The Aida Church noticed something was wrong around eleven o'clock last night.
On the surface, the church was an ordinary place of worship open to the public. In truth, it was a subordinate organization of the Holy Church, tasked with monitoring the Aozaki family and the leyline under their control.
If anything happened, they were to report it. If nothing happened, they were to maintain the status quo.
Ever since Aoko Aozaki inherited ownership of the land from her grandfather, Misaki City had remained peaceful.
Then, last night, that peace was broken.
Centered on the mansion of the Aozaki family's ally, Alice Kuonji, a [thick fog Barrier] formed, completely enveloping the entire mountain.
From the outside, it was impossible to observe what was happening within, but a powerful magical energy reaction could be felt coming from inside the Barrier.
Not only that, but starting at five in the morning, the [thick fog Barrier] had shown signs of constantly expanding.
Fortunately, that momentum stopped once dawn broke, but several houses at the foot of the mountain had already been swallowed up, and the residents inside were still missing.
The Aida Church had spent the entire morning dealing with the matter.
The first and most urgent task was to seal off and conceal the phenomenon of the [thick fog Barrier], preventing Mystery from being directly exposed to the general public.
Sister Yuika, who was well-versed in Magecraft, set up several people-repelling Barriers nearby, making it impossible for passing civilians to see the thick fog on the mountain with the naked eye.
As a member of the neighborhood association, Ritsuka Suse organized the evacuation of residents from several nearby streets, ensuring there would be no further victims.
At the same time, the Aida Church urgently called in reinforcements from a neighboring city and sent them into the thick fog as an investigation unit.
The result was that several Executors, elites of the Holy Church, lost contact after entering the fog and never came back out.
The situation was now urgent.
Based on what had happened last night, once night fell, the [thick fog Barrier] would become active again, expanding without pause until it completely enveloped Misaki Town, or even the whole of Misaki City.
When that happened, the disaster area would escalate from dozens of people to an entire city. And that was not the end of it.
Misaki was the Aozaki family's territory, one of the finest spiritual lands in all of Japan, rivaling Fuyuki itself. It was also the origin of the Magic mastered by Aoko Aozaki's grandfather.
If such an important spiritual land was covered by thick fog of unknown origin, no one could say what scale the situation might eventually reach.
"Handled badly, it might even turn into a crisis for all humanity... Just kidding," Ritsuka Suse murmured as she gazed into the distance.
But Shirou did not think it was a joke.
From the thick fog on the mountain, he sensed something terribly familiar.
A [Fairy Realm].
That was right. The mountain had already become one enormous otherworld.
Unlike a [Reality Marble], this fog was not a temporary erosion of reality, but a permanent invasion of the planet.
A landscape that should not exist had appeared before their eyes.
Phenomena that should not occur were being born within the fog.
Centered on the Kuonji mansion, human law and the common sense of the world had been completely rewritten.
This was, an invasion of fairy tales, something only a true witch could accomplish.
"How is Alice right now?"
Although Aoko had vaguely grasped how serious the situation was, what worried her more was the housemate who had stayed behind at home.
Ritsuka Suse shook her head solemnly. "She's missing too."
She must have already realized it. The one behind the [thick fog Barrier] was none other than Alice Kuonji herself.
"What does the Association say?" Shirou asked Ritsuka.
Aoko was startled. You even know idiot Ritsuka is part of the Mage's Association?
"The Association has decided to observe for a while longer. They don't intend to do anything."
So that was how it was. Those Magi...!
Shirou clenched his teeth.
The [Fairy Realm] had already taken shape.
An environment surpassing the Age of Gods had formed on the modern surface, where Mystery was fading. For modern Magi of the Association, this was an object of observation they could only dream of.
Faced with a miracle that might not appear once in a century, a principle like "Mystery must remain hidden" could naturally be tossed aside.
Even if the whole of Misaki was turned into a [Fairy Realm], it would not affect the Clock Tower far away. Why would they possibly lend a hand?
The Magi only needed to wait until the incident ended, then step in under various pretexts and clean up afterward.
"What about the Church?" Shirou asked again.
Although the Church was hardly any better, they should not simply stand by and watch.
"The Church has already received the formal report."
At that moment, the man wearing a cloak-like coat walked toward Shirou and Aoko.
The Father of the Aida Church, Eiri Fumizuka, was a handsome man whose entire body gave off the air of a warrior.
Perhaps others would see him as a Father, but to Shirou, he was a fake priest similar to Kirei Kotomine.
Religious faith was nothing more than a means of pursuing the Way.
Father Eiri explained, "The Papal States has notified every member of the Holy Church in Japan. As it happens, a member of the [Burial Agency] is currently staying in Japan.
She will arrive in Misaki Town before long and take command of the scene here... Once that happens, everything will be over."
The [Burial Agency]?
Shirou frowned slightly. A term he did not know had suddenly appeared.
Was it something similar to Executors?
No, Executors were certainly strong, but this kind of situation should not be something a mere human could resolve...
As if seeing through what Shirou was thinking, the Father explained.
"The [Burial Agency] is a secret combat division under the Holy Church.
Strictly speaking, it is a special enforcement division responsible only for vampire incidents, but it possesses authority far beyond that of the ordinary Church.
So when we encounter an emergency like this, one that we mere mortals cannot handle, we occasionally borrow their strength.
In short, think of them as an elite group filled with the strongest monsters."
Shirou blurted out without thinking, "Like the Knights of the Round Table?"
The Father frowned slightly, then smiled. "...What an interesting comparison. But a very fitting one.
Every member of the [Burial Agency] is a superhuman like the Knights of the Round Table from the legend of King Arthur.
Ritsuka, who is this boy?"
While Shirou sank into thought, the black-clad Father narrowed his eyes and stared fixedly at him.
Aoko answered before anyone else could. "...This child is mine and Alice's familiar. The contract just hasn't been completed yet."
"Familiar? Aoko..."
Aoko Aozaki shot a stern look at Shirou, who was about to protest, telling him not to speak for now.
The Father moved his gaze away from Shirou. "I see. I received no such notice.
Since the application was merely late, I will not pursue it. I assume it was because you were previously engaged in battle with an outside Magus.
Aozaki, leave the task of maintaining order here to us. You should go notify the Aozaki main house."
"Unfortunately, that is impossible."
"Why?"
"Because the outside Magus currently fighting us, Touko-nee-san, has sealed that place off specifically for her duel with me."
Aoko said it with a sly, teasing expression. "There's no way Father Eiri didn't know about that, right?"
"That was an oversight on my part."
Father Eiri answered expressionlessly. "We have done all that humans can do. Then we shall quietly wait here for the great personage from the [Burial Agency] to come and settle the situation."
"...Wait."
"Shirou-chan?"
Everyone looked at Shirou at the same time.
"There's no need for the [Burial Agency] to get involved. Aoko and I will handle this."
The three members of the Church were naturally shocked to hear that, but Aoko was even more surprised than they were.
"Shirou, do you really think this is something you and Aoko can resolve?"
Sister Yuika asked in a very stern tone, her eyes tightly shut.
Shirou smiled and answered with absolute confidence. "Yeah. We'll manage it.
Since this involves Alice, it isn't the Church's place to interfere...
More importantly, that Western-style mansion is Alice's treasure. She wouldn't want outsiders getting too close."
"But..."
"If Aoko and I fail, then you can do whatever you want afterward.
Sister Yuika, could I ask you to delay the [Burial Agency]?"
"..."
Sister Yuika fell into a long silence.
Shirou watched her face closely. He knew very well that Sister Yuika was the one who could make the decision here.
After about half a minute, the nun let out a soft sigh. "I understand. But only for one night.
If the thick fog still hasn't cleared by tomorrow morning..."
Shirou nodded. "Then we'll leave the rest to the Church."
Sister Yuika turned to Father Eiri and asked, "Is that all right?" He shrugged.
"If Sister Yuika says so, then I have no objection.
Shirou, was it? I'd like to speak with you. Is that all right?"
Shirou nodded in answer and followed the Father away.
About twenty minutes later, Shirou returned.
"Done talking?"
Aoko ended her conversation with the Suse sisters, ran over to Shirou, and pressed him nervously. "What did you talk about?"
"A little about when you were younger. You were really cute back then... nothing like the fierce girl you are now."
Aoko frowned. "Huh? Don't mess with me!"
Shirou said, "When two men talk, what else would we talk about besides beautiful women?"
"You're still making fun of me! Idiot Shirou, go die!"
Aoko's face flushed red as she kept pounding Shirou's back with her fists.
But Shirou had not been entirely lying.
He had just heard from Father Eiri about what happened when Aoko inherited the Aozaki family.
Aoko's grandfather had not forced her to become a Magician.
"Your sister can't do it, so you're next." That was all he had said to Aoko.
Even though Shirou had not been there, he could tell Aoko must have resisted it in her heart.
No matter how alluring the title of "Magician" might be, there was no way Aoko could completely abandon the life she had lived up until then.
Because she was a girl who lived more earnestly and worked harder than anyone else.
Fifteen years of experiences and shining memories. Was she really supposed to throw all of that away overnight and step into another unfamiliar, dangerous world?
And yet Aoko had accepted it without hesitation.
Clutching her trembling fingers, she said, "I'll give it a try."
Not because she wanted to answer her grandfather's expectations, and not because of any sense of responsibility toward the Aozaki family.
It was because she hated running away.
"Because no matter how much I cry or scream, it won't change the situation, right?
If I'm the only one who can do it, then I'll face it head-on.
Even if it isn't what I wanted, even if I have to test it with my own body, I'll do what I can and what I should.
Running away is the worst possible choice. Until the moment I have no choice but to run, I'll dance brilliantly."
...That really did sound like something Aoko would say.
If there was an audience, then she would demand applause.
But the first person to give that applause had to be herself, not anyone else.
Before earning the recognition of the people around her, the girl first had to walk forward with her head held high.
As long as she did it beautifully, in a way that honored everything she had lost, then even if she were the last person left in the world, she would keep walking tall.
Shirou finally understood why he had been unable to reject Aoko's confession, even though he did not have romantic feelings for her.
The way that girl existed was simply too dazzling, like the brilliant starry sky Shirou had seen last night.
He did not love her, but he had already been captivated by her.
...
After that came Shirou and Aoko's strategy meeting.
To fully dispel the [Fairy Domain] that had already formed, they had to fulfill two conditions.
The first was naturally to deal with the core of the [Fairy Domain], the witch Alice Kuonji, hidden within the thick fog.
Whether they defeated her or persuaded her, they had to make her release the sustained effect of her Magecraft.
The second was to reestablish five anchor points within Misaki City, then use Misaki's Leylines to restore the land.
To do that, they had to deal with Touko Aozaki.
Again, either persuading her or defeating her would work, but,
"If I don't smack Touko-nee-san around, I'm seriously not going to feel better," Aoko said irritably.
"I knew you'd say that, Aoko," Shirou said with a smile.
"Y-you did?"
Aoko felt a little embarrassed.
She did feel that Shirou understood her well, but hearing him say it out loud was still embarrassing.
No, now was not the time to let her thoughts wander.
The girl shook her head to clear away the distracting thoughts.
"I understand what you mean, Shirou. I'll go defeat Touko-nee-san, and you'll handle Alice... That's right, isn't it?"
Since Shirou and Aoko only had one night, they had no choice but to split up.
Shirou would take on Alice, while Aoko would take on Touko.
Of course, Shirou had not forgotten the original purpose of his time jump, or what the "future Aoko" had entrusted to him.
If Touko died, then everything they had done would be for nothing.
He had to make sure Aoko did not get carried away during the duel and kill Touko.
Shirou remembered the suggestion Magecraft personally taught to him by the Fifth Magician. Should he use it here?
No... Shirou still did not want to use suggestion on her.
Aoko Aozaki, freer than anyone else, should not be bound in any form.
"Aoko."
"Yeah?"
"Let's do our best together."
Aoko paused. Although it felt a little sudden, she still took Shirou's outstretched hand without hesitation.
"As for my answer to last night... I'll give it to you once everything is over. Wait just a little longer."
"I-I know! You don't have to keep bringing it up!"
Aoko turned her face away in embarrassment.
But just then, Shirou suddenly tightened his grip on her wrist, pulled her close, and kissed her hard.