NOVEL WEB Chapter 85: DSWS: Chapter 85
"The Eternal Paradise Church"
Night fell, a crescent moon rising, bathing the already vibrant Asakusa in moonlight.
Tonight, Asakusa was even more lively than usual because the Eternal Paradise Church, a relatively well-known religious group in Japan, was visiting.
Aoki wasn't particularly interested in religious matters, so he paid it little mind. However, Asakusa's nighttime scenery was appealing, so they continued their date into the evening.
Walking hand-in-hand through the bustling streets, they occasionally received strange glances, quickly averted—a common occurrence in Asakusa.
"Shinobu, it's getting late. Should we head back?" Aoki said.
"Yes," Shinobu agreed; they'd been out all day, and she was tired. "I had so much fun today. Next time, we should go back and hear more ghost stories from that old man."
Aoki remembered the money he'd spent, his mouth twitching. Next time he saw that old man, Aoki would ensure a swift and permanent end to his storytelling career.
As they prepared to leave, they noticed a large crowd gathering nearby, with more people constantly joining.
"What's going on over there?" Shinobu asked curiously.
"Probably that church the old man mentioned, the Eternal Paradise Church. Back where I came from, we'd call that superstition—a scam targeting elderly people," Aoki said nonchalantly, his hands behind his head.
Aoki turned to leave, but Shinobu stopped him. "I heard praying can bring good fortune. I don't entirely believe it, but I still want to see."
Aoki, though slightly reluctant, agreed; Shinobu's happiness was paramount. He maintained an indifferent attitude.
As they approached the Eternal Paradise Church gathering, a desperate cry echoed from nearby.
"Give her back! Return my daughter!"
A thin, seemingly forty-something-year-old man was frantically charging towards the crowd, only to be pulled back by two burly men and thrown to the ground.
He scrambled up and charged again, with the same result. The two men's expressions showed annoyance at the man's persistence.
As one of the burly men prepared to knock the man unconscious, a hand seized his raised arm.
It was Aoki. Shinobu slowly approached from behind.
"Hey, kid, what's your problem?" Already angered by the man's persistence, the burly man was further enraged by Aoki's sudden appearance. He tried to break free from Aoki's grip but couldn't.
"Why are you hitting someone? Is there no law here?" Aoki said calmly. He twisted the man's arm, causing the man's face to contort in pain.
With a gentle push, Aoki sent the burly man flying, crashing to the ground. He clutched his arm, rolling on the ground in pain.
Aoki's gaze turned to the remaining burly man, pointing to the smaller man. "I want to know why you're treating him like this. Is it because he owes you money?"
Seeing Aoki intervene, the man seemed hopeful, rushing to Aoki and kneeling. He cried, pleading, "Sir, sir, please help me! Please, my daughter… they took my daughter! Please save her!"
Aoki's gaze turned to the remaining burly man, his tone icy. "Is he telling the truth?"
Seeing Aoki effortlessly subdue his companion, the remaining man knew Aoki was no ordinary person.
He didn't try to hide the truth. "S-sir, I didn't want to do this! It's… it's the Eternal Paradise Church. They ordered us to do it."
"Tell me, where is his daughter?" Aoki asked. His icy gaze made the burly man tremble. He'd killed before, but this chilling gaze was unlike anything he'd ever encountered.
The burly man pointed to a nearby building, his voice trembling. "T-there. We took his daughter there. I don't know if she's still there."
Aoki knocked the man unconscious with a swift punch.
He retrieved the rectangular box from his back and took out his Nichirin Blade, handing Shinobu hers.
"Why the swords?" Shinobu asked. Aoki wouldn't need his Nichirin Blade against mere cultists.
Placing the box on the ground, Aoki explained, "I'm not sure, but it's night, and this happened. We can't rule out demons. It's safer to have our swords. It won't hurt."
"Wait here. I'll be back soon."
Aoki used a passerby's shoulder to launch himself onto a second-story window, moving swiftly across rooftops. Before everyone's eyes, he leaped into the building where the Eternal Paradise Church members were gathered.
Inside the hall, a red carpet stretched from the entrance to a room at the back.
Over a dozen cultists in identical robes stood on either side of the carpet. At the end, before the door to the back room, stood a man of distinguished bearing—the leader of the Eternal Paradise Church.
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