After deleting his web novels, Atsuku immediately called his editor, Mr. Manabu Akio, to delete his file in the editor and publishing offices. However, his call wasn't accepted, and the call was left hanging.
"Did he die?" Atsuku muttered, looking at his smartphone with the failed call screen. "Let's try once more. If he doesn't accept the call, I will assume he was dead last night and destroy the file in the editor building by myself."
Even if he deleted the file from the website, it would be for naught if those in the editor and publishing offices were taken. The information in his novels was really valuable, and Atsuku would rather not have it spread widely worldwide right now before he could stabilize his force.
Again, his call was left in a hang.
"I guess he's dead." He said, putting his phone on his desk. "No choice then. I will need to go there and delete the file myself. Maybe Yamada will be willing to tag along with me on this little adventure. We can also collect more information in Shibuya while we are outside."
Standing up from the chair, he went to his closet and changed into easy-to-move clothes, composed of a black t-shirt, black pants, and a blazer to hide the holster and a Desert Eagle pistol he had. He had already reloaded the bullets he used against the thugs last night, so it had a full chamber.
It would be bad if he were found having a gun in Japan by other people.
"I wonder if the law of firearms and sharp weapons will still be in effect after what happened last night." Atsuku scoffed as he buttoned his blazer, appearing like a high school student again.
"But hiding a gun is one of the basics I learned. It's useful when people underestimate me and think I have no weapon. Killing them with a pull of the trigger when their faces morphed in surprise will save me a lot of trouble fighting them head-on."
Finishing his preparation, he exited his room and went toward the room located in the same hallway. Yamada's room was located right across Rio, and Gaia was right beside hers.
The room Yamada used was originally used as a warehouse, but because there was a need for an additional room, Masa ordered his subordinates to turn it into a bedroom. That was why the room was simpler than Atsuku's, with only a bed and a small table with cushions around it.
Inside, Yamada was lying on the tatami floor installed by Masa's subordinates with a bored look while wearing dark blue Japanese pajamas, a Jinbei, which looked like Yukata but with short sleeves and shorts as well as made from breathable materials.
He had nothing to do after teaching Rio how to stabilize the Arcane inside and decided to exercise slightly. But due to the change in his body, it was too easy, and he got bored of it easily.
It was at that moment the sliding door of his room opened, and Atsuku appeared. He looked down at Yamada, and the blond boy looked back at him by tilting up his head.
"Are you free?" Atsuku asked, crouching to talk easier.
"What do you think?" Yamada asked back, raising his body and turning around. "I am really busy. Too busy that I even need to lay on the tatami without doing anything." He shrugged his shoulders.
"Great," Atsuku nodded, standing up. "Let's have a walk then. I want to destroy some information I left behind."
"Your novels?" Yamada stood up, stretching his back. "Why didn't you just contact your editor?"
"He died, probably," Atsuku answered, shrugging his shoulders. "I am worried that people killed him because he's my editor and took the file from the editorial or publishing building. I want to destroy them before they fall into the hands of people who have enmity against me or my family."
"I see." Nodding, Yamada held his chin in deep thought.
He understood the problem Atsuku talked about, and it was actually pretty possible that Atsuku's editor was killed by a thief who understood the important information hidden in the unreleased book that might already be sent to the editorial team.
"Wait for a minute. Let me take my revolver, and we will be good to go."
"Alright. I will wait outside."
Atsuku closed the door behind him and stood against the wall, crossing his arms. Tonight might be the start of the real chaos when people begin to realize that there were negative effects of assimilating with the Devils.
"Those who can't stabilize their Arcane in time will turn into Demons and rampages. Heh, our men will be safe thanks to Misaki's fast response, but I doubt people who only read a few chapters of my novels know the term stabilizing their Arcane."
When those people died, the Devils would revive as shadows, go into hiding once more, and wait for their new contractor to appear. The cycle went over infinitely until someone strong enough could kill the Devil, permanently deleting its existence from the world.
'And those Devils somehow revived when the countdown appeared on Earth.' Atsuku held his chin, sinking deeply into his thoughts.
'What I need to be worried about the most isn't the opposition from the other faction in my family, but those Devils I killed back in Fantasia. I doubt they are willing to forgive me for deleting their existence.'
Reaching the Second Stage Core would be his priority after deleting his novel's file and getting rid of the people Masa mentioned.
'The ability I get from reaching the Second Stage will let me survive for a long time. Thankfully, I am surrounded by allies, so I can take it rather easy and not worry too much like back in Fantasia.'
Shoop!
The sliding door was opened, and Yamada stepped out wearing the full gear he used back when they hunted the Devils.
"Yo, let's go before Rio returns from the bath." He grinned at Atsuku and made a gesture to move. "We won't be able to have fun if she tags along."
"I know." Atsuku moved away from the wall and put his hands inside his pocket. "We might have fights later with some monsters."
Walking beside Atsuku through the hallway, Yamada asked curiously, "Are you talking about a Demon?"
"Yeah." Atsuku nodded, confirming the blond boy's words. "Just think of it as training. We won't be getting stronger by normal exercise now. Only fights and using our Arcane can tire us and make us sweat. Of course, that's also making us stronger."
"So that's why I only sweated a little bit in our spar this morning and wasn't that tired when I exercised. We have become monsters, huh?"
"Wait until you reach Sixth Stage. That's where you feel more like a monster as you will never age again." Atsuku smirked at his best friend. "Life will feel really different at that moment."
"You managed to scare me, dude. But I guess I will need to reach that stage someday."
Both of them laughed and left the mansion. Atsuku left a message to the people guarding the garden and perimeter that he would take a walk with Yamada so his mother and Rio wouldn't be that worried.
But, although he said it was a walk, both boys knew it wouldn't end as simple as usual or ended with fighting thugs.