Even if I transform, I will never be captured.

Then everything vanished like bubbles, and the lightning that fell from the sky seemed to have been killed by Satella's right hand, leaving no trace.

However, the gust of wind that suddenly arose blew away the silver-haired girl's bangs, revealing her scarlet eyes.

“Misaka-san, I understand how you feel, but if you leave here to hurt Shokuhou Misaki, please forgive me for not being able to leave. Besides, when it comes to anger, I am no less angry than you right now.”

Satella spoke, her voice frighteningly calm, yet brimming with a certain emotion.

If we were to use a metaphor, it would be like a volcano churning up magma, ready to erupt at any moment.

Staring into those powerful red eyes, Misaka Mikoto couldn't understand, and laughed in exasperation: "As the perpetrator, what right do you have to utter the word 'anger'?"

"Anger...that's perfectly understandable."

Satella had no idea what kind of expression she had on her face.

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"That Misaki girl, although she seems very shrewd, is actually just a super idiot who, even when she's covered in wounds, will still put on a smile in the most glamorous place, then hide in a corner to lick her wounds, and continue to shoulder everything by herself..."

That kind of idiot...

A year ago, she buried all her pain in her heart, just to prove that she was not someone who would bring misfortune to those around her, and died without hesitation in Satella's place.

That kind of idiot...

Despite how much he hated that thing called "External Brain Replacement," he still smiled and gave it away to enhance his friend's strength.

That kind of idiot—

"This time, she probably shouldered everything alone in silence, while I stood by and did nothing. I even thought for a moment that she really had kidnapped the Misaka Sisters... I am genuinely angry at her for doing this!"

"...In the end, it's just that you're speaking from your own perspective and saying what you believe to be correct."

Misaka Mikoto wasn't completely ignoring what Satella was saying.

Every word Satella said went into her ears, and she pondered and analyzed it. She could even clearly hear the emotions hidden behind the words.

Even so, Misaka Mikoto remained unmoved; Satella's words had no effect on her whatsoever.

"Look..."

As she spoke, she pointed to Mitsuko Konohara, who had just been wheeled into the emergency room.

“My classmate is already seriously injured and hospitalized after our marriage, and Misaki Shokuhou is still having her faction members obstruct me. How can you expect me to believe that Misaki Shokuhou is an innocent party in this incident?”

"Dare you say those words again to your classmate after marriage? To this person who suffered an undeserved calamity and is in so much pain that she can't open her eyes! Can you tell her that Misaki Shokuhou is innocent?!"

"..."

Satella didn't answer Misaka Mikoto immediately. She looked up at the sky, and a thought suddenly popped into her mind.

What kind of story happened to Misaki Shokuhou?

A lost girl is being chased by an evil organization, and another brave girl runs out to save her. The two girls become good friends, and the girl, encouraged by her friend, overcomes her confusion and begins to live her own life... Isn't this the kind of simple story it should be?

However, the girl named Misaki Shokuhou is the most special one.

Because she possesses the ability of "psychological manipulation," she is destined to never gain the complete trust of others.

Even if the girls of the "faction" are willing to be brainwashed and controlled by her, judging from how they took the initiative to give way when they were pressured by Misaka Mikoto's aura just now, perhaps in their hearts they also believe that Shokuhou Misaki played a dishonorable role in this incident.

Such a girl...

Satella said with a helpless yet indulgent tone, "If even I can't trust her, then who can?"

"...Is that so?" Misaka Mikoto let out a deep breath. "It seems there's no possibility of reconciliation anymore. If I could, I really wouldn't want to fight you."

"Each each other."

Satella also showed a helpless expression.

Then, the two girls assumed fighting stances, and it seemed a fierce conflict was about to unfold on the street—

"Seriously—I can't stand you two idiots."

As if drawing a pause to this battle that had not yet begun, Misaka Mikoto and Satella stopped what they were doing and looked in the direction of the sound as such a helpless voice rang out.

However, what came into their view was not Misaki Shokuhou herself, but a "factional" girl whose eyes were sparkling with stars and who was clearly under mind control.

"You coward, are you afraid to show your true form in front of me?" Misaka Mikoto said unhappily.

"Shut up, you Amazonian woman whose head and chest are full of muscle. If it weren't for my darling, I wouldn't even bother talking to you."

Misaki Shokuhou's words, filled with annoyance, instantly provoked two different reactions in the room.

Misaka Mikoto, naturally waving her fist, shouted, "What did you say?!"

Satella, who was being addressed like that for the first time, blushed instantly: "My...my darling???"

However, unexpectedly, after a slight pause, Misaki Shokuhou did not choose to speak to Satella, but instead said to Misaka Mikoto:

“9982 is indeed with me, but it wasn’t me who kidnapped her… The details are a bit complicated, and I’ll tell you slowly later if you want to hear them… In short, you just need to know that another organization is also searching for the sister who survived the [Absolute Ability User Project]. 9982 was injected with a nanomachine virus by them, and I’m currently trying to save her.”

"—You can choose to believe what I said above, or you can choose not to believe it... Of course, whether you believe it or not, I will no longer hinder your freedom."

“One question,” Misaka Mikoto asked, “If you’re doing this to protect your sisters, why are you blocking my way?”

"...So, talking to an Amazon like you with a brain full of muscle is exhausting...What kind of position do you think you're in right now? As one of the central figures in the [Absolute Ability User Project], you're bound to be a key target of their surveillance. Once you become active, they'll inevitably tighten their grip on power, and my investigation will be impossible to carry out."

Misaka Mikoto asked defiantly, "Then why are you telling me this now?"

Misaki Shokuhou: "Do you know how pigs die?"

Misaka Mikoto: "???"

"Just like you, you can't turn around and just crash headfirst into a wall and die!"

Before Misaka Mikoto could erupt in anger again, Shokuhou Misaki said, "In short, I've already found their lair, so it doesn't matter if you move out now... So, Misaka-san? Do you want to continue your investigation, or do you want to come with me and attack their lair directly?"

……

……

Misaki Shokuhou stood quietly in the corner, holding the remote control. Satella's words were now a thing of the past.

The silver-haired girl was getting into the car with Misaka Mikoto under the arrangement of the faction members, while shouting, "Why won't Shokuhou Misaki come out to see me?"

But those words, like musical notes, still flowed in her heart.

"Fool."

"How could I possibly dare to go out and see you?"

No one knew what the girl was thinking. On this afternoon when the sun was setting, a gentle breeze blew the two strands of hair hanging by her ears, and her delicate ivory neck... she looked breathtakingly beautiful.

Author's Note:

P.S. I feel like Honglian is about to become depressed while writing this volume. For example, this chapter took her more than ten hours to write, and she's still not satisfied with it...

As expected, the script wasn't chosen well. The plot of this volume unfolds from multiple perspectives in the manga, but the novel is mostly from a single perspective, which makes it difficult to write and inevitably requires more foreshadowing...

I feel like the pacing has gotten a bit off lately, and this might turn into self-indulgent writing later on, so please subscribe at your own discretion...

PS2. This chapter is only 3,000 words. In order to maintain my perfect attendance record, Honglian has decided to release a revised version of the Angel's Fall chapter (only the battle part has been revised).

Here's the specifics.

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The revised version of the "Fallen Angels" chapter is approximately 20,000 words.

I will release it as a side story, with each chapter containing 2,000 words.

However, you don't need to subscribe.

Once Honglian finishes updating the Angel's Fall chapter, it will be directly incorporated into Chapter 82. At that time, readers who have subscribed can read it for free, and readers who haven't subscribed before can also read the 20,000-word content for 4000 words.

Unfortunately, I'm really broke right now. I've even sold my Honkai Impact 3rd account and PS4, so this perfect attendance record is very important to me. I hope everyone understands...

In the new Angel Fall arc, Touma, Satella, Accelerator, and Misaki Shokuhou will all encounter their own formidable enemies. Misaka Mikoto will also be very active after the revision, and Asuna and Kayaba Akihiko will also make guest appearances. It should be a pretty exciting volume.

I'd like to take another day off...

I stayed up until 3 or 4 a.m. the day before yesterday and yesterday, and I'm a bit too tired to stay awake today. I want to go to bed early. I'm so sorry...

This is my last chance to take leave this month. If I miss another update, I'll lose my perfect attendance bonus. I hope I can make it through... Amen...

Purple sweet potato pudding Purple sweet potato pudding Purple sweet potato pudding Purple sweet potato pudding Purple sweet potato pudding

Chapter 167 Satella, the Chatting Genius

"Wait a minute, Misaka, let's try to catch up. It's okay, Misaka just wants to check the souvenirs, don't leave me behind!" Misaka protested desperately, but the other party showed no sign of stopping.

Accelerator walked silently forward with his hands in his pockets, while Last Order followed closely behind, grumbling.

Normally, the streets are only average in terms of pedestrian traffic, but due to the Daihasei Festival, they were packed with people. Even the security guards had to put up signs at some intersections and implement temporary traffic control on certain sections of the road.

With such a large crowd, there is a high probability that people will get separated. In fact, the Last Order was indeed overwhelmed by the surging crowds several times.

However, whenever this happens, the tuft of hair sticking up on her head will point to Accelerator's location like a precise radar, preventing her from losing him.

"How could he abandon such a cute girl? Misaka complained about Accelerator's lack of romantic understanding. However, Misaka had her own solution. She pounced on him and grabbed his arm."

Accelerator's ability is called "Vector Manipulation." Apart from using it when necessary, he usually sets up a "Reflection Net" around himself to reflect all attacks aimed at him.

The girl's lunge wasn't particularly forceful, but if she crashed headfirst into the [reflective net], she would fall back with a bloody head.

—That's how it should have been.

"Tsk."

In a desperate lunge, he successfully grabbed Accelerator's arm, and Accelerator smacked his lips in a voice that conveyed an indescribable emotion.

"Look, those brother and sister have such a good relationship..."

"But that young man with the white hair is amazing. Could he have some kind of terminal illness?"

"How pitiful..."

"..."

The whispers coming from the street made Accelerator's mouth twist even more crooked.

The most direct impact of becoming a caregiver for a teenage girl is that one's life is no longer entirely under one's control.