Fate: Hero of Justice Takeover

A self-imposed split personality.

By putting on or taking off her glasses, she could switch personalities. With glasses on, she was subjective and humane, her tone gentle. Without glasses, she became objective and harsh, her voice cold, and even she wasn't sure which was her true self.

This was Touko Aozaki, the heir to the Aozaki family of magi, bearing the title of genius, raised as the "Egg of the Magician," and ultimately becoming a "Sealing Designate" as a Grand Puppeteer.

Even though Touko's grandfather, the Fifth Magician, ultimately chose her younger sister to inherit the magic, causing Touko to angrily leave the family, her prodigious talent not only allowed her to reconstruct the twenty-four runes at the Clock Tower, saving the runic magic system, but also pushed puppet-making technology to unprecedented heights, making her a top-tier Grand Puppeteer. In Mahōtsukai no Yoru, she nearly drove her sister, Aoko Aozaki, who had inherited the Fifth Magic, to the brink of defeat.

This was Touko Aozaki, a woman who existed outside the orthodox magi but whose presence could not be ignored in the world of magecraft and even the entire Type-Moon universe.

Putting away his feelings of admiration, the young man sipped his tea and said leisurely.

"Miss Touko Aozaki, I presume you've received my gift?"

"You mean this?"

Touko reached into the void (actually her orange handbag outside the magical projection) and pulled out a pack of cigarettes with a "Taiji" symbol on it.

They were called "Dragon Smoke," named after a line from the Huangting Neijing Jing: "The liver spirit, Dragon Smoke, is named Hanming." Produced in Taiwan, they had a unique flavour and were one of Touko's favourite cigarettes.

Because they were quite niche, even the Matou family had to go through some trouble to find them.

After showing them off, Touko skillfully opened the pack, broke the seal, pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and took a satisfying drag, exhaling a cloud of smoke.

"There are many people I don't know, but few who know my preferences. Though I don't know where you got your information, for the sake of Dragon Smoke, I'll give you a discount on the commission fee."

"Thank you in advance."

Putting down his teacup, Sakatsuki got straight to the point.

"Since I've found you, the Grand Puppeteer, you must know what I'm after."

"Hmph, you want a puppet, right? Custom-made or...?"

"Custom-made, to serve as a vessel for a soul that has lost its body, and it must be capable of handling output beyond human limits."

Sakatsuki's tone was calm, but the implications of his words made Touko raise an eyebrow.

"Leaving aside how outrageous your second requirement is, just using it as a soul vessel... do you also possess the same technology as me? No, if that were the case, you wouldn't need to find me... flesh reconstruction based on the soul, meaning you have complete soul preservation technology!"

If she hadn't been in her icy, glasses-off personality, Touko's face would likely have been unable to hide her shock.

Having been raised as the heir to the Fifth Magician, she easily realized what this technology represented.

The Third Magic—Materialization of the Soul.

The young man speaking to her through the magical link was a seeker of the mysteries of magic.

"As expected of Touko Aozaki, sharp as ever."

Sakatsuki clapped his hands, smiling as he acknowledged her insight.

Touko, having received Sakatsuki's confirmation, suddenly fell into a heavy silence.

Magic, magic...

Her entire life had been overshadowed by magic. Raised as the "Egg of the Magician," she had killed the Fifth Magician, her grandfather. Even now, having been defeated by her younger sister who had mastered the Fifth Magic, she was in a state of self-imposed decline.

Even at this point, "magic" refused to let her go. The "Fifth Magic" had abandoned her, and now the possessor of the "Third Magic" had come to her.

Such a cruel joke of fate made it impossible for Touko Aozaki to laugh.

The burning sensation on her fingers brought her back to her senses. The Dragon Smoke she had only taken a single puff from had already burned down, reminding her of how long she had been lost in thought.

"Ah... my apologies."

"No need."

Sakatsuki, who knew this woman's past, naturally understood.

"If you're not in the mood today, we can continue tomorrow."

"No need. I accept your commission. Now, let's talk about the payment. Custom puppets aren't cheap."

Touko, not one to be so fragile, adjusted her mood and put on her glasses, teasingly saying.

"Since you're the legendary Third Magician, I suppose charging you a higher fee is fitting for your noble status, no?"

"Hey hey, raising the price on the spot is a bit much, Lady."

Sakatsuki chuckled, seemingly conceding, but Touko didn't sense any real emotion from him.

It was as if he had her in the palm of his hand.

Before she could ponder why, Sakatsuki had already stood up and brought over the two spears behind him.

They were the crimson and golden demonic spears. Even through the magical screen, Touko could sense the immense "mystery" they contained. Even the mythical armaments treasured by ancient magus families might not surpass these two spears.

"Legends sublimated, miracles given form by the Third Magic as the crystallization of human faith—how about it? Are these terms acceptable?"

Touko didn't answer. Instead, she stood up and walked out.

"Wait, where are you going?"

"Wait for me, I'm coming over right now!"

Jokes aside, in this age of declining mystery, if these two Noble Phantasms were put up for auction, even the twelve Lords of the Clock Tower would surely spare no expense to obtain them.

As a self-reliant lone wolf, Touko couldn't remain indifferent to the prospect of exchanging a few puppets for such treasures.

"Do you even know where I am before rushing over?"

Sakatsuki raised an eyebrow, clearly amused.

Seeing Touko in such an impatient state meant this deal was as good as done.

And the cost? Merely two Noble Phantasms that Sakatsuki could now mass-produce.

***

After Sakatsuki promised to have his familiar (Assassin) deliver the items via express delivery with next-day service, Touko finally calmed down and ended the communication.

At the moment, she was in a love hotel, the room in complete disarray.

Of course, she didn't have a lover. She had simply gotten drunk last night and, in her drunken stupor, found an orange-coloured place to stay.

Coincidentally, she had spent the last of her money yesterday and was about to use her sister Aoko's name to rack up debt. Thanks to this Third Magic candidate, her poor sister had been spared.

"Still, there have been quite a few people asking me to make puppets lately. That guy in the red suit the other day was also quite mysterious..."

After muttering to herself, Touko got to work.

Although the young man's requirements were quite demanding, Touko happened to know a few old-timers from hidden families. For example, the head of the Einzbern family, who had been collecting Holy Relics for a long time. This was a good opportunity to get some rare materials from him, which would also improve the puppet's performance...

"Alright, let's get to work!"

The magus of the "Wind" attribute was once again forced to work hard for her livelihood today.

***

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