Angel Fall

"That, that's right, Tsuchimikado! My dad's just an ordinary person unlike you
magicians. How can he activate such a complicated global-scale spell? And you
did say before that such a large spell needs a huge magic array or ritual site, but
you couldn't even find—"

"At your house. It's at your house, Kami-yan. Haven't you realized that?"

Hearing Tsuchimikado say that, Kamijou was dumbstruck.

He couldn't understand what Tsuchimikado meant.
"I said before, my specialty is feng shui. And feng shui is about using the space
and household furniture in the house to create a circuit of magic."
"W-what?"

"Basically, it's about arranging the space and household furniture to form a
magic array."

Kamijou didn't understand what Tsuchimikado was saying.

He was lost.

"Oi, oi, what are you saying? Isn't that too ridiculous? How can such an ordinary
house be some mysterious ritual site? What changing room space is able to
create a magic array...that's too ridiculous!"

"That's not an ordinary house. Aren't there are lot of charms, exotic crafts and
religious gifts? Though each are mass-produced items that don't have too much
meaning in them, and their power is weak, don't look down on these counterfeits.
Once you place them in the correct feng shui and Onmyodo positions, there will
be a multiplying effect."

For some reason, Tsuchimikado seemed really happy.

"For example, isn't there are a Cypress shrub beside the main door?"

"How would I know?"

"There is one. There's also a nest on the tree. That's mistletoe, and it means to let
birds rest. In Shintoism, the shrine entrances will always set up mistletoe.
There's a huge significance to this, do you understand, Kami-yan?"

"W-what?"

"That's the Torii. As the name suggests, it's the resting place of birds. Torii are
places to let spirit birds, the messenger of Gods, rest. And speaking of cypress
Torii, one will think of the Ise Grand Shrine. Explain it, why is there such a
coincidence?"

Tsuchimikado said happily.

"Also, the main door facing south has a red mailbox. South is represented by the
color red. There's a tortoise guardian beast toy in the bathroom, which represents
water. The fridge and microwave in the kitchen have tiger toys on them; the
guardian beast of metal is the Byakko. Though all these aren't anything much,
that house has at least three thousand charms. If such a large amount gather
together, the house will form a shrine."

Even hearing Tsuchimikado's words, Kamijou was still unable to believe it.

To Kamijou, these were all twisted logic on Tsuchimikado's side.

"Hm, I guess it's because the Kamijou couple came to the seaside and left the
house empty that the ritual site is incomplete, huh?"

Tsuchimikado stared at Touya with an enthusiastic yet cold-blooded smile.

"Really, it seems like Touya's a lot scarier than your right hand. In terms of
probability, that's too perfect. My feeling right now is like seeing a complete
diamond. But is this perfect coincidence something lucky or unlucky?"

"S-stop joking about! Anyone can tell that your words are too far-fetched!"

"I know, it's really too far-fetched—which was why I didn't dare to destroy it
easily."

For the first time, the carefree attitude disappeared from Tsuchimikado's face.
Just as Kamijou was feeling puzzled, Tsuchimikado said, "Kami-yan, it's true
that what I just said was too far-fetched, really twisted, but Angel Fall was really
activated. The term 'miracle' should be referring to such things. Kami-yan, do
you believe in miracles? Do you believe in a one in ten thousand coincidence?"

"STOP SPOUTING NONSENSE! HOW CAN THERE BE SUCH A THING! I
DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT MAGIC, BUT HOW CAN
ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS AND INTRICATE MACHINES CONNECT
UNKNOWINGLY!?"

"But it's a fact that Angel Fall activated. Let's think about this, Kami-yan.
There's a way to cause a miracle to happen 100% of the time."

Wha, what...? Kamijou's mind went blank.

Tsuchimikado chuckled as he said to Kamijou, "The Kamijou residence has a lot
of souvenirs. The reason why these souvenirs were placed like that wasn't
because he wanted to create Angel Fall. To the amateur Touya, this is just a
coincidence, a result of setting things up like this. This Angel Fall magic array
was just created by the numerous souvenirs out of coincidence."

Tsuchimikado then said, "But even if Angel Fall doesn't activate, another huge
magic spell will be activated. By slightly changing the location of the souvenirs,
the magic array's circuit will merely be switched."

Tsuchimikado flipped his hand about and said, "So that magic array won't fail.
No matter how he placed the souvenirs, a large magic spell will still be
activated."

It was just that they just so happened to activate Angel Fall this time.
Even if the spell that was activated wasn't Angel Fall, another calamity would
still occur.

"Kami-yan, do you know why I didn't say all of this in your house? It's because
that magic array's in a stable state and can't be changed. Angel Fall is one of the
less dangerous spells. That magic array may change into Great Earthquake,
Abnormal Reverse World, Eternal Cold—such terrifying spells can easily cause
a country to disappear from the map...or may even become some unique magic
array that even I don't understand. Forget about an amateur like you not
understanding, that's something not even a magician——a feng shui master like
me, Tsuchimikado could understand. We definitely can't allow this magic array
to activate. Once it does, it's all over."

If Kamijou touched a souvenir and caused Angel Fall to be removed.

Another huge spell may instantly occur.

"Now that I think back about it, that was close. Kamijou Touma, Kanzaki Kaori,
Misha Kreutzev, Hino Jinsaku and me, Tsuchimikado Motoharu—if anyone of
us touched one of the souvenirs in Kami-yan's house, Angel Fall may be
changed into another huge spell."

Kamijou finally recalled; this was the reason why Tsuchimikado had wanted
everyone to leave Kamijou's house.

But Kamijou was still thinking of excuses to deny it in his heart.

"B-but, oh yeah, my dad's just an ordinary person, an ordinary company worker.
You need magic power to activate magic, right? My dad doesn't know how to
control magic power!"

"There's no need for it. I said it before, Kami-yan, the so-called feng shui are
spells that use the energy of the earth, and these are unrelated to human magic."
Tsuchimikado raised his index finger and shook it.

"Assume that the energy of the earth is a generator, Kamijou Touya is a
transformer, and the souvenir magic array is a circuit. Touya's an important
accomplice."

Perhaps the reason Touya was only half-affected by the Angel Fall was because
of this.

Touya was one of the culprits behind Angel Fall, not the main culprit, but an
accomplice.

Angel Fall wasn't activated through human hands.

The main culprit behind Angel Fall was the devilish-luck-like coincidence of
feng shui's mechanisms.

"Damn it," Kamijou cursed softly.

Tsuchimikado completely ignored Kamijou's response and continued.
"That house is like a train that has numerous changing tracks. Randomly
destroying a souvenir will cause Angel Fall to be changed into another magic
array," Tsuchimikado rattled on, "So if we want to destroy Angel Fall, we
definitely can't move the souvenirs one by one. We have to destroy it all. I
actually wanted to get you away from the magic array, kidnap that uncle, then
talk with Kreutzev before getting Kanzaki's help to get back to your old house
and destroy the magic array...guess I was too naive. The schedule was so packed
that an accident wrecked the entire plan."

"Damn it," Kamijou cursed again.

"What's going on? Why did it end up like that? Dad doesn't know anything about
magic, so why did it end up like that—"

"There's no reason."

Tsuchimikado casually replied to Kamijou, who was full of despair, and said,
"There's no reason, no cause, no logic, no theory, no cause and effect, no aim, no
meaning, no value. Nothing at all. Kami-yan, you should understand this well."
Hearing Tsuchimikado say that, Kamijou was still unable to understand, and
could only look puzzled like a child.

Tsuchimikado however brought a cruel smile and said, "It's just bad luck."

Kamijou couldn't understand that at all.

After a while, his frozen brain, like ice melting in a cup, started to think.

Because of bad luck.

Because of misfortune.

Was that the conclusion? Hino Jinsaku got involved unnecessarily, Power of God
created such havoc, half the earth would be burned thirty minutes later, Kamijou
Touya was treated as the culprit behind this, all that was explained with such a
simple sentence?

"...You, YOU'RE KIDDING ME!?"

Kamijou shook his head. He didn't know what expression to show.
But anyway, Angel Fall must be removed.

What bad luck? What misfortune?

The situation couldn't be treated as if it had never happened just because it was
so stupid.

Even if Angel Fall's magic array was at Kamijou's old house, there was no other
way. Even though he didn't know what magic array would form, he could only
hurry up, go back and destroy the magic array—anyway, they had to prevent the
Power of God from activating the Sweep!

"Never mind, it's too late,"

At that moment, Tsuchimikado coldly said that.

"Have you forgotten how far your house is from here? No matter how much we
dash, we won't be able to make it."

"Then what do we do? I don't know whether we can succeed, but at least we can
try, right? Do you have any better ideas?"

"I do."

Tsuchimikado smiled sinisterly as he replied without any hesitation.
His face was giving a look saying 'why can't you even think of such a simple
method' and he stepped into the room.

"A certain someone here just needs to sacrifice himself."

Kamijou's body went cold.

Even though he didn't know what that meant, Kamijou instinctively stepped in
front of Touya. Though Touya didn't understand what was going on, he seemed
to notice that he was in danger.

Seeing Kamijou, Tsuchimikado laughed.

He said, "Great, really great. Kanzaki's accompanying that stupid angel. She
definitely wouldn't allow anyone to be killed in front of her. I would be stopped
if I proposed this."

Saying that, Tsuchimikado stepped forward.

Kamijou felt a tremendous pressure in his stomach, and inadvertently pushed
Touya back with his back.

"You should understand, Kami-yan. In this situation, we need someone to
sacrifice himself if we want to end this. Don't worry, only one person will be
needed, I can assure you that. So Kami-yan, you don't have to worry at all, but
someone will have to, Kami-yan."

Tsuchimikado smiled as he waved his arms. His arms were rather long, matching
his height.

"Truly, I'm in a fix, since I can't use magic now. Even with this body, I still need
to accept orders from the church, and it's really difficult, don't you think so,
Kami-yan?"

Tsuchimikado said that with a really interested tone.

At that moment, Kamijou finally remembered how Tsuchimikado often called
himself.

A liar, a spy.
"Damn it, what kind of sick joke is this!?"

Kamijou gritted his teeth and said, "Don't belittle me! I won't allow you to kill
for this reason! No way will I allow it!"

"Fu, Kami-yan, you don't have to be too mindful? Besides, you're not the one
who's dying anyway, it has nothing to do with you."

Tsuchimikado's words seemed to be mocking Kamijou.

Kamijou's own father was about to be killed right in front of him, how could he
just leave it as it was?

"Damn it, get out of the way! Tsuchimikado! Don't get in my way! Can't we just
run back to my old house and use my right hand to destroy the magic array?"

"Seems like you still don't understand. Unless one hit can kill the entire spell, or
we kill the caster who's providing the power, it won't work. Besides, no matter
how much we try, we can't possibly get back to your house in time."
[-]
"Have you forgotten, Kami-yan? I'm a liar who works in my own way."

Just like that...

In front of Kamijou Touma's eyes...

Tsuchimikado continued on in a tone that was no different from before and
finished the chant.

The glaring white light spread around, and a force broke through the roof and
entered the night sky. The loud boom sounded like a beast's roar as it ripped
through the night sky and headed towards the target.

That place was Kamijou's house.

Could that last hit end everything?

The multiple damages in Kamijou's body started to take effect. He started to lose
consciousness.

However, Kamijou did hear something fall. He saw Tsuchimikado collapse onto
the floor as if he was a puppet someone got sick of playing with.

The night sky with the full moon over it was now the sunset with a burning sky.

The night that was summoned by the Power of God's magic reverted back to the
evening.

The girl who was collapsed beside the boy, Index, who was knocked out by the

CHCl3, started to change in appearance.

A moment later, Index took on another woman's appearance. Kamijou Shiina,
the boy's mother.

The role switch effect had ended.

Angel Fall was removed.

- To Aru Majutsu no Index Vol 4 Chapter 4