Nohime supported Han Zhiqi all the way to the clearing where they had fought the demons.
Several contestants resting on the ground stood up when they saw the two emerge from the woods. They stared at Han Zhiqi, and two of them even stepped forward to help support him.
Nohime declined with a smile and carefully helped Han Zhiqi sit on a stone slab.
The contestants present all gathered around, and someone offered them two bottles of water.
Nohime politely thanked them, unscrewed one bottle and handed it to Han Zhiqi, then opened the other and took two sips herself.
"That demon was killed by him..." Kimura asked.
Nohime nodded.
Upon hearing that the Three-Headed Demon had been killed, everyone looked at Han Zhiqi as if he were their savior. They practically wanted to drop to their knees and worship him. It was understandable. They had all given up hope of surviving, and no one had expected someone so formidable to be hidden among them.
Along with their reverence came relief.
"How is Yuka?" Nohime asked Akino beside her.
"She's much better than before. Just some superficial scrapes, nothing serious. How is Han Zhiqi? Is he all right?"
Nohime lowered her head to look at Han Zhiqi and shook her head. The frost aura was receding at a visible rate.
Han Zhiqi looked up at the four or five miserable people before him. When he had gone after the Three-Headed Demon, there had still been over a dozen people here. How had only this few remained in such a short time?
"Are you the only ones who survived?"
"A few others went after that six-legged monster," one person answered smugly, seemingly trying to show off in front of Han Zhiqi.
Han Zhiqi fell silent for a moment. "If it ran,