Looking at the time, it was already 9:30 p.m.
"It's getting late. It could be dangerous for you to be out alone this late."
"!!!"
Utaha gasped. "Is it that late already?"
She hadn't realized how quickly time had passed.
"Maybe you got so immersed in sharing your story that you lost track of time," Rei Ao suggested.
"S-sorry," Utaha stammered, feeling guilty for taking up so much of his time.
But Rei Ao just smiled. "No need to apologize. I actually enjoyed seeing this more sincere side of you."
""
Utaha felt her face heat up. She quickly stood up, flustered. "Thanks. I-I'll go settle the bill."
She hurried off to the front, afraid that if she stayed any longer, her pounding heart might give her away. She'd never felt like this before. It was strange but also a little exciting.
After paying, the two left the restaurant. It was dark outside, and the streets were mostly empty except for a few passing cars. The cool evening breeze was a welcome contrast to the day's heat, but Utaha still felt warmer than ever.
Walking side by side with Rei Ao, her heart wouldn't stop racing.
When Rei Ao offered to walk her home, she didn't refusealmost as if compelled by some invisible force. Now, they were making their way toward her apartment, and Utaha once again fell silent, her mind racing with thoughts: 'Utaha! Say something, this is getting awkward!'
Suddenly, her phone rang, breaking the silence like a lifeline. Grateful for the interruption, she stopped and said, "Sorry, let me take this."
"Go ahead."
Rei Ao stopped under a streetlight while she answered the call.
It was her editor, Sonoka Machida.
'You're my savior, Machida-san,' Utaha thought gratefully as she answered.
But Sonoko's drunken voice came through the phone. "Hey, Utaha, how's it going? Did you snag that handsome guy yet?"
"..."
The words were loud and clear.
Utaha turned and saw Rei Ao looking at her. He had definitely heard.
It was the ultimate social death.
Afraid Rei Ao might get the wrong idea, she quickly cut Sonoko off. "Machida-san, don't say things like that! Rei Ao-kun and I are just"
But what were they?
"Friends," Rei Ao said calmly.
Utaha froze for a moment, her blush deepening.
"Y-yes, we're just friends."
"Oh come on, Utaha," Sonoko slurred. "As someone older and wiser, let me tell you, don't miss out on such a good catch."
Utaha winced. Sonoko was clearly drunk, rambling on with no filter. "I think you two are a perfect match. Don't be like me, stuck as an old maid"
Utaha could hear the slight catch in her editor's voice.
"If I were ten years younger, I might've gone for him myself. When I talked to that handsome Rei Ao-kun earlier, it almost reignited the spark of my youth."
"..."
Utaha felt utterly mortified.
While she could agree on two thingsRei Ao's appearance and his calming presence during conversationsSonoko couldn't be allowed to keep rambling on like this. She didn't want Rei Ao to think her editor was some kind of weirdo.
Pulling herself together, she tried to cut Sonoko off. "Machida-san, you're drunk."
"Well, yeah," Sonoko replied, "it was a company dinner, and I got a little emotional and had a few extra drinks, but I'm fine!"
This was 'not' fine at all. She was clearly saying nonsense.
"W-wait, Utaha, there are two guys hitting on me. Is this good luck?"
"!!!"
Utaha's eyes widened in shock. Two guys hitting on a drunk Sonoko?
Realizing the situation was dangerous, she quickly asked, "Machida-san, that's not luck. Where are you?"
"Where? I'm standing outside ramen shop."
"Okay, go inside right now!"
Utaha's concern was evident. Despite Sonoko's teasing and carefree attitude, she had always been a supportive editor, especially when Utaha's novel was on the verge of being canceled. She couldn't let anything happen to her.
But then, strange noises came through the phone.
"Huh? Why are you guys taking my phone?"
"Hey! Get away from me!"
'Crash!'
The line went dead.
"Machida-san!!!"
Realizing something had gone terribly wrong, Utaha panicked.
Rei Ao had overheard the conversation and quickly reassured her.
"Don't worry, Utaha. It's not far from here. Let's get there quickly."
"Right! Let's go!"
A few minutes later, they arrived at the entrance of the restaurant where Sonoka Machida had mentioned. The restaurant had long since closed, and all they found was a handbag lying on the ground.
"This is Machida-san's bag!" Utaha panicked. "We should call the police!"
"No need," Rei Ao said, narrowing his eyes. This wasn't just some thugs or a kidnapping.
Before Utaha could question why, Rei Ao disappeared in a flash, reappearing a hundred meters away at the entrance of a dark alley.
"???" Utaha blinked, thinking she was seeing things.
Rei Ao, however, was focused on the pitch-black alley. Deep within, behind a trash can, Sonoka Machida was crouched, trembling in fear. She was barefoot, her face pale with terror. The alcohol that had dulled her senses earlier had completely worn off.
What she initially thought was two men trying to hit on her had turned into a nightmare when they suddenly shoved her into the dark alley. They showed no mercy, and one of them had even covered her phone, stopping her from calling for help.
To her horror, the two men's bodies began to swell and change right before her eyes, transforming into terrifying monsters!
That sight had sobered her up completely, filling her with paralyzing fear. Her legs had given out, but she had forced herself to run and hide behind the small trash can, her heart pounding wildly.
'Am I going to die here?' she thought, her mind racing. 'Thirty years old, still a virgin, and this is how it ends? Eaten by monsters?'
Tears welled up in Sonoka Machida's eyes. 'If I survive this, I'll date the first decent guy I see, no matter what.'
But her thoughts quickly turned to despair as the sound of approaching footsteps echoed through the alley. Each step felt like a dagger stabbing her heart.
'I don't want to die'
Then, she felt a chilling sensation wash over her body. She curled up even tighter, burying her head in her knees, as the footsteps stopped right in front of her.
She didn't dare look up. She was convinced that if she did, she'd be staring into the monstrous maw of whatever was about to devour her.
But then, a hand gently rested on her shoulder.
"Sonoka Machida-san."
"Huh?"
That voice It sounded familiar.
Slowly, she lifted her head, her vision clearing. Standing before her was the same young man she had met earlier that dayRei Ao.
Seeing her dazed expression, Rei Ao waved a hand in front of her face. "Are you hurt?"
"!!!" Snapping out of her daze, Sonoko quickly asked, "Rei Ao-kun, d-did you see the monsters?!"
"You mean those two?" Rei Ao pointed down the alley.
Sonoka Machida turned her head and gasped. Not far away, two large blocks of ice stood, perfectly capturing the forms of the two monsters that had attacked her.
"Wh-what's going on?!"
The question came from Utaha, who had just arrived at the alley.
Rei Ao helped Sonoko to her feet, her face still a mask of shock and confusion. "Those were beasts," he explained calmly.
[Beasts]: Greed Wolves
[Level]: 8
[Ability]: 'Disguise'
The two monsters, called Greed Wolves, were covered in black fur with sharp fangs and claws, each about three or four meters long. Most likely, they had crossed over from another dimension connected to this world.
Sonoko's confusion about the men transforming into monsters stemmed from their ability to disguise themselves.
"Beasts?" Sonoko, still trembling, clung to Rei Ao for support, her mind spinning.
"We can talk about that later. For now, you should rest."
Rei Ao raised his hand and clenched his fist. The frozen statues shattered into pieces, clearing the alley.
He led Sonoka Machida back to Utaha, who was still stunned from what she had just witnessed.
"Utaha, take care of her for a moment."
"Oh Oh, right!" Utaha quickly steadied Sonoko, even though she had a million questions racing through her mind. 'What are these beasts? And just who exactly is Rei Ao?'
But seeing how shaken Sonoko was, Utaha knew that getting her calm was the priority.
While Utaha helped Sonoko, Rei Ao pulled out his phone and made a call.
"Hey, Rei Ao, what's up?" came a voice from the other end.
"Raphiel, I just encountered some beasts."
"Beasts?! Send me your location, I'll be right there."
[Location shared!]
~~~
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Chapter 85: Utaha and Sonoko's Experience, Empire's Upheaval
Within three seconds.
"I'm here."
A sudden burst of holy light illuminated the alley. Utaha, standing outside, peeked in curiously and gasped at what she saw.
"An angel!!!"
The words escaped her lips before she could stop herself. Utaha felt like she was dreaming.
"An angel?" Sonoko Machida blinked in confusion and also turned to look.
"!!!"
The angel who had just descended, Raphiel, tilted her head slightly. "Who are they?" she asked.
Rei Ao shrugged. "Just a couple of ordinary people who got caught up in this. One of them was almost eaten by the beasts."
Raphiel glanced at the shattered ice remains of the monsters on the ground. Her expression grew serious. "I'll handle cleaning up the scene first."
It didn't take long for Raphiel to record the incident and clear the remnants of the beasts. Then, they approached the tense Utaha and Sonoko Machida.
"I'll need to erase their memories now," Raphiel said.
Both women, who were still reeling from the sight of the angel, were shocked.
"Erase our memories?!"
Utaha's face went pale. "Do you mean everything we just saw? I-I promise I won't tell anyone!"
She desperately didn't want to lose her memory.
Sonoko Machida also panicked and quickly followed suit, pledging, "Me too! I swear!"
Raphiel, however, wasn't easily swayed. "I'm sorry, but those are the rules," she said firmly.
But before she could proceed, Rei Ao intervened. "Raphiel, is there any way to let them keep their memories?"
He didn't want them to lose this experience, especially since it could be a key moment to deepen his connection with them.
"Hmm..." Raphiel hesitated. Under normal circumstances, she would have insisted on erasing their memories. But it was Rei Ao askingsomeone with a particularly unique status.
Besides, the power emanating from him was immense, almost on par with the legendary seraph, Gabriel's older sister. Zelal, the strongest seraph, was said to have enough power to destroy the surface of Earth with a single strike. Zelal's horn was even feared as a tool of ultimate destruction.
Considering Rei Ao's importance, Raphiel decided to use an alternative method.
"Fine since you're asking, Rei Ao," she said, summoning two glowing documents. "These are confidentiality agreements. Unlike the non-binding ones you signed before, these have real restrictions."
"They'll prevent them from sharing what they've seen with ordinary people."
Rei Ao nodded in agreement and gestured to Utaha and Sonoko Machida. "Sign them."
"!!!" Sonoko Machida, sharp as ever, quickly realized that the only reason Raphiel had changed her approach was because of Rei Ao. She nudged Utaha under the table.
"Sign it, Utaha," she urged.
Understanding the implication, Utaha quickly followed her lead. The two women obediently signed and pressed their fingerprints onto the glowing papers.
Raphiel checked the contracts, gave a satisfied nod, and said, "Good."
"Rei Ao, since you know these two, I'll leave it to you to explain the basics. But remember, don't tell them anything about matters beyond this world."
"Understood," Rei Ao replied calmly.
"Then I'll be going. Take care."
Raphiel clasped her hands in a prayer-like gesture, and once again, a brilliant holy light flashed. Utaha and Sonoko instinctively shielded their eyes, and when they looked again, Raphiel had vanished.
"Gulp."
Utaha swallowed hard, her body trembling as she turned to Rei Ao. "Rei Ao-kun... what... what on earth is going on?"
Rei Ao didn't respond immediately. Instead, he looked at Sonoko Machida and said, "How about we find some clean clothes for Machida-san first?"
Only then did Utaha remember how disheveled Sonoko looked.
"Let's go back to my apartment. It's close by," she suggested.
Utaha's apartment was spacious, clean, and minimalistperfect for finding inspiration and conveniently close to her school.
While the two women freshened up, Rei Ao relaxed, checking the messages in his chat group.
Akame had tagged him.
Akame: "@Rei Ao, are you there?"
Rei Ao: "What's up?"
Akame: "Najenda wanted me to ask about Esdeath."
Rei Ao: "What specifically?"
He had a good idea of what they wanted to know.
Akame: "We've made contact with the Revolutionary Army. With General Budo's death, they're preparing to attack the Capital."
Stella: "Are you going to take down that corrupt empire? Exciting.jpg"
Shizu: "So, the rebellion begins?"
Akame: "Yes."
Rei Ao: "Well, be careful."
Rei Ao: "Friendly reminder, Esdeath is way stronger than Budo."
"Oh, do you really think that highly of me?" came a voice from Esdeath, who was apparently watching.
Akame: "..."
In Akame's room, Najenda and the others exchanged bewildered glances.
Leone scratched her head. "I thought Rei Ao had already subdued Esdeath?"
Mine huffed, her expression frustrated. "You idiot, didn't you hear? Rei Ao isn't exactly helping us."
"Huh? That's what he meant?" Leone asked in confusion.
Sheele turned to Najenda. "What should we do now?"
Najenda remained silent for a while. She had already witnessed Esdeath's terrifying power firsthand. Even an army of 100,000 wouldn't be enough to defeat her. Without Rei Ao's assistance in keeping Esdeath from supporting the Empire, any attack on the capital by the Revolutionary Army would be suicidal.
"Sigh..."
Finally, she let out a long sigh. "There's nothing we can do. We don't have any formal alliance with Rei Ao, so it's understandable if he doesn't help us."
She paused before adding, "But it wouldn't hurt to test his stance a bit."
She looked at Akame. "Akame, I'll leave this task to you."
"Understood."
...
In the bathroom, an unusual quiet filled the space, with only the sound of water trickling from the shower. Both women, one in the bathtub and one under the showerhead, were trying to make sense of everything that had happened. Their thoughts were still in turmoil.
