Editing Toaru Majutsu no Index:Railgun Chapter4 (section)

===Part 20===

She lurched.

Resanerié Sadis Dialine had prided herself in being untouchable, but this was all it took.

That horse was no longer with her.

Her Bistorio.

That was the true motivation behind the fearsome empress’s self-destructive actions that had captured the entire School Garden.

“They removed the medical equipment, turned away the vet, and refused to even euthanize him, letting him die in pain.”

In Tokiwadai’s schoolyard, a certain girl’s smile was torn apart by emotion as she roared.

These were the feelings of someone who had their greatest treasure, whatever that might be, cruelly taken from them.

“When I saw that, I realized they didn’t treat humans any better. If the adults decide your treatment costs and genetic value aren’t worth it, the same could happen to any of us. Which is why having everyone declare independence is the only way to protect ourselves!!”

“…”

Misaka Mikoto did not nod or shake her head.

But she did think this girl was a fool.

The teachers had not protected the partner she cared about more than her own life. Providing medical treatment and rehabilitation was not worth the costs since he could no longer be used in matches, so the club supervisor and the other teachers had ended the horse’s life without Resanerié’s permission. Her hatred and sorrow had been too great for her to contain.

Had she decided that wasn’t a good enough reason to fight?

Had she given up on the idea of anyone helping her without actually asking anyone first and decided to blot out her righteous motivations with lies?

The debate representatives had convinced so many people to go along with the absurd idea of declaring independence and sending the School Garden into the sky, so if she had been honest about her reasons, Mikoto would have helped with her fight.

She would have gladly fought with all her might then.

“I…”

“What?”

“I think taking revenge on the teachers because you couldn’t accept that a single precious life was taken is a lot cooler and a lot more becoming of you than some nonsense about declaring independence and launching the School Garden into the sky.”

“!?”

Resanerié said nothing more.

Mikoto could actually hear her biting her lip.

The halberd tore through the air as it approached too fast to be seen. It flew in a fierce jab as straight as straight could be. Mikoto spun around, stripped off her blazer, and let the attack catch it.

In fact, she wrapped the garment around the halberd’s complex blade to give her a grip on it.

“What!?”

“The halberd’s complex design allows it to jab, cut, or catch as a spear, an axe, or a hook.”

Mikoto pulled hard on the wrapped cloth.

With them playing tug-of-war, Resanerié could not properly wield the halberd. And heavy weapons needed enough movement range for a large swing to gain sufficient force.

It did have a blade, but it wasn’t a famous katana capable of slicing through a piece of paper that fell upon its blade.

With several layers of the blazer wrapped and tangled around it, it couldn’t slice through the uniform fabric.

Once a blade couldn’t cut you, it was no longer a threat.

“But if I let it hit me, it can ''accidentally'' hit me with a part you didn’t intend for, can’t it? You’re the one that said the halberd is tricky to use. And the cloth stops you from using the spear, axe, or hook no matter which one it actually catches!!”

Mikoto flicked something up with her right thumb: an arcade coin.

She had dealt with the halberd, but Resanerié hadn’t lost Crimson Manager.

“That won’t work on me!!”

“I know. Which is why I really hope you use your full power on it.”

Mikoto showed no hesitation as a sign of respect. She stretched out her arm alongside the trapped halberd and took aim.

“If I launch a Railgun from point-blank range, you had better make the coin rust away to nothing because I don’t want you dying here so soon after I learn how cool you can be!!!”

An explosive boom and a shockwave shook the entire School Garden as it floated 5000m above the ground.

[[Image:Railgun_BW12.png|thumb]]

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