This is a much shorter chapter then it normally would be, but quite a bit of the end of the Deep Blood Arc was simply tossed out as it had no bearing on Tsubaki.
To all those that wanted to see more Bad-ass Tsubaki, I've ramped it up a bit for this chapter.
But in the end, a surprising ending showed up and I decided that it was more fitting.
Also more hints to one of Tsubaki's secrets, Her identity as the Central Mainframe has been revealed, but what more secrets does the most unusual Saint hide?
I'm still certain that one Secret won't be guessed until I choose to reveal it, but feel free to prove me wrong.
I apologize for the gap between uploads, unfortunately Real Life chose to intervene and I have had many exhausting shifts and right now my current contract is up in the air, I might still have a job or I might have to go Job searching.
My next chapter will probably be delayed...
I'm sure your all very surprised.
SOM-
Act II Part IV – II
Verse IX
A Saint's Fury
AN_UNSTOPPABLE_FORCE
-SOM-
It was already night when Tsubaki finally broke free from unconsciousness while she lay on a bench near a tram station, a small pool of blood having gathered under where her head lay. The power of the Ars Magna finally failing before her own magic.
Tsubaki held back a scream and clutched the side of her head as an intense headache ripped through her skull.
When it finally settled down, the memories of earlier came to her mind and she warily glanced around.
The scene was already covered by the darkness of night. As the station was far away from there, she couldn't see Misawa Cram School from there. How long had it been since then? Tsubaki couldn't find Stiyl, Himegami, or even Aureolus—and of course, Index.
Aureolus had said 'forget about everything', and Tsubaki had almost forgot about everything, however as soon as the information left her mind it was restored from her back up within the Academy City Database.
Tsubaki had been caught in a near infinite loop of forgetting and restoration before, finally her magic had overwhelmed and crushed the Ars Magna.
"DAMN IT!"
She didn't know what had happened during the past few hours and the Database was in chaos from the exertion her fighting Ars Magna had put upon it. It was okay for Stiyl to remain inside Misawa Cram School, right? Thinking about that, Kamijou started to run towards Misawa Cram School.
As he continued to run towards Misawa Cram School, Kamijou, whose brain was in a mess, completely missed something. Even though she continued to run forward, she wouldn't end up meeting with other people. In fact, there was no one else on the road.
Though it was night, it was a downtown area in Academy City, so it was really strange that she hadn't met anyone yet.
'…What's going on?' a slight burst of incomprehensible data flashed across her mind as the Database attempted to inform her.
Sensing that anomaly, Kamijou already saw Misawa Cram School that stood high in the night sky.
There was no one on what was supposed to be a busy street. Kamijou experienced that before. That was similar to the Opila runes that Stiyl had used in the evening.
But this time, it wasn't that 'no one is around'.
What surprised Kamijou the most was that there were people surrounding Misawa Cram School.
'…What the hell?'
Kamijou stopped and turned back to look. Slightly far away, she could see a few people around. However, it was impossible to tell if they were male or females, as they were completely covered with tight silver armor.
There was no one around, which made that even more suspicious looking. From that angle, she could see three people in armor. If they were surrounding the four buildings of Misawa Cram School, there should also be a few of their comrades.
'The Thirteen Knights! Are they here for Aureolus or their fallen companion?'
"Oi, what the hell are you doing here? Why are knights of the Church here?" Tsubaki was pissed that more magical had snuck into her city.
At that moment, Kamijou remembered the knight who had died in front of the elevator.
Those people were wearing similar armor to that dead knight.
After one of them heard the word 'church', he got shocked, and then said, "—I'm one of the members of the thirteen Knights of the Roman Catholic Church, Lancelot Vittorio Cassera."
He then seemed rather impatient as he said, "Oh, so you're a survivor of the battlefield? We saw him walk out from here. You're really lucky. If you don't want to die, get further back."
Kamijou wondered what nonsense that person was spouting as he checked the entire armor.
"We don't wish to cause unnecessary damage. We'll use the Gregorian Chant to carry out a holy incantation bombardment. This is a mean that we decided on after considering everything, in order not to increase the damages."
Tsubaki was enraged by those words.
The Gregorian Chant. The students in Misawa Cram School had used the same spell.
According to Stiyl, that spell had originated from the Roman Catholic Church. —It was supposed to be the ultimate weapon of the Roman Catholic Church. 3,333 monks were to gather outside a cathedral and chant out that huge spell. It could multiply the power of that spell like sunlight being focused on a magnifying glass.
Stiyl's words entered his mind again. The replica itself already had such power, so how much power would the original one have?
"Bombard… HOW. HOW DARE YOU! THIS IS NOT YOUR TERRITORY. HOW DARE YOU USE SUCH MAGICS HERE, HOW MANY WILL SUFFER FPOR YOUR PRIDE AND ARROGANCE. HOW DARE YOU USE THE GREGORIAN CHANT, ESPECIALLY HERE IN ACADEMY CITY!" Tsubaki's anger was almost a living thing flaring off of her. However the knights completely brushed it off.
"You're right. This holy spell that gathers 3,333 monks at the greatest holy place in the world, the Vatican Church can accurately turn anything in the world to dust. Besides, if we leave the tower of this heretic, it'll be harmful to our pride."
"WHAT NONSENSE ARE YOU SPOUTING!? THERE ARE COUNTLESS INNOCENT STUDENTS INSIDE! AND STIYL AND HIMEGAMI ARE STILL INSIDE! EVEN AUREOLUS—"
—Aureolus had just wanted to summon a vampire so that he could save someone.
"BESIDES, HOW BIG WILL THE DAMAGE RADIUS BE, BLOWING UP THAT HUGE BUILDING? RUBBLE WILL FLY OUT LIKE CANNONBALLS IN A SIX HUNDRED METRE RADIUS!"
"As long as the goal is correct, the means are justified! The blood shed today shall be the foundation for tomorrow!"
Kamijou's mind started to boil because of those words; she was unable to remain calm.
What that person had said just now was totally different from what she had said before.
He told Kamijou to run away so as not to cause unnecessary deaths, yet she didn't care about the lives of the people inside Misawa Cram School. That didn't make sense at all.
"ARE YOU KIDDING ME! ISN'T YOUR COMRADE INSIDE THERE AS WELL?"
"…Parsifal has martyred himself in another land. The blood he shed shall be created for a better tomorrow."
Kamijou remembered the knight who had died beside the lift.
The armored man whose words were filled with hope, hope that she and Stiyl would finish his mission. It seemed like he had held onto his morals where as his comrades had not.
"Damn it, wait a minute! One hour, no thirty minutes will be fine!"
"We have no need to listen to your views! Begin the attack now!"
The fully-armored man who called himself Lancelot raised the large sword into the sky.
The sword gave off a red glow, and Kamijou thought that it was like an antenna.
Just as Kamijou intended to stop him, the antenna was swung down.
"Revelation 8:7—"
It felt like everything was coordinated in advance.
"—The first angel sounded his trumpet, and there came hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was hurled down onto the earth!"
Tsubaki threw her right hand into the sky and began to chant in German, an opposing spell to the bombardment.
"Trieb Eine Sternschnuppe (Cast out a Falling Star)" A shimmering veil of energy flared into existence over Academy City.
"Sammeln Sie die Scherben des Sternes in Einem Schimmernden Weben (Gather the Shards of the Star into a Shimmering Weave)" The shimmering veil of energy coalesced into a solid shell of golden energy.
"Da ich Gebiete, Wecken Sie Goldene Heiligtum (As/Because I Command, Awaken Golden Sanctuary)" Lines of power flared into being inside the golden shell, reinforcing it and awaking the full potential of the Magical Defenses of Academy City.
The red energy around the Knight Lancelot's sword sputtered out.
Above the shield a massive flare of red energy crashed downwards, but instead of the defenseless city it was expecting, the energy of the Gregorian Choir was instead caught and deflected by a shield of immense power.
Unprepared the monks of the Gregorian Chant were blown back where they stood, sat or knelt with blood streaming from their tear ducts due to the recoil of the two magics colliding.
The collected energy of the Gregorian Chant was flung outwards into space, however by sheer random chance it managed to collide with something.
That something was the satellite Orihime I, the supposed location of the supercomputer 'Tree Diagram', the energy of the Gregorian Chant rammed into the satellite, vaporizing the majority of it before dispelling in a red flare of fading energy.
The Knight's turned to Tsubaki, even through the visors of their helms the shock they felt was clear for all to see.
Tsubaki didn't even waste a single moment, she backhanded Lancelot out of the way with a crushing blow that shattered his armor.
The most terrifying thing about it.
Tsubaki wasn't even serious, the Knights could all see that she hadn't even tried to use any real strength.
The Knight's all fell to their knees, they knew of only one being with the power to shatter their armor with such a blow.
A Saint, even if she was opposing their actions and preventing them from achieving completion of their objectives. She was a chosen of God and thus a living reminder of his Will upon the Earth.
Tsubaki frowned as she walked towards Misawa Cram School, an odor of foul magic was emanating from the very… Soul? Existence? Being? Of the School.
Someone or Something had tainted this place beyond repair.
Tsubaki halted as she entered Misawa Cram School's Lobby. Her eyes narrowed.
There! In the corner walking towards or perhaps from a class.
The girl who she had failed to save.
Alive, whole, undamaged, intact.
Tsubaki shivered as a deep chill rose up from the depths of her spine, what monstrosity of magic had been used here.
To alter reality to bring back the dead, Tsubaki bowed her head and prayed for forgiveness for what she had to do.
Then in a blur of motion she shifted until she was right behind the girl she had tried and failed to save.
Tsubaki could just leave and let the girl live an illusion.
But it would be a hollow life as her spirit had already passed beyond this world.
It took but a touch.
A single tap of her right index finger.
The girl, who had died.
Had been reborn.
Died yet again.
Collapsing into liquid gold as Tsubaki shattered the illusion of her life and let the poor girl's spirit return to it's rest in the afterlife.
Tsubaki sighed sadly, yet another burden for her to bear, another calamity, another misfortune.
But she was Calamitas000, she would not falter in her task.
Even if it was her damnation in the end.
Tsubaki simply walked off deeper into the building, her fists clenched in anger and hatred.
Aureolus Izzard's life was forfeit… one way or another, this was his last day on Earth.
-SOM-
Tsubaki didn't even choose a path, she just wandered into the school and let her instincts and luck guide her.
It was in a straight corridor that she encountered Stiyl.
"Kamijou-san? What are you doing here?"
Tsubaki absentmindedly wondered whether Stiyl was Bipolar, he seemed to switch between highly respectful and contempt when addressing her. Could it be that his mind was still trying to categorize her?
"Hm, I guess since you're here, it means that we're still in Japan, no? No wonder I've been seeing Asians all these time. Speaking of which, what's with this mysterious boundary? I seem to have a familiar impression of it."
Tsubaki sighed, it looked like Stiyl had been affected by whatever Aureolus had tried to pull on her, several servers were still overheated, maxed out or offline from his attempt to wipe Tsubaki's memories and she wasn't happy about it.
Then Tsubaki frowned, she could repair Stiyl's memories, but what if Aureolus had brought him back as well…
…
…
'Who cares, he tried to ditch my ass and use me as bait he deserves whatever happens' Tsubaki smirked before putting a rough plan for a prank into action.
"Oi! Stiyl! Let me teach you a charm that'll erase your doubts."
"…Oriental Eastern Charms should be Kanzaki's specialty."
"Just do as what I say. It's simple. Close your eyes and stick your tongue out!"
"?"
Stiyl looked rather suspicious, but still followed what Kamijou had instructed.
And then, Kamijou declared, "HERE'S A SOUVENIR FOR ACTUALLY USING ME AS BAIT AND ESCAPING BY YOURSELF, YOU BASTARD!"
"…Eh?"
Then, Kamijou slammed an uppercut at Stiyl's chin with his right hand.
The lost memories were back. At the same time, Stiyl bit his tongue and rolled on the floor.
Tsubaki spat on him "Next time I'll aim lower and use more force"
Stiyl actually whimpered from hearing the threat.
-SOM-
Verse X
-SOM-
Aureolus Izzard was standing at the highest level of the North Block.
The highest level was called the principal's office, and it was a large place that covered the whole level. As this was a cram school, it looked more like a director's room than a principal's office.
Aureolus ignored all the luxurious decorations inside the room.
He was facing outside the window, his back facing the glamorous room. However, the night scene below wasn't in his eyes.
What Aureolus was looking at was his face that was reflected on the window.
'What was that? That barrier? Just what secrets does this city hold? I was prepared to use Ars Magna to restore any damage from the bombardment, but this. What power, could Academy City have gained some magical knowledge from Index? She is here and while he's a good candidate I don't think the Red-Haired Magician is her Guardian.'
While Aureolus pondered the mystery of the barrier, another question occupied his thoughts.
'What have I become?'
Before his obsession with curing Index he would have never done some of the inhumane and immoral things he had.
Was this the right path.
Despite every reassurance he made himself Aureolus just couldn't forget one thing, an old saying he had heard time and time again.
The Road to Hell is paved with Good Intentions
He wasn't like that in the past.
Though he wasn't really a person who could really express his own feelings well, he was still a human who could show emotions.
Right now, he wasn't even showing any emotion. It wasn't that he was calm or that he just ignored it. It was that he had no time to be bothered with it.
'It's alright even if it became like this' Aureolus thought.
Even if he knew about it right from the beginning, he couldn't relax for a single second, for he had to fight against the entire world in order to achieve his goals.
Aureolus Izzard did all of that just to save a single girl.
On a black ebony table behind Aureolus, there lay a girl.
Index Librorum Prohibitorum—Index.
It had been three years since the time when he had first met that girl who didn't even have her own basic name.
At that time, Aureolus Izzard was a Cansellarius of the Roman Catholic Church.
Though he was a member of the Church, he was in charge of writing Grimoires, so his situation was rather unique among the special ones. His job was to decode the modern witchcraft, find ways to counter them and record them down in books. He believed that through this, he could protect ordinary innocent people from being hurt by those witches.
And in fact, the Grimoires Aureolus had written did help a lot of people.
However, the Roman Catholic Church had used those Grimoires as their trump cards.
Pagan cults, and even sects of Christianity like the Anglican Church and the Russian Orthodox Church didn't even know about those trump cards. They had even warned others that they should convert to Roman Catholicism if they wanted to be protected from witches.
In the end, the alchemist did find a way to fight the witches, but there were many who couldn't benefit from it, being harmed by them.
It was like how a patient could have been treated had he went through an operation, yet was left alone. It was unreasonable.
Aureolus couldn't take that. He originally believed that the trump card he had created could save others.
After a while, Aureolus decided to smuggle the books that he wrote out.
He came to the country of England, the country of magic where witch rampancy was at its most serious. Aureolus was extremely careful about disguising himself and successfully managed to keep contact with the Anglican Church through underground means.
Over there, he met the girl that definitely could not be saved.
On first glance, he knew that. Even though he had set himself the task of saving the entire world, he could tell that the girl in front of him couldn't be saved.
The girl possessed 103,000 Grimoires from all over the world, and any ordinary person who read those Grimoires would go crazy. However, that girl who possessed such evil Grimoires still smiled on, even though she knew that she couldn't be saved.
In fact, the girl really couldn't be saved. Besides, a human couldn't possibly memorize all 103,000 Grimoires. The girl's body was being intoxicated by the logic of the Grimoires, and her mind was being corroded by the knowledge of the Grimoires.
At that point, the alchemist saw the limits of his knowledge.
The girl who always had misfortune forced onto herself yet could smile for others. If he couldn't even save her, how could he even talk about saving the whole world?
The alchemist started to write Grimoires just to save the girl, continuing to believe that he could save everyone in the world without exception. Every time he finished writing it once, he would head back to the Anglican Church. Even after ten times, and even after twenty times, Aureolus still wouldn't give up and continued to write Grimoires.
Just as he had lost count of how many Grimoires he had written, he suddenly realized. Why did he continue not to give up, why did he continue to write Grimoires?
Thus, Aureolus realized it.
Actually, right from the beginning, he knew that this girl couldn't be saved. Even so, Aureolus wouldn't give up, only using the excuse of 'providing Grimoires' to visit that girl.
It was really an ordinary story.
The story of the alchemist who wanted to save the girl, but in the end had to be saved by the girl.
Understanding that, he was at his end. Aureolus couldn't hold the pen anymore. Since he had realized that he couldn't even save a girl, Aureolus lost all faith in his ability and confidence in writing.
Unable to save, unable to save—he was unable to save others like that.
Even so, he decided that he had to save that girl no matter what, and so he chose to walk down the path of darkness.
There was only one reason why he chose to fall into darkness.
If Aureolus could obtain power to save everything, why couldn't he save that girl in front of him?
Thus, Aureolus chose to go against the Roman Catholic Church, Christianity, and the entire world. But even so, he couldn't save that girl. Even if he had used up all the knowledge of the Hermes and Zurich schools of thought, he definitely wouldn't be able to save that girl. He thought that he could just learn the complete anatomy of a human and cure every disease. He thought that he could just learn the makeups of the brain and cure every emotional scar. However, that girl couldn't be saved.
He couldn't even save this girl through faith or technology.
If so…
What's wrong with relying on the power of Cain's descendants, those whose power surpassed all human understanding?
For that motive, he could betray anyone and make use of anything. Even Deep Blood.
Just like that, the alchemist went off the path of righteousness. The alchemist who had once wished to save others more than saving himself was now a pitiful shadow of what he was.
"…"
But Aureolus Izzard didn't realize it.
There was a girl watching him from behind silently. This girl called Deep Blood was like him, just wanting to save someone as she chose to stand there. However, Aureolus Izzard didn't realize it.
Redemption was still so far away.
The savior hadn't arrived yet.
-SOM-
"Y-you deflected the GREGORIAN CHANT" Stiyl shouted in Tsubaki's face, his shock at the near impossible event making him forget who he was talking to.
THUMP
The kind reminder from Tsubaki about her abilities made Stiyl gasp with pain and try to remember how to stand again.
"Yes Stiyl, I did reflect the Gregorian Chant and now. I'm on my way to Inform Aureolus of what happens when you kidnap my FRIEND" Tsubaki's roar echoed through the building as she stalking towards Aureolus' office with clear intent in her steps. The intent to kill.
Around her energy flickered and danced surrounding Kamijou Tsubaki in an aura of shimmering lightning that rippled through all the colors of the rainbow and several others that seemed impossibly vivid against the mundane reality that they overshadowed.
'Lightning Song of the Heavens' Stiyl idly identified the magical spell that Tsubaki seemed to be emitting out of pure incandescent rage, if that lightning touched him or anyone other then Tsubaki they would be obliterated by the sheer power it possessed.
Even Reality itself was not immune to this as the air warped and twisted under the Eldritch energies that sheathed Tsubaki.
'Even though it should be impossible... I can't help but think that she really is...' Even in his thought Stiyl couldn't finish it. Everything pointed towards that being the case. That being the 'truth', but... his mind couldn't accept that.
'When you have ruled out the possible, whatever remains however improbable, must be the truth'
Tsubaki was far more then she appeared, there was something about her that wasn't normal, even for a Saint.
Stiyl however couldn't remain silent on one thing, one thing that Tsubaki needed to know.
"I know what he wants. It's the Index."
"What?" Tsubaki slowed in her rush to find Aureolus, this new information shocking her out of the deepest portions of her rage, however it still simmered angrily underneath her surprise.
Kamijou couldn't understand that at all. This should be completely unrelated to Index, but everything seemed connected to her somehow.
"Listen, Kamijou Tsubaki. Index had to have her memories erased every year. In order words, every year, her relationship with others would change, and she had to have new partners every year."
"So… what about that?"
"This year, it's you. It was me two years ago, and—"
Stiyl said rather vengefully.
"The partner three years ago was called Aureolus Izzard, and they were teacher and student."
Kamijou was shocked and yet at the same time, unsurprised.
"The fates of all the companions were the same. They tried to prevent Index's mind from being erased, but would surely fail."
Stiyl said with disdain for others and a hint of loathing for himself. 'Just how much has he taken on his shoulders?' Tsubaki idly wondered.
"Of course, he met the same fate—and it seems like he couldn't accept it."
"…What do you mean by that?"
"It's simple. Us companions who were with her weren't abandoned by Index. It's just that she couldn't remember. If that's the case, they just needed to cure Index's mind and make her remember them. Wouldn't they be able to bring her back to themselves?"
Kamijou felt her heart being hammered in by a stake.
She knew why she was so affected by it. It should be a good thing that Index's mind got healed. It was an inexplicable and invisible impact. Just as Kamijou continued to think about it…
That smile.
The smile that was shown to others. Why did it carry such a heavy impact to her?
"…But this won't happen." Stiyl smiled and said, "Just like how erasing one's memory is already such a huge sin, changing the memory of one is also another. That guy must have realized it. Either that, or he completely lost his senses."
The voice was too soft. Just as Kamijou turned around to look at Stiyl's face in order to hear him better…
Stiyl merely exhaled some smoke from the cigarette, calmly shook his head, and said, "It's nothing. What I'm saying is that that guy can't possibly save that child. It's just that simple."
"Why?"
Kamijou couldn't understand it. The man could take away other people's memory or even let the dead revive. What couldn't he do?
"The reason is simple. You."
"?"
"Didn't you save her already? How can someone who's saved be saved again? It's just that simple. There's nothing more to it."
Hearing that, Kamijou finally understood.
Aureolus Izzard was Index's partner three years ago. Ever since he had lost Index, he never had any contact with her, so he didn't understand the current situation.
In other words, Aureolus—
"We're here. He even deliberately opened the door for us nicely."
Stiyl looked forward.
The highest level of Misawa Cram School North Block—the huge doors leading to the principal's office were open, looking like they were inviting Kamijou and Stiyl in.
-SOM-
Verse XI
-SOM-
It was a wide space.
This used to be the room that the ex-branch principal of Misawa Cram School, who was also the founder of the religious science, stayed in. Though the room was luxurious, it still lacked class, reflecting those twisted desires. It was like walking into a restaurant that showed proper etiquette yet wouldn't think for the clients; it was really annoying.
On seeing Kamijou walk into the room, Himegami seemed to be rather shocked. However, Aureolus didn't show any reaction. He looked like he had expected that to happen.
There was a severe emptiness in the place, an emptiness that was like looking at an old and yellowish photograph.
This wasn't the idea of the alchemist.
Perhaps to him, there was nothing in the world he couldn't do.
But because of that, nothing seemed real to that man.
It was like being Shokuhou Misaki a Level 5 Esper who had the powerful ability of wiping or rewriting the minds of others. Even when she saw the people around him smiling, she wouldn't feel happy. That was because Misaki could just create those smiles with a flick of a finger. Even if she saw the perfect smile, the significance to her was only equivalent to 'flicking a finger'.
It was the same logic. 'However, Misaki has become slightly less manipulative and seems all the happier for it'
To someone who could create everything, what he created didn't hold any significance.
That atmosphere didn't feel like that of a battlefield.
Anywhere Aureolus Izzard appeared in would become an empty battlefield.
"Obviously, I can see that you have deduced my goal."
The alchemist said calmly.
"If that's the case, why do you want to stop me? Isn't your rune magic meant to save Index?"
Aureolus glanced down.
In front of the alchemist—on the luxurious table, the silver-haired girl lay sleeping.
Kamijou wanted to dash forward, but was stopped by her desire to learn more about the situation.
"It's simple. This method won't be able to save that child. It's like seeing an operation that will definitely fail on her. However, this child isn't that worthless."
"Not necessarily. That's just your envy. I can understand that. Though we were comrades who had the same dreams crushed, you are unhappy that I surpassed you. I don't find that funny, however. I always had this feeling."
Stiyl frowned.
That's because Aureolus Izzard said it so naturally, without any hint of sarcasm.
"In the past, Index's mind was overloaded with so much information that she had to have her memory erased every year. That was to be fated, something a human body can't defy."
Aureolus sternly said.
"However, by using a power other than that of humans, I can solve this problem. After I got this conclusion, I found it all the more unbelievable. Why is it that nobody suggested that we could borrow the power of vampires?"
"…"
"Vampires have the power of immortality. They can store infinite amounts of memories in the brain that's similar to that of humans. However, I never heard of a vampire breaking his head due to information overload."
The alchemist said.
"Necessarily, vampires really have such an attribute. No matter how much memories they hold, they won't lose their wills."
"Humph. I see. So you intend to interact with vampires and ask them to teach the method to you?"
Stiyl shook the cigarette in his mouth and continued
"For safety sake, let me ask you first. If this method can't be used on a human, what do you intend to do?"
"Clearly If a human body can't do it—I'll move the Forbidden Library outside a human body."
Aureolus answered without any hesitation. Tsubaki growled at him with clear malice.
That meant—
"Turn her into a vampire? Che! Which Christian in the world will be happy about being a descendant of Cain? This is a common mistake we people have. If we want to save someone, the most important thing is that we have to remove our own thoughts and think from their viewpoint, right? I only learnt that recently."
"…Absolutely ridiculous. Such thinking is merely fake kindness. This child once told me at the last moment that she definitely doesn't want to forget me. Even if she defies the teachings, even if she's willing to give up her life, she doesn't wish to forget all these memories. She told me all these with her body unable to move at all, not even realizing that she was crying—all of this while holding a smile!"
Aureolus Izzard seemed to grit his teeth.
Of course, Kamijou didn't know what he was thinking about or recalling, but she could guess it wasn't that hard of a guess.
"Seems like you don't intend to change your mind no matter what. If that's the case, though it's a little cruel, I have to use my trump card."
Stiyl suddenly turned to Kamijou and said, "Oi! Current partner! Tell him! Tell this wreck in front of you what kind of a fatal defect he has?"
"Will that even change his mind?" Tsubaki asked with little warmth in her voice "Also, mister Lolicon please stop giving me strange names, or else I'll have you put on the sex offenders watch list" Stiyl flinched back from both the threat and the clear anger in Tsubaki's eyes.
Aureolus finally turned to look at Kamijou.
Kamijou couldn't tell which part of what Stiyl had said angered Aureolus.
"Just from what age are you coming from?"
This time, Aureolus Izzard looked perplexed as he stared at Kamijou. Tsubaki simply glared back without even the slightest hint of fear.
"That's the case. Index got saved, not by you, not by me, but by the current partner. What you couldn't achieve then was achieved by this woman."
Stiyl revealed a cruel smirk and said.
"This only happened a week ago. Ah, it's to be expected that you didn't know. You were away from that child for three years, so you didn't know that the child got saved."
"That's impossible…"
"Yeah. I can understand that you can't believe it. Besides, even I who witnessed it couldn't believe it as well. No, I didn't want to believe it as well. This is a declaration to myself, that child will never come back to me again."
"PREPOSTEROUS! THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE! HOW CAN THERE BE A WAY TO SAVE INDEX! AND IT'S ONE THAT POSSESSES A HUMAN BODY! AND BESIDES, THIS WOMAN HERE ISN'T A MAGICIAN NOR AN ALCHEMIST. JUST WHAT CAN SHE POSSIBLY DO?"
"Quite a bit as it seems, she is more then you suspect Aureolus Izzard, she managed to defeat your Ars Magna on her own didn't she?"
The alchemist was shocked.
He couldn't remain calm. The alchemist stared at Kamijou.
"…Hold on a minute. That means…"
"That's right. It's been tough on you. I heard you betrayed the Roman Catholic Church and hid underground for three years? It seems like all these were a waste of time. Hm, I can understand the pain of not getting anything back in return. However, this child is living a happy life with her partner as you so wished."
"—Ha…"
The decisive sentence.
Everything that was supporting Aureolus Izzard crumbled. He started to laugh maniacally.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
Tsubaki frowned at Stiyl "You broke him, I was going to do that"
Stiyl shrugged nonchalantly "Only mentally, you were probably going to do mental, physical and emotional"
Tsubaki nodded "True" Never let it be said that Tsubaki wasn't thorough in bringing hell to those she thought deserved it.
…That person had completely lost it.
Kamijou thought about that, blankly but definitely. But unexpectedly, the eyes started to let out a flow. That's because in front of the alchemist—on the huge table, something moved. A girl, the sleeping Index started to regain her consciousness because of Aureolus' mad laugh.
She could be said to be the last defense to Aureolus' mental state.
Index widened her eyes slightly, saying softly like a thread being held by a hand.
"…Tsubaki?" Tsubaki smiled softly at the sleepy nun.
But what she saw wasn't the Aureolus Izzard in front of her.
She didn't care who, when, where, how she was taken there. She didn't even care about her current state, and she wasn't thinking about what had happened to her when she was unconscious.
She smiled. She was smiling happily.
It's only because Kamijou Tsubaki existed in her sights.
"—Ah…"
Kamijou inadvertently stepped forwards.
Kamijou was happy that Index was showing that attitude. Index didn't care about anything else, only Kamijou's expression. The act that was like a kitten opening its eyes made Kamijou feel that this was irreplaceable.
But that scene also brought a sharp cold.
Behind Index, the alchemist who was supposed to be the leading man got completely forgotten by the girl he had protected. His face was as stiff as though he just saw the end of the world.
Kamijou really couldn't face that reality.
Aureolus Izzard was once the male protagonist. He had betrayed the Roman Catholic Church, renounced his beliefs and became an alchemist, all just to save that girl in front of him.
But what he got was the worst outcome.
Even if it was Tsubaki, had she taken just one wrong step, she may have faced a similar fate.
The girl in front of them was a pure holy girl that was beloved by people all over the world.
But because she was a holy girl, she should only love a male protagonist, however her new love for Tsubaki someone who had become both an older sister and almost mother to her.
Such a simple purity that bordered on cruelty actually caused the most damage.
"—I should be perfect! Why are you so unhurried!? What am I lacking!?"
Suddenly, Kamijou remembered the dummy she had beaten.
So that wasn't just a flimsily-made clone. In fact, that dummy actually portrayed the true character of the man Aureolus Izzard.
"Ugh—"
Aureolus Izzard couldn't say anything.
He was just smiling—a twisted smile that was all frozen, like he just burped out air.
Right above Index, Aureolus raised his hand.
That looked like a blade of a guillotine, but even so, Index's eyes hadn't left Kamijou. That caused the alchemist to be even more enraged, and the arm he raised seemed to insert even more force.
"Index…!"
It took less then a second, Tsubaki almost warped reality as she moved, Aureolus couldn't even blink before he was lifted off the ground with a hand chocking him.
In front of him was Tsubaki, filled with rage and wrath the air around her was almost liquifying under the sheer power her presence brought.
Aureolus then made one final mistake.
He looked into Tsubaki's eyes.
All fight left the beleaguered Alchemist, he fought the urge to buckle... and he failed.
Like an ancient god the un relenting gaze of Kamijou Tsubaki tore into the Alchemist.
Tsubaki reared back, her intention easily deduced and Aureolus simply closed his eyes and prepared.
"Stop, please" the soft voice of Index broke through the silence that had fallen in the chamber.
Tsubaki lowered Aureolus and turned to face Index.
Aureolus opened his eyes and looked at the one who had become the center of his universe.
Index smiled sleepily almost like a kitten or puppy in her innocent nature.
"Tsubaki, please. Don't hurt him, please"
Tsubaki sighed in amusement "Only for you Index, only for you"
She turned her head to face Aureolus "Index has chosen to give you a second chance, don't waste it. Run, run from this place, this city and never return. If you do, I'll ship whats left of you once I get my hands on you to the Vatican and..." Kamijou released Aureolus making him drop to the ground with a thud "... I'll make certain you survive the trip, no matter how many... or how few pieces make said trip" The clear threat and malice in Tsubaki's voice made Aureolus nod rapidly.
Tsubaki turned to Index who sleepily held her arms out, she was still tired from the magic that affected her and was acting more childish because of it. Tsubaki picked her up and walked towards the exit, however once she reached Himegami she stopped and said "If you want, I can take the burden that you carry. All you have to do is follow me" Himegami didn't even hesitate, she nodded and followed the Saint out the door.
Stiyl watched the Saint and her retinue leave, he took out a cigarette, lit it and took a deep puff of it's smoke "Every time she gets serious, the world almost seems to shift around her"
Stiyl chuckled with ill humor "But I guess that's what a Saint does"
Aureolus coughed in surprise "She was a Saint!"
Stiyl froze up and turned to Aureolus in surprise
"You didn't know? She is Calamitas000 The Saint Who Bears the Misfortunes of Mankind,she has taken your burdens upon her broad shoulders. Worry not, for I know that Index will never have to forget again, with Tsubaki she might never even have to show any emotion other then happiness or joy. I can't help but be envious of both of them"
Aureolus smiled happily where he sat "After hearing that, I couldn't even think of disrupting Index's joy"
Aureolus paused for a moment
"And I agree, I am quite Envious"
-SOM-
End
Act II
-SOM-
Originally I was going to have an awesome fight scene where Tsubaki completely owned Aureolus, which as I wrote this chapter changed to her simply breaking his will and throwing him out the window.
Having Index save his life was a last minute decision... but I believe that it fits who Tsubaki and Index are as people.
Tsubaki is a human who has taken on the role of a monster... so that others never have to make such a choice.
Index has become her anchor to Humanity and is therefore perhaps the most important person in Tsubaki's world.
To all those who wanted an awesome fight scene or epic clash, don't be upset!
After all the Sister's Arc is next.
Place your bets!
Will Tsubaki own Accelerator?
Or Will Accelerator have his own tricks against her?
Or perhaps Mikoto will bring a surprise to the table!
Dragonsong2795... out!