Editing Toaru Majutsu no Index:GT Volume7 Chapter4 (section)

===Part 8===

Identical clone girls were focused on their binoculars at a position about 1.5km from the Bridge Builders Cabal Consulate.

“The target was hit, reports Misaka #10777.”

“Hitting without an initial test firing is not easy, says Misaka #15000 to boost morale through self-praise. Even if it was a test shell without any explosive inside.”

“The hot combustion gas is constantly changing the metal barrel, repeats Misaka #18009 while preparing the next shell. Adjust the targeting grid up and right by 25 degrees for the 2nd shot.”

One of the Sisters held a giant hammer over her shoulder.

But it was not meant to break down a building wall or work in a mine.

It was used to drive in the metal spikes needed to secure an old weapon to the ground.

And unlike a department store or shopping mall during a good sale going on, the public museum was relatively quiet during the New Year’s holiday. This was often when the displays were maintained and aired out.

“Flak 18,” whispered the hammer Sister, her breath visible in the cold.

That was an oft-romanticized weapon that had once been used for both antiair and antitank combat.

“If you need to shoot something, you can’t go wrong with an Acht-Acht, says Misaka #19090, wiping sweat from her brow.”



Misaka Mikoto, still not used to the Japanese clothes she was wearing, was taken aback on a building rooftop.

And here she had thought she could enjoy a peaceful time with the Sisters over the holiday.

“H-how can you fire an 8.8cm cannon horizontally through an urban area, you stupid sisters!?”

“Misaka doesn’t want to hear that from the girl who starts blasting railguns everywhere the instant anything irritates her, calmly retorts Misaka #10032.”

“Gh. Th-that’s different…”

“Also this right here is the maintenance plan for the Acht-Acht given to us by the District 2 Firearm Museum, says Misaka, smugly showing off a fancy tablet since we live in a paperless era. We were asked to keep it in fireable order, so we have done so. And they do say that a machine must be used periodically if you want it to remain functional.”

“That’s a superstition! And I thought these things had internal parts severed to prevent them from being fired!? Curse that new board chairman. Why would he approve something like this? He’d better not be doing everything you ask out of guilt.”

“(Misaka thinks his approval had more to do with ''him'' than with us.)”

“?”

“…says Misaka while running a meaningless simulation based on fictional parameters to have fun with the Misaka Network. Some might call it fantasizing about amusing scenarios.”

Anyway.

There was of course only one possible destination for the two identical girls.

Misaka realized it was unusual for the two of them to accompany each other like this.

“We got that thing to spit ''him'' out, but this is still a crisis situation. The details and size of the enemy force are unknown. And the known enemy appears unharmed by an artillery blast to the side, reports Misaka, sharing the information taken from the other observers.”

“So what is it? I’m reluctant to fight a fluffy animal for different reasons than a human. But if it’s as big as you say it is, I’ll probably get over that reluctance real quick once I see it for myself.”

“The best tactic with monsters is to avoid making contact with them in the first place, says Misaka, trying her hand at counseling. So what should we do? This monster did not shed a single drop of blood after a direct hit from an Acht-Acht.”

Misaka Mikoto’s answer began with a quiet metallic sound.

She had flicked up an arcade coin with her thumb.

“Then we’ll have to try a cutting-edge railgun.”



In the blue sky above, an irregular demon girl floated in defiance of gravity. She did have wings reminiscent of marine animals on her back, but they clearly weren’t large enough to provide enough lift for her to fly.

“Kee hee hee. Look at ‘em go. Well, he’s not the type to let someone go through with murder just because they’re in a consulate protected by international law.”

A consulate represented an entire country, so attacking one wasn’t that simple.

But a consulate could also freely move around within the host country. And once it had moved, the former site of the consulate was no longer bound by the same legal restrictions.

So that was what he had done.

In exchange for some economic support, the new board chairman had gotten the consulate moved to Academy City’s District 1, a much nicer part of the city.

This was a gray zone.

The original Condroniard Republic had been bought by the Bridge Builders Cabal. Their bureaucrats would behave very differently depending on who came out on top here – Academy City or the cabal. Instead of ending the legal protections once the move was complete, they were holding off on doing anything for today, waiting to see how it turned out.

But the board chairman only needed this one day.

Academy City could deal with the rest.

Floating next to Qliphah Puzzle 545 was her opposite: a scientifically-created angel.

“What do we do now?” asked the busty glasses girl.

“Well,” said the demon in a newspaper dress, grinning. A demon’s logic was always the same: “We do whatever we want.”

“Are you sure that’s a good idea?”

“It’s looking like our current job is to deal with anyone who steps outside the bounds of humanity,” whispered Qliphah Puzzle 545, her tail whipping side to side.

The teacher’s pet and the mischievous girl.

They held opposite positions, but they were already forming a new bond between themselves.

“And in that sense, Alice Anotherbible has made herself an obvious target. ''Sometimes being too powerful invites further danger.'' Now, let’s show her how we do things here in Academy City!!”



There was also movement on the consulate’s grounds.

“Hey, have you managed to analyze Alice Anotherbible yet? Without that, heading out there will only get you killed! It’s meaningless!!”

“Sphynx, bite that pagan god the next time she says anything pessimistic.”

“Yikes, yikes, yikes!!” shouted 15cm Othinus, her hair bristling.

“I’m close. So close,” said Index sullenly.

“So are you ready to accept it now? The Index Librorum Prohibitorum doesn’t mention any of the spells used by the Transcendents of the Bridge Builders Cabal.”

“No, not that,” interrupted Index.

Never underestimate her. They had seen a lot of special types of people – Saints, God’s Right Seat, angels, demons, Magic Gods, and now Transcendents – but none of them made the grimoire library any less valuable.

“This isn’t just about Alice Anotherbible. I’m so close to seeing a common factor between them all. I’m so close to having a definition for what a Transcendent is!!”

“…”

“If I get closer and actually confront her, I might get the last piece of the puzzle. And we can’t wait any longer anyway. Touma’s going to die!!”

“Yes, I’ll grant you that one. And none of this means anything if that human dies. But let me ask one last time: are you sure this is the choice you want to make? Don’t regret this after the fact, human girl!!”

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