The Demon King, reborn in Japan as a monk

"It seems I was too greedy..."

Chapter 33 Departure

However, waiting here alone was too boring, so knowing that he could probably only replicate mental abilities before leaving the world of A Certain Magical Index, Ishihara Akane decisively picked up the phone and contacted Kiyama Harumi. He got his car keys from her and, just like when he infiltrated the Advanced Situation Rescue Team's research institute, drove back to the AIM Analysis Research Institute, went into Kiyama Harumi's office, and continued to study knowledge about ability development, or use the power of the Phantasmagoria Network to improve and optimize his abilities.

Time flies, and two days have passed in the blink of an eye...

It was about time for him to go back.

Otherwise, who knows if his own Hanako-nee will come to check on him, call for help, and then send him to the hospital because she can't wake him up.

Then, just as Ishihara Akira took off his helmet, organized the relevant information on his ability development, and was about to call Kiyama Haruo to tell him that he was about to leave, Kiyama Haruo's figure appeared in the office, accompanied by the sound of footsteps approaching from afar.

"Have you finished your work?" Ishihara Akira asked, looking at Kiyama Harumi, who had a faint smile on his face.

“Mm,” Kiyama Haruo replied.

"Did he wake up?" Ishihara Akira asked again.

"Yes, he's awake," Kiyama Harumi confirmed.

After a pause, he said with heartfelt gratitude, "Thank you, Ishihara. If it weren't for you, I might have had to wait even longer to realize the key and awaken the children."

"You're too kind, you've helped me a lot too," said Ishihara Akira, waving the documents in his hand.

"But what are your plans next?" Ishihara Akira asked again.

"I don't know," Kiyama Harumi said, shaking his head.

Her long-standing goal was to find a way to revive the children. To this end, she developed various technologies, researched various routes, and kept applying to higher authorities for access to the tree diagram designer to verify her theories and ideas.

However, as a super quantum computer that the entire Academy City relies heavily on, its computing power has always been controlled by large research institutes that carry out classified projects. Only a small portion of its computing power can be used by the research institutes on the surface. And how many research institutes are there in Academy City?

It involves hundreds or even thousands of applications, so you can imagine how difficult it is to apply for. Unless you have connections and influence, and the experiment is related to Academy City, it is impossible for ordinary people or individuals to obtain the right to use it.

This delay led to the Index rampage incident in the original work, where she was completely destroyed amidst the Dragon King's sigh.

Therefore, in order to solve the computing power problem, Harumi Kiyama had no choice but to develop the Imagine Breaker, a non-realistic network based on the AIM diffusion field of ability users, which led to the subsequent Imagine Breaker incident and the Chaotic Openness incident, etc.

Now, all of these issues have been resolved ahead of schedule thanks to Ishihara Sho's intervention, and with the backing of the Underworld Soul Chaser, the children have all woken up smoothly. As a result, for a time, Kiyama Harumi, like those successful people who have realized their dreams, suddenly lost his direction and goal.

My heart is filled with confusion.

"Regardless of your other plans, for now, I suggest you immediately resolve the Imaginer issue and wake up the students who fell into a coma because of it. Otherwise, I estimate it won't be long before you attract the attention of investigative departments like the Disciplinary Committee. Even if you don't die, you'll likely be imprisoned." After a pause, Ishihara Akira continued, "You don't want the children you saved to visit you in prison in the future, do you?"

“Uh…” Kiyama Harumi was taken aback and couldn’t help but think about such a future.

After a while.

"I understand. I will resolve the matter of the Imagine Mage as soon as possible," Kiyama Harumi sighed.

“Hmm. Finally…” Ishihara Akira said, walking up to Kiyama Harumi.

"What?" Kiyama Harumi looked at him with a puzzled expression.

“I’m leaving. But before I officially leave, there’s something I’ve always wanted to do. Could you do me that?” Ishihara Sho asked with a strange laugh.

"What is it?" Kiyama Harumi asked, frowning.

“That is…” Before Kiyama Haruo could react, Ishihara Akira suddenly leaned forward and kissed Kiyama Haruo’s lips. After more than ten seconds, he straightened up and stepped back from the astonished Kiyama Haruo.

"Alright, I've done what I needed to do. I hope that when we meet again, you won't be in prison."

Then, without lingering, Ishihara Akira turned around, took the documents in his hand, and left Kiyama Harumi's office. He then found the research institute's restroom with practiced ease, visualized the coordinates in his mind, and in a sudden feeling of weightlessness, he returned to his dream world.

"As expected, the documents can be brought out..." Ishihara Akira said, looking at the documents still in his hand, as if he had not expected it.

Then, when I opened my eyes again, I was out of the dream world.

Ishihara Shou sat up from the covers, and after a moment's thought, he immediately used the abilities he had gained in the world of A Certain Magical Index—

Yes, it's still in the mental/spiritual category.

As for other abilities such as electromagnetic and electronic manipulation, and water molecule manipulation, they are still unusable, but they will no longer feel like their brains are being hit by a sledgehammer, as they did in the world of A Certain Magical Index.

This is likely due to the lack of intervention from AIM's dissemination stance.

However, this also completely eliminated the possibility for Ishihara to materialize other molecular manipulation abilities, leaving Ishihara somewhat disappointed.

"It seems I can only continue down this path of spiritual depravity..."

But then I thought about it again and it didn't matter. After all, he was a demon. If he didn't follow the path of the spirit, why would he follow the path of physical strength?

The Heavenly Demon doesn't use this method!

More like a demon king.

"I just don't know if I can build a dream network similar to the Fantasy Master Network, centered on my dreams, to enhance my mental strength, consciousness, and ability to absorb emotions and desires."

"You could try going to Friend A's place."

Then Ishihara Akira got up, went into the bathroom to wash up, changed his clothes, and began his day's work.

"Oh right, I also need to find a house nearby to use as my dream base."

Thinking of this, Ishihara Akira took out his phone, logged onto the internet, first looked up the phone numbers of nearby real estate agencies, then called the agencies and told the staff about his needs, asking them to contact him as soon as they had a suitable house.

Chapter 34 Construction

There's not much to say; after a day of running the temple, Ishihara Akira and his friend A both fell asleep...

However, Ishihara Akira soon opened his eyes again, glanced at his friend A's face, and his mental inhibition once again entered his friend A's dream.

Friend A is currently dreaming of being a goddess, being fawned over by a group of handsome, young, and wealthy Japanese men.

Instead of disturbing her, Ishihara Akira pondered how to draw her consciousness into his dream.

"Should we open the door?"

Just like when he traveled to the world of anime, he opened a portal that transcends dreams.

If that's the case, then I need to build my own dream world first!

Otherwise, without coordinates and corresponding landmarks, even if I could hijack my friend A's consciousness, she might not be able to enter my dream with me.

With that in mind, Ishihara Akira didn't hesitate. He immediately left his friend A's dream and returned to his own dream world. After a moment's thought, the environment of the entire dream world changed from the temple meditation room he was most familiar with to the bedroom environment of the apartment where he and his friend A were currently living.

"This should be fine, right?" Ishihara Sho pondered.

Then, after defining several items as markers, he opened and closed his eyes again, and re-entered his friend A's dream.

This time, Ishihara Akira didn't stand on ceremony. He squeezed into the crowd of wealthy suitors who were fawning over Friend A and ordering drinks. He walked up to Friend A, who was completely smitten by the praise, and grabbed her wrist.

"Who are you, kid? Get your filthy hands off me right now."

"Exactly! Don't you even know who you are? You look so poor and shabby, yet you want to associate with Her Majesty Queen A?"

"Get out of my way right now, or we'll call the police!"

Seeing this, the surrounding sycophants started barking wildly at Ishihara Sho like puppies whose cheese had been touched.

"How did you get here!" At this moment, Friend A, who had regained consciousness, exclaimed in disbelief.

"Shouldn't I be asking you that? Our time isn't over yet, and you're back at work? Are you trying to back out?" Ishihara Akira questioned, looking indignant.

“You’re not continuing again, so why can’t I come back to work?” Friend A complained.

"That will only be after the contract ends. Until then, you will still belong to me alone!" Ishihara Sho sneered.

"Then wait for me a bit. I'll take care of things here before I go back with you." Friend A was speechless. After a moment of hesitation, he replied with a helpless expression.

"Hurry up." Ishihara Akira released her wrist and said coldly.

"Go outside and wait for me."

Ishihara Akira didn't refuse, and turned to leave the club where his friend A worked...

After a while, Friend A, who smelled slightly of alcohol and seemed rather tipsy, finally came out of the club.

"Alright, we can go now. Honestly. If I had waited a little longer, I would have gotten my commission for today, and you ruined it all. Remember to make it up to me when we get back," Friend A muttered, clearly annoyed.

"Compensation? You should be the one compensating me." Ishihara Akira laughed as if he had heard a joke.

"Why should I?" Friend A said indignantly.

"Just because you breached the contract during your employment period, I can claim compensation from you!"

As they talked, the two gradually embarked on their journey home, which meant returning to Friend A's apartment. Then, as soon as a circular, white, hollowed-out energy halo appeared, Ishihara Akira led Friend A, whose attention was almost entirely on him, across the halo and into Friend A's apartment, which was constructed from his dream.

In other words, he successfully brought his friend A's dream consciousness into his own dream.

Then, Ishihara Akira felt his dream world suddenly jolt, and a feeling of expansion came back from the void, making his head feel as if it had been doused with cool water, making him feel much more refreshed.

Although the feeling was still very faint, Ishihara Akira was certain that his mental strength had increased!

Just like before in the world of A Certain Magical Index, when I used a brainwave connector to connect to the Phantasmagoria network.

"Now we'll see if Friend A can regain consciousness smoothly after waking up..."

If everything goes smoothly, he can confidently begin absorbing the dream consciousness of the surrounding residents in the same way, expanding his dream space and enhancing his spiritual power.

If it doesn't work...

Then we'll have to reconsider and plan for the long term.

But before that—

"Friend A, tell me, how are you going to compensate me!"

……

In short, nothing happened overnight, and the next day arrived in the blink of an eye.

As usual, Ishihara Akira was the first to wake up and sat on the bed to observe his friend A's reaction.

Of course, in order to get quick feedback, he would also occasionally touch her while observing her to judge her reaction.

The result was very satisfactory. Friend A's consciousness was not trapped in the dream because of his actions. It is unknown whether it was because the dream world collapsed as he woke up, causing the dream world to lose its restriction on Friend A's consciousness, or because the dream world he created was only temporary and did not have certain hidden characteristics like the real two-dimensional world, so it did not have the ability to restrain other people's consciousness. Therefore, Friend A's consciousness could freely travel in the dream.

Regardless of which one it is, this news is something to celebrate for Ishihara Akira right now!