Aozaki Aoko Case File

Credits: ethan trays

"Although I don't want to discourage your enthusiasm, I also don't want to deceive you, Saber," Touko said seriously.

"There's something I need to tell you about the Holy Grail."

"..."

Artoria pondered for a moment before nodding.

"Please, speak, Master."

Touko explained in detail the Third Magic, the Einzbern family's wish, her objectives, and the operational mechanism of the Greater Holy Grail.

Saber appeared calm as she absorbed everything, though the light in her eyes dimmed slightly. However, she quickly regained her composure and spirit.

"Master, I don't fully understand magic or such concepts," Artoria admitted, "but to use the Holy Grail to achieve a wish, wouldn't we need to understand how to realize it?"

"Exactly," Touko affirmed.

"The magical energy accumulated in the Greater Holy Grail is purely raw power. Achieving soul materialization through it won't alter the past."

"...I see," Artoria said with determination.

"I'll keep thinking and working to find a way to use this power to ensure my people are fed."

"Even though it's nearly impossible?"

Aoko questioned.

"You must realize that neither the Third Magic nor the Holy Grail can change history or save your people."

"You misunderstand, Master's sister," Artoria said, shaking her head. "My wish is not to save Britain but to ensure the people of Britain have enough to eat, even if the kingdom ultimately perishes."

"I understand," Touko sighed.

"Let's hope we can collaborate effectively."

With that, Artoria smiled and took her Master's hand, her emerald green eyes meeting Touko's, making the latter blush slightly.

"Oh, here's this for you," Aoko said, handing over Avalon, which she had retrieved from nearby.

"It's yours to reclaim."

"This is..."

Artoria reverently caressed the golden scabbard.

"I never thought I'd see Avalon again."

"Dug it up in Cornwall," Aoko said.

"Probably hidden by your sister, don't you think?"

"My elder sister..."

Artoria sighed before continuing.

"Avalon could also be worn by my Master, allowing her to heal rapidly if injured."

"I don't need it," Touko decisively declined Artoria's suggestion.

"A Noble Phantasm is most effective in its original owner's hands. Besides, I'm not the one fighting openly—it's her."

She gestured toward Aoko, who was watching with amusement.

"I see," Artoria mused.

"It's a sound strategy. Have the older, more mature sister engage in combat while the younger sibling handles support work from behind the scenes. I envy the bond you two share as sisters."

Ah, this.

At that, both Touko and Aoko felt a bit awkward. While they had their differences over who was the "elder," the comparison of their relationship to Artoria and Morgan's was... uncanny.

The moment seemed to mirror another in history.

With no further comments, the Aozaki sisters simply focused on finishing their meal.

To foster mutual understanding, the Aozaki sisters chatted with Artoria, whose personality diverged somewhat from Aoko's memory of the legendary King.

"...and so, this loli Touko, wasn't satisfied and brought a dog back, wanting to fight me for the family inheritance," Aoko recounted in a lively tone.

"Of course, I thrashed her, and now she's stuck like this."

"Tch!"

Touko glared at her but said nothing.

"You two do have a wonderful relationship," Artoria remarked with a smile.

"Fighting between siblings sometimes helps foster mutual understanding. Just like my brother Kay and me."

"Huh? You've fought with Sir Kay?"

Aoko asked, surprised.

"I always thought you were the serious and dignified type."

"Well, calling it a fight wouldn't be accurate. It was more that I sparred with him when he slacked off in his duties," Artoria said, her expression turning nostalgic.

At this point, even Touko's face shifted. Poor Sir Kay seemed to have had it rough.

Before they realized it, Aoko's Ploy servants had started preparing the third pot of rice.

Though engaged in conversation, Artoria hadn't slowed her eating pace one bit. For the sake of food, she'd even temporarily set Avalon aside. Truly a King of Food, as expected.

Even though Aoko had mentally prepared for Artoria's legendary appetite, witnessing someone calmly consume three rice cookers' worth of food left her astounded.

If not for their considerable resources, feeding Artoria alone might have bankrupted the sisters.

...

Unexpectedly, the Matou family residence had been destroyed.

Stark crouched beneath the eaves of a nearby building, stealthily observing the ruins of what was once the Matou mansion. As a magician's familiar, it possessed not only remarkable intelligence but also observational skills surpassing those of ordinary humans.

A magus's familiar is undoubtedly loyal, so Aoko trusted that Stark would never disclose any secrets without her explicit permission.

She had entrusted Stark with several crucial pieces of information to facilitate its tasks.

In some ways, Stark was more reliable than Touko herself.

Given its thorough understanding of Zolgen Makiri's character and danger, Stark carefully examined the state of the mansion.

From local conversations, it seemed the "current head" of the Matou family, Matou Byakuya, and his son, Matou Shinji, had perished in the blaze, while the elder Matou Zouken had been "burned to ash."

The deaths of Byakuya and Shinji seemed plausible to Stark, though it deemed them unimportant. The key issue was Zouken's whereabouts.

The fire had triggered a significant explosion, officially attributed to a gas leak.

However, Stark suspected the explosion was more likely the result of Tohsaka Tokiomi's magecraft.

With the underground sections of the mansion destroyed, investigating its depths was now impossible. After completing its inspection, Stark took to the air, heading for its next target.

As for Zouken's fate, that decision would rest with its master.