Marvel's master of cosmic magic

Chapter 541

"Give it a moment."

After dealing with Kakine Teitoku, Rowan Mercer reappeared above Academy City’s largest and most famous luxury bathhouse. Kamijou Touma and Index hadn’t left for England yet. While tracking Kakine earlier, Rowan had also located the two of them.

Index was currently soaking inside.

That made things awkward.

The bathhouse below was packed with Academy City girls. Even though Rowan’s body in this world looked female, his mind wasn’t. Walking into a women’s bath like that wasn’t happening. No rush anyway. A few minutes wouldn’t change anything.

Scanning the area, Rowan noticed several members of the Amakusa-style mages positioned around the bathhouse.

"Figures," he muttered. "They’re here to protect Kamijou Touma too."

According to Aleister, the Right Seat of God needed both Index’s grimoires and the Imagine Breaker. That meant one of them would inevitably make a move soon.

The Right Seat of God was the Roman Orthodox Church’s final weapon. Four individuals, each inheriting the power of one of the archangels, wielding angel-class rituals. Monsters, by any normal standard.

"They’re done."

Rowan’s perception spread across the bathhouse. Index, Misaka Mikoto, and an Amakusa mage with a striking presence finally finished bathing. They changed, then headed into the buffet area.

The Amakusa mage grabbed a drink and left to meet Kamijou outside. Misaka ate lightly before returning to her dorm.

Index stayed.

For someone so small, she ate like a natural disaster.

Rowan vanished and reappeared inside the buffet hall.

"Time. Stop."

The world froze.

Steam hung motionless in the air. Plates hovered halfway to mouths. Laughter stopped mid-breath.

Rowan stood before Index, then paused.

"...Using this spell here feels wrong."

Freshly bathed girls were frozen everywhere, radiating youthful energy. Old memories stirred, then were promptly buried. Focus.

He placed a hand on Index’s head.

Mental suppression. Soul interference. Command layering. Defensive override.

The Anglican Church’s so-called ultimate protection system collapsed instantly.

One hundred and three thousand grimoires copied themselves into Rowan’s mind in a single flood.

Information. Structure. Logic. Theory beyond theory.

Rowan smiled.

"One more step forward."

When he was done, he lifted his hand.

"Release."

Time resumed.

Index kept eating, completely unaware that the greatest magical archive in the world had just been emptied.

Rowan turned to leave.

Then he stopped.

"Oh. You really did show up."

A powerful presence had appeared outside. The Amakusa mages stationed nearby had already been taken down. Efficiently. Non-lethal.

Rowan sighed.

"This is getting tedious."

If he followed Aleister’s plan, he’d need to babysit Kamijou until England. Weeks, maybe months. A waste of time.

Why not end the problem at the root?

Eliminate the Right Seat of God entirely. No more pursuit. No England trip. Peace and quiet to digest the grimoires.

He’d even heard a rumor while scanning memories. That fully mastering all 103,000 grimoires could elevate a magician into something far greater.

Whether true or not, it was worth exploring.

And the angel-class rituals passed down by the Roman Church were... interesting.

Academy City, District 22. The river-crossing bridge.

Kamijou Touma walked beside Itsuwa, unaware that the civilians had already been cleared from the area by magic.

"If Kanzaki were here," Itsuwa said quietly, adjusting the pack that concealed her weapon, "we wouldn’t have to worry about attacks."

Touma scratched the back of his head.

"She’s really that strong?"

"Of course. A Saint. There aren’t even twenty in the world. Any enemy would be defeated instantly."

Touma blinked. He hadn’t realized the sword-wielding girl was that terrifying.

"Any enemy?" a voice cut in. "That doesn’t include me."

A broad-shouldered man appeared ahead of them, hands in his pockets. He tossed a strange necklace onto the bridge.

"Cause of the world’s chaos," he said coldly. "Hand over your right hand. Otherwise, I’ll deal justice myself."

Itsuwa froze.

"That’s the proxy pope’s necklace..."

Which meant every Amakusa mage guarding them was already down.

She moved instantly, drawing her spiritual weapon, the naval-mounted gun. She didn’t even finish raising it before something slammed into her back, sending her flying.

"Itsuwa!"

Touma rushed forward, but the moment he stepped in—

He was struck and sent skidding across the bridge, unable to even raise his right hand.

Too fast.

"Itsuwa!" Touma shouted.

She forced herself up and attacked again, but couldn’t even touch the man’s coat.

The man frowned, looking down at her shielding Touma.

"This is your warning," he said. "One day. Hand over the arm. Next time, I won’t be so merciful."

He turned, preparing to leave.

Then a hand landed on his shoulder.

Firm. Unyielding.

"Right Seat of God," Rowan Mercer said calmly. "Backtrack Water. Walking into Academy City uninvited isn’t polite."

The man stopped.

So did the world around him.