"If you like it, you can stay here. Although the room is small, I can sleep on the floor. And you can also eat the world's number one chef's cooking every day." Arata paused for a moment after saying this, then smiled brightly.
Index only has one year of memories, and in that year, aside from mistakenly believing she was being chased by a magician and fleeing, most of her memories were probably just searching for food everywhere.
In other words, Arata might now be the most important person she remembers.
"Thank you for your kindness, but that is impossible." Index said without hesitation, her expression calm and saintly.
"I will leave tomorrow. Those evil sorcerers will track me using the magic. Sooner or later, they will catch up. This room might be destroyed without us even noticing. You've already helped me once."
"Do you know my motto in life?" Arata could not help but laugh at her words.
Index tilted her head slightly, like a curious kitten.
"If you haven't done good deeds, don't become a vile person who mocks kindness. If you do decide to do good deeds, you cannot give up halfway. I am very stubborn, and once I make up my mind, I will not change it. So I definitely won't let you leave here." Arata said firmly, though his hands did not stop using the hair dryer.
Hearing these words, Index's glassy blue eyes shone with a small glimmer of light, and her smile began to soften.
"You are truly incredible. My name is Index. Those magicians are chasing me because of my identity; they want to obtain my 103,000 grimoires."
"But I will be safe once I find a Puritan church, so there is nothing to worry about."
"I forgot to mention, there is no Catholic sect in this country," Arata said. The country where the science side dominates is extremely complex. Although there are many ideologies, no Catholic sect exists here.
"So now you are completely alone in a foreign land, with no one to rely on. That is why I will not let you leave."
"Do you really want to help me?" Index's smile showed a hint of despair. Her identity made her impossible to save, no matter what.
Just like her magical title, "Dedicatus545," which translates as "the sacrificial lamb guarding the knowledge of the powerful."
"Of course. As my motto says, I am very stubborn." Arata set the hair dryer aside, gently rubbed her head, and said softly, "Whether it is because of the 103,000 grimoires or because of you, Index, I will lend you a hand."
He was not rational; most of his actions were emotional. Yet he was not foolish. Perhaps he lacked integrity, or perhaps he was terrible in some ways, but he sincerely wanted to save her and to protect her.
"Although I cannot remember my past, I know my identity: I am a nun of the Anglican Church of Necessary Evil."
Index gently clasped her hands to her chest, her innocence vanishing as if confessing sins before the statue of the Father. She softly recounted her story.
"Did you know that the Church of Christ was originally unified, but political intervention split it into major and minor sects? Although they worship the same God, the core of their doctrines changed."
"The doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church is 'management and operation of the world,' Russian Protestantism is 'examination and elimination of mysticism,' and the Anglican Church, to which I belong, is 'inquisition and judgment of heresy.'"
"The Puritan doctrine of 'The Church of Necessary Evil' is a concrete expression of the Puritan teachings, studying magic to counter it and devise winning strategies. The core of this doctrine is the 'Index of Forbidden Books,' which contains 103,000 grimoires."
"By sealing all original magical texts and concentrating the knowledge on those who cannot use magic, they can simply consult them when needed, preventing wars over magical texts from breaking out across the world."
"These 103,000 grimoires contain nearly all magic in existence. If someone masters all their knowledge, they could overturn all the rules of the world."
Index spoke softly, her smile tinged with despair. She accepted her fate with equanimity.
"Wherever I go, I will continue to attract magicians seeking the knowledge of the 103,000 grimoires."
"Heh! Don't underestimate me." Arata smiled, looking at Index's tragic expression.
"Then will you come with me to the depths of hell?" Index asked, her clear blue eyes wide with disbelief. She was someone whose fate seemed impossible to change.
"I'm not willing," Arata said without hesitation.
Index still smiled; anyone who knew they were beyond saving would give up.
"I have never been to Hell, but it is certainly not a pleasant place. So I will pull you out of Hell and smash it to pieces while I'm at it," Arata said seriously. He might not currently have the power to destroy Hell, but he was confident time would tell.
"Pfft!" Index blinked and then made a mocking face, picking at her ear with her little finger.
"What are you laughing at!" Arata's expression darkened, and his lips twitched. This brat was so infuriating; she ruined such a touching and emotional moment.
"You don't even believe in Heaven, and you cannot even defeat that evil female sorcerer, yet you promised to shatter Hell. I find that hard to believe." Index sneered mockingly.
"You brat, you are really infuriating! I am going to teach you a lesson!" Arata suddenly exploded, gesturing wildly.
"Wow!" Index seemed startled and let out a high-decibel scream.
Luckily, the soundproofing was excellent; otherwise, the senior students from the sports department next door would have come knocking.
Tonight, Index and Misaka Mikoto would sleep in the same bed, while Arata would sleep on the tatami mat. Perhaps out of trust, he slept in a completely unguarded position.
The next morning came quickly. Surprisingly, the first to rise was not Arata, but Index. She straightened her back, clasped her hands in front of her chest, knelt on the floor, folded her hands, and quietly performed her morning prayers.
The morning sun shone on her, making her appear like a saint bathed in holy light.
What first caught Arata's attention was the glittering four-star card above her head, and his eyes widened instantly.
"Holy crap! I actually got a four-star card on Index today!"
...
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