The road was quieter than the battlefield.
No cracks. No venom. No screaming earth. Just dust, wind, and footsteps that felt louder than they should.
Corjaudo dragged his feet for a second longer than the rest. "…So…we're really doing this again."
Kaito didn't look back. "…You can stay."
"…Alone?"
"…Exactly."
"…I'm coming."
Jenres walked ahead of them, hands behind her head. "You complain a lot for someone who didn't die."
"I was close."
"Close doesn't count."
"It does to me."
Daigo kept a steady pace, eyes forward. "…Stay alert even on the road."
Corjaudo sighed. "…We just finished one."
Arai replied calmly, "…That's why we don't relax."
Shizuma said nothing. He led.
They walked for a while without speaking.
The kind of silence that wasn't heavy—but wasn't comfortable either.
The kind that lingers after something ends but hasn't settled yet.
Kaito broke it. "…You hesitated."
No one asked who he meant.
Shizuma answered anyway. "…For a second."
"…That's enough to die," Kaito said.
"…I didn't."
"…This time."
Arai glanced at Kaito. "…That wasn't necessary."
He shrugged. "…It's true."
Shizuma didn't respond.
Jenres stretched mid-walk. "You two are exhausting."
Corjaudo nodded. "Agreed. Let's go back to almost dying. That was simpler."
Daigo exhaled lightly. "…Focus."
The road shifted as they moved further north.
Trees grew denser. The wind dropped. Even the light felt…different. Not darker—but muted.
Corjaudo noticed first. "…Hey…is it just me or—"
"It's not just you," Arai said.
Kaito slowed slightly. "…Feels off."
Shizuma stopped.
Everyone did.
The path ahead narrowed.
Tall trees leaned inward slightly, their shadows stretching longer than they should at that hour.
Nothing moved.
No birds.
No insects.
No sound.
"…This is the way?" Daigo asked.
Shizuma nodded once. "…Jakumura."
Jenres tilted her head. "Nice name. Terrible vibe."
Corjaudo swallowed. "…I don't like this already."
They stepped forward.
Together.
The moment they crossed into the village boundary—
the air changed.
Subtly.
But clearly.
Houses stood intact.
No damage.
No smoke.
No signs of struggle.
But—
no people.
Kaito frowned. "…Where is everyone?"
A door creaked slightly in the wind.
creeeaaak—
Corjaudo flinched. "…Don't do that."
Jenres walked ahead, peeking into an open house. "…Empty."
Daigo checked another. "…Same here."
Arai scanned the ground. "…No signs of movement either."
Too clean.
Too quiet.
Corjaudo's voice lowered. "…This is worse."
Kaito nodded slightly. "…Yeah."
Shizuma stepped deeper into the village.
"…Stay close."
They moved through the streets slowly now.
Every step measured.
Every movement watched.
Even if they couldn't see who was watching.
A faint sound passed.
Not wind.
Not footsteps.
Something else.
Corjaudo stopped. "…Did you hear that?"
Jenres frowned. "…Hear what?"
"…Something moved."
Silence.
Nothing followed.
Kaito exhaled. "…You're imagining—"
A shadow shifted.
Just slightly.
Along the wall beside them.
Arai's eyes snapped to it instantly.
"…No."
Everyone turned.
The shadow—
was still.
"…It moved," Corjaudo whispered.
Daigo stepped forward slightly. "…Stay focused."
Shizuma didn't look away from it.
"…We're not alone."
Another sound.
This time behind them.
They turned.
Nothing.
Corjaudo's breathing picked up. "…I hate this. I really hate this."
Jenres cracked her knuckles. "Good. That means it's interesting."
Kaito narrowed his eyes. "…Whoever it is—they're not attacking."
Arai nodded. "…They're observing."
A pause.
Shizuma spoke quietly.
"…No."
Everyone looked at him.
"…They're waiting."
Silence fell again.
Heavier this time.
A faint ripple passed through the shadows along the ground.
Barely visible.
But real.
Corjaudo stepped back slowly. "…Okay…no…that definitely moved…"
Something was there.
Not seen.
Not heard clearly.
But present.
Watching.
From every direction.
Shizuma's voice was calm.
Cold.
"…This one…"
A pause.
"…is going to be worse."
The shadows along the walls stretched slightly.
And for a moment—
it felt like something inside them—
smiled.