After Misaka Mikoto and Kamijou Touma's playful spar finally ended, Selene was left speechless. That dose of romantic tension she had just witnessed was enough to make her sick of the dog food for the night. Feeling weary, she returned to her manor and threw herself heavily onto the bed.
Earlier, she had entertained a fleeting thought—a desire to fight Kamijou Touma herself—but quickly dismissed it. Best not to provoke Aleister's nerves any further.
And honestly, surely no one still believed Kamijou Touma was weak and only relied on Imagine Breaker, right?
From Selene's perspective, Kamijou Touma's true strength wasn't his Imagine Breaker, nor the inner illusionary power behind it, nor even his so-called divine purification aspect.
From a god's-eye view, we might see his ability as a cheat, but in everyday life, Kamijou only knew that his right hand could nullify powers by touch. If his mind weren't strong enough, even knowing the true nature of his ability, he would have cowered long ago.
Kamijou Touma's real power lies within his heart—his unwavering will to fight, his indomitable spirit, his sheer mental fortitude that makes him the strongest in the Index world. He isn't active because of his right hand; rather, it's his existence itself that allows the power within that hand to awaken.
Even if an ordinary person obtained Imagine Breaker, would they have the courage to endure endless misfortune and face countless powerful enemies head-on? Kamijou has metaphorically died a hundred times over just to make it this far.
As for Selene? She didn't have that courage. She knew herself well—she was cautious, cowardly even, and valued her own life too much. She lacked the heroic spirit.
Though she deeply respected Kamijou Touma's resolve and conviction, she didn't envy him. After all, she had no plans to interfere with the A Certain Magical Index world, and she had no conflict with him. So, they could coexist peacefully: you don't mess with me, and I won't mess with you.
In truth, if Selene had wanted, she could've avoided Misaka Mikoto entirely. The reason she associated with Mikoto was partially due to a faint sense of fondness—but more so because it served a purpose. As a refined egoist, Selene was no naive saint.
At that moment, Selene silently reflected on all of this as she slowly closed her eyes and drifted into her dream.
This dream, however, was not like ordinary dreams. Normally, people can't consciously control their dreams—they passively experience them, often shaped by lingering thoughts from the day.
Selene's dreams, however, were fully under her control. She used them for recollection, analysis, and contemplation—much like the "Braindance" from Cyberpunk 2077. It helped her review memories, patch up oversights, and even improve her sleep efficiency.
It was one of Selene's many little inventions—simple, but remarkably convenient.
As the saying went, "All human invention is born from laziness." While that wasn't universally true, it did hold a certain logic.
Just as she was about to drift off, her phone suddenly rang.
"Hm?"
"Boss, I have some good news to report," came Shuji Matsuzaki's cheerful voice from the phone.
Selene raised an eyebrow. She had been about to grumble about being disturbed, but upon hearing "good news," her interest immediately returned. Knowing Matsuzaki's personality, he wouldn't call her this late unless it was truly something significant.
"Matsuzaki, since when did you learn to keep me in suspense? Let me guess—hmm... good news, huh? Don't tell me you've finished the efficacy differentiation and reduction tests for the T–R1 serum? If that's true, then it's really good news."
"Yes, Boss, as expected, nothing gets past you! We've completed the objectives you assigned—mission accomplished," Matsuzaki replied with a relieved laugh, clearly pleased.
"Also, under Mr. Sebas' arrangements, it should be ready for release soon. Would you like to attend a meeting to confirm the rollout procedures?"
"Excellent. Notify the relevant personnel—we'll hold a meeting at Schicksal Research Institute in thirty minutes." Selene snapped her fingers with satisfaction. "If everything goes smoothly, we won't have to worry about money for a long time."
"Understood!"
Taking a deep breath, Selene hung up the call and sat up on the bed. "Today's really been one lucky streak after another. Everything I want just falls right into place."
...
"Miss, you've arrived." As Selene's figure appeared at the entrance of the conference room, Sebas, who had been waiting patiently, immediately stepped forward to greet her.
Selene nodded. "Is everyone here?"
"Yes, everyone's arrived. Shuji Matsuzaki and the others are waiting in the conference room. I'll take you there now," Sebas replied promptly.
The next moment, the security robots stationed at the door moved aside and opened the large metal doors to the meeting room.
"Boss." As soon as Selene entered, the entire room fell silent. Everyone immediately stood up to greet her.
"Matsuzaki, how's it going?" Selene smiled faintly, gesturing for everyone to sit as she went straight to the point. "Show me your results."
"It's ready." Sitting in the front row, Shuji Matsuzaki picked up a metal briefcase from the table, carried it to Selene, and set it down before her.
With a crisp click, the case opened, revealing rows of colorless, transparent ampoules neatly arranged inside. Each vial bore a small label indicating the type of illness it was meant to treat.
"Please have a look..." Matsuzaki said, picking up one ampoule and tapping it lightly with his finger. The liquid inside shimmered gently, faint purple light flickering within—ethereal and dreamlike from where Selene sat.
"As you requested, the differentiation and weakening process for the first-generation T–R1 serum has been largely completed."
Selene reached out and took the ampoule, turning it in her hand to examine it carefully before asking, "How effective is it?"
"It depends on dosage and the type of ailment," Matsuzaki replied thoughtfully. "In general, 5 mL is sufficient for ordinary conditions. For chronic or recurring illnesses, the suppression period is limited, requiring multiple injections. The higher the dose, the longer the suppression lasts."
"According to your specifications, a standard dose is 5 mL with an effective duration of one year. Of course, patients don't necessarily need repeat injections—if they manage to recover naturally during the suppression period, further treatment won't be required."
At this point, Matsuzaki lowered his head apologetically. "...My apologies, Boss. There's not much I can do about the patient's own willpower or recovery motivation."
"No problem. I'm very satisfied with your work," Selene said casually. Achieving this level of success was already impressive. As for those who might treat the serum as a crutch—prolonging their lives through dependence while recovering slowly—it might cause minor financial losses, but she wasn't concerned.
She then took the files containing the formulas and production methods for the various serums, flipping through them one by one. Afterward, she patted Matsuzaki's shoulder lightly. "Well done, Matsuzaki."
"Thank you!" Matsuzaki bowed deeply, his gratitude genuine. Selene, however, didn't dwell on it and turned her focus to discussing the product's market launch with the rest of the team.
From this point onward, Sebas took over as the lead speaker. After all, this fell squarely within his area of expertise, and Selene trusted him implicitly. It was only natural to leave the logistics and marketing details in his capable hands.
Though much of the business jargon and strategy talk went over her head, Selene understood one thing clearly—after today, this new human-repair serum would soon spread far and wide.