95: Kasumigaoka Utaha in danger

The bell signaling the end of the exam echoed through the campus, and the multi-day joint examination finally concluded.

In the central garden, sunlight filtered through the branches, casting dappled light. Lin Luo looked at Furuhashi Fumino and Ogata Rizu beside him, both of whom had the relaxed expressions of those who had just finished an exam.

"How do you feel?" Lin Luo asked.

"No problem," Ogata Rizu said, pushing up her glasses, her tone firm.

Furuhashi Fumino proudly lifted her small face, her chestnut hair swaying gently in the breeze: "This time, Teacher Kirisu definitely has no reason to stop us from pursuing our dreams!"

Looking at her 'triumphant' demeanor, Lin Luo chuckled and shook his head: "Don't exaggerate so much, Teacher Kirisu is also doing it for your own good."

"I'm not!" Furuhashi immediately retorted, but couldn't help but let her lips curl upwards.

Seeing her rare display of smugness, Lin Luo suddenly felt that this girl, who usually struggled with science formulas and often frowned at problems, now showed a rare cuteness.

Furuhashi's eyes darted around, and she playfully sat beside Lin Luo, gently nudging him with her elbow: "Ne ne, if we do exceptionally well, will there be a reward?"

Lin Luo was amused by her: "Did you take the exam for me? And you want a reward?"

Furuhashi's small face immediately fell, and she turned to pull Ogata Rizu's arm: "Rizu! Say something!"

Ogata Rizu, suddenly called upon, blinked and said seriously: "From a behavioral psychology perspective, appropriate rewards can indeed boost learning motivation."

Facing the two in sync, Lin Luo helplessly rubbed his temples: "We'll talk about it after the results come out."

"Yay!" Furuhashi immediately cheered, her eyes curving into crescent moons.

Seeing that it was getting late, Lin Luo picked up his schoolbag and stood up: "I'll take you two home first."

The two nodded gently. They both knew that things outside the school had been unsettled recently, and such an arrangement indeed brought peace of mind.

And in Furuhashi's heart, a trace of secret joy quietly spread—after Rizu arrived home, only she and Lin Luo would be left on the way back.

After dropping Ogata off at her family's shop, Furuhashi's inner delight could no longer be hidden. She flitted around Lin Luo like a cheerful little bird.

"Watch your step, watch your step." Lin Luo didn't know how many times he had pulled her back from the edge of the road. Although he didn't mind such contact, the girl's cheerfulness was a bit too exuberant.

Furuhashi Fumino suddenly stopped, grabbed Lin Luo's arm, and whispered: "Mr. Lin Luo, look over there—"

Following her gaze, at the street corner, those eye-catching black silk stockings, the iconic white hairband, and the tall figure—"Hmm, it's Kasumigaoka Utaha."

Furuhashi curiously stood on tiptoe: "What is she doing? Is she stalking? Who is that man?"

Lin Luo frowned slightly: "Aki Tomoya."

"That otaku?" Furuhashi's eyes widened in surprise, "How did he become so..."

Her words stopped abruptly halfway through. Noticing Lin Luo's speechless gaze, she quickly added ingratiatingly: "Of course, he's definitely not as handsome as Mr. Lin Luo!"

"Shut up," Lin Luo shook his head helplessly.

"I'm serious!" Furuhashi was about to continue her defense when she saw Lin Luo suddenly change his route, quietly following Kasumigaoka Utaha's figure. He maintained a perfect distance, neither losing sight nor being easily discovered.

Furuhashi trotted to catch up, asking in confusion: "What are you doing suddenly? Why are you being a peeping tom?"

Lin Luo gently tapped her forehead: "Something feels off, let's follow and see. Your home is nearby, go back quickly."

Furuhashi pouted unhappily: "No, I want to go with you."

Her eyes held both worry and a hint of excitement to participate in an adventure.

Trailing along, Kasumigaoka Utaha stared intently at the familiar yet strange back in front of her. Aki Tomoya walked calmly, seemingly unaware of the stalker behind him. Similarly, Kasumigaoka, focused on her prey, didn't notice the two figures following behind her.

The street gradually became desolate, and abandoned factories cast long shadows in the twilight. Just as Kasumigaoka was about to continue following, Aki Tomoya suddenly stopped.

She hastily ducked behind a broken wall nearby, her heart involuntarily quickening.

"Shiha-senpai."

Aki Tomoya's voice was exceptionally clear in the empty street, "No need to hide. I've known you were following me since the school gate."

Kasumigaoka unconsciously pressed her lips together. Her pride prevented her from easily lowering her stance. Facing this junior whom she once affectionately called "Rinri-kun," she ultimately chose a clumsy counter-question:

"Oh my, isn't this Rinri-kun? Could it be... you're stalking me?"

Furuhashi Fumino behind the wall couldn't help but cover her mouth, whispering to Lin Luo: "That's so unreasonable..."

Aki Tomoya's mouth twitched slightly, clearly choked by this accusatory question.

Kasumigaoka Utaha was silent for a moment, her voice in the night carrying a hint of stubbornness: "I just want to know what Rinri-kun has been doing lately."

Aki Tomoya smiled bitterly and shook his head, his gaze sweeping over the desolate streetscape: "Now... there's no turning back. Shiha-senpai, listen to my advice, it's not safe here, go back quickly."

"I don't understand... I don't understand at all!" Kasumigaoka's voice held suppressed agitation, "Always saying things that are hard to understand, neither willing to explain the reason nor willing to confide your troubles—"

Kasumigaoka Utaha tightly grabbed Aki Tomoya's wrist, her voice firm and unyielding: "Since you know it's dangerous here, why did you come alone? If you're going, we'll go together."

Furuhashi Fumino, hidden in the shadows, nervously clutched Lin Luo's clothes, whispering: "Are they... acting out some kind of love drama?"

Lin Luo didn't respond, merely frowning slightly, his gaze fixed on Aki Tomoya.

"Kenya-kun, is this your former sweetheart?"

A playful voice came from the shadows of the factory. The next moment, Aki Tomoya felt a weight on his shoulder—someone had silently appeared behind him.

Kasumigaoka Utaha unconsciously let go, stepping back half a pace, warily looking at the uninvited guest.

Aki Tomoya's body stiffened, but he quickly regained his composure: "Don't talk nonsense. And I've already returned to my daily life as per Muzan-sama's request, why are you here?"

"Of course, to assist you." The voice behind him chuckled, then suddenly darted behind Kasumigaoka Utaha. A clawed hand caressed her cheek, the cold touch making Kasumigaoka shiver all over.

"So soft and smooth," a slender tongue slid across her earlobe, and Rokuro sighed in infatuation.

Kasumigaoka tried to break free, but found her body completely unable to move, so she could only cast a pleading look at Aki Tomoya.

"Rokuro, let go of Shiha-senpai," Aki Tomoya warned with a grim face.

The afterglow of the setting sun shone on the newcomer, clearly illuminating his face—black hair was scattered, his face was covered with a beard, and ominous black markings covered his face. Most alarming were his golden eyes, with the character " Part 2" (Lower Two) clearly carved on his left iris. This was indeed a true Lower Rank Demon.

"Kenya-kun, are you going to be my enemy because of this woman?" Rokuro laughed arrogantly, his sharp claws gently tracing Kasumigaoka Utaha's fair neck, "Even if I eat her, Muzan-sama won't blame me for a mere human."

In the shadows, Lin Luo's pupils suddenly contracted. He stared intently at the demon bathed in the setting sun, a storm raging in his heart—

This is impossible!

The sunlight was clearly shining directly on the opponent, yet this demon was completely unharmed, not even showing the slightest discomfort. This completely defied the common knowledge that demons fear sunlight!

Furuhashi Fumino also noticed the abnormality, exclaiming softly: "Mr. Lin Luo, isn't that a pervert? Should we call the police?"

Lin Luo gently patted her small head, whispering: "Don't make a sound."

Furuhashi pouted, covering the top of her head where she'd been patted, but obediently quieted down. She followed Lin Luo's gaze and then noticed the unnatural markings on the strange man's face, and Aki Tomoya's unusually grave expression, finally realizing that things might be much more serious than she had imagined.

Lin Luo pulled Furuhashi behind him, maintaining a hidden posture as he continued to observe.

Kasumigaoka Utaha felt her mind go blank.

"Eat"?

The man with claws at her neck, did he just say "eat"?

Cannibal? Do such things really exist in reality—

Icy fear spread along her spine, chilling her to the bone. Her previous worry and dissatisfaction with Aki Tomoya were now replaced by primal terror. She could clearly feel the inhuman touch of that claw, and the lingering wet, cold sensation of that slender tongue sliding across her ear.

This wasn't a movie, nor was it a novel. This was real, life-threatening horror.

She instinctively looked at Aki Tomoya, her eyes filled with disbelief and a plea for help. When did this world become so strange and dangerous?

Rokuro's deep voice carried a seductive tone: "Kenya-kun, you've also undergone Fusion with Muzan-sama's blood; essentially, you're just like us. This woman..." His sharp claw lightly traced Kasumigaoka's cheek, "Don't you want to taste her? This is someone you once adored."

Aki Tomoya unconsciously swallowed, a flicker of struggle in his eyes, but then he suddenly snapped awake: "Stop spouting nonsense! Let go of Shiha-senpai!"

He instantly burst out with superhuman speed, his figure becoming an afterimage in the setting sun. However, such speed was laughably slow in Rokuro's eyes. Even while holding Kasumigaoka with one hand, Lower Rank Two effortlessly dodged to the side, then delivered a heavy kick to Aki Tomoya's back.

"Bang!"

Aki Tomoya fell heavily to the ground. Before he could get up, Rokuro's foot was already on his head.

"Kenya-kun, you're still so impatient." Rokuro contemptuously increased the pressure under his foot, "It seems you haven't fully accepted your new identity."

Kasumigaoka Utaha watched this scene in horror. The once ordinary otaku, Aki Tomoya, was now exhibiting such inhuman strength, yet he was still so vulnerable.

Aki Tomoya's Aura suddenly changed, and a chilling, terrifying Aura erupted from him. His body began to undergo horrifying mutations—his eyes glowed with an ominous blood-red, his fingernails visibly sharpened, and his lips curled back to reveal stark white fangs.

"To willingly demonize for a woman." Rokuro shook his head in disappointment, "So easily provoked."

Even after completing his Demonization, Aki Tomoya's strength was still negligible in the eyes of Rokuro, a Lower Rank Two. He looked at the transformed Kenya-kun with contempt, as if he were observing a mischievous child:

"But do you think this can change anything?"

Rokuro increased the pressure under his foot again, forcefully pushing Aki Tomoya's recently lifted head back into the dirt.

"In the face of true power, you are still... Vulnerable."

Kasumigaoka Utaha watched this surreal scene in horror. Her once familiar junior had now completely transformed into another being—a terrifying, inhuman monster.