting Index at night wasn't necessarily an enemy, but warranted close attention.
…
Grumble~
"Ah~ I'm so hungry!"
At night, under neon lights, a small girl in a white nun's outfit clutched her stomach, trudging slowly.
Her waist-length silver hair glimmered, her nun's habit adorned with golden embroidery, looking luxurious. Her skin was snow-white, her features sweet and adorable.
But now, the cute girl seemed troubled, her face etched with distress.
"So hungry!"
"Yo~ Nun-chan, need some help?"
Samuel emerged from the shadows, a gentle smile on his face, beginning his "rescue" of the girl.
"Eh! You're an esper?"
Sensing no magical aura, Index eyed Samuel warily.
Still, the absence of magic kept her from fleeing outright.
"I'm Samuel, a Judgment officer in this city—think of me as a cop. I patrol at night and often help lost kids like you. I heard you're hungry and seem to have nowhere to stay. Wanna come to my place? It's pretty spacious."
His words flowed smoothly.
"Hm… sounds suspicious… something's off… Um, sir, I'll pass…"
"Haha, no worries. If you don't want to come, that's fine. But if you do, I can take you to the supermarket for some food."
"!!! Food?! Okay, I'll go…"
At the mention of food, Index's emerald-green eyes sparkled, making her seem even more ethereal.
"Great! Let's go!"
…
"That man's suspicious… Kanzaki?"
"No need to worry. Index has the highest-grade defensive spell, the Walking Church. Espers shouldn't be able to touch it…"
"Not necessarily~"
The world dimmed, cloaked in a temporary phase. Everything seemed unchanged, yet all was tinged gray.
Only Kanzaki, Stiyl, and that figure retained color.
"What… what is that?"
Stiyl stared in disbelief at the figure floating above, a humanoid shape barely held together by light.
Golden radiance formed its form, with twisting wings of light stretching endlessly.
Its visage was indistinct, its mere presence pressing on their minds.
"An… angel…"
Kanzaki, a Saint and former Amakusa Pontiff, gazed in awe.
It was an indescribable mystery, a being of higher existence than a born Saint. Its presence alone made the phase tremble.
"How… how can an angel be in a place like Academy City?"
Stiyl stared, incredulous.
"It is an angel… or rather, a being of higher existence than humans. But how did it descend here… and why Academy City?"
Kanzaki was certain, though baffled, of the entity's rank.
Her hand instinctively gripped her katana's hilt, sweat beading on her slender palm, an indescribable pressure weighing on her.
It was the Leumas—while Samuel's main body "rescued" the little grimoire, his avatar dealt with her pursuers.
Samuel's gaze swept over Kanzaki.
Long black hair tied in a ponytail reached her waist, her tall frame and fair skin striking. A Western-style belt held a surprisingly long Japanese katana. Her T-shirt was knotted at the waist, exposing her navel. Her jacket's right arm was cut off at the shoulder, and her jeans were sliced from the left thigh down, exuding bold allure.
"You… know me?"
The existential pressure forced Kanzaki's body to yield instinctively. A primal "concept" from her blood and soul stifled any intent to fight or kill.
"This is an angel?"
"I know you… Itsuwa told me!"
"Itsuwa?"
Kanzaki recalled a quiet girl from her former sect, Amakusa-Style Remix of Church.
She remembered the current Pontiff's warning upon her return.
"The former Pontiff must beware a man in Academy City. We know little, only that he wields great power and is… very strong. Itsuwa is with him now. His name is…"
"Samuel?"
"That's me. Tatemiya Saiji warned you, right? Told you to be cautious, though he doesn't know my true strength. Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Samuel, a member of Academy City's Board of Directors, Level 6, the Listener of Divine Will! And here, I declare my victory!"
***
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