As Agnese looked at the faint glow emitted from the "St. Mark Tracking Spiritual Item" in her hand, a look of joy immediately appeared on her delicate face.
"Found it. We've finally found the saint."
"Really? Truly?" the bespectacled Sister Lucia leaned closer and asked anxiously.
After searching continuously for an entire day and night, they had finally located their target. If they had failed again, they had planned to retreat to a reception facility to rest before continuing. Even as magicians, going without sleep for that long was already pushing their limits. If they collapsed or exposed their identities, they would have no way to respond.
Buzz.
The silver, cross-shaped spiritual item slowly floated upward from Agnese's hand. The elongated end of the cross pointed clearly in one direction.
"This way. Follow it," Agnese said firmly, gripping the cross as she began moving in the indicated direction.
The cross she used was a Latin cross, a symbol of the Roman Catholic Church. It represented the instrument used during the execution of the Son of God. By invoking the corresponding doctrine, it could automatically react to individuals possessing physical traits similar to those of a saint.
They needed to secure the saint before any other denomination discovered them. If another faction marked the saint first, the Roman Catholic Church would lose all claim.
There were more than a dozen major religious factions that believed in God.
Following the guidance of the cross, Agnese advanced steadily. Meanwhile, the other nuns in the area were also being guided in the same direction.
Toward Arata.
Why did it change direction again?
"Haa… haa…" Angelene, the young blonde nun of around twelve or thirteen, bent over slightly, supporting herself on her knees as she panted. Her cheeks were flushed from exhaustion.
"W-what if… what if the saint is with their parents? What do we do then? Academy City won't allow us to just take a child away, will they?"
"Then we take the parents as well," Agnese replied without hesitation. "We will take them no matter what. Even if it costs all of our lives."
"T-to die here… that's… terrifying…" Angelene clutched her braid tightly, her voice trembling.
"Academy City is completely unfamiliar territory for us. Just as the rumors say, surveillance is everywhere. The Imaginary Number District may already be observing us. We must be prepared for the worst."
"I understand, Sister Agnese."
...
On the other side, Arata arrived at the Seventh Pharmaceutical Research Center.
Since it was daytime, numerous ordinary researchers were moving about, going about their work. They were all unaware of what truly existed beneath the facility, including the massive underground experimental base.
Arata's presence did not draw any surprise. Students occasionally visited the facility, and he calmly made his way toward the rooftop. There, a concealed elevator required fingerprint and iris authentication.
"Identity confirmed. Highest clearance level granted. Access approved."
A hidden panel opened, revealing the elevator.
After entering the restricted area, the researchers he passed bowed slightly and addressed him as "Boss".
"Benri, who is that? Why are you calling him boss? Is he related to one of the directors?" a researcher whispered.
"You could say that," Benri adjusted his glasses, the lenses catching the light. His eyes flickered slightly. "He's someone with significant authority. The boss wants everyone assembled shortly for a briefing."
"I see. Understood," the researcher replied.
This had been arranged in advance by Arata. The researchers whose perceptions had not yet been altered would be dealt with systematically.
At the gathering point, Arata immediately suppressed the remaining unaligned researchers. Before they could react, he activated "Words of Infinite Deception", rewriting their cognition as he had done before.
...
In the lounge.
"How is the research on the Charlotte Comet fragments and the ability crystals progressing?" Arata asked, sitting on the sofa as he looked toward Nunotaba Shinobu.
Nunotaba Shinobu, dressed in a white lab coat, was seated with a laptop on her lap. She paused her typing, glanced at Arata, and replied calmly.
"The special factors from the Charlotte Comet fragments have been successfully extracted. We have also synthesized several ability crystals. However, there are still side effects. This field is not my specialization."
"What kind of side effects?" Arata asked. He already expected flaws. Academy City's artificial ability development methods were rarely without consequences.
"According to calculations from the Tree Diagram, usage by Level 2 or higher espers will cause severe interference with their Personal Reality, potentially leading to cognitive impairment."
"This was never intended for active espers. It is meant for ability development. In other words, the ability development program itself is already complete."
Arata leaned back slightly, hands behind his head, and smiled.
"As expected of you. You're reliable."
Nunotaba Shinobu picked up her coffee, took a sip, and exhaled softly.
"This is not my achievement. It lies outside my primary field. However, the new framework for ability development has indeed been completed. The only remaining issue is insufficient physical adaptation."
"Is it safe?" Arata raised an eyebrow.
"At present, no critical risks have been identified," she replied, setting down her cup.
Arata casually picked up the milk tea she had just set aside and took a sip. It was extremely sweet.
"I can bring someone over to undergo development. As long as my friend is safe, that's enough."
He smiled slightly, recalling Saten Ruiko's bright expression.
Ruiko always brought energy to conversations, keeping everyone cheerful. But beneath that, she carried a quiet sense of insecurity. Everyone around her had abilities. She did not. Even when she joined discussions about powers, there was always a trace of loneliness in her eyes.
If she could personally experience the process of ability development, perhaps that inferiority would disappear.
She really is a good girl.
The baseball glove she had given him was still stored away. Even if he never used it, it held meaning. It was the first gift she had ever given to a boy.
Nunotaba Shinobu watched him, slightly surprised by the softness in his expression.
"Am I your friend as well?" she asked.
"Of course. You're different from the others. They're just subordinates. You're my friend," Arata replied, gently swirling the half-finished drink in his hand.
He took another sip of the overly sweet milk tea.
"So you prefer drinks this sweet."
"Drinking something someone else has already touched… that's questionable behavior," Nunotaba Shinobu said calmly.
"Oh right, I have something for you." Arata shrugged and placed a silver card with a stardust-like sheen onto the table.
These were special cards he had obtained. If left unused, they would remain in card form indefinitely, preserving whatever power or content they contained.
...
Re@d adv@nce ch@pters on p@t
guilt_free_daoist
Jo!n d!sc0rd I!nk in synops!s.
GIVE ME YOU POWER STONES.