"Dad, why did this place feel even more terrifying than Japan?" Nai Xue asked, her face pale.
"Don't overthink it. At least we're safe for now. These farmlands are wide open—if any monster showed up, we'd spot it at a glance."
Takahashi Yuya comforted her.
"Okay..."
Nai Xue nodded, but her expression still looked grim.
The terrifying scenes in the mountains remained vivid in her mind, and she could not calm herself.
Knock, knock, knock... Knock, knock, knock...
A rhythmic knocking suddenly came from outside. It was steady, low, and strangely measured.
The people inside were like startled rabbits, their eyes wide and ears pricked.
"Who is it?"
"Who's there?"
All of them were sitting on the ground with their backs against the wall, resting.
Takahashi Yuya deliberately looked around and counted heads. There were twelve people in total, and none were missing.
Moreover, he had not sensed any living presence approaching from outside.
Gulp!
Their lips went dry as they instinctively swallowed.
So... what exactly was knocking on the door?
Knock, knock, knock!
The rhythmic knocking sounded again.
The room was dead silent. Everyone held their breath, not daring to make a sound. The knocking was like a heavy hammer, striking their hearts again and again.
"What do we do?"
"Could that old woman have caught up to us?"
"But... why would she knock?"
"..."
Everyone was confused.
But just then, a girl's voice came from outside.
"Is anyone in there?"
"Huh?"
Everyone froze in surprise. The voice was crisp and ethereal, clearly that of a young girl—and a pleasant one at that.
Could it... not be a monster?
They exchanged glances, each seeing the others' doubt.
Some of them even imagined that once they opened the door, they would still find the old woman's face outside, only with