Aozaki Aoko Case File - [23]

“Hey, Touko,” Lugh sitting on a rundown desk began, “When can we go find your sister?”

“You’ve asked that question countless times already,” Touko replied, irritation clear in her voice as she set up her temporary workshop.

“You’re strong, but don’t get cocky just because you’re a Phantasmal Species. If we want to win, we need to be fully prepared.”

“You promised me, Touko,” Lugh, continued.

“You promised to find me the most interesting opponent, and our contract lasts until I defeat the owner of the Fifth Magic.”

“That’s one of the only five magicians in the entire world,” Touko stopped what she was doing and looked out the window, her gaze distant.

“If I took you to her right now, you’d probably lose outright.”

“Can I eat her?”

Lugh asked with a greedy yet innocent tone.

“Will she taste good?”

“…No,” Touko frowned.

“Whether it’s Kuonji Alice or Aozaki Aoko, you are not allowed to kill them.”

“Ugh, how boring,” Lugh lost some interest and jumped off the desk. “Touko, I’m hungry.”

“The meat is in that box over there,” Touko pointed to the corner of the room.

“Help yourself.”

With that, Touko ignored Lugh Beowulf and focused on adjusting the external magic crests she had borrowed. These crests formed the foundation of her Rune Magic, which she would rely on to stand a chance against Aoko. She had to be meticulous in tuning them to their optimal state.

Thinking about her sister, Aoko, Touko couldn’t help but feel conflicted.

She was by no means weak; if anything, Touko was a fairly accomplished magus. When their grandfather unexpectedly named Aoko the family heir, it infuriated her. She once swore to make the old man pay, but now that he had indeed paid the price, Touko found herself torn.

In preparing to face Aoko, Touko had instinctively formulated a plan. She sought out Lugh Beowulf, who had been hiding in the forests of Northern Europe.

This Phantasmal Beast, possessing human intelligence, was overwhelmingly powerful. There was no Magus alive who could defeat it. Gender and age meant nothing to it.

Had it not been for Lugh’s overwhelming sense of emptiness — his boredom with life to the point of nihilism — he would never have entered into a contract with Touko.

But upon returning to Misaki Town, Touko found herself at a loss for what to do.

If only that sister of hers were a bit colder.

If only she were a bit more hateful.

If… if only they weren’t both from the Aozaki family, Touko thought.

I won’t be weak anymore, Touko’s eyes grew cold again. I will take back what I want, take back what is rightfully mine. That’s what it means to be a magus, and even Aoko is doing the same.

Kuonji Alice had to be considered as well, Touko thought, recalling her childhood friend. A rare and extraordinary witch. Without Lugh’s help, even Touko wouldn’t be able to handle her easily.

…

Kuonji Alice wandered through the forest.

Two small pigs trotted beside her, looking like toys, though they were far from small.

A shattered doll lay on the ground, its form sporting three pairs of limbs and long black hair. Rather than resembling anyone in particular, it seemed designed purely to provoke her.

The Rose Hounds detected traces of an intruder. Someone had entered the territory.

The Aozaki family’s leyline had been entrusted to Alice by Aoko for joint management. And since Alice wasn’t one to shirk responsibility, that’s why she was here now.

“…The bounded field stone at the leyline’s node has been destroyed,” Alice muttered as she examined the results of the hounds’ search.

“Is there a magus targeting the Aozaki family?”

Alice crouched and picked up a broken rune stone from the ground, marked with deep claw marks.

“Tweedle,” Alice commanded, “it’s time to go.”

“Already?”

“We haven’t had enough fun yet!”

Before the twins could continue, Alice dismissed her Ploys, and the surrounding light brightened slightly as the twin pigs vanished.

By the time she returned home, Aoko had already prepared dinner.

“How did it go?”

Aoko asked from the entrance hall.

“Did everything go smoothly?”

“Not really,” Alice sighed.

“I didn’t catch the culprit, but the leyline’s node was destroyed. I also encountered a strange doll at the scene.”

Aoko immediately knew who was responsible. If there were dolls at the scene, there was no other possible culprit.

“Well, it’s a minor issue,” Aoko didn’t seem too concerned.

“Now that it’s happened, let’s eat first, okay?”

Alice nodded, hung up her coat, and changed into her indoor shoes before following Aoko to the dining room.

Tonight’s dinner was a Japanese meal, though, at first glance, it was clear Aoko had modified it, as neither Alice nor Aoko were particularly fond of traditional Japanese cuisine.

“What kind of person is the enemy?”

Alice asked after chewing a piece of tofu, which was, unsurprisingly, delicious.

“Well, the moment you mentioned a doll, I already knew,” Aoko said, grabbing a piece of grilled fish.

“It’s Touko. Making a doll like that? She’s probably trying to provoke me.”

“…I didn’t mention the doll had your face,” Alice said, surprised at Aoko’s deduction.

“Hah, Touko and I grew up together,” Aoko chuckled.

“I know better than anyone how nasty she can be.”

“Even though you’ve always been good to her?”

“Even though I’ve always been good to her,” Aoko replied.

“The Magic of the Aozaki family is just too important to her. Or rather, the magus known as Aozaki Touko is nothing more than a slave to Magic.”

“…I never realized Touko was that kind of person,” Alice said.

“I thought she would at least talk to you first.”

“The Touko you remember is the one who was still an egg of a magus,” Aoko responded.

“But now, once she’s made up her mind, she’ll come for me first, and I need to defeat her fair and square.”

“And besides,” Aoko added after a moment’s thought, “she’ll probably try to get rid of you first, so be careful.”

“…You don’t think Touko can beat me, do you?”

Alice asked, a little surprised. She was extremely confident in her magecraft system and believed Touko knew her strength well when it came to facing other magus.

“It’s not necessarily that she can beat you,” Aoko considered, “but her familiar might.”

“Make sure you always carry the item I gave you,” Aoko said, staring intently into Alice’s eyes.

“If you run into Touko, use it immediately. I’ll come right away. Don’t try to handle it on your own.”

In the original timeline, Touko had been a pure magus, untouched by the care of an ordinary family.

Her personality was stubborn and twisted. Even though this version of Touko had been somewhat changed by Aoko, her obsession with her goals remained deeply ingrained.

“…Okay.”

Feeling her housemate’s concern, Kuonji Alice was momentarily taken aback, then responded in a barely audible voice.