"Also...... What kind of facility is this? Although I am a local, I have known about this hospital before...... But I thought it had been just a normal hospital. ”

- And, uh.

Probably finished asking the question, she then replied, "So, do you know everything about the high school you are currently studying?" ”

"Well, I've heard about that, too."

The high school where Xia Jing and the others attended was a private school, so it was not surprising what happened.

"Ah, isn't it ...... here?"

"Yes, you guessed right."

Yao nodded.

This is a bit unpleasant...... But this hospital actually depends on the nose of our people. ”

Perhaps because he understood that Xia Jing was an ignorant outsider, he continued to explain in detail.

"Because our bodies are different from human beings, even if we are sick, ordinary doctors cannot treat us. I don't mention it in ancient times, even in modern times. Speaking of which, Xia Jing, in addition to the superficial face of the general hospital, there is also another side of the Deer Clan's special hospital. ”

"I see."

"Struggle is strictly forbidden here. It's not just the prosperity people who can't do it, we're also restricted. Besides, it's a doctor's duty to treat patients the same regardless of who they are, isn't it? ”

"Ah...... It may seem like you can let go and you can't let go, but I understand what you mean. ”

In retrospect, it was the same in high school.

Ah Ye, they were not expelled from school because they belonged to the prosperity faction. Even Li Qi, who betrayed Ye Ya, and Qiu Yin, who may be at the core of the prosperity faction, are the same, even though the two of them have evaporated from the world, they still have the social name of "transfer" to be convincing.

I'm afraid they pay attention to priority.

Rather than the separatist turmoil of the Prosperity Faction, the school and the hospital gave priority to the question of the people's refuge from the eyes and ears of the people in human society and the survival of the clan as a whole.

"In other words, personal hatred and advocacy should be put aside for the time being, right?"

"You have a lot of understanding."

Xiao, who was smiling happily, suddenly stretched out his hand to Xia Jing.

As if praising a child, he touched Xia Jing's head.

"Good boy, good boy."

「…… Please don't play tricks on me."

"Well, what's the point of being a little shyer. There's no point in teasing you."

In fact, Xia Jing was really taken aback, and he was extremely ashamed. Gently brushed away the hand on his head, and his face became hot. What should I say - I thought I wasn't interested in older women, but I didn't expect that once I was teased by a beautiful woman like this, my heart was pounding more exaggerated than I originally thought.

"Don't mention that, I have more things to ask you......

"Wow, you're so well-behaved."

But Yao still continued to talk about inexplicable things.

"What? What do you mean?"

"When tempted by a woman, you won't show a shy answer, which is the proof of a good man. Ye Ya's vision was really not wrong...... Really, that girl has two brushes, too."

"So, please stop playing tricks on me......

Xia Jing found out at this time.

I thought she was a beautiful woman with a dignified temperament, but now it seems that this woman has an interest in teasing others...... And being older than himself and his mature and stable appearance at first glance made Xia Jing feel even more tricky. For this reason, Xia Jing also became more restrained, embarrassed to show off his smug mouth. Xia Jing had to be beaten all the way in the end.

"Ugh...... Why is everyone in the deer clan like this......

"Is there something weird about your personality?"

"yes, that's what I think. Isn't there anyone more ordinary?"

Xia Jing tried to express his resistance by venting his dissatisfaction, but—

"We're not human in the first place, after all. It's too hard for us to be ordinary."

Holding his lips together, as if he thought it was ridiculous, it was really not so easy to defeat.

Xia Jing sighed, at this time......

Ahem.

Probably laughing too excitedly, Yao coughed lightly and took away the hand that was originally holding it to his mouth.

"I'm sorry for the rudeness."

After smoking a few sheets of toilet paper on the scaffold, he coughed several times in succession.

This time it's no longer just a light cough, it sounds a little serious.

"Y-Are you alright......

Xia Jing was at a loss, not knowing what to do, and his eyes wandered.

Attached to the paper, is a red liquid.

"Death...... Senpai?"

That is, blood.

"I'm fine."

Stopping coughing, he raised his face and wiped the corners of his mouth. He had a smile on his face, but he felt a lot of pain.

"Excuse me, can you please help me get the water over there?"

"Ah, good!"

Xia Jing handed the spouted pot on the scaffolding to Yao.

After drinking the water, Xiao sighed as if he had calmed down.

"The ......"

Xia Jing couldn't think of what he should take the initiative to say.

After all, she will be hospitalized here, and she must be suffering from some kind of disease. However, once you witness the fact that she coughs up blood, you can't help but be surprised.

"Didn't Ya tell you about it either?"

Seeing Xia Jing's flustered appearance, he sighed lightly.

"She...... They said they would find an opportunity to introduce us to each other."

"Hehe, I'm probably worried about my physical condition. What a thoughtful girl. However, my body has never improved."

As if talking to himself, a look of world-weary charm appeared on his face.

"May I say that...... What about it?"

"I'm sick. And it's an incurable disease."

Her smile was ethereal.

Xia Jing gasped.

Because he realized that the bewitching temperament that Yao has may not be innate, but may be naturally cultivated in the process of growing up.

Lying on the bed, he only sat up with the upper half of his body, and began to talk with a lonely expression.

"The Deer Clan is now facing a crisis for the survival of the race."

I remember hearing the same thing from Yaya and Anno before. However, the words that sounded in Xia Jing's ears now contained heavier feelings than at that time.

"The ritual of the deer tribe was originally derived from the fact that the women of the deer tribe could not get pregnant."

The natural body is incapable of having children.

So you have to exchange with humans.

"What's even more unfortunate is that the deer clan can only give birth to baby girls now, you should know that, right?"

"Yes."

"So ritual alone doesn't help...... Now we have to use the power of human men, and use the method of adulteration of foreign blood to have a way to pass on the lineage. The blood of the clan is too strong."

Xia Jing recalled the principles of heredity she had learned in biology class.

"Are humans weaker than deer in their genes?"

"That's right. Even if it is mixed with human blood, it is still the baby girl of the deer clan after all."

Is it because from the standpoint of biology that a race is stronger than humans, so there is no room for human genes to intervene? Whether this question belongs to the knowledge level of high school biology class or the scope of common sense, Xia Jing has no bottom.

Xia Jing, who was contemplative, continued, "However, the disadvantages of thickening the bloodline are not limited to this.

For the rest of the content, Xia Jing didn't listen to Ye Ya and Anya.

"That's disease."

The voice sounded lonely, as if all thoughts had been lost.

"In a family, there is a certain chance that there will be children born with special diseases. And I'm one of them. My lungs are naturally weak, sometimes coughing up blood like I just did, sometimes having trouble breathing...... Actually, it's not surprising that I died early even if I had a short life."

"Isn't it curable?"

"Hmm. But it doesn't matter. I have a treasure in my body. That thing can inhibit the deterioration of the condition. It is the only medicine that works. There is no cure, but at least I can barely live it."

"Isn't it just a ritual to be physically ill?"

Xia Jing said.

It's not a good idea to praise from a human standpoint, but as long as you put on a healthy body from the head down, there is always a way to solve the problem of disease, isn't it?

But—

"Tried, but it didn't work."

Xiao shook his head.

"Actually, I've already done the ritual. At first, the disease seemed to be cured, but the health lasted less than a year. Then the same symptoms occurred, and I put the treasure back in it."

Maybe it's a curse, he said.

However, since it can last for about a year......

"In that case......

The thoughts that come to mind inevitably lead to the ethical condemnation of being a human being. Xia Jingqiang endured the heartache and hesitated to say his thoughts.

"If you can get health for a while, then ......?"

Rituals don't necessarily have to be made of living humans. I remember hearing that the Holy Congregation collects the bodies of lonely people on behalf of the daughters of a clan who have not yet performed the ritual.

Hearing Xia Jing say this, Xiao Xiao looked directly into Xia Jing's eyes and laughed for some reason.

"You're such a good man."

"Huh......?"

Yao stretched out his hand to stroke Xia Jing's head as he did just now.

Xia Jing couldn't resist.

This time the state of mind was not a joke, but with a feeling—as if the woman's original feelings were transmitted together with joy and pity.

"As a human being, you're willing to say that. For us who have borne the negative karma that will never be forgiven, it means that we have attained salvation...... Ya has really found a good match."

"No, I ......."

Xia Jing couldn't help but lower his head and looked away.

Wrong. It's not because I'm kind at heart.

It's just susceptible.

It's because my mind is not firm enough, and I have an empathetic effect on the object in front of me at every turn. When he thought of his sister and Fang Yuan's affairs, he regarded the deer clan as a foreign body; But once you are with Ye Ya and the others, you will feel that they are not bad people. Verbally suggesting a ritual is not acceptable in practice.

Ah Ye also reminded. Don't misestimate the size of your palm.

What she was referring to was exactly that.

"I...... He's not that great."

"Don't say that."

After a gentle smile, he withdrew his hand and put it on his heart.

"And I've made up my mind that I'll never perform a ritual again."

It is a voice that makes people feel strong in their faith.

"This body belongs to a friend I value very much. I want to go through this life with her. Compared to the happiness of being with this girl, a moment of good health means nothing to me."

An expression that seems to feel pity and happiness.

- Ahhhh

Xia Jing put the self-loathing he had just now behind and began to think to himself:

That's why I can't hate the deer no matter what.

Ye Ya is also like her, taking good care of Fang Yuan's body, and regards Fang Yuan as one of her relatives and friends. They all paid homage to the dead girl, and their supreme love.

Lin Yu is the same. Although I haven't heard of the detailed ins and outs, it can be seen from the reason why she hates human beings, it can be seen that it should be because she attaches great importance to the original owner of the body, so she shows such negative emotions.

Xia Jing still has some scruples.

"By the way, it's about Senior Sister Lanyang."

Xia Jing changed the subject. There are other things on my mind.

"She...... Is it also a sickness?"

Lan Yang didn't look like he had the same disease as Yao. In that case, why did she come to this hospital for treatment?

"Actually, it's not convenient to talk about other people's private affairs......

Hearing Xia Jing's question, Yao's attitude seemed a little hesitant.

After a while—

「…… But it shouldn't have anything to do with you."

At last, he seemed to have made up his mind, but he still said with a slight concern, "She has a different disease than mine. It is also a special disease that people of the same tribe rarely contract with it."

"What about treatment......

"It's still being studied. Because it's a disease that has only appeared in recent times."

I spoke.

"Her growth will stop. She looks a little young, doesn't she?"

"Huh?"

In this way, she, Lan Yang's facial features, looks childish at the age of a sophomore in high school. The physique is also on the petite side. Since she is of the opposite sex, Xia Jing didn't pay much attention to it, and only thought it was the difference in her natural figure-

As a result, it turned out not to be as I imagined.

"When did you start ......?"

"About three years ago. Because her body has been stuck at the age of fourteen. She probably hasn't done the ritual yet...... However, there are precedents that have proved invalid."

"That's it......

Even though it was only for a short time, Xia Jing was sorry for the fact that she had doubted whether she had used her sister's body.

"Is her illness fatal?"

"This has not yet been confirmed. However, immortality may be a misfortune...... After all, she will maintain the size of 14 years old and gradually grow old, and she will not grow up one day."

Although after listening to the explanation, it is still difficult to imagine Xia Jing concretely, but at least it can be understood that the so-called growth stoppage does not mean that the appearance will not age. He couldn't help but imagine the appearance of a child in the skin of an old man, and he couldn't help but shudder.

"Could it be that she joined the Prosperity Faction because she was sick......?"

She didn't despise humans, she rather said the opposite. Could it be that she actually hated her own illness and hated the existence of her family, which led to the result of setting fire to her family?

Xiao Xiang shook his head at Xia Jing, who had done such an imagination.

This does not mean negative, but I don't know it myself.

"She's never talked about herself before...... So I can't say for sure."

"Yes...... That's it."

Well, it doesn't matter if you ask me in person.

Anyway, I have to ask her about my sister after all. Besides, since he is the son-in-law of his family, he will inevitably be involved with Lan Yang.

Although her personality is elusive, it seems that she does not have obvious ill will towards Xia Jing at the moment. As long as you sit down and have a good talk, maybe the two sides have a chance to turn enemies into friends.

The thought turned—

「…… Alas, I'm really not capable of learning."

Xia Jing recalled that he was rejected by Ah Ye at school just now.

Obviously, I just hit a hard nail today, but I can't learn a lesson at all.

"What do you mean?"

"It's okay, I'm talking to myself."