Just then, Uiharu Kazari received a sudden phone call that shattered the pleasant mood. Saten Ruiko, just like in the original story, had used [Level Upper]. Along with her, three of her friends had also fallen victim to it—one of them was already unconscious.
This came as no surprise to Selene. In Academy City, were ability levels important? The answer was a clear yes. Academy City was a place grounded in reality—your ability level and potential largely determined how much support you received from above, and even your social standing within the city.
Forget about so-called human rights or equality; the Board of Directors wasn't a charity. Though they spoke of treating all students equally, everyone knew what life was truly like for low-level espers.
And after spending so much time with two Level 5 espers, Saten Ruiko's yearning for power was undoubtedly stronger than in the original timeline.
For that, Selene couldn't blame her—nor could she stop her. She wasn't in a position to stand high above and lecture someone for aspiring to greater heights. Even if she meant well, any words of comfort would sound hollow and hypocritical.
More importantly... Saten using [Level Upper] might not be entirely a bad thing.
"How could this happen? Saten, please calm down... It's not just me! Shirai, Misaka-senpai, Selene-senpai—none of us care about things like that. Saten, where are you? I'm coming right now..." Upon hearing that Saten had also used [Level Upper], Uiharu Kazari panicked, ready to rush out immediately. After all, Saten was her dear friend.
"...Saten, believe me, you'll be alright..."
"Let me handle this." Selene gently grabbed Uiharu's trembling hand, signaling her to relax as she took the phone.
"Hello, Saten? It's Selene."
"...Ah, Selene-senpai?" On the other end, Saten Ruiko fell silent for a moment upon hearing her voice.
After a pause, she finally spoke again, her tone heavy and uncertain. "Senpai... you know about what happened, right? Tell me... in Academy City, are ability levels really that important?"
"If I said they weren't, would you believe me? In this city, the answer is yes. Ability levels are extremely important. They determine your income, the quality of your education, the amount of government support you receive—and to some extent, even your social status."
Selene didn't sugarcoat her words. She spoke bluntly instead of offering false comfort.
Her answer immediately made the three others listening nearby break out in cold sweat. They waved their hands frantically, whispering, "Hey, Selene, take it easy! That's not how you comfort someone!"
"I knew it..." Saten's voice on the other side grew even heavier. "So Level 0s really are defective? Or is this my punishment... for selfishly reaching for power and dragging my friends into it?"
"You could say that," Selene replied calmly. "From a social standpoint—and considering that you involved others—it's true. But... it's not entirely a bad thing." She glanced at the near-panicking trio beside her, assuring them she knew what she was doing.
"Level 0s may be called 'powerless,' but that doesn't mean you truly have no ability. It's simply that your brain's calculation capacity isn't strong enough to manifest your power properly. So personally, I actually support your decision to use [Level Upper]."
"Eh?! Senpai, you mean... you approve of this?" Saten's voice wavered in disbelief. "But that's cheating!"
"Yes, it is cheating. It's a shortcut. From my perspective as a Level 5, it's something that can't stand on its own..." Selene interrupted briefly, then continued, "But that's only when comparing it to high-level espers like us. For lower-level espers, it can serve as a kind of boost."
"[Level Upper] truly can increase one's ability level—that much is undeniable. The ceiling is low, and yes, there are side effects. You already know that."
"Then..." Saten's voice trembled slightly with confusion. "Why do you still support me using [Level Upper], senpai?"
"That's the key point," Selene said. "Aside from the risk of falling into a coma, using [Level Upper] can actually be beneficial for low-level espers." A faint smile formed on her lips. "Think about it—after experiencing the power of a higher level, even if your ability fades later, won't you still have a better grasp of it than someone starting from zero?"
"Anyone who talks only about the dangers without considering dosage or applicability is being disingenuous."
"Then... Senpai, you mean..." Saten Ruiko's tone trembled with faint hope, her earlier despair all but gone. "Does that mean I can still improve my level normally in the future?!"
"That's right," Selene replied confidently. "But you'll need to rediscover that feeling for yourself and build upon it gradually... Still, I believe in you, Saten. You'll make good use of this opportunity."
"As for the rest—don't worry. Even if you do fall unconscious, as long as I'm here, do you really think I'd let you stay asleep? Just think of it as a nice nap."
Handing the phone back to Uiharu Kazari, Selene let out a deep sigh, wiping the sweat from her forehead. Comforting people, she realized, was far more exhausting than fighting.
"Wow, Selene-senpai, you're amazing..." Thanks to the speakerphone, everyone had heard Saten's tone return to normal. Uiharu accepted the phone, dazed at first, then gasped in admiration.
Thinking about Selene's words, her eyes suddenly sparkled. "Maybe I should try [Level Upper] too—ah, ow! Kuroko, why?!"
Before she could finish, Uiharu was brought out of her daydream by a sharp karate chop from Shirai Kuroko. "Honestly, Uiharu, stop causing trouble."
"Hmph... trouble, huh? You're just scared I'll surpass you, that's all..."
"What?!"
"Uh—nothing! I'm going to find Saten right now!" Uiharu yelped and darted off under Kuroko's deadly glare.
At that moment, when no one else was watching, Selene quietly placed a safeguard on Uiharu—just in case.
"Sigh..." Watching Uiharu dash away, Kuroko shook her head helplessly. "By the way, when exactly did Saten's situation start?"
She honestly hadn't known much about it—she'd been swamped dealing with [Level Upper] users causing chaos and hadn't had time to pay attention to Saten.
"That day was partly my fault," Misaka Mikoto admitted softly. "That afternoon, I noticed something off about her mood. So I went to talk to her alone... tried to comfort her. But... are ability levels really that important?"