The shrine had gone silent.
Not peaceful.
Not calm.
Just—
Empty.
The kind of silence that came after something ended.
Something heavy.
Something final.
The warped walls had settled.
The shadows no longer twisted.
The pressure—
Gone.
But what remained…
Wasn't comfort.
It was aftermath.
"…So we didn't die," Daichi muttered, dropping heavily onto the cracked stone steps.
His shoulders slumped.
The tension finally leaving his body.
"…Barely," Hikari replied, adjusting her glasses as her eyes continued scanning the area.
Even now—
She didn't fully relax.
Maru didn't sit.
She stood still.
Her gaze moved slowly across the broken shrine.
Sharp.
Focused.
"…That thing… wasn't normal."
Her grip on the katana loosened slightly—
But not completely.
Because something about that fight—
Still lingered.
Still felt wrong.
"…You guys done?"
The voice came casually.
Almost lazily.
They froze.
All three of them turned at once.
Near the gate—
Rishiro stood.
Chainsaw resting on his shoulder.
Relaxed.
Like he had been there the entire time.
Watching.
Waiting.
"…Rishiro?" Maru frowned slightly.
Her eyes narrowed.
"…Where were you?"
"…Around."
His tone didn't change.
Flat.
Simple.
"…That's not an answer."
"…Didn't say it was."
A small pause.
Daichi let out a breath.
"…You missed it."
He leaned forward slightly.
"Some masked guy showed up."
Hikari nodded quietly.
"…He defeated it easily."
Maru's gaze sharpened.
"…Too easily."
The memory replayed in her mind.
The movement.
The precision.
The feeling.
That wasn't just strength.
Rishiro listened.
Without reacting.
"…Maybe he's just strong."
Maru looked directly at him.
"…That didn't feel like strength."
A small pause.
Something unspoken lingered between them.
Rishiro shrugged lightly.
"…Then maybe he's a good person."
Silence.
They thought about it.
"…Yeah…" Daichi nodded slowly.
"…Didn't feel like an enemy."
"…But not normal either," Hikari added.
Her voice quieter now.
More thoughtful.
Rishiro didn't reply.
Just stood there.
Watching them.
"…Whatever," Maru said after a moment, exhaling softly.
"…We got stronger."
A small shift in tone.
Back to reality.
"…Check your status."
A faint blue glow appeared before them.
Soft.
Familiar.
"…Level 9," Daichi said, a small grin forming.
"…Same," Hikari added.
Maru glanced at hers.
"…10."
A brief pause.
"…Not bad."
Then—
She looked at Rishiro.
"…You?"
There was a pause.
Small.
Barely noticeable.
"…13."
No one questioned it.
Not Daichi.
Not Hikari.
Not even Maru.
Because right now—
That answer felt normal.
Felt acceptable.
But—
For just a second—
Something else flickered in his eyes.
Gone before anyone noticed.
Level: 18 → 19
"…Good enough," he muttered under his breath.
Low.
Almost silent.
"…We're improving," Hikari said.
Her tone steadier now.
More confident.
"…Yeah," Daichi grinned slightly.
"…We can actually fight now."
Maru turned her gaze toward the city below.
Tokyo stretched endlessly.
Broken.
Quiet.
Waiting.
A world that hadn't recovered—
And wouldn't anytime soon.
"…Let's go back."
The abandoned house welcomed them.
The same broken walls.
The same quiet space.
But something—
Felt different.
The moment they stepped inside—
They stopped.
"…Wait…"
Daichi's voice came out slowly.
"…Is that… food?"
The smell reached them first.
Warm.
Rich.
Real.
Cooked meat.
Something they hadn't experienced in what felt like forever.
"…No way…"
Daichi stepped forward, almost in disbelief.
"…This is real?" Hikari blinked, her usual calm expression breaking slightly.
Maru didn't move at first.
She just stared.
Like she didn't trust it.
"…Tch."
From the corner—
Nando-baba stood.
Arms crossed tightly.
Looking irritated as always.
"…Why are you staring like idiots…"
"…You made this?" Daichi asked, eyes wide.
"…Of course not!"
She snapped instantly.
"…It's my house!"
A small pause.
Then—
"…I just cooked because I felt like it!"
Silence.
Then—
Maru stepped forward.
And hugged her.
"…Eh?!"
Daichi joined immediately.
"…You're the best."
"…Get off!"
Hikari hesitated.
Then slowly stepped in as well.
"…Thank you…"
"…I said get off!"
"…Annoying humans!"
Her voice was sharp.
Complaining.
Irritated.
But—
She didn't push them away.
Not really.
"…Tch… don't get the wrong idea…"
A small smile.
Barely visible.
But there.
Rishiro stood near the door.
Watching quietly.
For a moment—
He didn't move.
Didn't speak.
Didn't interrupt.
Just—
Watched.
Then—
A faint smile appeared.
Soft.
Real.
"…Not bad."
Outside—
The wind moved softly through the empty streets.
Cold.
Endless.
Unforgiving.
But inside—
For the first time since everything began—
There was warmth.
Not safety.
Not peace.
But something close enough.
For now.
End of Chapter 30