One-way traffic

It's more like an endless layer of sunscreen.

It must be said that the Soul Chaser of the Underworld is not only a god-like figure who can restore Accelerator's brain, but also a powerful medical being capable of solving problems related to Last Order and the other 10,000 sisters.

Honestly, Accelerator doesn't even think that it's just simple medical skill anymore. Could this guy actually be a reincarnation of a divine doctor?

"However, compared to that child's matter, your situation should be more serious, shouldn't it?"

The Soul Chaser opened the teapot on the side and poured two cups of tea.

"Wouldn't you like a drink?"

"No need."

The miraculous doctor shook his head and took a small sip of the hot tea in his cup.

"On September 30th, your deadly battle with Kihara Kazuta resulted in Last Order's narrow escape from death."

Accelerator's eyes widened as a vague memory gradually surfaced in his mind.

Not long ago, he got into a fight with a bastard named Kihara Kazuta... actually, it should be called a fight to the death.

Kihara Kazuta injected a virus into Last Order's mind, while Accelerator fought desperately against Kihara Kazuta to save Last Order... But at the last moment, something happened that even he himself could not understand.

"Although I have information about that day, the details are probably only known to you, right?"

The two looked at each other, as if they were having a serious negotiation.

"What exactly happened on September 30th? Accelerator, you should know, right?"

Yes.

The number one esper in Academy City knew what had happened, but he simply couldn't understand what it was.

Kihara Kazutaka, the white-clad nun who suddenly appeared, had her mind injected with the virus "Last Order" and the angelic thing the person on the phone had mentioned.

--as well as.

That thing appeared behind him for some unknown reason.

That thing, which even he himself didn't know what it was.

Black wings.

"I'm sorry, even if you ask me, I can only say that I do know, but knowing and understanding are two completely different things."

"...Is that so? Even you can't understand it yourself."

Mingtu Zhuihun sighed softly and shook his head.

"So what else? You must have done something else after that day, right? That should be the case, shouldn't it?"

The doctor sitting in front of him revealed the truth.

"You joined Academy City's Dark Side, didn't you?"

no answer.

The first ability user turned around and, before the Netherworld Soul Chaser could see his face clearly, unplugged the electrode.

"The battery is fully charged, it's time to go."

The ability user, leaning on his cane once more, slowly walked towards the door and gently opened it.

"Is this really good?"

The frog-faced doctor who had once saved the first patient finally asked a question.

"Having joined the Dark Side, you can no longer walk in the light. In that case, you'll have very few chances to meet Last Order. Is that really a good thing?"

Whether it's good or bad, that's none of your business.

The first ability user opened the door and left the room completely.

"Besides, only in this way can we completely ensure the brat's safety, right?"

Click.

The door was closed.

In the quiet room, only Mingtu Zhuihun remained sitting there, a little steam rising from the teacup he held.

"What a difficult patient."

As if remembering something, the doctor put the teacup back on the table and walked step by step to the window.

You can see a tall building standing in the distance through the window.

It was a building without doors or windows.

"I sincerely hope that you will stop making fun of the patients around me."

"Aleister Crowley".

This is Academy City.

Although it appears to be completely upright and honest, it hides countless dark secrets, encompassing both the yin and yang sides of the city.

Chapter Two: The Dark Side - "The Group"

Accelerator walked out of the hospital.

There was a motorhome by the roadside near the hospital. It looked like a camping vehicle, but it was much larger than a typical motorhome.

Using his cane, he walked to the front of the car and opened the door with one hand.

"Oh dear, the number one ability user has finally returned."

The first thing that caught my eye was three figures, three guys who looked like my work colleagues.

Tsuchimikado Motoharu, Kihara Tsunoki, Kaihara Mitsuki... at least that's how it appears from the outside.

As soon as Accelerator entered the RV, the three guys started laughing.

"How was it? How did it feel to bring ice cream to the little girl? Didn't you feel gratified to receive such love from this adorable little girl?"

"Stop talking nonsense, do you want me to rip your tongue out?"

Accelerator placed his cane on one side of the seat and sat down next to Kaihara Mitsuki.

He glanced at the other three people present.

"Then what brings you here? If you're here to pick me up, it must be something quite significant."

"That's right, new student."

Tsuchimikado Motoharu closed the car door and sat back down in his seat.

"Our superiors have just given us a new order, saying that all of us need to go and deal with it. Unlike the previous case of Komaba Toshitoku, this time it seems to be a very big task."

A look of anticipation appeared on Kaihara Mitsuki's face.

"Does this mission require mobilizing the entire 'Group' of our secret service?"

"Dark Unit" is another unique term used exclusively within Academy City.

As mentioned before, Academy City is not as upright as it appears on the surface; behind the scenes, there are still all sorts of disgusting and unbearable darknesses that exist there.

These dark matters cannot be handled by the surface-level security guards or disciplinary committee members, nor are they qualified to do so. Therefore, the higher-ups of Academy City have gathered all sorts of powerful individuals and packaged them into organizations that hide in the shadows to carry out high-level missions.

This organization is called the Dark Side, and those within the Dark Side are sometimes powerful ability users, sometimes special forces soldiers with unique skills, and sometimes ruthless killers. Even people from outside Academy City can serve as Dark Side members.

The Dark Side basically works for the higher-ups in Academy City, just like the "Group" that these four people have formed now.

Although Accelerator was forcibly brought in.

Clang. A resounding crash echoed through the car, indicating that the driver had started driving.

The four people present did not say anything else; they each buried themselves in their own tasks.

Motoharu Tsuchimikado casually looked at his phone, Mitsuki Kaihara gazed at the scenery outside the car, and Ayaki Kihara organized the equipment she needed. Basically, everyone did the same.

Accelerator also intends to do the same.

But before that, he was touched by something under his feet.

"what?"

Reaching down below, Accelerator touched a book, a novel.

He looked at the book cover with some surprise.

"What is this? Otaku and Kamen Rider? What kind of children's book is this?"

"Hmm? Was this book here before?"

"I don't know, maybe the previous owner left the car here."

No one paid much attention to this, and everyone continued with their own business.

Accelerator clicked his tongue, opened the book, and began to read it with a bored expression.

What's going on here?

"No main character? The main character's name is completely blank? What's going on with this book?"

Although the book has a cover and content, everything about the protagonist seems to be written in a font.

—Just like the protagonist in this story, who should never have existed in this world in the first place.

Could this be a prank?

Just as Accelerator was utterly bored and tossed the book aside, the large television screen inside the car began to flicker.

Although there was video footage, no one came forward; it was just the sound of a phone call.

"Did everyone enjoy their break?"

"I was in a pretty good mood at first, but after hearing your voice, I completely lost it."

"Is that so? I'm so sorry."

While speaking in a standard announcer's voice, the man on the other end of the line continued.

"The Group did an excellent job on the last mission, especially the one that killed Komaba Toshitoku. Accelerator, you did a great job. I might consider asking my superiors to add an extension to the usage time of your electrodes."

"Enough with the nonsense, get to the point."

Accelerator growled in annoyance, but the voice on the other side remained completely unchanged.

"This time, the person you need to deal with isn't some small-time thug, but someone just like you—a member of the secret service."

ANBU?

All four of them raised their eyebrows, while the person on the other end of the call continued speaking.

"The name of the Dark Division is 'Sign,' and to be honest, I don't know why they chose that name, but that's not really the point."

"Regarding the actions of this secret unit, they seem to be involved in high-level research programs."

"What's that? Are they trying to figure out the physics formula for Santa's magic?"

"To be precise, it should be a test and study of time and space."

The group of people were taken aback, seemingly curious about what the voice in the call was saying.

"What they stole were the study documents that originally belonged to the Governing Council. With these, they developed all sorts of machines, but the latest intelligence we have obtained recently reveals that their true purpose is to create high-level machines that can distort time and space."

"Tsk, looking at it this way, it really does look like a pretty sci-fi thing."

Accelerator and the three people around him exchanged glances and made a private decision.

"So what was our purpose in attacking these guys? Or did they do something to threaten the public?"

"Their plan was too dangerous."

The voice on the other end of the line paused for a moment before continuing.

"For Academy City, experiments on time and space have been carried out effectively all along, but that should not be something that people without experience should be doing. Logically speaking, if they cannot properly operate the equipment recorded in that document, the final result will be a disaster like creating a small wormhole."

"At that time, it will be a threat to a school district on a small scale, and a threat to the entire Academy City on a large scale."

So this is the mission of their secret service, the "Group".

Eliminate these problems that cannot be solved openly, bury them all in darkness, and ensure the safety and peace of the bright world of Academy City.

All four of them stood up to fight for the people they wanted to protect.

"That's all the information I need to provide. I wish you a speedy end to this mission and look forward to hearing from you."