Ifranci's growth depended on the increase in the village's overall value. So long as the village's development was delayed—or even destroyed—Ifranci would naturally be unable to keep growing and would remain forever in its current state. Then the situation Zhou Qing envisioned would never come to pass.
But!
How could Nami Village possibly stop developing?
And destroying Nami Village would be equivalent to hurting Namiki...
"What's the second method?" Timidit asked, trembling.
"You know perfectly well."
Zhou Qing did not say it outright, but everyone present understood.
The second method was for Timidit herself to deal with Ifranci. In Nami Village, only she could confront Ifranci head-on.
After all, Ifranci was not bound by the rules of Equivalent Exchange.
It could hurt others—
That was allowed.
But if others hurt it—
That was not allowed!
The rules of Equivalent Exchange would settle accounts with any outsider who harmed Ifranci. Only Timidit, who was likewise unrestricted by those rules, could kill Ifranci.
The Fallen Ones had extraordinarily strong vitality, but Ifranci was not a Fallen One in the true sense. It was an existence Materialized from this sludge through the fear in Timidit's heart.
There was—and only Timidit could kill it.
Not to mention, judging by Ifranci's performance while hunting Slimes earlier, aside from being large, there was nothing particularly outstanding about it. It had even been "suffocated" by a Slime once. At the time, Zhou Qing had suspected that it might not be a genuine living creature, because the Purple Slime could not dissolve its flesh.
The Guardian of Nami Village?
It was nothing but a bluffing coward, all appearance and no substance.
"I've said all that needed to be said."
Zhou Qing walked toward the edge, preparing to return the way they had come. "Will you continue living in