Aozaki Aoko Case File

After Touko and Alice conducted their evaluations, they confirmed that Kohaku and Hisui possessed outstanding magical aptitude. Kohaku, the elder sister, had 16 magic circuits, while Hisui had 15. Both sisters' magic circuits were of exceptionally high quality (though still not as good as Touko's) and operated efficiently. In any magical family, they would be regarded as rare talents, worthy of significant investment and training.

Coincidentally, both sisters' magical attributes were wind, identical to the Aozaki family's hereditary magical attribute.

As twins, they had an additional unique trait: their magic circuits were complementary. This meant that, with proper training, Kohaku and Hisui could collaborate to execute complex joint magical rituals. These rituals would not only be far more efficient than those performed by ordinary magi but would also yield superior results—a textbook case of synergy, where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

This trait might have been a byproduct of the Fujou family's natural synchronization ESP, a gift squandered by their lack of proper magical knowledge. Their abilities, honed purely through intuition, had gone largely untapped.

"How on earth did you find these two little ones?"

Touko asked Aoko in amazement as she examined the sisters.

"Their talents are incredibly rare. Even at the Clock Tower, families would fight tooth and nail for them."

"Don't underestimate the information network of a true Magician," Aoko replied with a confident smirk, placing one hand on her hip while wagging her finger.

"Are they qualified to be your apprentices?"

"More than qualified~"

Touko replied cheerfully, though the eager glint in her eyes sent chills down the sisters' spines.

"Don't scare the kids!"

Aoko sighed, rubbing her temples. Touko's obsession with magical research was well-known, and the sight of such extraordinary talents like Kohaku and Hisui naturally fueled her enthusiasm.

"What are you saying?"

Touko retorted, seemingly resigned to her new role.

"You're supposed to be our 'elder sister,' right? Take a good look; we're the same age!"

This self-deprecating outburst nearly made both Aoko and Alice burst into laughter.

Aozaki Touko, how could you fall from grace this quickly?!

As the trio discussed plans for Kohaku and HIsui's training, the phone at the Kuonji residence suddenly rang.

"Hello? This is Aozaki Aoko. Who's calling?"

Aoko asked.

As the caller spoke, both Alice and Touko noticed Aoko's expression turning serious.

"Are you certain?"

Aoko frowned.

"Understood. I'll come by tonight."

She hung up, deep in thought, before settling back onto the sofa.

"What's going on?"

Alice asked calmly.

"It's the Fujou family," Aoko explained.

"They said the family that originally wanted to buy Kohaku and Hisui seems to be planning a raid on them tonight."

"That must be the Tohno family," Touko scoffed.

"Those hybrids with non-human blood can't even control their impulses. They're probably desperate because someone in their family is about to snap. I wouldn't be surprised if they're planning to use the sisters' mother as a substitute."

"Are you planning to go yourself?"

Alice asked.

"Do you need any help?"

"You and Touko-chan stay here," Aoko replied casually.

"It's not a big deal—I'll handle it quickly."

...

The snowstorm of November had subsided, leaving the air crisp and clear. Tonight, the moonlit scenery was breathtaking.

Tohno Makihisa sat in his luxurious car, staring at the solitary light glowing from the Fujoi family's old mountain home. Beside him sat a tall, muscular man with slightly curled hair and a single eye. The man, silent and brooding, folded his arms as if awaiting Makihisa's command.

"The remnants of the Fujou family won't go down without a fight," Makihisa muttered.

"As former exorcists, they might have used the money they got from Aozaki to hire other exorcists."

"The worst-case scenario is that they've hired those assassins," Makihisa continued after a pause.

"Be vigilant, Kouma. Other than the woman I need, kill everyone—men, women, and children. Leave no one alive."

The man, Kouma Kishima, was the head of the Kishima branch of the Tohno family. Like the Tohno family, the Kishimas carried the so-called demonic blood, granting them superhuman physical capabilities and extraordinary durability.

Kouma's particular gift was sheer brute strength. He could crush solid rock as if it were tofu. Despite being ostracized for his overly potent bloodline, this raw power earned him the position of head of the Kishima family.

Receiving the order, Kouma said nothing. He opened the car door and began walking toward the Fujou estate, followed by a group of heavily armed private soldiers.

These soldiers, recruited from the Tohno family's branches, carried traces of demonic blood—not enough to grant special abilities but sufficient to enhance their physical strength beyond ordinary humans. Combined with modern weaponry, they were as formidable as an elite special forces unit.

The Tohno family's extermination squad was on the move.

Led by Kishima Kouma, the Tohno private soldiers fanned out immediately upon entering the forest, moving to surround the Fujou estate from all directions. Their orders were clear: leave no survivors except for the target.

To these highly trained and powerful fighters, the Fujou family—whose bloodline abilities had long since declined—seemed utterly incapable of resisting. They viewed this operation as no more difficult than taking candy from a child.

Even though Tohno Makihisa had repeatedly warned them about the possibility of encountering other exorcists coming to the Fujou family's aid, the soldiers paid little heed.

In their eyes, the impoverished Fujou family, reduced to selling their children to make ends meet, could never afford to hire professional exorcists.

However, the reason surprises are called surprises is because they strike when least expected.