The conversation between Fang Li and Mumei naturally went unnoticed by anyone else.
Afterward, Fang Li bid farewell to Mumei and made his way to Hayajiro Train, entering the final carriage directly.
"Ha… ha…"
As soon as he entered the carriage, Fang Li heard a series of heavy panting sounds. The panting sounded full of pain and discomfort. However, Fang Li wasn't surprised at all and entered the carriage without hesitation.
Inside the carriage, there was no flicker of fire, only an abyssal darkness. Within the darkness, in a corner, a heart was emitting a faint glow. However, it flickered like a dying light bulb, appearing extremely unstable.
And surrounding the heart, Ikoma, the Master, was huddled in a corner, gasping for breath incessantly.
Seeing this scene, Fang Li sighed softly and spoke in a gentle voice. "You've reached your limit, Ikoma."
Fang Li's words made Ikoma, who was huddled in the corner, trembling all over as he slowly raised his head.
What appeared on Ikoma's face was a grim and lifeless expression.
He looked just like a Kabane.
"You turned into a Kabaneri yesterday, but today you haven't even had a drop of blood. You must be feeling terrible now, right?"
Fang Li spoke as if he didn't care about Ikoma's transformation, his attitude as casual as ever.
"I really wonder what you're holding on to. Just go ahead and drink some blood. It's not like drinking blood will turn you into a monster, though it wouldn't be accurate to call you human either."
Under Fang Li's sarcastic remarks, Ikoma, like a lifeless corpse, staggered to his feet.
His need for blood became increasingly intense. His gaze grew more and more fierce. Ikoma began to walk toward Fang Li, but it didn't seem like he intended to get closer in a friendly manner.
Surely, anyone would feel fear when they saw someone approaching them with physical characteristics so similar to a Kabane?
However, Fang Li suddenly started talking to himself.
"I'll be leaving soon."
Fang Li had completed all of his Quests in this world.
The only reason he continued to stay was to repay Mumei and Ikoma's kindness and ensure their safety.
At the moment, although the people in Hayajiro Train had yet to accept the two Kabaneri, the tension had eased significantly.
Furthermore, Mumei had already awakened. Even if the people on Hayajiro Train wanted to cause trouble, they would only suffer serious consequences. Fang Li no longer needed to stay.
"Although the debt has been repaid in terms of favors, you did save my life after all."
Fang Li raised his head and looked at Ikoma.
"So, I'll give you a little after-sales service."
As he finished speaking, Fang Li's hand flickered, and a dagger glinting with a cold light immediately appeared in his hand.
"Aaah Aaah—!"
At the same time, Ikoma let out a roar that was almost indistinguishable from that of a Kabane and lunged toward Fang Li.
Fang Li, in response, simply watched quietly.
It was only when Ikoma pounced in front of him that Fang Li spoke up.
"You're being too reckless, idiot."
In the next second, Ikoma naturally missed his target.
Fang Li, who had dodged to Ikoma's side, squinted his eyes slightly.
When he reopened them, his ice-blue Mystic Eyes were already visible.
"Chī——!"
With a cold gleam, Fang Li's sharp dagger aimed for Ikoma's glowing heart.
…
About ten minutes later, Fang Li entered the forest once again.
This time, he went deeper, as if never intending to turn back, gradually making his way forward.
"Ah…"
"Wu…"
Before long, faint wailing and screams reminiscent of agony reached Fang Li's ears.
Upon hearing these sounds, Fang Li slowed his pace and began to hide among the bushes, peering ahead.
There, figures with glowing hearts moved unsteadily.
Naturally, they were Kabane.
"They really are everywhere, these monsters…" Although he said that, Fang Li's expression clearly showed great pleasure.
"If they continue forward, it's only a matter of time before they discover Hayajiro Train, isn't it?"
Once again, Fang Li gripped his sharp dagger in his hand.
His ice-blue Mystic Eyes appeared once more.
"Though the numbers are a bit overwhelming, the terrain here is advantageous to me. Let me be an Assassin once again."
And so, Fang Li began to hide.
"Come, let us fight…"
…
As Fang Li left the Hayajiro Train and ventured deeper into the forest, Mumei emerged from within the woods.
At this moment, Mumei was walking towards Hayajiro Train, murmuring to herself.
"It's truly incredible, there's not even a trace of Kabane aura…"
Afterward, Mumei personally went to check on the pregnant woman, observing her for a while before confirming that she wouldn't turn into a Kabane anymore.
"She was bitten after all, so how did this happen?"
With this perplexing question in mind, Mumei returned to Hayajiro Train.
However, just before reaching Hayajiro Train, Mumei witnessed a highly surprising scene.
"Look! Look quickly!"
Among the crowd, Ikoma stood shirtless, looking as if he had been reborn, excitedly shouting at the people around him.
"I am no longer a Kabane! I've returned to being human!"
Upon closer inspection, Ikoma's body had undergone a complete transformation.
His skin was no longer the sorrowful, lifeless gray it once was.
The veined marks resembling blood vessels had disappeared entirely, replaced by a vigorous appearance.
Most importantly, Ikoma's chest had returned to normal, with no glowing heart resembling a Kabane in sight.
"I've become human again! Human again!" Ikoma's voice resounded throughout the open space.
Around him, the samurai and civilians of Aragane Station stood there with dumbfounded expressions on their faces, including Yomokawa Ayame, Konochi Kurusu, and Araka Kibito, who wore expressions of disbelief.
"How… how did he suddenly return to normal?"
"Transforming from a Kabane back to a human?"
"Don't be fooled! There's no way something like that can happen!"
"If it were so easy to return to being human, the Kabane wouldn't exist anymore!"
The samurai and civilians nearby clearly did not believe Ikoma.
Only Mumei stood there, staring blankly at the scene, before rushing towards Ikoma after a while.
Ikoma couldn't help but be startled.
But at this moment, Mumei had already grabbed him by the neck and stared at him intently.
Immediately, paying no attention to the reactions of those around them, Mumei asked.
"Was it that person's doing?"
"That person?" Ikoma was taken aback.
However, without waiting for Ikoma's answer, Mumei already had her confirmation.
At that moment, Mumei's expression became complicated.