"Hoo~ Hoo~"
Arata blew lightly on his arm, which was covered in several rows of teeth marks, his eyelids twitching slightly. Even with a Saint's body that prevented actual injury, the pain was still very real. He turned his gaze toward Index, who stood to the side with her arms crossed, cheeks puffed up, and her head turned away in anger.
"Even if you're angry because you're hungry, there's no need to bite me this many times. If I get hurt, no one will be able to make you breakfast."
Although Index had bitten him, what he sensed from her was anger mixed with worry rather than genuine hostility. He had never truly seen her furious before, but he imagined that when she was truly angry, she would probably go completely silent instead.
Index clenched her teeth and glared at him, looking as though she might pounce again at any moment.
"Arata, do you really think I bit you just because I was hungry?"
"I mean... that is probably the main reason," Arata said awkwardly as he scratched his cheek. From his perspective, her appetite was definitely the most obvious factor. Still, leaving her hungry the entire night was undeniably his fault. Even if she had eaten a lot yesterday afternoon, it was still too much.
"Arata, I'm really angry. No, that's not it, I'm scared too. You didn't come back last night. You promised me you would. I waited for so long, but you never returned. I was so worried. I thought something might have happened to you, or that you were fighting somewhere I didn't know about. I wanted to go out and look for you, but I don't even know the way. And what if you came back and couldn't find me? You would be even more worried. That's why I'm angry.!"
Index spoke in one breath, her words pouring out without hesitation, completely sincere and without any hidden intention.
Looking at her flushed face, Arata smiled gently and lowered his head slightly.
"I'm sorry. I did plan to come back on time, but I changed my plans midway and broke my promise to you. Please don't be angry, alright?"
He clasped his hands together and looked at her with an innocent expression, almost like someone offering a prayer.
"Hmph! I'll forgive you this time. But if you make me worry like that again, I absolutely, absolutely won't forgive you so easily."
Index puffed her cheeks and spoke in a softer tone.
"Understood, understood. You don't need to worry too much. This is Academy City. Compared to the outside world, it's much safer. You won't be attacked for no reason."
Arata smiled as he said this.
Safe? That only applied to the surface. In the dark side of Academy City, people died every single day. Compared to this place, the outside world was far safer. Academy City was, in truth, one of the most dangerous places in existence.
"I'm hungry, Arata..."
Index lowered her head weakly and held her stomach.
"Alright, alright. I'll cook right away."
Arata yawned, rubbed the dark circles under his eyes, and walked into the kitchen. He was truly exhausted. Skipping Komoe-sensei's class today was unavoidable.
"First, let's clean up. Even though this isn't my first time using a Clow Card, it's the first time I've summoned a Clow Spirit. I'm actually a little excited."
He looked at the kitchen, which was still filled with lingering cooking fumes, and a card appeared in his hand. The illustration depicted a mermaid girl. She looked shy and gentle, wearing a blue pearl necklace, surrounded by floating bubbles.
"Come out, Bubble."
Arata spoke softly. The Clow Card emitted a gentle glow before drifting down to the floor. In an instant, countless bubbles filled the entire kitchen, and a small mermaid appeared before him, bowing shyly.
"Wow... so cute. And so many bubbles."
Arata's curiosity was piqued as he reached out and gently patted her head. The sensation was warm and soft, completely indistinguishable from a real human body.
Bubble closed her eyes and leaned into his hand, clearly enjoying the gentle touch.
Suppressing the urge to touch her tail, Arata spoke.
"Bubble, can you help clean the entire apartment?"
Bubble nodded timidly. Immediately, countless bubbles rose into the air and spread throughout the entire room.
"Eh? What is this? Soap bubbles? Cough cough..."
Index, who had been waiting with a fork in hand, was suddenly engulfed in bubbles and instinctively covered her mouth and nose.
"Hehehe!"
The Bubble Card let out a clear, cheerful laugh, circling Arata twice before all the bubbles suddenly vanished.
At the same time, the entire apartment became spotless. The previously worn floor now reflected light like a mirror. Everything, including Arata himself, was completely clean, leaving a refreshing sensation behind.
"Huh? What just happened?"
Index blinked in confusion, staring at the sparkling surroundings in disbelief.
"Magic? Or esper ability?"
She rushed into the kitchen and immediately spotted the small mermaid.
"A mermaid? Arata, where did this come from? Was that magic just now?"
"Yeah. She's my friend. Her name is Bubble."
Arata smiled.
Even for Index, who possessed the knowledge of 103,000 grimoires, this was still surprising. While mermaids were recorded in magical texts as mysterious lifeforms, often described as semi-energy beings created during ancient mythological eras, they were not something one could casually summon.
From a scientific perspective, their existence could be compared to something like the Misaka Sisters, artificial lifeforms with a defined system.
"Arata, you actually have such an amazing friend? Could it be that you've been to the lost continent of Atlantis?"
Index tilted her head curiously, her eyes shining like a cat discovering something new.
"I haven't been there. But I'm about to start cooking, and I'm a bit worried you might try to eat her since she just appeared."
Arata said this with a completely serious expression.
Index puffed her cheeks again and walked out of the kitchen. She knew she would only get in the way, but she still felt dissatisfied.
How could he underestimate her like that? What a jerk.
Arata did not recall the Bubble Card. It seemed she did not want to return to the form of a card and stay inside the Gate of Babylon, so he simply let her stay and accompany Index.
...
Upside down within a sealed space, Aleister Crowley stared expressionlessly at the silver screen before him. Even he could not comprehend the origin of the countless elements that clearly did not belong to this world.
Just as Aiwass had stated, the being known as Arata was a miracle of this universe. A singular existence that had never appeared before and would never appear again.
The gears of the shifting phase had already begun to turn.
This miracle was incomprehensible. It granted desires in ways that defied all logic. If one wished for a Christian identity, they would obtain the body of a Saint. If one desired abilities, they would gain them. If one sought companionship, even supernatural beings would appear.
Aiwass had warned him clearly. He must never harbor unnecessary thoughts toward the existence known as Arata.
"Aiwass... it seems you have taken interest in what he said earlier."
Aleister spoke calmly.
There was no way he could ignore the words spoken during their first encounter.
...
Re@d adv@nce ch@pters on p@t
guilt_free_daoist
Jo!n d!sc0rd I!nk in synops!s.
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