Gabriel and Mak came back to the house after binding Koma the Shinigami with the spell, once they were back, Kevin noticed the look on their faces and figured out something was off so he had to ask them...

Kevin-What happened?

Mak looked at Gabriel with the intent of telling Kevin about the seven-day timeline they had but not to tell him about his car, Gabriel got the vibe instantly and replied appropriately...

Gabriel-We managed to trap it for now.

Kevin-What do you mean "for now"?

Gabriel-Mak's spell will be able to hold it for seven days, after that we have to figure out a way to beat it.

Kevin-Is it that strong?

Gabriel-What I know is that I can't damage it.

Mak-We have to take a trip to Japan.

Kevin-Japan?

Mak-Yes, the origin of the Shinigami is from Japan, I believe that if we meet with an Onmyoji that they will teach us the right techniques to beat it.

Kevin-A what?

Mak-The Onmyoji are Japanese exorcists who deal with evil spirits that are called Yokai.

Kevin-How would that help against a Shinigami?

Mak-As I explained to Gabe, I hope that they have something to deal with stray Shinigami.

Gabriel stood silent while Mak and Kevin were talking about the trip to Japan and couldn't help but stress out about the fact that they have damaged Kevin's car and he had no clue, their voices turned to strange sounds inside Gabriel's head as the

stress has begun to grow even more, at some point he felt like he couldn't handle it anymore, after all, this isn't the first time that he or Mak had lost or damaged Kevin's stuff, he made an excuse and left the scene...

Gabriel-I am going to tell Carmen we are going to leave for a while.

Mak-Of course you are, little lovebird.

Gabriel-I would cut your tongue right about now but...

Gabriel looked at Mak, he saw in his eyes something, he had the look of someone that has a plan, like he was sure of something, that's when he got it, Mak was trying to change the subject of the conversation to Gabriel and Carmen's relationship

in order to avert Kevin from asking about his car, he paused for a bit as he recognized Mak's cunning and then he went off to actually tell Carmen about the trip, he went upstairs towards Carmen's room, meanwhile, Mak's plan worked and Kevin

asked about Mak's previous words...

Kevin-Lovebird?

Mak-Oh come on, you have been stuck in your lab for so long that you haven't noticed the chemistry between our little Carmen and Gabe?

Kevin-First of all, I spent time in the lab researching and no, I haven't noticed anything. Gabriel always said that he only liked one girl.

Mak-Sure, and I am Santa!

Kevin-What do you mean?

Mak-Can't you see it? Gabriel is telling this lie for one reason, his own insecurity has made him incapable of expressing feelings to any girl so this excuse he made only to lift of this burden and he has almost believed his own lie.

Kevin-I get it, he made a solid excuse to avoid flirting with any girl.

Mak-Yes, I am sure that even he himself has no idea about it, he subconsciously made this idea in his head and now he doesn't feel the stress of going after a girl because he believes that he doesn't like any other girl, poor Carmen has a crush on him

long before he came back, I saw the look in her eyes as I told her about Gabriel, she admires him and has feelings for him but the cold idiot doesn't even have the mindset to understand, or maybe he does know it and still uses his excuse to avoid it.

Kevin-That's a deep thought.

Mak-Yes it is, if you would see Gabriel as a person and not as a test subject you might have seen it yourself.

Kevin-Gabriel and I are accomplices, I don't see him as just a test subject.

Mak-See, you said "as just a test subject".That means you also see him as a test subject.

Kevin-Why do you have to dig through every word to make a meaning?

Mak-Because apparently I am the only one who has any clue what's going on in here.

Kevin-Sure...

Mak-Let's get back to the matter at hand, we have to go to Japan.

Kevin-The only way for you two to go to Japan and have time to investigate is by going as students.

Mak-SCHOOL AGAIN? Can't you figure anything else?

Kevin-The only way to send you two legally to another country is as transfer students, if for any reason the police catches two people without any purpose in the country they will try to find your background since Gabriel is presumed dead and you are a goblin who doesn't technically have any background this will lead in big trouble with the law.

Mak-I get it, you humans and your stupid laws, why can't anyone just go to another country without a mountain of paperwork?

Kevin-Because...I am not going to explain it to you, it's too much.

Mak-I know.

Kevin-So, I am going to make the calls today and tomorrow you will fly to Japan, it won't be that hard to find a school to house you, I just hope that you have enough time to find what you are looking for.

Mak-If we don't you might have to find a way to power the binding ritual yourself and buy us some time.

Kevin-How am I going to do that?

Mak-Think of something.

Kevin-I don't feel like selling my soul and I don't even know how to begin with.

Mak-Let's hope that we won't have to go in such extreme measures.

Kevin-Yeah.

Mak-Do you think that Carmen could come with us? It would be good for her to get some experience.

Kevin-I don't think that I could arrange for a girl to transfer along with two boys. Besides, she couldn't stay with you at the school dorm and I don't think she can handle staying with a stranger.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

Mak-Carmen is a very polite and easygoing girl, she could handle it no problem.

Kevin-Ok, you want to know why I don't want Carmen to go with you two?

Mak-That's quite a change in your tone...Tell me.

Kevin-Because you two are irresponsible idiots and I fear that you won't look after Carmen if you come across trouble.

Mak-So that's it?

Kevin-What do you mean "that's it?" You two can't even take care of the stuff I gave you, both you and Gabriel have either lost or sold, I repeat, SOLD my stuff, you are in no way responsible enough to take care of a young girl by yourselves.

Mak-(Oh crap, I didn't expect this to turn back in him being angry about his stuff, quick change the subject). Ok, ok, Carmen will stay here, hey how about you finish what we talked about earlier today?

Kevin-You mean the Draconic Gauntlet? You are right, after I make the calls I am going to have it finished by tomorrow and Gabriel can take it with him.

Mak-(Great, he took the bait, now he probably won't ask about the car, the name though is terrible).Great, it might come in handy and Gabriel can learn how to use it.

Kevin-I wanted to run some tests on it before he wielded it though, I guess it can wait.

Mak-Ok, I am going to make some luggage.

Kevin-Sure, I will make the arrangements and then go to work on the Draconic Gauntlet.

Mak-(Does he have to say the whole name every time?)

Mak went upstairs to make his bags and Kevin looked for schools in Japan, meanwhile, Gabriel was at Carmen's room and they were talking about the fight with the Shinigami and the trip to Japan...

Gabriel-And after Mak started to draw the spell on the ground it went berserk, it pulled out a giant scythe and started slashing left and right, I barely managed to dodge it.

Carmen-Wow, that sounds so cool, so what are you going to do now?

Gabriel-Mak and I will go to Japan and find some...I can't remember what they are called but there are people who will teach me how to defeat this thing.

Carmen-Cool, can I come with you this time?

Gabriel-I am not sure, it might be too dangerous for you.

Carmen-I..I will be careful, I mean...You are there to protect me.

Gabriel-Yes, I will protect you but I am more comfortable knowing that you are in no danger at all.

Carmen-(He is so cute, he is afraid of me being in danger.) I understand, I also care for you.

Gabriel-Yeah...I mean...we are like a team...I can't let anything happen to you...It's my duty to protect my friends and...

Carmen-Friends?

Gabriel-Yeah, I consider you my friend, Carmen.

Carmen-I see, well I have to make lunch so I am going to the kitchen, you guys need a full stomach for the trip.

Carmen smiled as she left Gabriel in the room and went downstairs to cook, she had a sad look on her face from what Gabriel said, while Gabriel was alone in Carmen's room he also had some thoughts...

Gabriel-(She is kind of cute...Come on Gabe, you have Helen, you can't betray her even if Carmen is so nice and cute and...No, no, no, what am I thinking? Mak's stupid sayings have gone in my head, Carmen couldn't possibly like me, I mean she is really cute, she could have any guy she wants, why would she like me? No, I have to stay focused on Helen, I have to keep her image in my head, what if I see her again and she wants to be with me but I have betrayed her and had a relationship with

another girl? That would devastate her, it would be bad, I should be single when I see her again and be ready to accept her love...)

While Carmen was going downstairs she saw Mak who was coming upstairs to pack his bags...

Carmen-Hi Mak, Gabriel told me about what happened, do you think that I could come along to Japan, Gabriel said that he doesn't want me to be in any danger but I feel like when we are in Japan I could...

Mak-Woah! Slow down, I get it...You think this could be your chance, right?

Carmen-Well...

Mak-I also asked Kevin about that, he said that it's not possible.

Carmen-I see...

Mak-I don't see what you like about this clueless idiot, I mean he has a lot of issues.

Carmen-That's not true, he has a lot in his mind and can't afford to spend time in anything apart from his duty, that's why he is so distant.

Mak-You really think so? You have a lot to learn, young girl.

Carmen-I am going to the kitchen to make lunch, want anything special?

Mak-Anything you make is going to be delicious, it doesn't matter what it is.

Carmen-Thank you Mak. I'm off.

Carmen is at the kitchen cooking, Mak is packing his bags, Gabriel is fighting with himself and Kevin is in the lab working on his project, everything seems so quiet despite the fact that there is a stray Shinigami bound in a place somewhere in the woods, Gabriel and Mak are going in Japan in search of the Onmyoji and their skills, their plan is to find one and persuade him to teach them his techniques, they don't have any leads for now but Mak always has a plan. They are going to Japan, once again as transfer students in order to avoid any confrontation with the law and to secure a place to stay, the plan is to find an Onmyoji in less than six days or else Kevin will probably have to figure out a way to power the binding ritual himself and that would pose other problems as for mortals to wield magic power they need to form pacts with supernatural beings often having to trade their souls and that complicates things for Kevin, even if he has an interest in things like that he has no intention to put himself in any situation of this sort if he can avoid it.