"Eh?"
Upon hearing Fang Li's words, Shana couldn't help but be stunned once again.
Even Alastor seemed genuinely surprised, commenting, "Weren't you quite opposed to having us follow you before?"
"At that time, you were also targeting Friagne. Now that you've promised not to interfere, I have no reason to reject you, right?" Fang Li explained, "Moreover, if we continue to act together, Friagne will become more cautious and less likely to come out easily. So, separating our actions was necessary. Now that we've decided to rest, I don't want him launching a surprise attack in the middle of the night. Staying together would be safer."
The excessively persuasive words left Alastor unable to find a counterargument.
Shana frowned slightly, gazing at Fang Li and saying, "You really are a strange person."
"I don't mind being called that." Fang Li shrugged indifferently and continued, "In any case, if you have nowhere to go, stay here. The main bed will be available for you, and I can make a makeshift bed on the floor if needed."
"Oh, and the bathroom is over there." Fang Li pointed in a direction and told Shana, "If you want to take a bath, feel free to use it."
Seeing Fang Li arrange everything, Shana lowered her head, looking at the pendant in front of her.
Alastor seemed to know what Shana was thinking and directly said, "What this human says isn't without sense. Friagne is a cunning Crimson Lord. To avoid a midnight attack, staying together is safer."
"...Understood," Shana reluctantly nodded.
However, Shana had no intention of taking a bath.
For Flame Haze, roughing it outdoors was nothing out of the ordinary.
So, in general, Flame Haze often used a power called "Purifying Flame" within their bodies, provided by the Crimson Lord, to efficiently cleanse their bodies. This method was more convenient than taking a bath.
However, Fang Li succinctly addressed Shana's thoughts with a single statement.
"It's not about convenience, but about mood. Taking a bath relaxes the mind, making it easier to fall asleep later, resulting in more efficient rest. Which one is more helpful for yourself, efficient cleanliness or efficient rest? I don't think I need to explain further, do I?"
With this statement, Shana, finding no room for rebuttal, reluctantly entered the bathroom. She undressed, continuously muttering irritated words.
"What's the deal with this human?"
Although Shana hadn't interacted with many people, this was the first time someone had pressed her so tightly.
This wasn't about strength.
For some reason, Shana felt a kind of oppression from Fang Li, making her very displeased.
"He is clearly just a human, yet he is so arrogant."
Although she wanted to throw a tantrum, without any valid reason to argue, Shana would only be venting her frustration. Reluctantly, she submitted.
"This is really annoying." With this thought, Shana stepped into the bathtub.
On the other side, Fang Li simply changed his clothes outside and threw the packaging of the scattered melon bread into the trash bin.
On the bed, Shana's pendant lay, shining like fire powder in the Red Lotus-like Jewel.
This pendant was actually a type of Artifact.
An Artifact was an instrument used to express the will of the Crimson World Crimson Lord sleeping within the body of each Flame Haze.
It was something every Flame Haze possessed.
After all, in order to obtain the power of the Crimson World Crimson Lord, humans must, during the contract, offer their entire past, present, and future existence as the cost, transforming themselves into vessels for the Crimson Lord to enter their bodies and provide power.
However, the existence of humans is still too insignificant for the Crimson Lord.
Therefore, in order to enter the contractor's body, Crimson Lords would reduce their own existence to the minimum, entering a state of deep slumber.
In this situation, a slumbering Flame Haze would anchor their will onto an Artifact, using it to communicate with the outside world.
The pendant in front of Fang Li represented Alastor's will.
So, even though Alastor's true self slept within Shana's body, Alastor's will resided in this pendant, using it to observe the external world.
Thus, while Shana was bathing, Alastor began conversing with Fang Li.
"Today you've eliminated Torches all day, but the 'Hunter' hasn't appeared. What's your plan for the next step?"
"What else can I do? I'll keep going!" Fang Li casually replied while changing clothes. "Torches in this city hold significant importance for Friagne. Even if he's patient, he won't sit idly by and watch Torches being eliminated. Sooner or later, he'll show up."
"Is that so?" Alastor said solemnly, "Is he truly planning to launch a City Devourer?"
"Looks like you've already guessed that guy's objective." Fang Li smirked and continued, "However, he won't succeed." Fang Li said this with the same nonchalant tone.
However, precisely because of that, it conveyed a sense of confidence to others.
And indeed, Fang Li had no doubt that he would fail.
Not due to an unfathomable mystery of self-confidence, but because this method could be used to fortify his own inner resolve.
This was a practice Fang Li learned during his time in the world of "Hidan no Aria" in the Butei High Assault Course.
Just as people would shout a slogan before a competition, it served the same purpose, especially if there were teammates, it could help alleviate their anxiety.
In fact, Fang Li's words did bring a sense of reassurance to Alastor.
At that moment, Alastor sighed and remarked, "You really are an extraordinary human."
At least, in the eyes of the people in this world, Fang Li was extraordinary enough.
Night fell in this manner.
The lights dimmed in the apartment room, and a rhythmic breathing pattern emanated.
Both Fang Li and Shana had entered the realm of dreams, leaving only the pendant expressing Alastor's will to continue emitting its glow.
No one knew.
Outside Misaki City, another entity was making its way towards them.
Yet, Misaki City remained seated beneath the night sky, like a ship about to face an impending storm.
...