(New volume, new atmosphere, if the style of writing becomes pleasing to the eye, please don't think it's an illusion.) Pen % Fun % Pavilion www.biquge.info)

(Thanks to the book friend Wang Meow Zhicang's dragon set, although it may seem more than just a dragon set now)

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This is a remote and nameless village, and although it looks desolate, the atmosphere is very lively, and the laughter of children can be faintly heard.

Today, this small village, which should be unattended, has an uninvited visit.

As if abruptly emerging from the other side of the road, the black-robed figure looked up at the smoke rising in the wind, thoughtfully.

What's even more strange is that there is a charm floating quietly next to the black-robed man, and the spell burns as the black-robed man looks at the small village.

Looking down at the burnt talisman to ashes, the black-robed man shook his head and rested his hand on the handle of the black sword tied around his waist.

"Something to do again."

A slightly hoarse voice drifted in the wind, but the black-robed man disappeared.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Today is the "Masquerade Festival" of this small village, and the atmosphere of joy fills the small village.

The black-robed man who had entered the village at some point sat on the steps and looked at the masked children who were constantly playing, and fell into deep thought.

Although it was an uninvited outsider, this stranger did not attract the attention of the child, and in fact, after studying the magic, the black-robed man was able to reduce his presence to the same level as a small pebble on the side of the road, there is no doubt about this.

Under the black shadow of the black-robed man's hood, the bright golden pupils shimmered slightly.

It's watching, trying to see something "abnormal".

"Mask ......?"

"Of course, these masks are very good-looking, meow~ This is made by meow myself~ Although I still like to make dolls a little more~"

I don't know when the little boy who sat silently next to the black-robed man kept showing off his achievements in a proud tone.

The black-robed man was not surprised as if he had expected the little boy to appear suddenly.

This little boy was born very good-looking, and he was wearing a very expensive black and white Tang suit, but the black-robed man didn't care much.

It's all because of a pair of cat ears on the little boy's head, which reveals his identity as a monster.

Seeing that the black-robed man didn't speak, the cat demon let go of the chatterbox.

"Little brother is a stranger I haven't seen before, we haven't seen a foreigner here for a few years, is it a meow who came here to visit the 'Masquerade Festival'? Or is there something else to meow? ”

The black-robed man's mind was not on the cat demon, and after being silent for a while, the black-robed man said inquiringly: "This village ...... I don't see an adult? ”

Indeed, all the way there were children running happily in masks, and there was not a single adult in sight.

"Shouldn't you answer other people's questions before asking others~ What kind of 'person' is the little brother?"

The black-robed man was silent, still still.

"It's so cold, meow, then at least you should tell me your name, meow?"

“…… Nine empty smoke. ”

The cat demon was a little unsure if the words that flashed just now were the voice of the black-robed man, but for the time being, it should be the name of the black-robed man.

"Is the surname of 'Nine Sky'? Sure enough, it's a very good name. Mr. Xun can be called my five love fox~"

"Fox?"

The black-robed man named Jiukong Xun turned around and looked at the cat ears of the five love foxes with some surprise.

As if sensing Jiukong Xun's impolite gaze, the five love fox covered the cat's ears and replied casually, "Ah...... It's not a big deal.,I used to be a fox fairy meow with some ability.,I also used to be a mage meow who made dolls for big families...... Then something happened. If I hadn't used my exquisite puppet skills to make my own body, I would have been wiped out by now~"

"In other words, you're not your original body now, are you?" Jiukong Xun didn't care at all about the information revealed by the Five Love Foxes, which was useless to him.

"This is business~business~machine~secret~meow! If you give money, I can also tell you the meow~" The five love fox half-jokingly and half-seriously advised Jiukong Xun: "Since you know that I used to be a fox fairy with Taoism, then Mr. Xun will show his intentions." You know, I'm the guardian of this village now, and if something happens to the children, I'll be very troubled~"

Jiukong Xun looked at the Five Love Foxes, chuckled and shook his head: "Forget the threat, you can't beat me." ”

"Bastard, meow! I'm a very powerful meow! Saying that, the five love fox also made a toned gesture with its small arm: "If I want, even a three-meter-high boulder can hit the flying meow!" ”

Ignoring the various threats of the Five Love Fox to fly it, Jiukong Xun said to himself: "I am a passer-by, my profession is a ronin, and I came here to solve the mutation. ”

"You're going to kill me!?"

"No, it's not you. I'm not going to kill youkai like I've been killing for two years now. ”

The golden pupils of the ghost under the cover of the rich shadow shone even more, as if he had seen something, Jiukong Xun tilted his head and said, "This time...... It's a mutation that hasn't happened yet, but it's coming very quickly. ”

"It's too to predict the future or something~ This kind of thing, even if you say so, Mr. Xun, I don't believe it......"

Jiukong Xun interrupted the words of the five love foxes, and asked thoughtfully: "You should finish asking what you should ask, I have something I want to ask you." ”

"Although I still don't trust you, Mr. Xun, I still try to answer meow."

Looking at the children who kept running by, Jiukong Xun asked, "Why are there only children in this village?" ”

"The statement that there are only children is not true~" The five love fox pretended to smile mysteriously: "The village elder here is a real grandfather!" ”

"It's hard to export, but in reality most of these children are orphans or outcasts. Their parents died in an accident, as the only survivor of the accident, the village elder grandfather volunteered to take on the responsibility of raising the children, when I was on the verge of death before, it was also the village elder grandfather who lent a helping hand to me~ As a thank you, I stayed to be the guardian of this village. Fortunately, the children are very sensible, and the village chief and grandfather didn't bother to meow. ”

"I see...... No wonder kids aren't very resistant to your monster status......"

"The doll I make is a very popular meow for children!"

The five love foxes inexplicably led the topic to the puppet.

"And what is this 'masquerade sacrifice'?" Nine Sky Smoke raised a second question.

This time, the five love foxes replied without thinking: "Of course it is literal!" On this festival, everyone wears a mask to celebrate and worship the god's meow! By the way, every time the mask of the 'Kamen Festival' is made by me! ”

【Kamen Festival ......】

Jiukong Xun kept thinking, trying to string together the fragments he had seen into a complete clue, and finally determined that the breakthrough was on the village chief.

"There's a presumptuous request down there." Jiukong Xun turned around to look at the five love foxes, and the five love foxes immediately felt a cold air crawling down their spine and up to their brains.

"Can you let it be under the ...... To meet the village chief? ”

The Five Love Fox was a little silent, and began to think about the purpose of the Nine Voids.

In the end, the Five Love Fox gave a similar reply to Jiukong Xun.

“…… Anyway, I'm still not very relieved about you, Mr. Smoke. I'm sorry, but let's leave after visiting here. ”

"I see, anyway, it's really a bit presumptuous to make such a request suddenly, and it's rude."

Jiukong got up and left. Looking at the back of Jiukong Xun, the five love foxes felt vaguely uneasy.

[This uninvited 'visitor' feels very wrong to me......]

Shaking his head, the five love fox said to himself with a worried face: "I hope it's my illusion." ”