The Worst Sister

Aozaki Touko.

Since they parted ways more than ten years ago, Aoko had only occasionally heard her older sister's name. Their relationship wasn't good; in fact, if they met, they would probably start fighting immediately, so she didn't pay much attention to the other.

It was only last year, on her way back, when Aoko passed through Mifune Town, that she coincidentally saw her once while riding in a vehicle. And it was at that moment that she did a little investigating and learned that Touko had opened an office called Garan no Dou.

The signboard for the Second Branch of Garan no Dou, belonging to Beowulf, was given because of that.

"So, Touko's disciple?"

Aoko's gaze towards Naoki carried a hint of alienation.

"To willingly learn under her guidance... could it be that you were forced? That person quite likes forcing others to do things."

"No, it's not like that. I have a request for Master. After all, in terms of puppet techniques, Master is the best in the world. Learning how to make puppets and asking her is the most appropriate thing to do."

Puppet techniques?

'Ah, that's right, Touko seems to be a puppet maker. Alice mentioned it, and the Clock Tower has also heard rumors like that.'

"So, you're going to look for Touko now?"

"Um, I came to Misaki Town because I have some business, so I asked Master, who is a local resident, to come first and help me handle the preparations. Besides, Master herself also has business."

'She must have come to challenge me—or rather, to get revenge?'

Alice had previously reminded Aoko that Touko had returned and gone straight to Beowulf's place, plus a Magus disciple who was arguably of the same type as her.

Touko's Heart, as it were, everyone knew!

'With Touko's personality, she will definitely come to challenge me after making thorough preparations, just like last time.'

She had really suffered back then. Even if Soujuurou hadn't shown unexpected strength, she and Alice would have been killed by Touko. Even though she had now become a Magician and had carved out a great name for herself in the world, facing a fully prepared Touko again, Aoko felt a considerable amount of tension.

'How about directly raiding Touko's place and finishing her off while she's unprepared?'

This wasn't without a solution. Magus were usually most skilled in territory-based battles, relying on their workshops. If they were raided before their workshops were established, then it could almost be said to be a guaranteed victory.

Thinking of this, Aoko smiled, "I see... in that case, I'll just go with you."

"Eh? You want to meet Master?"

"Is there a problem? We're sisters, wanting to meet is natural, right?"

This was a lie.

If possible, Aoko didn't want to meet her older sister for the rest of her life, but in order to launch a surprise attack on Touko and catch her off guard, she was just pretending now.

But Aoko didn't know that her acting, in the eyes of Naoki who knew her almost inside and out, clearly had other intentions.

'Who doesn't know that when you two sisters meet, you'll fight to the death! Saying you want to meet? Isn't it more like you want to kill her! That smile is so fake!'

Even so, Naoki nodded, "In that case, let's go together. Master said she's waiting for me at the former Misaki Private High School building."

The former school building, she really knew how to choose a place.

"Then let's go, I really miss my dear sister!"

'Miss Aoko, please be more careful with your facial expressions.'

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

Three minutes later, almost exactly at Touko's appointed ten minutes, Naoki arrived in front of the former school building.

And just as he landed—

*SHUA!*

A violent gust of wind suddenly assaulted him, the golden beast's claws seemed intent on crushing his head, swinging towards his forehead with incredible speed!

However, how could Naoki, who had already received attacks faster than this, be hit? The moment the tip of his foot touched the ground, an explosion of Mana suddenly erupted, propelling his entire body directly backward. While pulling the arm that held Gray, he slammed his fist into the beast's claws!

*BAM!*

Along with the muffled sound of a heavy impact, the beast's claws were instantly shattered by Naoki's fist!

Landing lightly on the ground, Naoki looked ahead, "To do this to me right away, what if I couldn't stop it? Master."

"Wouldn't that be fine? If you can't even defeat Beowulf, don't even think about going against my sister, you'd better go home quickly."

Leaning against the doorframe of the former school building, Touko, holding a cigarette, said with a smile.

And Beowulf, whom she mentioned, the teenage boy whose right hand had just been destroyed by Naoki, also looked at Naoki with great interest, "You, very interesting, more interesting than Soujuurou, I feel like we're the same kind!"

"Ah? The same kind?" Touko frowned, "Kid, it hasn't been a year since we last met, did you turn into a Phantasmal Species?"

"I guess it's a side effect of the Armament Fairy. Because I'm often possessed by fairies, I have some fairy traits."

"Hmm hmm, that's indeed the situation, although I think it's just that the two of you smell very similar."

Like a younger brother meeting the older brother next door, Beowulf immediately grabbed Naoki's hand, showing considerable familiarity.

Seeing that, Touko couldn't help but laugh, "This is the first time I've seen Beowulf get so close to someone else, hey Beowulf, I'm your master, give me some face."

"Okay~"

Seeing Beowulf still not letting go of his hand, Touko sighed helplessly, "Oh well, there's no contract anyway, do whatever you want—rather than that, since the kid has also arrived, later when Shiki returns, let's just move, anyway, find a hotel to stay in first."

"Couldn't the two of you have booked a hotel before I came?"

"Because after returning to this place after so many years, unconsciously many memories surfaced, I got carried away by the atmosphere and took a little walk down memory lane."

"Is that so? Then when you saw me, didn't you feel nostalgic? Touko."

Such words suddenly sounded.

Instantly recognizing the voice, Touko hurriedly looked towards the front of the corridor of the former school building that led to the new building. There, Aoko stood with her hands on her hips, looking at her with a cold smile.

"Aoko..."

"Long time no see, Touko—thank you for the ride, Naoki."

Hearing that, Touko immediately glared sharply at Naoki, "Naoki, what's going on?"

"We happened to meet on the road, then she came along, said she wanted to meet you." Naoki raised both his hands, "Anyway, you would have met sooner or later."