On a country road.
A black sedan sped like lightning, turning and drifting in the blink of an eye, then disappearing from sight, even giving one the illusion of having seen wrong.
"Don't worry, Irisviel is a very good driver..."
In the car, Aozaki Touko comforted the maid beside her, and then, as the maid relaxed slightly, she seemed to feel a lack of confidence and added another sentence:
"Hmm... even if it overturns, I can save you!"
"As expected... of Touko-san ~"
The maid's face instantly turned pale, then she forced a strained smile.
"...However, please don't worry, I still have some self-preservation abilities, so if there's danger, please prioritize protecting yourself and Irisviel-san!"
Looking at the fleeting snowy scenery outside the window, the maid closed her eyes as if in despair, leaving everything that was about to happen to fate.
As a Homunculus of the Einzbern Family, she valued Aozaki Touko's and Irisviel's lives much more than her own. If a life exchange was required, she would not hesitate to offer her own life.
"Ugh... I'm already driving very slowly ~"
In the driver's seat, Irisviel adjusted the speed, then turned to look at the back seat, her ruby eyes reflecting the trembling maid.
"A little slower, please!"
Aozaki Touko smiled, explaining gently: "After all, this isn't the Einzbern Family. We've entered human society now, so we should at least follow normal people's common sense ~"
To prevent Irisviel from getting bored, she specifically bought a sports car from the outside world for her to play with.
However, due to the Einzbern Family's isolation from the outside world, Irisviel had a subtle difference in her perception of car speed compared to outsiders.
Of course, there was no need to worry too much about safety.
The road they were currently on was a secluded country road, with virtually no passing vehicles.
Plus, she had Suigintou flying in the sky, able to observe the road conditions ahead through shared vision.
So, there was no need to worry about hitting anyone.
"...I understand ~"
Irisviel slowed down, then turned to look at the maid behind her: "Sorry, Ilena, did I scare you ~"
"No... it's my lack of patience, it has nothing to do with Irisviel-san!"
The maid quickly shook her head, her tense body relaxing. Then she lightly coughed, quickly tidied her appearance, and returned to her dignified and polite demeanor.
"That's a personal trait... it has nothing to do with patience!"
Aozaki Touko crossed her arms, playfully scrutinizing the maid: "You know, Ilena, your performance just now was very cute, it made me want to bully you properly!"
"Agreed!"
Irisviel, who was driving, nodded in agreement.
"...Please be serious ~"
Ilena's face flushed as she lowered her head, her slender hands involuntarily clutching her dress hem. She couldn't quite distinguish the emotions swirling within her heart at that moment.
But the only thing she knew was that it was truly wonderful to be Touko-san's maid!
"..."
Seeing this, Aozaki Touko smiled slightly, not continuing to tease the maid.
She was going somewhere now to obtain a crucial item: the Golden Wolf, which possessed a mystery of over three thousand years and had an overwhelming restraint over modern magic. With this, she would have subjective authority in the Clock Tower.
Moreover, the so-called Golden Wolf was an excellent research material... On top of Einzbern Castle.
Hadon silently watched the departing black sedan, his ancient, calm face showing no emotion. After staying on the castle top for a while, he turned and left.
"Defeating a Phantasmal Species... what a bold and arrogant idea!"
Aozaki Touko's objective for this trip was clear. For them, there was no concealment at all: to capture a Phantasmal Species named the Golden Wolf and subjugate it to become her familiar.
Not choosing to command common animals with little resistance, such as cats, dogs, crows, or parrots.
Instead, she chose a Phantasmal Species that was almost impossible to control, a miracle of the twilight of the Age of Gods. Modern Magicians were as powerless as infants before it.
However, despite knowing this situation,
She still chose to face this Golden Wolf alone.
She wanted to subdue this beast through the most primitive method.
That's right, Aozaki Touko wanted to subdue a creation from the twilight of the Age of Gods through force.
To subdue it with her own strength, without any assistance from the Einzbern Family, was practically insane talk.
However, there was a subtle, strange premonition that if it were her, she could achieve it.