Within the Windowless Building, once Aleister's seat of power, everything had changed thanks to Rei Ao and Awaki Musujime's actions.

"You've done very well."

Once known as Aleister's 'Guidepost,' Awaki Musujime now served her new master with total devotion.

"Master…as long as you're satisfied…"

Awaki narrowed her eyes slightly, then weakly asked, "Master, shall we…go further…?"

Hearing that, Rei Ao pinched her nose with a smile. "You little glutton."

"That's for another time. Right now, I'm taking you to see some people."

…

At the abandoned factory…

Mikoto Misaka was kicking at the rubble by her feet, bored out of her mind.

"Onee-sama, you've been staring at that pile of scrap for fifteen minutes," Kuroko reminded her.

Shokuhou Misaki giggled softly.

"Oh? Could it be you're thinking about that mysterious man?"

"Wh-who's thinking of him?!"

Electric arcs crackled in Mikoto's short brown hair.

"I'm just killing time!"

Shokuhou leaned against a rusted steel frame, her starry eyes glinting mischievously.

"Heh, our #3 Railgun's face is red~"

"You trying to pick a fight?"

Mikoto snapped, glaring.

Suddenly, they felt a ripple in the air. In the center of the factory, space seemed to be torn open by an invisible hand, and two figures emerged.

"Hello, everyone—long time no see."

That familiar voice made them all instantly turn their heads. Rei Ao stood there in his trademark black coat, smiling. Next to him, Awaki Musujime looked somewhat dazed. She had used her Move Point ability under Rei Ao's order to cross a massive distance, far beyond normal means—something only a true Level 5 could do.

"You're back at last, Rei Ao!"

Mikoto almost ran up to him on instinct, but she skidded to a stop about two meters away, folding her arms in a feigned show of calm.

"Why're you so late?"

Rei Ao smiled lightly and reached out to ruffle her hair.

"Miss me already, even though it's only been a short while?"

That sudden gesture froze Mikoto in place.

"Who—who'd miss a guy as frivolous as you?!"

Awaki gave a small cough, as though interrupting them. Shokuhou Misaki narrowed her eyes, tapping her temple with her remote.

"Mister 'Nameless,' you've come back and brought another girl along?"

Awaki Musujime quickly spoke up, introducing herself before Rei Ao could:

"I am Master's 'Cleaner.'"

Though her face flushed slightly at the word "Cleaner," Rei Ao understood the innuendo perfectly—she'd "cleaned up" for him not too long ago.

"Oh, right, Mikoto. Your trade with me is complete now," Rei Ao reminded her.

[Ding! Trade Complete!]

"Huh?"

Mikoto blinked, hesitating. "What… did you do?"

"It's simple. I got rid of the Academy City's Superintendent."

He said it so casually, as though discussing the weather.

"And now—"

Rei Ao spread his arms.

"I'm the new Superintendent of this city."

"…"

A heavy silence fell. Shokuhou's remote clattered to the ground, Kuroko's pupils contracted, and Mikoto's electricity began crackling uncontrollably across her body.

"That's impossible!"

Shokuhou practically shouted.

"That mysterious Superintendent can't just be—"

"Be killed?"

Rei Ao tilted his head.

"For ordinary people, or for you 'test subject' espers, sure, it'd be impossible. But for me…"

A faint golden light flickered in his eyes. The air in the entire factory turned stifling, making it hard for everyone to breathe.

"It's as easy as squashing an ant."

Kanzaki Kaori's Saintly instincts went wild. She instinctively sheltered Index behind her. The oppression she sensed far exceeded anything from any magician she'd encountered.

Seeing how shocked they looked, Rei Ao withdrew his aura and returned to his usual playful expression.

At that moment, Awaki's phone started ringing. She answered it, her face shifting with concern.

"Rei Ao-sama, the Board of Directors—"

"Tell them to either obey or vanish."

Rei Ao spoke without turning around, as though discussing dinner plans. Awaki nodded and stepped away to continue the call, fulfilling her role as "Cleaner."

Meanwhile, Rei Ao took full control of Academy City, casually getting rid of anything he disliked. That included shutting down the Level 6 Shift Project and making certain people like Kihara Amata disappear.

Kuroko watched in disbelief.

"She's really calling him Superintendent…"

"Mm-hm," Rei Ao noted casually. Then he turned to Kanzaki Kaori, who'd been silent this whole time. She stepped forward, her tall figure casting a long shadow in the lamplight.

"Rei Ao-san, thank you for saving Index just now," Kanzaki spoke with quiet sincerity. "I owe you a debt. I'll do anything to repay it."

"Anything?"

Amusement flickered in Rei Ao's eyes.

"Suppose I asked you to kill some innocent people?"

Kanzaki's body tensed. She shifted her weight unconsciously, her hand drifting toward the Seven Heavens Seven Swords on her hip, but she forced herself not to draw.

"I… I…"

She realized she couldn't answer. In her heart, she didn't want to harm anyone innocent, but she was also someone who stuck by her promises. For a moment, she was stuck between two impossible choices.

"Haha, I'm just messing with you," Rei Ao said, patting her shoulder. He was only toying with her. As a Magic God, if he really wanted something done, he hardly needed anyone else.

A blush crept over Kanzaki's pale cheeks; she'd never been teased like this before. As a Saint, she prided herself on maintaining composure, but this unfathomable man made her lose it every time.

~~~

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