Twin-Faced Tower Izermar: A Shifting Stance

Tōko Aozaki walked over, one hand pressing down her short crimson hair while the other adjusted the glasses on her nose.

She swept her gaze around, shook her head slightly, and clicked her tongue.

"What a pity. To die just like that."

"Tōko Aozaki—"

At the sight of a familiar face, Aozaki Aoko pressed her lips together, and her entire bearing turned sharp and dignified.

Though she had heard much about her over the years, they had never truly met again. This was likely their first face-to-face encounter since leaving Misaki City.

"What, are you so happy to see your sister after all this time? I've heard quite a bit about you from Michael as well. Looks like you really haven't changed at all."

Aoko curled her lip. Of course. Touko was still the same as ever. Even after so many years, she was still just as irritating.

"I say, Lord Byron, murder is such a meticulous craft that it has nothing to do with my foolish little sister. Even if she really did it, with her terrible artistic taste, she could never have created a scene with such aesthetic appeal."

Rather than say anything more to Aoko, Touko turned toward Byron and casually pulled a cigarette from her pocket, lighting it.

"Besides, all of this is meaningless, isn't it? Everyone present is a magus. Any one of us could have done something like this."

"In other words, everyone here, myself included, is under some suspicion of murder."

"Oh dear, how troublesome. I don't dislike detective novels, but I never imagined the day would come when I became a suspect. If anything, I think I'd be better suited to being the victim."

She gave a soft laugh and stood there casually, seeming to be in quite a good mood.

"Then,