Inside the Video Store.
"I know you two have been looking for news about that person."
"This time, I've brought earth-shattering news."
The Shepherd said with a smile, while observing Ling's and Zhe's expressions, trying to gauge their reactions.
However, he didn't see the expression he was hoping for.
"The exploration of Hollow 0 is restarting."
"They are recruiting investigators, and I've pulled some strings on this recruitment to ensure you pass the screening."
"How about it? Shouldn't you thank me properly?"
The Shepherd chuckled, and as expected, Ling and Zhe both showed shocked expressions.
Hoshimi Aya was equally shocked; she suddenly recalled this plot point.
The teacher the video-selling siblings were looking for was Carole Arna.
And the name she had been reminded of repeatedly since waking up was also Carole Arna. Under these circumstances, it couldn't be a coincidence of names!
But Ling and Zhe weren't telling her that the person they were looking for was the person she was searching for. Although she felt like it didn't matter whether she found him or not, this made her feel deceived!
A moment later, after relaying the news about Hollow 0, the Shepherd left.
"Ling..."
Hoshimi Aya looked at Ling and Zhe, hesitating to speak.
In the end, she chose not to ask. Since they chose to conceal things from her, she might as well not ask.
"What's wrong?"
"Is something the matter?"
Ling looked at Hoshimi Aya's hesitant appearance and asked in confusion.
"Nothing."
"I just remembered that the person I'm looking for hasn't shown any progress."
Hoshimi Aya hinted, hoping the two would be frank.
Upon hearing this, Ling and Zhe exchanged an awkward glance.
"Aya, there hasn't been any progress anyway."
"We will definitely tell you if we have any news."
Ling gave an awkward smile, then took Hoshimi Aya's hand, trying to gain her trust and make her believe.
Hoshimi Aya:...
"Mm, I believe you."
"I'm a bit sleepy. I'm going upstairs to rest first."
Saying this, Hoshimi Aya walked upstairs with a slight sense of dejection.
She had hinted so obviously, but Ling and Zhe still chose to hide it from her.
But it was fine; she would feel sad for a while and then recover.
She would feel better after being sad for an hour or two.
After confirming Hoshimi Aya had gone upstairs.
"Brother, are we not going to tell Aya anything about our teacher?"
"Aya will know the truth someday."
Ling looked at Zhe and asked. Honestly, she also wanted to tell Hoshimi Aya that the person she was looking for was their teacher.
Moreover, every time Hoshimi Aya inquired, it gave her a sense of guilt, as if she had committed some terrible deed.
Aya trusted them so much, yet they were deceiving her by not telling her the truth they knew.
"Sister, perhaps we should tell Aya after some time has passed."
"Besides, the Teacher has already gone missing. Even if we told Aya, it wouldn't be very useful, right?"
Zhe considered, wanting to wait for the right opportunity to tell Hoshimi Aya.
...
Meanwhile,
Hoshimi Aya took the Cursed Blade out of Zhe's room, then lay down on the bed holding it. Although Hoshimi Aya fell asleep, she did not enter dreamland.
Hoshimi Aya once again arrived at the scene of her first loss of control, but this time there was no gigantic Nine-Tailed Fox.
"Why am I back here again?"
Hoshimi Aya looked at the aurora in the sky and the calm water surface and asked doubtfully.
Suddenly, Hoshimi Aya felt a strong gaze coming from beneath her. Seeing this, Hoshimi Aya looked down, only to see a massive fox head opening a pair of scarlet eyes beneath her, staring intently at her!
"Holy crap!"
Hoshimi Aya jumped in fright and leaped far away from her previous spot.
The Nine-Tailed Fox broke through the water where Hoshimi Aya had been and emerged, its huge eyes still fixed tightly on Hoshimi Aya.
"Why is it you again!"
"Are you trying to make me lose control again?!"
"Tell me, what are your terms!"
"What do I have to do to not lose control?"
Hoshimi Aya stared directly back at the massive Nine-Tailed Fox.
She had to control the situation where she lost control while using the Cursed Blade; otherwise, she couldn't dedicate herself wholeheartedly to anything and would constantly have to guard against losing control.
Upon hearing this, the Nine-Tailed Fox burst into laughter, "A bit interesting. Hoshimi, you don't actually think that your loss of control was caused by me, do you?!"
"Wasn't it?"
Saying this, Hoshimi Aya frowned in confusion.
"Of course not! We are supposed to be one entity!"
"If you are strong, I am also strong!"
"If you are weak, I am also ethereal!"
"We are the most perfect combination!"
Saying this, the Nine-Tailed Fox circled around Hoshimi Aya, its gaze never leaving her.
Upon hearing this, Hoshimi Aya fell silent, unsure whether she should believe it.
However, her intuition told her that the Nine-Tailed Fox before her was the cause of her loss of control.
If it wasn't, how could her previous actions be explained?
Hoshimi Aya seemed to be trapped in a huge mystery.
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