Aozaki Aoko Case File

Saying farewell to Acht, Aoko and Touko concealed themselves as they made their way to Ryudou Temple, located midway up Mount Enzou.

At present, the temple was home to only the head priest and his two sons—a trio of father and sons. The head priest's name was unknown, but his elder son was called Ryuudou Reikan, while his younger son, still very small, was named Ryuudou Issei.

On the surface, Ryudou Temple appeared to be a place of historical significance, akin to a cultural heritage site. However, beneath this façade, the temple was built on a leyline node and thus considered a highly valuable spiritual site, especially for magi.

The head priest himself was somewhat of a practitioner, possessing spiritual power akin to that of a monk with magical abilities by industry standards. However, his two sons did not seem to have inherited his aptitude. The elder son displayed marginal ability, while the younger, Ryuudou Issei, had almost no spiritual power, comparable to an ordinary person. Neither Issei nor the priest seemed to mind this fact.

Thus, while the head priest possessed some special abilities, these powers were trivial in the eyes of individuals at Aoko and Touko's level, making him no different from a regular person.

The two entered Ryudou Temple through the main gate as if it were unguarded. They then used suggestion magic and Runes to modify the memories of the family, convincing them to move out of Fuyuki City for a month.

The head priest obediently handed over the keys to all critical facilities within the temple before packing up with his sons and departing for an impromptu vacation.

Once unrelated individuals were cleared, the sisters immediately began their work.

The first task was to transform Ryudou Temple, located on the leyline node of Mount Enzou, into a magical workshop. Aoko's skill in workshop creation was average at best. However, Aozaki Touko, the Grand Magus who revived the Rune system, was a true master in this field. Following Touko's instructions, Aoko inscribed numerous Runes at critical points of the leyline, establishing a large-scale bounded field that covered the entire temple.

Once the setup was complete, Aoko released her familiar, Stark, to scout the surroundings.

"Finally done," Touko said, wiping the sweat from her forehead with a handkerchief. She complained, "Being in a child's body is so inconvenient. A little work like this and I'm exhausted—I can't even tap into my full strength!"

"It's not just because you're a child," Aoko replied, handing Touko a bottle of water.

"The leyline at Ryudou Temple is massive in scale. And with the Greater Grail right beneath us, using a bounded field for concealment consumes an enormous amount of energy. Even if you hadn't reverted to a child, you'd still feel fatigued."

"When do we start summoning Servants?"

Touko asked after taking a sip of water.

"Is there a chance someone might interfere before the ritual begins?"

"Hmm, I think we should first inspect the Greater Grail ourselves in the cavern," Aoko replied.

"Once we've confirmed its state, we can proceed with the summoning. Have you figured out the ritual?"

"I've long since mastered it," Touko waved dismissively.

"But what about Avalon? Will it stay with me, or should it go to the summoned Servant?"

"If the summoned Servant turns out to be King Arthur," Aoko said, "then it must be given to her. We can't fully harness Avalon's true power, but if it's in King Arthur's hands, her power will transform significantly. There's no reason to hesitate about this."

"Is it that legend?"

Touko asked.

"King Arthur, invincible while wielding Avalon?"

"Exactly," Aoko nodded.

"According to Einzbern's data, a Servant's abilities and Noble Phantasms are heavily influenced by their legend and historical recognition. King Arthur and her scabbard are so renowned that Avalon's powers are likely authentic."

Touko nodded, understanding Aoko's reasoning. However, she couldn't help but notice a subtle peculiarity in Aoko's phrasing—why did she refer to King Arthur as "her"? Could King Arthur possibly be a woman?

With the workshop at Ryudou Temple mostly completed, Aoko and Touko followed a map provided by Acht to a hidden path on Mount Enzou. At the end of this path, they found the entrance to the underground cavern.

At first glance, it appeared to be an ordinary cave. However, after walking for a while, traces of magical modifications became evident. Using the unlocking magic described by Acht, they activated a hidden mechanism, revealing a door disguised as a rock wall. Beyond it lay a vast, dome-shaped space.

The two were immediately struck by the extraordinary magical energy within the cavern. The density of mana was so intense it could suffocate an ordinary magus. The young Touko clutched her chest, forcing her magic circuits to adapt to the oppressive environment.

"Relax," Aoko said, placing a hand on Touko's back to share some of the burden with her circuits.

"We'll be working here for a while, so you can take your time adjusting."

"Is that the Greater Grail?"

Touko asked, her gaze fixed on the dark, ominous tower at the cavern's center.

"No wonder Acht doubted whether I could purify it. This thing is completely corrupted."

"Think you can handle it, Grand Magus?"

Aoko teased.

"If not, we can just go home. I have no real need for the Grail, anyway."

"Don't underestimate me!"

Touko snapped.

"It's just a rogue Anti-Hero. I'll pull it out!"

"How long will it take?"

Aoko asked, her tone turning serious at Touko's confident response.

"I'll need to create a vessel to contain Avenger's spirit and transfer its essence into it," Touko mused, stroking her chin.

"Given how long this thing has been fused with the Grail, the ritual will take about ten days."

"What about the Command Seals?"

Aoko asked.

"They've already appeared," Touko replied, revealing the back of her right hand, where a vivid crimson sigil had formed.

"They appeared the moment we entered the cavern, just as Acht planned."

"Good. Then we'll head back to Ryudou Temple and prepare. We'll begin summoning the Servant tonight," Aoko said with a nod.

"I'll disguise myself as a Master and participate in the battles while you handle the Greater Grail."

"Got it," Touko replied, her determination evident.