"Whoosh—!"
The wind gently swept across the battlefield.
Amid the howling wind, a figure appeared without a sound, as though descending from midair. His toes touched the ground as he landed beside Alice.
"You..."
Kureia stared in astonishment.
"This..."
Rain looked somewhat lost.
"...You're back?"
Mikoto Kyoya was surprised as well, but he was even more relieved.
The others nearby seemed to recognize the figure too, and a commotion broke out among them.
"...Who are you?"
Only Hans frowned and asked that question.
But the newcomer ignored them all and turned his gaze toward the young girl beside him.
Seeing the delight rise in Alice's eyes, Fang Li suddenly smiled.
"Looks like nothing happened. That puts my mind at ease."
That familiar voice finally made Alice realize it.
Fang Li had truly returned.
"Mr. Fang Li..."
Alice immediately called out to him.
If they had not been under so many watchful eyes, Alice might have thrown herself straight into Fang Li's arms.
Fang Li naturally saw the excitement in the little girl's heart and smiled as he stroked Alice's head.
"You're still as stubborn as ever. At a time like this, you shouldn't be going onto the battlefield yourself. Why not leave it to someone else?"
As he said that, Fang Li patted Alice on the head.
"Anyway, step back for now. Leave this to me."
At Fang Li's words, Alice nodded almost reflexively, retreating with a face full of happiness and joy.
It showed that Alice believed a mere Demon Lord's Army executive could not possibly do anything to Fang Li.
Under those circumstances, Fang Li withdrew his gaze from Alice and turned it toward Hans.
"You're a Demon Lord's Army executive, a mutated Deathly Poison Slime named Hans, right?"
Fang Li gave him a brief once-over, then curled