A Life as Aozaki Touko

Kuonji Alice nodded slightly, then said in a cold tone, "But why didn't Touko bring your friends to the mansion? I heard one is your wife, and I'd really like to meet her."

"..."

Hearing this, Aozaki Touko instinctively turned to look at Aoko, wanting to know if her sister had leaked the information. However, Aoko quietly shook her head, signaling that she hadn't said anything at all.

"It's a monitoring familiar~"

As if understanding Touko's thoughts, Kuonji Alice looked at the Songs of Sixpence on the table.

"Recently, I've been setting up familiars in Misaki City for monitoring. To prevent any accidents after Aoko completes the inheritance of the Magic Crest, I've temporarily put Misaki City under surveillance."

"..."

Chapter Ninety-Six: I Have Already Solved This Problem

Kuonji Western Mansion.

The atmosphere became even colder. No... it should be said that it became icy.

"..."

Kuonji Alice was as serene and indifferent as ever, as if nothing had changed. However, her serene aura now carried a dangerous sharpness.

(It's better to stay quiet at a time like this~)

Ryougi Shiki keenly sensed this. Her gaze flickered to Aozaki Aoko beside her, and she noticed that her sister had quietly left the living room, clearly trying to avoid the dangerous environment.

Seeing this, Ryougi Shiki pondered for a moment, then picked up two chocolate balls and quietly left the living room.

Clearly, there were private matters to discuss at this moment. As an outsider, she shouldn't stay here. She should give them space to resolve it themselves.

"...You've really worked hard, doing so much for Aoko~"

Aozaki Touko took a sip of her black tea and then frankly admitted, "Irisviel is indeed my wife, but it's not appropriate to bring her here right now!"

"...Why is it not appropriate?"

Kuonji Alice's cold, dark eyes held a challenging glint.

She didn't directly question anything, because she had no standing to do so. Although her relationship with Aozaki Touko was very close, they hadn't crossed that line yet.

Their current relationship was merely that of close friends. By all rights, she should be sincerely congratulating Aozaki Touko.

However, that was clearly impossible.

Certainly, in the eyes of most people, Aozaki Touko had done a lot for her. When she learned as a child that she would die after giving birth, Touko had sworn to find a way to save her, and now she could indeed do so.

The solution was also perfect, considering everything from the inheritance of the Magic Crest to the continuation of her life, leaving virtually no worries.

However, the foundation of all this was based on them being best friends.

Now, their relationship was in an awkward, in-between state.

"Because... you don't like it, Azu~"

Aozaki Touko smiled slightly and said softly, "If I brought too many people at once, you would surely feel unhappy again."

This wasn't an excuse. Azu genuinely disliked interacting with people and disliked humans in general.

Although she could have brought a large group of people to Kuonji Western Mansion without asking beforehand, and Azu wouldn't have said anything due to their relationship, she would have sulked about it.

Of course... the main reason wasn't this. Otherwise, she wouldn't have brought one loli after another back to the mansion without Azu's prior agreement.

The main thing was that if things weren't properly laid out in advance... it would likely explode.

"..."

Kuonji Alice was momentarily speechless, her cool, pretty face showing a sulky expression.

She did dislike humans and disliked interacting with them, but the current situation was clearly not about that.

However, Aozaki Touko understood her too well. She easily dodged Alice's questioning, leaving her to sulk inwardly with no recourse.

"...I'll bring them over tomorrow~"

At this moment, Aozaki Touko said with a smile, "You can get to know each other properly then. I don't think you'll dislike each other."

"You think we can get along?"

Kuonji Alice questioned, her voice filled with frustration.

"Mhm... I'll find a way to make you get along."

Aozaki Touko tilted her head and chuckled softly.

"Touko, you're really greedy~"

Kuonji Alice said with annoyance.

She and Aozaki Touko had grown up together. In her heart, Touko was as important as her parents. Naturally, they understood each other very well. Just as Touko understood her perfectly, she also understood Aozaki Touko perfectly.

Touko was someone who completely ignored things she wasn't interested in, but she would find a way to grasp things she was interested in.

And now, Aozaki Touko wanted to hold everything in her hands.

"Mhm... If you like it, don't give up!"

Aozaki Touko smiled slightly, then changed the subject, asking, "By the way, Azu, have you had breakfast yet?"

"..."

Kuonji Alice picked up her teacup and took a sip, her gaze averted with a hint of annoyance.

She hadn't eaten breakfast because she found making it troublesome, and planned to figure out food later in the day.

"That's going to ruin your health... I'll make you some breakfast then~"

Aozaki Touko raised an eyebrow slightly, then got up and walked into the kitchen.

"..."

Without a reply, Kuonji Alice watched Touko enter the kitchen, picked up a nearby grimoire, and began to read. However, her attention wasn't focused on the book at all.

In that moment, she suddenly realized she was like a butterfly caught in a spider's web, entangled and bound by fine threads, unable to break free.

If she wanted to have offspring to continue her Magic Crest and extend her own life, the child born would have to be hers and Aozaki Touko's.

But if that were the case, given the relationship between her and Aozaki Touko, and with a child acting as a mediator, her resistance would likely diminish.

Thinking this, her mood grew even more unpleasant.

After a while.

Aozaki Touko came out with a bowl of noodles and placed it in front of Kuonji Alice, the rich aroma filling the living room.

"...Eat~"

Azu remained silent for a moment before picking up her chopsticks.

Seeing this, Aozaki Touko rested her cheek on her hand, quietly watching Azu eat, observing Kuonji as she finished the bowl of noodles in small bites.

"What kind of person is she?"

Putting down her chopsticks, Kuonji Alice asked with a cool tone.

"Hmm... a person with a gentle personality~"

Aozaki Touko smiled slightly and explained, "Irisviel is a homunculus specifically created to participate in the Holy Grail War. She's a Lesser Grail meant to contain the soul of a Servant."

"A vessel to contain a Servant's soul? Doesn't that mean she'll die after the Holy Grail War?"

Kuonji Alice pondered for a moment and asked.

During her casual conversation with Touko, she had learned quite a bit about the Holy Grail battlefield. She knew that the Lesser Grail vessel wasn't a living being. To function, the homunculus acting as the Lesser Grail would likely need to undergo a transformation, evolving from a human body into the Lesser Grail.

The consequence of doing so... was essentially death.

"That was supposed to be the case... but I've already solved that problem~"

Aozaki Touko said with a smile.

"..."

Chapter 97: Nighttime Conversation

Night.

Kuzuki Western Mansion.

In the sunroom.

"...You should have time now, right?"

Ryougi Shiki looked at Aozaki Touko, her voice cold.

She had waited in the mansion from morning until night, finally having a moment alone with Aozaki Touko. As for the other two, Aozaki Aoko and Kuonji Alice, they had already gone to their master-disciple teaching session.

"Yes... Shiki, is there something you want to ask?"

Aozaki Touko put down her book 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, then asked coldly, "How much value it has is entirely up to your discretion. You might as well just say what you want from me!"

"Hmm... but I haven't decided yet~"

Aozaki Touko tilted her head, a sly, mischievous smile on her face. "I just feel that conditional Q&A makes things more interesting for me. At least it won't feel like I'm interrogating a prisoner, so I'll change the terms temporarily."

"..."

Listening to her statement, Ryougi Shiki stared at Touko with a cool expression. On the surface, this woman appeared to be a very gentle and intellectual older sister. However, after spending more time with her, one would discover her mischievous side and her apparent passion for manipulating people's hearts.

"I can... If it's within my acceptable range, I'll consider agreeing~"

Ryougi Shiki's cold voice carried a hint of helplessness. Dealing with someone whose power was overwhelming yet held what she needed was something she was not good at handling at the moment.

"Mhm mhm... it will definitely be within your acceptable range~"

Aozaki Touko showed a triumphant expression, unconcerned by the leeway in Shiki's words. After all, she didn't plan to make any excessive demands. If this action had any meaning, it was probably to gain more initiative in her future interactions with Ryougi Shiki.

"Is that so~"

Ryougi Shiki responded coldly and then got straight to the point. "That night... what exactly happened between you and me in the park, or rather, what was that unknown personality?"

Without her knowledge, she had left her home alone late at night to meet this woman named Aozaki Touko in the park.

Up until this point, she had absolutely no idea that Aozaki Touko existed. They had never met in reality, nor had she learned of the name through any media. Her memories regarding Touko were completely and utterly blank.

However, under such circumstances, as if they had made a prior arrangement, the two met in the park without any warning, and they acted as if they were very familiar with each other.

Logically speaking, she had no contact with any information about Aozaki Touko. Even the unknown personality within her body should not have known about someone named Aozaki Touko.

This situation had already surpassed the realm of common sense.

Furthermore, the abilities displayed by the unknown personality within her body made it clear that it could reverse the body's growth state and possibly possessed the ability to see the future.

To be able to do something to this extent... it was truly like a miracle.

"Asking such a crucial question right from the start? Then I'll have to set some conditions!"

Aozaki Touko propped her chin with her delicate hand, a playful, wicked grin on her face.

"What do you want?"

Ryougi Shiki remained indifferent.

"After you're done asking, just let 'It' come out and chat with me."

Aozaki Touko stated her condition.

"No, I don't have that ability."

Ryougi Shiki's small face coldly refused. If she had the ability to communicate with her hidden personality, she wouldn't need to ask Touko about the situation; she could solve the problem herself.

"It's not about ability... Shiki, I know you'll agree~"

Aozaki Touko waved her hand dismissively.

"Alright, I agree~"

Ryougi Shiki nodded slightly.