"Wild Duck Country"

The "death of the author" theory believes that the birth of a text announces the "death" of the author. When the author falls, the reader can stand up.

The work is the author's epitaph.

My "death" announced Fujiwara's rise. When I was stabbed by the purple ghost again, I was no longer the author of the work. The gambler finally became a chip and was placed on the gambling table. What do I know about "Wild Duck Country"? I am just an unknown third-rate novelist. Back then, readers held the power of life and death over me. This is really a sad memory.

Now, my only reader is enjoying the hot pot sauna treatment, even though it's because he killed someone...but the feeling brought by this reversal is really hard to describe.

But my "death" tonight can serve as a reference. At least, I died as Fujiwara, and the tombstone tells the story of Fujiwara's weird life.

The dead cannot speak... Please look at the tombstone.

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The warm light around me was like the dying fantasy of a little match girl, but when she lit the match, the fairy tale suddenly turned into a ghost story. The person turned into a duck and was hung on a tree.

Dazai traced the source of the abnormal process observed by satellite images and finally found a convenience store. At this time, there was a splattered blood stain on the glass door near the connection. The droplets slid down due to gravity, leaving a twisted mark.

It looked like some kind of murder scene.

Dazai Osamu, a former Mafia reserve officer, walked into a convenience store and was indifferent to the tragic scene inside. He found the key at first sight, a bloodstained manuscript. The blood on it had oxidized and precipitated into a sticky black color.

Because of the existence of a person with special abilities, many forces are ready to make a move, and even the rat in the dark can't help but want to get a piece of the pie.

Dazai Osamu showed a hint of sarcasm in his eyes and opened the manuscript.

In just a few days, she created four ghost stories. Among them, "Mortuary" was published after being asked for by a "corpse" with special abilities; the manuscript of "Two Dolls" was handed over to Nakajima Atsushi and is still kept in the Armed Detective Agency, and no abnormal situation has occurred; the "Kirsukiri Station" help post as a supernatural event post has recently caused a huge heated discussion, and the special power creation "Train" has been witnessed by many people. Many tourists go to Yokohama to explore the truth and seek excitement, and the place where the train appears is also listed as a must-see attraction in the Yokohama Travel Diary. However, this diary also included the five-building building with the □□ logo before, and I can only admire the editor-in-chief's courage.

Obviously, someone was pushing this. Japan is a region where supernatural events are common, and the number of visitors to the surrounding shrines has increased several times. It was a big sensation and indeed caused quite a stir.

However, even if all the original stories ended in tragedy, from a realistic point of view, it seems that no casualties were caused, which is just a minor incident. No matter how huge the momentum is, such an anticlimactic result makes people even more confused.

Was he trying to leave room for negotiation with the authorities, or did he simply not have such an idea? Dazai Osamu pondered as he turned the pages.

Recently, there has been a private activity called "Searching for the Anonymous", which aims to find the author who disappeared after publishing "The Morgue". The publishing house seems to be even more eager, offering a sky-high fee for "The Morgue", and the only requirement is that the author himself come to collect it.

The manuscript in Dazai Osamu's hand is something that many people are concerned about.

[This video is the last record of Grandma Fujiwara. When people went to her house later, they found a duck behind the door with its wings and neck intertwined, a cut on its neck, and blood all over its body. The duck's originally pure white feathers were now dyed reddish brown, and its eyes were staring at the door, with its eyes wide open.

The room was covered in blood, and Grandma Fujiwara was nowhere to be seen. Of all the ducks in the family, only the one at the door was left, looking ahead alone.

This incident caused a big stir, and there was even a saying that "the duck paid for its life". However, as time passed, people gradually forgot about it and no longer mentioned it.

Later, this place became famous for its duck meat and was called the Land of Wild Duck.

He took a photo of the manuscript and sent it to Edogawa Ranpo, then quickly headed towards where the lights were gathered in the distance.

This is the beginning and end of Dazai Osamu's experience. Holding the manuscript, he read this story that can be called a "tragic record of tourists", and saw this "corridor" formed by the crowded duck shops. He even knew what he would encounter next.

What they are about to experience is the so-called annual sacred duck banquet.

Dazai Osamu's initial slowness came from her slightly innocent, non-malicious way of thinking and her inexplicable protection of Nakajima Atsushi. This made Dazai Osamu think that there was time.

"Her purpose now is just to spread fear. If she shows the same fear as Dun, she will be let off."

These are the words Ranpo Edogawa said after leaving the train.

But what if it wasn't [her], but the real ghost Fujiwara?

The special ability that develops independently without relying on the existence of the special ability user even gives rise to Fujiwara, an individual with the ability to think. Will this follow the original way of behaving and doing things?

“That’s right.”

Watching her subtle hint at the manuscript, Dazai Osamu immediately understood the implication.

Killing her would be pointless, and even if her death could be some kind of trigger, Dazai Osamu would not pull the trigger.

But it was very abnormal that intimidation could not make her speak.

Although his mind was in turmoil, Dazai watched her slowly leave.

She cannot use her special abilities for the time being, but she believes Ango can handle it.

All that remains is to kill Fujiwara again.

But use duck as the killer.

He looked at the orange duck in Fujiwara's arms and smiled meaningfully.

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The shop was originally covered in dust and had a greasy sheen. There were many small insects stuck to the light tubes, making the light seem dimmer and pointing towards the bright bonfire.

There is a road in front of you that must be completed. If you don't walk, you won't die, but if you want to live, you must complete the road.

I have a simple explanation. For example, in trigger-escape horror games like "Horror Granny" and "Ghost Nun", the player is locked in a room at the beginning, and the goal is to escape. As long as the player does not explore, the ghosts will not attack, but this method is contrary to the purpose of escape.

Hiding in the room means that neither the granny nor the nun can catch you, but it also means giving up the chance to escape.

Of course, this is for the game. The reason why I applied for early departure and gave up the face-to-face challenge with Fujiwara is easy to guess. If Fujiwara "dies" and the "game" is over, catching me is no easier than catching a duck, although the latter seems to be no easy task either.

Just leave the decryption to the duck detective.

However, just like the nun cannot bury the player alive before the third day, Fujiwara also has his own set of rules for being a ghost. Just because ghosts are unsolvable doesn't mean they can do whatever they want. The earthbound spirits have their own range of activities.

Although I am only a third-rate online writer, and I am still upset because my articles are not thrilling at all, I did write the book well. No one understands this set of rules better than me.

As for the relationship between Fujiwara and I - let's use the game as an example. I am the developer and own the system backend, so the accounts in my hands are basically unlimited.

No matter how good the game is, it won't kill the developer. That's what I think.

Of course, if the game is too bad, the developer will be scolded. Wait a minute, I started to think about what good thing I did tonight...

.

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After the former Fujiwara was killed, Nakajima Atsushi and Izumi Kyoka both regained their human form and kept it, walking forward along the store under Fujiwara's threat. The flock of ducks separated in front of the butcher like a stream of white water, and then merged after passing the obstacles, surging with the smell of feathers.

Alice tried to follow but was stopped, so she just followed the crowd.

Why? "Mrs. Fujiwara" is full of hatred for outsiders, and is even more merciless to people in duck form, but she can tolerate the presence of three people who just caused a big disturbance.

"It seems she also knows how to kill herself."

Dazai Osamu looked at Fujiwara who was hugging the orange duck, thinking.

Only a duck-like person or a humanoid with special abilities can inflict a fatal attack on Fujiwara.

The gun was pointed at the orange duck. Although Dazai's action was quick, it was clear enough for everyone to see.

"bump!"

"Mr. Dazai——"

Nakajima Atsushi shouted in panic.

It is □□.

All the ducks flew away, flapping their wings with such force that they almost broke them, and screaming in panic, reminiscent of a swarm of locusts. Dazai Osamu seemed unaware of the other party's anger and fired a few more shots without changing his expression.

Fujiwara has an unusual attachment to the orange duck, no matter which one it is. But the emotions for the latter one are more complicated - hatred and ecstasy of relief.

Ducks are sacrifices to the gods, and the book describes in great detail how live ducks were bled as a sacrifice to the "Duck God."

The one who was hit was Fujiwara.

The wound healed quickly, but the pain made her even angrier, not to mention the subsequent shots. All the white ducks panicked, spread their wings, and formed a huge net. Finally, the unbearable ghost attacked Dazai Osamu, but just as he made contact, a white text light band flashed across the sky and earth.

This dazzling light is enough for helicopters in the sky to see clearly.

[Disqualified from the Human World]. Ango Sakaguchi, who was watching the broadcast closely in the base, clenched his fists, but saw the energy value at Fujiwara's position rising steadily, and an orange light enveloped the surrounding area, which was no less beautiful.

It is the center of the Central Plains!

The angry Fujiwara was caught off guard and stepped on by the orange duck. As if an invisible giant foot had stepped on him, a huge pit suddenly appeared on the ground, and the pit became deeper and deeper. The ground was collapsing and making a thumping sound. Large pieces of land in the smoke broke apart, rose up, and fell like a meteor, drawing an orange light.

The owners of countless pairs of eyes stopped their previous work and stared at the screen, looking at this dusty place, almost holding their breath -

At a certain moment during the fierce bombardment, the scene seemed to have suddenly paused, with floating dirt, scattered dust, and wild ducks spreading their wings, forming a still picture. Then, the duck darkened in color, grew longer, and was enveloped by a soft orange light, and stopped in mid-air.