"By the way, Researcher Nunotaba, there's a batch of 'Testament' units that need adjusting at the Seventh Pharmaceutical Research Center. We'll go there tomorrow. Is that alright?"
A middle-aged supervisor looked at Nunotaba Shinobu with satisfaction. She was working quietly, head down.
"No problem," Nunotaba replied quickly, snapping out of her thoughts.
After finishing her shift, she left the Kihara Institute. The moment she was clear of the surveillance cameras, she pulled out her phone and dialed a new number.
...
A Certain High School Dormitory.
It was 10:00 PM. Curfew had just started.
Yuuya returned to his room. The hallways of the dormitory were unusually quiet.
He opened his door and flicked on the light. The room was exactly as he had left it this morning—except for the air conditioner. It was humming softly, blowing cool air.
"Finally. My luck is starting to turn around."
Yuuya flopped onto his bed, stretching his limbs. He raised his right hand, staring at the palm.
[World Rejecter] (Ideal Exile).
Unlike Kamijou Touma's "Imagine Breaker," which negated blessings and caused misfortune, this right hand brought a specific kind of luck. It was the luck of a harem protagonist—but twisted.
In the original New Testament lore, this power belonged to Kamisato Kakeru. Because Kamisato saved Magic Gods but only acted as a confidant, the Gods decided he was the new "Center of Balance."
This hand drew people to him. Specifically, girls who felt "betrayed by the world" or who had "given up hope." They would instinctively seek him out to be saved.
"This luck is amazing... but dangerous."
"It's not noticeable yet, but soon, I'll be a magnet for every tragic heroine in this city."
He chuckled. "Take a shower and sleep. I have school tomorrow."
Ring. Ring.
His phone buzzed on the nightstand.
Caller ID: Nunotaba Shinobu.
'Calling me this late? Is she lonely?'
Yuuya picked up, a playful grin on his face.
"Oh dear! Is Miss Nunotaba calling me so late because she's scared of the dark? Do you want me to come over and keep you company?"
"Your abduction of Subject 9982 has drawn serious attention from the Board of Directors. The Dark Side (ANBU) has been ordered to carry out a purge."
The cold, flat voice on the other end froze the smile on Yuuya's face.
"The Dark Side?"
His expression turned serious. His eyes narrowed.
"Yes. I don't know which team it is. That information is classified. But you will be facing the violent machinery of Academy City starting tonight."
Nunotaba's voice was calm, but Yuuya could hear the underlying worry.
"Thank you for the warning, Nunotaba. But don't worry about me. In this city... I am invincible."
He injected confidence into his voice to reassure her.
There was a two-second pause.
"I'm not worried about you," she lied coldly. "I just hope I can get through to you on the phone again tomorrow. Don't die."
"Oh my, you're so eager to call me? Did you fall for me at first sight?"
Beep. Beep. Beep.
She hung up.
"She hung up so quickly. I was hoping to tease her a little longer."
Yuuya tossed the phone onto his pillow. Teasing a kuudere (cool/aloof) beauty like Nunotaba was satisfying.
He turned off the light and stared at the ceiling in the dark.
'I expected them to send the Dark Side eventually. But this is fast.'
'Logically, since I defeated Accelerator, they shouldn't send assassins. They should be terrified.'
'But the Board of Directors doesn't see "Strength" the way normal people do. They see "Research Value."'
Take Sogiita Gunha, the Number 7. He was a Gemstone with unexplained power. He could catch a Railgun with his teeth and punch through dimensions. He had tanked attacks from Ollerus (a near-Magic God). In terms of raw combat power, he might even surpass Accelerator in certain scenarios.
But he was ranked 7th because his power was inexplicable. It had no research application.
'To them, my victory over Accelerator is probably seen as a fluke. Or a specific counter-ability.'
'A can defeat B, and B can defeat C, but that doesn't mean A can defeat C.'
'They think I just have a trick. So they're sending a hit squad to test me.'
'Or maybe Aleister wants to see what I really am.'
"Sleep. When soldiers come, we'll deal with them."
Yuuya closed his eyes.
He wasn't worried about being shot in his sleep. With the Star Grail, no force in this world could harm him against his will.
...
District 15.
The most prosperous district in Academy City. Home to television stations, media moguls, and the wealthy elite.
On the eleventh floor of a high-rise luxury apartment, hidden behind soundproof glass, was a secret base.
"Huh? What? A new mission? Or have those idiots from the Board forced us to accept another dirty job?"
A boy with brown hair, wearing a dark purple suit, sat on a leather sofa. He spoke into his phone with a gloomy, arrogant tone. His eyes were filled with malice.
Kakine Teitoku. The Number 2 Level 5. Leader of the Dark Side organization SCHOOL.
"Is it okay to talk to your investors like that?" A provocative female voice replied from the other end. "Although I also hate the Board's attitude... the reward this time is very high. Are you sure you want to pass?"
"If you refuse," the woman continued, "I'll have to give this task to ITEM. I asked you first because I heard you were short on funds lately."
"Tch. Fine. I am short on funds. But don't think I'm grateful, you witch."
Kakine sneered.
"How boring. I'm just a hardworking intermediary. Sending the details now."
Ping.
Kakine looked at the file on his screen.
[Target: Unknown Male Student.]
[Last Known Location: District 7.]
[Threat Level: High. Suspected of defeating the First Rank.]
Kakine's eyes lit up. A twisted smile spread across his face.
"Defeated the First Rank? Heh. Now this sounds interesting."
....
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