Ren Isana looked at the elbow placed inside the glass case, his face full of question marks. *Is this freaking Kamijou Touma?* Ren couldn't help but lean in for a closer look.
After probing it slightly with his `[Perception Ability]`, Ren was astonished to find that he couldn't sense anything at all. Even though the object was right in front of him, looking like an ordinary arm, it also didn't quite feel like one. It was a very strange sensation.
*It shouldn't be what I think it is, right?* If it really was Kamijou Touma's arm, it shouldn't have been tossed into their world. After all, this thing was the backup record of the Magic Gods. If it were lost, they would probably notice it immediately, right?
If that were truly the case, then the world Ren and the others inhabited wouldn't be able to stay hidden from that side. Those Magic Gods might have slipped over a long time ago, considering this was a world connected to many others.
Ren didn't believe they wouldn't be interested. After observing it for a while and failing to figure out anything useful, he simply ignored it. *Whatever it is, it is. It doesn't really have much to do with me.*
Besides, if it really came down to dealing with those Magic Gods, it wouldn't be Ren stepping up to the plate. Pandora would handle those matters when the time came. With these thoughts in mind, Ren prepared to step into the world of *A Certain Magical Index*.
Because he had Pandora's permission, the power of the world sealing the Dimensional Rift slowly dissipated as Ren approached. With the obstruction gone, he easily stepped into the dimensional passage.
Ren passed through the tunnel, but when he reappeared, he found himself in a pitch-black room. There was no light whatsoever, nor were there any ventilation ducts. *A completely sealed room?*
Just as this thought crossed his mind, a figure suddenly appeared out of thin air. Ren's gaze was immediately drawn to her—a young woman with crimson twin-tails, so poor she could only wrap her chest in bandages.
*Awaki Musujime, huh? So this place is Aleister's Windowless Building?* While Ren was pondering this, Awaki spoke up. "Guest, our boss invites you in!"
Hearing her words, Ren activated his `[Perception Ability]` and quickly located Aleister. The moment Ren sensed him, the other party was also looking right back at him. They exchanged a glance, and Ren vanished from his spot.
"Go about your business. I'll head over myself." Without the slightest spatial fluctuation, Ren's figure disappeared, leaving Awaki stunned.
She fell silent for a moment before her own figure vanished as well. Since the other party was also a spatial esper, he naturally didn't need her to guide him. She was well aware of how this little dark room worked.
However, the more she knew, the more depressed she felt. She had escorted plenty of people out of this room before. As for where they came from, she didn't know, nor did she dare to ask. She just needed to do her job.
Ren appeared directly in front of Aleister. Looking at the man suspended inside the glass tube, Ren was just about to speak when the other party beat him to it. "Fascinating. To think someone has already grown to this stage. What do you make of him, Aiwass?"
As his voice fell, an angel radiating light appeared before Ren and said, "Quite fascinating indeed. And he walks the path of space and time—not the artificially accelerated kind. He has converged all the versions of himself across parallel timelines into a single entity."
Ren had only just arrived, yet Aleister and Aiwass were already pointing fingers and analyzing him. Moreover, they seemed to know exactly what was going on in Ren's world. Realizing this made Ren feel a bit annoyed.
"You two are incredibly rude, pointing and gossiping about people right to their faces!" Ren stared at the duo, utterly speechless, though inwardly he was somewhat shocked. *These two are seriously strong.*
*Especially Aiwass. Are the Magic Gods at this level too? Or are they even stronger?* Regardless, he would have to tread carefully in this world!
"No, we are merely marveling. After all, I have cooperated with her for so many years, and she has only just produced results. This gives me even more confidence in how things will develop from here. Although I am destined to fail, it is enough that others succeed." As Aleister said this, a smile spread across his face.
Listening to his words, Ren had no desire to offer any commentary. He immediately stated, "Pandora told me to pass on a message: in a little while, she will be able to deal with those Magic Gods."
He couldn't be bothered to overthink it; he just needed to deliver Pandora's message. Ren didn't need to worry about the rest—that was Pandora's business.
"She gave herself a name? Not bad. So, what is your purpose in coming to this world?" A flash of pleasant surprise crossed Aleister's eyes before he shifted his focus back to Ren.
Why would someone so powerful come here? Ren's level of strength was by no means weak in this world; in fact, he would rank among the top existences globally.
"Just here to play around, and to learn a bit about this world while I'm at it. After all, I've been quite curious ever since I learned about this place from over there," Ren stated his intentions with complete calm.
He really didn't have any grand ulterior motives for coming to this world. He was genuinely just here to have fun—or rather, to check out the girls? He wanted to see Biri-biri, Mental Out, and Judgment, and find out whether Accelerator was the cute Suzushina Yuriko or the usual vector-manipulating edgelord. These were the things Ren truly wanted to know.
Hearing this, a hint of surprise flashed through Aleister's eyes. He pondered for a moment before speaking up. "Very well. If you have nothing else to do, you could get in touch with a friend of mine. Perhaps you could teach him a few things from your world?"
As Aleister said this, a strange glint flickered in his eyes. *Here to play around, is he? Then it shouldn't be a problem for him to help look after my friend, right?* That good friend of his was a very crucial piece on the board.
Listening to the man's words, a giant question mark slowly formed in Ren's mind. *Your friend? What freaking friends do you even have? Don't tell me it's Touma? You want me to help teach him?*
"Your side needs knowledge from our side? I suppose that's doable!" Although it felt a bit bizarre, Ren agreed to the proposal. He wanted to see exactly what this guy was plotting.
"He is somewhat special. He cannot learn the esper abilities or the magic of our world. If possible, I hope you can instruct him so that he might gain some means of self-preservation," Aleister explained calmly.
Those words confirmed it for Ren—it was definitely Touma. *Aleister wants me to teach Touma how to master powers from another world? Or is this just an experiment?* A myriad of doubts swirled in his mind, but after a moment of thought, Ren agreed.
After all, if he stuck around Touma, he might just run into Index. The thing that interested Ren the most in this world was the Index Librorum Prohibitorum. Since he was already here, it would be a waste not to copy it, right?
"No problem. I'll teach him a few things about our world. I'm actually quite interested in someone who can't learn magic or esper abilities."
Ren agreed with a beaming smile.
The two sides struck a deal right then and there. As for the compensation, Aleister didn't specify, but either way, Ren definitely wouldn't be shortchanged!
Power Stones, reviews, and comments— really helps a lot
Want to read ahead? Get access to 50+ extra chapters on my Patreon:
patreon.com/Aragai_Sama