Kuonji Alice nodded slightly, then said coldly, "But why didn't you bring your friends to the Western Mansion, Touko? I heard one of them is your wife. I actually quite wanted to meet her."
"..."
Hearing this, Aozaki Touko instinctively turned to look at Aoko, wanting to know whether her younger sister had let the secret slip. However, Aoko quietly shook her head, indicating that she had never said anything about it.
"Monitoring familiars~"
As if understanding what Touko was thinking, Kuonji Alice looked at the Songs of Sixpence on the table.
"Recently, I placed some familiars around Misaki City to monitor it. To prevent any accidents after Aoko completed the inheritance of her Magic Crest, I temporarily put Misaki City under surveillance."
"..."
Chapter 96: I've Already Solved That Problem
Kuzuki Western Mansion.
The atmosphere became even more desolate. No... it should be said that it had turned cold.
"..."
Kuonji Alice remained as cold and indifferent as ever, as though nothing had changed. However, her chilly air now carried a dangerous sharpness.
It's probably better to stay quiet for now~
Ryougi Shiki keenly sensed this. She glanced toward Aozaki Aoko and discovered that Aoko had quietly left the living room, clearly trying to avoid the dangerous atmosphere.
Seeing this, Ryougi Shiki thought for a moment, then picked up two chocolate balls and quietly left the living room as well.
It was obvious that they had private matters to discuss. As an outsider, she should not stay here. She would give them some space to resolve things themselves.
"...You've really worked hard. You actually did so much for Aoko~"
Aozaki Touko lifted her black tea and took a sip, then frankly admitted, "Irisviel is indeed my wife, but it isn't appropriate to bring her here right now!"
"...Why isn't it appropriate?"
Kuonji Alice's cold black eyes carried a hint of aggression.
She did not directly question her, because she had no standing to do so. Although her relationship with Aozaki Touko was very close, that final layer between them had never been pierced.
At present, their relationship was merely that of close friends. By all rights, she should sincerely offer Aozaki Touko her blessings.
But that was clearly impossible.
It was true that, in the eyes of ordinary people, Aozaki Touko had done a great deal for her. When she had learned in childhood that Alice would die after giving birth to a child, she had sworn to find a way to save her. Now, she really had found a way to do so.
The solution was also extremely perfect. She had considered every aspect, from the inheritance of the Magic Crest to the continuation of Alice's life, leaving virtually no future worries.
However, the foundation of all this was simply that they were best friends.
Their relationship was now awkwardly suspended between two extremes.
"Because... you don't like it, Alice~"
Aozaki Touko smiled faintly and said softly, "If I brought too many people at once, you would definitely feel unhappy again, wouldn't you?"
This was not an excuse. Alice truly disliked interacting with people, and she disliked humans as well.
Although Touko could have brought a large group of people to the Kuzuki Western Mansion without asking beforehand, Alice might not have said anything because of their relationship, but she would certainly have brooded over it.
Of course... that was not the main reason. Otherwise, Touko would not have brought one little girl after another back to the mansion without Alice's consent.
The main problem was that if she did not lay the groundwork first... things might explode when the time came.
"..."
Kuonji Alice was left speechless, an irritated expression appearing on her cold, pretty face.
She indeed disliked humans and disliked interacting with people, but the current situation was clearly different.
However, Aozaki Touko understood her far too well. She had effortlessly avoided Alice's questioning, leaving Alice able only to sulk inwardly without any way to fight back.
"...I'll bring them over tomorrow~"
At this point, Aozaki Touko said with a smile, "You can get to know each other properly then. You shouldn't end up disliking one another."
"You think we can get along?"
Kuonji Alice questioned her like that.
"Mm... I'll find a way to make sure you get along."
Aozaki Touko tilted her head and said this with a soft laugh.
"Touko, you're really greedy~"
Kuonji Alice said gloomily.
She and Aozaki Touko had grown up together. In her heart, Touko was as important as her parents, so naturally, they understood each other extremely well. Just as Touko understood her very well, Alice also understood Aozaki Touko very well.
She was the kind of person who completely ignored anything that did not interest her, while for anything that did interest her, she would find a way to seize it for herself.
And now, Aozaki Touko wanted to hold everything in her hands.
"Mm... if you like something, you shouldn't give it up!"
Aozaki Touko smiled slightly, then changed the subject. "By the way, Alice, have you already eaten breakfast?"
"..."
Kuonji Alice lifted her black tea and took a sip, turning her gaze away in annoyance.
Because she found making breakfast troublesome, she had not eaten anything at all. She had planned to figure out her meals at noon.
"That'll ruin your health... I'll make you some breakfast~"
Aozaki Touko raised her brows slightly, then stood and walked into the kitchen.
"..."
Kuonji Alice did not answer. She watched Touko enter the kitchen, then picked up the Grimoire beside her and began reading. However, her gaze was not focused on the book at all.
At that moment, she suddenly realized that she was like a butterfly caught in a spider's web, becoming entangled and bound by strand after strand. Before she knew it, she seemed to have lost any way to escape.
If she wanted to give birth to a child to continue the inheritance of her Magic Crest and extend her own life, that child had to belong to both her and Aozaki Touko.
But if that was the case, then given the feelings between her and Aozaki Touko, with the child serving as a mediator, her resistance would probably be worn away almost completely.
The thought made her even more unhappy.
After a while.
Aozaki Touko came out carrying a bowl of noodles and set it in front of Kuonji Alice. The rich aroma immediately filled the living room.
"...Eat~"
Alice was silent for a moment, then picked up her chopsticks.
Seeing this, Aozaki Touko rested her delicate hand against her cheek and quietly watched Alice eat. She simply watched Kuonji Alice finish the bowl of noodles in small bites.
"What kind of person is she?"
After setting down her chopsticks, Kuonji Alice asked coldly.
"Mm... she's a gentle person~"
Aozaki Touko smiled faintly and explained, "Irisviel is an Android created specifically to participate in the Holy Grail War. She's the Lesser Grail used to contain the Servants' souls."
"A vessel for the Servants' souls? Wouldn't that mean she would die after the Holy Grail War?"
Kuonji Alice asked after thinking for a moment.
While chatting with Touko, she had learned quite a bit about the Holy Grail War. She knew that the Lesser Grail vessel itself was not a living thing. If it was to fulfill its function, the Android serving as the vessel for the Holy Grail would probably need to undergo a transformation, with her human body changing into a Lesser Grail.
And the result of doing that... was basically equivalent to death.
"That would normally be the case... but I've already solved that problem~"
Aozaki Touko smiled.
"..."
Chapter 97: A Conversation at Night
Night.
Kuzuki Western Mansion.
Sunroom.
"...You should have time now, right?"
Ryougi Shiki looked at Aozaki Touko and asked in a cold voice.
She had waited in the mansion from morning until night, and finally had time alone with Aozaki Touko. As for the other two, Aozaki Aoko and Kuonji Alice had gone to conduct a lesson between master and disciple.
"Mm... Shiki, is there something you want to ask?"
Aozaki Touko put down the book she was reading and looked at Ryougi Shiki with a gentle smile. "If it's information of little value, I can give it to you for free."
"..."
Hearing this, Ryougi Shiki frowned and asked coldly, "How much value it has is entirely up to your personal judgment, isn't it? You might as well just say what you want from me!"
"Hmm... but I haven't decided yet~"
Aozaki Touko tilted her head and revealed a sly, mischievous smile. "I just think that a question-and-answer session with conditions would be more interesting. At least it wouldn't feel like being interrogated as a criminal, so I decided to change the terms temporarily."
"..."
Listening to her, Ryougi Shiki stared coldly at Touko. On the surface, this woman looked like an extremely gentle and intellectual older sister. However, after spending time with her, one would discover her wicked sense of humor. She seemed particularly fond of playing with people's hearts.
"Fine... if it's within what I can accept, I'll consider agreeing to it~"
Ryougi Shiki's cold voice carried a trace of helplessness. Someone with overwhelming strength who also possessed what she needed was truly difficult for her to deal with at present.
"Mm-hmm... it'll definitely be within what you can bear~"
Aozaki Touko looked pleased with herself. She did not care about the leeway in Shiki's words. In any case, she had no intention of making an excessive demand. If this action had any real meaning, it was probably to gain more initiative in her future interactions with Ryougi Shiki.
"Is that so~"
Ryougi Shiki answered coldly, then turned to the main subject. "That night... when you and I were in the park, what exactly happened? Or rather, what was that unknown personality?"
Without knowing anything about it, she had left home alone in the middle of the night and gone to the park to meet this woman named Aozaki Touko.
Before that, she had not known of Aozaki Touko's existence at all. She had never met her in reality and had never learned that name through any form of media. Her memories concerning Touko were completely blank.
Yet under such circumstances, the two of them had met in the park without warning, as though they had arranged it long ago, and they had behaved with remarkable familiarity.
By rights, she had never encountered any information about Aozaki Touko. Even the unknown personality inside her should not have known of Aozaki Touko's existence.
This situation had already surpassed the bounds of common sense.
Moreover, the abilities displayed by that unknown personality within her had made it clear that it could overturn the body's state of growth, and it seemed to possess the ability to see through the future.
To achieve such a degree... it was practically a miracle.
"You're asking such a crucial question right from the start? Then I'll have to set the terms properly, won't I?!"
Aozaki Touko propped her delicate hand beneath her chin and spoke with an amused, mischievous smile.
"What do you want?"
Ryougi Shiki remained cold.
"When you've finished asking your questions, just let 'her' come out and chat with me."
Aozaki Touko presented her condition.
"No. I don't have that ability."
Ryougi Shiki rejected it with a cold expression. If she had the ability to communicate with her hidden personality, why would she need to ask Touko about the situation? She could solve the problem herself.
"It has nothing to do with ability... Shiki, you just need to know that you've agreed~"
Aozaki Touko waved her hand.
"Fine, I agree~"
Ryougi Shiki nodded slightly.
Before you continue