Curse of Shattering (13)

"What do you mean?"

Kamakura Mi was still trying to understand when Ni Huayuan stood up and walked over to the statue, which was missing its lower half.

"Don't you think this statue looks a little different from the ones outside?"

He studied it for a moment, then spoke without looking back.

"It does look a little different."

Prompted by Ni Huayuan, even A Kai nodded slightly.

"It feels less human."

"Yeah..."

"It kind of does..."

As researchers, the people from the academy were certainly more observant than average.

A Kai's comment immediately won him plenty of agreement.

They hadn't just been wandering around outside for nothing. Although they hadn't found a single intact statue, even comparing only the lower halves had revealed something odd.

The statues outside had clearly all depicted the same person, and looked almost entirely human.

The armor on this one might have been similar, but the proportions and the way it stood both felt distinctly unsettling.

In short, it didn't look much like a person.

"It really is different."

At last, Kamakura Mi, a professional tomb keeper, noticed what was strange about it. He looked astonished.

"I've never seen a design like this before."

"Truly a dedicated tomb keeper. You even kept yourself outside."

Ni Huayuan's voice dripped with mockery. Kamakura Mi's face immediately reddened.

After all, his earlier performance had left him no grounds to argue.

"So, according to you, there aren't any statues like this anywhere else?"

Fortunately, Ni Huayuan didn't press the matter. He immediately focused on the anomaly before them.

"Not that I know of."

Kamakura Mi shook his head firmly, but remembering the oppressive gaze they'd just endured, he couldn't help looking to the others for confirmation.

"I don't think so..."

"Never seen one..."

The other members of the Kamakura