(Titus's POV)
"Titus, Ansuz is going to work here, right?" A woman interrupted my spellwork, her fiery and untamed locks framing eyes that held both wisdom and weariness. A cigarette danced between her lips, smoke twisting secrets behind her Mystic Eye Killer glasses. She cut a striking figure, an orange blaze against the world's drab, appearing in her twenties but on the verge of her late thirties.
"Oh, Miss Touko, I think URUZ will work fine," I replied, continuing my spell.
Yup, the woman's name was Touko Aozaki, older sister of Aoko Aozaki, a principal character in Kara no Kyoukai, the main antagonist of Mahou Tsukai no Yoru, and a supporting character in Lord El-Melloi II's Case Files.
Touko's lips twitched when I casually called her by her first name. It wasn't for Japanese honorifics; she disliked her name.
"I get it," Touko replied before resuming her work.
So, here's what I did for the past couple of weeks. First, I brought a small desolate island from one of Canada's Queen Elizabeth Islands and then established an organization called Valhalla.
Why did I create my own organization, you ask? To observe the flow of magical energy worldwide, creating a fail-safe place on the surface in case of human extinction. It was also to monitor any Beast of Humanity that might arise. Since I couldn't observe Earth from my Moon Cell Space, I created this organization and shifted my main office here with wrapped gates connecting worldwide. As for my Moon Cell Space, I had other plans for it.
The only thing left was to create a machine or device to track Earth's motion, and for that, I recruited one of the few Grand-ranked Mages of the Mage's Association, Touko Aozaki, not as an employee but as my disciple.
How did I recruit such a talented woman? Let's see, flashbacks from a week back.
---
(Flashback Starts)
I entered a room adorned with various puppets hanging on the walls. Ignoring them, I approached a desk where a woman with a cigarette was working on a puppet.
"Miss Touko, it's rude not to welcome your guest. You'll never get a boyfriend at this rate," I smirked, casually sitting before her.
Her eyes stern, she clicked her tongue. "I hate anyone and everyone related to my sister," she said. "Instead, you should be showing respect. After all, I am a rank higher than you."
"Certifications are just scrap papers, aren't they?" I smirked. Touko rolled her eyes. "Besides, I am a far more efficient mage than you, especially in your Rune magecraft."
"Oh, really though?" Touko smirked, charging a Tier 3 rune stone in her hand. "Let's see how you can counter this! Hmm?"
However, the rune stone in her hand immediately turned into dust. "It was a very pathetic rune. A fake and failed imitation," I chuckled.
"Is that so? Then you have something interesting?" Touko smirked, but I could see a sweat drop on her head. Now she was taking me seriously.
Before continuing, I placed a sheet and proposed a plan to make a device using Runes. I also suggested a contract of 5 months, the minimum time it should take to complete the device.
"5 months to make this kind of device?" Touko sighed. "I like this idea, but it will be difficult." She then gazed at me. "What brings you to me?"
"Well, you are the only mage capable of understanding runes," I answered.
Actually, I could also involve Scathach, but I didn't want to disturb her. Besides, Touko Aozaki was a genius among geniuses, and from what I could see through my Odin's eyes, she had the skills required to be my assistant.
"Haha, I liked it!" Touko laughed. "But I would like to discuss the payment."
Yup, classic Aozaki sister, always up as long as she gets money. However, instead of slapping her with a bunch of bills, I tossed her a white-colored jewel with a rune scripted on it.
When she observed the magical energy, her eyes almost bulged out from her sockets. "This is… this is…" Touko turned pale, exchanging glances between me and the rune stone.
I smirked. "Yup, the OG Tier 9 Creation Rune. The very one Odin used." Touko was rendered speechless. Wiping her sweat, she spoke, "I heard about an uprising talent in Clock Tower who is said to travel back to the past. Didn't expect it to be true…"
"I see," I smiled. "I am free to teach my magic." Touko widened her eyes. She disappeared from her seat and appeared in front of me, kneeling. "Please teach me."
(Flashback ends)
---
And that's how I tamed one of the most influential mages in the world. It was worth it since she helped me create many new things like a rune-enchanted hoverbike and other items. Anyway, after some work, I stretched my arms and looked at Touko, her breasts specifically. They were jiggling fine.
"Wanna touch them?" Touko looked at me, making a seductive face. However, only I could tell she looked stupid. "If you grant me wisdom of high-ranking runes, we can play a little~"
To be honest, I wanted to fondle those fun bags but purely for research purposes.
"Aoko nee-san will haunt me to the end of the earth," I rolled my eyes. "Besides, isn't your body a puppet?"
Touko was cursed not to be able to return to Misaki Town for ten years by her sister Aoko. However, Touko later removed this curse by killing herself and switching to a spare puppet body.
"Tch. You are a lot knowledgeable," Touko resumed her work.
"But seriously, can you please tell me how to make a double personality like yourself?" I changed the topic.
Touko has the ability to switch personalities whenever she removes or wears her glasses. I wanted to learn the same skill for a certain reason, and it was to use my latest broken Rank Z skill. After some research, I realized I could still use that skill after switching into a different personality. By then, I wouldn't have to fear erasing my current self for the sake of greater power.
"Hmm, not now," Touko answered. Arg, that's the problem with grown-ass women. She just wants to see me beg her.
It was at that moment when another individual entered the room.
"Hey, my little cupcake, it's been a while~!" A cheery voice greeted me. Just like Touko, this woman also had a striking figure and crimson red hair.
Yup, she was Aoko Aozaki, Touko's sister and her arch-nemesis.
"What the hell is this overgrown hag doing here, Titus?!!" Aoko screamed when she saw her sister.
"Twitch*, say that again, and this big sister don't mind twisting your big ass head of yours," Touko smiled.
"What did you say, puppet body?!"
"Say that again, snotty bitch."
I sighed and shook my head. I could have gotten between them and stopped them, but I let them argue for a while. Few years ago, and they would have murdered each other, but they were adults now. After bickering for a few minutes, they calmed down and informally called a truce.
"So what are you here for?" I asked Aoko, and she took an immediate 180 turn.
She hugged me, caressing her cheek with mine. And oh boy, her balloons were exceptionally tight. I think she wasn't wearing any bra. "My dear brother, can you help this big sister? I am in some kind of crisis~!"
"Hmm, what for?" I asked, and Touko blushed.
"I need 100,000 dollars for-"
"Oh, okay." I nodded, cutting her midway, and handed her a red prepaid debit card. "It's one million here. If you need more, just come and get more."
Aoko was stunned before a big smile crept on her lips. "I love you~!!!" Aoko cheered, planting a kiss on my cheek. In response, I encircled my arms around Aoko, and we shared a warm familiar hug.
Aoko then grinned at Touko, waving her million-dollar card before disappearing from the room. All the while, Touko remained stunned.
"Wha-Wha-what was that?!" Touko protested. "How can you just hand over such a huge amount of money to her?"
"Well, she is my guardian. I don't mind providing her with necessities."
"Necessities don't require millions of dollars!" Touko retorted and then sighed. Massaging her forehead, she spoke, "And I am thinking I am indebting her by buying things under her name."
A few years ago, Aoko stole Touko's prized Mystic Eye Killers, and in retaliation, Touko made an effort to buy as much stuff as she could under Aoko's name. Even though there was a high chance of her location leaking out if she kept it up, it seemed that revenge against Aoko took priority over her own self-preservation. She was thinking she was indebting Aoko, but in reality, there wasn't even a shred of debt under her name.
"Miss Touko, would you mind coming with me?" I suddenly asked a weird question. As if getting my intention, she walked closer.
I then cast an illusion around me and teleported to a different place. At a certain distance, we saw Aoko Aozaki distributing clothes to the children of an orphanage. She also gave money to the caretaker of the orphanage. Seeing her sister doing charity work, Touko's expression didn't change.
"So, what are you trying to say? That it is noble to help people?" Touko raised a brow. "All I am seeing is a foolish woman wasting her time helping others and not focusing on learning the fifth magic she was granted."
"But isn't this because she was granted her fifth magic and you didn't?" I narrowed my eyes. Touko also met with the same glare. "What are you trying to say, brat?"
I smiled and looked at Touko. "So, there is an atomic bomb you have to give it to one of two siblings. One was very intelligent. He could use this atomic bomb to the best of use and could rule this world. He is cunning and if push comes to shove, he would use this bomb. On the other hand, the other sibling was kind in nature. He won't ever use the time bomb to harm others. Instead, he would only use it to protect this world. Who would you give this atomic bomb to?"
"Of course, the kind one…" Touko immediately answered and then widened her eyes.
Touko once stood as one of the most powerful magi in the world, a genius whose talents blazed regardless of lineage. At the tender age of 20, she became the second youngest ever to achieve the grand rank within the Mage's Association, earning the distinction of bearing the highest primary colored title: Red.
In contrast, her sister Aoko, an average magus brimming with cheer and a free spirit, embraced life without regrets. Aoko's kindness bloomed brightly, a rarity among the often stoic mages.
So, who would you entrust one of the formidable cheats of the Nasuverse? I think we all know the answer.
After that, we arrived at a park to watch the sun diving behind the mountains.
"This is so messed up…" Touko muttered while smoking a cigarette. She then looked at me and spoke, "I am going to give you an address of a woman. She could teach you about the dual personality skill. Consider this a 'kindness' from this old woman."
"What's her name?"
"Shiki Ryougi."
===
So yeah, these few chapters will be going take a little slow.
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