Aozaki Aoko Case File

"Based on the information you've provided, it seems the Angra Mainyu summoned by the Einzbern family during the Third Holy Grail War was not the Zoroastrian deity," Aoko remarked, pointing to the top page of a thick stack of documents.

"As he described himself, he was 'just a normal young man persecuted by his village.'"

"Is that a problem?"

Acht questioned, a puzzled expression crossing his face.

"That rogue Servant died on the fourth day anyway, proving our strategy last time was flawed. We'll just avoid the same mistake this time."

"Have you considered," Aoko replied calmly, "that this 'Extra-Class' Anti-Hero may have had his wish granted?"

"Impossible," Acht almost chuckled.

"No one understands the Holy Grail better than we Einzberns. Wishes can't be granted until the ritual is complete."

"I'm only speculating," Aoko admitted, "but I think there's a possibility the Grail processed the wish carried by that Anti-Hero. The previous war didn't end properly, and the Lesser Grail was destroyed prematurely."

At this, Acht fell silent, folding his arms and frowning as he pondered the possibility.

"Based on my understanding of the Lesser and Greater Grails," Touko spoke up, her tone sharp, "the likelihood of this is quite high. That Anti-Hero didn't seem to have any personal desires, but he carried the collective malice and wish of his village—to designate him as 'All the World's Evil.'"

"In that case, the Grail's purpose could have been skewed," Touko continued, her ambition to become the Fifth Magic User evident in her meticulous explanation.

"That Anti-Hero might still reside within the Greater Grail, and the villagers' collective wish—transforming an ordinary young man into true Evil Incarnate—could have been realized by the Grail."

"How ironic," Aoko remarked, a wry smile tugging at her lips.

"It's entirely possible," Acht admitted grimly.

"We haven't inspected the Greater Grail under Fuyuki City in years. That task was always left to the Matou and Tohsaka families."

"Does the Einzbern family have a contingency plan for this?"

Aoko pressed.

"If so, it needs to be enacted before the Grail is fully prepared; otherwise, it will be hard to fix."

"No, we don't," Acht replied dryly.

"The Holy Grail War was supposed to be flawless... We never anticipated something like this."

"Then leave it to us," Aoko said decisively.

"Touko and I will find an opportunity to visit Fuyuki before the next war begins. Make sure to notify the local Einzbern homunculi ahead of time."

"No problem," Acht said with a sigh of relief.

"I'll arrange it immediately. When you arrive in Fuyuki, you can stay at the Einzbern castle."

"Then we'll take our leave," Aoko said, rising to her feet.

"We still have matters to attend to in Europe."

As they were about to depart, Aoko added a parting warning to Acht. "Don't let Irisviel (the original) or Emiya Kiritsugu know about this issue with the Grail."

She smiled mischievously as she left, implying her amusement would be spoiled if Kiritsugu found out too soon.

...

After leaving the Einzbern Winter Castle, Aoko and Touko, along with the homunculi Irisviel(Copy), Sella, and Leysritt, headed to the edge of the forest to retrieve their rune-concealed off-road vehicle. Fortunately, despite days of disuse, the vehicle was in excellent condition—thanks to Touko's effective rune magic. After brushing off some snow, they set off.

Unlike their arrival, the car was now a bit cramped. Aoko had neglected to prepare child safety seats, so Irisviel held Touko in her lap in the passenger seat, while Sella and Leysritt sat in the back.

Although it wasn't strictly safe, Aoko wasn't overly concerned—none of them were ordinary humans. Touko, however, was visibly annoyed, especially since the car's headlight reflection kept reminding her of her child-like form.

After a few hours of driving, they returned the rented vehicle to the airport and boarded a flight to Finland. This stop was a last-minute decision by Aoko to establish contact with the Edelfelt family, anticipating future dealings with Sakura Matou.

The homunculi's identities had been carefully arranged by the Einzbern family, allowing them to travel legally. (And, of course, the first-class tickets were courtesy of the Einzberns.)

Arriving in Finland that evening, they stayed overnight at a hotel. The next morning, after a quick breakfast, they made their way to the Edelfelt estate. Sella and Leysritt remained stoic as ever, but Aoko believed they just needed time to adjust. Meanwhile, the copy Irisviel, curious about the outside world, bombarded Touko with questions about Finnish culture.

Despite her impatience, Touko indulged Irisviel with explanations, showcasing her extensive knowledge of Nordic traditions, rune systems, and puppetry magecraft.

After several hours, they reached the Edelfelt manor and met the current family head. It wasn't the poised Luvia Edelfelt Aoko remembered but a shy young girl with unmistakable golden drill-like curls that made her instantly recognizable.

The Edelfelt family had received Aoko's visiting card ahead of time, delivered by her assistant, so the middle-aged patriarch was prepared for the arrival of the Fourth Magician. Steady and composed, he welcomed them into the manor.