A Life Becoming Aozaki Touko

The monk asked with distress, "Do you believe the path of dolls can lead to the Root?"

This was what he truly wanted to ask: did this exceptionally talented girl believe that dollcraft could lead to the Root, and would she use dollcraft as a means to reach it?

This was an answer he absolutely had to know.

"..."

Aozaki Touko chuckled and said, "Anything that progresses to its extreme has the potential to reach the Root."

"Is that so."

The monk nodded slightly, then sat back down, seemingly having no intention of asking further questions.

He had already received the answer he wanted.

"...Does anyone else have a question? If not, we'll begin the class."

Seeing this, Aozaki Touko looked around again, and finally asked in a calm tone.

"...I do."

A young man stood up. He had meticulously styled golden hair and a look of genuine pride on his face. He looked at the renowned genius girl.

"My name is Kischur Zelretch, and I am the next head of the Archimedes family."

"Hmm... I've heard of your great name~"

Aozaki Touko nodded slightly. "The Clock Tower's renowned prodigy. Even I, living in a remote village, have heard of you."

"...I have long admired you as well, Miss Aozaki."

Kischur said with sincere flattery, "After all, you are the only Magician I recognize as being my equal in the magical arts."

"...Mm, thank you for the compliment."

Aozaki Touko nodded slightly, then smiled. "So, Kischur, what is it you wish to ask?"

"Rather than asking, it's a proposal!"

Kischur stated matter-of-factly, "If we were to combine, we would surely produce exceptionally outstanding offspring!"

"..."

Aozaki Touko was slightly taken aback, then tilted her head and asked without anger, "Eh... Shouldn't you have a fiancée or something? It's quite rude to propose to me like this."

"My mentor does intend to betroth his daughter to me soon, but if it's for the sake of producing outstanding offspring, I believe my mentor will understand."

Kischur said as a matter of course.

"Hmm... I refuse!"

Aozaki Touko said with a smile, "I will not marry any man."

Chapter 56: The Magician's Perspective

The idea that effort yields rewards is not inherently wrong.

However, if the reward is minuscule, then it is utterly meaningless, isn't it? To invest everything you have, only to receive the consolation of having at least tried.

It was unexpectedly cruel.

There are insurmountable gaps in this world. Even if one strives their entire life, in the face of divinely allocated talent, the final outcome is already predetermined.

Of course, the preceding statements are not self-pity.

This is a fact that he, as a talented individual, naturally understood. There are many Magicians in this world who work harder than him, but few have received such generous rewards as he has.

He is a person who has naturally achieved success.

Kischur understood this from a young age; he naturally accepted the fact that he was a genius.

In the future, his life would basically be smooth sailing.

However, if possible, he wanted to be a little more extravagant, to find someone who could understand and mutually promote each other's progress in the magical arts.

And today, he had realized who that person was.

On the podium, the girl named Aozaki Touko, who shone like the sun, possessed a similar life trajectory to him – both were naturally gifted Magicians, and their lives would naturally lead to success.

He and this girl would surely understand each other, mutually advance their magical arts, and live a blissful life, producing outstanding and envied offspring.

That's right, as the most outstanding male and female Magicians in this world, wouldn't it be natural for them to combine and produce children with superior bloodlines?

They were so compatible; perhaps it was fate decreed by heaven.

Thus, he naturally proposed.

"If we were to combine, we would surely produce exceptionally outstanding offspring!"

Kischur, from a Magician's perspective, naturally made his proposal.

"Eh... Shouldn't you have a fiancée or something? It's quite rude to propose to me like this," the girl on the podium said, tilting her head with a troubled expression.

She looked so cute. With such a generous and open personality, married life would surely be very happy.

Seeing this, Kischur Zelretch said as a matter of course.

"My mentor does indeed plan to betroth his daughter to me soon, but if it's for the sake of producing excellent offspring, I believe my mentor will understand me."

"Hmm... I refuse. I will not marry any man."

From the podium, the young lady refused him with great composure.

Her eyes held no trace of girlish shyness, and her refusal was very clear, yet it didn't evoke any dislike from him. Surprisingly, he didn't feel any embarrassment.

"I understand."

Kischur Zelretch smiled gentlemanly, then bowed like a gentleman.

"My apologies, madam. I was too forward this time!"

These people from remote Magician families likely haven't yet grasped the importance of optimizing magical bloodlines. However, after spending some time at the Clock Tower, they would surely understand how suitable their marriage would be.

There's no need to worry; one only needs to await the fruits of future time.

"...Hmm, does anyone else have questions?"

Shifting her attention from Kischur Zelretch, Aozaki Touko looked at them and said with a light smile, "However, regarding proposals, I reject them all!"

"...Hahaha, if proposals are off the table, then more than half the people here will have their motives diminished."

Mel-Lydele Archleot swayed her rose-gold twin tails, stood up, and said with her hands on her hips, "There are quite a few individuals here who are aiming to marry you, Touko, to optimize their bloodlines, and incidentally, to help perfect their Magic Crests!"

That's right. Apart from those Magicians who knew they had no hope, many harbored thoughts of marriage with Aozaki Touko, a Magician with an excellent bloodline and formidable research capabilities.

Although Aozaki Touko, as the future heir of the Aozaki family, would most likely not marry into their families.

But it wouldn't prevent them from adopting a descendant. If they could use a marital relationship to have her help continue perfecting their Magic Crests, wouldn't that shave off a significant portion of their family's journey towards the Root?

In short, Aozaki Touko is a woman worth marrying.

"Hmm... That truly must be disappointing for you all."

Aozaki Touko tidied her teaching materials and said in a flat tone, "The time for mutual understanding has ended. Please refrain from asking questions unrelated to the lecture content."

With that, she picked up chalk and began writing on the blackboard.

Surprisingly, no one in the classroom left. They all listened with great interest. The quiet classroom was filled only with the sound of chalk scraping against the blackboard and the girl's clear and logical explanations.

The content was surprisingly easy to understand, not delving into profound theories.

However, it was very suitable for beginners. If one wanted to establish a general framework, listening to Aozaki Touko's lecture would be ideal.

"Hmm... Does anyone have any questions?"

After finishing a segment, Aozaki Touko asked everyone.

"Teacher Aozaki, I have a question!"

A young girl raised her hand.

"Go ahead?"

Aozaki Touko nodded.

"How should a Doll handle object recognition?"

The girl asked.

"...Does that have anything to do with my lecture content?"

Aozaki Touko twitched her lips.

"But that's my question."

The girl scratched her cheek a little sheepishly but had no intention of letting this opportunity pass. After all, the girl in front of her was the greatest Dollcraft master in this world.

"...You can ask me after class."

Aozaki Touko pinched her brow and then looked at the students in the back row, "What about you all... you didn't come here with the intention of asking questions outside of the curriculum, did you?"

The atmosphere fell silent.

Most of the students present turned their heads away.

They had indeed come for that very purpose.

"..."

Chapter 57: The Homemaker

The lecture concluded.

Well... apart from some men and women hinting at wanting to marry her, there weren't any major disturbances. Even being asked questions outside of the curriculum wasn't a big problem for her.

As long as it wasn't her own secret knowledge, she was quite willing to answer questions. If the questioner could bring new and interesting ideas, it would be a form of accumulation in her magical path.

In short... the lecture at the Clock Tower concluded successfully.

"The next class will likely be next week."

From the podium, Aozaki Touko finished tidying her teaching materials and then left the classroom with an imposing aura. Her sharp presence was like that of a general about to charge into battle.

If anyone dared to block her path, they would absolutely be treated as an enemy.

"..."

Seeing this, everyone in the classroom simultaneously suppressed the urge to speak to her. If they tried to stop Aozaki Touko now, it would surely provoke the girl's hostility.

Therefore, whether they were from noble mage families or students seeking guidance, they all tacitly refrained from stopping Aozaki Touko as she left, quietly watching her depart the classroom.

...A little while after Aozaki Touko left.

The people in the classroom also began to prepare to leave. This time, they had witnessed the legendary genius girl's effortless teaching style in class and her calm, composed smile towards the renowned mage families.

All of this had affirmed Aozaki Touko's value in their eyes. The next step was to find a way to win the girl's heart.

Then, they planned to integrate Aozaki Touko's superior magical bloodline into their own families and, by leveraging her talent, further advance their families' Magic Crests.

It was a very clear plan.

However.

"—Bang!"

A crisp sound of a hand slapping a table echoed.

Mel-Lydele Archleot stood up, scanned the nobles and students present, and then spoke in a voice that was both beautiful and schadenfreude-filled.

"I advise you all to give up on marrying Touko. Touko is already married, so you have no chance!"

Her declaration of fact reverberated through the classroom. Those who had been about to leave stopped in their tracks, instinctively turning to look at Mel-Lydele Archleot, trying to discern the truth of her words.

"Miss Touko is married?"

A handsome young man stood up, his tone sounding surprised and rushed.

To be honest, he found it difficult to imagine that the radiant girl on the podium was already married.

"..."