Chapter 204: S Akeno Was Turned into M by Him
Originally, Akeno maintained a bit of reverence and kept some distance.
Now, that distance was gone.
So, Akeno could boldly get very close to him, occasionally engaging in ambiguous actions.
As for her feelings toward him, it couldn't be called true romantic love, but her fondness for him was definitely the highest among all men.
If an ordinary person's fondness level was 1, his was at least 50.
From their first encounter, he had shown no mercy, electrocuting her without hesitation. When transforming into a demon god, he had punished her in a socially devastating way because of her little teasing.
Moreover, in his eyes, she couldn't see the lecherous gazes that other boys often had. His gaze was pure, as if he were looking at a work of art.
But that didn't mean he lacked desire or was unresponsive to beauty.
He was a normal person—it was just that he had excellent control over his rationality. The way he looked at her was purely as if appreciating art.
So, with his youthful appearance, he seemed almost the same age as Akeno. Combined with his incredible background and the way he effortlessly destroyed that powerful otherworldly creature, it had a huge impact on Akeno over the past decade or so, making her curiosity greater than a cat's.
As she learned more about him bit by bit, she increasingly felt an inexplicable charm drawing her in.
But this definitely wasn't love—how should she put it?
It was his mystery, that sense of mystery that attracted Akeno.
At the same time, she also had a fascination similar to Ravel's—a hero worship.
Normal girls often have such fantasies, dreaming of meeting their Prince Charming in the future.
Of course, Akeno had such fantasies too, and he absolutely fit her ideal.
No, he didn't just fit—he far exceeded it, to the point where she felt unworthy.
So, while drinking, her mind numbed by alcohol, she lost her composure.
And that's how things ended up like this.
From this day forward, her loyalty to him would no longer be merely that of a subject to their lord; another emotion would gradually develop and grow within her.
So—Crackle~!
Electric sparks danced across Akeno's body, but these sparks weren't her own.
"Kyaaaaaaah...!"
She let out a pained scream, her body convulsing as if seized by spasms.
The one electrocuting her was, of course, Renji. The reason? This woman had gone too far.
They were currently having a meal, yet she kept fidgeting mischievously under the table.
It wasn't that he was being prudish—her playful antics were charged with electricity.
Was she indulging her sadistic tendencies now?
This was definitely overstepping!
He decided to teach her a lesson, delivering a genuinely harsh electric shock without any mercy.
If an ordinary human were subjected to such a shock, they would undoubtedly die.
That said, while Akeno wore an expression of agony from the electrocution, she also seemed to show a hint of pleasure?
Had her sadistic nature brought out a masochistic side in her?
"..."
Suzaku, who was also dining at the same table, twitched her lips slightly.
How could she not notice?
Couldn't her younger sister read the room? Her older sister was right there.
In the blink of an eye—
"That must be Tenryu-ji Temple."
The three of them were no longer at the inn but were now touring Arashiyama as visitors.
The closer they got to the building, the more Akeno felt an unnatural sense of repulsion.
It was probably because she still retained her identity as a devil, making her somewhat incompatible with such sacred places.
When they reached the main gate, they spotted two figures.
One was an adorable blonde young girl dressed in a miko outfit, and beside her stood a stunningly beautiful, mature woman wearing an exquisite twelve-layered junihitoe kimono.
"Mr. Renji, if you don't mind, would you like Kunou to be your guide today?"
"Of course, that would be no problem."
Renji responded with a smile, but his gaze held a deeper meaning as he observed the Nine-Tailed Fox.
Was she really so comfortable leaving her daughter by his side?
Something must have happened. Suzaku, who was nearby, had received some intelligence: last night, it seemed there had been internal strife among the Yokai in Kyoto.
"Then I'll trouble you. Kunou might be a bit impolite at times, so please be understanding~"
Yasaka's voice carried a tone that sounded almost like a plea.
If she was so worried, why not just keep her daughter from being their guide?
The reason was that Yasaka needed to carry out a reorganization of Kyoto today, and this restructuring might provoke some individuals to take extreme actions, potentially putting her daughter in harm's way.
That's why she arranged for her daughter to stay by his side—it would be safer.
Last night's events had indeed made her realize that Kyoto was being targeted and that there was collusion with the "Empty Cicada Agency."
Moreover, the Empty Cicada Agency was connected to the Khaos Brigade—this was something Suzaku had conveyed to her through a shikigami.
Suzaku had also informed Yasaka in advance about her visit here, but she hadn't expected to run into these two.
And so—
"What do you think? Isn't it beautiful here?"
Led by their little guide, the three of them began touring the famous historical sites and eventually arrived at a high point in Arashiyama.
From here, they could enjoy a stunning view of the mountains. The spot wasn't crowded, as it wasn't open to the public.
Just then, a faint commotion could be heard in the distance.
It seemed the cable car had malfunctioned, leaving those suspended in mid-air in a state of panic.
"What... what's going on? They inspect it every day, don't they?"
Kunou's expression darkened noticeably.
Just as they were taking pride in this place's beauty, such an incident occurred immediately—wasn't this a slap in the face?
Moreover, if serious problems were to arise, it would be troublesome for the youkai as well.
This place was originally a tourist destination, and the spending from visitors here was the largest source of income for the youkai's livelihood.
"It wasn't an accident,"
Renji answered.
This was deliberately caused by someone.
In the valley below the cable car, a large amount of thick fog suddenly rose, accompanied by eerie roars and faint glimpses of monstrous figures.
As a result, to prevent issues here, the youkai would quickly come to maintain order.
It seemed some individuals were about to make their move, so they first diverted the forces around Lady Yasaka.