I, a Mental Patient, Was Chosen to Participate in AnalogHorror
Chapter 213 - 181 The Bell Tower Phantom

Chapter 213: Chapter 181 The Bell Tower Phantom

"Hmm, it’s for you to drink, though you three aren’t really of any use."

Wow, that’s some harsh talk...

You’ve given us milk; can’t you bite your tongue for once and see the good deed through?

Although, what Jiang Xiao said was also true.

If they hadn’t brought the three of them, perhaps Jiang Xiao would have already crossed the town with the little pink fur.

Thinking of this, the trio exchanged glances.

They resolved to find an opportunity to prove their worth!

Less underestimating people, please!

After crossing the wooden bridge and walking for another ten minutes or so.

The group truly entered the town.

Surrounding buildings were all heavily Western in style, marking this kaidan as distinct from any before.

And the most glaring thing appeared to be the lighting.

Actually.

As far as the eye could see, not a single household had their lights on.

But they all had a large red lantern glowing red at their door.

And it was just one lantern, hanging right in the center of the main gate.

The lights they had seen from afar were shining from these lanterns.

Other than the piercing sight of these lanterns.

Ahead there was also a conspicuous clock tower.

Because it stood not only much taller than any nearby building but also right in the center of the town.

Strange...

This red lantern feels so... disconcerting.

Usually, families hang lanterns on both sides of their door.

Symmetrical and appealing, and the pairing also carries a good omen.

Who hangs just one?

And every household hangs just one!

Isn’t this red light a bit too red? So bright it hurts the eyes, so red it seeps into your soul...

(｡•ˇ‸ˇ•｡)"Daddy, it seems a little dangerous here."

Frowning, little pink fur stood atop the large cow, Da Hua’s, horns, arms crossed, surveying everything in front of him.

Even this ostentatious fur sect hierarch senses danger?

Then it must be extremely dangerous!

The wretched trio shivered and followed closely behind Jiang Xiao.

Better to not have these damned lanterns at all, they’re truly frightening!

The cow, Da Hua, looked helpless and even somewhat despairing.

Every time this pink fur creature wants to attract attention...

I mean...

Do you really have to spread your legs and climb on my horns?

Thinking it’s cool, huh?

Out of nowhere, the moon had been obscured by dark clouds.

Making the already pitch-black night even darker.

The large red lanterns swayed gently with the night breeze on the streets.

Their big red glow cast upon the faces of Jiang Xiao and his group looked as though they were smeared with fresh blood.

For the first time leaving the ranch, the two horned cows paced nervously.

Suddenly!

The little pink fur shuddered violently, sliding down from the horns, and curled up tight in Jiang Xiao’s arms.

This sudden movement almost made the three with beards wet their pants.

They had thought the danger would be in the city, or in the Romia Cathedral within the city.

But they hadn’t expected to encounter such strange occurrences in the town.

Curly clung to Beard’s arm and said to Jiang Xiao ahead,

"Jiang Xiao bro, we can’t just sleep on the streets, can we? How about we find a place to stay for the night?"

The appearance of Chinese-style red lanterns in a Western-styled classical town.

Forget the three hapless ones.

Even the live stream’s chat went quiet.

"Huh? Daddy, I think I hear people talking up ahead."

Mu Xitang frowned her little pink brows, insistent on leading her minions to check things out.

Completely oblivious to the crap-eating expressions of the trio behind her.

Black girl’s face was turning purple.

Sister, my ancestor!

We know you’re tough, but can you not drag us three dead weights along for this?

It’s really scary!

’Dang~~’

Suddenly!

A bell tolled throughout the town.

Little pink fur stopped dragging Beard and the others.

"There’s someone... there’s someone on the clock tower!"

Curly, trembling, pointed up at the figure on the tower.

Though it was very dark, one could still barely make out a figure that looked very odd, ringing the bell.

’Dang~~~~~’

’Dang~~~~~’

The clock tower oddity, Quasimodo?

After the strange figure tolled the bell a few times, it suddenly stiffened.

Then, under the moonlight, it twisted its body in a rigid manner...

Or rather, was the strange figure dancing in the moonlight?

"Daddy..."

"Hold on, I’ll be right back."

Jiang Xiao pulled out a shovel and, with a few quick moves, vanished from the sight of the four people and two cows.

Where did he go?

Subconsciously, the two cows leaned against each other to increase their sense of safety.

The three big victims likewise took up a back-to-back stance, vigilant in all directions.

"Xi Tang sis, aren’t you, aren’t you scared?"

Hei Mei swallowed, asking the little pink-haired one on the other cow in a flustered manner.

"Scared?"

Mu Xitang cleared his throat.

"Cough, why would I be? Upon arriving here, I, Mu Xitang, feel as though I’ve come home. There’s just no room for fear at all."

Looking at the composed Mu Xitang, the other three couldn’t help but give her a mental thumbs up.

As expected of a local, what a tough cookie!

Dahua was speechless. If you’re not scared, then you’re not, but do you have to tug at my fur so nervously and vigorously?

Hands sweating and yet claim you’re not scared?!

...

Not long after.

Jiang Xiao was already crouched low, rushing towards the clock tower’s location.

Forsaking the wooden ladder beside him, Jiang Xiao climbed directly to the top using several protruding parts of the clock tower.

No one was there?

The top of the clock tower was empty.

Isn’t the bell-ringer’s speed a little too fast?

Besides the bell.

Just now, Mu Xitang had heard someone talking.

Jiang Xiao quickly retraced his steps, arriving at the spot Mu Xitang had indicated.

"My good buddy Pete, I can swear to God that at this time, I mean right now, we’re definitely not going to hunt anything, let alone a demon," someone was saying.

"Shush, shut your mouth, Aaron, your words are as grating as Mrs. Renee Lopez from the tailor’s. I trust my nose, you know I always do."

"Where’s Martha? Does borrowing a Bible always take this long? Damn Priest! His temper is as foul and stubborn as my decade-old, unwashed leather boots!"

"Oh, you’ve got to listen to me, a Bible is utterly redundant. Demons and such, I can squash them as easily as I could an ant, just as my Uncle Zomali Bert has seen with his own eyes!"

Two men, brown-haired and blue-eyed, were smoking and discussing something at the moment, and it seemed there was a third person.

Was someone named Martha borrowing a Bible?

"Do you guys know where one can sleep around here?"

Jiang Xiao’s voice, cold, emotionless, and ghostlike, quietly rose from behind the two men.

Holy mother!

The two burly men’s hair stood on end, and in fright, they jumped over two meters high on the spot, demonstrating what could only be described as a "launch start"!

Σ(ﾟдﾟlll)"God! Shit! Wang Defa? Did we actually run into a demon in the middle of the night?"

٩(✘д✘๑;)۶"Heavy gift thanks! Damn it! I knew something would go wrong tonight. We’ve encountered something unclean, I swear I thought this from the start! Shit!"

୧(ଵ口ଵ|||)୨"Ghost... ghost, help! Black your pee me, black your pee me!!"

The frantically running Pete and Aaron suddenly slammed on the brakes.

Wait a second!

Black your pee me?

Doesn’t that phrase sound a bit too artificial in English?

The two men with darkened faces turned around to look at the clueless idiot still blabbering...

Jiang Xiao: ୧(ଵ口ଵ|||)୨"Run, there’s a ghost! Help! Black your pee me! SOS! SOS!"

"Um, buddy, you can’t just shout ’SOS’. Generally, it’s a type of signal. Without a source, most people would look for something to lay out an ’SOS’ distress sign."

Oh?

There’s such a saying?

Listening to advice is Jiang Xiao’s greatest strength.

୧(ଵ口ଵ|||)୨"Run, there’s a ghost! Help! Black your pee me! SOS! SOS!"

This time, as he shouted, he started running in curves, following the pattern of the letters "SOS."

Pete: ...

Aaron: ...

I reckon it’s clear skies today?

So it was you giving us dry weather, huh.

"Look, dude, what the hell are you howling about? Stop running, there are no ghosts here!"

Pete glared at Jiang Xiao disapprovingly, while shielding his friend behind him.

Aaron, who was hidden by Pete, took the opportunity to reach towards his waist.

Huh?

Aaron’s expression stiffened.

Damn, in my hurry to leave, did I forget to bring my gear?

No ghosts?

Jiang Xiao calmed down in a second and also remembered why he was there.

"Oh yeah, I wanted to ask, uh, is there a place to stay around here? My daughter and I need a place."

"Accommodation? Buddy, you don’t look local. Do you know the rules of our little town?"

"Oh, right, we also have two cows that need a place to stay, preferably where they can graze."

Pete’s mouth twitched. Kid, are you even listening to what I’m saying?

"Not a problem for an outsider to stay in our town, it’s just that this favor, well..."

Jiang Xiao slapped his forehead as if he suddenly grasped the gravity of the situation.

"Right, right, and also, I’ll be leaving tomorrow, so prepare some dry rations for me, and toss in some fruit if you can."

Am I just playing the lute to a cow?

Stupid Aaron, I’ve been covering for you for this long — when will you wrap it up?

Finally, Aaron’s resonant voice came from behind Pete.

"Pete, move aside, let me show this outsider what we Western cowboys are made of! Watch and learn!"

"Oh, good, my friend Aaron, that’s the way to go, with your fancy revolver, give it a good..."

Pete’s words halted midway.

"My good buddy Aaron, what in the hell are you doing dropping your pants?"

At this moment, Aaron was wearing a thick overcoat on top.

But below, he wore nothing but a pair of ice-silk underwear adorned with a pink panther pattern, brandishing his warm belt above his head...

What’s the idea?

Do you think stripping your jacket isn’t manly enough, so you’ve decided to try the effect of removing your pants?

"How’s that, Pete? Does it have the vibe of a horseback-riding cowboy?"