Fate: Hero of Justice Takeover-Chapter 212: [] The Puppeteer, Touko Aozaki

When it comes to Mifune City, even people from Tokyo might pause for a moment before realizing—it's not that the city is completely unknown, but it simply doesn't have much fame.

In a large prefecture, there are always a few cities with relatively low visibility. Mifune City, with its modest size and lack of famous tourist attractions, remains a small, inconspicuous place even within Tokyo.

However, to those in the mystical world, this city, while seemingly unremarkable on the surface, is not to be underestimated. Rumors speak of the "Mother of Mifune," who possesses absolute foresight, and the Asakami branch of the Four Great Exorcist Families is also located here...

Here lies a girl with the "Mystic Eyes of Death Perception," here stands the most powerful barrier master, a man untouched by mystery yet drawn to it. The Hollow Shrine, Remaining Sense of Pain, Overlooking View, Murder Speculation, Future Gospel...

Yes, this is the setting of 'Kara no Kyoukai.'

However, Sakatsuki arrived earlier. The protagonist of the story, Shiki Ryougi, is still lying in a hospital bed, unconscious, destined to miss the unfolding of this stage play.

But—while the stage play hasn't begun, the actors who haven't yet taken the stage haven't disappeared. They continue to follow the trajectory of fate, hesitating, moving forward.

Carrying nothing, the boy, who didn't look like he had traveled thousands of miles from Britain, walked down the street. The weather had turned autumnal, and he wrapped himself in a scarf, long sleeves, and pants, concealing most of his charm.

Casually buying some unfamiliar snacks and drinks from the roadside, Sakatsuki enjoyed them while walking in the cool autumn air, heading toward a certain destination.

In this era, Japan's real estate bubble had burst, causing a financial crisis. Buildings that had sprung up like mushrooms before the collapse were left unfinished due to the economic downturn, resulting in many abandoned construction sites.

The pain of this era is something Japan still hasn't fully digested.

Sakatsuki stopped in front of one such abandoned building. After quickly finishing the food in his hands, a fierce smile appeared on his lips.

"Found you..."

Countless Black Keys rained down from the sky, surrounding the abandoned building. These anti-spirit weapons also served as the best ritual materials, isolating the building from the present world and turning it into a separate realm.

After making thorough preparations, the boy summoned a pair of black and white swords in his hands. In this rare, fully prepared state, he stepped into the silent building.

Breaking through the bounded field, smashing the defensive lines, and crushing the suicidal mechanical puppets that charged at him, Sakatsuki ascended the stairs. Finally, he burst through the door and came face-to-face with a woman sitting at a tea table, smoking.

"It's been a long time since I've encountered such a barbaric guest," the red-haired magus, her hair tied into a ponytail, said while smoking. Though her tone sounded casual, the killing intent was unmistakable. "Even if you're such a cute boy, don't blame me for not being gentle. I might just turn you into a puppet, you know?"

"Hmph!" Sakatsuki, who had completely changed his demeanor, sneered, showing no intention of explaining himself.

"Today, I'm here to either kill you or be killed by you."

[Fate Compendium Updated.]

[018: Touko Aozaki]

[Character Information: Born into the Aozaki family, which owns one of Japan's foremost spiritual lands. Her rank as a magus is the highest, Grand, and as the foremost puppeteer, she has been labeled with a "Sealing Designation" by the Mage's Association. She is an artificial dual personality, switching between personas by putting on or taking off her glasses. At her core, she is a romanticist. Currently, she has purchased an abandoned building and opened her workshop, 'Garan no Dou,' which is now open for business.]

[Hidden Information: Locked.]

[Record Conditions (0/2)]:

[• Defeat Aozaki Touko. (Incomplete)]

[• Experience the Projection Machine. (Incomplete)]

The message from the Fate Compendium flashed by, and Sakatsuki only glanced at it before focusing on the upcoming battle.

Whether it was the unknown rewards or the fact that Touko hadn't fully explained the puppet situation, nearly causing him to exhaust his puppets prematurely, Sakatsuki had a score to settle with her.

Besides, he also wanted to see what the foremost puppeteer in the Nasuverse was truly capable of.

"Living Step!" Holding his twin swords in reverse, Sakatsuki activated the footwork of Bajiquan, crossing several meters in an instant, his blades aimed directly at the red-haired woman.

Clang!

The initial attack was indeed blocked. Standing in front of Touko was a bizarre humanoid figure, its sturdy hands deflecting Sakatsuki's strike. Immediately after, Touko expressionlessly slapped the briefcase on the table.

"Come out!" It was an authoritative command that brooked no refusal.

In response, the briefcase clicked open. While the interior appeared empty, a black object began to swirl around Touko, spinning rapidly like a typhoon.

A maddening aura erupted, and Sakatsuki saw what was protecting Touko.

It was a cat. Its body was pitch black, lacking the thickness of a three-dimensional entity—a flat, shadowy cat made of darkness.

No, it was impossible to even determine if it was a cat. It was more like a shadow draped in the skin of a cat, with only its head featuring eyes resembling Egyptian hieroglyphs.

"My turn." Touko gently stroked the black cat, and the cat responded by removing the mouth part of its face, forming a smile.

The moment Sakatsuki realized this, he felt as if a hammer had struck his chest. He vomited blood and was sent flying, disappearing into a diamond-shaped space.

"Escaped?" Touko frowned, somewhat disappointed. "I thought I could dismantle something new tonight... What?!"

In that instant, the puppeteer keenly sensed the presence of another chaotic entity, something beyond human.

The room darkened, not because the sun had set, but because this was now the territory of the beast.

In the beast's territory, nothing could outshine her, even if she was already an abyss of darkness.

The shadow beast, now in the form of a cat, curled up its body, its head raised high in a silent posture of vigilance.

"Oh dear, this isn't good. Using Black Keys and exuding such a blasphemous aura... When did I provoke a heretic executor from the Church?"

Touko muttered to herself, then decisively had her mechanical puppet destroy the wall, allowing her to escape the increasingly eerie room.

A flash of blade light descended. The puppet protecting Touko instinctively blocked, but in the next moment, it was shattered by an explosive burst of strength.

Appearing before Touko, the boy wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, showing no signs of the injury he had just sustained.

"That hit felt pretty good, but it's checkmate, Touko Aozaki."

When a puppeteer loses their puppet, they lose the battle. Now, with one of Touko's puppets shattered by Sakatsuki and the other restrained by the Shadow of the Imaginary Number, she had no means to control him.

"Oh, it certainly seems so." Touko spoke in a flat tone, taking a deep drag from her cigarette before blowing smoke at Sakatsuki with a mischievous grin.

"So, what do you plan to do with me?"

The boy smiled without answering, simply slashing the large box behind Touko. As the box exploded in a flash of light, the faint "squeak squeak" sound that had been present from the beginning also vanished.

"There are three ways to instill fear: first, the monster must not speak human words. Second, the monster must remain unknown. Third, the monster is meaningless unless it is immortal."

Seeing Touko's slightly stiff expression, Sakatsuki flashed a bright smile.

"Alright, I've vented enough. Long time no see, Touko Aozaki—how's that mythical mystic code I sent you? Been using it well?"

***

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