Aozaki Aoko

Nighttime.

As Luo Wei stepped out of the dilapidated station, a gust of evening wind blew in his face, carrying with it a fine drizzle that pattered against Rovey face. Rovey opened his red umbrella and looked up, confirming that it was indeed raining.

The dim sky was shrouded in clouds, and a light drizzle fell from above, continuously pattering down on this somewhat ancient town, brimming with the atmosphere of bygone eras. Along the cobblestone alleyway before me stood old wooden houses, as well as a few open-air shops and a fish market. Everything exuded a rustic charm, making one feel as if they had stepped into a medieval seaside town.

"The weather is really unpredictable. The weather forecast said it would be sunny today..."

"After all, this is Finland, a country with abundant rainfall. Being a coastal country, it's not hard to understand why the climate is complex and changeable. On the contrary, compared to us two outsiders, the people here seem to have long been used to this situation."

"Yes, you're right... The weather is just like my mood, it always changes suddenly and without warning."

Just as the familiar female voice in my ear said, although the rain quickly filled the entire city, the people living here did not seem very nervous, nor did they complain about the wrong weather forecast. They continued to walk on the streets as usual, and most of them simply put on a non-waterproof hat and continued to walk calmly in the rain.

In contrast, it was unusual to see people walking through the rain with umbrellas in hand. Or to put it another way, it wouldn't be wrong to assume that people with umbrellas were tourists, which perfectly described Rovey Wei and his group at that moment.

Everyone says that summer in Finland never ends, but no one says that rainy days in Finland are the same.

The scene in Lapua, a small town in northern Finland, perfectly illustrates this point.

However, even so, summer is actually accompanied by drizzling rain. At 9 pm in the past, the sky was still bright, the streets were still bustling with people, the roadside bars were very lively, and the city would hold bonfire parties for tourists, boosting the city's most important tourism revenue.

Even though it's drizzling now, there are still quite a few pedestrians on the streets, and many drunkards are enjoying the night as always.

At this moment, on a corner of the city street, two figures were walking side by side, very close together.

They are a man and a woman.

The man appeared to be in his early twenties, tall and slender, with a unique and refined demeanor that made him both elegant and approachable.

Their features are well-proportioned and sharp, unlike the rugged and wild nature of Northern Europe.

A head of black, tousled hair fell loosely, like fragments of dark starlight. He wore a black and white suit with a white shirt and black tie underneath, making him look like a technician. He also wore thin white gloves, and a deep black cape, as dark as night, was draped over his shoulders, the hood falling loosely over his shoulders.

Although the outfit looked extremely strange, it appeared perfectly normal and reasonable on him, simply because the young man's face and the attire were such a perfect match. If it were anyone else, they would probably mistake him for a casino dealer or an opera singer, but on this young man, it only made him seem like True Magic who had stepped out of a fairy tale, mysterious and elegant.

In short, he is a young man who attracts the attention of pedestrians on the street. It is hard to ignore him if you pass by him.

Another beautiful woman with long, fiery hair was equally stunning. It wasn't that she was exceptionally beautiful, nor was she deliberately dressed extravagantly; on the contrary, she wore a white shirt with a pale yellow trench coat, a half-smoked cigarette dangling from her lips. Yet, she exuded a fiery, flamboyant aura. The pale yellow trench coat simply fit her perfectly; she was a natural clothes hanger, and her Asian features made her stand out even more than Westerners in this foreign land.

Walking in the rain were a young man with a captivating charm and a woman who looked extremely elegant.

And they were none other than Rovey and Aozaki Touko, who had just arrived in this archipelago nation of Finland.

As for why they were so close together...

"Senior Aoko, I think you should buy another umbrella. It's clearly too crowded for two people..."

"Oh? Junior Crowley, shouldn't you be showing your gentlemanly manners at a time like this, giving me, a delicate woman, your umbrella, and then going to buy another one? Letting a delicate and beautiful woman like me get wet in the rain is no big deal. Your aristocratic pride is crying out, you idiot."

"But I don't see any trace of the label that fits the image of a weak woman on you." Rovey said with a hint of helplessness while enduring Aozaki Touko's constant pressing against him, "Besides, didn't you go out without an umbrella?"

Before leaving home for Finland, the departure station for the Rail Zeppelin, Reines, who was assigned to look after the children—or rather, her two older sisters—strongly insisted that Rovey bring a raincoat. However, Lovi, believing Rovey didn't need one, refused. This umbrella was something Reines practically forced on him after Rovey refused the raincoat. Ironically, he said he didn't need it, and the very next time he got off the train, he was using it.

... I checked the weather forecast before I went out.

Similarly, Aozaki Touko, who had done her research beforehand and knew it wouldn't rain recently, got soaked because she didn't bring an umbrella. Now she could only shamelessly squeeze together with Rovey, looking pitiful, which made Rovey's eyelids twitch.

This woman!

In fact, Rovey does have a way to avoid getting wet without an umbrella or raincoat. He can simply have the Archangel Gabriel manipulate the surrounding water droplets to separate himself from his body. This is a special Magecraft developed based on the power of water in divine power and the water element in the world's phases. Its original purpose is to allow one to remain on the water's surface without falling, thus achieving the protection of the Lake Nymph. However, in a place like Finland, where mysticism is abundant and the Church has a strong presence, using such a method to avoid rain is simply too abstract. It's practically no different from parading naked in the street.

Therefore, Rovey had no choice but to endure sharing an umbrella with Aozaki Touko.

What Rovey didn't know was that, in the eyes of other passersby, their actions were not only perfectly normal, but also very harmonious, like a newlywed couple who had just gotten married and were traveling in Finland.

However, neither of the two parties involved had this idea at all.

They were less a newlywed couple and more like a pair of sworn enemies.

"... Speaking of which, I thought you would only help me raise the funds, but I didn't expect you to actually come out with me. Is it really okay for you to be so negligent in your rank exam?"

Aozaki Touko, who was strolling in the rain with Rovey, smiled slightly and looked around at the new environment and new things with great interest.

Everything here was interesting to her, as she loved new things.

After all, Aozaki Touko spent most of her early life studying at the Clock Tower, and later returned to the Far East for a period of time due to an important matter. However, she was badly beaten by her younger sister Blue Magician, and was later forced to undergo Sealing Designation by her Department of Botany teacher, forcing her to live a life of wandering like a stray dog. She only breathed a sigh of relief when she finally retreated to the Far East and arrived in Mifune City.

So...

How long has it been since I've had a proper outing like this?

She had long forgotten about it; it seemed like it hadn't happened since she started studying at the Clock Tower.

After all, during that period, all I was thinking about was studying magic and proving myself. I was either doing research in the workshop or on my way to do research every day. Even when I occasionally had to go out, it was only to obtain the materials and data needed to support my research. Even the last time I went to the Rail Zeppelin, it was for the same reason.

I've never felt this relaxed before.

This time, although the goal remains the same—to reach the Rail Zeppelin —well...

'Things seem to be a little different now.'

Thinking this, Aozaki Touko glanced at Rovey, who had suddenly moved closer to her and deliberately made room for her because he disliked her being wet. Her expression gradually became somewhat subtle, and she couldn't help but feel speechless at the unromantic guy next to her.

"Didn't you say you offended that dragon that runs all over Northern Europe before? So for your safety, of course I have to come and see for myself. Putting aside the obvious fact that I will definitely pass, after all, even if you fail the ranking exam, you can try again. It's far less important than your safety."

Rovey answered without hesitation.

"Hiss, I never realized before, you're quite the smooth talker..."

Aozaki Touko opened her mouth wide, finding Rovey's words somewhat unbelievable, but was forcefully shut up the next moment.

"Although you're not completely dead, the time it takes for you to resurrect and adapt will be very troublesome. I don't want to be maliciously absent from work again by you finding some random excuse."

Unlike her, Rovey didn't look around like she did, putting on an embarrassing act of being someone who had never seen the world. He simply glanced around and confirmed that this was indeed just an ancient small town. Although there were a few people in the crowd who possessed magical auras, there was nothing particularly special about them.

"..."

Aozaki Touko looked speechless. "I take back what I just said. Magus like you really deserves to be single... Be careful you don't end up alone."

However, to be honest, birds of a feather flock together.

Aozaki Touko knew her own character better than anyone. Since Rovey could get along so well with her, there had to be something unusual about it.

"Rather than saying he came entirely out of concern for me, it's more accurate to say..."

Aozaki Touko thought for a moment, as if she had suddenly thought of an answer, and then said to Rovey with a hint of sarcasm, "You actually really want to go to the auction and see the auction items on display in person, am I right?"

"... Well, you can imagine the answer."

Rovey smiled slightly, but the answer was already self-evident in his expression.

Originally, Aozaki Touko only suggested that Rovey accompany her if he was free.

However, upon learning that Rovey's promotion to Grand Rank was imminent, she realized that Rovey was clearly not available.

So they settled for second best and asked Rovey to help raise some funds.

After all, it's an auction, not a store. Prices aren't fixed; you have to refer to similar items from the past. And you also have to pray that there aren't any unexpected situations, like other competitors intervening.

Although she is now much wealthier than she was before when she was struggling to make ends meet.

After all, she now possesses the Third Magic data, primordial Rune, and a Lord- level Mana Furnace.

However, most of those items were real estate or intellectual property, so they couldn't be converted into cash. First, she absolutely dared not sell the research data on the Third Magic, not only because it was something Rovey needed, but also because selling it would cause a huge mess. As for the Primordial Runes, Scáthach had taught her those out of friendship, and Rovey would have to teach her the rest; the intellectual property wasn't in her hands, so she couldn't sell them either. Finally, the Lord Mana Reactor was out of the question. After all, working at the Clock Tower and then selling a furnace from the Clock Tower would be blatantly disrespectful.

Therefore, this time she needs to find a more professional mobile wallet.

Although she knew that Rovey was actually poor now, after all, Crowley wasn't exactly a nouveau riche. But his teacher Kenneth was definitely rich, so Aozaki Touko wanted Rovey to borrow another 100 million pounds from Kenneth to spend.

No matter what, as long as I can buy the items, that's fine.

In any case, what she cared about was never money, but the Mystic Eyes.

But to my surprise, this time Rovey actually put the Grand Rank exam aside and personally accompanied her out, looking completely confident.

Judging from his expression, did he really borrow 100 million pounds? Or 150 million?

Aozaki Touko also wanted to ask, but Rovey only responded with a very mysterious smile and told her to buy whatever she liked, as money was the least of their worries right now.

And even if they run out of money, they can continue to squeeze money from the Aristocratic Faction.

Not only will I continue to take out loans to Grand Rank, but at worst, I'll also sell the copyright to Rune, specifically the original versions, and sell them exclusively to wealthy people.

Although it was really touching, Aozaki Touko always felt that Rovey was hiding a lot.

With strong doubts, she did a lot of probing along the way, even suggesting that Rovey should also find a compatible Mystic Eyes to use. She remembered that Rovey had never used Mystic Eyes before, since he neither had a natural Mystic Eyes nor had he used an artificial one.

Rovey did not respond to this, only saying that he would think about it first.

After all, all his Magecraft is external, so he doesn't really rely on the Mystic Eyes. Even if he did need the Mystic Eyes, the improvement from ordinary Gold-level magic would be negligible.

I can't even dream of a rainbow-level Mystic Eyes; it has to be at least a gem-level Mystic Eyes.

However, the mention of gem-level Mystic Eyes suddenly reminded Rovey of Asagami Fujino, a descendant of the exorcising clan in Mifune City, who possessed distorted Mystic Eyes. Her Mystic Eyes seemed to be gem-level; he had even asked Aoko to keep a close eye on them back then.

However, at that time Asagami Fujino family had fled abroad by plane due to the terrifying scene in Fuyuki City where the fighting was so fierce that the sun and moon lost their light, and the roads were almost obliterated. Therefore, Aoko had no idea when they would return, so she went back to London to find Rovey first. Anyway, the thing was there, and the person involved couldn't escape, so she wasn't in a hurry.

"Alright, relax, it definitely won't affect your purchase of the Mystic Eyes."

Rovey patted her shoulder and said with a rather helpless expression.

Later, when Rovey subtly revealed an amount exceeding two hundred million, Aozaki Touko finally felt completely relieved and realized just how wealthy these nobility were. She couldn't help but marvel at how Rovey could make those nobles bleed so much.

Rovey responded with a smile and then asked, "By the way, since we still have time, shall we go for a walk around the city together, Senior Aoko?"

"Huh? Junior Crowley, does this count as a date invitation?"

Aozaki Touko looked somewhat surprised when she heard Rovey's sudden invitation.

"If you think so, then so be it. I just think this city is quite interesting, and we can go and explore it. Anyway, there are still four hours until the train arrives at midnight, right?"

He pointed to the time recorded on the pocket watch in his hand.

"You're right, there's still some time before the train arrives at the station, so going out for a stroll wouldn't be bad. But... let's skip it this time."

Aozaki Touko shook her head, then turned and walked to the entrance of an inn, which was already the best inn in this small town.

"I'm soaked from the rain and feel sticky, which makes me very uncomfortable, so I plan to go upstairs to shower first and then change into a dress. After all, it's an auction, and you have to wear formal attire, right?"

"Want to come along?"

Aoko raised an eyebrow slightly, gesturing for Rovey to go upstairs and change his clothes before setting off.

To this, Rovey simply shook his head slightly, rejecting her suggestion.

Putting aside the fact that he wasn't wearing formal attire, the outfit he was wearing, or rather, his spiritual regalia, was already extremely formal. The various fabrics and parts were all sewn together using special alchemical techniques. While its defensive capabilities couldn't withstand Heroic Spirit's Noble Phantasm, it could easily withstand a vehicle collision, gunfire, or a grenade explosion. Rather than being a completely specialized ceremonial outfit, its level of craftsmanship even surpassed the highest-grade Executor attire of the Church. Its value far exceeded that of any formal dress.

"I see..."

Seeing that Rovey refused, Aozaki Touko seemed to have expected it.

"See you in a bit, Crowley."

She waved her hand gently, then strode up the stairs in front of her.

Rovey then stepped into the depths of the ancient city before him.

At this moment, the rain seemed to have lessened considerably compared to before.

Lapua, this ancient city in Finland, always gives people a wonderful impression of a fairy tale world. However, if you think that it will enter a fairy tale-like Serenity at night or on rainy days, you will be very wrong.

The raindrops gradually subsided, and soon the rain stopped and the sky cleared, bringing back the bright moonlight and streetlights to the ancient city.

The sky had turned dark blue. Although it was already late at night, the city seemed to be awakening, with all sorts of sounds mixed with music starting to rise.

On the second floor of the hotel, Aozaki Touko sat by the window, looking out.

From here, you can see Rovey disappearing into the crowd. Many young people are walking down the street; there are many couples, and many others are drinking beer and wading through puddles, heading somewhere. Some, seemingly caught up in the frenzied atmosphere, have even taken off their outer garments.

It's hard to imagine that this is the atmosphere of an ancient city.

But upon closer reflection, it becomes easy to understand. After all, Finland is a genuine developed country, and it's only natural that it needs to keep up with the times.

Despite the commotion outside, Aozaki Touko, sitting on the second floor, had no intention of joining in. To her, running around in the rain was utterly foolish; only her silly little sister would do something like that. Right now, instead of thinking about all that nonsense, she'd rather wash up and go to the auction.

As her gaze left Rovey, Aoko frowned as she thought of Aoko.

"... Honestly, I can't help but think of that idiot again. I must be bored. But..." Aozaki Touko murmured, looking at the half-moon that had reappeared overhead. She slowly clenched her loosened hand, "It's true, it's not so easy to let go of things from the past..."

The things she couldn't obtain in her youth, a painful defeat, and the subsequent hardships she endured—these things echoed in her mind once again.

Even though I now have true happiness and a life that others envy and that makes me feel satisfied, there are still some things that I feel unwilling to accept.