[Ding! Mikoto Misaka has initiated a trade request with you!]

[Trade Content: Help them deal with a huge problem.]

[Ding! Please select the trade condition!]

[Ding! Transaction has begun!]

[Trade Target: Mikoto Misaka]

[Trade Content: Help them deal with a huge problem.]

[Trade Condition]: "Electro-Master," "One-time right to use her body."

"Ah, looks like she's made up her mind."

Seeing how decisively Mikoto accepted the trade, Rei Ao couldn't help but smile wryly. The very person who'd once banded together with "Team Black Kitty" against him was now just about entirely on his side.

Meanwhile, Yukinoshita had already changed into her going-out clothes and was trying to wake up Mabel.

"Do you want us to come too?" she asked, without a hint of hesitation in her voice.

Rei Ao shook his head.

"You guys just rest. That world has some… things I need to test out. Even I'm not 100% sure how it'll go."

At Level 82 he could, in theory, destroy entire star systems with a wave of his hand, but if he ever had to face something like a "Magic God," there was no guarantee he'd come out unscathed. However, he did have the "True Demon's Form" at his disposal, so there might be a way.

Mabel, rubbing her eyes, sat up with a dazed expression.

"Huh? What's going on? Don't tell me we're doing that again?"

She flopped back dramatically in the bed, giving up all pretense of dignity.

"Whatever… let's just get it over with. Will these miserable days never end? Boohoo~"

"Oh, hush."

Rei Ao gave her a light pat on the head, then turned to Yukinoshita.

"I'm off."

She nodded, a hint of worry flashing in her eyes.

"Be careful."

Rei Ao didn't respond. He stepped into a spatial rift, disappearing from the room in an instant.

…

At the same time, in the Windowless Building, where Academy City's Board of Directors convened, Aleister—suspended upside-down in his life-support system—suddenly opened his eyes.

Crowley, did you sense that?

Aiwass's voice asked.

"How… interesting,"

Aleister murmured, his tone as emotionless as an electronic synthesizer.

"A variable has appeared."

That "variable," as Aleister called it, was exactly Rei Ao.

In a "Talent Workshop" facility, Misaki Shokuhou and Kuroko Shirai were still baffled by Mikoto Misaka's flustered behavior—watching her face turn red, seemingly making up her mind about something.

"...Onee-sama?"

Kuroko asked in concern.

All of a sudden, an unfamiliar spatial ripple spread out near them. Kuroko instinctively positioned herself in front of Mikoto, wary.

Shokuhou also retreated a step, finger hovering over her remote control.

The air shimmered like ripples on water. A tall figure appeared out of nowhere—a man in a simple black coat, black hair, black eyes, expression aloof. A certain aura of detachment surrounded him.

"Enemy attack!"

Kuroko instantly unleashed her Teleport ability, steel needles materializing in her hand. Shokuhou nearly pressed her remote.

"Wait!"

Mikoto hurriedly held Kuroko back.

"He's not an enemy!"

Shokuhou blinked but didn't lower her remote.

"Gorilla, who is this?"

Mikoto relaxed when she saw they hadn't attacked. She turned toward the black-clothed man.

"You came too suddenly! Couldn't you have given me a heads-up?"

Rei Ao gave a slight smile.

"When I got your trade request, I rushed here as soon as I could. Aren't you moved by my promptness?"

Just then, Mikoto remembered the chat exchange where he talked about "dying beneath the peony" or something, and her face turned red again.

Kuroko's eyes widened. Rei Ao's casual tone made her hackles rise, and she kept the steel needles ready in her hand.

"Onee-sama, who is this man?!"

"Ah, h-he's my… friend. Rei Ao."

Mikoto introduced him awkwardly.

"He's on our side, so no need to be nervous."

"Friend?"

Kuroko's voice shot up several notches.

"When did Onee-sama get a male friend?! And such a… such a…"

She trailed off, flustered by how handsome and mysterious he seemed.

A wary glint flashed in Shokuhou's golden eyes.

"A Teleporter?"

"No," she mumbled, "that ripple earlier wasn't the same as Kuroko's power."

She turned to Mikoto.

"Mikoto, you mind explaining who this 'Rei Ao' is in detail? You brought an outsider onto my turf without permission."

Mikoto opened her mouth but had no idea where to begin. Sure, she knew Rei Ao, but how was she supposed to explain the chat group that connected countless worlds, or that he was its leader?

Rei Ao, sensing her discomfort, stepped forward.

"I'm Rei Ao, a very close friend of Mikoto's."

He emphasized "very close."

"What?!"

Kuroko instantly bristled, her pigtails practically standing on end.

"Impossible! I'm with Onee-sama nearly 24/7. I've never seen you once—why should I believe you?!"

A faint, unreadable smile hovered on Rei Ao's lips.

"We meet in private. I've also heard about you from Mikoto: Kuroko Shirai and Misaki Shokuhou, right? If you don't believe me, just ask Mikoto herself."

Mikoto bit back a groan. Given how often they interacted via the chat group, technically, what he said wasn't wrong. She sighed and nodded.

"Yes… we do… keep in touch privately. A lot."

"W-what?!"

Kuroko looked like she'd been struck by lightning, standing there frozen in place.

Countless images flashed through her mind.

"A s-secret relationship…"

She muttered to herself, face turning ashen as though her soul had left her body. Shokuhou waved a hand in exasperation.

"Enough. I don't care about your private lives." She fixed her sharp gaze on Rei Ao.

"What I do care about is Mikoto bringing an outsider into my space without asking. If you don't have a good explanation, I may reconsider our partnership."

Facing her hostile question, Mikoto took a deep breath.

"I asked Rei Ao here to help us."

"Because we're caught up in a big problem—so big that even a Level 5 can't handle it."

~~~

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