Why is my journey to the world of anime a strange tale of rules?

There wasn't a soul on the street; besides me, there wasn't a single thing moving.

[A sharp chill was spreading through the streets, the moon seemed brighter than ever, and although there was no one around, I had a strange feeling that the area was quite lively.]

I felt more and more strongly that something was watching me from some dark corner, but no matter how I tried to probe it, that thing just wouldn't appear.

So cunning, it's like a wild beast poised to pounce.

Or perhaps it's more accurate to say that thing was like some kind of cunning and suspicious animal?

[Record Part Three]

All attempts failed; I couldn't find the night watchman. It seemed to be just a voice, a murmur that haunted the strange village at night, without any physical form.

The villagers' rejection and disgust towards me and my men are intensifying; swords and shields seem to be gradually losing their effectiveness in frightening them.

Every day, people throw stones at me. These villagers seem to want to drive me away, but they're too timid to actually do anything. What are they afraid of?

[Record its arrogance]

I saw the night watchman today...

Chapter Fourteen: The Night Watchman's Records and the Sudden Crisis

Night watchman.

This being, whom Takahashi and Miko had indirectly encountered during the instance's invasion of the real world long before they officially entered the instance, is certain to hold a special position in this instance.

The clan chief of Lijia Village claimed that the night watchman did not exist, and that the night watchman was a prank by villagers. Liujia Village, currently lacking a reference list of rules, has an unclear situation and cannot make an accurate judgment. However, the fact that Jianzi himself encountered the night watchman in Liujia Village and, through his extraordinary perception, confirmed that he must not make direct contact with him speaks volumes.

To my surprise, Hayasaka found the information document related to the night watchman so quickly; this was a pleasant surprise.

Gao Hai's expression remained unchanged as he listened intently to Jianzi's story through the mental link.

[Record its arrogance]

I saw the night watchman today.

I couldn't leave behind much information about him; what he carried... was terrifying. Even just written records could cause immense harm to the reader.

However, I can say with certainty that this night watchman, like us ghost hunters, uses his own power to suppress evil spirits. This strange village harbors so many strange creatures, yet it has still managed to function normally until now; this would have been impossible without the sacrifice of this night watchman.

But did he offer himself willingly, or was he set on the hot seat by these ignorant villagers? I have no way of knowing. The night watchman of today has become utterly inhuman; contact with him is far too dangerous. If I hadn't known some experienced ghost hunters and knew how to deal with them, I don't think I would have survived after seeing this night watchman.

In short, this strange village is facing more and more problems.

How could such an inconspicuous, desolate little village harbor so many strange creatures? And how have the people living there managed to survive peacefully until now?

I have to stay here and continue my investigation.

The problems we've discovered are far from easily resolved. I initially thought it was just a small-scale spread of supernatural power, but it seems the issues hidden within this strange village are far more serious than I anticipated. We're currently severely understaffed; we need to notify others as soon as possible to increase manpower.

As for the night watchman, we must avoid contact with him now; it's far too dangerous. We must stay away from him.

Fortunately, the night watchman only appears at night and only on the roads within the village. He will not enter any residents' houses, so as long as you are not blocked from moving in the street in the middle of the night, you can avoid him.

Don't talk to him, don't get close to him, and don't let him get close to you.

He is still a night watchman, but he is no longer just a night watchman.

【The Ghost Slayer - Jiang■■】

Regarding the documents concerning the night watchman, this unnamed Jiang Shi made no direct description, but it was already an open statement that the information carrying that thing was highly contaminated. Gao Hai estimated that if Jian Zi had actually tried to contact the night watchman when she heard his voice, she would probably be back in Blood City, lying dead and waiting for the next round by now.

Whether it was a voluntary sacrifice... Did that night watchman carry some kind of cursed power, or was some kind of strange creature parasitizing him?

Before seeing the night watchman in person, Gao Hai couldn't make an accurate judgment. The only thing he was certain of was that if the fragments of paper collected by Miko Hayasaka were authentic, then the night watchman was probably extremely dangerous, and contact with him would be a life-or-death situation.

But who exactly is this so-called demon-suppressing figure?

The Ghost Slayers... If this title is taken literally, could it be a special organization formed by people who came into contact with the ghosts and survived before the official appearance of the Sacrifice Game?

If that's the case, what is the size of this so-called "Anti-Monsters" organization, and what special powers do its members possess?

Gao Hai didn't think these ghost-suppressing people were ordinary humans without any supernatural powers. Since America and Japan could artificially influence or control the ghosts themselves to a certain extent, Gao Hai felt that these so-called ghost-suppressing people should also be in the same situation.

Regardless of the strength or weakness of that ability, the final outcome will likely remain the same, since this is ultimately a dungeon world, and trickery is the core of this place.

step-step-

As he pondered, Takami walked silently, with Maki and Chika beside him also remaining silent. The two girls were currently listening to the information relayed by Miko along with Takami, so all three of them were deep in thought and did not make any conspicuous movements.

The villagers leading the way remained silent, moving slowly and mechanically forward. Sometimes they would suddenly become more agile, a smile playing on their lips as they turned to look at Gao Hai and the others behind them, before turning back expressionlessly and continuing their stiff steps forward.

Li Duosun was still in the small square, seemingly still talking about something, and busy doing things with some villagers.

But in fact, through the teacher's observation, Gao Hai could see that the man was just staring expressionlessly at the departing players, silently observing all the players who had turned their backs to him and left, perhaps observing some details.

Perhaps he was looking for the person who disrupted the square ceremony?

A chilling atmosphere was gradually spreading.

There wasn't yet a strong, unusual aura emanating from the villagers in front and around them. However, the unsettling chill permeating the entire village was becoming increasingly pronounced and intense.

Has anything changed?

Gao Hai raised his head and looked around.

It seems impossible to find anything wrong just by looking at it.

This was just a small village at dusk.

No.

wrong.

Has dusk already arrived?

When Gao Hai realized it, he saw that the sky had turned a dark red, the sun was setting, and darkness was slowly spreading from the edge of the earth.

{Attention everyone, there may be a time anomaly within the instance. I just observed the sky at dusk, but since we entered the instance, far less than a day has passed. The flow of time here may have begun to accelerate.}

Upon discovering the problem, Gao Hai immediately alerted his teammates via their mental link.

{Senior, I've noticed it too. The sky here is gradually brightening; it'll probably be dawn soon. Hmm, that was so sudden. Neither I nor Hayasaka-san noticed it at all.}

Miko's voice followed immediately, tinged with disbelief. The girl was somewhat surprised that she hadn't noticed the unusual change in time immediately. However, before she could think about it further, a new problem arose.

[Giggle—giggle giggle!]

A loud rooster crow suddenly rang out around Miko and Hayasaka.

The village, which had been left in ruins after the bombing and showed no signs of unusual activity, began to gradually start making noises, and something began to move around in the various buildings.

It seemed that the villagers were gradually waking up as day broke and beginning to prepare for the new day's work.

Blinking, Jianzi turned back to look at the path he had come from, towards the epicenter of the bomb's explosion. He discovered that, somehow, the destroyed houses had been restored to their original state, and there was no trace of the original blast site. Not only that, wisps of white smoke began to drift from the houses, and increasingly clear voices rose and fell.

They are all active now.

I bow to the Fox Goddess, and pray that she will bless me with good health and freedom from misfortune today.

Hehe, Your Majesty, please bless me today!

"Fox Queen, please bless me today as well. I am willing to offer my life to you."

The voices of men, women, and old men resounded simultaneously at that moment.

However, no children's voices could be heard.

The bustling village was filled with all sorts of sounds, as vibrant as a real town, but it was conspicuously lacking the voices of children, or even the voices of relatively young people in their teens and twenties.

Why can't I hear the children's voices? And why do all these people's voices sound so...

[Hiss, hiss... By the Fox Queen, I think I can smell it, I can smell it...]

So fresh... such fresh meat, such fresh blood, it must be under 20 years old...

[Your Majesty, Your Majesty, your humble servant will now present you with fresh meat, hehehehehe...]

The clamor suddenly became chaotic and frantic. Although Jianzi had vaguely sensed something amiss in the sounds from the beginning, she hadn't expected them to reveal their abnormality so quickly.

We can't stay in this village any longer.

They have now been discovered by those things.

{Something's wrong, Hayasaka-san, we have to leave the village immediately—}

While speaking in this short-range mental link, Miko had already turned her gaze to the boundless primeval forest outside the village.

They were still quite far away, but with their enhanced physical abilities that surpassed human limits, they should be able to get out smoothly. However, Jianzi wasn't sure if this would allow them to avoid the prying eyes in the houses.

"Come here!"

But before Miko and Hayasaka could take any action, the door of a house not far away suddenly opened, and then Kaguya Shinomiya emerged from inside.

Without any unnecessary words, Kaguya, whose clothes looked much dirtier and even seemed to be stained with blood, beckoned to Miko and Hayasaka, signaling them to come forward quickly, and immediately showed them the longbow she had been carrying with her.

Squeak—squeak—

Jianzi could already hear the sounds of houses being opened continuously all around.

The power of the blessing… from Hirano Sosuke, a blessing that guides players to find safe areas, has provided guidance at this moment. The direction it points in… yes, it's the direction Kaguya is currently in.

Without hesitation, Miko and Hayasaka accelerated and swooped down in an instant, heading towards Kaguya's position.

While the girls were in danger, things weren't quiet on Gao Hai's side either.

beep--

Amidst the piercing sound of the suona horn, figures draped in white robes danced and slowly approached from the front.

Those people, some wearing masks with blue faces and fangs, others with their entire faces painted a ghastly white, danced and scattered paper money as they carried the black coffins forward slowly.

These people were moving in the exact opposite direction to Gao Hai and his two companions. Without taking any evasive action, they would undoubtedly collide head-on.

The aura of the eerie creature was growing stronger, and an intense chill swept in from all directions without any attempt to conceal it.

Gao Hai heard the exclamations and screams of players on other roads. He heard some players trying to communicate with the guiding villagers to ask to change routes, but were ignored. Then, some players tried to forcibly change routes, but immediately disappeared without a trace. Some players realized something was wrong and attacked the guiding villagers, then let out a shrill scream.

{Ah Hai, there's someone behind him too}

Qianhua reminded him in the mental link, so Gao Hai looked back and saw another group of white-clad men carrying a coffin, walking along the same path they had come from, approaching at a considerable speed.

The villager who was leading the way gradually slowed down at this moment, as if he was about to stop altogether.