Editing Toaru Majutsu no Index:Item5 Chapter3 (section)

===Part 5===

Academy City’s #1 Level 5 wasn’t needed.

Even if it produced an ultra-high-power attack, Mugino’s ability was still limited to controlling electrons. So if something could influence the flow of electrons, it could interfere with her ability.

Like an underground silo mass driver.

This was District 23. That special district’s technology could bend a Meltdowner beam.

“Th-then super what about that super steel beam!?”

“That only weighs a ton or two. You don’t need some incredible power to throw that. District 23 specializes in aerospace development. They’ll have what are basically giant water rockets here.”

“Mugino. Are those the things that are launched with a gas or air?”

“That serial killer John Doom launched the defective lithium batteries using CO2, remember? Developing that idea for military use is hardly unusual. I’ve seen it in the antiques my grandfather collects. They used to use compressed air or metal springs to build silent mortars.”

Their location had also been convenient.

DIY Garage’s lab was a treasure trove of specialized manufacturing equipment and experimental devices. When cornered, the target would begin searching through the junk for something useful instead of running outside unarmed. If they had gone with Kinuhata’s “stay in the lab” plan, Frenda probably would have spent her time doing just that. In other words, this place made a target less likely to flee than in an ordinary environment.

“Then this was all to buy time? In the end, what is the enemy really after?”

“Probably your favorite thing, Frenda: setting up a bomb and blowing the place up! Run!!”

If it was only a trick, they had nothing to fear.

And if they stayed here, they would be blown up along with the building.

Mugino started to leave the giant lab, but Takitsubo shoved her aside.



''Blam blam blam blam blam blam blam blam blam blam blam!!



The earsplitting roar refused to end. They could tell something was being fired in from outside, but what was it? The lab’s outer wall was already full of holes.

Maybe her ears had adjusted to the roar.

Frenda’s eyes widened where she lay on the ground a distance away.

(This doesn’t sound like the human bagworms.)

“That sounds like a Gatling gun? You’re kidding. In the end, is someone carrying that around with them!?”

“This time, I bet they’re super using some kind of esper power.”

That didn’t matter.

Was the enemy spraying bullets to slaughter Item? No. Spraying the bullets over such a wide area without taking careful aim was meant to pin the target down. That way the enemy could escape to safety while Item was blown away by the bomb along with the lab!

“Do your job, Frenda!!” shouted Mugino.

Finally recalling her role, Frenda pulled something from her short skirt. She ignited and tossed five cheap rockets out through the chewed-up outer wall.

They exploded like normal.

The Meltdowner countermeasure only worked against that one thing. Other projectiles did not have their course bent or reflected.

Just as the blind pinning gunfire stopped, Mugino rushed outside.

Kinuhata and Takitsubo did not follow.

Takitsubo had no direct combat ability, so it was best if she stayed in the lab. Kinuhata was likely worried that Takitsubo could be hit by some surprise gunfire. Even if there was a bomb that could detonate at any moment, staying here was still safer than being shredded by a Gatling gun right this instant.

Something sliced through the blue sky on a sharp approach. It flew down to the mismatched pair of sisters in front of Mugino and Frenda and stole them away into the sky.

(I know District 23 is all about aerospace development…but where did they steal that thing from!?)

The craft was less than four meters from end to end and the cockpit only fit one person at around 1.5 meters, but it was in fact a helicopter with intermeshing rotors. That Flying Room personal work craft was built using a golf cart as a base and was meant for use when performing maintenance on a mountain cabin or mountain road.

The giant Gatling gun appeared to have been discarded after being wiped clean of evidence. A wire dangling from the tiny helicopter had already snatched up the mismatched sisters in gaudy dresses and was now lifting them into the air.

And a similar girl in a dress was piloting the helicopter.

Were all three of them sisters?

“Rikuri Nee-san, be honest with me. Did Amazora get in your way again?”

“Hey, quit doubting me for no reason, Kai Onee-chan! That’s what turns a kid into a delinquent!!”

They were already in flight.

“Tch!!”

They were up in the empty sky. If Mugino raised her palm and took aim, she would be able to shoot them down with Academy City’s #4 Level 5 power before they got away.

But just then.

''Gween!!

A dull impact slammed into the side of Mugino Shizuri’s head – square in the right temple.

“Kah…”

An aerial surveillance drone had suddenly flown in from the side.

And an external attachment had attached a hunk of metal about the size of a brick.

Had she been so focused on targeting that distant point it had narrowed her vision? Simply not having Takitsubo with her was all it took.

She could see the busty oldest sister stick out her tongue a little, but she couldn’t aim steadily with her vision so shaky.

She fired a couple of Meltdowner beams, but they only scorched empty air.

She shook her head and vision returned to normal.

The tiny intermeshing-rotor helicopter had already flown off into the far distance.

“Uh, oh.”

Mugino watched them go on unsteady legs and made that comment just before the giant lab exploded behind her.