"What—"
The young man had barely voiced his guess when he was about to deny it outright, but then he heard a confirming answer beside him.
"Yes."
The young man froze.
Yes?
Yes to what?
Was he saying that... the owner of the stone, Shitou... wasn't human?
Or... how could the owner of the stone not be human?
The young man shook his head.
Why was he so muddled?
"It isn't human."
Xiao Xiao watched the young man's eyes widen further and spoke clearly.
"...Huh?"
The young man made a rather strange sound.
"Cough, cough~"
He felt his throat.
"Not human?"
He repeated Xiao Xiao's words.
It sounded half like a mutter, half like a question.
"...Then what is it?"
If it wasn't human... what was it?
What other creature could leave him this mentally exhausted?
What creature besides humans could be so clever?
It knew he had picked up its stone, had followed him all this way, and was so stubbornly insisting that he return it.
Besides humans...
He didn't know.
Were there any other creatures in this world that could do all that?
Was he just ignorant?
"A mysterious creature."
The corners of Xiao Xiao's mouth lifted slightly.
"...Huh?"
The young man looked uncertain.
A mysterious creature?
What kind of creature was that?
Was this guy brushing him off?
"Xiao Xiao."
Madam Xiao shook her head, slightly amused.
"Xiao Kong is asking you very seriously."
"I'm answering just as seriously."
A somewhat innocent look appeared on Xiao Xiao's face.
"You."
The amusement in Madam Xiao's eyes deepened.
She looked at the young man. "Xiao Kong, since we've more or less sorted out the problem, I'll be going now."
"I can't keep making an older person stay busy."
Seeing the young man hesitate, Madam Xiao smiled.