Why is my anime art style so weird?

Seeing Natsuki Subaru's terrified reaction, Xu Ming and Kato Megumi exchanged a glance.

There was definitely a problem!

Natsuki Subaru took a deep breath and began to slowly begin his story.

"Fourteen days ago, I got lost in the mountains and then I found a Western-style mansion..."

Natsuki Subaru began to recount his bizarre and strange experiences over the past fourteen days and nights in a slow and hoarse voice.

Xu Ming and Kato Megumi remained silent, listening intently to Natsuki Subaru's story.

As a qualified exorcist, extracting clues from surviving witnesses is also an essential skill.

Finally, Natsuki Subaru finished speaking.

Xu Ming immediately fell into deep thought.

The people in the mansion are normal during the day, but fall into a state of madness at night, killing each other in an endless cycle of death... It sounds so similar to Ogawa's apartment.

It's probably another evil ritual site set up by some guy.

Xu Ming thought to himself.

These individuals who possess extraordinary abilities all disregard the law and the lives of ordinary people, making them virtually indistinguishable from terrorists.

Fourteen days and nights, fourteen cycles of life and death, Subaru Natsuki still couldn't find a way to break the deadlock.

Faced with extraordinary power, he was just an ordinary person with a little bit of cleverness.

Although he couldn't find a way to win, Natsuki Subaru gained a lot of valuable information by constantly teetering on the brink of death.

Xu Mingzheng was trying to extract the information obtained by Natsuki Subaru.

Natsuki Subaru hesitated.

Do you believe what I'm saying?

Xu Ming and Kato Megumi exchanged a smile.

“Of course we believe it, because we are experts in this field.”

"really?"

Natsuki Subaru immediately became excited, his expression as if he had grasped at the last straw.

"The lady in front of you, Ms. Kato Megumi, is an executive of the Japan Exorcists Association."

Natsuki Subaru gritted his teeth and, disregarding his weakened state, performed a dogeza (a deep, obeisance posture) on the bed in front of the two of them.

"Please, please help me."

A glint of light flashed in Xu Ming's eyes.

"Helping you is no problem, but we need to know the exact details about the mansion."

"no problem!"

Natsuki Subaru readily agreed, and as if afraid the two would change their minds, he immediately began to describe it in detail.

Chapter 497 Patterns, The Living Dead

"The Western-style building will be rotated once a day, and will return to normal during the day."

At night, all sorts of terrifying things would happen in the mansion…

As Natsuki Subaru spoke, his hand trembled slightly.

Xu Ming patted his shoulder reassuringly.

"Thank you, I'm much better now."

Natsuki Subaru bowed deeply and then continued his story to the two of them.

"I also discovered some patterns of 'death cycles'."

Oh, by the way, I also came up with the name 'Death Cycle' myself.

During the day, everything in the mansion is normal, but every midnight the 'death cycle' begins.

Besides me, Roswaal, and Emilia, the remaining three maids, Betty, and the gray cat named Puck, one of whom will randomly 'go berserk' and go on a killing spree.

Finally, the 'madman' will, under Roswaal's guidance, brutally murder Emilia in front of me, and then kill me.

From what I've observed, only I, an outsider, and the mastermind behind it all, Roswaal, possess the memories of the night…

"and many more!"

Xu Ming suddenly had a question.

"Your use of 'going crazy' doesn't seem to be an adjective."

Subaru Natsuki nodded vigorously.

"They are normal during the day, but at night, the 'madwoman' will suddenly change her personality and start killing other people, not even sparing her own sisters, as if she is cursed."

As he spoke, Natsuki Subaru's eyes revealed utter terror, suggesting that those who had suddenly 'gone mad' had caused him considerable pain and psychological trauma.

Xu Ming had a premonition.

These few people, randomly selected as 'the madmen,' may be the key to the problem.

Unfortunately, according to Subaru Natsuki, the 'madmen' are generated randomly, making it difficult to confirm their connection to the ritual.

Xu Ming thought for a moment, then asked:

"You just said that cat might also 'go crazy'?"

Upon hearing Xu Ming mention Puck the Grey Cat, Subaru Natsuki shuddered violently, a hideous expression appearing on his face.

He nodded slightly.

"Yes, that damn gray cat is even more terrifying and dangerous when it goes berserk!"

One night, Puck was chosen as the Berserker, and its size grew larger than a human. Except for Roswaal, everyone in the mansion was torn to pieces by Puck and then eaten!

"We have a general understanding of the situation. You should rest well, and we will handle this matter."

Xu Ming patted Natsuki Subaru on the shoulder.

Natsuki Subaru hesitated for a moment, then gritted his teeth and finally spoke.

"Um... if you see that silver-haired girl named Emilia in the mansion, could you rescue her?"

Natsuki Subaru spoke, once again adopting the dogeza posture, and earnestly proclaimed in a loud voice:

"I know my request is unreasonable, but I really have no other choice."

Please!!

Xu Ming sighed.

"Natsuki-kun, it's not that I don't want to help you."

I have just one question for you: Do you believe that a person can be resurrected after death?

Natsuki Subaru's body suddenly trembled, and he immediately understood the subtext in Xu Ming's words.

But he immediately retorted:

"But I am killed every night, only to be resurrected the next day!"

Xu Ming and Kato Megumi exchanged a glance. Kato Megumi nodded slightly, and then Xu Ming said to Natsuki Subaru with a serious expression:

"Your situation is rather special."

Why is it that only you, an outsider, and Roswaal have the memories? Don't you find that strange?

The answer is simple: because you are no longer a normal human being.

"What?!"

After Kato Megumi used magic to conduct a thorough examination of Natsuki Subaru, she came to a conclusion.

Subaru Natsuki's immense life force and death energy merged into one, transforming him into a special state of being neither alive nor dead.

In short, he is now a living dead, or rather, an immortal.

Even if he is torn into pieces, he can regenerate; physical means can no longer easily kill him.

Xu Ming continued to explain:

"Based on our speculation, Roswaal must have set up a special evil ritual in the mansion."

Such rituals typically require strong negative energy, such as resentment or deathly energy...

As the caster of the spell, Roswaal naturally wouldn't consider himself the source of the energy. Therefore, the source of this negative energy must be the other people in the mansion.

The negative energy required for an evil ritual that can lead to rebirth is also immense.

The others in the mansion not only died, but died horribly; only in this way could a massive amount of negative energy be provided to power the ritual array…

Xu Ming tried his best to explain the reason in simple language that even a layman like Subaru Natsuki could understand.

Natsuki Subaru wished he hadn't heard it.

The thought of that angelic silver-haired girl not only dying, but also suffering endless torment and dying tragically with boundless resentment is unbearable.

Natsuki Subaru instinctively clutched his chest, at his heart.

He felt like he couldn't breathe.

"The reason you were resurrected and have memories is twofold: first, you may not have been part of the ritual; second, it may be because you are a living person, therefore..."

After Xu Ming finished explaining, he looked at him with some pity.

He essentially shattered his hopes or fantasies with his own hands.

After a long while, Natsuki Subaru took a deep breath and said in a deep voice:

"I see.

However, I still have a favor to ask of you both.

Xu Ming nodded

"Please speak."

Although Natsuki Subaru was pitiful and even performed a dogeza (a deep bowing gesture), Xu Ming wouldn't be morally coerced into agreeing to everything he said; at most, he would do it as a favor.