Shirou, who returned from the Fairy Kingdom

"With Orange's talent, it's only a matter of time before she becomes a Grand Master."

Kuonji Yuzu took a sip of black tea: "But her time is forever frozen eight years ago."

Before her duel with Aoko, Aozaki Touko conducted a certain research project—

"Create a doll that is exactly the same as the prototype."

If this project is successfully completed, Orange can earn the title of "Grand" based on her achievements so far.

After all, this is a technique with almost the same effect as the Third Law (the materialization of the soul).

Then, at the moment this task is completed, Orange will also be sealed by the Mage Association.

All of these assumptions are what are happening in the vast majority of parallel worlds.

But this world—

Before Aozaki Touko could create a doll that was exactly like herself, she was murdered by her own younger sister.

Because she failed to master the technology to create a backup body, Orange could not be resurrected after being killed; her death was complete.

(※Detailed explanation at the end of this chapter)

The black-haired girl said softly, "Yes, because it's a battle where lives are at stake... Aoko and Touko, both of them are determined to kill each other."

Therefore—neither side had any complaints about being killed.

Shirou asked, puzzled, "How did you do that?"

On one side is a novice who has only been practicing magic for less than a year, and on the other side is a "color position" equivalent to the monarch of the Clock Tower. The difference in strength between the two sides is too great.

"Aoko used the Aozaki family's magic in her battle with Touko."

No, to be precise, it should be called a "byproduct of the Fifth Law," since time travel doesn't even qualify as an application of the Fifth Law.

In short, Aoko accelerated her own time by ten years, gaining experience and technology from the future.

The one who killed Orange was 27-year-old Aoko.

"........."

Shirou's body sank into the sofa.

He actually accelerated his own time to ten years in the future!

Isn't that the same thing I did during the Holy Grail War?

"Time travel" is an application of the second method.

Aozaki Aoko, on the other hand, accomplished "time travel" through the properties of the Fifth Law.

"..."

As if he had thought of something, Shirou slowly widened his eyes.

"Amamiya-kun?"

Shirou suddenly stood up, walked quickly to Kuonji Yuzu, and held her hand tightly.

"!"

The black-haired witch stared incredulously at her tightly clenched hand, too shocked to utter a sound.

"Miss Yuzhu."

"W-What happened all of a sudden?"

Kuonji Yuzu looked at the floor embarrassedly: "Amamiya-kun, this is bothering me. The physical contact is a little bit..."

Shirou said earnestly, "Could you please let me meet with Aozaki Aoko?"

"…………"

Kuonji Yuju's pupils suddenly lost their luster.

……

……

Why did it turn out this way?

Kuonji Yuju held her forehead and couldn't help but sigh softly.

She is currently working at a chain coffee shop called "Ahnenerbe," which recently opened in Misaki City.

Shirou sat next to Yuzu, curiously watching the hurried passersby outside the window.

"Thank you for today, Miss Arizuka," Shirou said.

"Okay, this won't happen again," Yuzhu said.

In the end, I couldn't refuse his request.

Arisu agreed to let him meet with Aozaki Aoko, after all—

Staring at me with those pitiful, puppy-like eyes, how cruel could I possibly be to say the word "no"?!

The girl regretted her weakness, wondering why she couldn't bring herself to be ruthless.

She didn't know what Shirou planned to say to Aoko, but she had a very bad feeling about it.

Although I had a bad feeling about this, I just couldn't refuse the child. Sigh...

"Miss Yuzhu seems a bit listless today. Is it because you haven't been out for too long?"

"That's not true, it's your imagination."

Kuonji Yuzu said with a gloomy expression, "Are you underestimating my interpersonal skills?"

Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Shirou secretly staring at him.

"what happened?"

"nothing."

"Just say what you have to say, it's really uncomfortable."

The thought of meeting Aoko, whom she hadn't seen for nearly ten years, under these circumstances made Yuzhu feel terrible, and her tone became even ruder than usual.

"that……"

Shirou said somewhat embarrassedly, "Miss Arisu is very beautiful today, and I couldn't help but take a second look."

Yuzhu usually wears plain-colored sweaters at home, and Shirou is used to her attire.

But today, Yuzhu dressed up a little before going out.

At this moment, the girl with short black hair exuded an aura of nobility and elegance, with a fairytale-like charm that was breathtakingly beautiful.

"It's not just me who thinks this way, everyone's watching you... uh, Ms. Ariel?"

Shirou wanted to explain, but found that the black-haired witch next to him had inexplicably turned to stone.

We'll have a good talk when we get back—

After being freed from petrification, Kuonji Yuju said this with a resentful look in her eyes.

With a ringing of a bell, the front door of the coffee shop opened.

A young woman entered.

Her elegant beauty, paired with long chestnut hair, and simple casual clothing, accentuated her powerful and mature figure.

Her breasts are so big... No, wait!

Shirou immediately concluded that she must be the magician he and Arisu were waiting for.

She waved to Yuzhu as she walked over.

"I never expected Yuzhu to contact me first. It really startled me! I thought it was a prank call!"

The young woman pulled out a chair and sat down in the seat opposite the two men.

"Long time no see, Yuju," the mage said with a smile.

"I'm relieved that Aoko is still the same as always," Arisu said calmly.

The two greeted each other across a table.

You would never guess that they had lived under the same roof for a year.

After all, that kind of thing happened, Shirou thought to himself.

Aozaki Aoko flipped through the cafe's menu, her eyes scanning it quickly before she said, "It must have been eight years since we last met, right?"

We haven't seen each other since I dropped out of high school... so is there something you need? It can't be just a simple reunion.

"Well, actually I wanted to introduce you to someone."

Kuonji Aratama turned to Shirou: "He is—"

"I know."

Aozaki Aoko gave a sly smile: "Amamiya Shirou-kun... I was right, wasn't I?"

Shirou and Arisu exchanged glances, the latter giving him a reproachful and dissatisfied look.

How is this going?

I do not know either!

Didn't you say you didn't know Qingzi?

I really don't know her!

"The shut-in Arisu probably doesn't know yet, but this child is a survivor of the Fourth Holy Grail War."

The sorceress looked at Shirou with an expression that said, "I know everything."

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Shirou."

"I'm Aozaki Aoko, the one you've been looking for. You can also call me Aoko-nee, okay?"

Shirou grasped Aoko's outstretched hand under Aoko's gaze, which seemed to shoot flames.

Ps1

In the first part of "The Night of the Demon," Orange can be killed; that's very, very clear.

According to the latest setting, Orange created a doll that was exactly like herself in order to break the curse placed on her by Aoko in "Demon Night".

Ps2

"Demon Night 1" takes place in late 1989, when Orange was neither a Grand Master nor designated for sealing.

Orange, who lost to Aoko, was cursed and could never set foot in Misaki again.

In the spring of 1990, Orange called to say that she was unable to enter Misaki because of a curse.

To break the curse, Orange begins creating dolls that are exactly like herself.

In the autumn of 1991, Touko returned to Misaki by changing bodies, and at the same time, she was designated to be sealed.

In late 1995, in the well-known "Paradox Spiral," Orange was killed by Aruba and had his body replaced.

The original quote was, "A few years ago, during an experiment, I accidentally created a doll that looked exactly like me."

The phrase "a few years ago" refers to the period between 1990 and 1991, when Orange created the backup body.

Volume 2, Chapter 121: Aoko knew Shirou before I did, no way!

Kuonji Yuzu tugged at Shirou's sleeve.

"Um, Amamiya-kun."

She whispered in my ear.

"Why does Aoko know you? Are you actually a super famous person?"

"I don't think that's true."

Shirou answered without much confidence.

He participated in the Fourth Holy Grail War four years ago as one of the Masters and survived to the end.