Bengtie: My death fueled their madness.

Black Tower ignored that gaze and moved his eyes down to his right foot.

Although concealed by a wide black robe, the unnatural distortion was impossible to hide.

The stronger smell of blood was coming from there.

He... carried her, who was fast asleep, through the fourth maze space all by himself?

Black Tower opened his mouth as if to ask something, but swallowed the words back down.

What do you want to ask?

Do you feel pain?

Or should we ask why we should do this?

For this self-proclaimed strong guy, her concern might be seen as unnecessary and ridiculed.

"What's wrong? Didn't you get enough sleep?"

Noticing the change in her gaze, a look of lust crept onto Qi Zhimu's pale face.

"If you don't say anything, I'll take that as a yes to offering yourself to me as a midnight snack. Oh, and no need for any mushy thanks, just be happy when I'm eating you."

Black Tower nodded silently.

"...Was my sleeping for so long related to you?"

From the moment she began receiving all sorts of knowledge, her sleep has always been light and infrequent, reflecting a kind of subconscious self-discipline.

If you think about how long you need to wait to wake up before you fall asleep, it's almost impossible to delay it.

But now... her body is definitely not in a state of only sleeping for half an hour, so she doesn't think Qi Zhimu can get through the maze in a very short time.

Qi Zhimu snorted: "What do you mean you slept for so long? You've only slept for less than twenty minutes."

"You said you have bad eyesight, so I'm skeptical that you managed to get out of the maze in less than twenty minutes." Black Tower looked unconvinced.

"So what? I'm lucky. It's just a maze. I can find the right path even if I close my eyes and just walk around randomly."

"Then what happened to your feet?" Black Tower lifted the corner of the black robe covering his feet.

"It was just a minor sprain, nothing serious," Qi Zhimu said nonchalantly. "Now that I'm awake, let's set off. The last challenge should give me a chance to stretch my muscles."

Hei Ta loosened the hem of the robe in his hand and said earnestly, "Thank you."

Qi Zhimu was slightly taken aback, then immediately pursed his lips.

"Tch, who cares about your thanks? Don't say that again."

Despite his obvious disdain, he didn't loosen his grip on the girl's arm at all and quickly got up.

After taking only a couple of steps, Black Tower sensed the unnaturalness in his gait.

Even after all this, it still has no impact?

Got it, he's a stubborn tsundere who likes to say one thing but mean another.

"Also, shouldn't a genius like you be very arrogant? Saying thank you doesn't fit your persona, does it?"

"Mr. Creditor, you have no idea what my public persona is."

"That's just what you think. I know very well that some of the guys who went into my belly had their memories read. They're the youngest genius girls in the history of Azure Star."

"So that's why you're so greedy that you're willing to make a deal with me?"

"Otherwise what?"

"With your strength, why don't you go to Azure Star to find food?"

"Hey, is it really okay for a native human from the Blue Star to say something like this? What's the difference between this and the traitors hired by the adults?"

"Don't change the subject," Black Tower pressed on.

She doesn't know anything about medicine. She only remembers that when she was a child and got injured, her mother would say something else to distract her when treating her wounds.

That way, the pain from the injury won't be so intense.

So far, the magician has been kind to her, but she can only do what little she can for him.

"That's because I'm a picky eater. First of all, I feel like throwing up just looking at something ugly, let alone eating it?"

Qi Zhimu beamed as he shared his taste preferences with the little one in his mouth.

"Secondly, older people don't like to eat it either; the meat is tough, the texture is poor, and the blood isn't sweet at all."

"In the end, those who are stupid should also be sent to the side. I'm afraid that if they eat it, they won't get any nutrition and their IQ will drop."

"When I eat you, I'll first suck the brains out of your ears."

"A girl as clever as you at such a young age is a once-in-a-century find."

"To ensure you had a good meal, I didn't even use hypnosis on you. Instead, I made you happy on your own, so it would be the most authentic way..."

"Hehehe... Are you scared now?"

Qi Zhimu looked at the little face in his arms, but saw no obvious emotional fluctuation, and was somewhat disappointed.

"Tsk, you little brat, you're so boring. It seems that only by fulfilling your wish can you get rid of the melancholy that doesn't belong to your age."

"...Hey, why don't you say something?"

Black Tower suddenly said, "Mr. Magician, don't laugh with that 'hehehe' sound anymore; that's more for old men."

Qi Zhimu: "..."

I have a feeling that one day I'll die from Black Tower's little mouth.

They talk nonsense and are annoying.

Amidst their bickering, the two arrived at the door leading to the final checkpoint.

"Put me down, I feel much better, I can walk by myself."

"That won't do. You're too weak right now. Who knows what it will be like once you go in?"

Qi Zhimu's tone left no room for negotiation, and he added another sentence.

"I'm extremely protective of my food supplies. No one is allowed to touch them. Anyone who dares to lay a finger on them will be killed!"

"..."

Black Tower's mind was filled with thoughts, and he placed his hand on his chest.

Even though he'll eventually eat me up, why do I feel a sense of warmth inside?

She was momentarily stunned when she met those deep brown eyes that made no attempt to conceal her innermost thoughts.

An unusual cleanliness, even...pure?

Perhaps only those whose hearts are free from numerous interests and calculations can possess such eyes.

"Why are you silent again? Aren't you usually so good at shutting people up? Or are you trying to back out?"

"No regrets. As long as you send the data back to the United Government of Azure Star, you can do whatever you want with me."

Black Tower spoke with a serious expression, saying things that would make others shudder.

"That's good."

Qi Zhimu curled the corners of his mouth, then changed the subject.

"We need a way to deal with situations where we are forced to separate again."

What are the countermeasures?

Black Tower looked puzzled.

Qi Zhimu took off the black hairband that was binding her hair and tied a strand of hair from her temple.

"My creator has terrible taste. They gave me a long hair design, but used an ugly and unremarkable black hairband. I don't have many things on me, so I'll just give this to you."

Qi Zhimu looked him over and nodded in satisfaction.

Even with the jarring addition of the black hairband, Heita's small face was still so cute and beautiful, just expressionless.

"As expected of the reserve grain I've set my sights on. If I give you a few more years, I can't even imagine how great that face will become."

"I'm even considering waiting until you've fully grown before enjoying you. By the way, how old are you this year?"

"Fifteen," Black Tower replied honestly.

"There is indeed room for waiting. Hmm, we can consider it. But for now, you should give me something you have on you."

Hei Ta thought for a moment, then took off the key chain with a key attached to it from around his neck, stretched out his arm, and hung it around Qi Zhimu's neck.

"What kind of response is this?" she asked. "Location?"

"Clever. I added a unique spell that will work if we disappear from each other's sight and perception."