One-way traffic

"Don't worry about it, there are usually very few people coming to this park!"

The girl took a hearty sip of soda, and Accelerator had no choice but to reluctantly take a sip with her.

"So, what are you doing in a place like this?"

"Let me introduce myself! My name is Saten Ruiko... Ah, what am I supposed to do here...?"

The girl seemed to be planning to give a spirited self-introduction, but her expression changed after hearing Accelerator's question.

It seemed to have become somewhat melancholic.

"...Well, haha, actually I just wanted to practice my skills."

"Practice ability?"

The first person couldn't help but look at her and immediately recognized her.

This is a person with no ability (Level 0), including the assessment of their competence.

According to the theory of this academy city, that is to say, her quality assessment determines the upper limit of her ability.

No matter how much this girl practices, she will always remain a powerless individual.

"...I came to this city carrying the hopes of my family, with the goal of developing powerful abilities like those other ability users."

The expression on her face became somewhat helpless.

"So, it turns out he's just someone without any abilities... I'm really useless, aren't I?"

"I'm carrying the expectations of so many people, yet this is all I've achieved. I'm as insignificant as a soda can."

She was clearly caught in a deep, slumped state of mind.

And watching such a scene.

The first person only said this much.

"So what if you have no abilities?"

“…Huh?”

The girl, who called herself Saten Ruiko, was slightly taken aback.

"But, but, those are level 0s! Look, in this Academy City where level 0s are everywhere, level 0s should be the least useful people, right?!"

"After all, most people possess that kind of powerful ability—"

"If you think it's a defective product, then you should count someone like me in too."

"You...could it be that..."

Thinking of this, Saten Ruiko couldn't help but show a surprised expression.

Accelerator said, word by word.

"He's just a Level 0 powerless being, just like you thought."

"What's wrong? Is there a problem?"

Chapter 867 The Never-Ending Language of Exchange

Saten Ruiko was still somewhat surprised by the situation before her.

But this kind of thing shouldn't be something to be exaggerated about.

In this megacity with a population of 2.3 million, nearly 80% of the residents are students, and under these circumstances, everyone has generally accepted the ability development project.

However, nearly 60% of them are basically incapacitated.

Therefore, it can be seen that the number of people without abilities is the largest in this city, while those with abilities have become a relatively small elite group.

A Level 0 powerless being...?

Saten Ruiko stared quietly at the person in front of her. Come to think of it, it seemed that she was only now fully noticing the person's entire appearance.

White hair, pigeon-blood red eyes, the hair looked somewhat messy, and the black and white patterns on the clothes were cryptic.

All these factors combined suggest that the first impression this person gives should lean towards that of a madman or insane individual.

"You're also a powerless person... but, but why?"

"There's nothing to be surprised about, is there? Nearly 60% of the students are powerless. Anyone who lives in this city should know this. There's nothing to be astonished about."

Accelerator's words caused Saten Ruiko to blink in a daze.

"You don't care at all... about the fact that your level is only zero?"

"Ah, there's absolutely no need to care."

After finishing the soda in the can, Accelerator walked to the vending machine and bought a cup of smooth black coffee.

"The so-called ability level isn't the whole story of one's life. Does having a level of zero mean you can't continue living? You're kidding. There are nearly 60% of the people in this city with a level of zero."

"...That's what they say."

Saten Ruiko clenched her hands tightly together.

"But...I carried the expectations of my family, and after all this hardship, I finally came to this city, only to receive absolutely nothing in return..."

"If that's what you think, then just work hard."

In Academy City, all the ability users have a predetermined upper limit.

Whether they are at level zero or level five, these people have already calculated their future from the very beginning; this is what is known as the "quality assessment."

For example, Misaka Mikoto, who is ranked third, may have been a low-level esper (Level 1) at the beginning, but from a young age, the quality assessment she received had already reached the level of Level 5.

Whether she tries or not, Misaka Mikoto has a way of successfully stepping onto the stage of a Level 5 esper someday.

Conversely, those who are judged to have a level cap of zero from the beginning will never be able to improve their abilities in the slightest, no matter how hard they try.

The reason Academy City doesn't disclose this information is simply to give the students living there a wonderful fantasy.

If Accelerator were to tell Saten Ruiko right now that no matter how hard she tries, she will never be able to obtain power above level zero, it would be far too cruel.

and so.

"As long as you work hard, you can improve your level or anything else naturally, right?"

Those words immediately caused Saten Ruiko's thoughts to freeze in place.

"Those who have been powerless so far have no real abilities, but none of them live by feeling inferior because they don't have any talents. They all rely on the belief in moving forward to give themselves the motivation to survive."

exactly.

Based on Accelerator's memories, there should be at least two powerless individuals who could do these things.

"...Even those without abilities have their own value."

"As long as you are down-to-earth and work hard, it has nothing to do with rank or status. Relying on your own strength, no matter who you are, you can find your own meaning in life."

In a daze, the girl seemed to see some different scenery.

That is—all the stories that my companions have experienced up to this point.

Misaka-san… Shirai-san… Haru…

Even someone like me...

If I work hard, no... I definitely will, I will definitely have my own reason for being!

Raise your head and look ahead; this has absolutely nothing to do with rank or hierarchy.

The words of that person still echoed in my heart.

"Thank you... I've figured it out."

"That's it."

Accelerator continued in a nonchalant tone.

"Thank you so much for your guidance today! I... will strive to move forward in the future and will never again feel overly inferior about my lack of ability!"

"I didn't do anything great, I just told you some very basic stuff."

"No, no, no! It was my senior who taught me so much, and it's such a coincidence that we met here. Why don't I invite you to have a meal at a nearby family restaurant?"

Seeing Saten Ruiko's troublesome expression, Accelerator naturally wouldn't accept such a request.

"Eh... I see. So you're really busy, senpai...?"

"Give me that title. We've only met once, how did you become a senior?"

While saying this in silence, Accelerator intended to leave immediately.

But then Saten Ruiko took out her cell phone from her handbag.

"this!"

"…ah?"

"If we exchange phone numbers and email addresses, then it's no longer a relationship based on just one meeting, right?"

Seriously... what a clueless guy.

Accelerator sighed.

If it were me in the past, I would have deleted all the phone numbers and email addresses I received from the other person immediately.

He, however, also took out his phone and exchanged information directly with the other party over the phone.

"Are you satisfied now?"

"Hehe~ Speaking of which, although you already know my name is Saten Ruiko, I have absolutely no idea what your name is."

"Varied…?"

"Tell me! We've already exchanged phone numbers, it's just a matter of giving each other names, right?"

The girl in front of him, though powerless, seemed to possess a mysterious power that could subtly guide others to his own pace.

It has nothing to do with magic or superpowers; it's simply the good temperament of a cheerful young girl.

It's naturally impossible for them to directly reveal their own side's name.

Everyone knows that she is the number one in Academy City; even if you don't know her appearance, her name is still too conspicuous.

therefore.

The name... the first one in my mind, I vaguely began to recall.

I don’t know how long ago it was, but I did have a title that was similar to that of a normal person.

A two-character surname and a three-character given name.

That name...

In a daze, he vaguely opened his mouth.

--------------------------

After ending his conversation with Saten Ruiko, Accelerator left the small park immediately.

"It took a little time, but it's insignificant."

The first person immediately took out their phone and entered the contact information of Saten Ruiko, whom they had just received, into the list.

"Oh dear, oh dear, Master has received phone calls from other girls again?! This is absolutely intolerable!!"

"Shut up."

Ignoring the discontented complaints from Q-Demon in his mind, Accelerator continued to look at the phone section.

Mikoto Himeno.

He still vividly remembers some of the things that happened to this girl a while ago.

Adding to the mix is ​​a girl named Yuka Kamishiro. Neither of them are ability users or magicians, so theoretically it's impossible for them to attract so many strange, ghost-like creatures to their side.

There must be something else going on.

In order to find out all of this, Accelerator decided to personally resolve their problems.

He made the call.

"Huh--?"

A surprised exclamation came from the other end of the phone.