"By the way, is that the girl? It felt like a piece of wood, lifeless. ”

"It's not Anai either. Also, I don't allow anyone to describe Anai as so unbearable. Even if that person is you. ”

Ye Ya's sharp gaze stared at Xia Jing, but Xia Jing did not flinch.

"Otherwise, tell me, who is the murderer?" Xia Jing roared angrily.

"At least, it was that woman who made Fang Yuan's ......"

However, Xia Jing's words were momentarily speechless before he finished speaking.

Xia Jing couldn't speak, and as soon as he said it, he said that he had to admit the fact that Fang Yuan was dead.

"Xia Jing, calm down for the time being, right?"

"How can this kind of thing calm me, Fang Yuan, she ......"

"The person who killed Fang Yuan's classmate was not Ye Ya'a. Although my relationship with the clan is not good, not so close, I can guarantee that Ye Ya will never do such a thing. ”

"No more nonsense! Even if I take a hundred steps back and believe that she didn't kill people, that kind of behavior ......! ”

"I have no excuse for the first thing. If it weren't for that ceremony, I would have died sooner or later. ”

So where did your original body go?

Although Xia Jing was a little curious, it was not his business what the other party had.

"That's my business! In the end—"

Ye Ya interrupted Xia Jing, who wanted to continue roaring, in a strong tone.

“…… Xia Jing, it would be unkind to continue to say that Fang Yuan's death would be unkind. ”

"What a joke! Why do you ......?"

"I don't know the details of the ins and outs, but I know how Ji Fangyuan feels when she sees you now. She's ...... Not only do I not want to see you lose my mind in a mess, but I also don't want you to pity her. ”

"What does she think, how will you know......"

Anno answered Xia Jing's question, whose tone was close to that of an angry scolding.

"The people who transplant their heads will inherit some of the memories and feelings of that body at the same time. But I'm still born with my body, so I don't know what it's like. ”

Ya then added, "That feeling wasn't clear enough to describe in words, but I could understand Genai's feelings. ”

"This teaches me how to believe ......"

Even the negative tone seemed weak.

Xia Jing had a lot of anger in his heart, and he also felt that this guy who had no basis for his words was ridiculous at all.

But he just couldn't think of what he had to do to show it. Not only that—it was impossible to happen, and it was the first time in my life that a classmate passed away in front of his eyes. His feelings and thinking logic can't keep up, this rule of thumb is completely useless, and he doesn't know how to deal with it.

“……”

Xia Jing couldn't help but curse, and picked up his head as literally.

"What the hell, I'm fed up......"

There are too many things happening in one moment, and there is too much information in my ears.

Seeing that Xia Jing was completely in chaos, Anye said, "Anyway, it's late at night, so you can stay overnight tonight." ”

"What time is it? That's right...... What day is it? ”

Xia Jing was so angry that he forgot to ask for the basic information, and Anno smiled.

"It's past ten o'clock. It's not over today, Xia Jing, you just slept for almost four hours. ”

"Really? Thank you for your kindness, I'm going home. ”

"You're welcome. I think you'll stay. ”

Ignoring Ye Ya, who didn't know how to look at people's faces at all, Xia Jing found an excuse that sounded like nothing.

"No, I'm going home. Besides, it's inconvenient for me to spend the night outside without informing my family. ”

But—

"Rest assured. Your mother has just been told that you are going to spend the night at a friend's house today. ”

Ye Ya took out Xia Jing's mobile phone.

"Make no mistake!"

"Don't get me wrong. I don't really know how to manipulate this thing, it's Anno's. ”

"Hey, it's clear that Ye Ya ordered me!"

"Wait a minute, why don't you decide for me without permission......!"

"Well, don't say that."

"Don't make a fuss!"

Facing Ye Ya, who returned the phone with a mischievous smile on his face, and Anye, who only apologized with his eyes, a wave of emotion that was so angry that he was speechless came to his heart, and Xia Jing stood up.

"Anyway, I'm going back!"

"Going back alone?"

"Isn't this the mountain behind the school anyway? I don't need you to send me! ”

Even if she stared at Ye Ya, who was smiling strangely inexplicably, she was unmoved.

Just when Xia Jing suspected that the expression seemed to be deceitful, An Ye's heart relented.

"I'm sorry, Natsujing. You can't go back on your own. ”

“…… Why? ”

"This is no ordinary place, it's called 'Lost House.'"

"The Lost House?"

The unfamiliar words made Xia Jing's brows deep.

"If you don't follow a certain path, you can't reach and leave."

“…… You want to deceive me with inexplicable words......"

Although Xia Jing said this verbally, he did not have the confidence to conclude that this must be a lie. Since it is true that Ye Ya can speak alive with a head in his memory, it is not surprising that there are other situations that deviate from common sense.

"From my point of view, I can take you away if you want to go home...... But ......"

"Don't talk about it, just stay overnight."

Ye Ya, who was quietly tested by Anye's eyes, insisted on his opinion and proudly asserted so.

After Xia Jing checked the mobile phone he got back, he found a text message that was completely unimpressive.

'I want to stay at a friend's house today and study hard, is that okay?' ’

In the text message, there was a reply from my mother.

I see. Be careful not to cause trouble to others. ’

- Why is my mother so open-minded only at times like this?

Xia Jing lowered his shoulders in frustration, and felt that his strength was exhausted, and a sense of tiredness hit his heart.

Although it is also an option to turn around and leave without believing Anno's words, if you really can't leave, then you will become a lost lamb in the deep mountains of ice and snow.

“…… I'll just stay there. ”

After several twists and turns, Xia Jing finally stayed in this room for the night.

Although he decided to stay overnight, Xia Jing was not bold enough to relax and relax in an unfamiliar room.

In the next two hours, Xia Jing stubbornly refused all services such as bathing and dinner, and lay on the bed without any sleepiness in his own room. is also because I can't sleep, a bunch of thoughts keep spinning in my mind.

I feel as if my feelings are being clouded.

Obviously, a classmate is dead, a friend is still a monster, and he is being imprisoned in that monster's home, but there is no trace of anxiety and sadness in his heart.

Is it because you haven't been able to believe all of this yet? Or is it because there is no exact sense of realism?

It's like having a clear head and not a heart that is keeping up.

Xia Jing thought of Fang Yuan.

I asked her to go with her, but I didn't hear an answer, and I don't know what kind of decision she made in the end. Are you planning to decline the offer? Or do you want to participate? Or maybe you haven't made up your mind yet?

Later, he learned from Ye Ya how Fang Yuan died.

She seems to be arguing with several people.

In the middle of the argument, she seemed to have hit her head because she had been pushed down. That's it - unfortunately hit the point and killed. Ye Ya's statement was not only simple, crisp and logical, but also consistent with the sneering voices and the collision sound that resembled a bucket tipping over from Fang Yuan's phone call.

However, what Xia Jing said was that he couldn't accept this story.

It's easy to see why.

He just didn't want to admit it.

In case what Ye Ya said was the truth, it would mean that Fang Yuan had been bullied for a long time.

And it's quite a ruthless kind. Just thinking about it is uncomfortable.

Indeed, Fang Yuan rarely talks to people, and her personality is shy and introverted, and there are many girls who hate her. Even if it's so good that it turns out to be true, there's no way to convince yourself to accept it with a "Oh, that's how it is."

And one more thing.

Was her call to Xia Jing at that time accidental?

It can't be accidental. Fang Yuan, she probably called to ask Xia Jing for help. She must have put her hand in her pocket, fumbled for her resume, and pressed the call button, right?

- Besides my family, you're the second person I've joined.

When saying goodbye, Fang Yuan's expression of saying so with a smile appeared in Xia Jing's mind.

I was the only one she could ask for help, but I—

“…… It's me who is too slow...... Is it? ”

As soon as he spoke, his breathing suddenly became difficult. Obviously, the feelings disappeared like a pool of stagnant water, but the beating of the heart accelerated and intensified to the point that it felt harsh.

If the truth is that Ye Ya killed Fang Yuan and snatched her body, it would be better.

Actually, when I first heard the explanation, I thought this way because it was easier

But Xia Jing couldn't continue to deceive himself like this after all.

Could it be because of Anno's appearance? Or is it because of her-Yea's eyes are extraordinarily sincere?

After talking about Fang Yuan's death, Ye Ya apologized to Xia Jing.

- I only had my head left and hidden, so I couldn't prevent the regret from happening, I'm sorry.

Her expression was intertwined with regret and self-blame, and it looked very complicated.

Xia Jing, who saw that expression, couldn't lift his strength in the end and blamed Ye Ya-

The more Xia Jing thought about it, the more uncomfortable he became, and he couldn't lie down, so he left the bed and stood up.

He opened the door and went down the hallway, wanting to see the scenery outside to relieve his boredom.

Regardless of the snow falling non-stop, the canopy was left open and not closed, and the icy air outside was mercilessly rushing towards you. However, the body was hot because of the relationship between the previous nests in the bed, so this chill gave Xia Jing a cool and comfortable feeling.

At this time, I saw a figure in the corner of the corridor, in the corridor facing the courtyard.

Sitting and looking at the courtyard scenery, she noticed the breath of summer scenery and turned her head.

"What, can't you sleep?"

A childish voice that doesn't match the pretentious tone at all.。

It's Yaya.

“…… OK. ”

His voice naturally stiffened, but Ye Ya didn't take Keisuke's attitude to heart in the slightest.

She smiled slightly and muttered to herself with self-deprecation.

"It's no wonder. Me too. ”

"Huh?"

"Sit down."

Ye Ya gently patted the wooden plank of the corridor next to him and gestured to Xia Jing.

"No, I ......"

I wanted to shake my head and refuse, but Ye Ya's gaze inexplicably had the courage to say something. Xia Jing sighed and sat down obediently with his consciousness, but kept a little distance from Ye Ya.

Forget it, I can't sleep anyway, and I can't count the questions I want to ask.

Xia Jing glanced at Ye Ya from the corner of his eye, and then shot his gaze to the snowy courtyard. The stone lanterns and tsubaki trees are all turned snow-white. Suddenly, Xia Jing felt as if he had seen this kind of scenery somewhere in the past. A wonderful sense of déjà vu came to mind.

"I haven't talked to you about myself yet."

But the sense of déjà vu was interrupted halfway by the murmur of the girl beside him.

Ye Ya continued to look at the courtyard and said, "I...... She is the daughter of the leader of the Deer Clan. ”

"Chief?"

Ye Ya ignored Xia Jing's question of returning it untouched, but instead threw out the question.

"Do you know about the fire in the Eclipse Mountain the day before yesterday?"

"Yes."

The news also caused a conversation at school.

Shishan is located about five kilometers away from the school. Surrounded by forests, the mountain roads are not fully planned, and it is a place that is inaccessible.

However, what Ye Ya said was the fact that there was a gap with Xia Jing's cognition.

"My Village...... It's right on the Eclipse Mountain. ”

"Huh?"

"It's a village, and there are only about 50 residents."

"How much is fifty? Belch...... I mean the percentage of your people. ”

"It's about the whole of it. Unlike humans, there are not many of us. Less than a hundred. ”

"Is there so little?"

After Xia Jing whispered so much with a little shock, Ye Ya smiled faintly a little lonely.

"I heard that the population of our clan was not very large...... Helplessly, our people are on the verge of extinction. At that time, human beings called our clan ghosts, and everyone shouted and beat them, forcing our clan to flee into the mountains and be isolated from the outside world, and the bloodline gradually withered after a long time. In addition, our people have fought for spheres of influence and 'alien races' who have also fled into the mountains, and the situation has been exacerbated by this. Now, in addition to the unique family, there are only a few branches left. ”

"I heard you mention it just now. That one...... What does 'alien' mean? ”

"They are a group of people who are not human like my race, and have always been called 'monsters' and 'demons' by fearful humans. Our clan is also the same as the demon fox you mentioned earlier...... There was a war. I heard that there were countless races in the past, such as vampires whose ancestors were far away overseas, and large spiders the size of a small mountain. It's just that they are all the same race as my race, a sparse race. ”

“…… What a thing. ”

This is ridiculous enough not to be believed.

It's a demon fox again, a big spider again, and finally a vampire? These nouns Ye Ya spoke catchily.

It's like telling a folk tale as if it were a historical fact.

"The face doesn't have to be so complicated. I've never seen it myself. I just wanted to tell you that there was a story like this. ”

Hearing Ye Ya say this, Xia Jing suddenly realized.

Their demarcation of the boundaries of "incredible things" is probably far less obvious than that of humans. Thinking about it from another angle, it also makes sense. The fact that a head is still alive is inconceivable to ordinary people, but it seems to them to be just common sense. In the same way, it can be proved that the existence of demon foxes and big spiders may also be a "reasonable" historical perception for them - whether it is true or not will be put aside for discussion.

In any case, Xia Jing's interest was not focused on monsters that had no standard answer to whether or not they really existed. Compared with those monsters, Xia Jing was more concerned about things, so he pulled the topic back.

"But the news doesn't mention that the mountains are inhabited?"

There are reports of any burning houses found at the scene of the fire, and I haven't even seen it.

"Our village is a hidden village. Even if it is burned, there is no need to be afraid of being discovered by humans. ”

"Is that so...... So why did the fire happen? ”

Xia Jing had no intention of bringing up the issue.

But-the moment he heard this question, Ye Ya's expression was visibly tense.

It's the kind of expression that looks like he's laughing and he's angry.

"Because of the boring infighting."

Although Ye Ya's tone seemed arrogant and rude, the momentum exuded from his body was shrewd and powerful.