The cold wind and snow blew.
Aozaki Touko walked up the slope carrying Tohno Akiba, leaving a trail of footprints in the thick snow, slowly advancing towards the top of the hill.
"...Touko-nee, where are you taking me?"
Tohno Akiba's small face was slightly flushed, and she snuggled into Aozaki Touko's embrace, wanting to get enough warmth to ward off the cold wind. Although this was a bit embarrassing, after all, it was only the big sister's... hmm, her body had some warmth, didn't it?
Of course, she wasn't without means to resist the cold, but she felt it was important to maintain some basic vigilance towards this unfamiliar big sister, so she didn't intend to use her abilities to ward off the cold.
"Do you know the legend of this mountain?"
Aozaki Touko looked down at the loli in her arms, a gentle smile appearing as she said: "There's a haunted house in this mountain; if a child wanders in on a foggy day, they'll disappear forever, oh."
"...How scary."
Hearing such words, Tohno Akiba was silent for a moment, then uttered a cooperative response, but there was no trace of fear in her voice; on the contrary, there was a clear feeling of perfunctoriness.
Although she was a loli, she was a smart loli. She didn't believe these obvious attempts to coax a child and wanted to give the adult a look of disdain.
However, this big sister was a bit formidable, so she didn't dare to give her a disdainful look.
"Akiha, don't you believe it?"
Aozaki Touko smiled slightly at this, then said in a calm tone: "But, unfortunately, this rumor actually has some truth to it, oh. This hill actually has a witch's Western-style house, and an isolated witch lives there, oh."
"..."
Tohno Akiba's body stiffened slightly, and she was a bit unsure whether this big sister was trying to scare her or if there really was a witch on this mountain.
However, one thing was certain: this big sister really loved to tease people.
"Don't worry... this witch doesn't eat people, but she does eat some takeout."
Aozaki Touko continued: "Our next destination is the witch's Western-style house. I hope you have a wonderful adventure experience."
"Adventure... is it that dangerous?"
Hearing this, Tohno Akiba frowned, somewhat unsure if this big sister was teasing her, as it didn't sound like a lie either.
"Hmm, if you don't cause any damage, it should be... safe, right?"
Recalling Arisu's attitude towards cherishing her house, Aozaki Touko's words became less certain: "As long as you're a good child, that witch sister will be a very good person, oh."
Hmm... Arisu, who dislikes humans, shouldn't dislike the half-blood Tohno Akiba, right?
"...I understand!"
Tohno Akiba seemed to understand something, solemnly nodded her small head, and then she suddenly froze. Her small head, no longer in Aozaki Touko's embrace, saw a very beautiful scene.
From the high hill, Misaki City could be overlooked at a glance.
The world covered in white snow was pure and transparent, and the haze in her heart seemed to be washed away in an instant. The sense of awe one feels when facing the vast heavens and earth was even more unimaginable for her, a young girl.
So beautiful, that was the first thought.
This world is so big, that was the second thought.
I want to see it, that was the third thought.
In just a brief moment of looking, her mindset changed. Although it was just a tiny seed, if someone watered it, it would easily grow into a towering tree.
"Do you like it?"
Aozaki Touko asked with a light laugh.
"I like it."
Tohno Akiba nodded sincerely.
"Is that so? If you like it, then come many times. I'll be here during this time, and whenever you want to come here, your father will specially send someone to drive you over."
Aozaki Touko's tone was calm but full of confidence.
"..."
Tohno Akiba gazed at the distant snowscape, remaining silent for a moment.
She nodded gently and said softly:
"I know."
"Hmm."
Responding softly, Aozaki Touko held Tohno Akiba tighter in her arms and continued to walk towards Kuenji Mansion. As she climbed higher, Tohno Akiba's view also became increasingly expansive... Kuenji Mansion.
"I'm home."
Pushing open the living room door, Aozaki Touko walked in, carrying Tohno Akiba.
Kujou Alice subconsciously turned her head, then saw a strange little girl looking at her with a nervous, timid expression.
"You disappeared early in the morning; did you go and abduct a child?"
"Hmm... perhaps so~"
Aozaki Touko tilted her head slightly, a teasing smile on her face. Tohno Akiba, in her arms, frowned tightly; this big sister actually openly admitted to abducting her.
"If it's kidnapping, then take her back to your own Magic Workshop."
Kujou Alice said with a cold tone.
"No... this is a kidnapping for you to see."
Aozaki Touko lifted Tohno Akiba in her arms and said to Kujou Alice, "Look... isn't this child adorable? Don't you want to give birth to one?"
The atmosphere suddenly froze.
Tohno Akiba, being held up, blinked and instinctively looked at the witch named Arisu, and Arisu also happened to look up at Tohno Akiba.
Their gazes met, then instantly diverged.
"...I'll reiterate, there's still plenty of time, and the issue of a successor won't be considered for now."
Kujou Alice's face was slightly flushed, whether from anger or embarrassment, and her tone was as cold as ever. However, her overly hurried cadence seemed to convey something else.
"Oh, that's truly a pity~"