After playing with the fairies in Ark World for a while, Aoko heard that Touko had dealt with her old classmate Araya Souren, and met Shiki and Mikiya. Aoko couldn't help but marvel at the power of fate—no matter how much she flapped her wings as a butterfly, Touko and Azaka's bond remained unbroken.
But what surprised her was that the first to visit Ark World with Touko wasn't Mikiya (who had signed a contract with Touko), but the high-class idle citizen (i.e., unemployed) Shiki.
Shiki's personality was a bit different from the cold version Aoko remembered, apparently fused with some of SHIKI's other personality, making her livelier and very interested in the fairies. As Shiki put it, "There are very few death lines, and they're very pure."
"...Did Touko and Azaka trick me?"
Shiki eyed Aoko suspiciously, finding it hard to believe she'd met a second Magician so soon.
"Aren't there supposed to be only five people like Touko in the world?"
"Congratulations, Miss Ryougi,"
Aoko smiled.
"You've now met all the living human Magicians."
"Human?"
Shiki murmured.
"Are you human?"
"Well, if you insist, I guess I still count as human,"
Aoko stroked her chin.
"Or you could say we've graduated humans, backups for when humanity fails and needs to go to space."
"...I don't get you weirdos,"
Shiki grumbled, popping another spoonful of Häagen-Dazs into her mouth.
"But I do like this place. The fairies are friendly."
"I'm glad to hear that,"
Aoko said seriously.
"But a warning: if you meet fairies outside, be careful."
"Why?"
Shiki was puzzled.
"The fairies here have been carefully screened and proven themselves,"
Aoko raised a finger.
"But elsewhere, it's a mix of all kinds, and most have no human common sense. You understand?"
"...I get it,"
Shiki nodded thoughtfully.
"The purest people are the scariest."
"Good,"
Aoko smiled.
"Enjoy yourself here—your boyfriend will be working here in the future, so it's good to get used to it."
Mentioning Mikiya made Shiki blush, but she nodded understandingly.
Shiki's elegant kimono was custom-made by Habetrot, who, after learning about Shiki and Mikiya's close relationship and future marriage, poured all her enthusiasm into making several outfits for Shiki, making even the noble lady feel embarrassed.
"Just accept it,"
Azaka had said.
"Habetrot is a spinning fairy, famous for making wedding dresses for brides. If you don't take it, I will!"
"You perverted sister!"
Shiki retorted but accepted the gifts and blessings.
Besides Habetrot's clothes, Shiki also received free shoes made by Baobhan Sith. But since Baobhan Sith mostly made Western high heels, and Shiki was used to boots, she just stored the gifts away.
Aoko and Alice were especially interested in the theory behind the transformed Principle Blood Ring. With successive upgrades, they developed methods to create day and night and various weather in Ark World, making it feel increasingly real.
The animals and plants in Ark World were originally sustained by massive magic. But as the demi-plane's power and mystery increased—especially after reclaiming a third of Albion's remains—true species began to appear, making climate and day/night cycles necessary.
There was fog in Fairy Britain, but only in certain areas. Likewise, rain was rare, so many fairies had never seen it.
At first, fairies thought the new world was unchanging, just like Fairy Britain, and weren't surprised.
Artificial weather still differed from real nature, and Aoko and Alice were still experimenting. Aoko even read many meteorology books to fill her knowledge.
Outside Ark World, thanks to her future insight advantage, Aoko's Aozaki family had become the largest conglomerate in Misaki Town and a rising star in Japan's economy.
But Aoko didn't spend much time managing it—instead, her and Touko's cheapskate father, though talentless in magecraft, discovered his business genius with Aoko's help and ran the Aozaki Group brilliantly.
Riding this momentum, Aoko bought and renovated the mountain where the Kuonji mansion stood, as well as the old Aozaki estate and nearby lands, making them new both in appearance and magical significance.
Since Aoko and Touko both became Magicians, the Aozaki family rose to the top of the Mystic World.
Though old magus families still grumbled, the unprecedented achievement of one family, two Magicians silenced them.
Many small Japanese magus families rushed to pledge allegiance to the Aozakis (by signing binding contracts), becoming their vassals. Previously, due to loose management, most stayed on their lands.
But now, thanks to the careful management of the Aozaki sisters and Kuonji Alice, Misaki Town has become a new magical holy land. Approved families moved their workshops there.
Even the distant Tohsaka family in Fuyuki City, led by Tohsaka Tokiomi, invested heavily in Misaki Town, showing his business acumen.
Normally, the spiritual leylines couldn't support so many magi, but Aoko brought over a small Golden Tree from the Land of Between, creating a near mini-Age of Gods environment in Misaki Town, even boosting the local birthrate and making the Clock Tower envious.