When midnight struck, they both went to the place where they felt a strange energy. There was a barrier with traces indicating that someone had been there. Akari saw several torture devices stained with dried blood and several burned documents, probably related to some investigation. Shunji couldn't help but cover his nose. This place reeked of blood, and since his senses were more acute than those of humans, the smell bothered him.
Akari saw him uncomfortable and said. "If you want, you can stay outside. There is nothing here." Shunji shook his head.
"I'm fine. I'm not usually that sensitive to smells. However, this place really stinks. Let's go down to the basement." Akari nodded, and they both went down.
However, what they found made them both frown. There were traces of humans, but only a few, and of animals. Akari saw the broken tanks and thought that this was where Naoki created that chimera.
"What exactly was that bastard trying to do here?" Akari murmured.
Shunji walked toward the pieces of torn and bloody clothing and, resisting the disgust, he took them. Akari saw his strange behavior and asked.
"What happened? Did you find something?" Shunji burned the remains with his fire spell and nodded.
"This is just a guess, but this place shows no signs of more than four people, judging by the tools above. I think this place is a punishment prison for specific individuals—Naoki's relatives." Akari was surprised and asked.
"So after you expelled them, they..." Shunji nodded, completing her sentence.
"They were prisoners here. I also suppose that this is where he experimented on them to create the chimera. Do you remember her? I've been thinking about it, and her face, although badly damaged, reminds me of Naoki's sister." Akari was speechless.
Naoki was a cruel man. He avenged himself on his relatives in the worst possible way. Akari sighed. That means he still has two possible weapons: his parents.
"I understand. Let's get out of here." Shunji nodded, and both left that horrible place. Akari purified the place with her spiritual energy, and Shunji set everything on fire.
**
For several weeks, they searched every possible location but found few clues, only numerous traps. The only good news was that Shunji's ability to detect traps had improved, as had his combat skills. Akari no longer needed to keep a watchful eye on him. In fact, the last few times, he had taken care of everything while protecting her. Akari found it amusing, but she was also glad to be able to trust someone with her back.
With no further leads, Akari returned to university and made no further moves, instead focusing on her exams. Shunji kept watch but didn't get much, so he spent all his free time hanging out with Akari. They went on several dates. Suzume knew that the boy she saw that time was pursuing her and always took the opportunity to bother her, and Akari went from embarrassment to numbness.
"My roommate is going out with her boyfriend again. Oh my god, if only I had someone who would ask me out." Suzume said. Akari ignored her exaggerated act.
"I want a boyfriend like that too." Akari rolled her eyes, thinking that she probably would faint if she saw the true form of Shunji.
"Tell me, where are they going this time?" Suzume asked. Akari, fed up, replied.
"Go to an amusement park. Stop bothering me." Suzume laughed and said.
"Okay, okay, but take pictures on the Ferris wheel and show them to me." Akari nodded casually.
Although Akari didn't feel that she liked children's games, she knew that Shunji cared about making her live a normal life. Taking that into account, she agreed to go. Shunji's intentions were what mattered. Akari chuckled. She knew that she was getting more and more used to his presence and care.
Akari thought the feeling was strange but not bad; she didn't even know when it started —maybe from the first time she saw him in his true form, she had liked him. However, Akari didn't say anything to him. She wanted to test him a little more.
The next day, Akari left the dormitory early, Shunji picked her up and took her to the park. They both went on the rides, although they didn't seem very fun to her—perhaps because after having lived through so many adventures, riding a dragon at full speed was more fun. Despite this, Akari smiled and spent the whole afternoon playing like a normal person.
As night began to fall, they both climbed onto the Ferris wheel. It began to slowly turn, and when they were at the top, Akari suddenly said to Shunji.
"Thank you, Shunji. I had a lot of fun." Shunji looked at her, and infected by her happiness, he smiled too.
"I did it because I wanted to see you happy. Akari I..." When he was about to say something, the Ferris wheel shook sharply.
The door creaked due to the movement, and Akari avoided falling into the void thanks to Shunji, who quickly caught her.
"What the hell?" Akari said when she suddenly felt a stronger demonic energy.
It was Naoki. He was here. It seemed that this time he decided to attack first. A red array of spells activated in the sky, a barrier covering the entire park and absorbing the souls of everyone within. Akari bit her lip; this was the worst possible situation. She was unarmed, and even if she had her weapon, she couldn't attack with full force for fear of harming innocent souls. Naoki had used his brain well this time.
Shunji saw her frustration and said. "Don't worry. In case something like that happened, I brought this secretly. It's okay if you can't attack with your full strength. I'm here." Shunji took out her sword and bow and gave them to her.
Akari nodded and gripped the bow tightly, thinking that having support like that wasn't bad at all.