Lying in front of the bedroom window, Lusa quietly looked at the dark night.

Outside the window, the neighborhood was dark, and only a shadow could be faintly glimpsed in the snow and mist.

I didn't expect the snowy night in Eternal Winter to be so dark...... Lusa was a little worried about the two who hadn't come back yet: visibility outside was so low that she was afraid they wouldn't be able to tell where they were coming back.

Daylight is much shorter in the Permafrost than in other regions, and the further north you go to the depths of the permafrost.

Lusa recalls when she woke up this morning: she woke up at about seven o'clock, and it wasn't dawn until nine o'clock.

And now, it's just completely dark...... She looked at the mechanical clock on the bedside table: the hands showed a quarter past four.

Looking at the locked bedroom door, Lusha picked up the dumplings and approached the stove beside the bed.

Although my body is not very cold, I really like warmer places...... Curled up comfortably, Lusha covered her entire body in her cloak.

The hot spring that had just been soaked made the girl relax with all her heart, and she closed her eyes slightly as she listened to the cries of the dango.

The daytime job is easy...... Lusha thought to herself: Washing clothes couldn't be easier for Aya.

But I didn't see my sister and Mr. Cyberdart all day, and I was so lonely by myself...... Stroking the curse mark on her head, Lusa dejectedly imagined the two of them having a happy conversation: I should have joined in, as it had always been.

What a long day...... If my sister hadn't asked for the results today, I would have been left here alone tomorrow, wouldn't I?" Lusa felt more and more sad: Besides, Mr. Cyberdart was about to leave soon. Curse otherwise...... She shuddered, trying not to think about the scene of Cyberdart being cursed to death.

Will Lucina bring me a cake? I haven't eaten it in months...... Lusa was already a little dazed: she couldn't help but think of her mother's favorite chocolate cake. As long as Mom wants to eat, Dad will always make it for her. And since she was a child, Lusha also fell in love with it.

Chocolate cake with a sweet aroma...... Looking at the light of the stove, Lusa felt a little dazed—she always had the illusion that none of this was real when she was alone.

However, everything in the past five years has been true...... Listening quietly to the sound of firewood crackling, the feeling of detachment from loneliness made Lusa miserable—and once again it became clear to her that she was not used to the loneliness that froze her heart.

There was a knock on the door, and Lutha got up slightly.

"Kid, I brought you a glass of cold milk. The lady's warm voice came from outside the door: "A glass of cold milk after soaking in a hot spring is better." ”

Somewhat overwhelmed, and no longer good at facing outsiders alone, Lusa couldn't help but think of yesterday's Uncle Morse - he was so enthusiastic that Lusa couldn't organize words. Usually the occasions for communicating with outsiders are handed over to my sister, and Lusa, who neglects to talk, can't help but be a little nervous.

“...... Here it comes. In the end, Lusha, who only held back one word, got up from the bed and put down the ball in her arms, which had fallen asleep with her eyes closed.

Pulling her hood down, Lusha unlocked the latch and gently pushed the door open.

Taking the cup, Lusha raised her head slightly and looked at her aunt: "Thank you...... Thank you. ”

"You're welcome, kid. Drink it. ”

Taking a sip of iced milk, Lusa, who was amazed by the delicious taste of the iced milk, couldn't wait to drink it down.

"Woo......" Lusa clutched the cup in both hands: she was annoyed that she had made the same mistake as her sister.

"How's it going?" Auntie smiled and took the cup, "I can't see your expression, but I seem to like it very much, right?"

“...... Well. It's delicious. Bowing her head slightly, Lusha whispered.

"Really? That's good. The aunt half-squatted: "It's hard work, child." I'll call you when dinner is ready. ”

"Hmm. Lusha could only be discouraged by this conversation: but such a distance was the best way to suppress the curse.

Returned to the room and locked the door again. Aiya leaned against the door, distracted, recalling the brief conversation she had just had.

I can't get close to my aunt, I can't communicate...... She hung her head, feeling more and more depressed.

Distracted, she threw herself back on the bed, and Lusa, who shrunk up, hugged the ball tightly.

Curse of Loneliness...... It brings long-lasting and deep-reaching pain to the cursed. In the throes of her heart, Lusa couldn't help but think about all the effects of the curse on her: it would gradually make your heart as hard as an ice stone, gradually out of people's sight, blocking all emotions.

The desire to be close to people, to be accompanied, and the intellect not to bring doom to others will continue to impact the mind and soul of the cursed, and finally completely crush a person, no matter how strong.

Moving her head to the dumpling, Lusa closed her eyes sleepily.

My sister doesn't know when I'll be back...... Staring at the sparks dancing in the furnace, Lusha felt a little sleepy.

So boring...... Let's get some sleep, right?

Drowsiness invaded her body, and Lusa curled up into a deep sleep.

In the drowsiness, there seemed to be another knock on the bedroom door.

Awakened by the knock on the door, Lusha shuddered for a moment, then slowly got up.

My sister is back...... She thought reassuringly and walked to the door.

"Sister?" Lusa unbolted the door and held it on the armrest.

No response.

"Sister, ......?" Lusha felt a little uneasy, and didn't unscrew the door.

Still no one answered.

There was another knock on the door, and the man was standing outside.

Instinctively something was wrong, Lutha still felt that she should open the door. Pulling down her hood, she unscrewed the door.

The door was opened, but there was no one outside.

Looking around, there was no one in the hallway. On the second floor, where Lusha is located, there are only five rooms lined up, and under the parapet facing the room, you can see the entire hall at a glance.

Leaning in front of the railing, Lusha looked down with the same sense of unease as she had last night.

There were only the eldest lady and three guests who were eating in the hall. Looking at the table, Lusa felt that it couldn't be the three of them.

It won't be a big lady, she has no reason to do this...... Confused, Lusha turned and walked back to the room.

Suddenly, the girl stopped at the door: something she had stepped on with her left foot.

Taking a small step back, Lutha crouched down and picked up something like that: a dark brown envelope.

The letter left by the man just now...... Why didn't I step on it when I went out? Lusa remembered vividly that she had never been so close to the door.

Looking around alertly again, the unease prompted Lusha to retreat into the house and relock the door.

Sitting back on the bed, Lusa slashed the sealed paint with her dagger with trepidation, but as her gaze fell on the cross-section of the incision, she noticed an unnatural remnant of the part of the bottom of the paint that connected to the envelope, most likely because someone had removed the original paint and sealed the letter with a new one.

Someone peeked at ...... Lusa looked uneasily at the pattern of the fire coat of arms: a door sealed by seven chains.

Curse of Loneliness...... She stroked the curse mark on her forehead, breathing a little heavily.

Pulling out the folded letterhead, Lusha, who was extremely nervous from the heraldic pattern, adjusted her breathing and slowly unfolded it.

The letter paper is set against the mark of the Curse of Loneliness, with only a few striking words written above it: Don't leave the Permafrost.

The attribution is......

Lutha flipped the letter to the back: Dead.