Are there wolves in Japan?
If you don’t count the ones in the zoo, and just talk about the wild ones, there really aren’t any. Although Japan has many mountains and forests, there are really no traces of wolves in the wild.
However, about a hundred years ago, wolves still existed in Japan.
The Japanese wolf a hundred years ago, also called the Japanese wolf, was a subspecies of wolf. It was only about 1 meter in length and was the smallest among wolves.
The petite Japanese wolves like to howl collectively in the morning and dusk. At this time, the wolf's howl resounds throughout the valley, so it is called the "Howling God" by the Japanese. In addition, because wolves can chase and kill deer that have been trampled on fields, Japanese people also regard wolves as "the patron saint of crops."
However, due to a series of infectious diseases such as canine distemper; industrialization reducing forest area, the habitat of wolf wolves has shrunk; and the wolf extermination operations encouraged by the government. The Japanese wolf population gradually declined, eventually becoming completely extinct around 1907.
The Japanese wolf is a relatively representative extinct native creature. Kanoya once saw a little introduction in a book.
However, when the deer was running away just now, it seemed that he did hear a wolf howling...
If there are no wolves in the wild, what makes the sound?
In the dark mountain forest, the light of three flashlights flickered, and the beams of light pierced the darkness, but they could not give people any sense of security.
"There should be no wolves in the wild, but these people are obviously hunters. They must know this, right? But they take hunting wolves so naturally."
As Kanoya thought, he carefully looked at the three hunters in front of him.
In fact, she noticed it from the beginning. The two men and one woman in front of her were dressed very strangely.
The old men and women among the hunters all wore wrinkled beige shirts and gray trousers. The shirts they wore looked regular, and the cuffs and collars were badly worn.
As for the middle-aged woman, she seemed to be wearing variegated sleeves and a gray hakama tied around her waist.
Patches can be seen on the clothes of the three of them.
Kanoya has never seen such a dress in real life, but it may be seen on TV. This is really too retro and has a sense of the times.
"So they are not from the same era as me? Are they from more than a hundred years ago?"
Kanoya had more ideas in his mind.
And based on the time when wolves became extinct, we can roughly guess what era the three people in front of us should belong to.
Maybe someone from before 1907?
But that’s not always the case. After all, after the officially confirmed date of wolf extinction in Japan in 1907, there were rumors of wolf sightings spread across Japan in the following decades.
Moreover, it is normal for people in remote mountainous areas to not know that wolves are actually extinct after seeing wolves before.
But no matter what, Kanoya made a guess——
These people are definitely not from the same era as me.
They may have lived a hundred years ago, or they may have lived seventy or eighty years ago.
"So, I fell into the crack of the earthquake and was sent to the past. Does this count as time travel? However, I have seen mountains and the end of the road before, and there is a bottomless abyss..."
What he had seen before was the roads and mountains that were cut off like knives and axes, as well as the terrifying fog that could not be seen to the end. This kind of surreal scene made Kanoya feel that this was not a normal real world, but like a... An unreal nightmare.
It shouldn't be considered traveling to the past.
The exploration just now confirmed that this place is isolated from the world and is blocked from the outside world by extraordinary power.
Without reference, who knows if this is really "before"?
Kanoya tried his best to analyze the situation in his mind, hoping to find the key to breaking the situation. At the same time, he was also wary of the three hunters in front of him.
Then, I heard the female hunter named Xi Gui suddenly shouting with joy. Regardless of whether the deer resisted or not, she stepped forward directly.
The smile on the female hunter's face became even stronger: "Is it Kanoya? No wonder you look familiar and you have grown so big? Didn't you go to Tokyo to study? Why did you suddenly come back to Matsuzawa?"
"ah?"
The barrage of questions immediately stunned Xiaolu.
Does this huntress know me? Why do you seem to know me so well?
Moreover, the other party mentioned "Matsuze", which sounded like a place name, so it should be referring to this place.
From the tone of the female hunter, it seemed as if Kanoya grew up here in Matsuzawa.
"It turns out it's Luyeya. The little girl has grown so big. Then why didn't she say a word when she saw us just now?"
The old hunter Watanabe began to agree cheerfully, and he seemed to know the deer.
"Mr. Watanabe, did you shoot and scare people?"
"Oh, this is not chasing that evil wolf... I'm really sorry. Kanoya, you girl, why are you still in a daze? You won't go out to study for so long that you don't even recognize Grandpa Watanabe, right? I hugged you when I was a child. Miles."
The three hunters all laughed while holding their guns. In the dark forest, the dazzling yellow light of the flashlight shook randomly with their hearty laughter, and the atmosphere was unusually warm and harmonious.
This harmonious atmosphere made Lu Yewu couldn't help but his pupils trembled.
"No...that's not right. Why did they hug me when I was a child? I don't know them at all!"
Xiaolu looked at the three completely unfamiliar faces and thought negatively in his heart.
She was certain that she had grown up on Ourijima Island in Aomori since she was a child, living with her father and Hachishaku-sama.
What is Matsuzawa? This is definitely the first time I have heard of this place name.
Why do these three hunters refer to this place as my hometown?
"If I have no problem, then the problem is with these three hunters. They have some information about me in some way? How?"
At this time, the female hunter Xigui spoke again: "Luyewu, it's too dangerous to stay in the forest. It's better to go back to the village first."
"Yes, come back with us. You, a little girl with delicate skin and tender flesh, will be snatched away by wolves if you wander around here." The other two hunters nodded.
"I……"
The fawn originally wanted to reject these hunters.
Why go back to the village? I don’t know the place at all.
Look at your own clothes and my clothes. We don’t look like we are from the same era at all. How could we be from the same hometown?
And at the end of the mountain forest, the strange knife-cut cliff and the thick fog completely isolate Matsuzawa from the outside world.
Luyewu had already explored that area when she first arrived. She didn't believe that these hunters didn't know what was going on there.
Is this kind of thing more worth worrying about than hunting wolves?
The situation around the village is so weird, how do you always maintain a contented and happy state?
Moreover, Matsuzawa is cut off from the outside world. Don’t these people wonder how I got in?
Anyway, this obvious point that conflicts with the hunters' discourse cognition seems to be selectively ignored by them.
Or maybe they're just faking it.
Kanoya really couldn't figure it out, the CPU was going to burn out.
In short, the people in Matsuzawa are so weird, everything is weird.
But the double-barreled shotguns in the hands of the three hunters made Kanyeya hesitant to reject their proposal directly.
Although these three Matsuzawa people are all kind-hearted and friendly now, the old hunter Watanabe just shot at Kanoya without any explanation.
Who knows if they will suddenly fall out if they reject their proposal?
"It would be great if Master was here..."
If Kamiyagawa were here, even if he was pointed at by three shotguns, he probably wouldn't be afraid at all.
If Bao Qi is not enough, he will directly show everyone how to chop bullets with a knife.
But Kanoya doesn't have as much fighting power as her master.
"There are three of them. If there is only one, I can still try to resist..."
Xiaolu still has a relatively clear understanding of his own strength and does not overestimate his capabilities.
For the current plan, we can only compromise first and cooperate with the locals in Songze to see what kind of medicine these strange people are selling.
Then delay as much time as possible, waiting for Master's rescue.
"Master, your unsatisfactory apprentice seems to be defeated without a fight, which embarrasses you... I don't know how long I can survive here. Come and save me, Master..."
Xiaolu was in a state of confusion, but on the surface he cooperated with the people in Matsuzawa and forced out a smile:
"Then let's go back to the village."
Hearing what she said, the three hunters all laughed kindly.
"Yeah, yeah, come home with us."
The female hunter Xigui raised her gun with one hand and helped Lu Yewu, who had an injured knee.
She has great strength, which is a bit abnormal.
Moreover, when he touched the skin of the opponent's hand, Kanoya felt a strange smooth touch, and it also felt a little wet.
The watery and earthy smell of the other party can be smelled more clearly.
Kanoya suddenly realized that this smell was somewhat similar to the smell of the monster that squirmed in the cracks in the ground when the Ochanaka Gymnasium collapsed.
"There must be some connection between that unknown monster and the Matsuzawa people here."
Xiaolu secretly noted this in his mind.
…
That large village is called Songze Village.
Luyewu was led by three hunters as they walked in the village and looked around carefully.
The village is depressed and old, with mottled building walls. It does not look like a village in the 21st century.
It's dark now, but few buildings are lit.
When passing two small houses side by side, the old hunter Watanabe suddenly raised his hand and pointed at one of them: "Luye House, your home has arrived."
"Well……"
my home?
The little deer didn't recognize the short, dilapidated building in the night.
Are all the people in Songze so enthusiastic?
Not only do you treat me, a strange outsider, as a fellow countryman, but you also prepare a home for me?
Xigui: "It's a bit hard to live alone, and your house hasn't been cleaned for a long time. Do you need help?"
"No, no, thank you." Luyewu shook his head, "Then, I'm going back?"
It sounds like my "persona" lives alone in the village.
fair enough.
Kanoya's injured knee hurt badly and seemed to be swollen.
Fortunately, the advanced Pure Land Buddhist spells taught to her by Teacher Kanazawa include those that can control injuries. She needs some time to heal herself and get herself back to normal. Before that, it is a good thing to have a house to stay in.
Let’s take a step first and see one step at a time.
They were all brought into the village by these Songze people, so they had to do something beneficial to themselves.
And if he wanted to escape later, he would have to wait until the knee injury was under control.
"Don't worry yet." The old hunter Watanabe shook his head, "Are you starving at Luyeya? Come with us to the cafeteria for dinner first?"
canteen?
Is there a canteen in this village?
"Well, I'm actually not hungry."
"You can go there if you're not hungry. Everyone in the village is at the cafeteria now. It's a good idea to meet everyone. They will be very happy when you come back." Watanabe was still cheerful, but his tone was undeniable.
Lu Yewu observed the three hunters and weighed them in his mind for a while. Finally, he decided to take action as possible without conflict and nodded.
The canteen in Songze Village is a large row house, and it is a Western-style building with a pointed roof, red tiles and white walls.
Said to be a canteen, Kanye House feels more like a church.
There is a very strange relief above the main entrance of the cafeteria.
At the bottom is a cross placed diagonally, and above the cross, a huge worm is carved.
This weird shape makes the statue extremely weird and full of fragmentation.
"Insects? No, they look a bit like leeches. Are there any strange beliefs in Songze Village?"
Kanoya speculated in his mind and silently noted this.
Now that it's here, stop blaming others. It's also necessary to have more information, which will always be helpful for self-rescue.
Through the colored windows of the canteen, you can see the warm lights inside, and the lively laughter and laughter flowing out of it.
The three hunters piously tapped their chests twice with their right index and ring fingers at the gate, and then the old hunter Watanabe pushed the door open.
There were no less than sixty people, men, women, old and young, gathered inside.
Everyone looked very happy and laughed, just like the three hunters.
In such a scene, it is as if Songze Village is a paradise where only joy and joy exist.
Seeing the door open, everyone in the cafeteria stopped moving. The sound of clinking cups, plates, bowls and chopsticks subsided. Everyone raised their heads and looked directly at the four new people who came in. Empty smiles hung on everyone's faces. superior.
Kanoya noticed that most of the people here dressed in the same style as the hunters, very retro.
But there are also a small number of people who wear T-shirts and shorts, suits or skirts.
He is obviously dressed in the same style as himself.
Those should not be from Matsuzawa.
"Master and I discussed that recent earthquakes have been quite frequent. After the earthquake, the Fire Department reported the number of missing people... Are these people like me, missing during the earthquake, so they came to Songze Village?"
Xiaolu's mind was spinning pretty fast, and thinking of this, she shuddered a little.
But why?
Why do these people who should be the same as me have the weird, hollow, lingering smiles of Matsuzawa people on their faces?
Have they integrated here? What are they happy about?
The little deer looked around and finally found a true "same kind" among those modern people.
It was an ordinary-looking woman in her thirties, wearing a floral dress and her hair tied up. His face was full of sadness, which was incompatible with the festive atmosphere around him.
It was because she didn't smile that she looked extra normal.
The woman was looking at Kanoya with a complicated look.
"Everyone, Kanoya is back." The old hunter Watanabe said in a light and joyful tone.
The people in the cafeteria cheered as if it were a festival, and strange faces smiled kindly and warmly under the soft yellow light.
"Let's eat too."
"Is it true that Luyeya doesn't want to eat? You've been away for so long and you don't miss the taste of your hometown?"
Two hunters, Takao and Xigui, walked into the center of the canteen. The hunting activities seemed to make them hungry. They grabbed the food on other people's plates and wolfed it down.
Kanoya finally saw clearly what the people in the cafeteria were sharing.
They were pieces of black, smooth, shiny raw meat.
The canteen was filled with a strong smell of water.
"vomit……!"
Xiaolu tried not to spit it out, breathed quickly, and silently recited the Calming Mantra in his mind to stay calm as much as possible.
People in the canteen started eating again.
Everyone scrambled to grab the strange raw meat on the dinner plate and devoured it, making slurping sounds.
The cheerful and friendly Songze people are hospitable and willing to share. They feel like a family, and the clinking of cups, plates, bowls and chopsticks makes a lively sound, filled with happiness.
While they were eating themselves, they did not forget to greet the pale-faced Kanoya, and did not ignore this little girl from their "fellow countryman" at all.
"Are you really not going to eat a little?"
They held the meat in their hands and asked with a smile, black juice flowing from the raised corners of their mouths.
(End of chapter)
