Killing "Touko Aozaki" recklessly was not an option.
Sakatsuki had long been aware of this. It wasn't just because Touko had countless puppet bodies, but also because of her "death curse."
[Sealed Box/Nameless Monster]
An unidentified immortal monster.
Touko sealed the box within her body, using it to retaliate against those who killed her. It is said that this caused heavy casualties among the executioner squads, leading to a temporary halt in her pursuit. Gray even felt that its magical energy could rival that of Rhongomyniad.
Sakatsuki, on one hand, wasn't at the point of a life-and-death struggle with Touko, and on the other, he had no desire to experience how painful her trump card could be. Thus, he ended the battle directly and candidly revealed his identity.
[Fate Compendium Updated.]
[Character Information: Born into the Aozaki family...]
[Hidden Information: In the side story of 'Mahou Tsukai no Yoru,' Touko found a shortcut to lift her curse—by changing bodies. However, she still died within Alice's Ploy. Note: Alice's Ploy refers to the familiar of the witch Alice Kuonji, known as the "Fairy Tale Monster."
It seems she really enjoys solo karaoke. Her death within the POLY was due to alcohol poisoning while holding a golden microphone, surrounded by numerous solo concert posters and flyers. This apparently caused quite a headache for her younger sister, Aoko (Aoko: How did I end up with such a sister—facepalms).]
[Record Conditions (0/2)]:
[•Defeat Aozaki Touko. (Completed)]
[•Experience the Projection Machine. (Completed)]
[Recording Condition 1 Reward: Minor increase in "Mana" parameter!]
[Recording Condition 2 Reward: Touko Aozaki's Puppet Crafting Notes (Incomplete Version)!]
"So it was you... Why the change in appearance?"
Returning to the present, after Sakatsuki revealed his identity and presented the two demonic spears as proof, Touko Aozaki finally let her guard down. However, she seemed somewhat unable to meet his gaze directly.
"Ah, thanks to a certain big sister, the three puppets I spent a fortune on were completely destroyed," Sakatsuki said with a half-smile. "I had no choice but to rebuild a new body and all that. Wouldn't you say that's the fault of that irresponsible puppeteer, Miss Touko?"
"Uh, well~" Touko laughed awkwardly, her tone unapologetic. "I was a bit out of it back then! And besides, even if I wanted to contact you, you only provided a one-way communication method. I had no way to reach you!"
At this point, Touko decided to throw caution to the wind, pointing at the shattered box beside her.
"Besides, you destroyed my precious familiar! At the very least, we're even now!"
"...Do you really think I'm from the Church?" Sakatsuki retorted with a deadpan expression. "Magecraft is just a means. Even the simplest materials can wield great power if handled skillfully—I refuse to believe someone who likes to use her sister's name to rack up debts has much cash on hand."
"Oof!" Touko clutched her chest as if struck by an arrow, retreating in defeat.
After the banter, Sakatsuki got straight to the point: "I didn't come here just to vent, Touko Aozaki. I need your help with two things."
"Fine, I guess I'm out of luck." Touko, who wasn't a traditional magus, sighed and resigned herself. "Things involving you are never simple. Go on, what is it?"
"I need something from your workshop. Don't worry, I'll pay for it. I just wiped out two families, so funds are plentiful."
"And also—I need you to examine my body." After a pause, Sakatsuki added, "Including my shadow."
That night, Sakatsuki stood before an abandoned hospital.
The fourth component indicated by the treasure map, an auction item that Touko had casually purchased and tossed into her workshop, was now in his possession. The only remaining location marked on the map was—
Not in this hospital, but in the neighboring city of Misaki.
The trip to Misaki was already planned. Sakatsuki intended to ride "Caliburn" there the next morning, enjoying the ride while heading to his destination.
[T/N: Caliburn is his bike Kawasaki Ninja H2R.]
But before that, he still had matters to settle.
"It's quite frustrating, really. 'Mahou Tsukai no Yoru' has long since ended, and the story of 'Kara no Kyoukai' hasn't even begun. While waiting with hope isn't a bad thing, the task entrusted to me by Nameless is more important than anything else—after all, it was 'my' final request. If I don't respond to it, who else can I expect to?"
As he spoke, Sakatsuki stepped into a diamond-shaped space, appearing inside the hospital.
"Overlooking View, Fujino Asagami, and the comatose Shiki Ryougi..." Looking at the hospital shrouded in mystery, the boy snorted, his eyes now vertical slits.
"I can somewhat understand your unbearable wait, and that's why you refuse to let go, isn't it, Araya Souren?"
Araya Souren, the mastermind behind the events of 'Kara no Kyoukai.' Except for the Chapter "Future Gospel," his shadow looms over every other Chapter.
Fujino Asagami from "Remaining Sense of Pain," Mikiya Kokutou from "Overlooking the Scenery," and later Shizune Seo, Cornelius Alba, Enjou Tomoe, and Araya himself—all were his pawns.
Araya Souren was born over 200 years ago. After living through an era of rapid technological advancement and great turmoil, he came to understand that it was impossible to save everyone. Instead, he began collecting and recording death, seeking to open a path to the "Root." However, each attempt ended in failure.
In 'Kara no Kyoukai,' he set his sights on Shiki Ryougi, aiming to reach the "Root" by obtaining her body, which was inherently connected to it. Fujino, Mikiya, and others were sacrifices chosen by Araya to stimulate Shiki's awakening and make her realize her true nature.
The place where Shiki lay in a coma had long been under his strict surveillance, no one from the mystical side is allowed to set foot here.
But tonight, the white-haired, golden-eyed boy appeared here, bowing to the hidden familiars and extending an invitation to Araya Souren.
I am here, Araya Souren.
Moments later, the dimly lit corridor began to distort—sound, light, and air slowly twisted, spinning in a dizzying whirl, until finally, a silent stone stele emerged.
No, it was a shadow so dark it could be mistaken for a black stele—a man in a black coat.
The man stood at the end of the corridor, his expression serious yet filled with unbearable anguish.
In the corridor darker than night, he slowly spoke.
"What do you seek, young magus?"
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