Now, all she had to do was successfully create the Rose Maidens.
Inside the Magic Workshop.
"...I've been waiting for this for far too long!"
Aozaki Touko wore a white lab coat, her long hair tied into a ponytail. Her eyes shone with excitement as she gazed at the seven floating dolls. They were the culmination of her highest technical achievements so far—and the Magecraft Mystic Code she ultimately wanted.
"Congratulations, Touko. You've completed the Rose Maiden series!"
Beside her, Irisviel smiled joyfully. She was genuinely happy for Aozaki Touko. It was not merely because Touko had grown stronger and now had a better chance of winning the Holy Grail War.
More importantly, as her wife, she was happy to see her husband fulfill his wish.
"No... Actually, they're not complete yet!"
Aozaki Touko shook her head. Although she had worked overtime and exhausted a tremendous amount of energy, her eyes were growing even more excited. They held the joy of achieving a goal.
"At most, I've only created the basic shells for now. But this is already a very good start. You have to understand, I didn't have much confidence in myself at the beginning!"
She was not exaggerating. When she had first crossed into this world, she had not really believed that she was the protagonist of this world.
On the contrary, after learning that she was in the Nasuverse,
she had sensed the danger... and begun desperately studying magecraft, seizing every opportunity to enrich herself, arm herself, and grow stronger.
Then, while arming herself,
she overcame one obstacle after another and became a magecraft genius in the eyes of others.
At the same time, she had come to enjoy the satisfaction that came from solving difficult problems.
"...I already think this is amazing!"
Irisviel smiled helplessly. Awe filled her eyes as she looked at the dolls. Because she had watched them being completed, she knew what the seven dolls represented. They possessed terrifying power—enough to confront Heroic Spirits.
An ordinary person ought to be satisfied after reaching such a level.
Perhaps only a heaven-blessed prodigy like Aozaki Touko would pursue something even greater.
"This level alone... can't be called the pinnacle of Dollcraft!"
Aozaki Touko chuckled, then snapped her fingers.
Immediately afterward, the seven exquisite dolls seemed to come alive. Terrifying magical power awakened within them. Magic circles appeared across the surfaces of all seven dolls, interlocking like gears. As time passed, the magic circles gradually sank into the dolls' bodies.
At that moment, the Rose Maidens awakened!
Las Vegas.
A luxurious private villa.
In a dim, classically decorated study, yellow candlelight flickered. A man who looked like a medieval nobleman sat on a sofa, listening to the intelligence transmitted over the telephone. A cold, interested expression appeared on his face.
"Hmm... What valuable intelligence. I'll try to negotiate and rescue your mother. However, you mustn't tell anyone about the werewolves!"
With that, he casually hung up the phone. He had no intention of giving the other party a chance to negotiate. After all, the other man was merely a bloodhound following the scent of blood. If he had not provided such interesting information, he would not even have bothered with the hound.
"To think he found werewolves to serve as his subordinates... That really is this child's style!"
Van Fem rose to his feet, took up his cane, and left the study.
He wanted to use this opportunity to meet that magecraft genius. After all, he now had a sufficient reason, and it would not be difficult to convince himself.
Berlin.
A small hotel.
"...As expected."
Emiya Kiritsugu hung up the phone, his expression extremely cold. The answer concerning the 'True Ancestor' had been within his expectations from the beginning. Naturally, he would not take bounty hunters like them seriously.
However, those were secondary matters.
The information that the Umbrella Corporation was protected by werewolves should draw this person's attention and make him invest more effort. Whether he sent stronger bounty hunters or came to investigate personally, either choice could leave a gap in the Umbrella Corporation's defenses. That would be enough to give him a chance to rescue his adoptive mother.
But why would a True Ancestor be interested in an effective cancer treatment?
The reason could still be understood if it were the Association of Mages. But for one of the dignified Twenty-Seven Dead Apostles to take an interest in a girl's research results... That was indeed rather strange.
Could he have recognized the value of the medicine and wanted to seize it to obtain more wealth?
Einzbern Castle.
A helicopter slowly descended. The snow on the ground was blown away, revealing a clean, orderly surface.
Aozaki Touko held Irisviel's hand as they boarded the helicopter. Beo followed closely behind them, lightly leaping aboard before curiously examining everything inside.
"Beo, don't touch things carelessly!"
Seeing Beo itching to fiddle with something, Aozaki Touko glared at her imposingly. If the helicopter crashed after taking off, it would be no laughing matter.
"...I understand."
At her words, Beo gave an embarrassed laugh and withdrew her hand.
Beo was deeply impressed by Aozaki Touko. It was not only because Touko's scent was pleasant and made her feel close to her. More importantly, if she caused trouble, she would certainly suffer Touko's iron fist of love.
"Good~"
Aozaki Touko nodded slightly, then turned to look at the pilot.
"Let's go."
"Yes!"
The female Android nodded seriously and piloted the helicopter into the sky. As they rose, Irisviel saw a scene below.
On top of Einzbern Castle, Hadon and Illyasviel silently watched them depart.
"Grandfather, Illyasviel, we'll be back soon."
Like a girl leaving home, Irisviel waved at the two of them.
"...She possesses greater self-awareness now. Could this count as a form of completion? Or should I say, did we once neglect the emotional system?"
Looking at Irisviel's brilliant smile, Hadon muttered softly before turning around and choosing to leave.
He understood Irisviel's specifications extremely well. After all, she was something he had created. Yet now, Irisviel had departed from her predetermined path and was becoming more and more like a true human being.
In a sense... Irisviel had already surpassed the Winter Saint in certain aspects.
Although her hardware performance could not compare, when it came to emotions and self-awareness, she had already surpassed the Winter Saint.
The Ransom of Two Hundred Million Dollars
--Click
The sound of a doorknob turning rang out.
"..."
Sitting cross-legged on the sofa, Natalia raised her head with a cigarette between her lips. A girl with long orange hair walked in, followed by a silver-haired girl and an adorable little blonde girl...
"Miss Aozaki, you've arrived!"
Seeing her, the two werewolves respectfully greeted her. Their voices were filled with gratitude and admiration—words they absolutely did not speak insincerely.
"...Mm."
Aozaki Touko nodded slightly, then focused her gaze on the cigarette between Natalia's lips.
Having completed Gene Lock Release, even without unlocking her body's potential, she possessed senses that surpassed common sense.
For someone who had been in constant contact with magical energy, those senses were even more acute.
In fact... if she unlocked the third stage, then setting aside basic feats like cutting bullets with a knife, she would even be able to capture the electromagnetic waves in the air.
Therefore, the moment she entered,
the faint magical signal transmitted by the cigarette
was immediately detected by her keen senses.
"Miss Aozaki... I've heard so much about you."
Seeing this, Natalia's mouth twitched as she tried to divert the girl's attention.
Seriously... according to the usual script, shouldn't several werewolves have escorted her to a luxurious office, where Miss Aozaki, acting as the boss, would coldly interrogate her?
And besides... this girl's senses were far too sharp.
In fact, unless an ordinary mage used specialized magecraft to assist them, it was absolutely impossible to detect such a faint magical signal.
Because... that was the limit of the human species.
"...Put out her cigarette."
Ignoring the bounty hunter, Aozaki Touko instructed the two werewolves.
"Yes."
At her words, the two werewolves immediately pulled the cigarette from Natalia's mouth and crushed it. They then took the cigarettes from her pocket and respectfully handed them to Aozaki Touko.
"Using cigarettes to transmit messages... What a creative method. Could you tell me how it works? I'm rather curious."
After taking the cigarettes, Aozaki Touko pulled over a nearby stool and sat down. Looking at Natalia, who wore an helpless smile, her intimidating gaze faintly carried killing intent.
"..."
Natalia's body stiffened slightly. She then put on a friendly smile and said, "If Miss Touko likes it, I can tell you everything without holding anything back. It isn't actually very complicated. The materials are just a little troublesome!"
"What materials?"
Aozaki Touko tilted her head.
"...It only requires my bodily fluids."
Natalia smiled brightly as she delivered what sounded like an explosive statement.
"I see."
Listening to her, Aozaki Touko nodded and calmly said, "Blood? That shouldn't be troublesome. I just need to draw some..."
"No."
Natalia suddenly interrupted her, speaking with complete composure. "...It only requires **. My ** contains special components that can be used to transmit information covertly."
"..."
Aozaki Touko fell silent for a moment.
Beside her, Irisviel covered her cheeks, revealing a somewhat surprised and bashful smile. Her gaze unconsciously turned toward Aozaki Touko, her ruby-like eyes carrying an indescribable meaning.
The atmosphere became somewhat quiet for a moment.
"Fine... We'll put that question aside for now~"
Skipping past the topic, Aozaki Touko rubbed the bridge of her nose. She felt that this woman was deliberately disrupting the atmosphere, but she had no need to follow the woman's train of thought.
"Now... how do you think I should deal with you, this thief? Should I kill you as a warning to others, or exchange you for a sufficient ransom?"
"I choose to pay the ransom."
Natalia answered decisively, taking the opportunity to size up the "Egg of the Magus" across from her.
She was a beautiful girl of about fifteen or sixteen, with a bright yet resolute will. Her pretty face was filled with confidence, as though she did not know what failure was. She shone brilliantly, like the sun.
Yet... unexpectedly, she did not make people feel difficult to approach.
"Straightforward!"
Aozaki Touko clapped her hands and said with a radiant smile, "Since you intended to steal the most important secret of my company, something that may be worth hundreds of billions of dollars in the future..."
"I'll be generous. I won't demand hundreds of billions of dollars from you... You only need to compensate me two hundred million dollars."
As her voice fell, Natalia's smile froze. Looking at the grinning Aozaki Touko, she viciously cast aside the impression that Touko was not difficult to approach—and stomped on it several times for good measure.
Before you continue