Berlin.
The rooftop of the Umbrella Corporation.
A silver-haired girl with a pair of black wings on her back slowly descended from the sky while carrying an orange-haired girl in her arms. She then gently set the orange-haired girl down.
"...It's over."
Aozaki Touko stretched lazily.
"...Touko, you're back!"
Suddenly, the rooftop door was pushed open. Irisviel and Beo ran over, followed by Natalia and Emiya Kiritsugu.
"Mm... I'm back."
Aozaki Touko opened her arms and hugged Irisviel as she rushed over, then gently stroked Irisviel's smooth silver hair.
The next moment, Aozaki Touko's gaze accidentally met Emiya Kiritsugu's. The air seemed to freeze, and a wary atmosphere filled the surroundings.
"..."
Aozaki Touko tightened her arms around Irisviel and watched Emiya Kiritsugu warily.
Facing that hostile gaze, Emiya Kiritsugu tensed from head to toe. After all, she was a dangerous figure capable of battling the True Ancestor of the Dead Apostles.
If she wanted to kill him, it would be as easy as lifting a finger.
You Are a Demon?
The cold wind swept snow across the rooftop with a howl.
Seeing the wariness in Aozaki Touko's eyes, helplessness flashed through Emiya Kiritsugu's eyes. He then lowered his head slightly and hunched his body a little.
This posture allowed him to conceal his aggressiveness as much as possible, giving the other party the impression that he held a low position and was easy to control.
Of course, this did not mean that he was afraid. It was simply the experience of an adult: showing appropriate weakness when facing a powerful enemy was by no means a bad thing. One could even call it a wise move.
In fact, he knew himself well. He was not surprised by the girl's wariness. As a mercenary who could no longer wash away the stench of blood, he was naturally liable to arouse suspicion in others.
If he made any rash move now, he might well be judged a threat. Then the girl named Aozaki Touko would kill him without hesitation.
It sounded absurd. Merely judging someone to be a threat, then taking that person's precious life because of it—what kind of dangerous world was this?
However, the girl before him was not a normal person. She was the heir to a Magic User, and her values did not fall within the range of ordinary people.
She was a very traditional magus.
In the world of magi... there were far too many things that violated morality and ethics. Sometimes, killing someone required nothing more than a simple reason. For example, if human beings were needed as sacrifices, one could slaughter an entire village without the slightest hesitation.
Deciding that someone posed a threat and killing them immediately was a completely valid reason in that world, especially when they were now at an absolute disadvantage.
Therefore, they absolutely could not display any sign of threat or aggression.
Otherwise, the mother and son would have to face a magus on the level of the True Ancestor of the Dead Apostles, a Phantasmal Beast that overwhelmed modern Mystery, and a ferocious Werewolf Pack numbering well over a hundred.
This... was a hopeless situation with certain death.
"...?"
Aozaki Touko blinked. When she saw Emiya Kiritsugu lower his head slightly, she realized that her reaction had been somewhat excessive. Irisviel was absolutely incapable of leaving her now.
Even setting emotions aside and considering only their interests, Irisviel—as the hope of the Einzbern Family's long-cherished wish—could not abandon her and leave.
Thinking of this, she released Irisviel from her arms and gave her a gentle smile. "Sorry. The battle only ended a short while ago, and I haven't adjusted my state yet. I overreacted a little."
"...You don't need to apologize. I'm already used to people looking at me warily. Someone like me, a butcher, naturally invites that sort of reaction."
Emiya Kiritsugu sighed melancholically. He instinctively took a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and pulled one out, intending to light it and ease his tension. Then, as if he had suddenly remembered something, he put the cigarette away again.
"Sorry. I overlooked you two ladies. You probably aren't used to the smell of cigarettes."
"I don't mind. My father also liked smoking, so I got used to it long ago."
Aozaki Touko shook her head, then turned her gaze toward Irisviel. "However, if my 'wife' permits it, you may smoke."
"...Wife?!"
Emiya Kiritsugu's eyes widened, and he exclaimed in surprise.
Natalia also looked utterly shocked. She had never expected her employer to have a woman as her wife. Did she not care about the continuation of the Aozaki Household's bloodline?
"That's right. I am Aozaki Touko's wife, as well as the person who promised to accompany her for the rest of her life. I am very happy, and I love Touko very much!"
Seeing their astonishment, Irisviel smiled warmly and wrapped her arm around Aozaki Touko's. A blissful smile appeared on her beautiful face, making her look like an angel who had descended into the mortal world.
"Mr. Emiya Kiritsugu, I don't mind if you smoke."
"Ah... Thank you."
Emiya Kiritsugu froze for a moment, then pulled out a cigarette and lit it. He really needed one to calm down. After all, his emotions had risen and fallen several times in such a short period.
"Natalia, is he your adopted son?"
Aozaki Touko shifted her gaze to Natalia. "He seems like a decent fellow. Are you planning to bring him along to repay the debt?"
"Repay the debt?"
Emiya Kiritsugu stopped smoking and asked in confusion.
"Mm... Your mother owes me two hundred million dollars. She needs to work to repay it until the entire two hundred million dollars has been paid off."
Aozaki Touko nodded slightly. Then she frowned and pressed a slender hand to her chin, murmuring, "Hmm, it seems you also participated in infiltrating my company and stealing data. Looks like you need to compensate me as well."
As she said this, she wore a brilliant smile.
"My anti-cancer drug will be worth tens of billions of dollars on the market in the future. I'll be generous. You only need to pay me two hundred million dollars!"
"..."
Emiya Kiritsugu stood stunned. He did not even notice when the cigarette between his fingers fell to the ground. He only stared at the brilliantly smiling girl before him, suddenly feeling a stomachache coming on.
"I... don't I already owe two hundred million dollars?"
Natalia widened her eyes and spoke with a slight tremor.
"Ah... That?"
Aozaki Touko turned her head away. "What you owe is your debt, and what your son owes is his debt. They're completely unrelated, aren't they? In short, you each repay your own debt!"
"Miss Touko... This is definitely extortion you came up with on the spot, isn't it?!"
Natalia questioned her angrily.
"..."
Aozaki Touko smiled faintly and turned her gaze toward Beo.
Beo immediately understood. She instantly transformed back into the form of the Golden Wolf and forced the mother and son to face her murderous gaze.
"...Two hundred million dollars, right? I accept!"
Emiya Kiritsugu said expressionlessly, "Whether it's four hundred million dollars or two hundred million dollars, we'll never be able to repay it in this lifetime. The exact amount doesn't matter anymore."
"Don't worry. I won't let you die before you repay the money!"
Aozaki Touko placed her index finger against her lower lip and gave a playful smile. "As a Puppeteer, I have the confidence to extend your lives until you've repaid what you owe me."
"..."
Emiya Kiritsugu stared wide-eyed.
"You woman, are you a demon or something?!"
The Magic User's Dilemma
Misaki City.
Snowflakes fell across the earth in the depths of winter, piling the world into pristine white. The full moon poured its light from the heavens, gently sprinkling the land with a peaceful tenderness.
"...She actually defeated the True Ancestor of the Dead Apostles. Aozaki Touko really is the embodiment of talent. At this point, she may have already touched the Third Magic."
For the first time in a long while, the Magic User left his cave. His cold eyes saw through time and space.
Within his field of vision was the battle between Aozaki Touko and Vavylm in Germany. He saw Aozaki Touko summon the Rose Maiden and witnessed her ferociously powerful close-quarters combat ability.
At that moment, he wavered.
He wavered over whom to pass the Fifth Magic on to. At that moment, a very strange thought arose in his mind: perhaps Aozaki Touko would be a more suitable successor to the Fifth Magic.
Incompatibility, in the face of such excessive talent...
Did it truly have any meaning?
That question rose from the depths of his heart.
"...It's time to call her back."
Muttering coldly to himself, the old Magic User turned and walked back into the gloomy cave.
Berlin.
Vavylm arrived at the entrance of the Umbrella Corporation in a custom limousine. There, he saw Emiya Kiritsugu walk out with an ashen expression.
Only then did he suddenly remember that he had promised Emiya Kiritsugu he would negotiate with Aozaki Touko and redeem Natalia.
"Hmm... A hound is a hound after all. He wasn't worth remembering in the first place, yet he actually made me forget our agreement. Still, it's not too late to make amends now."
Saying something so irresponsible, Vavylm pushed open the car door and walked toward the Umbrella Corporation with his cane in hand. His bearing was as elegant as that of a medieval nobleman.
This time, he had come to fulfill his agreement with Aozaki Touko.
As the losing side, it was only right that he provide compensation according to their previous agreement.
Of course, if he established a connection during the compensation process and happened to witness Aozaki Touko's life without intending to, that would also be unavoidable, would it not?
After all, he was merely fulfilling his duty as the loser.
"...?!"
Emiya Kiritsugu frowned when he noticed Vavylm approaching. Then he continued forward without paying him any attention, treating the True Ancestor of the Dead Apostles as if he had not seen him at all.
In any case, he was now working under Aozaki Touko, and he probably would not have a chance to leave for the rest of his life. In a sense, he should count as Aozaki Touko's retainer.
This True Ancestor of the Dead Apostles could not defeat Aozaki Touko. If he wanted to punish Emiya Kiritsugu for his rudeness, he would have to consider the Aozaki Touko behind him.
They passed each other.
Vavylm glanced at the hound, then continued forward without concern.
That hound was probably angry that he had not fulfilled the agreement, but he did not dare question him to his face and could only adopt this attitude of ignoring him.
There was no need to waste his attention on such an incapable hound.
The rooftop of the Umbrella Corporation.
Inside a luxuriously decorated living room.
Sitting on the sofa, Aozaki Touko rubbed her temples and spoke with a hint of fatigue in her voice. "...Vavylm, what urgent matter brings you here at this hour?"
To be honest, as an ordinary human, she felt rather exhausted after such an intense battle. The fatigue in her body reminded her that it was time to hold Irisviel's soft body and go to sleep.
"Please."
At that moment, Irisviel approached with a gentle smile, carrying two cups of coffee. She placed one before Aozaki Touko and the other before Vavylm.
She then naturally sat down beside Aozaki Touko.
"Thank you, madam."
Vavylm gave a gentlemanly smile, lifted his coffee, and took a sip. After setting it down, he smiled and said, "I will be leaving Berlin tomorrow, so I have come tonight to fulfill my duty as the loser and offer compensation of a reasonable degree."
"...Reasonable compensation?"
Hearing this, Aozaki Touko smiled faintly. "My request isn't actually very difficult. You only need to use your connections in human society to help me open up the sales channels for my anti-cancer drug as soon as possible."
Before you continue