One-way traffic

The sound paused slightly.

“But that could also mean that Euthinus knows about what you’re trying to get close to.”

If the mastermind behind the attack on Accelerator was Gremlin, then it means that Othinus also knew about it.

"In any case, since you've made up your mind, get here as soon as possible. ImagineBreaker has already been mobilized."

"Fantasy Breaker...that spiky guy? You sent him to the battlefield too?"

Upon hearing about Touma Kamijou, Accelerator immediately raised his eyebrows.

"It wasn't our decision; it was a plan made by representatives of various countries."

The tone of Right Fire also seemed somewhat speechless.

"Representatives from various countries associated with magic seem to believe that Imagine Breaker is the most effective solution against the Demon God, and that is indeed the case. However, they do not understand the Demon God at all. Imagine Breaker alone is not enough. Even if you, me, and Orelus are included, the probability of the three of us and Imagine Breaker defeating Othinus is less than 50%."

"I thought it was less than 20%, so there was no need to be pessimistic."

"No... this is gambling with the fate of the entire world. No one knows where the world will end if the demon god Othinus wins."

Accelerator remained silent, and Hatsune Miku beside him wore the same expression.

Although she didn't fully understand the whole story, she could glean some information from their conversation.

In short, the whole world seems to be in danger right now.

It's not just about protecting the people you care about, but also about protecting innocent people from being implicated.

"I see."

The sound came from behind.

"If it is indeed here, then there is no need to doubt it."

Then, a voice came from beside me.

That was the sound of something exploding.

"...!"

Accelerator immediately narrowed his eyes and looked around.

Boom! Something exploded from deep within the ground.

It's a bomb.

As the bomb exploded, riots broke out one after another among the people in the surrounding area.

"Hatsune."

"Understood! I will be responsible for evacuating the crowd!"

Accelerator looked around, but he noticed a problem.

There was indeed a bomb that detonated.

However, it did not harm anyone else.

It wasn't that the bombs weren't powerful enough, but rather that their placement was never intended to harm innocent people; they were all buried in forgotten corners.

"Is he one of the 'Gremlin'?"

"How would I know? All I can do is observe the situation on your side; I have no way of confirming the situation of others—"

puff-

A flash of light appeared, and the spirit armor of the fire on the right was torn apart.

At the same time, the aftershocks of the light blade also reached Accelerator.

He narrowed his eyes and immediately took a step back, but instead of getting up, he used his fingertips to touch the tip of the light blade.

A click—like a popping sound followed.

In that instant, the blue-white light blade that should have severed Accelerator's finger was twisted and bounced away as if it had been slapped away.

As the smoke cleared, a figure stood in front of him.

It was a white coat that reached her ankles.

Letting the wind whipped up by the explosion gently flutter his coat, the newcomer dropped his index and middle fingers, and the light blade vanished.

With short black hair and a calm expression, he looked to be in his early twenties.

but.

Despite appearing to be a human youth from any angle, he exudes an unusual quality unlike that of other living beings.

Accelerator, on the other hand, saw through this immediately.

"…you."

As he spoke, he slowly rose from his seat.

"They're already dead."

The atmosphere instantly froze.

"...The number one in Academy City, can even distinguish the vector flow of the living and the dead? Is it because this body didn't have enough knowledge of you in the past?"

The man stood ahead, his expression somber and calm, staring at Accelerator.

That voice, however, was completely devoid of emotion.

"You know, although what you just used was magic, you really don't give me the feeling of a magician."

If he were a "Gremlin" magician, he wouldn't be able to understand Accelerator so easily.

Even so, the other party demonstrated a clear understanding of Accelerator's identity.

"If you are wondering about this body's past, I can only guide you through the memories remaining in the brain."

He spoke without changing his expression, as if it were a machine.

"This body had only one name in the past."

"Kihara Kagun."

A name that could trigger a deep memory in Accelerator instantly stirred up his inner recollections.

Chapter 548 The Battle Against the Demon God

What kind of name can most easily evoke unpleasant memories for Accelerator?

While most people who know the details might think it's the name Misaka, the real answer is actually not that.

It's Kihara.

On September 30th in Academy City, Accelerator, who had not yet attained his current power and status, engaged in a life-or-death conflict with someone.

A researcher named Kihara Kazuta.

And now, a guy with the same surname as that man is standing right in front of him.

If it were my past self, I probably wouldn't have been able to hold back at this point and would have gone completely berserk, launching an indiscriminate attack on him.

But Accelerator doesn't do that now.

Instead, he noticed something special about the other person's words.

"'This body'...?"

Even though she tried to probe him with her words, the man before her still wouldn't respond.

The other party simply stood there with a very upright posture, without saying a word.

"I see."

With just one glance, Accelerator was able to basically analyze the man's situation.

He was indeed dead. Physiologically speaking, the vector flow in this man's body is something only a dead person would have; it was definitely the result of being completely dead.

Humans who are already dead cannot stand before you again, but considering the current situation, you can draw a completely different conclusion.

This man must be a magician belonging to the "Gremlin".

And within that magical group, besides all sorts of magicians, are there any other special beings?

The Demon God Othinus.

Although it was unclear to what extent the Demon God's power could be achieved, he had indeed obtained a small amount of information from the other's mind during the time he was one with the Demon Q.

A demon god is a magician whose magical knowledge has reached its limit; they are a god of magic who is sublimated from humans and 103,000 magic books.

They can easily alter all the laws of this world, including... the changes of life and death.

If it's a demon god, then perhaps that's something they can do.

Although that one-eyed blonde woman hasn't yet obtained the full power of the demon god, but... if it's just about resurrecting the dead...

"So, you've completely become that demon god's lackey... that's what it means, right?"

Even after saying that to him, Kihara Kaguni did not react.

He is indeed still standing here, able to make corresponding physical movements, but he cannot perform complex actions such as emotional responses like a living person.

Completely, it's just a walking machine.

"Well, I see you can still answer questions, even if you're just a machine, you can at least say a few words to me."

Even after confirming the other party's true identity, Accelerator still did not retreat.

He picked up the glass on the table and drank all the black liquid inside in one gulp.

"Othinus, have you discovered my whereabouts?"

He asked in a calm voice.

Even if it's a dead person being manipulated, they should still be able to respond at least a little.

"The nerves of this body are not connected to those of Othinus. Even if I do other things here, the demon god Othinus will never know the details of these things."

"That's it."

The first one to take the first step.

Before they knew it, the evacuation of the surrounding crowd had been completely completed. With Hatsune Miku's help, no one else could be seen except for Accelerator and Kihara Kagura.

The two stood facing each other.

"In other words, as long as I act quickly enough and kill you right here, that demon god won't even know I'm here, right?"

"The possibility exists."

Kihara Kagura replied calmly, still in that emotionless tone.

"However, the power possessed by Othinus is beyond the comprehension of this body's knowledge. Even if this body is controlled by the other party through the 'Army of the Dead,' it is still impossible to figure out what kind of power the demon god possesses."

In other words, even if one knows that Kihara Kaguni is not connected to Othinus, even if one defeats him here, it does not necessarily prevent the possibility that one's whereabouts will be discovered by the other party.

"--and."

The corpse, which resembled a machine, spoke again.

"I don't think the chances of this body losing to you are very high either."

"…oh?"

"Kihara Kagura's body already contained enough knowledge and information about Accelerator during his lifetime. Although it's not fully understood based on what just happened, it's still possible to determine the most effective combat strategy based on your abilities."

The man raised his arm again.

The index and middle fingers of his right hand were thus tucked together.

"And for the number one in Academy City, this body happens to possess the specific abilities that it is best suited to handle."

Boom! Something gushed out.

A blue-white light blade, extending directly like an electric welder, several meters long.

In other words, magic spells.

"Ha, you don't actually think that you can talk nonsense like you can defeat me by using that kind of toy, do you?"

"I never intended to defeat you here."

The man held the light blade between two fingers and swung it around.