Becoming Aozaki Touko's Life

"…This is just like a sappy soap opera!"

Seeing this, Yaya's expression turned worried. She quickly went to the entrance to grab an umbrella and then, braving the heavy rain, chased after Aozaki Aoko, who had just left.

In the mountains, outside a cave.

Aozaki Aoko and Yaya arrived outside their Grandfather's magic workshop in the midst of the storm. They saw their Grandfather already standing at the entrance. Beside him stood a man named Bunbyo Rei, who was affiliated with the Holy Church.

"You two, stay outside."

Their Grandfather said this coldly, leaving no room for refusal.

He held absolute authority in the Aozaki family; even Aoko's parents dared not object. As juniors, Aoko and Yaya naturally couldn't possibly resist.

As for Bunbyo Rei, he had no reason to provoke a Magic User.

"Aoko~"

Yaya's expression was full of concern.

"Just wait for me here."

Aozaki Aoko shook her head and followed her Grandfather into the magic workshop.

Chapter 82: Aren't You Going to Stop Her?

Inside the dimly lit cave.

Pale yellow candlelight flickered gently. Rows of bookshelves lined the cave walls, filled with various magical texts. In the center of the cave were simple wooden tables and chairs, with strange and bizarre items placed upon them.

There was an arm with sharp, pointed nails, a pair of eyeballs glowing red in a glass jar, and the hearts of strange animals.

In short, this was definitely not the decor of a normal person's room.

"..."

Aozaki Aoko swept her gaze coldly across the surroundings, finally settling on the stool Touko often sat on. Then, as if seeking a sense of security, or perhaps as fate indicating she was Touko's successor, she sat down in the spot where Touko used to study.

"After the Magic Crest is passed down, you will go to the Kuzuki Western Mansion and receive guidance from Kuonji Alice. She will be your magic tutor and teach you magical knowledge."

Her Grandfather walked over and coldly laid out the arrangements.

Yes, he had no intention of personally teaching Aozaki Aoko, nor did he particularly care about the future direction of the Aozaki family after the Magic Crest was passed down. Although the meaning of his existence was to pass down the Magic User's Mark.

However, after that, it was none of his concern.

Moreover, even if he didn't teach her, Aozaki Touko would absolutely not stand by and do nothing for her sister. Arrangements would surely be made, so there was no need for him to worry about anything.

After all, Aoko's sister was a renowned tutor at the Clock Tower. Having someone of that caliber arrange her sister's curriculum would be far better than him teaching her, wouldn't it?

"...Azu?"

Aoko frowned and asked, "Grandfather, do you think Azu will teach me properly?"

Even as she said this, she felt her question left room for interpretation.

In fact, she seriously doubted if Azu would find an opportunity to quietly kill her during the teaching process, as Azu was, after all, a Witch.

Considering Azu's close relationship with Touko, and combining that with Yaya's slip of the tongue about Touko's secret, she strongly suspected that Azu and Touko's relationship was not simple.

At the very least... their relationship definitely surpassed that of best friends.

Given this level of closeness, if she went to Azu for guidance, even if she wasn't killed by Azu at some opportune moment, she would likely be met with cold treatment.

"...I no longer have time to teach you."

Her Grandfather spoke indifferently. "My body is not far from ceasing its vital functions. You will have to find ways to overcome these difficulties yourself."

He was indeed close to death. Although his body could still hold on for some time, once the Magic User's Mark was passed down, he would have no reason to cling to this period.

After all, even if he did nothing, Aozaki Touko would make all the necessary arrangements.

"...Grandfather, you're going to die?!"

Aozaki Aoko found it somewhat unbelievable.

"That's right, I'm dying soon~"

Her Grandfather nodded coldly, then calculated how much time he had left before he would die and how much time was needed to handle any remaining issues. Finally, he said:

"My death will be in about three days, at 4:30 PM."

"Ah… um… should I call back my sister to see you off?"

Listening to this, Aozaki Aoko's face stiffened, unsure how to react.

Hearing her Grandfather state his impending death with such precision, she should have felt grief for the passing of a loved one, but she couldn't muster any. A strange feeling filled her heart.

She actually had a peculiar thought: that her Grandfather was choosing to die because he found teaching her troublesome.

"...You may."

Her Grandfather nodded slightly.

"But three days is a bit too short. Sister might not be able to make it back in time."

Aoko said this with a frown.

"Then I'll die a few days later~"

Hearing this, Grandfather said dismissively, then spoke to Aoko, "Now, Aoko, extend your arm."

"...I understand."

Aozaki Aoko nodded slightly, pushed up her sleeve, and extended her arm. Then, with a stiff expression, she asked, "Grandfather, if you don't want to die, how many more years can you live?"

"..."

There was no answer. Grandfather Aozaki simply circulated his magic, proceeding with the ritual to transfer the Magic Crest.

Outside the cave.

Bunbyo Rei seemed to sense something, turned his head to glance into the cave, then turned back to Yaya and said with a gentle smile:

"You're a doll made by Aozaki Touko, aren't you?"

"..."

Yaya turned her head to look at Bunbyo Rei, displaying an expression of disdain, as if she were looking at unrecyclable trash. She had no desire to speak at all.

Bunbyo Rei, however, was not at all bothered by Yaya's coldness and calmly said, "Aoko will finish inheriting the Magic Crest soon. As a doll created by Aozaki Touko, don't you plan to stop her?"

"Yaya's mission is to protect Aoko!"

Yaya said this with vigilant eyes.

"Is that so? But if she finishes inheriting the Magic Crest, it will signify a complete break between Aozaki Touko and Aozaki Aoko. They might even fight each other for the Magic Crest!"

Bunbyo Rei said with a sorrowful expression, "If it's any later, it will be irreversible. Both Aoko, whom you like, and your master, Touko, will be caught up in the misfortune of Magicians."

"Yaya won't listen to you!"

Yaya's gaze remained vigilant, and she stated firmly, "Master Touko will find a way to solve these problems. But I absolutely cannot believe the words of a villain like you."

"Is that so? Is this your choice?"

Bunbyo Rei lowered his eyelids, as if lamenting the fate of the Aozaki sisters in the future.

Chapter Eighty-Three: Conspiracy and Deception

London.

In Aozaki Touko's room at the Lidell Mansion.

At this moment, Altrouge hugged Aozaki Touko's slender waist, burying her head in Aozaki Touko's neck. Two sharp, small fangs pierced the fair skin, gently sucking Aozaki Touko's blood, as if savoring the finest red wine.

The gentle sucking was less like drinking blood and more like kissing a lover.

"Not done yet? It's almost time for dinner."

Aozaki Touko gently stroked Altrouge's soft black hair and looked at the clock on the wall, estimating that Irisviel should be coming to call her for lunch around this time.

Then, the moment her words fell, Altrouge's gentle and soft blood-sucking action suddenly became somewhat rough, as if her words had touched a forbidden topic.

She was like a cat whose meal had been interrupted. A fierce glint flashed in her scarlet eyes, and she bit Aozaki Touko's neck twice forcefully before releasing her mouth from the fair skin. Her exquisite face displayed an expression of dissatisfaction.

"This is my rare healing time. If I don't get satisfied, I won't be happy for the next week."

She said this petulantly yet matter-of-factly, pushing Aozaki Touko onto the nearby bed. Then, her girlish figure suddenly transformed into a mature woman's form.

Immediately after, with a powerful smile like a queen, she pinned Aozaki Touko's arms, sat on top of Aozaki Touko, and looked down at her from above. Her scarlet eyes held both provocation and dissatisfaction.

"Being able to fill my stomach with your bloodline is something countless people dream of. Touko, you should feel honored by this."

Her mature and sexy voice, like a queen's, spoke words that invited endless imagination.

Then, she lowered her head again and bit Aozaki Touko's fair neck. This time, her actions were even gentler.

"...I still want to check the letters sent from home before dinner~"

Aozaki Touko blinked her eyes and let out a soft chuckle.

She realized that when Altrouge transformed into her mature form, her personality also subtly changed. She became more domineering, preferring to take the initiative, and could more directly face her own feelings. If she responded to Altrouge's teasing words now, she might not be able to leave at noon today.

———— Click.

Just then, the sound of the doorknob turning came from the closed door. Simultaneously, Irisviel's pleasant voice entered the room.

"Touko, it's time for dinner... Huh?"

Before she could finish speaking, Irisviel's confused voice was heard, followed by the sound of her struggling with the doorknob and pushing the door. However, the door, which was not locked, could not be opened.

"I'm not satisfied yet!"

Inside the room, Altrouge extended her index finger towards the door, a faint red light emanating from her fingertip. She instantly formed a contract with the air and then completely locked the door. Without the strength to punch through the wall, there was absolutely no hope of opening it.

"Is the door broken?"

Outside the room, Irisviel said this with confusion. Inside, Aozaki Touko twitched her lips. Seeing Altrouge lower her head and bite her neck again, she couldn't help but feel amused.

"It's not broken. It's just that a certain princess, whose meal and treatment were interrupted, is having a tantrum. You guys go eat first. I'll come down to eat later."

"I understand~"

Irisviel's voice conveyed understanding, and then she turned and left.

In fact, regarding Altrouge's blood treatment, it basically happened once every week. After such a long time, everyone had become quite accustomed to it and no longer found it strange.

It was like setting an alarm clock for work or school; it had become a part of their lives, something taken for granted.

"…Mmmph~"

After about ten minutes, Altrouge let out a suppressed groan. Then, she tightly embraced Aozaki Touko, and her mature figure began to shrink, quickly transforming into the appearance of a young girl.

"Get some good rest~"

Aozaki Touko gently placed the book on her chest aside, then leaned down and kissed Altrouge's forehead. She then gently stroked her hair.

After drinking Aozaki Touko's blood, Altrouge wouldn't feel invigorated. Instead, she would be overcome with an unbearable drowsiness, a state where her body instinctively wanted to hibernate and begin its self-healing process.

This state would persist until Altrouge's injuries healed by about ninety percent, at which point she would no longer need such deep-level healing methods.

The injuries she sustained from her battle with Arcueid back then were too severe. Even now, they hadn't fully healed. Furthermore, because she was a Dead Apostle, the Holy Church, fearing she would slaughter humans to recover her strength, had actively hunted her.

And a portion of the Dead Apostles who were originally loyal to Altrouge also began to pursue her, due to the presence of the traitorous Crimson Lord.

This pursuit had continued intermittently for about eight hundred years, preventing Altrouge's injuries from ever fully healing.

She even had to shrink down to the form of a young girl to conserve her strength. Only when high-intensity combat was required would she revert to her mature form to fight.

Chapter 84: Do You Want Me to Accompany You Back?

"Grandfather… is actually going to die~"

After finishing lunch, Aozaki Touko sat on the sofa, holding Beo in her arms and a letter in her hand. The contents of the letter were the news of Aoko inheriting the Fifth Magic, as well as the news of her grandfather's impending death.

She wasn't surprised by Aoko's Fifth Magic, as it was something she had expected. However, the fact that her grandfather had so calmly accepted death, even calculating the timing of it, did surprise her.

In this life, there was no perverted priest like Bunbyo Rei who would think of trying to kill her grandfather. Logically, her grandfather should have had quite a bit more time left to live.