"Is that all?"
Van Fem did not refuse. He merely asked with a beaming smile.
That expression... It was as if he were saying I was a gullible fool and that she could name as many conditions as she wanted. His agreeable attitude was almost strangely suspicious.
"...Mm, never mind."
Aozaki Touko shook her head. Then she picked up her coffee cup and took an elegant sip. Her brows immediately furrowed, and she turned to Irisviel with a pitiful expression.
"It's bitter."
"Ah... I'll add some sugar for you~"
Seeing this, Irisviel smiled sweetly. She took Aozaki Touko's coffee cup and began adding sugar cubes to soften the bitterness.
"It's rare that you get the chance to fleece me, the Financial Demon King, so why did you let me off so easily? I should be shouting for joy right now."
Seeing how simple Aozaki Touko's request was, Van Fem smiled helplessly.
"Those things are meaningless."
Aozaki Touko shook her head and said calmly, "As long as I can sell my medicine, the money I earn will be enough for what I need."
"Is that so."
Van Fem nodded knowingly, then smiled. "If you need anything in the future, feel free to call me. But then, we'll be exchanging favors, all right?"
"If I need anything."
Aozaki Touko nodded noncommittally.
"Then I won't disturb your rest any longer."
Van Fem put on a gentlemanly smile, stood up, and prepared to leave.
Since Aozaki Touko's request was only this much, there was no reason for him to stay any longer.
"Mm... Take care."
Aozaki Touko yawned. Then she pulled Irisviel, who was stirring her coffee, to her feet and led her toward the bedroom.
"Ah... Touko, you haven't finished your coffee."
"I'm sleepy~"
"I see."
Inside the room, the lights went out.
"Ah... I forgot to redeem that mercenary, Natalia, again."
After leaving the building, Van Fem suddenly remembered something. He turned and walked away without concern. This sort of matter could probably be settled with a phone call later.
Letters from Afar
"...You want me to go back for a while?"
In the living room, Aozaki Touko sat alone on the sofa, her eyes fixed on the letter in her hand.
It was yet another letter from Kuonji Alice. Naturally, Aozaki Aoko had also been involved, just as with the letters they usually sent.
However, this time, it contained one crucial piece of information.
Her grandfather wanted her to return to Misaki City sometime soon.
"Is he declaring that I've lost the right to inherit the Fifth Magic? I was prepared for this long ago, but it still feels rather strange."
Aozaki Touko flicked the letter into the air. It transformed into a ball of blazing flames and burned the letter to ashes.
"Touko, are you ready?"
At that moment, Irisviel pushed open the door and walked in. Her beautiful face was filled with anticipation. She was about to explore Berlin with Aozaki Touko.
"Let's go, my lovely wife. We have quite a few places to visit today."
As she spoke, Aozaki Touko revealed a gentle smile. She stood up, took Irisviel's hand, and began their tour of Germany's largest city.
"It's so lively, Touko."
Sitting in the back seat of the car, Irisviel looked at the vehicles streaming past outside like a long river and sighed from the bottom of her heart.
Although she had gained a basic understanding of the outside world through books and films, the bustle of entering the mortal world was something books and films could never easily convey.
Coming to the human world, experiencing it, and integrating into it as a human being...
Only then could she truly exist as Aozaki Touko's wife.
"If you stay here long enough, you'll soon grow tired of it."
Aozaki Touko smiled faintly. "People in the city envy the countryside's leisurely quiet, while people in the countryside envy the city's bustle and prosperity."
"Ah..."
Hearing this, Irisviel smiled. "Then does that mean I'm actually a country girl?"
"Of course not!"
Aozaki Touko shook her head firmly and said seriously, "Irisviel, you're a princess from a castle."
"Then you're my prince, Touko~"
Irisviel covered her lips and chuckled.
"Of course."
Aozaki Touko admitted it without the slightest humility.
That day, the two of them visited various parts of Berlin. They went from the zoo to the museums, from the cinema to a candlelit dinner for two, touring the city from morning until night.
Finally, on the way back.
"Are you satisfied?"
Aozaki Touko tilted her head and asked with a smile.
"...You know, touring this city with my husband beside me... I don't think there could be anything happier than this."
Speaking tenderly, Irisviel revealed an indescribably beautiful smile.
"I don't think there's a more competent prince in this world than you, Touko. You saved me from my fate of dying as the Holy Grail, gave me emotions like those of a human, and helped fulfill the Einzberns' long-held wish. Those are things only you could have done, Touko."
"That is the highest praise you could give me, Princess."
Aozaki Touko smiled with both confidence and gentleness.
"Mm. So you don't need to worry about me being swept away by someone else."
Irisviel suddenly spoke with a mischievous smile.
"...Huh?!"
Aozaki Touko's eyes widened.
"Touko, you were very cute when you hugged me tightly on the rooftop that day..."
Irisviel smiled sweetly. "But please trust how devoted I am to my feelings."
Bunbyo Rei
Misaki City.
"...I'm back."
Aozaki Touko gazed at her snow-covered hometown. Its familiar atmosphere rushed toward her, making her feel as though she had set down an invisible burden. Her entire body relaxed.
At that moment.
"Long time no see, Aozaki Touko."
A calm, gentle male voice suddenly rang out. A young priest approached. He had long black hair falling past his shoulders and wore round glasses, giving off a very gentle impression.
From his familiar tone, it seemed that he and Aozaki Touko were on fairly close terms.
"Seeing you has ruined my mood."
Aozaki Touko turned around. Her gaze was icy, and it carried a bone-chilling killing intent. This was not warning killing intent. She had truly developed the desire to kill.
Of course, this was not because she was domineering and would kill someone merely for disturbing her mood.
In fact, the girl named Aozaki Touko had never killed anyone since birth. That was partly because she had never needed to act.
Yet now, she had a reason.
The man named Bunbyo Rei had revealed unmistakable killing intent toward her.
Yes, the instant he saw Aozaki Touko.
This seemingly gentle priest had instinctively tried to find a weakness in her, searching for an opening through which he could kill her.
However, after observing her for a while and finding no such weakness, he stepped out from the corner and greeted Aozaki Touko with a gentle smile.
"That's rather hurtful. It's rare for us to have the chance to meet."
As though he had not sensed her killing intent, Bunbyo Rei maintained his gentle smile, like an older brother facing an uncooperative younger sister.
"Who greets someone with killing intent the moment they meet? It would be more accurate to define us as enemies reunited after a long separation. Perhaps we should have a fight right now to liven things up!"
As that smile grew gentler, Aozaki Touko's gaze became colder. She summoned Suigintou from her Reality Marble, causing her black wings to expand more than a hundredfold. With a single command, she could tear Bunbyo Rei apart.
She was not joking.
Bunbyo Rei immediately understood this. Cold sweat slid down his cheek, while a powerful sense of danger erupted from the depths of his heart. These were not words spoken in jest by old acquaintances reunited after a long separation.
This girl truly wanted to kill him here.
If he said one wrong thing or made one inappropriate move, the exquisite doll hovering in midair would launch a fierce attack and erase him completely.
This was... terrifying power capable of facing the True Ancestor Dead Apostles.
He had no confidence that he could withstand it now.
"I was only following the Church's orders to test your current strength, Touko. I harbor no hostility toward you whatsoever. Besides, we're technically fellow disciples. Killing each other is out of the question."
Bunbyo Rei smiled helplessly and amiably as he endured Aozaki Touko's icy gaze. In his heart, he silently prayed that she would show some consideration for the Holy Church and not actually kill him.
A while later.
"Is that so? I'll take your word for it, for now~"
Aozaki Touko smiled noncommittally, then said coldly, "However, I suggest you leave my sight immediately. Otherwise, you may not be able to leave later!"
She had only just returned to her hometown and did not want bloodshed to disturb its peace.
However, if this man foolishly kept wandering around in front of her, dealing with the annoying fellow first would not be a bad idea.
"...It seems you've misunderstood me rather badly, Touko."
Seeing this, Bunbyo Rei smiled helplessly. He raised both hands and backed away step by step. After brushing past Aozaki Touko, he began walking faster and faster, soon disappearing from sight.
"...What an annoying man."
Watching him leave, Aozaki Touko muttered under her breath before turning toward her mountain home.
The man named Bunbyo Rei could technically be considered her senior disciple, since he had once trained under her grandfather.
However, that did not mean they had a good relationship.
He was a pure egoist and a twisted murderer. Although he had not become completely consumed by it, he was certainly no good person.
In short... he was the sort of man nobody could bring themselves to like once they understood his true nature.
If Bunbyo Rei had not backed down just now, she might really have killed him. After all, her current strength was already on the level of a True Ancestor Dead Apostles.
She no longer needed to show the Holy Church much consideration.
Before you continue