The Legend of Level 0 in Academy City

What good would it do to go back?

Does that world truly contain anything worth her longing for and cherishing?

……

I don't know.

So in the end, what exactly did Othinus, the demon god who stood at the pinnacle of magic, desire...?

Euthinus was briefly lost in confusion.

Seeing that Euthinus remained silent, Inoue Hideka gently prompted, "Euthinus, how long have you existed?"

"Huh?" Othinus didn't understand why Inoue Eika was asking her age at this time, but after a moment of surprise, she still answered.

Because the answer doesn't require thought, nor is it a secret—"I...don't know."

Yes.

Euthinus had forgotten how long she had existed. After all, she had even forgotten what the world she once lived in looked like, so how could she possibly remember how long she had lived?

"So, don't you feel lonely? In the long years that you've even forgotten about time, haven't you ever thought... if only someone could be there for you?"

Inoue Hideka also experienced years that even time itself seemed to have forgotten.

If he didn't constantly replay certain important, necessary tasks in his mind, he probably wouldn't even remember who Saten Ruiko is now.

Therefore, Inoue Hideka was able to understand to some extent what Euthinus desired.

It's nothing more than—

“It’s the One Who Understands… right?” Guided by Inoue Eika’s words, Othinus finally remembered what saved him in the book called “A Certain Magical Index”.

But does such a thing really exist?

Euthinus asked himself this question.

And even if it could have existed before, it's impossible now after what happened, right?

If the boy in front of you is showing you what will happen in the future, then knowing your future self, you would never do the same thing again.

Of course, it's impossible for them to eventually understand each other over a long period of time.

So what should I do now?

If the ultimate goal of this plan is to become a 15cm figure and live with a boy who has never truly become an understanding person, then what is the point of what we are doing now?

So, in the end, what I should do now is change my plans and achieve my goal in another way?

So the question comes back again: what exactly do I want?

If he were an interpreter, that would be impossible now, unless another Touma Kamijou appears.

If it's about returning to one's original world, then what is the meaning of returning to one's original world?

Moreover, putting all that aside, in the memories of this young man, there is not only one demon god in this world, but also other demon gods in a hidden world unknown to him.

They couldn't possibly condone their own reckless behavior, could they?

However, all of this is based on the premise that what the boy showed him was true.

Then came a series of questions.

If what he showed me was all fake, then should I just kill this boy who was disturbing my mind?

But the truth is, not all of those things are false. The future is unverifiable, but what has already happened, including many of my own secrets and deeds that I have never made public, is all true.

Even putting those aside, the boy's personal experience and ability to foresee the future after coming to this world did indeed change many tragedies.

Among these, Othinus not only saw it from Inoue Eika's memories, but she herself also existed in this world. With her own information, she could also judge whether the things Inoue Eika changed about the future were true or not.

……

Euthinus's thoughts seemed to be stuck in a vicious cycle, endlessly circling in place.

Inoue Hideka noticed Othinus's struggle and didn't interrupt her, giving her time to calmly sort out her thoughts.

Orelus could also sense that something was off, and wisely refrained from asking any questions, even though he had many questions he wanted to ask.

for a long time.

It may not have been very long, but for Euthinus, who was struggling, it was undoubtedly a long time.

Her thoughts drifted far away, then returned, and finally, she brought them back to where they began.

Then.

For centuries, Inoue Hideka endured endless loneliness in the world he created. Even after discovering the truth, he was able to suppress his desire to return to his original world to save the girl he loved and continue onward...

What was his purpose in doing this?

Suddenly, a vision flashed through Euthinus's mind of Inoue Hideka, who had spent a long time in Europe and inquired about his own deeds in the fictional world.

……

……

……

……

……

Suddenly realizing a possibility, Euthinus abruptly raised his head and looked at Inoue Hideka in surprise!

"Why?"

Euthinus stared at Inoue Hideka in disbelief, a strange light flashing in his eyes.

Why do this? Just because... just for this...?

"If I said that my desire to become your confidant was solely to save Ruiko, would you believe me, Othinus?"

When faced with the emotionally unstable Euthinus, Inoue Hidekazu's cold and stern words to Euthinus were nothing short of ruthless.

Chapter 505 A Winding Stream Leads to Understanding

“Raiko, that girl…?” Othinus recalled the girl named Saten Ruiko from Inoue Eika’s memory, the emotion in his eyes gradually fading.

Indeed, humans are selfish.

How could anyone go to such lengths for someone completely unrelated to them?

Even if there is one, it's not the boy in front of me, but that kind-hearted Imagine Breaker who would lend a helping hand to anyone, right?

Unbeknownst to Othinus, she had already come to believe the story that Inoue Hideka had shown her.

They believed in the future where they were supposed to have an understanding person.

But now, this so-called understanding person has drifted further and further away from her, simply because Inoue Hideka showed her the future.

Even if someone who already knows the future were to follow the same path, at the same time, in the same place, with the same mindset, and face the same people, it's impossible to say whether Othinus, who already knows the future, would do the same thing at that time.

So, it is because of this human being, for his own personal gain and loss, for the girl he likes, that he has lost the understanding person he would have had.

Is that right?

Thinking this, Othinus's gaze toward Inoue Hideka gradually turned cold, and faint traces of magic emanated from her body.

Inoue Hideka gave a wry smile.

How could he not sense the changes in Euthinus? In those increasingly sharp eyes, murderous intent was brewing.

Even so, Inoue Hideka showed no intention of running away.

He looked directly at Euthinus and said to him calmly:

"So, Euthinus, aren't you going to consider making amends to that boy? Even if it hasn't happened yet, ultimately, if the same situation happened here, wouldn't he do the same for you?"

After pausing to confirm that Othinus was listening, Inoue Hideka continued:

"Or is it that only when that boy truly sacrifices for you, gets hurt, and is misunderstood and abandoned by the whole world for you, will you be willing to put down your pride and admit that he is your understanding person?"

“I…” Once again, Euthinus was rendered speechless by Inoue Hideka’s words.

It seems that since Inoue Hideka returned from the world created by Euthinus, the power of discourse has always been in Inoue Hideka's hands.

Every time Inoue Hideka spoke a word, it would greatly shock Euthinus.

Upon realizing this, Euthinus's expression softened, and he regained his previous expressionless demeanor, which exuded boundless arrogance.

She began to calm down and analyze Inoue Hideka's inner thoughts.

First, there is one point that Euthinus refuted.

Inoue Hidekazu's purpose in finding himself might simply be for that girl named Saten Ruiko, but having spent hundreds of years in the world he created, his desire to become his own understander is definitely not just what he says.

It was definitely not just to save Saten Ruiko!

Because if all the memories in his mind were true, then he could return to the real world as soon as possible, and then do what he did in the false world: go to the Underworld to seek out souls, learn magic, and become a demon god!

At that point, what's wrong with reviving Saten Ruiko?

It only delayed things a little.

But the problem is that even in the fictional world, Inoue Hideka did indeed spend hundreds of years alone. So what's the difference between that and using the same method back in the real world?

The only difference is that one of them is just his personal feeling, while the other is that he has walked with people all over the world for hundreds of years. Of course, Saten Ruiko will probably really be sleeping underground for a long time, waiting for him to wake her up.

Another possibility is that he spent hundreds of years in a false world, only to end up with a vague and potentially unacknowledged understanding of Othinus.

Having spent countless years in this false world, he could not possibly become a true demon god, nor could he use his own power to save Saten Ruiko.

Because all of this will disappear the moment he emerges from the false world.

However, in the real world, if one invests the same amount of time, one might gain true magical knowledge. After enduring the trials of time and countless arduous efforts, one might actually become a demon god and thus be able to resurrect Saten Ruiko.

At least everything he did in reality wouldn't vanish into nothingness because of a single thought from Euthinus.

So, his purpose... his purpose in becoming an understander, is that really...?

Othinus gradually recalled the things she had overlooked before, the things Inoue Hideka had done since coming into this world.

Index, Touma Kamijou, Misaka Sisters, Aisa Himegami, Seiri Fukiyori... Memories of Eika Inoue appeared in Othinus's mind.

These people had indeed avoided the torment they would have otherwise suffered, to varying degrees, because of the young man's own will.