Aozaki Aoko Case File

"As long as it's magecraft knowledge up to Roa's last reincarnation, I can provide it all," Ciel said sincerely. "Besides that, what else do you need?"

"I haven't fully decided yet," Aoko replied. "But do you know the location of the Forest of Einnashe?"

Ciel was momentarily stunned, seemingly surprised by Aoko's request. "But isn't Miss Touko Aozaki…?"

"I understand what you're implying," Touko said. "However, materializing a soul carries risks for humans, so the fruit of Einnashe is valuable to us."

"Is that so?" Ciel thought for a moment before responding. "Although it's not ideal for a member of the Church to say this, I can understand your reasoning, Miss Aozaki."

"Then let's leave it at that for now," Aoko said, standing up from the chapel bench. "We'll be staying in Souya for the time being. If you hear any news about the True Ancestor Princess or the Twenty-Seven Dead Apostle Ancestors, inform me immediately."

After speaking, Aoko handed Ciel a business card.

"Aozaki... Investment Company?" Ciel said in surprise. "The two of you also have businesses in the secular world?"

"What kind of question is that," Aoko said, hands on her hips. "Even magicians need money to continue their research! Doesn't the Holy Church have its industries too?"

"The Holy Church mostly relies on rent collection…" Noel muttered softly to the side, but Ciel quickly cut her off.

"Noel, if someone hears you say that, it could make your current position even worse..." Ciel warned her. "Mario doesn't seem to like you very much, so be cautious."

Noel could only slump back into her dejected demeanor and remain silent.

"The Church is always like this," Aoko shrugged. "Too proud for their good."

After leaving the Church, Aoko and Touko arrived at Souya City's largest five-star hotel. They booked the entire top-floor presidential suite for a month.

"Not bad," Aoko remarked after surveying the room. She noticed that the suite even had an open-style round bathtub, which reminded her of the bathroom at the Fujou household. "I can understand why Kayneth insisted on staying in a top-tier suite at the Hyatt Hotel during the Holy Grail War."

"Aren't you worried that Dead Apostles might blow up the entire hotel?" Touko asked as she took off her coat and casually hung it on a rack.

"I doubt those old fossils are as up-to-date as Kiritsugu Emiya," Aoko said, stroking her chin. "Besides, even if the building gets blown up, you wouldn't be afraid of something as trivial as a collapsing structure, right?"

Touko paused, then thought momentarily before saying, "You're right. My thought process hasn't quite shifted yet."

"No need to rush things," Aoko replied casually. "Keeping a youthful heart and enthusiasm is the secret to longevity~"

"Care for a drink tonight?" Touko asked, standing up and pulling a bottle of wine from the minibar.

"Of course~"

...

Meanwhile, as Aoko and Touko enjoyed the comforts of their presidential suite, the True Ancestor Princess, Arcueid Brunestud, the master of the Millennium Castle, was struggling to locate the cheap apartment Merem Solomon had rented for her with the help of a map.

She had traveled from Europe to Japan, and even her plane ticket was paid for by Merem. The last time she had awakened was a long time ago, and human society had changed so much since then that it left her bewildered.

"Princess! Over here, over here!"

A small boy wearing a white clerical robe, with his arms and legs clad in black tights, waved energetically at Arcueid.

"This map is completely useless! I've been wandering around for an hour and just keep circling the same area!" Arcueid complained as she approached him.

The passersby paid no attention to the stunningly beautiful Arcueid or the unusually dressed Merem. Or rather, it was as though the two didn't even exist to the ordinary people, thanks to a constantly active suggestion spell.

"My apologies, Your Highness," Merem Solomon bowed and apologized. "But in a densely populated country like this, even the buildings are packed closely together, so finding an address can be quite challenging."

"Please follow me, Your Highness."

With that, Merem led Arcueid through a series of twists and turns in the narrow alleys until they arrived at a rather ordinary-looking budget apartment complex.

"It looks pretty plain…" Arcueid commented. "But not bad!"

"I specifically chose this location," Merem explained. "It's inconspicuous and nestled among ordinary people. I've also set up concealment spells here in advance, so it's less likely to be discovered by other Ancestors."

"There's no need to worry about them," Arcueid said nonchalantly as she walked. "If any of them show up, I won't hesitate to kill them along with Roa."

"You certainly could," Merem said seriously. "But this time, the Holy Church has also dispatched people. White Wing Duke has reportedly gathered several individuals to hunt you, so you'd best be cautious."

"So, is there any news about Roa?" Arcueid ignored Merem's warning and changed the subject.

"...Roa's reincarnation ceremony hasn't been fully completed yet," Merem sighed. "Or rather, his reincarnated body hasn't 'fully awakened,' so it's currently difficult for us to locate him."

"Which means I'll be staying here for a while?" For some reason, Arcueid Brunestud's mood suddenly brightened, and even the plain, unremarkable apartment room seemed interesting in her eyes.

"That's correct, but…" Merem tried to offer more advice but was cut off by Arcueid's enthusiastic interruption.

"Alright, alright. I still need to go out and search for traces of Roa," Arcueid said, patting his slender shoulder. "Don't you have work to do at the Church? Don't keep your adorable kouhai waiting too long!"

Merem wanted to say that his kouhai in Tokyo didn't seem to like him at all—in fact, they always greeted him with a scowl.

But seeing that the Princess's playful mood had been sparked, he had no choice but to let her act freely for now. Truly, she was an exasperating yet endearing Princess.

Like a fussy caretaker, Merem gave her a few final reminders before leaving the apartment. Meanwhile, Arcueid, like an unleashed golden retriever, immediately left the apartment and began wandering the streets.