Chapter 164: Chapter 164: Touko Aozaki (Part 1)
In the mid-1990s, the real estate bubble in Japan burst, plunging the entire Japanese economy into an unprecedented recession and stagnation.
Due to the rapid economic growth of the 1970s and 1980s, new buildings sprouted up all over Japan like mushrooms after the rain. However, many of these "mushrooms" hadn't fully developed when the period of stagnation arrived. The companies that funded the construction of these buildings were unable to bear the subsequent financial pressures, resulting in many unfinished projects. In various cities in Japan, especially in emerging economic areas, unfinished and abandoned buildings could be seen everywhere.
Shinji, Sakura, and Fujino are currently standing in front of such a building.
Similar to many unfinished buildings, it had the basic structure as a physical entity, but the interior was completely bare, with exposed concrete walls and floors.
It was supposed to be a six-story building when completed, but currently, there were no floors above the fourth. Generally, constructing a high-rise building from the top floor down is the most efficient method, but this building seemed to have been constructed using the old method. Since construction was abandoned halfway, the completed fifth floor became the rooftop.
Although the building was surrounded by high cement walls, it wasn't difficult to trespass. It was quite a miracle that it hadn't been claimed as a secret base by the nearby children. In any case, it was a building emanating an eerie atmosphere.
"Is the person my brother is looking for here?" Sakura asked, her large purple eyes wide open, curiously scanning the surroundings.
Shinji glanced at the note in his hand one last time, then looked at the plaque on the outer wall, confirming, "If Mr. Kenneth's information is correct, then this should be the place. Let's go inside."
As they stepped through the entrance, Shinji felt an inexplicable sense of unease, and Sakura and Fujino, who were following behind him, also paused.
Shinji pressed his temple and whispered, "Sakura, Fujino, do you sense anything?"
"I have a strange feeling like we're not welcome," Fujino thought for a moment and said.
"It's a bounded Field," Sakura extended her right hand, about to trace runes in the air.
"No, you can't," Shinji waved his hand at his sister, "Disrupting a bounded Field without the owner's permission is a unilateral declaration of war. When we get back home, you should consult Mr. Kenneth for more knowledge about the magical world."
"Okay, brother," Sakura nodded obediently, "But this bounded Field—"
"It's alright, it shouldn't be aggressive. And if it is, I'll protect you."
"Okay."
Upon hearing her brother's words, Sakura immediately smiled with joy. The affection between siblings made Fujino's eyes reveal a faint hint of envy.
"You two have such a good relationship."
Shinji gently patted his sister's head, who was smiling happily, and said to Fujino, "In the future, you'll also become a part of our family."
"Really?"
"Really."
Fujino smiled too. Since losing her sense of pain, she rarely smiled, but after meeting this boy, her smiles became more frequent.
"Sakura, introduce Fujino to the concept of bounded Field."
"A bounded Field is something used to separate things—"
In Sakura's innocent voice, the group stepped into the building.
The term "bounded Field" originated from Buddhism, referring to something that completely isolates the outside world from a sacred realm. At some point, it became a general term for protective spells used by magi.
Low-level bounded Fields are simply walls, similar to glass. High-level bounded Fields incorporate various psychological suggestions, making people unaware of their existence. The highest-level bounded Field can even conceal the space itself.
Enveloping the exterior of this building was a high-level suggestive bounded Field. Those who don't have a purpose for coming here wouldn't perceive this suggestion and wouldn't sense anything abnormal. It was a bounded field that even the most exceptional magus would overlook on a map.
On the fourth-floor corridor of the building, Shinji encountered the magus responsible for setting up the bounded Field.
She was a young woman who appeared to be in her mid-twenties. She wore glasses and tied her long red hair into a ponytail that hung behind her head. Her simple white shirt outlined rare voluptuous curves for an Asian woman, giving her a touch of a sophisticated urban professional vibe.
Except for the white shirt and the frame of her glasses, everything else she wore was orange. An oversized orange windbreaker, orange earrings, orange nail polish, and an orange necklace. Even the cigarettes she had nearby were packaged in orange. The color orange seemed to possess a crazy obsession—ironically, it silently mocked her.
Nevertheless, the name of the female magus also contains the character "orange," perhaps she no longer pays attention to it.
Her name is Touko Aozaki, and she is Shinji's most important target on this journey.
"Oh, guests? And three lovely little guests," Touko formed a circle with her lips, her face displaying moderate surprise. "This isn't a playground, so how did you manage to get in?"
The deliberate emphasis on her tone indicated Touko's strong confidence in the bounded Field enveloping the building.
Shinji smiled faintly, "We simply walked in."
"Oh?" Touko narrowed her eyes. "It seems you didn't stumble in by accident. So, you've come specifically to find me?"
"Indeed, Miss Touko, we apologize for visiting without permission. As a token of our respect, please accept this small gift." Shinji spoke as he pulled out a rectangular red box from his bag and tossed it over.
Touko effortlessly caught it and caught sight of two prominent traditional Chinese characters on the surface of the box, intensifying her surprised expression.
"It's actually 'Dragon Smoke'? I'm curious who told you we were here."
'Dragon Smoke' is a very niche brand of cigarettes from Taiwan, even in Taiwan itself. It has a unique flavor and is a brand that Touko particularly favors.
"Miss Touko understands the rules of the industry," Shinji sighed, unable to express his grievances, so he resorted to being mysterious.
Shinji was informed that Touko, who likes 'Dragon Smoke,' was someone named "Kinoko Nasu" who is not from this world, and Touko didn't know him.
Shinji was informed that the person who told him about Touko's presence here was Kenneth. Touko is familiar with Kenneth because she was the puppeteer who helped him regenerate his body. However, Kenneth is currently "missing." Until Kenneth recovers, Shinji will not reveal any information.
Seeing Shinji's unwillingness to speak, Touko didn't dwell on it. She skillfully opened the package, took out a box of cigarettes, opened it, lit one, took a satisfying drag, and then said, "If you don't want to say, then don't. Anyone who comes to see me with this 'Dragon Smoke' wouldn't be my enemy. So, tell me, what brings you here?"
"Before that, would you invite me to your workshop?" Until now, Shinji had not visited any other magus's workshop, and he was particularly curious about the workshop of one of the ten "Grand Magus" (according to the Clock Tower ranking).
"Unfortunately, I haven't established a workshop. This place is just a temporary residence as I am currently traveling across Japan."
Touko stood up from the sofa and pushed open the room door.
"If you don't mind, come in and have a seat. It's not appropriate to discuss matters in the corridor."
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