Aozaki Touko was undoubtedly a genius of unparalleled talent. In just two short years, she earned the prestigious title of Grand Rank at the Clock Tower. Her achievement stemmed from her cutting-edge doll-making technology, which allowed her to create a replica of her own body. In the event of a fatal incident, her consciousness would transfer seamlessly to the new body, effectively replacing the original without any loss.
Outsiders, however, were uncertain whether Touko's replication technology truly transferred her complete consciousness and soul into the new body, or merely copied her memories. This ambiguity led many magi, including Cornelius Alba, to scoff at her achievement, doubting that the new Touko was truly the same person. Yet, the truth was known only to Aozaki Touko herself.
If not for her fixation on the Aozaki family's Magic, she would not have acquired the nickname "Scarred Red." Instead, at the Clock Tower, she might have been revered as a remarkable and highly respected genius.
In addition to her prowess in doll magecraft, Touko revitalized Rune Magic for the modern era. Runes, whose potency had diminished since the Age of Gods, were revived through her expertise. It was even said that she possessed several Rune Stones from that ancient era.
After achieving so many astonishing feats, Touko chose to make her escape. On one particular afternoon, just before her planned departure, she packed C4 explosives into a small mechanical spider doll she had crafted. Using imaginary number magecraft, she expanded the doll's internal space to hold a destructive quantity of explosives. Notably, the technology in the spider doll didn't include any of Touko's proprietary techniques—it was something anyone with enough resources could have created.
That night, when Cornelius Alba returned to his bedroom after a long day, an explosion killed him. Alba, once considered a promising future director of the Sponheim Abbey died in his own home.
The Clock Tower's Department of Policies immediately launched an investigation, but they found no evidence linking his death to another magus. If anything, it resembled the methods of the assassin Kiritsugu Emiya, who had recently gained notoriety in the Middle East for combining modern technology with traditional magecraft to eliminate magi, earning him the title "Magus Killer." Investigators suspected someone might have hired Emiya.
Naturally, Touko wasn't considered a suspect, as she had no apparent connection to Alba beyond a few casual conversations. Unless the Wizard Marshal Zelretch himself investigated and traveled back in time, her crime would remain undiscovered. She had chosen this method of assassination because her sister Aoko had mentioned Emiya's exploits in a letter, warning Touko to be cautious of him.
As for inadvertently framing Kiritsugu Emiya, Touko was unbothered. After some research, she discovered that Emiya's father, Norikata Emiya, had been involved in a Sealing Designation execution team led by none other than Cornelius Alba. In Touko's view, this assassination was a way of avenging Emiya—so what if he had to take the blame?
With Alba dead, Touko felt a significant weight lifted from her shoulders. On the same day that Lord Valualeta proposed Touko be subjected to a Sealing Designation, she bid her teacher farewell in the morning, then packed her belongings and left the Clock Tower by the afternoon, bound for her next destination.
Touko believed her sister knew enough about her and was formidable in combat. To defeat her sister head-on, Touko would need to be thoroughly prepared—perhaps by acquiring a familiar powerful enough to counter her sister's overwhelming magic bullets and unique, self-developed spells.
After two years of relentless pursuit, Touko had finally identified her target. She believed that if her information was accurate, she could stand a chance against her sister, even if Aoko had fully mastered the Fifth Magic, with the help of this familiar.
Touko had found clues about her target in an ancient, rare text. It spoke of a pure Phantasmal Species that had persisted into the modern world, a relic of an era when magecraft held greater mystery. In the early 18th century, a werewolf village in Europe witnessed the birth of a golden child. The villagers believed this golden child embodied the essence of their forest god, naming it "Lugh," meaning "Sun."
But as time passed, they were disappointed to find that the child never grew. After assuming the form of a ten-year-old human or werewolf, it ceased to develop further and had no discernible gender. Eventually, the werewolves realized this being was not one of their own, but an entirely different entity posing as a werewolf.
Touko speculated that this Phantasmal Species might have realized some aspect of the Third Magic—the materialization of the soul. If she could make this golden wolf her familiar, its connection to the Age of Gods would render modern magi powerless against it, greatly improving her chances against her sister.
Touko had obtained this record long ago, but due to Aoko's warnings in her letters, she had hesitated to verify it or locate the werewolf village. Now, she sent her sister a formal challenge: Eight months from now, Aozaki Touko would return to Misaki Town to reclaim everything that once belonged to her.
Touko knew this wouldn't be easy. That's why she needed to acquire the golden wolf as soon as possible. According to her carefully crafted plan, she would embark on a journey across Europe, strengthening herself while also bonding with the golden wolf, Lugh Beowulf, and improving their cooperation.
Sitting on the train, a slight smile appeared on Touko's lips as she gazed out at the foreign landscapes passing by. Her mood lightened as she thought about her arrogant little sister one day begging for mercy. As long as she could secure the golden wolf and defeat her sister, everything would fall into place.