In his left hand, he carried an empty blue laundry detergent bottle.
In his right hand, a red gasoline can filled a quarter of the way with black oil.
Fumiya Jin and Nijika walked into the woods together.
Nijika looked at Fumiya Jin with some concern and said, "Are we really... going to get water like this? You didn't sleep at all last night."
Fumiya Jin smiled at her. "I never planned on getting water in the first place."
"Eh?"
Nijika was stunned. "Then what you just told them..."
"Of course, I was lying to them. You must have noticed something's off, right? Both Maruyama and Daniel are suspicious. And their 'big sister,' there's a 90% chance she's compromised too," Fumiya Jin said. "So I was deliberately misleading them."
As he spoke, Fumiya Jin led Nijika in a different direction—instead of going deeper into the forest, they began walking along its edge, away from the bonfire.
"So they really are up to something?" Nijika's expression grew serious. "I could tell something was strange from the way they looked at you... But why? What happened to them? And what are they planning to do now?"
"I don't know," Fumiya Jin shook his head, "but one thing is clear—they're trying to sabotage us. They don't want us to clear this instance."
"Ehhh... How did it come to this..." Nijika couldn't quite wrap her head around it.
Then she started to worry. "Will the madam be in danger? She's all alone with them..."
"She won't be. They wouldn't dare do anything rash," Fumiya Jin said, shaking his head.
Earlier, when Daniel and Maruyama returned to camp, I deliberately set down my tachi and grabbed both their shoulders while questioning them.
On the surface, I was using physical contact to pressure them.
In reality, I was also giving them an opportunity to make a move.
After all, my hands were far from my sword at that moment. The blade was stuck in the ground, still in its sheath. By all accounts, it was the perfect chance to strike.
On top of that, I had already pushed them to their limit, creating a tense, sword-drawn atmosphere as if I was about to attack them myself...
Under those circumstances, if Daniel and Maruyama truly had the confidence to fight me, they would have acted then.
But the fact is, they didn't.
This proves they have no confidence in beating me, even in such an advantageous situation.
So right now, knowing that I will be returning, the likelihood of them harming the madam is definitely quite low.
Besides, I have a more crucial source of information—I can see the madam's death countdown. Just like mine and Nijika's, it ends at dawn tomorrow.
So, the madam should be fine.
"Judging by their behavior... during the day, at most they'll only dare to pull some petty tricks. They absolutely wouldn't do anything too drastic. They'll even have to obediently carry out the tasks I assigned them," Fumiya Jin said. "My guess is, they're waiting for nightfall. Unlike us, they might not fear the darkness, making nighttime their prime opportunity. They'll definitely wait until it's dark to make their real move. And when they do... there might be an even greater threat than just them."
"Ah?" Nijika's heart clenched. "Then... what should we do now?"
"Sleep."
"Eh?"
Nijika was stunned. "S-Sleep?"
Fumiya Jin stopped walking.
Causing Nijika to stop as well.
He tossed the laundry detergent bottle aside, opened the gasoline can, and poured a small amount of the black oil at the base of several trees in every direction... The smell immediately spread.
Then, he led Nijika to the base of a tree and said, "I am getting a little tired. So, I'll have to trouble Miss Pudding to provide me with her sleep-aid service, just like the night before last."
Nijika was a bit bewildered. "I mean, I can, but... if the final battle is tonight, don't we need to prepare..."
"This is part of the preparation," Fumiya Jin said with a shrug.
"Er..." Nijika paused, slightly taken aback.
Seeing the trace of exhaustion that finally showed between Fumiya Jin's brows... she instantly understood.
The guy had worked tirelessly all day yesterday. When they went into the jungle, he had to look after her too, which made him the most exhausted one.
Then, he stayed up all night without a second of rest. And this morning, he was planning everyone's actions and chopping firewood himself...
Goodness knows how tired he must be. He had just been hiding it so well that no one could tell.
So...
Letting him get a good sleep really was the most crucial preparation.
Because he was the main DPS of their duo, the one responsible for controlling the situation and dealing damage.
If he wasn't in top condition, no amount of other preparations would matter.
Realizing this, Nijika's gaze hardened with determination.
She bent down, cleared a small patch of ground under the tree, sat down, and then patted her lap, saying to Fumiya Jin, "Please."
To receive such a proactive invitation for a lap pillow from a cute little angel like Nijika put Fumiya Jin in a rather cheerful mood.
But as he looked at the ground around them, he found it difficult to lie down and peacefully enjoy the girl's lap pillow like before.
After all, their previous lap pillow sessions had been on the beach.
Lying down on soft sand is something most people can accept.
But here, within the forest, the ground beneath them was uneven, damp earth scattered with all sorts of small twigs, leaves, and pebbles.
Lying down in such an environment, even ignoring the natural psychological resistance a modern person would have to getting their clothes dirty, was simply not very comfortable.
So, Fumiya Jin thought for a moment and decided against lying down. Instead, he leaned against the same tree trunk and sat down next to Nijika.
"Eh?" Nijika was a bit surprised. "You don't want... that anymore?"
"Lying on this kind of ground is too uncomfortable. Let's skip it," Fumiya Jin said.
"Oh, I guess so..." Nijika glanced at the ground and understood. "But... is this okay?"
Fumiya Jin turned his head to look at Nijika as she said this and suddenly found her a little alluring.
Because her expression and tone at that moment were like someone who had intended to give you a sweet first kiss, only for you to just give her a quick hug and call it a day.
Although it wasn't actually that deep, her demeanor alone made him feel a little... like teasing her.
So Fumiya Jin thought for a moment, then suddenly turned to his side, reached out his arms, and pulled her into a hug, holding her entire soft, petite body in his embrace.
Then, he gently rested his head on her soft, slender shoulder, closed his eyes, and said, "Let's do this then... I'll be in your care for a bit."
"E-e-e-e-e-eh..." Nijika froze completely. Her soft body went rigid, and she didn't dare move for several seconds.
The forest fell silent.
Fumiya Jin inhaled the fresh, sweet scent of the girl.
But he never heard the sound he was expecting.
Huh?
Where's the Sharpness?
Where's my +1?
______
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