Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 07/Chapter 2

Title - Chapter 2: ローマ正教　The_Roman_Catholic_Church.

Volume 07

Previous Chapter → 1

Next Chapter → 3

Part 1
Nightfall.

Tension rises as the sudden capture of Orsola in the hands of the Amakusa Catholics caused Agnese to mobilize the many nuns under her command. As some jumped into the hole created to abduct Orsola, others focused on strategizing using the maps they hold. Because he does not know anything about what's going on, Touma stands on the sidelines with Stiyl and Index. Despite being magicians as well, the two representatives of the Anglican Church decide not to cause chaos by intervening.

Touma soon raises the question of the purpose of his and Index's presence. Stiyl did not say much about Touma's importance, but puts emphasis on Index's role in this incident, as someone who has knowledge about magical texts.

However, Index admits that even she can't decode "The Book of the Law". Stiyl adds that it contains power comparable to an angel's; he laughs at the assumption that Touma does not know anything about angels, but he assumed wrong, as Touma was in fact involved with an angel's power.

Index explains her assumptions about the extent of power "The Book of the Law" can give, and then Stiyl gives a short lecture on the life of its author, a man named Edward Alexander a.k.a. Crowley. He then bitterly remarks about how one cannot take the magic book lightly.

Touma suggests about burning the book, thinking that like any other book, it would burn out; Index debunks his assumption and explains that it is impossible and dangerous, as text written by magicians are infused by magic, and thus can turn into magical code that invokes that spell at the slightest exposure to magical energy, like a starter to an engine.

As Stiyl explains to Index the engine-magic analogy, Touma realizes that he is in a situation where he can't back out midway through. However, he puts his faith in the power in his right hand.