After leaving the Devil Prison, Fang Mo accompanied Hayakawa Aki back to his own home.
Currently, Denji and Power have not yet returned. According to Makima, they seem to have been taken for special training by the strongest Devil hunter, namely Kishibe, which is why the house felt so empty.
After returning home, Hayakawa Aki did not speak, but simply sat silently on the sofa in a daze.
It was apparent.
His mood was still very low.
The cat left by Power seemed to sense his poor mood, meowing and rubbing against his leg in an attempt to comfort him.
Hayakawa Aki sat on the sofa for a while, then suddenly, as if remembering something, pulled out a pack of cigarettes, took one out, put it to his lips, and tried to light it with a lighter.
However, after two attempts, the lighter only sparked.
A confused expression appeared on Hayakawa Aki's face, but in the next moment, a hand was placed on his shoulder.
"In this day and age, you're still smoking traditional cigarettes. I'm almost losing respect for you because of the nicotine," Fang Mo said, extending a finger towards Hayakawa Aki: "But seeing how upset you are, fine, I'll reluctantly help you light it this time."
After saying this, a flame suddenly appeared at the tip of Fang Mo's finger.
The flame lit the end of the cigarette, and Hayakawa Aki instinctively took a puff, then immediately started coughing.
"Look at the child coughing."
Seeing this, Fang Mo patted Hayakawa Aki's back and said earnestly, "This cigarette is really harmful. If it's too much, next time I'll get you some tobacco leaves. We'll soak them in essence berry juice and then dry them out. You can chew them instead."
"At a time like this, can't you just let me cry freely?"
Hayakawa Aki said while coughing.
"Are you sure you want to cry?" Fang Mo asked upon hearing Hayakawa Aki's words.
"Himeno-senpai has said it before."
Hayakawa Aki steadied his breath and then took another deep drag of the cigarette: "I know I'm useless, unable to protect those around me or avenge them. At least... let me cry for her. That's all I can do for her now."
"Alright... that's fine."
Fang Mo thought for a moment, then nodded: "I'll leave for a bit then, and come back to find you later."
After saying this, he walked towards the door. However, after Fang Mo opened the door to leave, he didn't go far but instead took out a camera and a bottle of invisibility potion, which he drank quickly.
He then flew near the window of Hayakawa Aki's house and used the ability of the Void Ring to teleport back.
"Huff…"
Hayakawa Aki was taking puffs of his cigarette, and before long, tears suddenly streamed down his face. The cigarette fell to the ground as he curled up in agony on the sofa, his shoulders trembling continuously: "Umm... Ugh..."
"Sorry... Himeno-senpai..."
"Uhh... Uhuh..."
Fang Mo watched this sad scene before him, silently lifted his camera, and recorded this precious moment.
He planned to keep this video for their wedding.
It must be a romantic surprise.
After capturing this beautiful moment, Fang Mo didn't stay much longer. Using the Brown Magic, he teleported back to his own villa.
First, he greeted Ah Xue, then he looked at Shoggoth.
It must be said, Shoggoth's learning ability was truly impressive. It hadn't been long since they'd last met, and it had already begun learning to cook tempura from Ah Xue.
Shoggoth skillfully used its tentacles to pick up a large shrimp, skillfully peeled it, removed the head and veins, and cut the tendons. Then, it coated the shrimp in flour and batter, first testing the oil temperature with its tentacles before frying it. Surprisingly, the finished product looked quite professional.
Shoggoth first tasted it himself, but seemed unable to discern the flavor.
So, it chirped, asking Ah Xue to taste it.
After Ah Xue tasted it and nodded in approval, praising Shoggoth, the little creature was overjoyed, its small tentacles moving non-stop.
Seeing this, Fang Mo also rewarded it with some steak as food.
Afterwards, Fang Mo took the time to teleport to the planet Ego, not to visit Himeno, but to find a way to deal with the Nine-Tailed Fox.
Currently, the Nine-Tailed Fox was sealed by the Ender Great Sword.
However, Fang Mo had already prepared a broad-bladed giant sword for it, just lacking the time to transfer it. Now, as Fang Mo planned to harvest its meat, it was convenient to move it to its new home.
Fang Mo plunged the Ender Great Sword into the ground.
Chakra, like liquid, burst forth, quickly coalescing into a crimson chakra monster. It slowly grew bones, flesh, and fur, eventually turning into a gigantic fox with nine tails.
Upon being released, the Nine-Tailed Devil Fox immediately roared.
But before it could react, the earth trembled, and several light tentacles, as large as buildings, stretched out, binding the Nine-Tailed Devil Fox tightly like wrapping zongzi.
"Roar! What is this thing!?"
The Nine-Tails struggled, but Ego, after all, was a living celestial. With such prestige, perhaps the Ten-Tails might have had a chance to escape, but the Nine-Tails was truly helpless, quickly becoming subdued, lying on the ground, ready to be harvested.
Seeing this, Fang Mo excitedly took out a sickle and walked over.
Considering his identity, Fang Mo chose not to attack from the front but instead circled behind, swiftly cutting off a piece of the Nine-Tails' flesh.
The nine-tailed creature, in pain and about to roar in anger, was silenced as Fang Mo thrust the Divine Physician's World-Saving Sword into its mouth.
The creature let out a strange cry, and its ability to heal quickly activated, closing the wound in an instant. Following this, Fang Mo struck it twice more with satisfaction and resealed it inside a new broad-bladed sword.
After harvesting some flesh from the nine-tailed creature, Fang Mo quickly left the planet of Ego.
Just as he returned, the doorbell rang. To his surprise, it was Hayakawa Aki at the door, who appeared to have washed his face, showing no trace of tears. He immediately said upon meeting,
"I want to make a deal with you, right now."
"Do you know?" Fang Mo looked at Hayakawa Aki in front of him, "Your hurried appearance reminds me so much of my mother urging me to find a partner."
"You have a mother?"
Hayakawa Aki asked in surprise.
"Damn it!!!" Fang Mo couldn't help but burst out, "I've already said no critical hits in roasting!"
"I didn't mean that, sorry."
Hayakawa Aki explained, "Since Devils are born from fear, I thought you were the same. But you suddenly mentioned your mother, does that mean... you're not a Devil?"
"..."
To be honest, this question really stumped Fang Mo.
If he admits he's a Devil, then he loses his mother.
If he doesn't, the fun is gone.
"Future Devil, get out here!" Slightly stunned, Fang Mo shouted, and soon the Future Devil emerged from Hayakawa Aki's eyes.
"Future..."
"Next time he hits me critically, I'll smash both of your heads together." Before the Future Devil could speak, Fang Mo had already grabbed its collar, "I mean what I say. Before he tries to hit me critically again, you'd better show him a future where both of your heads are smashed, and make him shut up."
"Okay, I got it."
The Future Devil immediately nodded, then turned to Hayakawa Aki, "Hayakawa Aki, apologize with me, quickly."
"Sorry…"
Hayakawa Aki was a bit bewildered and said subconsciously, "Alright, go back now."
Upon seeing this, Fang Mo relaxed his grip, and the Future Devil hurriedly transformed into a streak of light and disappeared, returning to Hayakawa Aki's eyes.
And with that distraction.
The previous question was left unresolved.
After some thought, Fang Mo still let Hayakawa Aki enter the villa first, and soon he was sitting on the sofa in the living room.
"Guest, please have some coffee."
Ah Xue brought over a freshly brewed cup of coffee, politely addressing Hayakawa Aki.
Then, Shoggoth slid over on the ground, its two tiny tentacles holding sugar cubes, slowly extending and thinning until they reached Hayakawa Aki.
"Chirp! Chirp chirp!"
Shoggoth spoke in a mimicking manner.
"Eh?"
Hayakawa Aki was startled, clearly unable to understand Shoggoth's language. However, in the next second, Shoggoth seemed to realize that Hayakawa Aki didn't understand and acted accordingly.
So, in the next moment.
"Guest, please have some sugar."
A light, agile female voice emanated from Shoggoth.
"Uh... Thank you." Hayakawa Aki was a bit bewildered but still took the sugar cube from the tiny tentacle and subconsciously began to stir it into his cup.
"Alright, now let's talk about the contract."
Fang Mo was already accustomed to this scene. He waved his hand, and Shoggoth jumped into his hand. While petting Shoggoth, he asked, "What do you want to trade with me this time?"
"I'm tired."
After hearing this, Hayakawa Aki put down his stirring spoon and got straight to the point, "Please give me the power to kill the Gun Devil."
"The price for that is quite severe."
"I know."
Hayakawa Aki said, "As long as I can kill the Gun Devil, take everything from me – my memories, emotions, body, lifespan, soul, I offer it all to you."
"Just to kill the Gun Devil?"
Fang Mo asked.
"Yes," Hayakawa Aki nodded, his expression as calm as ever: "From the beginning, my life has been solely about revenge. During this journey, I've encountered many people and experienced numerous events, but in the end, I'm left alone. I'm tired now. If possible, it might be better to perish together with the Gun Devil."
"Are you sure?"
Fang Mo asked: "Once the contract is fulfilled, it will be too late for regrets."
"I'm sure."
Hayakawa Aki spoke earnestly.
"Alright then," Fang Mo shrugged his shoulders: "In that case, I'll take a portion of your lifespan as a down payment. Is that alright?"
"No problem."
Hayakawa Aki nodded.
Fang Mo didn't speak but simply raised his hand to Hayakawa Aki's body and then quickly removed it: "Done, I've absorbed your lifespan. The contract is fulfilled."
"Okay."
Hayakawa Aki nodded, then asked: "How long can I live now?"
"Five..."
"Five years?" Hayakawa Aki instinctively nodded: "With that time, I should be able to gather enough pieces to defeat the Gun Devil..."
"Four..." Fang Mo looked straight at Hayakawa Aki: "Three... Two..."
"???"
Hayakawa Aki looked at Fang Mo in astonishment.