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

What is the origin of such bizarre characteristics and such a curse? What kind of strange creature, and what kind of person, would possess such abilities after death?

Hehehe... Hahaha...

laughter.

The laughter that was coming from all around seemed to become clearer.

Then, it seemed that other sounds were heard.

It sounded like someone was asking questions, very seriously, searching around for someone to ask.

Do you know how to get to Yingti Village?

The voice was mixed in with the laughter, almost completely drowned out.

The sound of children's laughter.

Yes, that's the laughter of children, carefree laughter of children playing freely.

They were right beside him, laughing, jumping, and surrounding him.

It's changed! It's changing! It's starting to change!

They've become just like us, just like us!

Let's play together! Let's play together! Don't go looking for the village! Don't leave! Stay with us!

Stay.

The intense, eerie aura made it feel as if countless hands were gripping you.

Gao Hai sensed the intentions those things were trying to convey to him.

Stay, stay, stay.

They want to leave him here forever.

There's no need to look for Yingti Village anymore.

There's no need to look for your parents anymore.

There's no need to go anywhere anymore, suffer any more pain, or be cut open, dug up, chopped up, boiled, eaten, eaten, eaten, eaten.

Isn't this place already perfect? ​​Isn't it good enough that everyone stays here? We don't need to care what those adults want to do, do we? So stop obsessing over finding that place, stop paying attention to those things, just stay with us, stay here with us forever.

My hand seemed to be pulled.

Pulled by a gentle force, I was guided forward.

The sounds of laughter around me were becoming clearer and clearer.

The faint sound of someone asking "Where is Infant Cry Village?" was so faint that it was almost inaudible.

However, it can be sensed that the voices on both sides seem very similar.

Whether they are passionate voices or suppressed ones, these voices are very similar, very close. It's as if they are actually the same thing, as if they are completely identical in essence.

A child... the essence of the paper figure is a child... a child who wants to go to [Yingti Village]?

No…no…these paper figures…there’s more than one kind of paper figure…these are derivative paper figures of some unknown monster, bringing curses and forcibly keeping people in a specific village…the real, non-derivative paper figures, directly transformed from the monster, are the children who want to go to that [Nightingale Village]…

In other words... the former was actually used to trap the latter...

The paper figures in Liu Family Village are, in essence, a... prison...?

Gao Hai's eyes widened, and at that moment he finally understood a special mechanism that existed in this instance.

Then he realized that he had lost his sight at some point, and all that was left in front of him was darkness, and he could not see anything.

"Mr. Gao, don't stay where you are! They've gathered around. Move forward seven steps, then turn right! Be quick, the road outside is full of those things!"

Kita's voice reached Takami's ears at that moment, clearly guiding him forward. And along with the girl's voice, Takami vaguely discovered that he seemed to be able to perceive his surroundings, to vaguely see his location and the surrounding situation, and to clearly hear Kita Ikuyo's thoughts and ideas.

This isn't my own perception; it's... did Kita deliberately lower her mental defenses?

Without hesitation, Gao Hai suddenly accelerated and sprinted forward, driven by the berserk blessing. He rushed out of the gate and ran across the road, overtaking the paper figures that had gathered from all directions.

Hahaha... Hahahaha...

The laughter was becoming increasingly louder.

The paper figures, large and small, chased after Gao Hai, laughing and joking, as if they were playing a game with him.

No, the entire village, this whole [Liu Family Village] of paper figures, was specially designed to be a place for children to play house. But why was it I who triggered the mechanism of these paper figures? I'm clearly not a child, and I don't have any characteristics similar to a child.

Or is it that something has given me a special mark, making me more susceptible to triggering these things?

if it is like this……

{Haijun, how are you doing? The paper figures in our village are starting to act strangely.}

{The rules clearly state that these things shouldn't attack residences unprovoked, but after Auntie activated her Crimson Domain to block the paper figure that looked like you, all the paper figures outside started approaching like madmen.}

We've moved out onto the streets and are barely managing to protect ourselves thanks to the power of the lingering artifacts. Next, we'll head towards the safe house Auntie found earlier, which is the direction of the mountain god temple. The paper figures haven't noticed our escape and are still surrounding the house. There aren't many paper figures we'll be facing right now. However, the strange activity here is becoming increasingly obvious, so I think our only option is to try and head towards the mountain god temple.

At that moment, Maki's voice entered Gao Hai's mind.

Next, Yotsuya Miko activated her powerful senses, just like she had done in the blood pool of Bydos, connecting her senses with Takami's, allowing him to perceive the state of the girls who were rapidly fleeing and moving away on the other side.

{Senior, what's wrong over there...}

Naturally, in this state of mental connection, Jianzi immediately noticed the terrible situation on Gaohai's side.

{I'm fine, I'm alright. This level of trouble isn't a threat to me. You...you guys shouldn't be too anxious. First, make sure you're safe...}

While comforting Miko, Takami continued running, dodging the paper figures that surrounded them, which filled almost the entire street, and trying to run towards the mountain shrine where the girls were heading to meet.

But no, it's impossible.

In the village on Gao Hai's side, the paper figures in the direction of the mountain god temple were virtually endless, truly filling the entire street. He had no choice but to turn and run away, surrounded by these paper figures, fleeing further and further away from the mountain god temple, unable to get even a step closer.

Something is wrong!

After two attempts to approach the mountain god temple, only to be surrounded and intercepted by a swarm of paper figures reminiscent of the Chinese Spring Festival travel rush, forcing Gao Hai to turn and flee, he sensed something increasingly amiss. Without further hesitation, he activated the power of the Void Transformation Blessing and leaped into the air.

The paper figures immediately jumped up one by one and rushed towards Gao Hai, but they couldn't catch up with Gao Hai at full speed.

It seemed to sense some kind of change happening in the village below, and that the direction he was flying towards was rapidly extending in space, trying to stop him from leaving.

However, Gao Hai's flight speed in his ethereal state was too fast. In less than 3 seconds, he reached the edge of the village and found the forest path leading to the mountain god temple.

Stay.

A voice sounded behind Gao Hai.

Stay, stay, stay, stay, stay, stay, stay, stay, stay, stay...

That was no longer a voice coming from the paper figure.

That was the village itself speaking to Gao Hai, stopping his body from moving forward.

hum-

An invisible spiritual spike appeared at this moment, piercing directly into Gao Hai's mind under his own will.

Jonathan's blessing power was then released violently, abruptly severing the connection between Gao Hai and the village below, which seemed to have come to life completely, briefly restoring his gradually paper-like body to its ability to move.

Without the slightest hesitation, Gao Hai crossed the village boundary in that instant and landed on the dirt road outside the village.

Then, Gao Hai was unable to move.

The power of the curse was unleashed to its limit the moment he left the village. More than 70% of Gao Hai's flesh and bones were instantly transformed, and the remaining parts almost completely lost their ability to move.

What exactly is going on...? I...

Thoughts become discontinuous as the brain is transformed into paper.

Then, it seemed that the voices of Li Eryang and Li Xiaoju could be heard slowly echoing not far away.

Since we've received such a kindness from Li Family Village, we can't refuse to repay it when it's time.

grace……

repay……

The speed of thinking is slowing down even further.

We've arrived. Something's strange here; it's too quiet. Ah, that's—

From Jianzi's perspective, what she sees is the mountain god temple with its gate open, and Li Ziyong and Li Duosun standing at the entrance of the mountain god temple.

Some villagers walked around carrying machetes and buckets. Amidst the stench, dark red liquid flowed everywhere. In the open space in front of the temple, many players' bodies, which had been chopped into pieces, were piled up in a corner. Some parts that had been cut open and removed were carefully arranged on plates and placed as offerings on a large red platform.

Li Eryang and Li Xiaoju stood on either side of the road. When they saw Zhenfei and the others appear, they once again showed their wide smiles.

[Chief, the new offerings have arrived.]

The two looked at Li Ziyong together and shouted with great joy.

"Hmm, it's time for a proper sacrifice. Let's start by drawing blood."

Li Ziyong simply replied in a flat tone, then turned around and walked towards the temple with its gates open.

Inside the temple, there was a tall, twisted statue that looked somewhat like a Guanyin statue that grants children, but upon closer inspection, it seemed to be a completely different statue, with a smile that seemed to gradually appear.

What? This place is actually—

Kaguya's voice rang out, followed by Hayasaka's blessing to activate the Crimson Domain. The others also made their responses, and no one chose to surrender.

But Li Duosun, who was standing not far away with an expressionless face, had already spoken in a cold tone:

[To accept the Li family's invitation but not follow them is utterly disrespectful.]

[They received help from the villagers of the Li family, yet they didn't listen and instead deliberately ran away. How unreasonable is that?]

You all really owe the Li family a debt of gratitude.

From the moment the man spoke, everyone present immediately lost the ability to move.

Even Takami himself, who witnessed this scene through Miko's perception, was immediately subjected to even more severe erosion, and his entire body was almost completely transformed into a paper doll.

But he finally understood.

At this moment, Gao Hai finally understood the cause and effect.

By accepting the guidance, lodging, and food provided by the people of Lijia Village, they signify that they have accepted the kindness of Lijia Village, which means they need to repay Lijia Village with something. The standard of this repayment is entirely determined by Lijia Village itself.

Accepting the invitation from Lijia Village but refusing to accept Lijia Village's guidance and not arriving at Lijia Village means they are not appreciating Lijia Village's kindness, causing Lijia Village to lose face. This means they owe Lijia Village something and need to compensate Lijia Village with something. The standard of this compensation is entirely determined by Lijia Village.