Sawano Pond

As Ryosuke and Sayaka stayed behind, Ryota walk with the others on the street. 

"So how are we going to get to Sawano Pond?" 

"Oh I thought you will take us there Ryota dearie? That's the reason why i let you come with us in the first place" Masami said mischievously

"What? But I don't have a car"

"Hahaha, Mrs. Fukunaga just messing with you, I will take us there with my small truck" Nobuyuki reassured him

They walked to a coin Parking lot where some cars were already parked. Nobuyuki approached with a car key, a big Toyota HiLux Dual Cab in the colour of ash.

"That's your small truck?" Ryota asked Nobuyuki dumbfounded

"Yep, that's my beauty, hop inside while I pay to the machine"

Masami sat in the Front passenger seat, while Ryota sat behind her and Takashi behind the driver's seat. Nobuyuki paid to the machine and got back in the car.

"Seat belts everyone and watch not to get the mats dirty" Nobuyuki said as he sat in the drivers seat. He put the key in the keyhole and start the engine of the car. 

After opening the headlights he put reverse and back away the car of the parking lot. Then he put first gear and start driving in the streets.

Ryota look outside from his window. Today was Friday night so a lot of people had gone outside to eat and go shopping. The people were having a good time and were walking some of them in couples others in families. Ryota's heart got tight as he looked all those people, as he got anxious that if they didn't manage to prevent the next demon attack, those people will get hurt or worse.

The engine of the car roared as the car got into the main road. Raising speed Nobuyuki got in the 162 national road which lead outside of the city.

The night outside was cold. A few clouds were on the sky so he can watch the stars better as they left away from the city lights. No one had spoke from the moment they got into the car.

"So Ryota... jokes aside, why do you think I let you come with us?" Masami asked Ryota without turning back.

Ryota surprised by her sudden question he said:

"Ehm because you believed on me?"

"Hahaha, oh come on now Ryota, this has nothing to do with faith at all, why should I believe on you? You're just an average salaryman who just joined our organisation last week. Also you're still weak to fight and you don't even know to cast a single spell"

Ryota sit on his seat uncomfortably.

"Then... if I'm all this why did you allow me to come with you?"

"For two reasons...first thanks to you for killing that Demon-Beast back in Shōkoku-ji Temple you made that Archdemon come out of his lair and come to us, so in the end  we found the lair."

Ryota nodded.

"And the other reason?"

"Remember when you touched Sayaka neck when the curse was choking her?"

"You mean because I heal her?"

"You didn't heal her Ryota, that's the whole point. You transferred your immunity to demonic sorcery on Sayaka by just touching her. You did something that I never seen before...I couldn't even imagine something like this before today."

Ryota look at his hands as he remembered the incident with Sayaka.

"Yeah, but I didn't understand how I did it... I don't know either if I will manage to do it again"

"Don't have such little faith on yourself Ryota. It's not problem to learn how to use your abilities, the problem is to not have them the first place. I have study all sorcery and magic, but I can't do what you did to Sayaka and I don't think i will ever manage to do the same."

Masami turned again and look at him deeply into his eyes.

"The point is Ryota, I couldn't save Sayaka...but you did"

Ryota look at her lost in words, and as Masami turned back again he looked his hands again trying to figure out how could keep. 

No one else spoke to rest of the their trip. Nobuyuki drived calmly and he took the next turn off the main road. Then he enter the forest road from Nakagawa, now they could see only trees outside from they windows. After driving for fifteen minutes into the forest Nobuyuki stopped the door.

"This is as far we go with the car Miss Fukunaga"

"Okay, we will continue by foot from here"

When everyone got off the car Nobuyuki locked. It was pitch black outside and a strong wind was blowing between the trees.

"Okay people let's move on" Masami raised her hand and a white flame appeared hovering on her hand.

"March on" Masami walks in front to lighten the path. Everyone followed her closely, as they kept walking they could hear some nightbirds flying away from their branches scared from their presence.

Ryota tighten his coat around him to prevent the cold wind insert his body. Nobuyuki on the other hand was walking slowly, without paying attention to the cold wind, even if he was just wearing a sweater. Takashi was walking closely to Masami inspecting with his eyes and his ears every side and sound they encounter.

After walking for about twenty minutes nonstop they finally arrived at the Sawano Pond. The wind was blowing above the water of the lake and make everyone breath deeply the fresh air of the countryside.

"Okay everyone we finally arrived, now we need to find the lair" Masami said as she was looking around for any signs to spot

"Which way do we start?" Nobuyuki asked her

"When the High Demons have councils in the woods, they usually pick glades so they can cast round fires and satanic symbols on the ground"

"There isn't any kind of glade in here and this a tourist area, so neither any kind of places with cutted trees" Ryota said as he was looking around

"Then, they must using Apokrypsis somewhere in the woods without anyone tracing them" Takashi pointed with his finger the one side of the forest beside the pond

"Okay, let's search over there first. Everyone be close to each other and be very quiet, we need to find they lair without being spotted or everything will be lost. Let's move on" Masami started walking towards in the woods with the rest of them following her cautious.