No matter how big a commotion occurred in the Magic world, it had no effect on the territory of the Science Side. So, Fang Li kept the important intelligence he had just obtained to himself and didn't think about it further.
"If you were afraid, you wouldn't have done it in the first place."
And it was precisely because of that, that even if Fang Li's identity were exposed at this moment, he wouldn't care, especially since it was only his Ability being revealed; his true identity remained hidden.
Having gone a full year without being discovered, the cognitive-blocking magical item had indeed helped Fang Li quite a lot.
Because perception itself was obstructed, no matter what kind of detection the Magic side tried, as long as they continued to use Magic or similar powers for their search, it would absolutely be hindered.
From this perspective, if this event had happened on the Science Side instead, it would have actually increased the chances of Fang Li being exposed.
After all, the investigation methods on the Science Side are different from the Magic side.
High-tech examinations of fingerprints, sound waves, DNA, and even breathing itself would, no matter how obstructed perception was, ultimately reveal traces linked to Fang Li's body.
Of course, this also assumes Fang Li was careless enough to leave those traces in the first place. In any case, letting this matter slide would have no real consequences. At most, it would just make Fang Li aware of the stir he had caused in the Magic world.
After all, being within the Science Side's main base, Fang Li couldn't gain critical intelligence from the Magic side. So learning about it through Index was already a small gain.
With that in mind, Fang Li immediately set the matter aside.
Conversely, Index seemed very concerned about it.
"Because we are very similar." Index said this.
"Although our methods are different, Magic is something that should be solved in both cases. The result is completely the same."
That's what she meant.
Shortly afterward, Index added: "Moreover, the incidents related to that attacker started appearing a year ago."
"That just happens to be the time when I lost my memory."
Yes.
Memory loss.
Index had once lost her memory, exactly one year ago.
The reason? Because of losing her memory, even she didn't know.
"When I woke up, I was already in this country. I had no memory of the past, but I remembered Magic clearly, whether it was the knowledge of 103,000 original Magic Path books, or the affairs of the United Kingdom Puritan 0th Parish Necessary Evil Church, I remembered it all. But everything else? I remembered nothing."
In other words, aside from Knowledge, all memories related to Index herself had vanished. After Index had organized all the information in her mind, Stiyl and Kanzaki began pursuing her.
"It's not surprising. The knowledge in my head is far too tempting for Magic users; few could resist it."
If one could master all Magic in the world, they could step into the God's Domain and become a Magic God. The knowledge Index carried in her head was the necessary path to becoming a Magic God.
So it was natural that Magic users would set their sights on her. Precisely because of this reasoning, Index immediately judged that the pursuer was a Magic user coveting the forbidden book Index and began fleeing.
And that flight lasted a full year.
"In that year, aside from running, the thing I heard about the most was that Mystic Eyes owner."
In other words, for Index, who had lost her memory from a year ago, the intelligence regarding the attacker, who appeared right after her memory loss and caused a reign of terror in the Magic world, almost entirely dominated her awareness.
On top of that, the attacker possessed the same kind of function as Index, and what Index had stored in her mind, the original Magic Path books, were exactly the things the attacker had been stealing over the past year.
With so many connections, how could Index not care?
"If possible, I actually hope to meet him once."
This was a sincere wish from Index's heart. Not just because of the various similarities between them, but also because it was her own wish.
"Magic Path books are very dangerous. Even if that person possesses Mystic Eyes that can grant death to things, they are still inevitably at risk of being consumed by the knowledge recorded in the originals. I just hope that person doesn't blindly pursue power and end up letting death return to their own body."
This was the advice of the forbidden book Index, and also a small hope from Index, the kind-hearted girl.
Fang Li silently listened to Index's words while cooking in the kitchen.
Perhaps because she had been constantly fleeing over the past year, with almost no one to speak to properly and no place where she felt safe, Index spoke almost everything that was on her mind.
Looking at her, happily lying on the bed, swinging her little feet while recounting one story after another, Fang Li smiled faintly and chose to quietly listen.
Night gradually fell.
...
"Hah…"
On the rooftop of a building a short distance from Fang Li's dorm, Stiyl braved the wind, smoking, exhaling the smoke so it drifted with the breeze. His priest robes were off, leaving his upper body bare, exposing his bandaged abdomen directly to the air.
After a while, a tall girl appeared beside him.
"Are your injuries okay now?" Hearing the question from his companion, Stiyl didn't turn around.
"They've had the simplest treatment. The injuries aren't fully healed, but since neither you nor I are skilled in Cure System techniques or spells, this is the best we can do," Stiyl replied nonchalantly. "In a few days, it should heal enough to fight."
"Is that so?" Kanzaki nodded, then changed the topic: "I've contacted the upper levels of Academy City and got them to suppress the commotion you caused. They said the blood you left behind almost got collected for DNA testing, your identity nearly exposed, but fortunately, it was handled in time."
"That kind of thing doesn't matter at all," Stiyl said, his tone unchanged. "By the way, did you find any information on that pervert who walks around without clothes?"
"It's been provided," Kanzaki answered directly. "From the intelligence, he seems to be only a Level 0 with no Ability, but he's very skilled in fighting. He controls a gang in the surrounding area and is somewhat notorious. The weapons he uses were likely obtained illegally, but aside from that, there's nothing special."
"…Is that so?" Stiyl exhaled another plume of smoke, his gaze fixed on the distant student dormitories.
"Very skilled in fighting, huh?"
"Then let's see how he does against me, Level 0."
With that, Stiyl flicked the cigarette butt from his hand.
It burned in midair and turned to ashes.
(End Of This Chapter)
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