After settling matters on Aleister's side, Fang Li finally returned to his dormitory.
But the moment he got back, he was immediately greeted by Index's endless lecture.
"I heard everything, Fang Li!"
Ignoring the frightened Sphinx while slamming her hands on the table, Index angrily shouted at Fang Li, who was sitting across from her.
"All those injuries you had earlier were because you fought a Saint, right? Are you an idiot? You must be an idiot! Actually fighting a Saint and all that, it's way too reckless!"
Being bombarded by Index's furious scolding, Fang Li half-narrowed his eyes and glanced toward Sylvia, who was smiling pleasantly beside them, causing his expression to become somewhat exasperated.
Apparently, Index had learned the entire story from Sylvia.
"I've thought this for a long time already, Fang Li completely lacks understanding of the Magic Side! First, you infiltrated one magic organization after another just to steal dangerous things like Original Grimoires, and now you're even fighting abnormal existences like Saints without telling me. It's infuriating!"
Index aggressively continued lecturing Fang Li.
"Even if you possess incomplete Magic God power, you're still being far too careless! The previous incidents were one thing, but this time you actually fought a Saint! Do you even understand what a Saint is, Fang Li?!"
Faced with Index's lecture, Fang Li merely kept his eyes half-narrowed.
"Aren't they just special humans capable of using a portion of the Son of God's power?" Fang Li replied to Index in a rather uninterested tone. "I also possess incomplete Magic God power on my side, so the conditions should be considered fairly equal, right?"
"That's exactly why I'm saying you understand nothing!" Index snapped, her brows rising sharply. "Looks like I really need to teach you properly. Listen carefully, what a Saint actually is, "
"Alright, alright, I know Saints are amazing, okay?" Fang Li interrupted Index's explanation and said helplessly, "But didn't I still win in the end?"
"Win?! You were covered in blood! How can that possibly count as winning?!" Index angrily protested. "And what I can't accept the most is that you fought that kind of opponent without even telling me! Without telling me at all!"
"I heard you the first time. You don't need to repeat it twice," Fang Li replied in an even more helpless tone. "Besides, weren't you absent at the time? And you were the one who ran off without my permission first."
"Th-That still doesn't matter! You could've waited until I came back before doing something like that!" Index immediately became somewhat guilty, yet still stubbornly remained angry. "Anyway, if the opponent is a Magician, then I, the Index Librorum Prohibitorum, should obviously be the one stepping in! Just relying on Fang Li alone is way too unreliable!"
That part, at least, was true.
Not the part about Fang Li being unreliable.
Rather, borrowing Index's power when facing Magicians was indeed a wise decision.
Index existed precisely to counter all kinds of Magicians.
With the knowledge of the 103,000 Original Grimoires recorded within her mind, Index would certainly have been able to instantly discern the characteristics of Kanzaki's techniques and the weaknesses of a Saint, then provide targeted countermeasures.
If Index had been present to guide Fang Li during the battle against Kanzaki, he probably would have won far more easily.
That was the true role of the Index Librorum Prohibitorum.
Index was also fully aware of the significance of her own existence, which was why she possessed an unusual level of obsession when it came to dealing with Magicians.
Not to mention that the opponent this time had been a Saint, a nuclear-weapon-class existence within the Magic Side, an individual capable of opposing Angels.
Index clearly felt that it was her duty to step forward.
"Besides, that Saint used to be your colleague, and even now she's still your coworker in Necessarius, the Anglican Church's 0th Parish, isn't she?"
Fang Li reminded Index of this.
"I was planning to snatch an Original Grimoire from her. Would you really have helped me with that?"
Fang Li's words caused Index to fall silent.
Then, somewhat hesitantly, she spoke:
"W-Well, didn't that Saint disobey the Anglican Church's orders and disappear on her own? Then I'd have a reason to deal with her, right?"
Put that way, it did make a certain amount of sense.
Still, Kanzaki regarded Index as an important friend. Was it really okay for Index to stand against her like that?
"N-No matter what, Fang Li was way too reckless this time!" Index stubbornly insisted. "You need to seriously reflect on your actions!"
"Yeah, yeah, got it." Fang Li replied somewhat impatiently. "I'll reflect on it."
"You don't look even remotely sorry at all!" Index began slamming the table repeatedly again as she shouted, "Someone like Fang Li absolutely needs to be punished!"
As she spoke, Index began grinding her teeth.
"You're planning to bite me again?" Fang Li immediately became wary and even warned her, "I'm telling you right now, if you bite me again this time, I'll retaliate without hesitation."
However, Index ignored him completely and slowly approached Fang Li while continuing to bare her teeth.
Just as Fang Li was preparing to deliver a fierce chop to the head approaching him, Sylvia, who had been watching the show from the side the entire time, finally intervened.
"Alright now, Index, forgive him already." Sylvia placed a hand on Index's shoulder and soothed her gently. "Fang Li already knows he was wrong."
"Really?" Index looked at Sylvia, then turned toward Fang Li, staring directly at him as she asked unhappily, "Then you won't run off to deal with Magicians by yourself anymore?"
"Nope, we won't." Sylvia smiled as though comforting a child. "From now on, whenever we deal with Magicians, we'll absolutely bring Index along."
"Really?" Index's mood instantly brightened like sunshine after rain. Then she seriously reminded Fang Li, "Then don't forget it in the future. Whenever you fight Magicians, you have to bring me."
"Yeah, yeah, understood." Fang Li nodded with a helpless laugh.
Although Index still seemed somewhat dissatisfied with Fang Li's attitude, she ultimately accepted it.
At that moment, Fang Li and Sylvia exchanged glances, instantly understanding each other's thoughts through tacit understanding and arriving at the same decision.
"Oh right, there's something I want to tell you," Fang Li said to Index. "You have to listen calmly. No yelling."
"Okaaay~~" Index responded absentmindedly while playing with Sphinx.
Looking at Index like that, Fang Li spread his hands and spoke.
"Sylvia and I are planning to return to our hometown for a while. During that time, you'll have to stay somewhere else temporarily."
The moment those words were spoken, Index froze completely.
Half a second later, a scream echoed throughout the room.
"W-Whaaaaaaaat?!"
The shout shook the entire dormitory.
(End Of This Chapter)
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