Hearing that answer, Altrouge's eyes widened slightly. She immediately understood. The girl before her was the acknowledged greatest Doll Master in the magecraft world, and there should be no one who could match her skill in Dollcraft.
If such a person used her greatest skill to create a perfect human, then used that to reach the Root, which every magus yearned for—
Wasn't that only natural?
"Could it be that Touko wants to reach the Root by creating a perfect human?"
She leaned closer to Aozaki Touko's face again, her gaze carrying an intimidating pressure.
If Aozaki Touko truly wanted to create a perfect human, she might really succeed in entering the Root. But if that was the case, Altrouge might never be able to taste Aozaki Touko's blood again.
"...Well, about that."
Aozaki Touko took a small step back, turning her cheek slightly as she said softly, "For now, consider it a backup plan. If nothing else works, I'll have to pursue the Root through that method."
"...Is that so? It seems you have quite a few ways to reach the Root, Touko~"
Altrouge's brows drew together, and her tone became unusually solemn. "But, Aozaki Touko, you should understand that of the people who went to the Root, almost none returned alive!"
At that, she gave another helpless smile.
"But I suppose you wouldn't listen even if I told you that. Magi are creatures who would throw away their lives to pursue the Root and court death."
"Who says I won't listen? I guarantee I won't enter the Root unless I'm confident I can return."
Aozaki Touko swept back her long hair and smiled. "But compared to something so far in the future, how about coming to my house for dinner now? My wife is quite a good cook."
"...Then I shall impose on you."
Altrouge sighed faintly, then accepted with a smile.
Seeing this, Aozaki Touko nodded slightly. She took off the white coat she was wearing, hung it on a nearby rack, and left the Magic Workshop with Altrouge.
In the corridors of the Clock Tower.
A strange scene unfolded before everyone. Those cold magi were actually greeting a girl enthusiastically, just like starstruck fans facing a celebrity.
It was enough to astonish the traditionally educated magi. These withdrawn, cold, and heartless magi actually had such an emotionally expressive side.
Weren't they supposed to be seekers who discarded distracting thoughts and devoted themselves to studying magecraft?
After all, investing emotions in women would only hinder their pursuit of magecraft.
Naturally, investing emotions in men was the same.
"Ms. Aozaki, you're as beautiful as ever."
"Good afternoon, Lady Touko."
"Teacher Touko, would you like to have afternoon tea together when you're free?"
"Teacher, I have a question."
Conversations like these kept happening. Nearby, Altrouge folded her arms and watched Aozaki Touko skillfully deal with the greetings and invitations, feeling both helpless and amused.
"Touko, you really are popular."
She sighed emotionally.
"It's probably just an accident."
After dealing with one student, Aozaki Touko turned around and chuckled. "In fact, I didn't expect the Clock Tower's attitude toward me to change after I reached a cooperation agreement with Celestial Mechanics."
Indeed, after she invested an astronomical sum in Celestial Mechanics, her status within the Clock Tower had suddenly risen by a large margin. The other departments that had previously treated her indifferently also changed their attitudes after the incident.
"Who can blame them? You're incredibly attractive to magi. Your bloodline and appearance are outstanding, your magecraft accomplishments are extraordinary, and you're also very wealthy and willing to invest in magi."
Altrouge analyzed the reasons one by one, then smiled. "To be honest, Touko, if you make good use of this, you can certainly gain considerable power and status in the Clock Tower."
"I have no interest in political intrigue. I came to the Clock Tower only to improve my magecraft. I'll pass on those energy-wasting matters."
Aozaki Touko shook her head, looking completely carefree.
She understood her own position very clearly: she would continuously improve her strength. Political maneuvering was merely auxiliary. As long as her strength kept rising, the corresponding status would follow.
"That really is the statement of a pure magus."
Altrouge knitted her brows slightly, feeling increasingly helpless.
She had no objections to a pure magus's suicidal pursuit. However, she did not want Aozaki Touko to kill herself in the Root. Yet she had no way to stop her, because she knew how powerful a magus's desire to pursue the Root was. In front of the Root, life itself was worthless.
In fact, the desire to pursue the Root made up the greater part of the drive behind a magus's continued existence.
"..."
As if she saw Altrouge's worry, Aozaki Touko's tone grew more serious. "I'm not the kind of magus who would give up her life just to pursue the Root. I still have many attachments to this world, so I won't act recklessly before I'm confident."
"—Attachments~"
Altrouge tilted her head slightly, a smile on her breathtaking face. "For example, your wife, Irisviel?"
"Far more than that!"
Aozaki Touko shook her head with a smile. "Hmm... For example, there's also Altrouge."
"So I have that much weight as well?"
Hearing this, Altrouge gently gathered her hair in one hand and revealed a captivating smile. It was the kind of smile that could make any inexperienced young man fall in love.
"Mm... Of course!"
Aozaki Touko's tone was extremely serious. "You have my blood in your body, after all!"
"...Huh?~"
Altrouge's beautiful eyes widened, and she froze on the spot.
Chapter 76: Trembling in Fear
Night.
Warm light spilled from the windows of the Western Mansion, while the enticing aroma of food drifted through the house. If one stood nearby, one could even vaguely hear little girls playing and girls chatting.
"Touko, you're surprisingly good at living."
Altrouge sat on the sofa with one slender hand propping up her cheek, watching three little girls rub themselves against White Beast. A trace of surprise appeared on her breathtaking face.
This was her first time visiting Aozaki Touko's home. It did not have the cold, austere atmosphere she had imagined. Instead, it was filled with a warm, homelike atmosphere.
That surprised her somewhat.
In her impression, Aozaki Touko should have been a genius girl who devoted herself entirely to magecraft research. Her lifestyle ought to have been as simple as a researcher's.
Their past interactions had only reinforced that impression. Every time they met, it was either in the Clock Tower's library or inside her Magic Workshop.
It was as if Aozaki Touko was researching magecraft at all times.
"...I'm not good at this. This place just happens to have people who bring a strong sense of life to it."
Nearby, Aozaki Touko shook her head with a smile. Looking at the three little girls playing with White Beast, she thought with some malicious amusement: when Kohaku and Hisui grew up, would they feel uneasy after learning that they had played on Primate Killer?
"I don't dislike this sort of atmosphere~"
Altrouge lifted her teacup and took a sip. Then she turned her gaze toward the Black and White Knights, who were sitting and chatting, before shifting it to the true master of this mansion, "Mel-Lydele Archleot."
"Human, am I so frightening that you look as though you're about to cry?"
Hearing the Dead Apostle Princess address her, Lidell's body trembled slightly. She forced an extremely awkward smile and spoke cautiously:
"...This is my happy expression for welcoming Her Highness the Princess."
"..."
The corner of Altrouge's mouth twitched. Speechless, she said, "Put away that expression of happiness for me. Anyone would think you'd seen a ghost."
Haven't I seen a ghost? Four True Ancestors have come to her house. Does Touko naturally attract Dead Apostles? Why does she always end up involved with Dead Apostles—and the highest-ranking True Ancestors at that?
Lidell silently complained. Then she saw Altrouge glare at her. Terrified, she immediately put on a kindly smile, moved beside Aozaki Touko, and tightly clung to her arm.
To be honest, although this Dead Apostle Princess could crush her with one hand, Lidell was not particularly afraid of her. After all, she was Aozaki Touko's friend, so Altrouge would show her some consideration.
If possible, she could even build a decent social network with this Dead Apostle Princess.
But it was different with Primate Killer present. As a powerful witch, her perception far exceeded that of ordinary humans. Even though Primate Killer could restrain her aura, Lidell could still instinctively sense the fatal danger.
If she had to describe the feeling, it was as if someone were holding a sharp knife against her eyeball, ready to stab at any moment. The fear of imminent death filled her entire body, and she could not suppress it at all.
The only way she could think of to feel safe was to stay beside someone who made her feel secure.
And that person was undoubtedly Aozaki Touko.
"—Everyone, dinner's ready."
Just then, Irisviel came out carrying a pot of soup. She smiled playfully at everyone. "Today's meal is Chinese cuisine."
"Come and try my wife's cooking."
Seeing this, Aozaki Touko smiled slightly, took Lidell by the hand, and led her toward the dining table.
The others also gathered around the table and quickly took their seats. Only one chair remained empty.
"..."
Irisviel frowned slightly. She had arranged the seats according to the number of people, so there should not have been an extra one.
Thus, she looked around before focusing on White Beast in the corner.
"That... young lady, aren't you coming to the table to eat with us?"
The moment she said this, the atmosphere suddenly became strange.
Nearby, Primate Killer also raised her head in surprise. Looking at Irisviel, who wore a gentle smile, she asked oddly, "Human, looking at me like this, do you think I can sit at the table and eat?"
"But... I heard from Touko that you can transform into human form."
Irisviel smiled gently. "Since you can take human form, come eat with everyone. It'll be livelier that way, won't it?"
"..."
White Beast stared at the human woman who had invited her to dinner. Her smile was extremely gentle and accepting, without any ulterior motive. She had simply considered that White Beast could take human form and prepared an extra place for her.
She felt something stir faintly in her heart.
She was merely an Android woman, yet she had actually touched her heart in a place like this. The sensation was truly novel to her.
Chapter 77: Catgirl
"..."
White Beast did not immediately respond to the invitation. She turned her gaze toward Altrouge, her eyes revealing a silent question.
Seeing this, Altrouge nodded slightly, a smile of approval on her breathtaking face.
In truth, Altrouge was delighted whenever her pet was willing to take human form.
After all, even if she wanted to see White Beast in human form, she would have to exercise her authority as the owner and forcibly make White Beast transform.
"—I understand."
White Beast, who had been lying there comfortably, rose to her feet. At the same time, her body began to shine. Her bestial outline transformed into a human one.
In the end, a girl resembling an elf from the snow appeared before everyone.
She was a girl of exquisitely beautiful features, dressed in a white dress. Her silvery-white hair fell to her waist, and her skin was whiter than winter snow. Her bearing was cold yet proud.
However, her slightly twitching animal ears diluted that coldness, giving her a cute air that made people want to tease her.
"...How cute! Is this the Catgirl Touko mentioned?"
Irisviel's eyes lit up, and her tone was filled with curiosity.
She had heard Touko mention the concept while chatting before, and had even seen some cosplay photos, but she had never seen a real Catgirl.
Now that she had seen one, she discovered that a real Catgirl was truly adorable.
"...Catgirl?"
Altrouge glanced at White Beast's ears, then decided to introduce her pet first.
"She is my pet and vassal. Her name is Bremeth. She is Primate Killer, possessing absolute authority to kill humans."
"Absolute authority to kill humans? Amazing!"
Before you continue