fictional spring

——Ghost dance Tsuji no misery.

This is the name that Miko-sama told me personally.

The moment these words came out from between her lips, I felt something strange—an unspeakable sense of resistance emerged from the bottom of my heart.

It was as if... there was something in my heart that wanted to refute her voice.

This kind of mood came too abruptly and strangely, which made me stunned for a moment.

Probably because my expression was too obvious at this time, Miko-sama raised her eyes, "Is there any problem?"

At this time, I should actually express my true thoughts and tell Miko-sama my feelings, but when I wanted to speak, I seemed to encounter an invisible barrier, and I forcibly stopped those words that could have been blurted out in my mouth. Words didn't come out either.

Seeing the Miko-sama looking at me, I opened my mouth and repeated the name she said: "Is it Mumai Tsuji...?"

Hearing this, Miko-sama's complexion changed slightly, and a pensive look suddenly appeared on her supposedly expressionless face. When she stared at me, this expression became particularly clear.

We fell silent at the same time, and the eerie silence gradually spread in the room.It wasn't any of us who broke the silence, but the maid who knocked on the barrier door without knowing it.

I don't know what Miko is thinking at this time, at least I can't calm down at all at the moment, and the indescribable confusion gradually erodes consciousness when this name enters my mind.

I don't even know when Miko-sama left the room, I only know that when I came to my senses, the person sitting in front of me had already changed from Miko-sama to that lively maid.

The maid blinked her eyes, tilted her head and asked, "Are you listening?"

As if waking up from a dream, I looked at her, then lowered my head to look at my palm, and said softly, "Sorry, I just... lost my mind."

Hearing this, the maid sighed, seemed to hesitate for a moment, and then said in a cautious and sympathetic tone: "Although it is really beyond my control to say such things to you in my capacity, but to speak from the bottom of my heart, I still hope you can take it easy." She paused at this point: "After all, the Lord City Lord has ignored the affairs of the city for quite some time, and Madam has always..."

In fact, from the previous interactions, we can see that the maid is not good at comforting or euphemistically hinting at others, so what she said was relatively straightforward. Even if I couldn't finish the sentence, I already understood what she wanted to tell me .

So I said to her: "I will find another chance to meet my lord father."

Hearing this, the maid showed a hesitant expression again, opened her mouth, but made no sound.

"Is there anything else?"

After I took the initiative to ask, the maid said: "I heard that people seem to be missing in the city recently..."

From the mouth of the maid, I learned about the current situation in the city.Because of the occurrence of people missing one after another, the current situation in the city seems to be unstable.

Hearing this, I lowered my eyelids and said softly to her, "It will get better."

"everything will get better."

I said this to her.

A few days after that, another visitor came to the city.

The heavy snow did not show any sign of melting, and the biting cold wind blew past, blowing away the few warmth from the body.

I couldn't help shivering as I walked through the corridor, and raised my hand to touch my ears.

Because my father stayed behind closed doors, and my mother caught a cold by accident, the task of receiving guests had to fall on me.

It was a young swordsman dressed in black with a dagger hanging from his waist.

He claimed to be a member of the "Ghost Killing Squad", because he heard that many people in the city had been missing recently, so he came to the city to investigate the situation after completing the original mission.

"Ghost Killing Squad?"

After all, it was the first time I heard this name, and I asked curiously, "What is that?"

Hearing this, the swordsman straightened his expression, and after thanking the maid who brought him hot tea, he said to me, "Do you know 'ghosts'?"

Although I haven't heard of it from anyone, I have seen it in a book, which described the so-called "ghosts" in the most terrifying way, most of them are cruel and tyrannical existences.

It is a cruel monster that is everywhere.

But I always feel that what the swordsman said may not be what I read in the book.

So I asked him for confirmation after explaining my understanding: "Is it that kind of 'ghost'?"

Lord Swordsman shook his head.

"That's right. After all, the things mentioned in the book are probably things that don't exist."

After I spoke like this, Lord Swordsman replied: "Perhaps what you said is indeed correct, but I want to tell you that there are indeed 'ghosts' in this world today, although they are not the same as those mentioned in the book. , but it is also a kind of existence that feeds on human beings and has the same appearance as human beings."

This is the first time I learned of the existence of so-called "ghosts" from the population.

I froze for a moment, and suddenly understood something, "So you came here because you think..."

Lord Swordsman nodded: "Perhaps those missing people in the city were eaten by 'ghosts'."

Hearing this, all the maids around were terrified, and the few who didn't feel scared were probably just because they took the swordsman's words as lies.

Because everyone has never seen a so-called ghost, and no one in the city or even nearby has ever heard of any deeds related to "ghosts".

But I can be sure - what he said is true.

Not only my personal feeling, but also my judgment after seeing his appearance and every move.

Judging from the other big sword on his waist, one can know that he is indeed a brave ghost hunter. Although the smell has almost dissipated, I actually smell it—from the swordsman not far away. Here comes the strange smell of blood.

Even if he was sitting in front of me, he still maintained a vigilant body, and his eyes that looked at us without leaving a trace since I came in are enough to show that he is not an ordinary person.

But Lord Swordsman has no malice towards us, what is contained in those black eyes is only full of fortitude and determination.

"You have worked hard."

I can feel the swordsman's mood, and I can naturally know his intentions, so I said to him: "In this case, if you don't dislike it, I will ask someone to clean up a room for you, take a short rest, and come back tomorrow." Let's investigate."

The swordsman did not refuse: "Thank you."

I shook my head: "If there is anything that needs us, you can just bring it up. Father and mother are not feeling well recently, so I can only receive you. It would be rude."

Hearing this, Lord Swordsman nodded, and said clearly: "So that's the case. If this is the case, if you don't mind, can you let me walk around the city?"

In fact, it stands to reason that I, as the host, should accompany the inspection, but my physical condition is completely insufficient to do this kind of thing.

After explaining the situation to the swordsman, I said to him: "I can let my attendants accompany you to patrol around the city."

Hearing this, the swordsman smiled a bit on his young face, and he said to me: "Mu Yueji, you are so understanding, I am really grateful."

Master Swordsman is a very good person.

That's why I work hard to protect people who are not related to me.

After the maid took him to the guest room, I went to my father's courtyard again, but was stopped outside the courtyard door as expected.

"Father still doesn't want to see anyone?"

I asked the guards at the gate, "It's been so long, I'm a little worried..."

Hearing this, the attendants also showed hesitation, looked at each other and said awkwardly: "Mu Yue Ji, this is the order of the Lord of the City, and we are not good at disobeying it."

I naturally understand their embarrassment, but——

"Father won't be angry with me," I said to them, "just say I forced my way in."

Although the attendants were still hesitating, they didn't stop me when I stepped out, as if acquiescing to my suggestion, they didn't rush to send me out when I stepped into the courtyard.

I successfully arrived at the door of Father's room.

I don't know if it's my illusion, but there seems to be some kind of strange smell coming out from the crack of the door, like the smell of rust, or the stinky smell of something rotten.

Before I knocked on the door, the barrier door suddenly opened a gap by itself - not by myself, a pale palm was pressed on the edge of the barrier door, from the gap opened, I only saw my father half face.

I subconsciously called out to my lord father, but the response I got was a stare looking straight at me.

I have never seen such a look on my father before. It is complex and gloomy, like disgust and hatred, but if you look carefully, there is nothing there.

Father didn't respond for a long time, his face was half covered by the barrier, I looked at the half of his face that was exposed, and there was no trace of blood on it.

"Are you... alright?"

After I asked like this, my lord father squeezed out an ugly smile with great difficulty, "Why did you come here? Didn't I tell the attendants not to let anyone in?"

Hearing this, I explained: "I must barge in, and the attendants dare not stop me...My lord father, I am a little worried about your health."

His father's eyeballs turned strangely, and the corners of his mouth moved, as if he was holding back some thoughts, and the expression on his face even became a little ferocious.

"Don't come here again, Mutsuki."

My father said to me: "If my illness is transmitted to you, it will put too much burden on your body. You should go back to your yard as soon as possible."

As if to make me leave quickly, my father planned to close the barrier after he finished speaking.

"Wait a minute, please," I pressed the other side of the barrier, and mentioned what I smelled: "Are you... bleeding?"

Hearing this, my father opened his eyes wide, and asked in a blunt tone, "Did you smell it?"

I nodded: "It's better to let the doctor come over again, my lord father, everyone hopes you can recover soon."

After I finished speaking, my lord father seemed to be relieved, but he quickly restrained himself... Are you lucky?

He said to me: "I will send someone to call the doctor again, you should go back to your room quickly..." At this point, he seemed to have something to say to me: "Master Miko, Are you still in the city now?"

Although I didn't quite understand why Father suddenly asked about Miko, I still replied, "I'm still there. Do you need to find her?"

It seems that there is nothing strange about the reason why she wants to ask Miko to perform the ritual of pulling out her body because she is unwell.But I always feel that Father doesn't mean that.

When he mentioned Miko-sama, it was more cautious—as if he was afraid of her or something on her.

And the father's answer just confirmed this point.

He rebuffed with a little haste: "No! Nothing!"

Perhaps it was the way my eyes widened after hearing this sentence that made my father realize something. He quickly explained: "I just feel that I haven't treated her well since she came to the city, so I feel a little regretful."

"Then when you recover, let's treat Miko-sama well together, shall we?"

After I made such a suggestion, my father also agreed, and before I left, I told my father: "A young swordsman came to the city today. He claimed to be a member of the ghost killing team. We are here to investigate the recent disappearances of people in the city."

Hearing that his father tightened his grip on the door, he seemed to be equally nervous, and asked, "Then where is he now?"

"I asked him to stay in the mansion for the night. After all, he had traveled for a long time, and he must have been very tired during the journey. I wanted him to rest first and investigate this matter tomorrow."

Hearing that his father was silent for a while, "Just make arrangements."

When I came back from my father's compound, I met Swordsman-sama on the way.

The swordsman's name is Toyama Yoshirei, this is what he told me when we first met.

"Does Master Yuanshan need anything?"

When I asked, the swordsman replied: "I still want to investigate the situation in the city as soon as possible."

He told me that because the sun can pose a threat to ghosts, ghosts mostly only act at night to be on the safe side.

"If you wait until nightfall, the ghost's actions will become more convenient, so I still want to see if I can find some clues during the day."

Since Master Swordsman insists on this, I have no choice but to order my attendants to go out with him, and only return to my room after seeing them off.

What I felt when I pushed open the barrier was the warmth of the charcoal burning in the brazier, and what I saw in my sight was the back of the Miko.

Hearing the sound of the door being pushed, the Miko turned around, with a tight arc at the corner of her mouth, "You're back."

I nodded and sat down in front of her, "When did you come here?"

Hearing that the Miko-sama raised the poetry collection in her hand: "I've read it since I came here, and I've already seen this page."

I glanced over and found that Miko-sama has already finished most of it.

This also means that Miko-sama has been waiting in my room for quite a long time.

"Because of what?"

The Miko asked: "You never stayed outside for so long before."

She glanced at my coat and reached out to brush off the fine snow that accidentally fell on it before I could answer: "Is it cold outside?"

I nodded and explained: "You have also heard about the disappearance of people in the city recently. A swordsman from the Ghost Killing Team came today and said that he came to investigate whether the incident was related to ghosts."

Hearing that the Miko-sama raised her eyebrows, her outstretched hand paused, and her movements became a little stiff, "Really? What's your name?"

"Yi Li from the distant mountains."

Hearing that Miko-sama squinted her eyes, I simply took off my coat and didn't hang it up, just threw it on the ground casually.

Miko-sama glanced at me, "Is he in the mansion now?"

I shook my head: "Master Swordsman went outside to investigate the situation."

To my surprise, Miko-sama chuckled lightly: "As expected of a water column, you should act cautiously."

I froze for a moment, not just because I saw Miko-sama's more appropriate expression of sarcasm rather than a "laugh".

Also because——

"What is a water column?"

I blinked and asked her curiously, "Do you know Master Yuanshan?"

Miko-sama took her eyes away from me, and said casually: "I heard about the existence of the Demon Slayer Squad when I was in Kyoto, and the best swordsmen in the Ghost Slayer Squad would be called 'Pillars', although I haven't seen them. I met, but I heard a few names by chance."

"So this is ah."

I didn't delve into the true meaning of Miko-sama's smile, nor did I ask any more questions.

But later, when I accidentally recalled these pasts, I couldn't help thinking that if I had made everything clear from the beginning, and said all the questions I wanted to ask in front of Miko, maybe things wouldn't have turned out like that.

It's just... the possibility of doing that is only in the imagination.

After nightfall, I heard the maids come to report the news that Master Swordsman has returned.

At this time, Miko-sama was also beside me. She didn't sit next to me on purpose, she was just doing her own thing, and occasionally raised her face to look at me.

"Any gains?" I asked the maid.

Hearing this, the maids shook their heads and told me: "Lord Yuan Shan didn't say anything."

It is very likely that there is no gain.

After all, it was the first day, and this result was not too unexpected, but when the maid mentioned something, I couldn't help but pay attention.

"Master Yuanshan asked us whether any strange people have been in the city recently."

"Then what do you say?"

Hearing this, the maid raised her eyes hesitantly and looked in the direction of the Miko, as if she wanted to say something but couldn't say it.

I could understand right away—they said Miko-sama.

It's no wonder they find Miko-sama strange, even I, who have been with her for a long time, can't deny this fact.

What's more, according to what the swordsman said - ghosts are afraid of sunlight and wisteria flowers.With such a statement, Miko seems to be in line with the previous point.

After realizing that I already understood, the maid added: "We also talked about the medicine buyer who visited you a few days ago, and the lord from Kyoto who just left in the past few days."

No matter who it is, it can actually pick out a bunch of doubtful places.

"Then what is the reaction of Lord Swordsman?"

The maid told me: "Master Swordsman asked everyone about the specific situation in detail, and then didn't say anything more."

After understanding the situation, I signaled the maids to go back to their rooms first, and did not come to the Miko until they had all left.

"Did you hear that?" I asked her, "The maids said what Master Swordsman did."

Hearing this, Miko-sama nodded, her expression still calm and unwavering.

Seeing her look like this, I couldn't help being curious: "Have you ever seen a ghost?"

Miko-sama suddenly lowered her hand holding the book, she turned her face to look at my face, and after a while said softly: "I have seen it."

I blinked, "Then what kind of ghost did you see?"

Hearing that Miko-sama seems to be lost in memory, "It's a ghost of a woman who ate her husband and children in order to survive."

I froze for a moment.

Miko-sama's tone was very flat, as if she was talking about today's dishes, it even made me feel—

In her opinion, this kind of thing is almost the same as our usual meal.

"Isn't Miko-sama afraid?"

I asked her, "How did you escape from the ghost?"

The witch half-closed her eyes: "There is nothing to say about that kind of thing, but you, the cold wind blowing outside for so long today, if you don't rest early, you may have another headache."

The Miko-sama's tone was extremely skillful, to the point where she stuffed me into the bedding, urging me to take off my coat as soon as possible——

A posture that I will come to help me if I don't move any more.

Actually, I didn't feel sleepy yet, but in order not to worry Miko-sama, I took off my coat.

I thought Miko-sama would stay in my room today, but to my surprise, after I lay down, she stood up, as if she was about to leave.

I subconsciously reached out and grabbed her skirt: "Aren't you going to sleep with me tonight?"

Hearing that the Miko knelt down, reached out and touched my cheek, and asked, "Do you want me to stay?"

I nodded without hesitation, not only because I have developed this habit, but also because of what happened in the city recently.

Although this situation has not occurred in the City Lord's Mansion for the time being, it may not be very safe for the Mistress to sleep alone.

After hearing my explanation, the witch suddenly smiled, "Compared to me, aren't you more dangerous?"

"Then Miko-sama stay and protect me."

After I finished saying that, Miko-sama blinked her eyes, pursed her lips and looked away.

She didn't nod her head in agreement, but her actual actions were enough to show her willingness. After taking off the coat on her body, the Miko opened a corner of my bedding.

Probably because the time spent warming with me by the fire is getting longer and longer, and the temperature on Miko-sama's body seems to be warmer than the ice-like coldness at the beginning. Woke up from the freeze.

It is not uncommon for us to sleep on the same bed, but when I reached out and grabbed Miko-sama's hand with my own, her expression changed slightly.

I moved closer to her: "Are you cold?"

The distance between us at this time is that our bodies are close to each other. Feeling the temperature from Miko-sama, I asked her, "Would it be warmer this way?"

What responded to me was a warm hug, and a sound close to my ear——

"Yes."