Chapter 20

The next day, a few people gathered at a cafe for lunch. Bai Jingyue had initially refused with the excuse, "Why would I join your little girls' gathering?" but was still dragged over by Souten Riko. After hearing Souten Riko's words from the previous day, Bai Jingyue couldn't find any reason to resist.

Bored in the cafe, Souten Riko, as a fashionista, suggested telling ghost stories. Unexpectedly, she told the urban legend of the "Undressing Woman" in Academy City.

"Your story... I really can't praise it..." Bai Hezi was somewhat puzzled by her friend's taste.

"Eh? Wouldn't you be scared if you experienced it? The urban legend of the 'Undressing Woman' who suddenly takes off her clothes!"

"Not scared." Misaka Mikoto's tone was very firm. "By the way, isn't that just a pervert?"

"Hey, hey, look at this!" Shokuhou Misaki took out her computer and called the others over.

Everyone gathered around, and the computer displayed a website dedicated to urban legends. Bai Hezi was not interested at all. "Don't look at such boring websites anymore. Besides, urban legends are unscientific. This is the unparalleled Academy City, after all."

"No, while some might be exaggerated, they are indeed based on real events that have been modified," Bai Jingyue's words surprised everyone.

"Do you know which ones are true, Cousin?"

"I only know some of them, for example, the 'City undergoes strange changes when wind turbines rotate.' Can you think of anything?"

After thinking for a while, everyone looked at Misaka Mikoto. Feeling their gazes, Misaka Mikoto smiled awkwardly, "It shouldn't be me... right?"

"What do you think? And the 'Guardian' of Academy City's network, who can you think of?" Hearing this, everyone's gaze turned to Shokuhou Misaki. Indeed, the girl in front of them had incredibly strong hacking skills and was known as the true "Guardian" of Academy City.

"There are many seemingly impossible legends that are actually real. I know of seven."

"Really? That many? Like the 'Man with the ability to nullify all powers,' that kind of random ability can't possibly exist..."

"It does." Bai Jingyue interrupted Bai Hezi. "My classmate, Kamijou Touma, his right hand can nullify all powers."

...

Everyone was stunned. The legend they thought was the least likely to be true turned out to be real. And two of the urban legends' true forms were among them, which was quite a shock.

"Then, Brother, the true form of the 'Demon with a sword seen in dark alleys' wouldn't be..."

Bai Jingyue smiled meaningfully.

After parting ways, the three disciplinary committee members went to patrol the streets, Souten Riko went to buy vegetables for dinner, and Misaka Mikoto headed to a bookstore to read without paying. It was said she had already changed several bookstores...

Misaka Mikoto, coming out of the bookstore and on her way back to the dormitory, suddenly noticed a familiar figure ahead. Upon closer inspection, it was Bai Jingyue!

"Bai Jingyue, what are you doing here?" At this moment, Misaka Mikoto noticed a woman standing next to Bai Jingyue, dressed in ordinary business attire with long brown hair, but the dark circles under her eyes marred her beauty.

"I'm a disciplinary committee member, on duty today. This lady can't find her parking lot, so I'm helping her."

"But..." Misaka Mikoto looked at the woman beside her curiously, "Aren't you banned from daily activities..."

Misaka Mikoto didn't finish her sentence, but Bai Jingyue understood. "I wrote a self-criticism, and the ban has been lifted. As long as nothing happens, I can work normally. By the way, do you have time now? Can you help me? Use your ability to hack the surveillance system and find her car's location."

Misaka Mikoto was speechless at Bai Jingyue's words. [He talks about hacking surveillance so confidently. Does he even care about Academy City's regulations? And he's a disciplinary committee member...]

While the two were talking, the woman suddenly started taking off her clothes, leaving only a bra on, and said, "It's so hot," as if no one else was around.

"You... what are you doing..." Misaka Mikoto was shocked by the scene, her face turning red.

"Because I've been walking in this hot weather for a long time and I'm all sweaty." Her calm tone made one doubt if she had any common sense.

Bai Jingyue pondered for a moment. [I see, it's Mikan Shizuri.] Finally, he found the information in his old memories and smiled.

Seeing Bai Jingyue smiling for no reason, Misaka Mikoto thought he was laughing at the "perk." She immediately stood in front of the woman who was undressing, blocking Bai Jingyue's view, and looked at him with a "you're a pervert" gaze.

Bai Jingyue laughed at the scene. "What are you thinking?" He patted Misaka Mikoto's head and withdrew his hand before she could get angry. "I was just laughing because I found the true form of the 'Undressing Woman.'"

Eh? Misaka Mikoto was stunned and turned back. [No way...]

After some time, the three of them were sitting in the shade in front of a clothing store to cool off.

"Is this woman really...?" When the woman went to buy drinks, Misaka Mikoto asked Bai Jingyue, still not believing it.

"Of course, if there were two such people, the world would be dangerous."

Mikan Shizuri returned and placed two cans of drinks in front of them. "This is to thank you for accompanying me."

"I won't be polite... Eh?" When Misaka Mikoto took the drink, she was startled. Mikan Shizuri had given them hot curry soup.

"It's better to drink something hot when it's hot, and the spices in curry help with fatigue recovery," Mikan Shizuri explained.

"Well, I understand the logic... but I still prefer something cool," Misaka Mikoto said awkwardly.

Bai Jingyue drank it naturally. Disciplinary committee members couldn't collapse during hot patrols, so they were trained in health practices.

"Sorry, maybe it's because I'm always doing research, I tend to think too theoretically," Mikan Shizuri acknowledged her issue.

"Research?... Are you a scholar?"

"Neurophysiology, mainly studying AIM diffusion fields."

"That refers to..." Misaka Mikoto slowly recalled, "The weak power released unconsciously by espers?"

"Yes, something humans can't detect with their five senses, but can only be measured with machines," Mikan Shizuri said proudly, "I study how to apply that power."

"Very impressive, ma'am." Bai Jingyue praised Mikan Shizuri, not for her research direction, but for her dedication to her students. He admired her greatly. And... could his secret organization add more members?

After resting, they used Misaka Mikoto's ability to hack the surveillance system and quickly found Mikan Shizuri's car. After Mikan Shizuri left, Misaka Mikoto looked at the sky and said to Bai Jingyue, "Bai Jingyue, let's have a fight."

Bai Jingyue looked at Misaka Mikoto. "Why?"

"You're strong, right? Let's duel. Don't forget what you did to me a month ago. If you duel with me, I'll forget about that!"

[You still remember?] Bai Jingyue was helpless, but he also wanted to fight Misaka Mikoto. "Sure, I know a good place."