Chapter 247: The Hundred Thousand and Three Magic Books

"Go get something to eat!"

After leaving the Hound Unit's base, George strolled through the bustling streets of Academy City. He randomly picked an underground food court and walked in.

Although his body had reached a state where he wouldn’t die from not eating, skipping meals for too long still left him feeling uncomfortable.

So, as long as he wasn’t too busy, he still maintained a habit of eating three meals a day.

He casually chose a noodle shop and ordered a bowl of ramen. Just as he was halfway through his meal, a crisp female voice suddenly echoed in his mind.

"Hello, everyone. I am a Judgment officer speaking to you via telepathy. Please remain calm.

A terrorist has infiltrated the underground street, and the defense barriers are about to be activated for lockdown. Please evacuate immediately and seek shelter!"

"Terrorists? Everyone, let's go!"

Upon hearing the announcement in their minds, everyone, including the shop owner and other customers, hurriedly packed up and left the store. Seeing this, George had no choice but to put down his chopsticks and leave with them.

Situations like this occasionally happened in Academy City. It was not as peaceful and utopian as its public image suggested.

Sometimes, foreign forces coveted Academy City's advanced technology and research results, sneaking in only to be discovered, leading to violent conflicts.

Other times, arrogant and greedy espers failed to recognize their own limits, choosing a path of crime—robbery, assault, and even murder.

Then there were cases like the previous Misaka Sisters experiment, where various research labs conducted cruel experiments on espers, occasionally causing test subjects to go berserk.

George had little interest in such matters.

Right now, he simply wanted to spend two more peaceful months in Academy City. Once he reached Level 5 in esper abilities, he planned to leave and travel to various churches to study and research the world's magic.

Level 5 was the peak of Academy City's esper system and the limit for human espers. Reaching Level 6 meant touching upon the domain of gods—something he doubted Academy City was capable of achieving just yet.

The Judgment officer who had just broadcasted a telepathic message was part of one of the two main law enforcement groups in Academy City.

Academy City had no traditional police force. Instead, security and crime suppression were handled by two organizations—Judgment and Anti-Skill.

Anti-Skill consisted mainly of ordinary humans, but they were equipped with the world's most advanced weaponry, including rare exoskeleton armor.

Judgment, on the other hand, was made up of esper students selected from various schools, with each school forming its own branch.

Misaka Mikoto's slightly eccentric roommate, Shirai Kuroko—a Level 4 esper with teleportation abilities—was one of them.

"Wait... is that magic?"

As George followed the crowd evacuating, he suddenly noticed an eye emerging from the wall to his right.

The eye briefly scanned the crowd before swiftly moving to another location, seemingly searching for something.

Although the magic system in this world was different, some characteristics were similar enough for George to identify it as magic rather than an esper ability.

"A magician has infiltrated Academy City?"

His curiosity was piqued. He immediately used a Disillusionment Charm to turn invisible and pursued the floating eye, wanting to uncover the magician’s intentions.

Following it, he soon saw the eye come to a stop in front of three students—one boy and two girls.

"Hahaha! Finally found you!"

The eye suddenly burst into a hysterical laugh.

Judging by the voice, the spellcaster was likely a woman, though her tone was somewhat androgynous.

"The golems meant to guard the temple—human figures crafted from earth—have been forcibly replaced by Britain's guardian angels."

The youngest-looking girl, dressed in something resembling a white nun’s habit, stared blankly at the eye. Her expression turned mechanical as she recited an explanation in a monotone voice.

Once she finished, she returned to her normal childlike demeanor.

The male student in a white shirt was visibly shocked upon hearing her explanation.

"Wait… could it be that the 'terrorist' Judgment warned us about is actually a magician?!"

"It seems these people aren't ordinary either," George mused with growing interest.

That small girl clearly had extensive knowledge of magic—she identified the spell at a glance.

And the boy also seemed to know about the existence of magicians.

"Alright, let the banquet begin! Cry out in despair within the tomb of decay, buried beneath layers of rock and soil!"

As the female magician's voice rang out again, the underground street trembled violently. The lights flickered and then went out, plunging everything into darkness.

Then, the boy and the little girl started arguing.

"Index, take Kazakiri and find a place to hide!"

"Touma, you should be the one taking Kazakiri to safety.

Since the enemy is a magician, I should be the one to fight!"

"No way! You’re too small, and you can’t even actively use magic.

I'll handle it—my right hand can erase any magic or esper ability!"

"Touma, you’re completely clueless about magic. I might not be able to cast spells, but I have one hundred thousand and three magic books stored in my mind.

I know every magic spell in the world, and that knowledge lets me counteract an opponent's magic!"

"Maybe that magician is after your magic books in the first place!"

Listening to their argument, George was completely stunned.

Not only were these two "not simple"—they were insanely not simple.

One had a right hand that could erase all magic and esper abilities.

The other had every magic book in the world recorded in her mind.

Why even bother searching for churches? If he could somehow get his hands on the magic books stored in that girl’s head, he could learn everything about this world’s magic.

She was a walking treasure trove!

At that moment, if George’s eyes could physically shine, they would have illuminated the entire underground street.

As George pondered how to extract the 100,003 magic books from the girl, hurried footsteps echoed from nearby.

"They’re here too."

"There’s still movement here—some people haven’t evacuated!"

Shirai Kuroko and Misaka Mikoto, both wearing Judgment armbands, appeared before them.

Upon seeing the boy, Misaka Mikoto's face lit up with surprise.

"You again?!"

"Uh… yeah, me."

Kamijou Touma briefly looked confused but quickly nodded as if he recognized her.

Due to losing part of his memory after saving Index, he no longer remembered everyone he had previously met.

Since this Judgment girl clearly knew him, they must have met before his memory loss.