Italics - thoughts
Bold - Emphasis
Italics Bold - Magic names or titles
"normal" - speech
" underlined bold " - Mental transmissions
Disclaimer:I do not own Toaru Majutsu no Index nor its characters. All rights belong to Kazuma Kamachi. Except for my own characters that I create.
Chapter 10: High Priest
"A god...of magic?"
"Yes, little girl. Perhaps it would be better to compare me to that 'terrorist' all of you were so wary about a few months back. Othinus." High Priest spoke in a dismissive tone, causing a few tick marks to appear on Mikoto's forehead. "Why you!"
"I am not going through all the shit with Othinus again, this time with you!"
Touma screamed into the air, causing everyone present to look at him. As they watched, small tears gathered at the corners of Touma's eyes. High priest shrugged.
"I suppose that is fair, yes."
"Nor am I going to allow you to do as you please!"
"Ho? And how do-"
"What is it!? What is it!?" Touma grabbed onto the magic god, shocking many present. "Destruction of the entire world? Killing half the population so that the other half can survive? Create a hell where only the top 5% of the world can survive? Make an eden for magicians, with the destruction of Academy City as the start? Or do you want to use my body to conquer the world?!" As he ranted, Touma had begun to shake the old man back and forth, his head looking more like a bobble-head. "Just say it so that I can smash that illusion of yours into tiny bits already!"
"My my. That is quite a bit of stress you have there, Kamijou Touma." High Priest chuckled on the outside, but on the inside, he was a little stunned, to say the least. He was expecting tears, sure. What Othinus did gave him quite a bit of trauma, after all. Although, said trauma was erased, courtesy of Othinus. He may not have known the Norse Magic God that well, but he could tell it was to pay him back what she did to him.
But what he was not expecting was for the Imagine Breaker to have what looked like a mental breakdown when he saw him. Hmm, perhaps Niang-Niang or Nephthys would have been better suited to do this. They are much better at handling the males, after all, compared to this old man.
"Kamijou-san, please get a hold of yourself!"
A blur of movement later, Touma was ripped off the magic god, held by a gary-blond youth. His left arm had a metal band on it. Curiously, High Priest noted the structure of the thing attached to this new addition's arm. Oh ho? This person...I have never seem him before, so he must be a new friend of the Kamijou Touma. But, I must say, that weapon of his...very interesting...
"Yurei-san!" Touma faltered for a moment, before he continued his actions, albeit a bit more frantic than before. "Let go of meee! I am not looking for some skinship between guuuuuuyyyyyssss!"
You say that, but you were nearly strangling a person less than a few seconds ago... Everyone sweatdropped at Touma's list of priorities.
"You say that, but you were nearly strangling a magic god with your bare hands a few moment ago! Calm down, Kamijou-san." Percival's statement stopped Touma's struggling. Sensing that he had calmed down, Percival released him.
"Good, it seems you have finally calmed yourself." High Priest cackled. "I am a magic god, so it would be reasonable for a human to reach an understanding a little too slow for my tastes. Although, I am not so impatient that this little wait would drive me into killing you for making me wait. We have waited for years. A few extra minutes would not hurt."
We?
Touma decided to stop his mind right there. "So, why are you here?"
"My my. Straight to the point. I suppose you would prefer things to be straight and simple, what with magicians hiding their original goal with fake plans and such." High Priest chuckled, his thin husk of a body clearly seen against the silk like robes he wore. At his side, a golden blade was held like a walking stick in his left hand. "But, before that. What do you think of the current world?"
"Now now, no need to be so defensive." High Priest stepped forwards, his right hand raised in a placating gesture. "I am not going to do something as drastic as what Othinus did. Recreating the world and all of that. Nor am I going to complain about the world being remade. What I am asking is about your impression of the world in general. So, what are your thoughts when you hear the words 'the world'? "
"I guess...a place where all my friends are. My...no, our home planet." Touma spoke slowly, trying to fund the words. "It is the place I was born, and, despite its large size, and the small area I live on, I would not change it, nor trade it, for anything, I guess."
"Interesting." High Priest raised a brow at the boy.(Or attempted to, his dry skin cracking under the attempted action). "That is a good response. But, here is another question for you:There have been a number of events that would have shook the earth. And in Othinus's case, quite literally so. Yet, they all take place whenever you are in the area. Why is that?"
Huh? Touma had a bad feeling about this...
Mikoto was wary. But she knew. The power of a Magic God was way beyond that of a level 5 esper or a Saint. Much less a normal esper. Touma, having Imagine Breaker, was the only exception to the effects of Othinus's world recreation. At least, that was before she met High Priest.
And now, she was having a few doubts of her own. I thought Touma was the the only one that could remember Othinus's actions, and even rebel against them. Guess I was wrong, what with there being even more Magic Gods!
High Priest's 'question' drew her out of her inner doubt.
As she watched, a feeling inside her was starting to become more and more prominent. It was telling her to run, to hide, even move, anything that would get her away from the old mummy.
"The world is very fragile. Out of all the seven billion people living in the world, not everyone supports. And for those that do, they too do not support it equally. And Imagine Breaker, as you know, is the reference point for all Magicians, despite them fearing its power. So, Imagine Breaker truly is the greatest supporting pillar in the world. But, therein lies the question: How on earth did this thick pillar that help support the world, end up being sealed inside a simple individual's right hand? Would this also mean that that individual supports the world the most? Personally, I think that that person is the most unique person, for having that right hand with its sealed Imagine Breaker."
He is right, in a way. Mikoto thought to herself. Despite there being 7 billion people on the planet, out of all of them, only one person gets Imagine Breaker. And, Touma just so happens to be that person. But, is the person who gets Imagine Breaker the one who supports the world the most unique? I don't think so.
"I don't think that is true."
Touma looked at his right hand as he spoke. "Sure, Imagine Breaker is very powerful against the supernatural, but that is all. Against modern weapons and human skills, its just a right hand."
Keeping silent, he thought about it for a bit more, before he continued. "I mean, to a Magic God up above, this world is nothing more than a game board, one that can be remade over and over again like an MMO character. But, that does not make it right. This isn't an RPG that is made to be beaten and is 'game over' once you reach the end. The world goes on, even without these pillars you just spoke about. The person who made it possible for us to use electricity? He died, but the world moved on. The people who allowed us to travel the world by air, land or sea? They are dead too, yet the world still goes on. Even if I am a pillar, that would mean the world's lifespan would be, at most, another hundred years. But, that would be impossible. So, the world must continue on without me, the bearer of my right hand. It has to go on, even if...no, when I die."
"You believe all who live in this world are equal?"
"I do."
"Heh. How naive." High Priest laughed. "Please, do think on it, Kamijou Touma. This country consider's the killing of an old doctor a greater crime than the murder of an innocent man. The murder of a child a greater crime than the killing of an old man. These laws might as well say that the penalty of the crime is based on the future ability of the person, making it a completely unequal, biased system that is governing this world. You might as well just point a finger at a regular guy and say that if he dies right there and then, his death would not impact anything at all."
"That's just half a picture. There is no evidence on what you just said to be the basis of the government and its laws."
"Perhaps so." High Priest shrugged. "I never expected to win this anyway. I was just...what is the word? Ah, yes, grasping at straws."
Touma looked at his hand once more. It was true that he had never thought about the world, nor its systems, too deeply. But, he knew that what High Priest had just said was not true. At least, not completely.
If there was a choice to kill a person who murdered for fun, and a person who killed to prevent the murder of thousands, a rational person would choose to kill the one who killed for fun. But, for Touma, he would rather have no one killed. Rather, he would have both of them rehabilitated, changed for the better, to help society. That was who he is. A person who would choose the third option.
"You know," High Priest continued on. "I have this feeling that you are the centre of the world, having Imagine Breaker sealed in your hand and all."
"So?" Touma was getting nervous. His instincts screaming at him that his misfortune was going to come down on him. Hard.
"Has it occurred to you that every incident that has occurred, from your introduction to the Magic Side to Othinus's actions, has been orchestrated by someone?" High Priest gave no impression of stopping until he got to where he wanted. "Every incident that you have been through, every scenario, was manipulated by people in power? Or, at the very least, powerful people?"
"Like, for example, you Magic Gods?""
Percival suddenly spoke up, surprising Touma and High Priest. "Really, you need to be more attentive to your surroundings, Kamijou-san. You even forgot about Shokuhou-san and Misaka-san."
"Tooouummaaaaa..."
As if on cue, the two Tokiwadai girls spoke in a scary tone, sending shivers up the misfortunate boy. Scary!
"Ho ho! Such scary bloodlust!" High Priest cackled. "And you, boy, you stole my thunder!"
"Like you need any more." Percival rebutted High Priest. "You introduced yourself in a dramatic way, showed up like an extra from 'T#* Mum$y', skin all dried up and glowing eyes, and even led this conversation to the climax you wanted. So, why do you need more thunder?"
"...Ha! Such truth cannot be refuted, young boy! You have peaked my interest, although you would be gone soon enough. Tell me, what is your name."
"Yurei Percival." Steely eyes met glowing ones. "So, do get to the point already. We are wasting daylight here. You may not be concerned with waiting, but us mortals are."
"Such fire! And in one so young!" Hugh Priest grinned. "Fine, Yurei-san. I shall get to the point. Kamijou Touma!"
"H-Hai!?" Touma managed to splutter over the argument between the two girls(How the heck it evolved from scolding Touma to fighting each other, Percival and Touma have no clue. And Touma was even there!)
"Become our Scorer, and obtain the altar of the gods."
"...Huh?"
"Oh dear, perhaps I got ahead of myself." High Priest muttered. "Let me reiterate. Be the Scorer of us, the True Gremlin."
"...I'm sorry, but I have no clue what you are talking about."
"Oh, what is this feeling?"
"Probably hurt. After all, a person you sought after is giving you dead fish eyes."
"This is a rather unpleasant feeling." High Priest leaned on his golden blade. "I suppose it would be better to explain it from the beginning."
"As you know, humans have desires." High Priest tapped on the hilt of his golden blade. "Wealth. Fame. Pleasure. Just to name a few. But, us Magic Gods, we have no need for this. We have no interest in ruling the world, or killing those who would threaten us. What need is there when you can just snap your fingers and obtain whatever you desire?"
With his hands that seemed ready to fall of, he spread then wide, golden blade held loosely in his left hand. "And in Gremlin, there are dozens of us Magic Gods. It is not like the group Othinus led, nor is it a mix of Science members and Magicians. No. It is made purely of us Magic gods."
Touma felt a cold chill go up his spine. MORE Magic Gods...
"But, of course, there is a reason this organisation was formed. Simply put, there are too many of us." High Priest's outfit smoothly hanged from its black rag-like robes, into one that someone would usually find on a typical egyptian priest. A leather animal skin from a leopard was wrapped around his chest, momentarily exposing his mummified body, before it was covered with a purple silk robe. This was also tied by leather, this time cow, wrapping around his stomach area. A symbol was drawn in the centre, most likely to show which god or goddess he once worshipped. "As you have seen, we Magic Gods have the ability to change the world as we see fit. However, there is but one world."
"So,a battle of resources then? Like, one canvas, but too many painters?"
"Yes. And Gremlin was the solution to that. However, it was only temporary. So, we decided to find a new solution. You."
"Me?"
"Yes. See, we are beings that wish to paint the world we see fit, with our own version of happiness. But, with so many of us, what would happen if there was only one resource, enough for only one of us?"
Seeing Touma's pale face, High Priest smiled. "Yes, it is as you think. A fight. A fight for the ownership of this resource. However, such a fight amongst us Magic Gods would end up destroying the resource we so desire. Hence, we came to the conclusion of requiring outside help."
"We need someone to help us. We have no interest in the outside world. We are only interested in our own. A house full of infighting is nothing more than a house of cards in a windy area. Focusing on it is as meaningless as trying to build a house made of paper and glue in a hurricane."
"Do you understand now? We mean no harm. However our own individual ideals prevent us from reaching our own happiness."
Touma could see it, as well as the others. Humans are selfish. Gods, even more so. They would not try to compromise. No, they would put up a fight over their own ideals of happiness. One so large, no one could manage it.
"And that is where you come in, Kamijou Touma. For us, you are our Scorer. A person who could help us with our problems. For us, you are the Scales of Anubis, the Avalon of our Excalibur."
"?"
"Oh dear. Perhaps I misjudged you. Your lack of knowledge in Magic is too great. What I am saying is that even Gods have tools to help them. Some are to help them judge if their actions are just, or if their actions of right. And for us, Kamijou Touma, you are that tool. We are not interested in the outside world. That is something I can say on behalf of all Magic Gods. But, what we do for our won desires? Be it a fight, peaceful talks with no violence, or even a simple game, our own actions can destroy the very world we seek. But, if there was a way for us to direct our wishes into a single point...it would be you, Kamijou Touma."
The cold feeling Touma had felt at the beginning began to grow in the pits of his stomach, like a patch mold.
"Kamijou Touma. You are but a 'simple' high school boy. You, who stopped World War 3 with a single fist. You, who worked out a compromise with the extreme irregularity known as the Imagine Breaker. You have said repeatedly that you are an ordinary high school boy. But, are you really?"
"You talked to and saved Othinus. A Magic God, just like me. You have helped stop many things that went on behind the scenes in the world. Can you really say that you are just 'an ordinary high school boy' ?" Silence was met with that statement. "I guess not, eh? Kamijou Touma?"
"Gremlin could be called the keyboard connected to the world, and destiny. Simply having a person push or pull at it is enough to distort the current age. Whether we do something, or do nothing at all, the current age would be affected. Magic Gods, even more so." High Priest smoothly spoke an unbelievable, yet undeniable, truth.
"That is why we want a canary in the coal mine, so to speak. We ant to set our feet down such that no one is affected. But, our very being prevents us from doing so. Is everyone truly happy? Is all well? We want to know these answers, so we need to get them from a smaller perspective One of the ants crawling on the earth. "
"I-is that so?" Misaki finally worked up her courage to speak. High Priest's figure, as well as his very nature as a Magic God, had made her subconsciously stop talking. Anger helped unfreeze her, but only for a moment. It was just now that she managed to get back her bearings. "But, why Touma?"
"It is because of what he did that we want him, little girl." He eyed Misaki's bust before he laughed. "...or not, judging by your chest."
Feeling violated, Misaki attempted to cover her impressive bust. It only managed to make them look bigger.
"So," Kamijou summed it up with a gulp. "Gremlin has no interest in world domination, nor intend to wipe out the human race. The Magic Gods only want to live happily, hidden away from prying eyes. That's all you want?"
"Yes."
"Then why ask me to help you? Why would you be worried about us humans."
"We aren't. Not really, anyway. This is just a slight concern."
"I recently learned of these...net cafes." High Priest stared at Touma as he spoke, unnerving the boy slightly. "They have security measures and programs, and would give you the 'No threats found' message when you run the program or a diagnostic. This is more or less what we want when it comes to you, Kamijou Touma. A safety measure, to help reassure us that all is well. It does not matter if you use our power for your own gain. Destroy nations, or save them from total destruction. In fact, we will not burden you, our scorer, with the actions and responsibilities of a Magic God. We just wish for external evidence we need to rest easy. Nothing more, nothing less."
"But, that still does not explain why you chose me." Touma brought it round back to the question that was on everyone's mind. "Why me? You could have chosen another person that was wielding Imagine Breaker, yet you chose me specifically." A bolt of lightning seemed to strike Touma as he thought of something "Please don't say that it was something like drawing lots on which wielder of Imagine Breaker should help you?"
"..."
"...Such Misfortune..." Touma took High Priest's silence as a yes.
"Ah, no. I am afraid you have that completely wrong, and backwards as well, if you are thinking that we chose you for what you have done." High Priest spoke in a slightly apologetic, yet condescending, tone. "From the very beginning, you were the scorer meant to view the world. You were the being hypothesized by us Magic Gods who are the gears of the world. That is why you worked toward a resolution without going off track during those events you went through. Imagine Breaker is merely an addition to your true nature. Or rather, it was drawn in by your true nature. The name 'Kamijou Touma', 'the One who Purifies Gods and Slays Demons', was not given to the power of your right hand. It was given to you, was it not?"
"You were chosen as our Scorer due to your very nature, your very spirit, that befits the name of the One who Purifies Gods and Slays Demons." High Priest explained. "And this is not a bad deal for you either. Out of all the various world-shaking incidents that had occurred within your reach, how many people were injured or lost on the way to those conclusions? You completed everything from beginning to end, but have you ever scored a perfect 100 as you did so?" High Priest gave Touma a moment to digest this little fact. "If you score us and you alter the world as you wish, the distortions brought by us Magic Gods can change that."
That was likely true.
He only had to think back to Othinus. A single Magic God had done so very much, but now he was being told he would receive unconditional assistance from every Magic God in the history of the world. The puny boy's prayers would be placed on the rails set up by the gods. And there were no side-effects and he did not have to give anything up in exchange. It would all be accomplished from some distant place. The High Priest had said something about being weakened, but what did that matter?
Mostly any incident would be over in a single second. In fact, would any incidents be allowed to begin in the first place? "You will be the security software that gives us peace of mind when you tell us there is no problem and you will gain control of memory. You will literally receive access to the power of the gods and to destiny."
It was a decisive statement. "By controlling those distortions, you will indirectly be able to mimic being a Magic God. Your world will belong to you and your influence can cover this world in which six or seven billion people live. You can eliminate any tragedy before it occurs, no hatred will ever grow, and you will live in a world where everyone is happy and fulfilled. After World War III and the business with Othinus, you should already know your decisions can influence the world. There is no reason to think too hard about it. You can simply think of it as gaining the ultimate trump card for everything you...no, everything the entire Kamijou Faction has been doing."
Touma ignored the part about the Kamijou Faction. If he really thought about it, what High Priest was saying is the truth. If he obtains the power of the Magic Gods by becoming their Scorer, so many problems could be resolved. After all, how much had happened because of his powerlessness?
Terra of the Left had died. Ollerus nearly died. Misaka Mikoto had half of her 'Sisters', the clones, killed. Accelerator had to face the pressure of killing the clones(Granted, he could have chosen not to do so, but the constant atacks on him had drove him pass the breaking point. Thankfully, he regretted it and tried to stop them via some rather cruel and heartless tactics). And many, many other things.
But what if he had the power to change all that? A world that was happy? Like Othinus's world of smiles? Touma knew the results of this selfish wish of his. He had seen it firsthand.
Famine all around the world would end.
People will pass from old age instead of dying from illness or human hands.
All the world would be a happy utopia. No conflict. No famine. No illness. Only happiness.
..
..
..
..
..
...But was it truly fine? This way of saving everyone? Of allowing everyone to keep their smiles?
"Now that you have understood, Kamijou Touma," High Priest raised his hand, allowing it reach out to Touma. The boy gazed at the dried, mummified hand. The gesture was obvious. It was one he had done may times.
A handshake.
"Become the Scorer of the Magic Gods. Obtain the altar of the Gods."
AN
Whoop the doo. This is gonna be posted a little early. I need to focus on the next couple of chapters, so expect some confusion and some things not making sense, I suppose.
Right now, plot-wise, this is going along quite fine. However, details-wise, this fic is going off the rails. Choo choo, its crashing through!
No, seriously, the details are all going haywire, even for me, the PLANNNER! Originlly, I was planning to follow the LN with little changes, but then, I thought, "Thats cool and all, but that would make absolutely no sense. I am at Dianoid. LN is at school." So, I threw everything into a mixer, and blended. Result:Trash.
But, I have to continue. So, I am gonna do some editing here and there. Also, to address some reviews...
Cbustroyer: Yeah, sorry about my PM. Yep, this arc is gonna be retconned. Just a bit, though.
Mosdra Kazuma: Yep yep yep! We have some elements from the LN. It IS a fanfic after all. Although, there will be some key differences, seeing as this is further up the Toaru timeline, and with an OC character.
Whelp, that's all folks! Anime is life, keep clean in this period of unrest, and make sure that everyone of you is healthy! Plus, let us all hope that those infected recover from Covid-19.