A Life Becoming Aozaki Touko

In the Mage's Association, "Counsellor" is a very special rank, awarded to mages who have made significant contributions to magecraft. Throughout the long history since the Clock Tower's founding, only a handful of mages have achieved the rank of Counsellor.

Being granted the rank of Counsellor is almost the highest honor a mage can receive. Even without any tangible benefits or rewards, the value attached to this rank far exceeds ordinary imagination.

"Hmm... I think I heard about this news~"

Upon hearing this, the blonde boy frowned, finally lifting himself from his slumped posture on the table. He crossed his arms and said thoughtfully, "Based on the timeline, the Counsellor conferment should be very soon. I wonder what reason made Teacher Touko rush back to Japan. It would be troublesome if she missed the Counsellor conferment."

"I actually heard some news, would you like to know?"

Just then, a green-haired boy with messy hair walked over. He plopped himself onto the blonde boy's desk, a mysterious expression on his face, and said, "Rook, if you buy me a high-class lunch, I'll tell you the news. How about it?"

"If it's valuable~"

The blonde boy smiled and shrugged.

"It's said that Teacher Touko has already been stripped of her inheritance as a Magic User!"

The green-haired boy mysteriously raised a finger. "It's said that the current Magic User passed down the Magic Crest to Teacher Touko's sister, and it's a sister with no magical foundation at all~"

"That's too absurd~"

The blonde boy rolled his eyes. "In this world, is there anyone more suitable to inherit magic than Teacher Touko? In every aspect, Teacher Touko is almost flawless. Why would they choose someone with no magical foundation over someone so much better?"

"That's right, what you're saying is truly too absurd."

Beside them, the black-haired girl nodded in agreement.

"I actually don't quite believe it either~"

The green-haired boy spread his hands, looking helpless. "But, according to the information I got from my family, it shouldn't be fake. The Magic Crest for the Fifth Magic has indeed been passed down to Teacher Touko's sister."

"...Hmm~"

Hearing this, the blonde boy tilted his head in thought for a moment, then asked, "Indeed, I still can't imagine Teacher Touko being stripped of her inheritance as a Magic User. Do you have any evidence to support this?"

"It's said the Fifth Magic User is about to die!"

The green-haired boy smiled, his gaze cold. "When he was close to death, he invited a priest from the Holy Church to specifically witness the inheritance of the Fifth Magic. Teacher Touko's trip back is to send off the Fifth Magic User on his final journey."

"...If the Fifth Magic User dies, then Teacher Touko can easily snatch back the Magic Crest for the Fifth Magic if she wants to, right?"

The black-haired girl heard the implication.

"That's right, as soon as the Fifth Magic User dies, Teacher Touko can easily snatch back the Magic Crest. This matter is almost certain."

The green-haired boy's eyes were excited. He pinched his chin with his hand and said, "Perhaps in some time, news will spread of Teacher Touko killing her sister to seize the Magic Crest."

"Ah... I still find it ridiculous~"

After listening, the blonde boy narrowed his eyes, his tone unwavering. "What you're saying is full of malicious intent and has no value at all. I refuse to buy you lunch~"

"Hey... I'm telling the truth~"

Chapter 87: The Counter Force Isn't a Loli

The sun set, dyeing the sky with a crimson glow.

Beneath the sunset, the city's inhabitants, having finished their day's work, began heading towards various entertainment venues to relieve the fatigue accumulated throughout the day.

At this time, a group of foreigners with extraordinary auras walked through the streets, drawing the gaze of passersby.

A noblewoman with silver hair and red eyes, exuding an elegant aura; a beautiful princess in a black dress; a handsome golden-haired knight; a cold and loyal black-haired knight; a beautiful girl with the charisma of an idol; and a cute, innocent golden-haired loli.

This scene was too dreamlike for the people, especially for this small country town. Foreigners were already a rare sight, let alone the fact that each person here was practically as beautiful as if they had stepped out of a painting.

"Is this your hometown, Touko?"

On the street, Irisviel held Touko's arm, looking around curiously. She was very curious about the birthplace of her husband and wanted to get a good look at the land that had nurtured Touko.

"Yeah, though it's changed so much I barely recognize it now."

Aozaki Touko nodded slightly, then smiled helplessly.

It wasn't a lie; she hadn't returned to Misaki City for a long time. The last time she came back, she hadn't explored much. She basically stayed home for a while before choosing to go to the Clock Tower in London to study magecraft.

Now, many places in the current Misaki City didn't match her memories of it.

The former Misaki City could at most be considered a small country town. However, influenced by the booming real estate market, it had undergone drastic reforms. Brand new houses were built one after another, and various supporting facilities were also established.

However, once the real estate bubble burst, it was estimated that this newly formed city would fall silent.

"Although individual humans are very weak, as a group, they possess extraordinary abilities in changing the world. Otherwise, they wouldn't have parted ways with the gods."

Altrouge's scarlet eyes swept across the surroundings, speaking with a touch of genuine emotion.

Although ordinary humans were very weak, and a mere gust of wind from a palm could easily kill them, their ability to transform the world allowed them to dominate this world.

"...I don't deny that, but there's also danger involved~"

Aozaki Touko smiled gently.

What if, one day, countries started throwing nuclear bombs at each other, or accidentally released some deadly virus? These were all possibilities.

As a current example, with the current understanding of Dead Apostles combined with the knowledge of the human body, it would be very easy to research a virus that bypasses the human immune system.

In other words, if she wanted to, she could quickly create a terrifying scene similar to a zombie movie by leveraging the influence of the Umbrella Corporation, thereby destroying the intricate social system of humanity.

"Let the Counter Force worry about such things~"

Altrouge tossed her long hair aside, appearing unconcerned.

"The Counter Force doesn't have emotions like headaches."

Aozaki Touko smiled faintly.

She recalled some strange settings from her past life, where Gaia was a clueless little girl and Alaya was a scheming little girl, possessing high self-awareness and getting along quite well with each other.

However, in reality, the Counter Force in this world was actually an unconscious directional force. Alaya was the Counter Force for humanity's continuation, while Gaia was the Counter Force for Earth's continuation. They themselves didn't have any peculiar personalities.

So, if you had any bold ideas, it was best to just kill them immediately.

"Your behavior is a bit like a coward~"

Altrouge stated frankly.

"Hmm... it does seem a little like that."

Aozaki Touko chuckled, then her expression turned cold.

Not far from her, a figure suddenly appeared. It was a strange red figure, observing her with emotionless eyes, as if mechanically assessing whether she posed a threat.

(Touko is home for the first time in a while... let's not disturb her~)

A gentle female voice quietly sounded, followed by an invisible force sweeping through space, and the strange red figure vanished. In its place stood a woman who looked like the embodiment of perfection.

She winked at Aozaki Touko, placed her index finger on her lips, and whispered:

(Shiki will be here to find you soon~)

With that, she turned and disappeared.

"Touko, what's wrong?"

Irisviel looked at Touko, who had a cold expression beside her, and scanned the surroundings with a hint of caution, but found nothing unusual, nor any existence that could be considered an enemy.

"It's nothing... I was just thinking about some unpleasant things~"

Aozaki Touko clasped Irisviel's hand, shook her head with a gentle smile, and said, "Well, let's go see Grandpa first~"

Saying this, she led Irisviel towards Grandpa's cave, not wanting to explain the strange phenomenon that had just occurred.

Seeing this, Altrouge frowned and looked in the direction Touko had been gazing, likely understanding who Touko had been looking at.

It was the Counter Force they had just discussed.

Shiki.jpg

Author's Note

Well... it's up for sale.

This is the second book I've put up for sale, and I'm feeling even more excited than the first time. Perhaps it's because I finally have the awareness of being an author now.

I used to write novels purely out of interest and never thought I could actually earn money from it.

However... my attitude changed once I realized I could make money.

At the very least, writing novels can improve my life and make things a little easier.

In short... I hope everyone will support me with votes and subscriptions. Even if you're just saving the book, please give me a first subscription so I can continue writing with all my effort.

Finally, thank you all very much for your support!

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Ah, right, the usual picture.jpg

Chapter 88: That's Right, I'm Touko's Wife!

Outside the cave.

Grandpa looked at the people outside the door, a rare look of surprise on his usually cold face.

Currently, four True Ancestor Dead Apostles had gathered in front of his mage workshop, and they were all extremely powerful True Ancestors. There was Altrouge, the de facto leader of the Dead Apostles; the Primate Killer, who possessed absolute authority to kill humans; and two Black and White Knights of considerable strength.

If an uninformed magus saw this lineup, they would probably think Aozaki Touko had come to get revenge on him. After all, he had toyed with Aozaki Touko's life, bestowed upon her the mission of inheriting the Fifth Magic, and then ruthlessly taken it away.

To magi, such an act was more cruel than murder.

"...Touko, you truly are full of surprises~"

The Fifth Magic User exclaimed.

With such a formidable lineup, even he, the Fifth Magic User, hadn't expected his great-granddaughter to possess such exceptional social talents.

"To surprise a Magic User, that is truly my honor`"

Aozaki Touko smiled and shook her head, then walked into her grandfather's mage workshop, returning to the place where she used to study magic. Altrouge and the others followed without hesitation into the magus's mage workshop.

"..."

Seeing this, the Fifth Magic User showed no reaction. He simply turned and walked into the mage workshop. He didn't stop these irrelevant people from entering. Even though the mage workshop was a private place for ordinary magi, he didn't seem to mind.

"..."

Taking a seat, Aozaki Touko's gaze swept across the table in front of her. She saw that her old place for magical texts had been closed up again, with a thoughtful label left behind.

"Why did you come to see me first? Did you perhaps want to see more of this dying old man?"

Her grandfather looked at Aozaki Touko, his voice returning to its usual coldness.

Logically, the first thing Aozaki Touko should do upon returning to Misaki City, if not going back to the Aozaki residence, would be to visit the Kuzuki Western Mansion. Coming to see him would absolutely not be her first choice.

This was because Aozaki Touko didn't harbor much familial affection for him. Their interactions were essentially consistent, merely those between a mentor and a successor.

Any additional emotions were utterly meaningless.

"...Is that not acceptable?"

Aozaki Touko retorted, then continued on her own: "Regardless of what feelings I might have for you, Grandpa, the fact that you cultivated me in the ways of magic is undeniable. It's only natural that I come to accompany you during your final days with gratitude, isn't it?"

This was not a lie; it was the truth. During the time she spent learning in her grandfather's magic workshop, whenever she had a question, he would answer Aozaki Touko truthfully as long as he knew the answer. Although his demeanor was extremely cold and unapproachable, in terms of his efforts, there was absolutely nothing to fault.

"Is that so? I understand~"

Her grandfather nodded. "That's right. If we're only talking about effort, then my contributions to you, Touko, should far exceed those to Aoko. Based on that, it's perfectly reasonable for you to visit me."

"That's right, exactly~"

As she said this, Aozaki Touko shifted her gaze to Irisviel, then to Altrouge, a smile curving her lips.

"This time, I've brought my family and friends to see you, Grandpa."

As her words fell, the atmosphere suddenly turned frigid.

Her grandfather was momentarily speechless. He knew Irisviel was Touko's wife, but what did Touko's gaze towards Altrouge mean? Could she also be a wife?

"...I, I am~"

From the side, Altrouge's cheeks flushed as she opened her mouth, but she couldn't utter a single word. She felt that no matter what she said, it would be wrong.

"Hello, Grandpa. I am Touko's wife, my name is Irisviel von Einzbern~"