Becoming Aozaki Touko's Life

And so, she said with curiosity.

"Then let's give it a try. I'm quite curious about your familiars, Touko!"

"Mmm... alright."

Aozaki Touko nodded, then said to Beo, "Show this big sister your aura. Remember to keep it under control."

"I understand."

Beo nodded obediently, looking at Lidell with a pure, innocent expression, completely devoid of aggression. Lidell, in turn, looked at Beo with curiosity, wondering what kind of aura this little loli could display.

Then, Beo's eyes instantly turned into golden vertical pupils.

In that instant, the danger of death filled the carriage.

—I'm going to die! I'm going to die! I'm going to die! I'm going to die! I'm going to die! I'm going to die! I'm going to die! I'm going to die! I'm going to die! I'm going to die! I'm going to die! I'm going to die!

A scream of primal fear erupted from her very marrow.

Lidell's body stiffened, unable to move. Her heart felt as if it had stopped, and the air seemed countless times heavier, impossible to draw into her lungs. She felt like she was suffocating.

— Snap

Just then, Aozaki Touko's slender hand covered Beo's head and she ruffled it vigorously. The overwhelming, dangerous aura vanished.

Her stopped heart began to beat again.

Lidell opened her mouth silently, tears welling in her eyes. Her legs were pressed tightly together, and her body couldn't stop trembling.

"...I told you to keep it under control!"

Seeing this, Aozaki Touko's lips twitched slightly. She then got up, walked over to Lidell, and pulled her into her arms to comfort her.

"I thought since she's your friend, her strength would far surpass her appearance."

Beo sheepishly scratched her cheek.

"...Touko."

Lidell suppressed a sob, nuzzling into Touko's embrace. Then, she whispered into Touko's ear, "I think I leaked a little!"

"..."

Hearing this, Touko's comforting gesture froze. She then noticed a faint, strange smell in the carriage. But Lidell, trembling in her arms, didn't stop.

So, she refocused her attention and continued to comfort her.

"...There's no one else here, so it's okay~"

She whispered these comforting words softly, stroking Lidell's back, gradually soothing her fearful heart, like a kind and gentle older sister.

Chapter 54: Aozaki Touko's Value

I almost died.

No... it would be more accurate to say I experienced the feeling of death. How should I describe it?

It was like being injected with a muscle relaxant; I couldn't move even a single finger. And in front of me was a murderer holding a sharp scalpel.

Helpless to resist, the murderer grinned, waving the scalpel near my fair neck, ready to plunge it in at any moment, to slice open my carotid artery and bring my life to a complete end.

My body trembled uncontrollably. The feeling of helpless fear crawled over me like ants, from my heart to every inch of my body. This was the first time I had ever experienced such a sensation.

I used to scorn those weak female protagonists in stories who cried and sought help from the male lead at the slightest trouble—a vase-like character was definitely not the kind of person I wanted to be.

But the moment I experienced the fear of death, I suddenly understood.

When you're overwhelmed by helpless fear, how important it is to have someone to lean on.

Just like now.

"..."

As Lidell felt the hand stroking her back, she received an unparalleled sense of security.

She clearly recognized that she was being protected, protected by a top-tier expert capable of defeating True Ancestor Dead Apostles.

This incomparable sense of security made her feel somewhat intoxicated.

"...Beo is a good child. She won't eat people randomly. Don't worry, don't worry, don't worry..."

Aozaki Touko maintained a gentle smile, comforting Lidell patiently as if she were consoling a young Aozaki Aoko. Her actions and tone were practiced, clearly indicating she had plenty of experience.

"..."

Beside them, Beo's delicate little face was impassive. She looked at the human nestled in her master's arms and felt like she had done something rather foolish.

Honestly, she had rarely had opportunities to be treated so gently by Touko. Most of the time, she was treated like a mischievous child and bopped on the head. She rarely got to be held in Touko's arms.

Simply put... she was a little jealous.

Yes, she felt displeasure about this outcome she had accidentally created.

But there was nothing she could do about it.

Just then, the stretched limousine came to a halt.

The driver in the driver's seat turned his head to look at the back seat and said respectfully:

"Ladies, we've arrived at your destination."

"Mm, got it."

Aozaki Touko responded, then gently patted Lidell's shoulder, and the group got out of the car.

"This is an independent villa under my name. There's also a branch of London's spiritual veins underground. While it can't compare to the spiritual veins of your Aozaki family, it's sufficient for general needs."

After getting out of the car, Lidell tidied her emotions. Apart from still holding Aozaki Touko's hand, she didn't seem too different.

"This is truly a luxurious residence. Even ordinary Magician families would find it hard to afford a house like this!"

Looking at the magnificent Western-style mansion before her, Aozaki Touko was quite surprised. It wasn't about how luxurious the mansion was; in fact, for her, accommodation conditions were not a concern at all.

The Einzbern family owned properties in major cities worldwide, including a castle in London. If she wanted to move in immediately, it wasn't impossible, but that castle was a bit far from the Clock Tower.

Moreover... that castle wasn't built on a spiritual vein; it was just an ordinary castle.

Compared to this mansion, which was near the Clock Tower and had its own spiritual vein, their values were entirely different.

At the very least... if a Magician were to choose, they would definitely pick this mansion over a remote castle.

"Heh heh... As the next Plant Department Monarch, it's quite normal for me to have an independent mansion, isn't it?"

Lidell smiled proudly, then quickly pulled Aozaki Touko into the mansion.

Her skirt was a bit wet, and she was eager to change into a dry outfit and properly clean herself.

"I'll pay you the corresponding rent!"

"No need. This is just a stay with friends. Charging money in this situation would be quite a mood killer!"

"Friends are friends, and money is money. I don't like people using friendship as an excuse to shamelessly freeload."

"I'm offering it willingly... If you must say, then consider it an investment in you. Exchanging the temporary right to stay in a mansion for the future favor of a Magic User, this deal is never a loss, no matter how you look at it."

"..."

Walking on the path in the front yard, Aozaki Touko's tone suddenly turned cold:

"I'm no longer the successor to the Fifth Magic. The true successor is my sister, Aoko!"

This astonishing piece of news made Lidell stop in her tracks. She quickly turned to look at Aozaki Touko, seeing the seriousness on her face, without a hint of joking.

"So what? That has nothing to do with the Fifth Magic. All that matters is that you are my friend."

Rarely, Lidell's expression turned serious: "Besides, Touko, the most worthwhile investment is yourself, not the unattainable Fifth Magic. It's people believing in your brilliant future."

"..."

Hearing this, Aozaki Touko was somewhat taken aback, not expecting Lidell to say something like that.

The people following behind her were also a bit surprised. Alice Phil lightly covered her mouth and chuckled.

Beo also gained a slightly better impression of this seemingly weak human woman. Someone who could recognize her master's shining points wasn't as useless as she thought.

The rest of the Miko Futago, though they didn't know what the Fifth Magic was, still directed goodwill towards Lidell.

"What an unexpected answer~"

Aozaki Touko chuckled, "But, it's truly heartwarming."

"..."

Lidell's gaze flickered, as if she felt a bit embarrassed by what she had said.

"...In any case, I'm going to take a bath first."

Saying so, she hurried into the mansion.

Chapter Fifty-Five: Teacher Touko

Early morning.

The sky was just dimly lit, with the darkness of night still dominant. The cold wind blowing through the streets and alleys chilled to the bone. Most people were still in their warm beds, enjoying the warmth from their fireplaces.

However, at this moment, in a certain classroom belonging to the Plant Department.

It was packed from wall to wall. In fact, because so many people had gathered, the cold air itself seemed to become warmer.

This classroom wasn't filled solely with students from the Plant Department. Students who had no prior connection to the Plant Department, and even lecturers from other disciplines, had unusually gathered here.

Everyone who came had a simple purpose.

That was to see someone who filled them with curiosity, someone whose great name they had heard long ago but had never met.

She was a true prodigy, beyond refute.

A favored child destined to inherit the highest crystallization of miracles.

A girl with the achievement of defeating a True Ancestor Dead Apostle.

————Tap, tap, tap.

With the sound of clear, rhythmic footsteps, a girl with long orange hair walked into the classroom. After surveying the room from the lecturer's podium, she revealed a confident and sunny smile.

"Hmm... It seems the Clock Tower needs to be expanded. A classroom this crowded won't allow for proper teaching."

With those words, she picked up a piece of chalk and wrote her name on the blackboard. Then, she turned to face the students below, her eyes gleaming with unwavering resolve, showing no trace of nervousness or timidity. Her movements were sharp and decisive.

"Mm... I am Aozaki Touko, a lecturer from Japan. From now on, I will be responsible for teaching you the basics of Magic Potions. I hope you will bear with me if there are any shortcomings."

As she spoke, she lowered her head and began to organize the teaching materials on her desk, speaking to the students below in a gentle and casual tone.

"If any of you students have any questions, you can ask them now. Otherwise, I won't answer any unrelated questions once the formal class begins."

The classroom fell silent for a moment, and then everyone's gaze shifted to the group in the front row.

These were the people closest to Aozaki Touko, and the highest-ranking individuals in the classroom. Among them were members of ancient noble families, highly respected first-tier lecturers, and powerful individuals.

They were the ones most qualified to question this young woman.

"Aozaki Touko, do you have confidence in reaching the Root without relying on the Fifth Magic?!"

At this moment, a monk with a troubled expression stood up. He wore a necklace around his neck, a black overcoat, and had short black hair. His tall stature exuded a powerful aura.

"Reaching the Root?!"

Aozaki Touko raised an eyebrow slightly and said with a smile, "Without relying on the Fifth Magic, even I would find it difficult."

As soon as she said this, everyone in the classroom was somewhat astonished. They could all discern the implication behind Aozaki Touko's words: she was confident she could reach the Root without using the Fifth Magic.

This was not a humble response; it was an audacious one. To claim she could reach the Root on her own, without inheriting a Magic Crest, was astonishing.

Such words almost made them want to scoff immediately, but looking at the confident young woman on the podium, they couldn't bring themselves to do it.

Because this young woman had already reached a very high level. Her achievements rivaled those of renowned Magician families, and they couldn't imagine what she might accomplish in the future.

Yet, vaguely, they found themselves starting to believe that this young woman could reach the Root through her own efforts.

After all, she was already the strongest Doll user in this era.

"As far as I know, your research has always progressed in the path of Dolls."