She Offered Too Much / May Riddell Archelot

"Since this is abduction, why don't you take her back to your own Magic Workshop?"

Kuonji Alice said this coldly.

"No... I abducted her to show her to you."

Aozaki Touko lifted Tohno Akiha in her arms and said to Kuonji Alice, "Look... isn't this child adorable? Don't you want to have one of your own?"

The atmosphere suddenly froze.

Held up in the air, Tohno Shiye blinked and instinctively looked toward the witch named Azu, while Azu happened to look up at Tohno Shiye as well.

Their gazes met, then instantly moved away from each other.

"...I will reiterate this one more time. There is still plenty of time, so I am not considering the issue of an heir for now."

Kuonji Alice's face flushed slightly. It was impossible to tell whether she was red with anger or embarrassment. Her tone remained as cold as ever, but her overly hurried speech seemed to be saying something else.

"Aw, what a shame~"

Chapter Forty: She Gave Too Much

The next day.

The Tohno Family.

Tohno Makihisa sat cross-legged in the main seat, smoking one cigarette after another. The ashtray was already piled high with cigarette butts, but the man had no intention of stopping.

The room was filled with choking smoke, yet no one opened a window for ventilation. This was the Tohno Family's room for secret discussions, and confidentiality took absolute priority.

"...Father, may I ask if there are any other instructions?"

Tohno Akiha remained kneeling in seiza. Wearing a kimono decorated with cherry-colored patterns, she called out politely and gracefully.

She had intended to wait for her father to speak, but after reporting everything that had happened the previous night, she had not expected him to keep smoking and sink into thought without acknowledging her for such a long time.

If he had merely ignored her, it would have been fine. Having received special training in etiquette, she could maintain an elegant sitting posture for a long time. However, the steadily thickening smoke in the room was making her feel extremely uncomfortable.

"Hmm..."

Tohno Makihisa was slightly startled. After noticing his daughter's discomfort, he stubbed out the cigarette in his hand and revealed the smile of a kindly father.

"Akiha, do you dislike going to Miss Touko's house? What do you think of her?"

"..."

Tohno Akiha thought for a moment, recalling what had happened the previous night. Aside from being held like a doll by Big Sister Touko and sleeping that way for the entire night, she had basically found nothing unpleasant.

Thus, she honestly voiced her thoughts.

"Big Sister Touko's house is very warm. As for her, she isn't a bad person, but she really likes teasing people."

Yes, that was all she currently thought of her. Tohno Akiha harbored no ill will toward Aozaki Touko, who had taken her away the previous day. But since Touko seemed to harbor ill intentions toward the Tohno Family, she could not bring herself to feel any goodwill toward her either.

"...I see. I understand."

Tohno Makihisa nodded slightly, then said flatly, "From now on, whenever you want to visit Aozaki Touko, you may suspend all your lessons, and the family will send a private car to take you there."

After saying this, he waved his hand at his daughter, then took out another cigarette and smoked in silence, as though using the smoke to exhale the emotions buried in his heart.

"Then, Father, Akiha will take her leave."

Tohno Akiha bowed, then respectfully left the room. Before departing, she gently closed the door.

Tohno Makihisa saw the entire scene. A fierce light suddenly appeared in his eyes, only to be suppressed by bitterness and helplessness.

Although he did not understand much about the supernatural side of things, he had some knowledge of the Aozaki Household in Misaki City. He knew that the Aozaki Household had an extremely powerful grandfather, and that Aozaki Touko was his successor, with power far beyond his own.

In other words, the family's strength far surpassed that of the Tohno Family. They possessed the power to destroy the entire Tohno Family at any time.

That was why he could only endure without making a move. Even Aozaki Touko alone possessed enough power to suppress the entire Tohno Family. If they had to face both Aozaki Touko and Aozaki Grandfather at the same time, wouldn't their entire family be doomed?

Moreover, he had no idea what methods those magi possessed. Whether their more underhanded methods would work was impossible to say. If they failed, his family would suffer annihilation.

In short, they had fallen into a dilemma with no way forward or back.

"What does that woman actually want?"

Tohno Makihisa's expression grew agitated. The veins on his face bulged like writhing maggots.

"Does she want to hold the heir hostage to threaten me? Or does she plan to kill me after my Inversion Impulse manifests, then control Akiha and seize the Tohno Family!?"

He kept analyzing Aozaki Touko's purpose. In the end, he realized that the woman's schemes ran incredibly deep. She actually intended to swallow up the Tohno Family's power and assets without anyone noticing.

"Hehehehahahaha! Unfortunately, I've already found a way to suppress the Inversion Impulse. It is impossible for her to seize the Tohno Family through Akiha!"

As he spoke, he hurried out of the room and got into the car heading to the Miyokage Family.

The Inversion Impulse was a fatal flaw of their clan, but if they could obtain the power of the Miyokage Family, one of the four great Exorcist Families, then everything would be different.

The Miyokage Family possessed the supernatural ability of sensing. Through an exchange of bodily fluids, they could transfer their vitality to others, achieving a replenishing or strengthening effect.

This was precisely the ability Tohno Makihisa had dreamed of obtaining, because it could suppress the oni blood in their clan—and therefore suppress the Inversion Impulse.

A run-down shrine.

"...I'm terribly sorry, but Kohaku and Hisui were sold this morning."

A middle-aged man with a thoroughly disreputable face spoke in a regretful tone. "You really came too late. It was only a few hours, after all."

"Hadn't we already agreed on a price?"

Tohno Makihisa said with a gloomy expression.

"Nothing I could do. As their uncle, I naturally hoped Kohaku and Hisui would have better futures, so I changed my mind at the last minute."

The disreputable man picked his ear and revealed a contemptuous expression.

"You're scum. Do you actually possess that kind of kindness?"

Tohno Makihisa spoke bluntly.

"Of course I do."

The disreputable man took a bank card from his pocket, his face filled with extreme excitement. "Do you know how much that person gave me? There are seventy million yen in this card—who knows how many times more than what you offered!"

"With someone that rich, Kohaku and Hisui will naturally live much happier lives."

He spoke as though it were self-evident, while looking at Tohno Makihisa with disdain, as if disgusted that the man had offered so little before.

"Hehehehehahahahahahahaha!"

Suddenly, Tohno Makihisa let out a strange laugh. He grabbed the disreputable man's neck and violently tore it apart. Hot blood immediately gushed out, and the man was subsequently ripped into countless pieces.

"Bastard aaaaaah!"

Chapter Forty-One: Mel-Lydele Archleot

Night.

Kuzuki Western Mansion.

Inside the reception room.

"..."

Kuonji Alice sat expressionlessly, her red lips pressed tightly together as she stared coldly at Aozaki Touko across from her. Countless emotions churned within her, making her presence grow increasingly frigid.

That morning, after sending the young Tohno Shiye away, Aozaki Touko had practically vanished for the entire day. Then, when she returned that night...

She had brought two more young girls back to the Kuzuki Western Mansion.

And now, with Tohno Akiha having come over tonight as well, three young girls had gathered in her mansion.

"..."

On the sofa opposite her, the three little girls looked somewhat nervous. Instinctively, they squeezed close to Aozaki Touko's side, surrounding and hugging her like three baby kangaroos clinging to their mother.

Seeing this scene, Kuonji Alice's exquisite face became even more displeased. In truth, she did not like having too many people come to her mansion. If not for her special relationship with Aozaki Touko, she would never have allowed Touko to live here for so long.

"...You're frightening them~"

Aozaki Touko smiled gently, calmly receiving Alice's cold glare. She raised her hand and rubbed Hisui and Kohaku beside her, then said with a smile:

"Azu, you're too cold by nature. If you ever have children, it will be difficult for you to take care of them properly. So why not get used to being around children a little early? I'm not telling you to hurry up and have descendants. Just spend some time with children and get used to interacting with them."

"..."

As she listened, the coldness in Kuonji Alice's eyes gradually faded, and another thought emerged. Touko, just how badly do you want me to get pregnant? You're already preparing me for prenatal practice. Don't tell me you've even thought of the child's name.

"...As long as they aren't too noisy."

Saying this, she rose and left the reception room.

"Understood. I'll tell them."

Aozaki Touko chuckled at Alice's departing figure, then vigorously rubbed the three little girls beside her again. In an exceptionally gentle tone, she said:

"This mansion is a treasure left behind by Azu's parents, so be very careful not to damage anything. Otherwise, Big Sister Azu will be very sad..."

"Understood *3"

The three little girls answered in unison.

Just then, Kuonji Alice returned, carrying an exquisite box of chocolates. She placed it on the table, opened it, took out several chocolate balls, and handed them to the three nervous little girls.

"Eat. Consider them a snack for my guests."

The three little girls looked at one another, then raised their heads toward Aozaki Touko. After seeing her nod slightly in permission, they cautiously accepted the chocolate balls.

"This is a delicacy that can only be eaten here."

Aozaki Touko took out a chocolate from the box and smiled brightly. "You couldn't find this anywhere else in the entire world, even if you searched every corner. It's an exclusive luxury dessert from this mansion. Under normal circumstances, Azu would never bring it out to entertain guests."

This was not an exaggerated lie, but a delicacy that truly existed only in this mansion in the entire world.

However, it was not an ordinary food. They were familiars made from chocolate, capable of carrying out surveillance and searches to a certain extent. They could also be used as emergency medical supplies to treat wounds.

Of course, familiars made from food could naturally be eaten as well.

"Thank you very much for your hospitality, Miss Azu."

Hearing this, Tohno Akiha sincerely expressed her thanks. Kohaku and Hisui beside her hurriedly followed suit and thanked her as well.

"...No need."

Kuonji Alice shook her head coldly, then turned away as though somewhat embarrassed.

At that moment, her expression was incredibly adorable, causing an unbelievable fondness to well up from the depths of one's heart. The witch's charm was fully revealed in that instant.

At the very least, as the three little girls watched this scene, their original fear vanished completely.

"...See? You can do it after all~"

Aozaki Touko smiled faintly, then chuckled at the three girls beside her. "Go play by yourselves, but stay inside this sunroom. Don't run around everywhere."

"Yes!"

The three little girls answered in unison, then left Aozaki Touko's side. Before long, the three of them had begun playing together happily.

"..."

Seeing this, Kuonji Alice turned back toward Touko and said coldly:

"When do you plan to leave for the Clock Tower?"

"Hmm... within the next two days. Once I arrange a few follow-up matters, I'll immediately set off for the Clock Tower."

"When the time comes, I will notify Lidell and have her meet you. With that local guide looking after you at the Clock Tower, things should be much more convenient for you."

"If it's her, the trip to London should be quite interesting."

Aozaki Touko smiled.

The girl named "Mel-Lydele Archleot" was one of Azu's few close friends. Their relationship was so good that she would come running over every year for Azu's birthday.

By now, she had been adopted as a goddaughter by the Archleot Family, one of the Lords of the Clock Tower.