"Given Touko's talent, becoming a Grand is only a matter of time, right?"
Arisu Kyōnoji took a sip of tea. "But her time stopped forever eight years ago."
Before her duel with Aoko, Touko Aozaki had conducted research on a certain subject—
"Creating a puppet completely identical to the original."
If she had truly completed that project, Touko could have earned the title of "Grand" through her achievements up to that point.
After all, it was a technique with an effect almost identical to the Third Magic—materialization of the soul.
Then, the instant she completed the project, Touko would also have received a Sealing Designation from the Mage's Association.
All of these assumptions were events taking place in the vast majority of Parallel Worlds.
But in this world—
Before Touko Aozaki could create a puppet completely identical to herself, she was killed by her own younger sister.
Since she had failed to master the technique of creating backup bodies, Touko naturally could not revive after being killed. She was thoroughly dead.
(※Detailed explanation at the end of this chapter)
The black-haired girl spoke softly. "Yes. Since it was a battle in which they wagered their lives... Aoko and Touko both went into it intending to kill each other.
"So—it was only natural that neither side would hold a grudge if one of them was killed."
Shirou asked in confusion, "How did she do it?"
On one side was a novice who had been exposed to magecraft for less than a year. On the other was a "Color," equivalent to a Lord of the Clock Tower. The difference in their strength was simply too great.
"Aoko applied the Aozaki Family's magic during her battle with Touko.
"No, strictly speaking, it should be called a 'by-product of the Fifth Magic.' Time Travel