Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 19/Chapter 2

Title - Chapter 2: 単純かつ複雑な問題点A Simple, Yet Complicated Question. V.S._Calamity.

Volume 19

Previous Chapter → 1

Next Chapter → 3

Synopsis
Shiage tried to hijack a mini-copter to get to where Rikou is, but the pilot pulled out a knife from nowhere and said aviators these days are tired of being hijacked and they’re not all helpless victims. Though after the pilot heard Rikou and Shiage’s talk on the phone and sees how desperate Shiage is to try and save Rikou she decided to help.

Later Shiage jumps out of a helicopter without parachutes down towards something that he’s not sure it’ll save him from a hard landing, while firing down at 3 guys holding Rikou hostage. True main character style.

The remnants of Spark Signal have 5 members guarding the hostages. Accelerator charged in trying to kill them all, then the 5 got killed off by Sugitani, one of Director Shiokishi's bodyguards. Sugitani was only there to tell Accelerator to stay out of Shiokishi's businesses if he doesn't want to regret it, and then left.

Accelerator then saw Rikou lying there looking pained, went to have a look what's wrong, then Shiage arrived and thought Accelerator is gonna rip her to pieces like he did to Komaba. Shiage then declared even though Skill-out were at fault that time, they had the resolve to do whatever it took so he doesn't blame Accelerator for that, since otherwise it'll be a insult to Komaba, their 1st leader. But Shiage said then if Accelerator want to kill someone who no longer wants to stay in the dark side then he'll take him down. Accelerator knew it's a misunderstanding, but still complimented him for his action and bravery then charged.

Shiage's planning to force Accelerator into a situation where even a bullet will work on him, taken from his experience against Mugino. though Shiage then got blasted back by the air pressure created by Accelerator. Shiage blew apart a passing security robot (the bucket-shaped kind) and threw it at Accelerator, hoping the magnetism from the broken robot will affect the collar Accelerator wears. Before the robot reached Accelerator it got blown away. Accelerator then charged right into Shiage and held him up by the collar, then blew him across the room. While Shiage's crawling up Accelerator told him if he stays down he'll let him live, if he gets up he's dead. Shiage refused to give up, and told him they both have reasons to do what they do.

Accelerator was going to turn Shiage to mush right there, but when he saw Rikou stumbling towards them he told Shiage if Shiage planned to use her as a shield to keep fighting he'll do Shiage a favour and rip Shiage apart. But if the girl gets worse from fighting it'll be troublesome for him, and he'll retreat, saying that's how a villain should do things. Accelerator then manipulated the vectors under his feet and disappeared in a blink of a eye. Shiage finally realised he misunderstood the situation, went to hold Rikou and cursing himself for being so useless. Rikou said Shiage's not useless, since for her he's willing to fight into a building where the Anti-Skills can't. Shiage's not convinced, thinking if it was a 'main character' then Rikou wouldn't be hurt. However he also thinks that though he's not a top-tier villain like Accelerator, it doesn't matter if himself is a punk as long as he can protect Rikou and her smile.