The Legend of Level 0 in Academy City

How could I have forgotten to put it away? But who knew Misaka Mikoto would come over so early in the morning!

How am I supposed to face Misaka Mikoto now? I'll be seen as a pervert, won't I? Should I be thankful I didn't draw any doujinshi of her? Otherwise, I'd be beaten to death!

After getting dressed, Inoue Hideka saw the Tokiwadai nutritional meal set placed on the low table, which must have been brought by Misaka Mikoto.

She still has the thoughtfulness that girls should have!

After washing up, Inoue Eika sat at the low table, eating breakfast while waiting for Misaka Mikoto, wondering if she would ever come back.

Chapter Forty-Six: Automatic Bookkeeping!

After breakfast, Inoue Hideka played the piano while waiting for Misaka Mikoto. When she still hadn't seen her return by nine o'clock, Inoue Hideka gave up.

I called to ask if Saten Ruiko wanted to come over today, but I was told that she, Misaka Mikoto, Shirai Kuroko, and Uiharu Kazari were going to help someone shoot a swimsuit advertisement.

So Inoue Hideka was free again. He didn't dare to mess with Shokuhou Misaki unless necessary.

However, after what happened to Misaki Shokuhou, Inoue Hideka remembered that Academy City didn't only have one psychic ability user.

While lower-level ability users can only exert subtle manipulation of others' minds, it's unknown whether they can actually access memories.

Regardless, it's best to be cautious, so Inoue Hideka decided to find a way to interfere with the use of mental abilities.

Misaka Mikoto's method is good; releasing an electromagnetic shield around the area to counteract mental interference is something we should try to see if we can create a simulated electromagnetic shield using technology.

However, Inoue Hideka doesn't know anyone in this field, so it seems he'll have to find some time to try and ask Shokuhou Misaki for help.

It seems she has infiltrated her influence in every aspect.

Of course, Inoue Hideka never intended to develop a simulator that could interfere with the fifth level of psychological control; that was clearly unrealistic.

If it could really be researched, those people wouldn't have been manipulated by Misaki Shokuhou.

But that's not the most important thing right now. The most important thing is...

"Touma, do you know anyone who lives in a low-rise, dilapidated house? If a battle were to break out, it would be best to take place in such a place to minimize building damage and casualties. Of course, I'll cover all repair costs."

Inoue Hideka sat on the sofa in Kamijou Touma's living room and looked at Kamijou Touma, asking him a question.

Today is the last day for Index to erase her memories, and Inoue Eika arrived at Kamijou Touma's house early in the morning to make preparations.

"Hmm, let me think..." Touma Kamijou thought hard for a while and said, "As for the lower floors, the houses in the area where Moe-sensei lives seem to be two-story houses, but I don't know whether they are old or dilapidated."

"Okay, if possible, we'll move to another location tonight. Touma, tell your teacher that we'd like to borrow her room."

Inoue Hideka wasn't really concerned about the damage to the building; he was just afraid that changing the launch location of 'Dragon King's Sigh' would prevent it from hitting 'Tree Diagram Designer'.

It was just past dusk when Index began to look listless and drowsy, as if she was enduring something.

Stiyl and Kanzaki Kaori arrived at Touma Kamijou's house around 9 p.m.

"Well? Have you made up your mind?" Inoue Eika asked Kanzaki Kaori and Stiyl solemnly.

“Stiyl and I have given this serious thought. We cannot entrust her life to the unknown. We need to begin inscribing the necessary markings for the activation ceremony now. Please cooperate.”

The one who spoke was Kanzaki Kaori. Her cool voice was calm and even, without any fluctuations, indicating that she had made the decision after much consideration.

"Time..." Inoue Eika did not react excessively to Kanzaki Kaori's words. It could be said that it was expected, or it could be said that it was unexpected. He was not unable to accept this result.

Kanzaki Kaori was taken aback by what she heard, seemingly not understanding what Inoue Eika was saying.

"When will the ceremony take place?" Inoue Hideka repeated.

"12:15 a.m.," Steel said casually, a cigarette dangling from his lips.

"So, before the ceremony, you wouldn't mind letting us give it a try, would you?" Inoue Hideka's voice sounded somewhat suppressed. "You don't even have the courage to try?"

Upon hearing Inoue Hideka's words, both of them showed a look of grief in their eyes, and Stiyl even turned his head away to the side.

Kanzaki Kaori thought for a moment and then said, "Alright, but Stiyl and I will be watching from the sidelines. If anything happens that is detrimental to the ritual, we will intervene."

"Okay!" Inoue Eika nodded, then discussed the matter of moving to a different location with the two of them. Then, with Kamijou Touma carrying Index on his back, the group headed towards Tsukuyomi Komoe's house.

Tsukuyomi Komoe left after handing the key to Kamijou Touma in the afternoon. No one is home at Tsukuyomi Komoe's house now, but the room must have been cleaned thoroughly before she left.

It doesn't seem as bad as described in the original work. Although it's still messy, there aren't things like cigarette butts or beer bottles.

Kamijou Touma placed Index on the bed, while Stiyl and Kanzaki Kaori began drawing on the walls and floor. Inoue Eika was just a powerless person and could not play a role in this incident.

Therefore, it can be said that he was just there to watch the show, waiting for the final strike.

In the afternoon, Misaki Shokuhou also sent a text message to Eika Inoue, expressing her desire to help, but Eika Inoue refused, saying that if Misaki Shokuhou came, she would only be a hindrance.

After Stiyl and Kanzaki Kaori had prepared everything needed for the ceremony, it was nearly midnight. They waited to the side, signaling to Inoue Hideka and Kamijou Touma that they could begin.

"Touma, use your hands to examine Index's head. If they were going to do anything, they should do it near her brain." To avoid arousing suspicion, Inoue Hideka didn't directly mention a specific place like her throat.

“Okay!” Touma Kamijou’s expression was more serious than ever before. When he first heard that Index was going to have her memories erased, he was at a loss and panicked. It was Inoue Hideka’s gradual hints that calmed him down. Therefore, he unconditionally trusted Inoue Hideka in this matter.

Index lay quietly on the bed, seemingly asleep.

Seeing Index quiet and no longer her usual lively self, Touma clenched his fist tightly.

After carefully examining Index's head on his lap, Touma Kamijou said to Eika Inoue, "There's no reaction."

"Try the nasal cavity and throat as well."

Touma Kamijou did as instructed, prying open Index's mouth and reaching towards her throat.

"Ah!" Touma Kamijou was suddenly thrown back.

Index, who was lying on the bed, slowly floated into the air, and a strong shockwave erupted from her body, instantly shattering the door in front of her.

Floating in the air, Index emitted a mechanical voice: "Warning! Chapter 3, Section 3, Confirmation: All three barriers have been breached. Preparing to regenerate... Failed! Regeneration is no longer possible. To protect the 103,000-volume library, priority will be given to engaging the intruders... Initiating the activation of the specific magic 'Saint George Sanctuary' to destroy the intruders!"

As Index spoke, a crimson array gradually lit up on her body.

Stiyl and Kanzaki Kaori stared at Index in surprise, not understanding why she could use magic!

Inoue Hideka hurriedly retreated, leaving the battlefield to the two magicians and Imagine Breaker Touma Kamijou. He was here today for only one thing: to prevent the tragedy. He would leave the fighting to Touma and the magicians.

Chapter Forty-Seven: On Methods of Avoiding the Dragon King's Killing Breath

Inoue Hideka kept watching from a place unaffected by the fighting.

Seeing the two mages momentarily stunned before suddenly realizing what was happening and joining the battle, seeing Touma Kamijou destroy St. George's Domain, seeing Index unleash the Dragon King's Sigh...

Everything proceeded smoothly as in the original story, until Index was affected by Kanzaki Kaori's Seven Days and Seven Swords, her body suddenly tilted, and she shot the Dragon King's Sigh into space. Only then did Inoue Hideka breathe a slight sigh of relief.

Now for the main event, Inoue Hideka stood up straight, ready to go.

The moment the Dragon King's sigh was neutralized, white feathers began to fall from the sky. At that very moment, Inoue Hideka suddenly moved. Before Kamijou Touma's hand could touch Index, she instantly took out two small stun guns from her pocket, activated them, and quickly struck her own calf.

After having some free time yesterday, Inoue Eika did nothing but go to the store and buy a few of the same stun guns. She then began practicing them over and over in her dorm room, trying to find the right electric current that would maximize cell stimulation without causing too much damage to her calves.

Feeling the tingling sensation of the electric current running through his legs, Inoue Hideka gathered his strength slightly and then shot out.

At that moment, Touma Kamijou had already placed his hand on Index's head, but before he could even feel happy, he was swept away by an extremely fast figure.

The feathers in the sky are getting lower and lower. Although it's only been less than 3 seconds, the feathers are already almost at human height. We must run out of this area before these feathers affect our movement!

Inoue Hideka didn't have time to lead the two out of the area one by one, so she simply opened her arms, grabbed Kamijou Touma and Index under her armpits, and used the momentum to rush the two out at high speed.

"Phew!" Standing outside Tsukuyomi Komoe's dormitory, Inoue Eika breathed a sigh of relief. She was just too nervous. If she had been touched by Light Feather, even by a tiny bit, she would probably have died.

Inoue Hideka didn't want to die. He had just started dating a lovely, wifely girlfriend who was both elegant and domestic. He hadn't yet enjoyed the good things in life, and he hadn't yet slept with his girlfriend. He didn't want to go to another world in such a muddled way!

Fortunately, Touma Kamijou was spared from amnesia!

Whether or not Touma Kamijou loses his memory will not have a significant impact on the future. Given his personality, when it comes to making choices, he will still follow his heart, and his memory will not affect him much.

Inoue Hideka did this simply to help this tragic boy. It was partly due to the influence of her past life, and partly due to her responsibility as Touma Kamijou's friend in this life.

"Index!" Touma Kamijou, who had gotten up from the ground, didn't ask Inoue Eika why she had brought him out, but instead went to check on Index's condition first.

When Inoue Hideka had just tucked Index under his arm, despite the wind whistling from their rapid running, he could still faintly hear Index utter words like "Regeneration...cannot!" in her cold voice, suggesting that the collar had been damaged.

Inoue Eika walked over and looked at Index, who was lying in Kamijou Touma's arms, and said, "She should be alright now. We just need to wait for her to wake up."

Stiyl and Kanzaki Kaori also came over at this moment, their eyes filled with a complex expression of self-blame, regret, and grief as they looked at Index.

Stiyl stared at Index with a heavy heart, while Kanzaki Kaori, after recovering from her shock, solemnly thanked Inoue Hideka: "Thank you so much! If it weren't for... we almost missed the chance to save her."

"Don't worry about it, I understand. From a friend's perspective, you haven't done anything wrong!" Inoue Eika tried to persuade Kanzaki Kaori.

"Thank you! However, although it's not quite appropriate to say it like this... do you know magic?"

It's illogical that Inoue Hideka, who is on the scientific side, could sense the danger of those feathers, which is why Kanzaki Kaori asked in confusion.

"No! I just thought those feathers looked dangerous, so I... But those feathers really are dangerous, aren't they?" Inoue Eika gave a vague explanation, not mentioning at all that he had prepared the stun gun in advance. As for Aleister's reaction, Inoue Eika didn't care anymore. Since it didn't affect his plans, he probably couldn't be bothered to care, right?

“Those feathers are ‘Dragon King’s Killing Breath,’ which is as powerful as the ‘Dragon’s Strike’ of the legendary St. George’s Dragon. Touching even one feather can have serious consequences. Luckily, you brought the two of them out, otherwise the consequences would have been unimaginable.”

Kanzaki Kaori was grateful to Inoue Hideka for bringing Index out, and didn't pursue the matter further.

"Oh! That's really dangerous!"

After Inoue Hideka finished speaking, she ran to the roadside and hailed a taxi. Index needed to rest. After Kamijou Touma carried Index into the car and drove away, Inoue Hideka then spoke to the two magicians:

"Why don't you stay for a few days and get to know Index better?"

"No need. This matter isn't over yet. We need a reasonable explanation from the church. Until then, I'm leaving Index in your care." Although her voice remained cold, Kanzaki Kaori's words carried a chilling undertone.

Stiyl sat there smoking without saying a word, seemingly acknowledging what Kanzaki Kaori had said.

"Then I'll be going now. Until we meet again!"

After saying goodbye to the two, Inoue Hideka went directly to Kamijou Touma's house, where Touma's wounds still needed to be treated.

Inoue Eika also knew that going to the hospital would be better, but given Touma's personality, he would probably prefer to stay by Index's side until he sees her wake up before he feels at ease.

It was past 2 a.m. when Inoue Eika finished treating Kamijou Touma's wounds. There was nothing to do back in her dorm, so Inoue Eika simply found a guest room, asked Kamijou Touma for some bedding, and went to sleep.

At 5:30 in the morning, Inoue Hideka was woken up again by her annoying biological clock. She turned over and went back to sleep.

Not knowing how long she had slept, Inoue Eika was suddenly awakened by Touma Kamijou's screams. She opened her eyes, felt the ample light in the room, and knew that the sun was high in the sky. She got up and went outside.

Kamijou Touma, sporting a head full of bumps, was cooking in the kitchen.

It turned out that Index had been awake for a while and kept nagging Touma Kamijou to cook. However, Touma Kamijou, who had gone to bed too late last night, was relieved to see that Index was alright and wanted to sleep a little longer. As a result, the hungry Index started to gnaw on his scalp.