Li Qing led the group toward the houses.
Akiyuki walked up beside Saiki and asked quietly: "Do you really believe what that village chief said?"
(You're not maintaining your cool high-cold persona anymore?)
Saiki was a bit surprised and asked back
[Wait, you don't even trust the village chief?]
Akiyuki didn't deny it: "Mm, I hold suspicion toward everyone. In this world you have to be cautious. If… just guessing boldly, maybe there's a traitor among us."
(We've been together from the very beginning until now—where would a traitor come from? You're being way too cautious.)
[The system issued the task, so it must be real. The system can't possibly be lying to you too, right!]
Akiyuki paused for a moment, then nodded: "Possible."
[Hey…]
"..."
While chatting and laughing, Li Qing had already brought everyone to three houses at the very edge of the village.
Li Qing opened the door and led them inside: "Sorry about this. Although quite a few people have come to our village before, the houses were mostly built by them after they arrived.
These are leftovers from when someone passed away last time, a bit close to the village edge. Since they haven't been used in a long time, I hope you don't mind. These three houses only have one bed each, but every room has two straw mats."
Saiki observed the surroundings: windows, stools, tables, bed, straw mats, doors—all very old. The scenery was nice, but it could almost be described as bare-bones furnishings without exaggeration.
Su Sheng grabbed Li Qing's hand: "It's fine~ How could we mind? Don't worry, Xiao Qing. We (Saiki) will definitely capture Medusa and return peace to your village."
(You'd better be saying "we.")
Li Qing looked at the hand holding hers, a trace of shyness flashing across her face: "Thank you, Su-gege."
Hearing Li Qing call him Su-gege, Su Sheng's heart practically melted.
Su Sheng gripped his crotch with one hand to steady himself [Ahh, this feeling must be love. I didn't want to fall for someone so casually, but she called me Su-gege!]
(What are you grabbing there? Pervert!)
Li Qing: "But it's not just that one called Medusa around here. Since this is close to the village edge, there might be wooden people.
You might not know, but even though villagers have killed a few wooden people before, the troublesome thing is they can change into other people's faces—it's really scary. But if you lock the doors properly, they probably won't appear!"
Hearing Li Qing's reminder again, everyone couldn't help thinking back to the terrifying face they had encountered on the road. A cold sweat passed over them.
(We already ran into one on the way.)
Su Sheng patted his chest reassuringly: "It's fine, Xiao Qing. We're not afraid of that thing. If it comes, I'll take care of it easily."
"Su-gege is so amazing. Then see you tomorrow. Bye!"
Li Qing waved and left after saying that.
After Li Qing was gone, silence fell over the group.
Since there were three houses and six people, two per house. The girls were obviously together, so the boys all wanted to room with Saiki for a greater sense of security.
While Li Ming was still hesitating, Zhao Gao had already turned to ask to room with Saiki.
"Saiki-god, can I stay in the same house as you?"
The one speaking was Su Sheng. As soon as Li Qing left, he immediately shamelessly ran up to Saiki to request, completely ignoring the big talk he had just boasted about.
(You're so capable—doesn't matter who you room with, right!)
"Holy crap, Su Sheng, you moved way too fast."
Saiki didn't mind. He picked up a straw mat from the floor, handed it to Su Sheng with a smile, and said
[I want to stay alone. If the three of you stay together, you shouldn't be scared anymore, right!]
"I…"
Li Ming nodded in agreement: "Makes sense."
Zhao Gao patted Su Sheng on the shoulder: "Ah well, three guys together—that's actually pretty nice!"
"Sigh~"
Su Sheng could only leave dejectedly with the other two. Akiyuki and Yao Yao also walked out afterward.
Seeing the door still open, Saiki stepped out intending to close it, but noticed Yao Yao still standing at the doorway without leaving.
[What are you doing?]
Yao Yao twisted her body shyly: "Saiki-oniichan, I have something to ask you. Can I sleep with you? I feel safer sleeping next to you here. I'll be really obedient, really!"
[You're really obedient?]
Yao Yao had come right to his door begging, looking so pitiful it tugged at the heartstrings.
"Of course."
Saiki patted her shoulder, sighed, and said [You're already a grown-up mature child. Be good, go sleep with your Akiyuki-neesan. Bye.]
Saiki closed the door. Yao Yao was startled and stuck out a foot to block it.
Then "Ah!"—her foot got caught.
[What are you doing!]
Saiki opened the door again. Yao Yao clutched her foot, sitting on the ground and blowing on it.
"I… I have something to tell you. I have a really amazing ability."
[We'll talk tomorrow.]
(What ability has to do with me? That Akiyuki has something similar to that aura-seeing ability—useless to me anyway.)
"Nooo, I'm scared."
Yao Yao's expression changed. She grabbed Saiki's shoulders, pulled him down, and whispered: "I'll tell you, okay? I got an ability called Lucky—it means really good luck.
If we all jumped off a cliff and died, I probably wouldn't die. So if I can sleep here, there probably won't be any ghosts. Please, pretty please (*°▽°)ﾉ."
Saiki stared fixedly at Yao Yao, his gaze deep…
[Fine. Then go get a straw mat. You sleep on the floor, I sleep at the head of the bed.]
Look how kind Saiki is—he even reminded her not to forget the straw mat.
"Great! Thank you! I'll go get a straw mat from Akiyuki-neesan first."
Yao Yao rubbed her foot, then ran toward the third house.
The system asked puzzledly: "Saiki, are you actually interested in that thing? No way. Oh right, your psychic powers don't include luck manipulation. Do you want to study this?"
[None of your business.]
"Tch."
Saiki walked a few steps into the house, sat at the head of the bed, touched the wooden frame as if thinking of something.
Then he grabbed the bed leg, slowly lowered his head, and looked under the bed—only to see…
Nothing.
System: "What are you doing?"
[Yare yare daze, better to be cautious. What if there's a ghost? In horror movies, when someone pokes their head under the bed in a situation like this, there's usually a ghost. Looks like there isn't.]
The system muttered: "Even ghosts don't dare come near you…"
"…"
Meanwhile in the third house, Akiyuki, sitting at the head of the bed, saw Yao Yao return and was about to discuss the bed situation.
"You're back. About this bed… hm? Where are you taking the straw mat?"
"Akiyuki-neesan, are you sleeping alone? I'm going to sleep with Saiki-oniichan. Even though it's on the floor, I feel safer that way. Bye!"
Without waiting for Akiyuki's reply, she dashed out the door.
Akiyuki sat at the head of the bed, a bit disheveled. After coming back to her senses, she grabbed the pillow and slammed it hard onto the bed.
"Ah, damn it! I was even hesitating earlier whether to let her take the bed. I wanted to go too, but I can't! You can't ruin the high-cold persona the author set for me!"
Akiyuki scratched her head, sighed, and prepared to sleep, but her mind seemed to think of something "surprising." With one leap she jumped off the bed.
"Gulp!"
Nervously swallowing, Akiyuki stood two meters away from the bed, slowly lowered her head, saw nothing under it, and finally relaxed.
"Good thing there's no ghost!"