You say this is a love game?

Page 39

"And, your vitality is still being sucked away?"

Vitality can also be said to be "essence" or "yang energy", which is easier to understand.

According to Kurosawa Ryohito, his current weakness is caused by the "loss of vitality."

The human body's vitality should be stored firmly within the body, like honey sealed in a jar.

However, if there is honey, there is a high probability that a big bear drooling over the honey will spawn nearby.

The legend of monsters eating people is not new.

Those demons feed on the flesh and blood and essence of humans. While satisfying their desire to kill, they also rely on devouring flesh and blood and essence to increase their strength... When talking about this, Kurosawa Ryohito also cited the example of the "Thirteenth Step" ghost story. That ghost story has recently entered an active period, and a few days ago, a soul full of fear was abducted.

As for the desire for flesh and blood, Mizutani Makoto immediately thought of the devilish human body model.

These demons and monsters are indeed born evil.

"Besides these well-known ghost stories and monsters, there are actually many nameless vengeful spirits. Under the influence of longing, obsession, resentment, and other emotions, they break through the membrane between the two worlds and appear in the real world..."

"Compared to the monsters recorded by humans, these vengeful spirits are more common. But common doesn't mean harmless. Unlike earthbound spirits with unfulfilled wishes, these vengeful spirits that can roam freely are definitely no less harmful than monsters."

"Earthbound spirits have land to rely on, but these vengeful spirits have nothing to rely on. To survive, they must constantly plunder the essence of the living."

"When a living person's vital energy is plundered, they will fall into a state of weakness. Once the vital energy in their body is completely plundered by the vengeful spirits, they will exhaust and die."

"Ghosts are essentially man-eating monsters. Compared to those straightforward monsters, the difference is nothing more than eating human flesh and blood or human essence... To living people, both are deadly monsters."

Mizutani Makoto listened and nodded slowly.

After explaining the man-eating demon, Kurosawa Ryohito talked about Mizutani Makoto's current situation.

"Young man, you've been haunted by some kind of vengeful spirit lately. It's definitely a very pure spirit. Normal spirits wouldn't be so swift in plundering your energy... It's because you're relatively resilient. An ordinary person would probably be dead the next day."

Kurosawa Ryohito gave an example.

When other people's energy is sucked out, it's probably like riding a bicycle slowly. Ordinary people can withstand it for ten days or half a month through gradual wear and tear.

But Mizutani Makoto was the one who was stood up and kicked by some vengeful spirit.

"..."

Wait, don't make me sound like a slut!

The corners of Mizutani Makoto's mouth twitched slightly.

Putting this strange description behind him, he said seriously, "So, my current situation has nothing to do with ghost stories?"

"Well, I can't see the influence of strange stories." Kurosawa Ryohito shook his head.

...Did I misunderstand the strange story?

No, I didn't misunderstand!

That group of ghost stories are just like the Uchiha who are born evil. If they don’t do bad things now, they will definitely bring disaster to the world in the future!

I just realized the evil of ghost stories in advance. How could such righteous logic be wrong?

"Now, I must find the vengeful spirit that's secretly sucking my energy..."

While Mizutani Makoto was thinking, Kurosawa Ryohito was looking at him with a complicated expression.

"Bro?"

"Do you have any other ideas? You don't want to pay, do you?"

"Huh? This doesn't cost money. After all, it's just some advice. How can it be considered intelligence?"

Kurosawa Ryojin shook his head. He had a very conscientious definition of "intelligence". For example, where the former shrine maiden was was considered intelligence, and what the weakness of a certain monster was also considered intelligence. However, he never charged for friendly reminders like this.

"I just want to ask, is there a possibility that there is no vengeful spirit hiding in the dark, but is right beside you in the open?"

"Young man, you might be confused because you are involved in this matter. Didn't you tell me before? You recently met a Zashiki-warashi..."

Mizutani Makoto: ...?

Kurosawa Ryojin sighed, "Brother, actually, based on your previous description, I don't think she looks like a Zashiki-warashi, or at least she's not a Zashiki-warashi yet... So, if she's not a Zashiki-warashi, then what could she be? An earthbound spirit? Or—a vengeful spirit?"

"Brother, do you really know what you are helping?"

"For your own safety, I think you could be more cautious. If you're not sure whether the other person is a ghost or a vengeful spirit, why not give it a try and ask her to leave your residence and see if your condition improves?"

Kurosawa Ryohito didn't say anything absolutely, even though he thought it was almost certain.

The range of activities of earthbound spirits is generally limited, and it is impossible for them to wander around the Night Light City at will.

Mizutani Makoto was really stunned.

He suspected all his enemies and even put the blame on the ghost story, but the only person he didn't suspect was the little girl he had recently kidnapped home.

Suddenly, my brain seemed to short-circuit.

numb.

Mizutani Makoto took a deep breath, but as he thought more deeply, his mood gradually fell to the bottom.

Out of personal feelings, he wanted to trust Zashiki.

He had known Zashiki for a very short time, but whenever he thought that Zashiki might be setting a trap to harm him, his mind would flash back to the image of the child curled up in the corner, and her expression of joy as she looked at him while holding the clothes.

"..."

However, people must be rational.

He has the capital to become a superior person in this life and is absolutely capable of living a happy and fulfilling life.

This is a wish that must be fulfilled, and it is also what his deceased sister expected of him...

Even if a person is dead, there are still people who hope that he will have a "happy life" at the last moment of his life. Faced with that person's unconditional love, he must respond and turn his hope into reality.

Makoto Mizutani, always Makoto Mizutani.

He was the small town test-taker in his previous life, and he was also the little kid who was drenched by a rainstorm and was so depressed that he seemed to want to abandon the whole world in this life.

Obtaining a "happy life" has been his goal since he woke up.

To do this, he must remain sane.

Mizutani Makoto asked, "Did she do it on purpose?"

Kurosawa Ryojin quickly shook his head, firmly saying, "I'm not sure, but you said she lost her memory... It's possible that she doesn't even know she's become a vengeful spirit."

If there is such a child, she will wander the world from the moment she opens her eyes.

She finally got taken in, but was told that she had become a vengeful spirit and would bring disaster to those who took her in.

At this time, must he still doubt her sincerity?

There was a long silence.

Mizutani Makoto asked again: "How long can my body hold on?"

"It should be two days."

Two days?

Mizutani Makoto looked into the void before him.

Soul: 1426

"enough."

"Let's get this sorted tonight."

Chapter 045 The Path to Happiness

Rainy.

The raindrops fell on the awning downstairs, making a crisp noise, and the wind chimes wet by the rain made intermittent sounds of glass shaking.

Zashiki lowered his head and stood beside Mizutani Makoto, with no intention of resting.

This is how she has been these days.

Makoto Mizutani would fight hard in the cracks, and the time he actually fell asleep was around 2 or 3 in the morning.

Her schedule is a bit hellish, but she is a spiritual being, so adjusting her schedule is the least stressful thing for her.

But this time, Mizutani Makoto's sleep was very short.

It's been more than half an hour, right?

I was waiting in silence on the zashiki when I suddenly felt the movement of the futon.

"Big brother?" The girl looked surprised.

Why are you so early today?

Mizutani Makoto got up from the ground, and a small glass bottle appeared in his empty palm.

"this is?"

"Smelling salts." A smile appeared on Mizutani Makoto's tired face.

"Zashiki, let's go." Mizutani Makoto took the coat from the hanger and put it on himself.

"Huh?" Zashiki's eyes widened, and he looked at Mizutani Makoto in bewilderment. "Now? What are you doing?"

"Go find Zashiki your past."

This sentence brought a huge shock to Zashiki.

She suddenly felt nervous.

In that brief exchange, she sensed a drastic change in Mizutani Makoto's mood, but she didn't understand the details and had no idea what he had been going through in the gap.

But this was what she had always dreamed of.

While feeling nervous and confused, Zashiki felt a faint anticipation rising in his heart, followed by a hint of uneasiness, just like being homesick.

People are always worried about the unknown.

She has lost her past and is confused about the meaning of her existence. Now that she is about to face the past, she feels that she still needs to make some mental preparation.

What kind of person was she before?

What kind of things had she experienced before?

Who is she looking for? Can she still find him?

Now, can she still deliver the strawberry daifuku that she wants to give to that person?

and also……

Is this brief relationship between her and her elder brother about to end?

Although Zashiki spent a short time with Mizutani Makoto, the many complicated thoughts in her mind collided and finally settled on the small fate between her and Mizutani Makoto.

She has lost her past, and this is her only remaining "present".

Now she is empty and has nothing. In the darkness and coldness, the only thing she can hold on to is her fate with Mizutani Makoto.

Zashiki: "It's raining outside."

The girl's expression was different from her usual well-behaved one. It was full of guilt, making people feel that she lacked confidence.

Maybe she could take it a little longer.

Do you want to prepare yourself mentally first?

Mizutani Makoto: "Then why not just hold an umbrella?"

At worst, he still has a raincoat at home.

Mizutani Makoto bent down and gently pressed Zashiki's head for the first time, just like a brother gently stroking his sister's hair.

"Zashiki."

"Ok?"

"You're a good boy, I'll help you."