· Souren Araya

"Is it resolved?"

"You said it, didn't you? That you'd teach me how to use these eyes."

"Right, but there's a condition. I've lost my familiar, so I need someone to work for me."

"Is that so? Any killing jobs?"

"Mm, of course."

"Fine, I'll do it! I'm at your disposal. I don't have any clear goal right now anyway."

Maybe it was because she hadn't engaged in strenuous activity for too long, or maybe it was due to something else. After saying this, Shiki collapsed as well, but fortunately Touko stepped forward and caught her.

"No goal? That's pretty pathetic," Touko said. "But you're still wrong. A hollow void like Araya's Void just means there's room to fill with more stuff, right? You lucky fool, where else could you find a better future than this?"

"Hey, hey, that's enough!" Unable to stand Touko's cryptic rambling, Shirou rolled his eyes and retorted. "Don't tell me you're saying this while she's still out cold—even if she were awake, she probably wouldn't get your prophet-like nonsense!"

Shirou's jab immediately provoked a counterattack from Touko. That academic research incident had turned their relationship into something like a pair of bickering rivals.

"You've got room to talk?" Touko said with a look of disdain.

"Whether I do or not, who can really say?" Shirou narrowed his eyes slightly and replied.

When it came to arguments about truth and falsehood, Shirou had his own twisted logic that always made people question their lives.

"Fine, I can't say!" Seeing that Shirou seemed ready to launch into another tirade, Touko decided not to continue the conversation.

Fight—she couldn't win. Argue—she couldn't get through.

In Touko's mind, she had already ranked Shirou on the same level as those ancient monsters.

Seeing Touko cut off the topic outright, Shirou switched gears.

"Speaking of which, this Shiki isn't on Fujino's level. Whether it's potential or anything else, she's above Fujino. And with Mikiya, she's... you're not planning to make the whole family work for you, are you?" Shirou said.

"Worry about yourself!" Touko snapped irritably, then casually adjusted her hold on the unconscious Shiki as if afraid Shirou might snatch her away.

Three years ago, Touko had let Shirou take Asagami Fujino because she saw he'd lost an arm and looked like he was in a lot of pain—and she'd regretted it ever since.

That was a top-tier Mystic Eyes of Distortion! A rare commodity like that might not show up once in centuries, dammit!

And this time, the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception were even rarer than the Mystic Eyes of Distortion from last time. So no matter what, she couldn't let the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception she'd already gotten slip away, or she'd definitely regret it for the rest of her life.

"Tch, like I'd fight you over some treasure!" Seeing Touko's protective hen-with-chicks stance, Shirou curled his lip in annoyance, then lifted off the ground.

"Hey, Touko, can you cure diseases in the human body?" Shirou stopped a few meters up and suddenly turned back to ask.

"That's right, but with your level, you shouldn't need anyone else's help for treatment, should you?" Though she didn't know the purpose of Shirou's question, Touko answered anyway.

"What, or have you finally come around and want me to study your body?"

"No, studying is out of the question. It'll never be in the question."

Involuntarily, a chill ran down Shirou's spine, reminding him of that time he'd been asleep and Touko had sneaked him onto the research table.

"Is that so? How disappointing." Touko took a drag of her cigarette and blew a smoke ring. "But if you want me to treat someone for you, you'd better prepare a reward like a proper commission. I'm not short on money now, though—you'll have to offer something besides cash that interests me."

You think that money of yours came from where? I hauled it across the city myself, dammit!

And you won't accept anything but cash—go ask around, who borrows money like you do?

Those were Shirou's thoughts.

"Information on famous homunculi from the Age of Fairies—how about that?" Shirou laid out his bargaining chip.

Shirou knew Touko had a hobby of collecting things normal people would consider junk. In Remaining Sense of Pain, she'd spent the 1.12 million yen she'd just gotten on a seemingly useless Victorian-era Ouija board, to the point where she not only owed Mikiya a month's wages but also borrowed money from him.

What a heartless boss—let's observe three seconds of silence for Kirito Google's wallet...

So, the chip Shirou offered was something Touko couldn't resist. Homunculi from the Age of Fairies—that was way older than the Einzbern.

Plus, with Touko's personality of "if it interests her, she'll do it even if there's no profit," Shirou was pretty sure he had this in the bag.

"Deal!" Just as Shirou had expected, Touko agreed.

"OK, I've got things to do, so I'll take my leave—no problem, right?" Shirou didn't have much confidence or trust in Touko's reliability.

But since he'd gotten her promise, there was no point in sticking around. He still had Kirie to deal with!

At the same time, in Kirie's hospital room—

A man in a long trench coat appeared out of nowhere. Did all eccentric magi these days refuse to use doors?

The trench coat man's appearance caught Kirie's attention. She didn't scream or shout at the sudden arrival. For one thing, that wasn't in her nature; for another, even if she wanted to, her Weak Constitution couldn't handle it.

"Are you Fujou Kirie?" The man cut straight to the chase and asked.

Hearing the trench coat man's question, Kirie was momentarily stunned. Maybe it was because someone could still call her name after she'd been lying in this hospital bed for so many years—it surprised her a little.

"Are you a friend of my father's?" Kirie asked. That was the only explanation that made sense.

The trench coat man didn't answer her question. Perhaps, in his view, such a trivial matter wasn't worth responding to.

"Do you want another body that can move freely?" The man came to Kirie's bedside and asked.

Just like in the original story, Kirie nodded. A body that could move freely—even if it was another one—was an irresistible temptation for her. There was no way she could refuse.

Although she had already joined Shirou's side, that didn't diminish her desire for a body.

But wanting something was one thing; other matters were another. There were still things she needed to clarify, such as—

"Who are you?" Kirie asked.

This time, the magician did not remain silent. He answered Kirie's question:

"A magician, Souren Araya!!!"