Becoming Aozaki Touko's Life

Aozaki Touko tucked a strand of her orange hair behind her ear, a confident smile gracing her lips. "I prefer beautiful girls, like you, Sola, who are as fiery as you are cold. Actually, I don't dislike you very much either."

"Oh!"

Sola blinked in surprise at her words, then softly replied, "It's my honor, Miss Touko."

As she spoke, a faint blush rising on her cheeks, she quickened her pace and walked to a nearby bookshelf. Standing on tiptoe, she took down a book and then hurried back to Touko, handing it to her.

"This should meet your needs, Miss Touko."

"Thank you."

Aozaki Touko's gaze swept over the book, and she accepted it with a smile. It was a book from the Mage's Association specifically introducing Nordic customs, viewed from a Magician's perspective.

"No... I should be thanking you, Miss Touko, for taking the time to chat with me."

Sola shook her head, gently smoothing her hair with her hand. "On the contrary, I apologize for disturbing your research on magic."

"I don't feel disturbed at all~"

Aozaki Touko shook her head, then chuckled lightly. "But I am curious why you came to find me?"

"Admiration!"

Sola looked up at Touko earnestly. "I admire your way of life, Miss Touko. It's like a bird without wings yearning to fly freely in the sky."

Yes, that was the reason she had specifically come to see Aozaki Touko.

Upon learning that Kayneth was willing to abandon an arranged marriage for this girl, Sola had made it her business to investigate Aozaki Touko's life story and found herself envious of her way of living.

If only... if only she could live her life according to her own will, just like Aozaki Touko.

This thought had suddenly popped into her head after reading about Aozaki Touko's life: the ability to live according to one's own will.

This way of life was the embodiment of the aspiration she had held since childhood.

"Is that so."

Aozaki Touko blinked, then nodded as if understanding.

In truth, she had never imagined that her way of life would attract anyone, let alone a young lady from a prestigious family.

"Hehe... To me, Miss Touko, you're simply dazzling."

Sola smiled, a hint of shyness in her expression.

It was a little embarrassing for her to express her feelings so directly, after all, she was just a girl.

"...Thank you for the compliment~"

Aozaki Touko smiled warmly, then said, "However, Sola, I hope you can let go of some of your psychological barriers and make a rational judgment about reality."

"..."

Sola fell silent for a moment, then broke into a smile. "Yes, since you say so, Miss Touko, I will try to put aside my prejudices and look at reality with a rational eye."

"And if you're unhappy, it's okay to be a little willful."

Aozaki Touko tapped her finger on her lips and said slyly, then turned to leave with the book, waving goodbye over her shoulder to Sola.

"It's getting late, let's meet again another day."

With that, she had no intention of saying anything more.

Because none of it held any real meaning for her. She was merely offering some sensible advice as a return for Sola guiding her.

Everyone's path in life was different, and their choices naturally would be too.

If she were in a situation similar to Sola's, she would likely choose to constantly strive to become stronger, to gain the power to speak for herself.

But that was impossible for Sola. She didn't possess Aozaki Touko's astonishing talent, and she had no leverage to face her family. Furthermore, having grown up under her family's pressure since childhood, it was difficult for her to muster the resolve to break the pot and sink the boat.

Therefore, accepting reality with equanimity might not be a bad choice.

Of course, this wasn't a judgment on Sola's weakness.

In fact, Aozaki Touko generally didn't look down on anyone, regardless of who they were. Even if they were timid and reclusive, even if they were beggars on the street.

She wouldn't adopt a condescending attitude, saying things like, "Why don't you work harder," "Why don't you face reality," "Why don't you eat meat," or "Why don't you eat bread."

Because not everyone in this world possessed the same advantages as you, even if those advantages seemed perfectly natural to you.

"..."

Sola Nazelie Sohpilia watched silently as Touko disappeared into the distance. With a soft sigh, she turned and left the library.

Chapter Sixty-Four: Rune

Inside the Clock Tower.

Emiya Kiritsugu held a cigarette in his mouth, dragging a large black leather suitcase. He ignored the contemptuous glances from passing Magicians, maintaining his own pace.

He was a Mage who had no interest in the Root, viewing magic merely as a useful tool. It was only natural that Magicians would cast scornful looks his way.

To those who dedicated themselves to studying magic and seeking the Root, someone like him would surely be seen as having strayed from the path, a degenerate who didn't understand the nobility of pursuing the Root.

But, to be honest, he couldn't quite understand those Magicians either. Jumping into the Root to seek death? They must have problems with their heads.

In short... Magicians and Magus, both groups thought the other had problems with their heads.

"Excuse me, I'd like to visit Instructor Aozaki Touko. My name is Emiya Kiritsugu."

Walking into a building, Emiya Kiritsugu, with a blank expression, spoke to the receptionist.

"Certainly, please wait a moment."

The female receptionist glanced at Kiritsugu, then made a phone call to inquire. After hanging up, she looked at Emiya Kiritsugu with an amused expression.

"So you're one of Miss Touko's subordinates? I thought you were just another overconfident pursuer."

"Uh... Miss Touko has a lot of pursuers?"

Emiya Kiritsugu raised an eyebrow. While he admitted Aozaki Touko was attractive, her personality was atrocious. He couldn't imagine such a woman having many admirers.

After all, she had, without batting an eye, left him and his adoptive mother each owing two hundred million US dollars. Her personality was incredibly harsh and domineering.

"It would be strange if someone like Miss Touko didn't have many pursuers."

The receptionist gave Emiya Kiritsugu a strange look before stating calmly, "Please follow me. I'll take you to Miss Touko's magic workshop."

"No need. I already know the way."

Emiya Kiritsugu shook his head. Before coming, Miss Touko had given him the exact address. He didn't need anyone to guide him.

"Knowing the way doesn't matter. The security here is much tighter than you imagine. Without a specialized escort, you won't be able to get in."

The receptionist shook her head and beckoned to Emiya Kiritsugu, then started leading the way without further words.

... After a series of turns, Emiya Kiritsugu followed the receptionist to a large door.

"This is it. Remember to call me when you leave, or don't blame me if you die halfway. I've already warned you."

With that, the receptionist flipped her long hair and turned away briskly.

Seeing this, Emiya Kiritsugu's lips twitched almost imperceptibly. He was somewhat speechless about the strict security but didn't intend to say anything.

He pressed the doorbell and waited quietly for a moment.

Soon, the door opened automatically. Emiya Kiritsugu, with a cigarette in his mouth and carrying a black briefcase, walked into the magic workshop.

Then, he saw a little blonde girl run over, looking at the black case he was carrying with curiosity.

Finally, the little blonde girl's gaze settled on the cigarette in his mouth.

"..."

Seeing the adorable loli looking eager to snatch his cigarette, Emiya Kiritsugu fell silent for a moment and stubbed out the cigarette on the handle of his briefcase.

Next, he ignored the curious Phantasmal Beast and strode deeper into the magic workshop, soon encountering Aozaki Touko, dressed in a lab coat and holding a flask.

"Boss, I've brought the Rune you wanted."

"Good work, Che Guevara~"

Aozaki Touko, who had been experimenting, stopped and gestured to an empty space on the table beside her.

Without further ado, Emiya Kiritsugu placed the black case on the table, slid the combination lock, and opened it, revealing its contents to Touko.

"..."

Aozaki Touko nodded slightly, looking at the shattered stone tablet inside the black case, inscribed with numerous Rune. Although it no longer possessed any supernatural properties, it held significant research value for her.

"Boss... Che Guevara is just my alias. It's better not to mention it when I'm off duty."

At this moment, Emiya Kiritsugu spoke with a melancholic expression, recalling his recent experiences.

His adventures had been cinematic: fleeing vampires, unearthing undead while digging for the stone tablet, and double-crossing gangsters. It had been a series of twists and turns.

If he hadn't used an alias, he'd probably still be on the run.

"Mm, I'll be mindful of that in the future."

Aozaki Touko nodded slightly, then smiled slyly, "Kiritsugu, you're actually quite famous in the magic world. Everyone knows about a guy named Che Guevara who specializes in stealing rare antiquities. You're already a notorious thief."

"Spare me. I don't want this kind of fame~"

Emiya Kiritsugu's lips twitched. "Besides... didn't you ask me to find the Rune?"

He felt a pang in his stomach at his boss's schadenfreude. What were they thinking back then to steal this demon's cancer medication? It was like handing themselves over on a silver platter.

"I didn't ask you to steal anything else along the way."

Aozaki Touko raised an eyebrow, playfully remarking, "Admit it, Emiya Kiritsugu, you have a talent for being a great thief."

"Who would admit to that!"

Emiya Kiritsugu's cheek twitched. Then, he noticed the blonde loli nearby watching him with sparkling eyes, seemingly excited by his thief alias.

His stomach ached again, and he became even more convinced that his boss was a truly mischievous person.

"Hmm... Since you're a great thief, you should have a catchy catchphrase."

As if not hearing Kiritsugu's angry outburst, Aozaki Touko propped her chin with her fair fingers, a mischievous smile on her face.

"I'll never work again. The only way to sustain myself is by stealing antiques. How about it? This catchphrase will definitely spread far and wide. It's simple and memorable."

"..."

Emiya Kiritsugu's face turned completely dark.

"Boss... please don't joke around."

"Alright, I won't tease you anymore, but is that all the Runes you've collected?"

Touko asked, touching the stone slab inside the black box.

"There are still some Runes, but I'll need to wait a while."

"Mm, I understand."

Chapter 65: Miss Touko, the Kind One

Inside the Magician's workshop.

"Emiya Kiritsugu, I'm going to investigate your past a little."

Aozaki Touko, with her head bowed, pieced together the fragments of the broken slab, saying in a calm tone, "For what reason did you personally kill your father?"

"Do you, a big shot like yourself, really need to care about the thoughts of a nobody like me?"

Emiya Kiritsugu shook his head and asked with a hint of emotion.

He wasn't surprised or bothered by Aozaki Touko investigating him; it was only natural.

In fact, if Aozaki Touko hadn't investigated him at all before trusting him to collect the Runes, he would have found it strange.

"What... you're not willing to say?"

Aozaki Touko smiled slightly, then said earnestly, "Consider this a reward from me as your boss. If you miss this chance, it'll be hard to come by again."

As she said this, she continued to fiddle with the slab, falling silent for a time.

The air suddenly grew quiet.

"..."