Fang Li recognized the voice coming from outside the door almost immediately.
"Miss Ayame?"
The owner of that voice was none other than Yomogawa Ayame.
It was not just Fang Li—Ikoma recognized her as well.
"Lady Ayame?" Ikoma exclaimed in surprise. "Why are you here?"
"I merely came to ask." Yomogawa Ayame's voice, whose hesitation and uncertainty could be clearly heard even through the door, spoke. "Do the three of you have any food with you? Do you need me to prepare some for you?"
Yomogawa Ayame's words made Fang Li and Ikoma look at each other.
They both knew very well what the situation aboard the Iron Fortress was like.
With food and water in such short supply, coupled with Fang Li's group's position, if Yomogawa Ayame truly provided them with food and water, she would surely draw a great deal of criticism, wouldn't she?
Yet Yomogawa Ayame had still come here specifically to ask such a question, proving that she truly cared about them.
Only Mumei, a girl with little guile, failed to understand Yomogawa Ayame's good intentions. Sounding bored, she said, "We don't need human food. As long as we have blood... Mmph!"
Mumei's voice abruptly turned into a muffled whimper.
Because Fang Li had covered Mumei's mouth.
Ignoring Mumei's struggles, Fang Li said to Yomogawa Ayame outside the door, "Please rest assured, Miss Ayame. We brought some food and water with us, so it shouldn't be a problem for the time being."
"Y-Yes, Lady Ayame." Ikoma apparently did not want to reveal that he needed to drink blood either, and hurriedly followed Fang Li's lead. "Please don't worry about us. We're fine."
"That's good." Yomogawa Ayame seemed to breathe a sigh of relief before continuing, "Actually, the Iron Fortress will be stopping briefly in a little while. I came to tell the three of you."
"Stopping?" Ikoma could not help asking, "Why are we suddenly stopping?"
"...Actually, we just discovered that the water tank has cracked. There isn't enough water left inside, and if this continues, the boiler will stop working and the Iron Fortress will be unable to move." Yomogawa Ayame said helplessly, "So we have to stop and collect water."
"Is that so?" Ikoma hesitated before cautiously asking, "Do you need me to help repair it?"
After all, Ikoma was a blacksmith. Repairs like that were what he did best.
But given Ikoma's current status, even if he were willing to help, others might not appreciate it.
Thus, Yomogawa Ayame said, "Please don't worry. Your former colleagues are also aboard the Iron Fortress. With them there, the water tank should be repaired soon."
Ikoma's expression became somewhat complicated.
Presumably, Yomogawa Ayame's words had reminded Ikoma of the companions he had once worked alongside.
"The Iron Fortress will probably stop shortly," Yomogawa Ayame said. "When it does, I hope you'll try not to cause panic among the people."
"Understood." Ikoma nodded.
As for Mumei, she had already broken free from Fang Li's restraint. As though sulking, she turned her head away and did not say a word.
Only Fang Li gazed at the darkening sky beyond the window and murmured softly.
"Just in time to get it done..."
As night fell, the Iron Fortress stopped, just as Yomogawa Ayame had said.
The train doors opened one after another.
Warriors and civilians alike disembarked from the Iron Fortress in succession, gathering in a fairly secluded clearing.
Then, under Yomogawa Ayame's direction, some went to collect water, some began repairing the water tank, and everyone else gathered in the clearing and got busy.
Busy doing what?
The warriors formed a circle around the perimeter, keeping watch.
Meanwhile, the civilians built a bonfire in the center, knelt before it, and began chanting prayers.
Fang Li, Mumei, and Ikoma also got off the train and saw this scene.
Watching the civilians pray around the bonfire, Mumei blinked and asked, "What are they doing?"
Ikoma remained silent.
Fang Li glanced toward the bonfire and said quietly, "They're holding a funeral for the dead."
Mumei immediately fell silent as well.
Gazing at the steadily burning bonfire and the people kneeling before it in prayer, both Mumei and Ikoma sank into silence.
"Sniff... sob..."
Before long, weeping began to rise and fall from the crowd before the bonfire.
One by one, the people from Aragane Station could no longer suppress the grief in their hearts and began to cry.
Sorrow spread through the air.
It came from longing for those who had passed on.
Faced with such a scene, even the warriors wore expressions of shared grief. Not a single one could bring himself to speak.
Even Ikoma's mood grew somewhat low.
Mumei watched quietly. Though nothing showed on the surface, her feelings were complicated as well.
Surely, no one could remain unmoved by a scene like this?
Just as that thought arose in her heart, Mumei suddenly noticed something.
Fang Li, standing beside her, was gazing at the scene suffused with sorrow and grief, but his eyes were unlike anyone else's.
What kind of eyes were they?
—Calm.
A calmness unlike that of an ordinary person.
So calm that it was almost frightening.
He looked as though he had become numb to death, utterly detached—he could practically be called heartless.
The light in Mumei's eyes flickered slightly. She had only just thought that no one could remain unmoved by the sight before them.
Then Mumei could not help saying to Fang Li, "Don't you feel sad?"
At those words, Fang Li turned to look at Mumei. His dark eyes carried a stifling calm.
The next second, Fang Li spoke.
"If I could feel sadness, I'd already be normal."
Leaving those words behind, Fang Li abandoned the stunned Mumei and walked toward the crowd ahead.
Fang Li's appearance naturally stirred up commotion among the people nearby.
But Fang Li ignored it and walked straight toward a pregnant woman kneeling quietly before the bonfire in prayer, her expression more devout than anyone's, passing by her side.
As Fang Li passed the pregnant woman, his lips moved slightly, as though he had said something.
The pregnant woman immediately opened her eyes.
Unfortunately, by then Fang Li had already passed through the crowd and was heading deep into the forest ahead.
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