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Midnight Machinations

夜阑异志

20 chapters · 1109 lines · English and Chinese below. Japanese and Korean, voices and theatre mode are in the reader.

Unfurling 开卷

Once, there was a learned traveler.从前，有一位学识渊博的旅者。

They once saw the splendor of the cities, and passed through ruins burning with the flames of war.曾见证过都会里的繁荣，也曾穿越过废墟上的战火。

Their wealth of experience allowed them to stay calm at all times, and their surpassing intellect was their mightiest weapon.丰富的阅历让能够时刻保持冷静，过人的头脑则是最有力的武器。

However, even they had taboos of their own.然而，即使是对来说，也有不可触碰的禁忌。

People always think they control everything in the world, and thus they lose their fear and respect for the unknown.人们总是误以为能够掌控世上的一切，进而对未知之物丧失敬畏之心。

Rashly, they left their familiar surroundings and cast themselves into an unfamiliar, hollow sea of data, only to find themselves confused, perplexed, and even lost.贸然离开自己熟悉的领域，投身于陌生而虚无的数据之海。然后迷惑，迷惘，直至迷失。

Today we bring to you the final fate of this pitiful traveler, the last legs of their fruitless journey...今天为大家带来的，就是这位可怜旅者的的末路，无果之旅的终途……

And their name is .的名字就是，。

ProfessorHm?!唔！？

ProfessorThis, this is...这，这是……

??It's your punishment for peeking at someone else's diary, Professor.是偷看别人日记的惩罚哦，教授。

ProfessorNora?! When did you...野良？！你什么时候……

NoraI've been sitting beside you for half an hour now. You were reading so intently that you didn't notice me.我已经在你边上坐了半个小时喔，只是教授看得太认真了，才会没有注意到。

NoraStill, that's perfectly normal... After all, it's a log of my inspiration.不过倒也正常……毕竟是我的灵感记录。

NoraExciting, isn't it? If I weren't stuck in the cloud server, its contents could probably have become a classic movie.很精彩吧？要是没被困在云端，它们现在没准都已经成为影史经典了。

The diary's owner, the mastermind behind everything—Nora, is standing with her hands on her waist, looking at me with a lazy and somewhat smug expression.日记的主人，一切的始作俑者——野良，正双手叉腰，用慵懒而又有些得意的眼神看着我。

ProfessorAre all the stories in this book a record of what inspires you? I suppose that's to be expected of Cyber Media's ace screenwriter.这本书里的这么多故事，都是你的灵感记录？不愧是赛博传媒的王牌编剧。

Professor...Wait a minute, so this story isn't real?……等一下，所以说这些剧情都不是真的吗？

NoraHm? Did you think otherwise, Professor?嗯？不然教授以为呢？

NoraThat's because I expected that you'd peek at it, so I prepared a countermeasure.那是因为预料到教授会偷看，所以做了一手防备。

I already knew. I mean, why else would my name be in there?我其实看出来了，不然怎么会出现我的名字。

And here I thought I'd been exposed. Turns out you just got it right by chance.还以为暴露了，原来只是歪打正着。

NoraHm? What does that mean?嗯？那是什么意思？

Nora...Still, I didn't think you'd really peek at it. You've got no class at all, Professor.……不过没想到教授真的会偷看，真是没品。

ProfessorI just wanted to know you a little better, that's all.只是想稍微了解一下你而已。

ProfessorI mean, whose fault was it for not obediently backing up their neural cloud, anyway?谁让你不肯乖乖配合心智备份呢？

NoraHm. Am I really so special that you have to go to the trouble of understanding me, Professor?唔。我有什么特别值得教授了解的吗？

NoraI'm just an ordinary traveler drifting through Magrasea.我只不过是个在麦戈拉云端流浪的普通旅人罢了。

NoraAlthough I'm grateful to that Oasis patrol team for saving me from the Sanctifiers, I still want to roam the world...虽然多谢绿洲巡逻队从净化者手下救了我一次，但我终究还是要以四海为家……

ProfessorAnyone who comes to the Oasis is a friend of ours.来到了绿洲，就是我们的伙伴。

ProfessorAs the leader of the Oasis, I have a duty to understand and help each Doll.身为绿洲的领导者，我有义务了解并帮助每一个人形。

NoraPffft. The way you say that with such a straight face sounds like a scene right out of an old movie.噗。教授这段一本正经的发言，有点像古早电影里的桥段啊。

ProfessorPerhaps, but this isn't an act. I'm serious about it.或许吧，但也绝非逢场作戏。我可是很有诚意的。

NoraHm, is that so.嗯，是这样啊。

Nora laughs quietly, and then she looks up to the sky with a thoughtful expression on her face.野良轻轻地笑了笑，转而仰起头看向半空，似乎若有所思的样子。

NoraProfessor, do you still remember who I am?教授还记得我的身份吧？

NoraWhat kind of tone is that? It's way too formal.那是什么腔调啊，正式过头了。

NoraEh, that's not the spirit in which those entries were written.诶，那不是日记里的设定嘛。

The author Doll EW-55.写作类人形EW-55。

A member of a mysterious organization.神秘组织的成员。

A new friend of the Exiles.流亡者的新伙伴。

NoraThat's a pretty lame line.作为台词来说有些烂俗呢。

NoraIn any case, that's not what I mean. I'm a screenwriter Doll, right?我说的不是那些啦。我是编剧人形，对吧。

NoraIn that case, the best way to understand me would be through my writings, wouldn't it?那么，想了解我的话，就得通过作品来了解吧？

She looks at the book in my hand.她看向我手里的本子。

ProfessorDidn't you just say it was fiction...但你刚才不是说这些是虚构的……

NoraSomething that completely imitates life isn't art, but neither is something that is completely divorced from reality.完全模仿生活的东西不能叫创作，但完全脱离生活的东西也不能。

NoraI never said there were ONLY fictional accounts in there.我可没说那里面只有虚构的故事哦。

She puts her hand over mine and leads me in flipping through the pages.她把手覆在了我的手上，引导着我，逐一翻动书页。

NoraHuman beings don't have convenient things like neural cloud examinations.对人类来说，没有心智检定那么方便的东西。

NoraWhen you want to understand a person, you can only do so through the words they say and the letters they write.想要了解一个人，就只能通过那个人说出的话语、写下的文字来探寻。

NoraWhile reading through a Doll's neural cloud is more convenient... Can't you go the long way for me, just this once?人形的心智虽然读取起来更方便……但教授不能为我绕一次远路吗？

NoraJust think of it as showing your sincerity.就当是诚意的表现了嘛。

NoraLet me have the first-person perspective for a while.现在开始，就把第一视角的宝座暂时让给我吧。

Her fingertip passes over the edge of the page, and stops.书页的边缘划过指尖，停下。

Another world of words once more unfolds before my eyes.另一个文字的世界，再度在我面前舒展开来。

Dependent Arising - 1 缘起-1

As I draw closer to my destination, the trees around me grow sparser and sparser, the proof that this place is inhabited by people.随着与目的地的距离逐渐缩短，周边的树木植被也越来越稀少。这是存在人类聚落的证明。

The mountain wind blows across my face, heavily laden with particles of yellow sand. I hurriedly shield my cheeks with the scripts that I was holding.一阵山风刮在我的脸上，其中混杂着不少土黄色的沙砾。我急忙用手里的稿纸挡住面颊。

My eyes might have been hurt just now, if I had been a human. No—even if a Doll's eyeballs are made of sterner stuff, I have to avoid letting sand particles get into them.刚才那一下，如果是人类的话，可能眼睛就要受伤了。不，即使人形的眼球材质比较耐磨，也要尽量避免进沙子。

Looks like this isn't a good place for either humans or Dolls to live in, I conclude.看来，不管是对人类还是人形来说，这里都不是一个适宜居住的地方——我如此下了结论。

My neural cloud and network signal connection are gradually growing weaker. Looks like this place doesn't get good signal reception.心智和网络的连接逐渐变得微弱。看来信号没有覆盖到这里。

What a pain, I wish I were NEETing it up at home—Hm, that's exciting, I think I've got some inspiration now—These two feelings do battle inside my neural cloud. That too is a commonplace thing.好麻烦啊，好想回家宅着——好刺激啊，感觉有灵感了—— 两种情绪同时纠缠在我的心智里，这也是常有的事了。

NoraAfter this bend... There it is!转过这个弯……有了！

However, when the village really does come into view, I realize something—This trip has not been in vain.不过，当那个村庄真的出现在我视野里的那一刻，我还是意识到了——这一趟没有白来。

NoraThis is the real thing...这是真家伙啊……

Dilapidated, simple buildings, a spooky atmosphere, scant signs of habitation... It's all a scene that could have come straight out of early cinema.简陋的建筑、阴森的氛围、稀少的人烟……一切都仿佛是从古早电影里穿越过来的景象。

I didn't expect to be able to see a scene like this in this day and age. My excitement has completely overpowered my annoyance.没有想到在这个时代还能见到这种场面。激动的情感完全压倒了嫌麻烦的心理。

NoraThis is the rumored Zero Village... Is it really as the stories say?传闻中的泽罗村……真的和传闻一模一样啊？

NoraNo, I mustn't get too excited. I need to question someone.不对，先别高兴得太早。得找个人问问。

NoraHe'll do.就他了。

While I don't like taking the initiative to speak to others, I don't want to miss a chance to make contact with the villagers either.虽然不喜欢主动向别人搭话，但我又不想错过和村民接触的机会。

NoraHello, is this Zero Village?您好，请问这里是泽罗村吗？

少年...Yes.……是。

The boy looks at me with a guarded gaze. I suddenly realize that a secluded, inaccessible place like this would hardly get any visitors. No wonder he's so wary of me.少年用戒备的目光看着我。我突然意识到，这里如此偏僻，交通不便，平时恐怕很少有外来者。也难怪他这么警惕了。

In order to avoid a misunderstanding, I'll need to quickly explain my intentions.为了避免产生误会，我得尽快说清楚来意。

NoraI'm Cyber Media's... Ugh, this is a pain.我是赛博传媒的……唔，好麻烦。

Telling him everything from the beginning would take too long. Instead, I rip off a piece of paper and quickly write on it.从头说明也太啰嗦了，我干脆撕下一张稿纸，飞快地在上面添了几笔。

NoraHere!喏！

少年What's this?这是什么？

NoraIt's an autographed page from me, Nora. That kind of thing is trendy among kids your age, right?是我野良签名的手稿，在你们这个年纪的孩子里很流行吧？

NoraEven if you're not a fan of horror films, a Cyber Media script page would be super popular among the youth...就算不是恐怖片爱好者，单是这张赛博传媒的稿纸，在年轻人中就很抢手了……

少年Never heard of you before. Who are you anyway?没听说过。

NoraWell, no need to get so excited... Wait, what?也不用那么激动……诶？

少年Never heard of you before. Who ARE you, anyway?没听说过。你谁啊。

NoraNo, like I said, I'm Cyber Media's...不，所以说赛博传……

At this point, I suddenly remember a legend I read on the net.那一瞬间，我突然想起了在网上看到的传说。

The young survivors of the war left the city and built a self-sufficient mountain village of their own—Zero Village.战后幸存的年轻人们远离城市，建起自给自足的小山村——泽罗村。

In a place like this where you can't even get net access... Then it's not inconceivable that the kids living here have had no contact with entertainment companies like Cyber Media...连网络也不通的地方……那么，在这里生活的孩子，没有接触过赛博传媒这种娱乐企业，也不是不可能……

少年A weirdo came yesterday, and now there's another one today... Are all city folk like this?昨天来了个怪人，今天又来一个……城里人都这样吗？

The boy mutters to himself as he walks off into the distance, leaving me standing in place.少年嘀咕着走远了，只留下我站在原地。

NoraIt seems... the legend is true.看来……传说是真的。

A backwards mountain village, a sealed-off environment, and those stories going around on the net.落后的山村，封闭的环境，再加上流传在网络上的传说。

I can sense a faint electric current stirring in my neural cloud.我感受到细微的电流在我的心智间涌动着。

NoraLooks like this place... is perfect for me.看样子……是个很适合我的地方呢。

Dependent Arising - 2 缘起-2

After that, I walked around the village and saw an adult inhabitant.那之后，我在村子里逛了逛，见到了成年的村民。

It looks like the adults here experienced pre-war life in the cities and they aren't completely ignorant of Cyber Media's horror movies. After hearing me introduce myself, she appears to be very interested.看样子年长的村民还是经历过战前的城市生活的，对赛博传媒的恐怖电影也不陌生。听了我的自我介绍后，他表现出了浓厚的兴趣。

村民So you're a scriptwriter from Cyber Media. What brings you to a humble place like this?原来是赛博传媒的编剧老师啊。来我们这种穷地方做什么呢？

NoraA scriptwriter needs to go to all sorts of places to collect material.编剧就是要去各种各样的地方取材的。

村民I see, well that's nice. I haven't seen a movie ever since the war started...这样啊，真好哎。自从开始打仗，我就没看过电影了……

NoraAre the villagers here all war survivors?这里的村民都是战争的幸存者吗？

村民Yeah. Our city was destroyed, so we fled here to protect ourselves. We ended up taking over this long-abandoned village and redeveloped it.嗯，我们的城市被摧毁了，为了避难才到这里，占据多年前荒废的古村，重新发展。

NoraBut why come to such a remote place to find an old village? Couldn't you live on the outskirts of a city?为什么要到这么偏远的地方寻找古村呢？不能在城市近郊生活吗？

村民We were trying to avoid the fighting and everything that came with it, of course. (Sigh) Everyone's had bad experiences and we all have traumas of our own...当然是为了躲避战乱了。唉，大家都是经历过的人，心里都有阴影……

NoraAh, wait, please!啊，您稍等！

I suddenly remember something. Normally, I'd be taking notes of these on paper, but today is different.我突然想起了什么。通常我是习惯用纸笔记录这些内容的，但今天可不一样。

I'll need to carefully record this in order to shut her up.为了事后让那家伙服气……这回得好好记录下来才行。

村民Ah, that's...哎，您这个是……

NoraPardon me, it's a little old, isn't it? It's a hand-held camcorder I borrowed from the office.见笑了，型号有点老了对吧？这是我从公司借来的手持摄像机。

NoraYou don't mind me filming you, do you?不介意我录像吧？

村民Well, I don't mind...倒是没什么问题……

NoraAlright, I'll begin then. Ahem.好，那我就开始了。咳咳。

I press the record button and then point the lens at my face.我按下录制键，然后把镜头对准自己的脸。

NoraI'm now beginning the Zero Village Observation Log. The time now is...现在开始录制泽罗村实地考察记录。现在时间是……

I carefully state the time, date, and weather conditions. Frankly speaking, I've never made a recording like this before, so it's more of a formality than anything.我认真地把日期、时间、天气状况都说了一遍。 老实说以前也没录过这种东西，算是种仪式感吧。

The villager looks like a student who's been suddenly called on to answer a question in front of the class, and looks uneasily at the camera.村民露出如同突然被叫上讲台的小学生那样的表情，不安地注视着镜头的方向。

NoraAlright then, let me re-introduce myself. I am a scriptwriter from Cyber Media, the author of the screenplay for the hit movie "Silent Mountain".好的，那么重新自我介绍一下。我是来自赛博传媒的编剧，热门电影《死寂之山》的剧作担当，野良。

NoraToday, I'm here at this place called Zero Village to collect new material.今天，我为了给新作取材，来到了这个名为泽罗村的地方。

NoraThis village was built by post-war refugees, but the village itself has a longer history behind it. It's a natural cradle for spooky tales and stories...这座村庄由战后的难民们组建而成，但村落本身有着更加悠久的历史，是怪谈传说的天然摇篮……

??"So I'll be able to make big bucks if we pile up all these ideas."“所以把这些题材堆砌起来，一定能好好捞一笔。”

NoraRight, we'll be rolling in the... Hell no!对，一定能好好捞……不是！

??Oh? Did I misspeak? "A shoddily packaged R-rated movie", "A mediocre mess of buzzwords"—Wasn't that how the magazines reviewed "Silent Mountain" last month?哎呀，我说错了吗？“蹩脚包装下的B级片”“热点大杂烩的平庸之作”——上个月的杂志不就是这样评价《死寂之山》的吗？

There it is. These are the words of characters who are always the first to die in these mystery thrillers.出现了。在悬疑片里通常会第一个死的那种角色发言。

村民Ah, it's you.啊，是您啊。

The villager doesn't turn to face the speaker. Instead, she runs to take cover behind me.没有转头看说话人，但是村民先一步奔向我的身后。

村民Allow me to introduce you to the scriptwriter who's come to the village to collect material...我向您介绍一下，这位是来村里取材的编剧小姐……

??You can dispense with the introductions. Third-rate scriptwriter Dolls like these are a dime a dozen.介绍就免了，那种三流编剧人形我可是每天都能见到。

To think my detractors would stick to me like a shadow even after I ran all the way here...没想到都逃到这里来了，黑子还会如影随形。

Is she going to talk bad about me here as well, in a little village like this?难道在这种小山村里也要散播我的恶名吗？

村民Huh? A Doll? So you were...啊？人形？原来……

??You don't need to bow and scrape in front of her. She single-handedly managed to make society as a whole doubt the ability of Doll screenwriters.你也不用对她那么毕恭毕敬的啦，她可是凭一己之力引起了整个社会对人形编剧的质疑呢。

??If I just did a random search on the net about the bad reviews around her, I could spend a whole day reading them out and still not be done.光是我在网上随手摘下的差评就多到一天都念不完哦？

村民I see...这样吗……

Crap. At this rate, this bad feedback is going to end up recorded on film... No, everyone will know about them.糟糕。再这样下去，那些差评就要被录进摄像机……不对，就要被大家都知道了。

This is way too awkward. I need to stop her... Right, let's shut her up.这也太尴尬了。快阻止她……对，快让她把嘴闭上吧。

"As if!" With practiced ease, I've already come up with a rebuttal for her and even lines for what might happen next.“才不是这样！”几乎是在一瞬间，我就熟练地想好了反驳的台词。还有接下来可能发生的情节。

And with that, I—而后，我便——

村民Huh? Miss Scriptwriter? You... Where are...哎，编剧小姐？您……您这是……

—Flee the scene.一溜烟逃离了现场。

村民Where are you going...要去哪儿……

Dependent Arising - 3 缘起-3

ProfessorSo after all that, you basically just ran to the mountains because you couldn't bear the bad reviews?所以说了那么多，原来你是因为承受不住差评才躲到山里去的啊？

NoraWow, that's such an ugly way to phrase it. I prefer "convalescence"—soothing my feelings and gathering material.说得真难听啊。我这叫疗养——调整心情和取材啦。

ProfessorSo what happened after that? You were scared off the mountain just because you ran into a heckler?然后呢？只是因为遇到了一个黑子，你就吓到逃下山了吗？

NoraHell no. After that I went to talk to another villager.才不是。那之后我又去找其他村民打听了。

ProfessorAnd what exactly were you trying to find out?所以你要打听的到底是……

NoraI wanted to confirm the rumors I heard on an online anonymous forum.就是我在网上的匿名论坛里看到的一些传言。

NoraYou get it, right? That village is secluded and doesn't interact much with the outside world, so it's really mysterious to the world at large.你也知道嘛，那个村子因为地处偏僻，跟外界交流少，所以在公众的眼里就很神秘。

NoraEventually, you get all sorts of ghost stories and whatnot from these places, things like people going missing often, bad things lurking in the mountains, stuff like that. Don't you hear about such things on the outside?久而久之就传出了各种怪谈，什么经常会发生失踪事件，山里有些不好的东西之类的。教授在外头没听说过吗？

ProfessorI don't visit anonymous message boards much. So, what did you learn?我不怎么看匿名论坛的。所以调查结果是什么？

NoraAw, the answer's in the rest of the story.哎呀，问题的答案都写在之后的故事里了哦。

NoraYou can just read it yourself, right, Professor? ...Or are you saying you can't bear to read any further?教授自己看不就好了……还是说已经看不下去了？

ProfessorNot really, I just...倒不是，只是……

NoraDon't be so hasty to pass judgement just because you only read the beginning, Professor. Or are you saying you're one of those haters too?刚看了个开头就不要急着评头论足啦，教授。难道你也是那种黑子吗？

ProfessorOkay, okay, quit rushing me. I can flip the pages myself.行啦，别推了，我自己会翻页的。

News spreads fast inside a small village. By the time I reached the other side, I found a group of villagers there discussing me. They were very friendly to me when they heard that a lofty screenwriter like myself was visiting.小村内部的消息传得很快，当我绕到村子的另一头时，已经有一群村民聚在那里讨论我了。他们听说我这个大编剧来访，态度都十分友善。

村民Nora-sensei! this way, please!野良老师，这边请！

村民Would you like to sit down with us? Our house might be small, but...要不要到我们家坐一会？虽然屋子很狭小……

NoraNo, it's okay. You don't have to be so formal.不，不必了，不用那么客气。

This is my first time seeing people treat Dolls so warmly. It's actually a little hard to handle.第一次见到有人对人形如此热情，反倒也有些不好招架。

村民Ah, but Dolls these days really are... The one we saw yesterday was quite a surprise too.哎呀，不过这几年的人形还真是……昨天也吓了一跳呢。

村民According to tradition, Dolls bring good luck to Zero Village. Looks like we won't have to worry about food this year.根据传统，人形可是我们泽罗村的福星啊。看样子今年不用愁吃的啦。

NoraHm? Dolls are lucky...呃，人形是福星……？

NoraNow that's a rare tradition...还真是罕见的传统……

村民You don't understand. Zero Village was originally built with the help of Dolls.您有所不知。泽罗村最初就是在人形的帮助下建起来的。

NoraThat's the first time I've heard that.这还真是头一次听说。

村民Before the war ended, we fled to the mountains as a group and found this abandoned old village.战争结束前，我们一群难民逃到山上，找到了这座荒废的古村。

村民There was nothing here at first. The roads were overgrown with plants, the houses were all beat up and looked like they could collapse at any time, and we even had wild animals prowling the streets at night.一开始这里什么也没有，道路上草木丛生，破旧的房屋随时可能倒塌，甚至夜里会有野兽出没。

村民The people who came here were all hurt or sick and didn't have the energy to rebuild this place.大家逃出来的时候又都是伤的伤病的病，几乎没有力气改造这里了。

村民It was all thanks to a Doll called Zero who lent us a hand.那时候，多亏了一位叫泽罗的人形出手相助呢。

NoraZero...泽罗……

村民He was once a military reserve Doll who ended up being left behind in our city during an intense battle.他原本是军队的后备人形，混战中被遗留在了我们的城市。

村民One of our mechanically-inclined fellows brought him into the mountains with us and helped him fix his damage.我们中有个喜欢摆弄机器的兄弟把他带上了山，帮他修好了受损的地方。

村民In return, he stayed here to help us clear the roads, reinforce the houses, chase away the beasts...作为回报，他留在这里帮我们清理道路、加固房屋、驱赶野兽……

村民When we first found out he was a military Doll, we were all scared of him.一开始得知他是军队的人形，大家还都很害怕呢。

村民But now that I think about it, if we didn't have Zero back then, we might have all died in these barren wastes.但是现在回想起来，如果当初没有泽罗，我们现在可能都已经死在这荒郊野外了。

村民To show our gratitude to him and his Engineer, we called this place "Zero Village".为了感谢他和工程师的功绩，我们就给村子起名叫“泽罗村”。

NoraAnd this Engineer is?工程师是？

村民Ah, he's the one mentioned just now, the one who fixed Zero. He's our leader now.啊，就是刚刚提到的修好泽罗的人。他现在是我们的头。

村民He was in charge of rebuilding the houses, and he even rebuilt the abandoned town hall to commemorate our friendship with Zero.房屋重建就是由他指挥的。他还把村里废弃的礼堂重新修了起来，用来纪念我们和泽罗之间的情谊。

村民It's filled with machine parts, and you can usually find him there.那里面摆满了机械零件，他平时都待在那。

NoraWhy does he feel like a machine otaku who ended up building a village...怎么感觉单纯只是个建了村庄的机械宅……

NoraAhem. In any case, this is great material for a story.呃，总之，是很有意思的故事素材呢。

As I make a great show of ooh-ing and aah-ing over it, I surreptitiously cross out the notes I just made.敷衍地赞叹着，在对方看不见的地方，我划掉了方才记下的内容。

Sadly, such stories aren't exactly rare in this day and age. I wouldn't be able to sell this even if I phrased it as being "based on a real incident".很遗憾，这种故事在这个时代也没什么稀罕的了，哪怕拿“改编自真实事件”当噱头，也没什么卖点。还是应付一下换个话题吧。

NoraStill, even if I'm a Doll like Zero, it's not like I did anything for you, so I don't think I deserve such a warm welcome...不过就算和泽罗同是人形，我也没为你们出过什么力，被这样欢迎还有点不适应……

They aren't welcoming me because I'm a somewhat famous screenwriter, but simply because I'm a Doll, which kind of makes me uneasy. Therefore, I offered up some slight opposition to it.不是作为小有名气的编剧受到欢迎，而是单纯作为人形受到欢迎，这多少让我有些不自在。于是，我微弱地提出了反对意见。

Upon hearing me say that, the villagers exchange looks, somewhat surprised by my reticence.听我这么一说，村民们相互使了个眼色，似乎对我的拘谨有些意外。

村民Ah, you don't need to put it that way. The Engineer always said, don't forget those who worked hard for you. We wouldn't have survived until now without Dolls.哎，可不能这么说。工程师平时就经常念叨，吃水不忘挖井人，没有人形，我们不可能生存到今天。

村民Unfortunately he's gone down to gather supplies. I'm sure he'd be delighted to see an exquisite Doll like yourself, Nora-sensei.可惜他今天下山去搜索物资了，要是让他见到野良老师这样精密的人形，一定会非常兴奋吧。

NoraGood thing he isn't here...还好他不在……

My inspiration isn't flowing.灵感没有浮现出来。

I struggle to compile all the information I've just received, but I just can't string it together into a story.我在脑内努力整合着刚刚得到的信息，但始终没能将它们组装成新的故事想法。

NoraHm... In that case...唔……既然这样……

I should probably lead with something controversial. While I know it might be a little rude to pry into the affairs of others, I desperately need useful information here. I decide to begin by directly mentioning the rumors I saw on the net.还是从爆点入手吧，虽然随便打探别人的情况可能有些失礼，但我毕竟迫切地需要有价值的信息。我决定直接提及网上的那些传闻。

NoraSo, uh, I'd like to ask a few more questions to gather material.那么，我还想打听一下和取材相关的事情。

NoraI heard on the net that there were missing persons cases in this village. Is that true?我在网上听说，这座村子里曾经发生过失踪事件，请问是真的吗？

村民No? Where did you hear that from?没有吧？您从哪里听说的？

NoraThey're just online rumors.只是网络上的传言。

村民There's no such thing, right? Have YOU heard of any?没有吧。你听说过吗？

村民Me neither...我也没听说过……

The villagers respond quickly. They don't seem very certain of it, but I can't tell if they're covering something up either.村民回答得很快，不像十分确定的样子，但也看不出是否有在刻意隐瞒。

If this were a movie, they'd be visibly shaken now. That's why reality is such a pain.如果是电影的话，这时候他们一定会表露出明显的动摇才对。所以说现实真麻烦啊。

NoraUm... Then what about the stories of monsters in the mountains? Are those true?嗯……那山里有怪物的传闻呢？是真的吗？

村民Monsters? Well, we do have wild animals, like bears and the like...怪物？野兽的话倒是有，熊之类的……

村民I heard stories about monsters when I was a kid but they were probably all fake.我小时候好像听说过一些妖怪的故事，但那都是骗人的吧。

NoraHm... Have you seen anything strange recently? Doesn't matter how minor it is. Anyone or anything strange will do.嗯……那，你们最近有见过什么怪事吗？多小的事情都可以，只要是觉得奇怪的人或者事就行。

村民Nope...没……

村民Ah, if you're talking about weird stuff, then I wonder if this counts? Yesterday, we were visited by a strange... Doll.啊，要说怪事的话，不知道那个算不算。昨天村里来了个有些奇怪的……人形。

村民Although it feels wrong to speak ill of Dolls, she really seemed like a, you know, a very special kind of Doll...虽然说人形的坏话总感觉不大对劲，但她真的是那种，很特殊的那种……

NoraHuh... Was she very weird?诶……很奇怪吗？

村民She was a green-haired Doll who went around nagging and being all smug...就是个绿头发的，有些神神叨叨的人形……

My heart pounds. A figure appears in my mind.我心里一动。一个身影在脑海中浮现。

NoraOh~ Green-haired, you say...喔~绿头发……

NoraCould you describe her to me in detail? As in, how that Doll was "weird".可以详细和我说说吗？那个人形是怎么个“怪”法。

After opening a blank page in my notebook, the tip of my pen quivers.重新翻开一页空白笔记，笔尖蠢蠢欲动。

NoraThis should make for excellent material.这应该会是个很好的素材。

Dependent Arising - 4 缘起-4

In the end, I didn't make much progress with collecting material, though I did manage to amass a ton of useless fantasies in my notebook. Why is my mind only keen when writing that sort of stuff...到头来，取材也没什么进展，倒是肯定用不上的幻想笔记乱七八糟记了一堆。我怎么只有在写这种东西的时候脑子那么灵光呢……

Before finishing our conversation, I go through the motions of asking if I can walk around their town hall to take a look.对话结束前，我象征性地问村民能不能去礼堂里转转，参观一下。

村民Ah... I'm sorry.这个……很抱歉。

He looks at the camera in my hand, a perplexed look on his face.他盯着我手里的摄像机，一脸为难。

村民You can't enter the hall without the Engineer's permission. Please understand.没有工程师的允许，礼堂是不能随便进出的，还请您理解。

NoraAh, I get it...啊，我能理解……

I'd be mad too if someone casually wandered around my office. I'll just leave things at that, then.如果有人随便进我的工作室，我也确实会大发雷霆。那就这样吧。

I take my leave, and decide to walk around the village before it gets dark and sort out what I've learned.我告别了村民，想趁着天黑之前在村里转两圈，整理一下情报。

Small mountain village... Doll... Engineer...小山村…… 人形…… 工程师……

Missing people... Internet stories... Green hair...失踪…… 网络传说…… 绿毛……

War refugees... Green hair... Collecting material...战争难民…… 绿毛…… 取材……

Green hair... Deadline... Green hair...绿毛…… 截稿日…… 绿毛……

NoraWhy are there more and more irrelevant things?!为什么无关的东西开始增殖了啊！

No, wait, now isn't the time to think about haters and deadlines.不对，现在不是考虑喷子和截稿日的时候。

Urgh, I DO need to think about my deadline... Think, why did I run all the way here...唔，截稿日还是要考虑的……想想我是为了什么跑到这里……

NoraIf I can't think of something... But I have to submit something... But if I can't think of anything...要是想不出来的话……但是必须交出来……但是要是想不出来的话……

Bang!砰！

NoraUwah!哇！

Distracted by my thoughts, I fail to pay attention to what's in front of me and I end up running into something.一时出神没有注意前面，我和什么东西撞在了一起。

NoraSorry about that— Ah, you're that...不好意思——啊，你是刚才的……

Upon closer inspection, I seem to have run into the kid who met me at the village entrance.仔细一看，撞到的刚好就是一开始在村口遇到的少年。

NoraEr, are you okay? Sorry about that.呃，没撞伤吧？对不起嘛。

孩子们Ah, it's that onee-chan we haven't seen before.啊，是没见过的大姐姐。

孩子们It's all your fault for running too far and bumping into her! Go apologize to onee-chan!都怪你跑得太远，撞到人了吧！快向大姐姐道歉！

The boy is surrounded by a group of kids around his age, and they look to be a group of village children. It seems I accidentally blundered into them.少年身边还围着一圈和他年龄相仿的孩子们，似乎是村里的小孩团体。看来是我误入了他们玩耍的队伍。

Right, since the adults aren't talking, I might as well ask the kids.对了，既然大人嘴里问不出什么的话，干脆和孩子们打听一下好了。

They say kids have vivid imaginations, so they might understand all these bizarre things better.都说小孩子想象丰富，对那些怪力乱神的传闻没准更了解呢。

孩子们She's not an onee-chan! I heard Mugi-nii say she's a Doll!那个不是大姐姐啦，我听阿麦哥哥说了，她是人形！

孩子们Ehhhh— Really? Then we'd better run for it!哎——这样啊！那我们快逃吧！

NoraRun? You don't need to. I'm not mad or anything.逃？也不用逃啦，我没有生气的。

NoraAh, I have some questions for you—那个，我有问题想问你们——

Most of the kids have fled before I can finish.话还没说完，那些孩子已经跑了大半了。

I call out to one of the slower ones.我赶紧叫住一个跑得慢的。

NoraHey, you!喂，你！

NoraCan you talk to me for a bit?可以跟我聊聊吗？

女孩The adults said we shouldn't talk to Dolls!大人说不可以随便和人形讲话的！

NoraIS that a rule here? That's okay, it'll be our little secret...是这里的规矩吗？没关系，我们不让他们知道就好……

女孩No! I don't want to talk to Dolls!不行！我不要和人形讲话！

With that, the girl runs off with the rest of her friends.女孩说完就和同伴一起逃走了。

NoraEr...呃……

NoraWhat's going on? Shouldn't I be a respected Doll?怎么回事？我不应该是受人尊重的人形吗？

Still, it does seem like respected people would be scarier to kids... just like how powerful and influential people are...不过确实对小孩子来说，受人尊敬的对象会比较可怕……就像很有权势的老头子之类的……

As I think about how they're regarding me as one of those old folks, I start feeling uncomfortable.一想到自己可能被他们当成和老头子差不多的人物了，就觉得有点不是滋味。

As I think, I suddenly realize the kid who bumped into me hasn't left yet. He's just standing somewhere else and staring right at me.思索间，突然发现最初撞到的那位少年居然没有离去，只是换了个有些距离的位置站着，眼睛直勾勾地盯着我。

Is he hurt? But I don't think I hit him that hard, right...是被撞伤了吗？可我应该也没有那么重吧……

NoraUm, I said sorry just now...唔，我刚刚说了对不起的……

I raise my hand to pat his head, but then I realize his eyes are rising to follow my hand.我抬起手试图安抚他，却发现他的视线跟着我的手上扬。

NoraHm?嗯？

I lower my hand.放下手。

少年(Looks down.)（视线下移。）

I raise my hand.抬起手。

少年(Looks up.)（视线上抬。）

Is he looking at...该不会他在看的是……

I look at my hand—at the miniature camcorder.我看向自己的手——上拿着的小型摄像机。

NoraEven if you're not a fan of horror films, a Cyber Media script page should be super popular among the youth...就算不是恐怖片爱好者，单是这张赛博传媒的稿纸，在年轻人中就很抢手了……

少年Never heard of it before.没听说过。

NoraWell, no need to get so excited... Wait, what?也不用那么激动……诶？

Right, I remember now. The kids here have never had contact with the net and movies, right?对了，想起来了。这里的孩子不是都没接触过网络和电影吗。

If they don't dare to talk with Dolls... Then how about baiting them with things they'll find interesting?如果不敢和人形交流的话……那用他们会感到新奇的东西如何呢？

A bold plan takes shape in my heart. But before that, I need to make a few preparations...一个大胆的计划顿时在心中成型。不过在此之前，我还得做点准备……

村民Oh, if you ask, then of course there's no problem.噢，如果是老师您要求的话，当然没有问题。

村民You can use any place you want in the village, as long as you don't disturb...村子里的地方您都可以随意使用，只要别影响到……

NoraUnderstood, I won't cause trouble at the town hall.我明白，不会打扰到礼堂的。

NoraThough I'd like to ask—why are those kids so averse to talking to me? Doesn't everyone in Zero Village welcome Dolls?只是我想问一下，为什么那些孩子会这么抗拒和我交流呢？不是说泽罗村的大家都很欢迎人形吗？

村民Ah... Well... Haha... About that...啊这……哈哈……这个嘛。

村民The main thing is that these kids are clueless and we're afraid they'll disturb you. Zero Village has always welcomed Dolls.主要是小孩子不懂事，害怕他们打扰到贵客。我们泽罗村一直是很欢迎人形的。

村民Please don't take it to heart. We've already prepared a room for you. Feel free to spend the night.还请您不要往心里去。我们已经为您准备好住处了，今晚直接留宿也没问题的。

NoraThank you very much for going to this trouble.那还真是劳你们费心了。

Though I'm not quite used to it, being treated like this feels pretty good. Unfortunately, I have a prior arrangement, otherwise I wouldn't mind staying here for a few more days.虽然还没完全习惯，不过被这样对待的感觉倒也不坏。可惜，要不是因为约定，在这里多住几天倒也不错……

Entrustment - 1 承托-1

At the Oasis, in the Neural Examination Center.绿洲，心智检定中心。

ProfessorSo your plan was... To screen free movies in the open air?在空地上免费播放电影……这就是你的计划？

NoraHow about that? As the saying goes, diamonds are made under pressure, no?怎么样，算不算急中生智？

NoraIt just so happened that the camera could project movies, and I just so happened to have my favorite works stored on it... As I thought, the things built up over the years didn't betray me.刚好那台摄像机有投影功能，又刚好我在储存卡里放了自己的得意之作……果然积累下的东西是不会背叛自己的。

ProfessorI can't believe you actually did that...真亏你能做得出来……

NoraEh, what's wrong, Professor? I heard they used to do that sort of thing for entertainment decades ago! You know, playing open-air movies and the like.诶，怎么了嘛教授？听说几十年前的人们经常搞这种文娱活动呢！就是在广场上放露天电影什么的。

ProfessorThe problem is... the movie you screened!问题是……你放的这是什么啊！

NoraBut Silent Mountain is one of my proudest creations, they called it a new wave in R-15 movies...《死寂之山》可是我的得意之作，被称为R15影片的一股新风……

ProfessorAnd you KNEW they were restricted movies for 15 year olds and up! Were any of those kids even old enough to watch them?你也知道是R15影片啊！那些孩子还没到年龄吧？

NoraWell, the "R15" classification is simply a concept thought up by the film censorship board. Zero Village isn't under the government's jurisdiction so it's perfectly legal.所谓的“R15”是政府推行的电影分级制度概念，泽罗村并不在政府的管辖范围内，所以完全合法。

NoraPlus, everyone liked it.而且大家都很爱看啊。

NoraHow about it? If you want to watch them too, I happen to have a few good ones in my...怎么样，教授如果也想看的话，我房里还有一些好……

ProfessorNO. Thank you. I'll focus on finishing this script first.不了不了。我还是先把手上这本看完吧。

孩子们Oh no! They're going to hack through the door with the axe!糟了！门要被斧头砍开了！

孩子们So scary, so scary... I'll take just one more peek...好可怕好可怕……再看一眼……

孩子们Uwah—Is that a zombie?呜哇——那个就是僵尸吗？

孩子们Doesn't feel as bad as, you know... ELID Infected.感觉不如……ELID感染。

孩子们You've never seen ELID Infected either, have you?!你也没见过ELID感染吧！

Perhaps it's because these kids grew up in this day and age, but they seem pretty enthusiastic about sensory thrills.到底是这个年纪的小孩子，对感官上的刺激还是很热衷的嘛。

Well, this IS one of Cyber Media's trademark productions... Getting these kids fired up is a piece of cake, hehe.毕竟我可是赛博传媒的招牌编剧……要打动这些小孩子还不是小菜一碟，嘿嘿。

孩子们It's time for the final battle!要到最终决战了！

Since it's still daytime the light is pretty strong, so I had to find a wooden board and rig up a makeshift roof before using the camera's projection function to screen the movie on a nearby dirt wall.因为还是白天，光线比较强烈，我只好找来木板，临时搭了一个顶棚，然后用摄像机的投影功能，把电影画面投在土墙上。

Thanks to the villagers' help, finding a place and the right materials went very well.多亏了村民的帮助，场地和材料找起来都很顺利。

The fast-paced BGM soon draws all the kids who are playing on the open field, and a few idle adults watch from the side with their hands planted on their waists.快节奏的背景音乐很快就吸引了那些在空地上玩耍的孩子们，也有一两个没在干活的大人叉腰站在边上看。

Now, the movie is close to its end. The surviving male and female leads flee to the mountain peak, their backs to a horde of monsters.现在，电影已经到了结局部分了。幸存的主人公男女逃到山顶，背对身后成堆涌来的怪物。

And the next shot is a classic scene that sparked wild discussion on the Internet—下一个镜头，就是在网上掀起讨论热潮的经典片段——

屏幕TO BE CONTINUED未完待续

孩子们Is that all...?这就完了……？

孩子们But there's no ending!故事还没有结束啊！

孩子们That weirdo was right, scriptwriters are all lying hacks...那个怪人说得没错，编剧真的都是骗子……

I'm pissed.不爽。

NoraRight, that's it! Show's over! Time to go!嗨，好了！结束了！散场了！

NoraHow did you like it, everyone? Was it fun?各位怎么样？过瘾吗？

NoraWant to know what happens next?想知道接下来的展开吗？

孩子们YES!想！

NoraNo problem! I promise you, if you answer my questions, I'll screen the sequel here tomorrow!没问题哦，我答应你们！只要你们愿意回答我的问题，我明天就在这里放续集！

Though they seem a little reluctant to do so, most of the kids look at me with expectant eyes.虽然好像有些不情愿，但大部分孩子还是用期待的目光看着我。

NoraAlright, tell me stories about the village, then!那么，就来跟我讲讲村里的故事吧！

NoraThis is the beginning of the Zero Village Spooky Tales! The person who contributes the most gets a deluxe autographed copy of the movie!现在开始募集泽罗村怪谈录！投稿最多的人还可以得到电影签名特典哦！

男孩I know! I heard there are man-eating monsters in the forest on the south side of the village!我说！听说村子南边的树林里有会吃人的怪物！

NoraMhm.嗯嗯。

女孩The people who live on the east side of the village can hear strange footsteps in the middle of the night!住在村东口的人，半夜会听到奇怪的脚步声！

NoraVery good! Anyone else?很好！还有呢？

女孩There's a severed arm that moves by itself in the open field's sandpit!空地的沙坑里有会爬的断臂！

男孩The guests who visit the village sometimes disappear... Ah, I can't say that...来拜访村子的客人有时候会消失不见……啊，这个不能说……

女孩Kids who do nothing but eat and sleep will turn into pigs!吃饱就睡觉的小孩会变成猪！

The kids end up spewing a bunch of stories. Some of them were used to scare them by the adults, while some sound pretty interesting.孩子们七嘴八舌地说了一堆传说。有的一听就是大人用来吓唬他们的，有的听上去有点意思。

Still, it's going to be hard to make a script out of just these stories. How should I go further...可是，只凭这些表面上的话题，还是很难组合成剧本。接下来该如何深入一步呢……

男孩Nothing you guys said counts as a secret! I know a big one!你们说的这些都不算秘密！我还知道一个大的！

NoraHm?嗯？

男孩The town hall makes really weird noises at night!村子里的礼堂每到晚上，都会发出非常非常奇怪的声音！

男孩Nobody else told me this; I heard it myself!这可不是别人告诉我的，是我有一次真的听到了！

男孩I asked my grandma about it and she said the uncles who died in the war were working steel...我还问了阿嬷，阿嬷说是战争中逝去的叔叔们在打铁……

女孩Sawa! You can't tell her that!阿泽！这个不能说！

女孩Didn't Papa say it? We can't tell anyone about the town hall, or else the Engineer will punish Papa.阿爸不是说了嘛！不可以跟别人说礼堂的事情，不然工程师会惩罚阿爸他们的。

男孩(Whimper)呜——

The boy seems to have realized something, because he immediately covers up his mouth.男孩像是意识到了什么，慌慌张张地捂住了自己的嘴巴。

NoraTown hall... Engineer?礼堂……工程师？

This sounds interesting. I immediately write them down in my notebook. However, the boy refuses to say anything else no matter how much I probe.感觉好像有些意思，我立刻在笔记本上记下了这两个词。然而，接下来不管我怎么问，男孩也不肯再开口了。

Just as I'm stuck on what to do next, I suddenly notice someone hiding in the shadows between the houses, looking my way.就在我苦恼接下来该如何做时，突然发现有人躲在房子之间的阴影里，朝着这边偷看。

NoraThat's the boy from earlier...那个是之前见到的少年……

Upon seeing me turn towards him, the boy shrinks back into the shadows like a tortoise retreating into its shell.见我的视线转了过去，少年立刻像受惊的乌龟一样把头缩进了阴影里。

NoraHuh, why didn't he take part? Wasn't he interested in the camera?咦，他怎么没有参加，他不是对摄影机很感兴趣的吗？

NoraDon't tell me...该不会……

According to the laws of cinema, any character whose behavior is markedly different from the others must surely be in the possession of significant information.按照编剧的准则，凡是剧情中出现与其他人举止差异较大的角色，背后必然有不同寻常的对应信息。

Though it seems strange to use such tropes in real life...虽然在现实里套用故事的标准有点奇怪，但……

NoraWell then, everyone! That's it for today's screening! See you here tomorrow, at the same place and at the same time!那么各位！今天的放映就到这里啦，还请大家明天同一时间见面！

After putting away my gear, I run toward the direction where the kid fled.收起设备，我拔腿向少年逃走的方向跑去。

Entrustment - 2 承托-2

NoraHey... Wait...喂……等等……

The kid doesn't look particularly athletic, but he's surprisingly fast. I don't dare slacken my pace as I rush forward with huge strides—少年虽然外表看上去不怎么健壮，身形却意外地敏捷。我不敢怠慢，大步向前冲刺——

??Down we go.我绊。

Thud!噗通！

And then, something trips me.然后就被什么东西给绊倒了。

??Oh my, if it isn't the great Cyber Media screenwriter Nora.哎呀，这不是赛博传媒的大编剧野良嘛。

??What's the rush?怎么跑得这么急啊？

NoraYou... It's you again...又……又是你……

By the time I get to my feet, there's no sign of the kid.等我爬起来的时候，少年已经跑得没影了。

Meanwhile, the culprit is leaning against a wall, one leg extended, with a wicked smile on her face.而一切的始作俑者正靠在墙上，伸着一条腿，一脸坏笑地看着我。

It's that green-hair again.又是这个绿毛。

Ever since I came here, she's been haunting me and causing problems for me nonstop...从我到这里的那一刻起，就一直在我身边阴魂不散、不停捣乱……

This is intolerable, this is absolutely intolerable!是可忍，孰不可忍！

NoraAre you done fooling around already, Zangyin!?你玩够了没有啊，蔵音！

ProfessorWait a minute... So the two of you actually knew each other?!等一下……原来你俩认识啊？！

NoraHm? Didn't I mention it?嗯？我没有说过吗？

ProfessorNo... Or rather, I couldn't tell at all!没有……不如说根本看不出来啊！

ProfessorYou always skipped over her every time she came up, so I thought she was a minor character whose only purpose was to die.每次提到她都是一笔带过，我还以为你写的只是那种随时会死的小角色呢。

NoraThat's right! Isn't that a sign of my good writing?这就对了！这不显得我写得好嘛。

ProfessorWhy do you look so smug about that...为什么一脸得意……

NoraFine, fine, I'll fill you in on the circumstances, then.好吧好吧，那我就补充一下前因后果吧。

NoraStill, this wasn't a mistake on my part. Flashbacks are also a form of storytelling...不过这可不是我的失误哦。倒叙也是故事的一种写法嘛……

Let us turn the clock back to three weeks before my visit to Zero Village.时间回到我拜访泽罗村的三个礼拜前。

Feels great to not have any pressing deadlines for the time being.暂时没有死线要赶的日子，令人心情分外舒畅。

I lie down on the sofa in my room, leisurely listening to the sound of the TV broadcast.我躺在房间的沙发上，悠哉地听着电视节目的播报声。

主持人...After totaling up the sales for this season, "Silent Mountain" clinches the top spot of the charts as expected, with its BD sales volumes overwhelming those of most other works.……伴随着本季度的销量统计结果，《死寂之山》如预料般问鼎同类型片榜首，BD销量甚至可以冲击一般向作品。

主持人The facts have proven that after the cinema screening of her most recent movies, the fans' doubts about Nora's farewell to Cat III movies were unnecessary. She is still highly dominant in this field.事实证明，在上一部院线电影上映之后，粉丝们对野良就此告别B级片创作的担忧是多余的。她依然在这一领域有着强大的统治力。

NoraYup. I should just record all this~嗯。这段干脆录屏吧♫~

主持人Still, this style of movie hasn't yet managed to escape the specter of suspicion in broader audiences. Therefore, we've invited several special guests to analyze it.不过，在大众领域，这一风格的作品还未从质疑声中走出。为此，今天我们特别邀请了几位专家嘉宾为我们进行分析。

NoraEh, not this again. They praise on one hand then mock on the other to balance things out...欸，又来这一套啊。先捧一下再适当踩一下，两头不得罪……

NoraHumph. Hardly anyone watches the stuff those old geezers make, anyway. Might as well let them talk. I'm generous, after—哼，反正那些老头子导演拍的东西很快就没人看了，就让他们说去吧。我可是很大度……

主持人Next, we'll have the folklorist Zangyin-sensei give her analysis of this movie.下面有请民俗学家蔵音老师为我们分析这部影片。

As an unexpected figure appears on the TV, I'm so shocked that I nearly slide off my sofa.预料之外的身影出现在了电视上，我惊得险些从沙发上滑下去。

ZangyinHello, Mr. Host, and everyone.主持人好，大家好。

主持人We welcome you, Zangyin-sensei. Now, everyone knows you're an expert folklorist, and Silent Mountain contains many elements of folklore. May we know how you...欢迎蔵音老师。大家都知道您是民俗学领域的专家，《死寂之山》中也出现了很多民俗元素，请问您觉得……

ZangyinFrankly speaking, I think all that content is just forced together.坦白说，我认为那些内容都只是牵强附会。

ZangyinFor instance, the film shows the protagonist defeating zombies with Eastern paper talismans, but from what we see in the movie, the creatures hunting the protagonist are obviously Western-style zombies.举例来说，作品中出现了主角使用东方符纸击倒僵尸的剧情，但从片中的形象来看，追杀主角的明显是西方文化中的“僵尸”。

ZangyinFrom this crude handling of the subject matter, the writer's lack of care and diligence towards researching the subject matter is plainly visible.从这种粗糙的处理方式里，就能看出剧作者对细节考究的态度何等不严谨。

ZangyinTherefore, saying that Silent Mountain is a way to market folklore knowledge would be extremely inappropriate. It also causes unnecessary misunderstandings for us folklore researchers.所以我认为，把《死寂之山》视为结合民俗学知识的正面营销案例是非常不妥的，也会给我们民俗学研究者带来不必要的误解。

NoraWhat the hell do you know?!你懂什么嘛！

主持人My, what a cutting critique. I wonder what Nora-sensei would think if she heard it?真是相当犀利的评价呢，不知道剧作者野良老师如果听到了会作何感想呢？

ZangyinHer? She'd probably yell, "What the hell do you know?!"她嘛，应该会大喊“你懂什么嘛！”

主持人So you're saying that you're familiar with Nora-sensei then, Zangyin-sensei?这么说来，蔵音老师和野良老师似乎有过交情？

ZangyinOh yes, she visited me in the name of collecting material while she was writing the treatment for Kisaragi Ghost Train, and we've been in on-and-off contact ever since.是的，早在她撰写《如月的幽灵列车》剧本期间，就曾经以取材的名义拜访过我，那之后我们就断断续续地保持着联系。

ZangyinI also learned quite a lot, thanks to her.托她的福，我也从她身上取到了不少材。

主持人Oh? How so?哦？这话要怎么说呢？

ZangyinShe made me realize that there really were people in this world who didn't seek a thorough understanding of the subject, which helped me a lot in conceptualizing the thought patterns of primitive tribal cultures.她让我意识到，世界上确实存在如此不求甚解的人，这对我研究原始部落文化的思路颇有帮助。

NoraDon't you dare look down on me!别太小看人了！

I call up Zangyin without any hesitation.我毫不犹豫地拨通了蔵音的电话。

ZangyinHello?喂？

The earpiece plays the sound of a voice that never fails to be annoying no matter how many times I listen to it. However, the Zangyin on the TV screen is still seated primly and properly.耳边传来不管听几次都还是很讨人厌的声音。然而电视屏幕上的蔵音却还是正襟危坐。

Nora...Is this a pre-recorded show?……你这是录播？

ZangyinWhat else could it be? Do you think I'd take your calls during a livestream?不然呢？我总不会在直播中接你的电话吧？

ZangyinWouldn't that be giving you free publicity? Though all things considered, this TV show is going to blow up your visibility anyway.那样不就是帮你炒作了吗？虽然结果上来说这个电视节目也是在帮你炒作就是了。

NoraQuiet, you!你好啰嗦！

ZangyinSo, what is it? Don't tell me you called just to complain about the TV show?所以呢，有什么事？不会只是来向我抱怨电视节目的吧？

NoraAnd why can't I do that? Isn't it because you gave an atrocious review?不行吗？还不是因为你讲得太烂了？

ZangyinOh my, this is rare. Don't you have a submission due today? Are you finally unemployed?哎呀，真稀奇。今天不用交稿吗？你终于失业了？

NoraI finished my script long ago!稿早就被我写完了！

ZangyinDon't tell me it's one of those formulaic cookie-cutter scripts?不会又是那种毫无独创性的公式剧本吧？

ZangyinI bet the person who invented algorithms wouldn't have expected that people would be using it a hundred years later to write stories of zombies biting humans.发明算法的人肯定没想到，百年后还会有人在用它写僵尸咬人的故事。

NoraAnd how are you any better, using them to spout rubbish?!你用它来嚼舌根又好到哪去！

ZangyinBut it's not rubbish, though. I'm sincerely pointing out your flaws. If you keep using trendy elements to pander to the likes of the masses, then you'll be a Doll scriptwriter forever.这可不是在嚼舌根，我是真心实意在指出你的弱点呢。总是用流行素材揣测大众的喜好，那你就永远只能是人形编剧了。

NoraWell, what else could I be? Could I ascend to Heaven?不然呢？我还能成佛吗？

NoraI know what you're thinking, you nerd. You're just annoyed that I'm touching on your field of expertise.我知道你这书呆子在想什么。你不就是嫌弃我蹭你们专业的话题嘛。

NoraLet me tell you this, I'm not using them because I have to! They're just trending topics, right? I can write scripts even without them!告诉你，我也不是非得用不可的！不就是热点素材吗？我不用也能写！

ZangyinAs if.不信。

NoraSays who? You want to bet on it?有什么好不信的？要不我们来打赌？

ZangyinYou're just going to welch on it when you lose anyway.反正快赌输的时候你肯定会耍赖吧。

NoraHell no. I'll write a blockbuster hit script in one month, without copying... I mean, without referencing popular topics you can search up on the net. How about that?肯定不会。就一个月，不抄……不参考网络上可以搜到的大众化题材，照样写出一本爆款剧本，信不信？

ZangyinSounds like a guaranteed win for me.听上去是我这边必胜的赌约啊。

NoraShut up! Do you or do you not accept the bet?!少啰嗦！你赌还是不赌？

ZangyinWith the odds so far in my favor, of course I'm going to accept.赢面这么大，那我当然要赌了。

ZangyinAnd what will you do if you can't do it in a month?一个月后，写不出如何？

NoraThen...那就赌……

Entrustment - 3 承托-3

Three weeks later.三个礼拜后。

We're seated beside the road leading to Zero Village, our faces covered in dirt.我们两人坐在泽罗村的路边，各自灰头土脸。

ZangyinAh, that was a waste of an hour.啊，真是没有意义的一小时。

NoraIt was your fault for saying unnecessary things.还不是你非要和我逞口舌之快。

ZangyinIndeed, it was my fault for trying to debate someone like you who pushes all responsibility off onto others.确实，跟你这种会耍赖的人辩论，是我不好。

ZangyinAfter all, someone like you would simply choose not to record the fact that you made a bet at all if you lost it.反正你这种人就算打赌输了，也会选择在记录这事的时候把赌注略去不写吧。

NoraAs if! I'd never do something like that! I'm forthright and open in all things!我，我才不会做这种事！我从来都是光明磊落的。

Yup, I didn't intentionally omit that. It was simply because I ran out of writing paper.对，不是我故意不记的。单纯是因为稿纸用完了。

ZangyinSo tell me, why are you here? Didn't you say something along the lines of not needing references for your screenplays?那你说，你为什么在这？说好的“不用素材也能写”呢？

NoraI said, I wouldn't get trendy material off the net. Going out for a walk by myself... That should be fine, right?说的是不用网上能查到的热点素材。我本人出来转转，散散心……这没问题吧。

ZangyinReally now? You don't look like you're taking in the scenery so much as hiding from your creditors.是嘛？我倒觉得这里比起采风，更适合躲债。

Didn't I tell you to drop that nonsense? Who can I hide from, anyway?都说了别胡说八道了，我能躲谁呢？

ZangyinOr don't tell me you've already given up on the bet and ran out here because you were afraid I'd call you out?该不会，你其实已经放弃赌约了，只是怕被我抓到才跑出来的吧？

Humph, you sure have a vivid imagination. Who's the screenwriter here, anyway?哼，想象力真是丰富，都搞不清楚谁才是编剧人形了。

ZangyinOi, quit taking notes.喂，别写字条了。

NoraHow is that any of your business?怎么我写不写字条你也要管啊。

ZangyinIt's really sad how you scribble notes when you can't win an argument.说不过别人就写字条也太可怜了。

NoraMore like I just can't be bothered to get into it with you.只是懒得跟你纠缠了。

NoraI'm not as free as you are, seeing as how you can spare the time to follow me into godforsaken places like this just to mock me.我可不像你那么闲，竟然为了继续嘲讽我，不惜跟踪我到这种荒郊野岭来。

ZangyinPfft. Have you forgotten already? I came here a day before you did.噗。你忘了吗？我可是比你早一天到这里的。

少年A weirdo came yesterday, and now there's another one today... Are all city folks like this?昨天来了个怪人，今天又来一个……城里人都这样吗？

Nora...He might well be right.……还真是。

NoraWait a minute... Then how did you know I'd come here...?等一下……那你是怎么知道我会来这里的……？

ZangyinOh, unlike you, I don't just pound the pavement.我可不像你，追人躲人都靠一双腿。

ZangyinThere's only a precious few mountain villages with strange stories surrounding them, so all I had to do was guess which one you might be interested in.在网上有奇妙传闻的山村就那么几个，随便猜猜就知道你会去哪躲债了。

NoraSince when was I so easy to read...我有那么好猜吗……

ZangyinWell, once I figured out what you wanted, the rest was just waiting for an opportunity to fall into my lap, right?只要摸清楚你需要的是什么，剩下的还不就是守株待兔了？

I can read between the lines.我听出蔵音话里有话。

I don't just pound the pavement—she might sound like she's mocking me for not catching that boy, but she's actually giving me a hint...追人不能只靠腿——她表面上是在揶揄我刚才追少年没追上，其实是在给我提示……

No, even if she IS giving me a hint, there's no way she'd be doing it with good intentions. At the very least, she's just doing it to show off her grasp over the human heart.不，不对，就算给我提示，她也不可能安什么好心。至少也是为了显摆自己对人心的把控能力罢了。

ZangyinWhat's wrong? You've got a moronic expression on your face.你怎么了？一脸傻相。

NoraOh, it's nothing, just that seeing your awkward face gave me some inspiration.没什么，只是看到你那张别扭的脸，突然产生灵感了。

NoraPeople with such a high degree of unwarranted self-importance like yourselves shouldn't have any friends, right?你们这种自命不凡的家伙应该都没什么朋友吧？

NoraSo if it comes to waiting for something to fall into your lap, you'd have to aim for that point.所以如果轮到我守株待兔，就得瞄准这一点下手了。

ZangyinHey, don't lump me and that kid into the same category of people.别把我和那个少年当成一类人嘛。

Entrustment - 4 承托-4

We return to where we were screening the movie just now and play a new one, as scheduled.我们回到了刚才放电影的地方，像既定流程似的放起了新的影片。

After some coercion from me, Zangyin half-heartedly helps me sort out the seating plan. Her pet snake, Little Si, obediently guards the screening location and scares off the villagers who attempt to mess with the projector.在我的胁迫下，蔵音半推半就地帮我整理好了座位。她那条名叫“小巳”的宠物蛇，一直乖乖地守在放映的位置，吓跑了那些想乱动摄像机的村民们。

Soon, the open-air theater is back in business and kids flock over.很快，露天影院重新开张，又有孩子三三两两汇聚过来。

男孩Hey, that lying screenwriter is back!那个骗子编剧又回来了！

女孩Are you showing the sequel now? Didn't you say you were going to do it tomorrow?现在就有续集看了吗？不是说要等到明天吗？

ZangyinScreening the sequel tomorrow? She certainly has a lot of guts to say that. This movie only just hit the theaters recently mfffff—明天看续集？她还真敢说啊，这部电影可是刚上映啊呜啊啊……

I hurriedly cover Zangyin's mouth.我急忙捂住蔵音的嘴。

NoraIt's, uh, it's like this! I need to leave the village tonight because something suddenly came up, so I can't show the sequel tomorrow.是，是这样的！因为我们临时有事，今晚就要离开这个村子了，明天没办法给大家看续集了。

NoraBut to make up for that, I'll show my debut picture, another famous movie called Kisaragi Ghost Train!作为补偿！锵锵锵，给大家放映我的出道作，同样是名作的《如月的幽灵列车》！

男孩Ehhh... So there won't be zombies in it?诶……这次没有丧尸了吗？

女孩Ghosts sound pretty interesting too!幽灵听上去也挺有意思的！

NoraYup, they are!嗯嗯，很有意思的哦！

NoraI'll be leaving tonight and there won't be any other stops after this village! This is the last time we're screening movies like this!今晚我们就要离开了，过了这村就没有这店了！仅此一次的电影大放送哦！

I repeat the same spiel like a rag-and-bone picker. Soon, a long queue forms again.我像收废品的大叔似的，反复吆喝着相同的台词。很快，这里再次排起了长龙。

NoraDon't push, everyone. Line up and take your seats...大家不要挤哦，排好队一个一个坐……

ZangyinHehe, you're really bad at handling kids.哼哼，你还真不擅长应付小孩子呢。

NoraSays the one who's hiding in a corner by herself and doesn't even dare to get close. Do you even have the right to criticize me?独自一个缩在墙角连靠近都不敢的家伙，有资格说我吗？

ZangyinKids are entirely unreasonable creatures. I've decided to adopt a live and let live attitude to them.我对小孩子这种完全讲不通道理的生物，抱持能不招惹就不招惹的态度。

She really knows how to use both her good and bad points to show off...这家伙真是好事坏事都能拿来装帅……

The movie screening begins. As expected, the kids soon grow tired of it.电影平稳地放映着。不出所料，孩子们很快显露出了疲态。

男孩So lame...没意思……

女孩The zombies were cooler...还是丧尸帅……

男孩I feel like we're losing out here without free popcorn...不送爆米花看感觉亏了啊……

While this is somewhat annoying, it IS my debut work, and it's slower-paced than my usual stuff, so it's not suitable for youngsters. Yes, it's annoying, but kids have never been good at focusing in the first place, and nobody would want to watch two movies back to back. Plus, I'm not the sort who lets myself get angered by a child's thoughtless words, even though I am just a teeny little bit pissed off.虽然稍微有点火大，不过毕竟是我的处女作，风格也比较缓慢，不适合年轻人。有点火大，但是小孩子的注意力本来就不容易集中，应该没什么人会愿意连续看两场电影的。而且我也不是会被童言无忌气到的人，虽然稍微有点火大。

ZangyinHoho. Rather than just burn with anger, why don't you burn those scripts of yours?嚯。与其把火写在脸上，不如拿去把你的稿子烧了得了。

NoraCan it.烦耶。

As I give Zangyin a righteous smiting, I observe the kids as they watch the movie. There are clearly fewer of them than before, but the boy still isn't among them.我一边对蔵音施以正义的打击，一边观察着来看电影的孩子们。数量明显比上一次少了，但其中还是没有那个少年。

NoraOkay, then I'll keep playing movies!好，那就继续放！

NoraAfter the ghosts, it's zombies again! After zombies it's back to ghosts! I'll keep screening until he comes!幽灵放完了重新放僵尸！僵尸放完了再放幽灵！放到他来为止！

ZangyinSo you only had two movies with you...原来你就带了两部片啊……

NoraWho carries so many movies with them when they head out? I'm not a DVD vendor or something!出门谁带那么多啊，我又不是卖碟的！

The sky grows dim and the sun goes down. Many of the village's adults come over to bring their kids home for dinner.日暮沉沉，太阳西斜，村里的成年人陆陆续续过来，把自家的孩子领回去吃晚饭了。

The moon in the mountains seems to come out pretty early, and stars fill the sky not long after the sun sets.山里的月亮好像出来得特别早，日落之后没多久，头顶已经是星罗棋布。

Hardly anyone is left in the empty lot after dark. A couple of idle villagers look over at us every now and then, but apart from them, the only people here are the lonely zombies on the silver screen, trying to scare a nonexistent audience.夜里的空地上已经没什么人了，偶尔还会有一两个闲汉会到我们附近探头探脑，除此之外，就只剩下孤单的丧尸在投影里努力吓唬那些不存在的观众。

NoraUrgh, I'm getting tired.嗯……有点累了……

ZangyinYou haven't written a single word of your script yet. How can you get tired so soon?你的剧本不是没动笔吗，怎么还这么容易累？

NoraIt's most tiring when you haven't written a single word. You just don't get it.就是没动笔的情况下最累人啊。你不懂。

ZangyinStill, this is fine too. They say that in the old days, people rose with the sun and rested when it set. Maybe these people are the same way too.不过也好，据说古时候的人习惯日出而作，日落而息，没准这些人也是一样的。

ZangyinAnd if that kid's gone to sleep, then there's no point waiting for him. Might as well go get some sleep yourself.要是那个少年也已经睡了的话，那你再等下去也是白等啦，还不如先睡了。

NoraDon't make me out to be as lazy as you. I was prepared to pull an all-nighter when I came here. Why do you think it's called waiting for an opportunity to fall into your lap?别把我想得和你一样懒。我可是做好了通宵等待的心理准备的，不然怎么叫守株待兔呢。

ZangyinBe quiet.啊，别出声。

NoraOh, what's this? Someone rejects what you said and you don't let them speak...怎么？被驳倒了就不让人出声……

ZangyinNo, you'd best get your lap ready because here comes the "opportunity".不是。你的“兔子”来了。

I look where Zangyin is pointing. In the distance, a familiar face is peering at us.我顺着蔵音指的方向，眯起眼偷看。远处，一颗熟悉的脑袋正在那里探来探去。

He instinctively shrinks back the moment he notices we're looking, but in the end he nods and then steps forward, as though he's made up his mind.察觉到我们视线的一瞬间，他下意识往后退了一步，但最终还是点了点头，下定了决心似的走上前来。

少年Are you guys still screening movies?你们还在放电影？

NoraSure we are. As long as there's an audience, we'll stay in business.放，只要还有一位观众，我们就不会停业的。

NoraWhat do you want to watch? The new movie's over, so I'm just screening the original Silent Mountain on loop...你要看什么？因为新片放完了，现在已经在循环播放最初的《死寂之山》了……

少年Do you guys... Do you usually do this?你们……平常也在做这种事情吗？

NoraYou mean screening movies? Nah, I usually just work on screenplays most of the time.你指的是放电影？不会哦，平常一般我都在写稿。

NoraThis is special treatment just for you! How about it, are you touched? As long as you...这是给你们的特别优惠！有没有感动到？只需要你……

ZangyinHumph, your charity is impure. I can't believe you're even going after children. Just look at what you're saying.动机不纯的恩惠，连小孩子都不放过，啧啧，瞧你这嘴脸。

NoraStill better than a certain freeloader who just hides in a corner without doing anything. Did you even buy a ticket?那也比某人啥也不做白蹭一宿的电影强，买门票了吗你？

ZangyinOh please, shouldn't you be PAYING me to watch a stinker like this film?拜托，被逼着看这种烂片，一般来说是我收费吧？

NoraWhy you...你……

少年Pfft... Haha... hahaha.嗤……哈哈……哈哈哈。

The boy laughs, and he seems much less reserved compared to how he was at first.少年在一旁笑出了声，动作也不像最开始那般拘谨。

Nora and Zangyin both shut up at once in response to the boy's laughter.被少年的笑声吸引，野良和蔵音同时住嘴。

少年Er... I'm not making fun of you guys. I just think that Dolls aren't as scary as the adults make them out to be...呃……我不是在取笑你们。我只是觉得，人形好像也没有大人说得那样可怕……

NoraHah? How old is that bias of yours, anyway?哈？这都是什么年代的偏见。

ZangyinYou could say that using a half-baked production to sabotage a normal person's aesthetic sense is pretty scary, in a way.从某种意义上来说，用上不得台面的作品来祸害正常人的审美，倒也算得上是一种可怕吧。

NoraRather than my productions, it's your opinions which are half-baked, aren't they!比起我的作品，你的评论才上不得台面吧！

ZangyinWhy you...你……

少年I'd like to watch it.我想看一看。

Surprisingly enough, the boy interrupts Zangyin.意外地，少年挡在了蔵音面前。

少年Could you show it to me? That movie... Silent Mountain.可以让我先看看吗？这部……《死寂之山》。

NoraOf course! Ah... Here's a ticket. Hand it to Miss Theater Attendant over there.当然！那么……里面一位，交给检票员小姐~

Zangyin...Fine, fine.……好吧好吧。

With both mine and the boy's eyes urging her on, Zangyin reluctantly takes the role of an usher and settles the boy down.在我和少年的眼神催促下，蔵音不情不愿地担当了引导人的职责，让少年安顿下来。

Twist - 1 急转-1

The boy watches the movie intently, while Zangyin and I trade jibes at each other behind him.少年在座位上全神贯注地看着电影，而我和蔵音则在后边有一搭没一搭地互相攻击着。

ZangyinAh~ I want to protect everyone, even if I have to sacrifice myself to do it.“啊~我要守护大家，哪怕牺牲自己也在所不惜。”

Zangyin lowers her voice and imitates the male lead's tone as she mimes his lines with a perfectly straight face.蔵音压低了声音，模仿着主人公的腔调，面无表情地复述着台词。

ZangyinA mountain boy living an ordinary life takes up arms, gradually becoming a great hero who protects his village and leads his friends to safety...原本过着平凡生活的少年山民拿起武器，一步步成为守护村庄的大英雄、带领同伴逃出生天……

ZangyinWhy are such cliched stories so marketable? You could pull anyone off the street and they could write you something like that.完全不理解这样烂俗的故事为什么会有市场，马路上随便拉一个人也能写出来。

NoraHumph, you think everything's so easy, but that's just an amateur's perspective.哼，看什么都觉得很容易就能做到，这恰恰是外行的表现。

NoraIf someone with your review-writing abilities could produce even a half-baked screenplay, I would be lighting joss sticks and thanking your neural cloud's designer.以你写评论的笔力，能写出半本剧本，就该烧香感谢心智设计师了。

ZangyinI may not have written a script before, but I've seen my fair share of mass-produced prose in the industry.我或许没写过剧本，但工业化的流水线作品我还是见过不少的。

Zangyin(Sigh) To think his first movie would be one of your works. This kid is really unfortunate, in more ways than one.唉，第一次观看电影就是你的作品，各种意义上来说都是这孩子的不幸啊……

NoraYour reviews are the real boilerplate rubbish here! You fake neutrality with an objective tone, then twist the plot and distort the facts to slander the script... It's the exact same process each time!你的评论才是标准模板冲压出来的吧！先用客观语气假装中立，然后再旁敲侧击地抹黑歪曲剧情……每次都是一样的流程！

ZangyinWell, it's not like I can help it, given the lack of variety in all the flaws you reveal.我也很无奈啊，你连每次暴露出的缺点都如此缺乏新意。

ZangyinAlso, it's not "distorting the facts", as there's a basis for every word I say.况且我那可不叫抹黑，每句话都有根据的。

Nora"The protagonists she designs are hollow and unrealistic". How is that not slander?“主角设定虚浮”——这不算抹黑吗？

ZangyinWhen you write a protagonist with such a background and insist on having them be singlemindedly devoted to righteousness and justice, how is that not hollow and unrealistic?在这种背景下还写只会坚持正义的一根筋主角，可不就是虚浮吗？

少年Is it... wrong to fight for justice?坚持正义……不对吗？

The movie has been over for some time now, and the boy is standing behind us with an earnest expression on his face.电影早已结束，少年不知什么时候走到了我们的身后，表情认真。

Naturally, Zangyin can't speak as thoughtlessly in front of him as she does to me.面对少年，蔵音自然不可能像面对我一样辞措随意。

ZangyinIt's not wrong, but people like that are very unnatural.不是说对不对，只是说这种人的存在很不自然嘛。

ZangyinCharacters who insist on upholding justice even when others reject them... come across as too far removed from reality without proper build-up and fleshing out.即使被其他人排挤也坚持正义……在铺垫不够充分的情况下，这种角色太脱离实际了。

少年But all the cool onii-sans in movies do it.可电影里的大哥哥就这么做了。

The boy turns to look at the scrolling credits on the screen.少年转头看向正在播放演员列表的屏幕。

少年He believed in what he was doing and didn't even complain when his friends abandoned him.他坚持自己认为对的事情，就算被同伴抛弃也毫无怨言。

少年He gave everything he had and was repaid for it at the end. He was an example of justice. Is that... really unrealistic?他付出了自己的一切，然后在最后关头得到了回报。他实现了正义。这样……不现实吗？

Zangyin and I unconsciously exchange looks.我和蔵音下意识对视了一眼。

ZangyinEndings like these are rare in reality. Still, the probability isn't zero.现实里很少有这种理想化的结局。但是，概率也不是零。

ZangyinMany folk tales are about heroes. That proves that although not everyone can be a hero, someone will eventually become one.许多民俗文化里都存在英雄情结。这就说明，即使不是每个人都能成为英雄，但总有人会成为英雄。

Nora—Because people will always need heroes.——因为人们需要英雄。

The boy looks down in silence, as though he's thinking about something.少年沉默地垂下脑袋，似乎似在思索什么。

NoraFrankly speaking, Silent Mountain is just a work of fiction.说实话，《死寂之山》毕竟只是一部虚构创作的作品。

NoraWhether or not you cling to justice, whether or not to become a hero... That's just too complicated for a screenwriter to worry about! All we care about is if the story is interesting.要不要坚持正义，要不要成为英雄……这对编剧来说太难回答啦！我们只在乎故事是否有趣。

NoraAlso, we're the ones who bring you the story. You should be the one to make a decision about it.以及，我们把故事送到你的手上，做出判断的，应该是你自己。

少年I...我……

NoraDo you think the convictions I presented on the movie screen were meaningful? Do you think this brand of justice is worth living up to?你觉得我在屏幕上呈现出的坚持是有意义的吗？你觉得这份正义是应该被贯彻的吗？

NoraI'm sure you can find the answer to that yourself.我相信你能够自己找到这份答案。

ZangyinTsk, to think the day would come when I'd hear something so meaningful coming from your mouth. I'm seeing you in a different light now.啧，想不到有一天能从你嘴里听到这样有价值的话，还真是让我刮目相看。

NoraLikewise. I thought you'd just mindlessly smear me to the end. Turns out Little Miss Critic actually has a conscience.彼此彼此，我也以为你会无脑黑到底呢？没想到评论员小姐还是有点仅存的良知的。

ZangyinMy issue is only with your methods, not your themes.我抨击的只是你的做法，而不是主题。

ZangyinIt would truly be a shame if a perfectly decent set of moral values are ruined by how you stitched them together.人家好端端的价值观，难道被你缝合一下就成错的了？那岂不是太亏了嘛。

NoraIt's YOUR sense of aesthetics which is ruined!是你的审美不到位！

As he watches a brand new round of arguments about to unfold, the boy suddenly raises his head and stops us.眼看着新一轮的骂战就要开始，少年却突然抬头拦住了我们。

少年I... I want to tell you something!我……我想告诉你们一件事！

He seems much more confident than before. His eyes make me realize that something important is coming.他看上去比之前要坚决许多。那双眼睛让我立刻意识到，重点要来了。

NoraHang on, I'll go get a pen and paper.稍等，我先拿一下纸笔。

男孩I know! I heard there are man-eating monsters in the forest on the south side of the village!我说！听说村子南边的树林里有会吃人的怪物！

NoraMhm.嗯嗯。

女孩The people who live on the east side of the village can hear strange footsteps in the middle of the night!住在村东口的人，半夜会听到奇怪的脚步声！

NoraVery good! Anyone else?很好！还有呢？

女孩There's a severed arm that moves by itself in the open land's sandpit!空地的沙坑里有会爬的断臂！

男孩The guests who visit the village sometimes disappear... Ah, I can't say that...来拜访村子的客人有时候会消失不见……啊，这个不能说……

NoraI knew you were special from the start. Every move you made told me there was a great story in you. Come, I am ready.从一开始我就知道你很特别，你的一举一动都告诉我你藏着大故事。来吧！我准备好了。

ZangyinMind your image, or else you might be disappointed when you get nothing after getting your hopes up.注意点形象，期待拉得太高小心什么都得不到。

少年The stories about people going missing in the village are true!村子里的失踪传闻，是真的！

少年The secret is in the town hall. Inside, the Engineer has...秘密就在那个礼堂里，工程师他在那里面藏了……

My hand shudders as I take his words down, and the tip of my pen stops at the keyword I noted down earlier.记录文字的手一顿，笔尖落到了先前记下的关键字上。

村民Oh my, what are you talking about that's so exciting?哎呀，几位正在聊什么呢？这么尽兴？

村民It's very late, Miss Scriptwriter, and while everyone respects you, it's bad to disturb the others' rest.编剧小姐，时间已经很晚了，虽然大家都很尊敬您，但吵到别人休息还是不好的。

村民Tsuki-chan, come here.阿月，过来。

少年I... I...我……我……

The boy's body trembles as he is called. He looks toward us, as though he wants to say something else.被唤住的一瞬，少年的身体轻微地颤抖了一下。他看向我们，像是还想要说些什么。

村民The Engineer will be back soon, Tsuki-chan. You don't want to cause him trouble now, do you?阿月，工程师就要回来了，你也不想给他添麻烦，对吧？

少年I... I understand.我……我知道了。

The boy covers his mouth and walks dejectedly toward the woman.少年抿着嘴，垂头丧气地走向女人。

Twist - 2 急转-2

ProfessorObjective: Town Hall Location: Zero Village East Side Nearby villagers: 3 households.目标地点：礼堂。 位置：泽罗村东角。 周边村民：3户。

ProfessorNight watch duration: 10 PM to 2 AM. Night watch numbers: 2...守夜时间：晚上10点至凌晨2点。 守夜人数：2……

ProfessorWell, when you describe it that way, it doesn't sound like an ordinary village any more...被你这么描述，听起来都不像一个普通的村庄了……

NoraDo you need an illustration, Professor? I even drew a map on the back.教授要图吗？我在后面还画了地图哦。

WillowRight, I'll take a picture of it so the Professor can look at it any time they want.对了，我把这张图拍下来，教授就可以随时看了。

ProfessorSure... Hm? When did you turn up, Willow?也行……嗯？薇洛儿什么时候也来了？

WillowNo news can escape this ace reporter!金牌记者当然不会错过任何一个新闻！

WillowI came over when I heard you discussing about Zero Village just now!刚才听到你们在说泽罗村，我就过来啦！

ProfessorHow come you all know about Zero Village... Do you guys like urban legends that much?你们怎么都听说过泽罗村……都那么喜欢看都市怪谈？

WillowHm? Wait, Professor, don't you know about this?诶？不是啊教授，你连这个也不知道吗？

WillowI heard that before the disconnection, Zero Village was a hot topic because a young director who was born there filmed a tell-all picture about...我还记得断连之前，泽罗村可是刚刚冲上热搜呢，因为某位出身于那里的年轻导演拍了部揭露……

NoraWillow, not spoiling the plot is a virtue.好啦薇洛儿，看故事不剧透可是一种美德哦。

NoraJust let the Professor finish reading it first.先让教授自己看完吧。

It's 3 AM, and everything is ready.凌晨3点，一切都已经准备就绪了。

I turn on the camera, point it to myself, and speak quietly.我打开摄像机，对着自己，压低嗓门开始解说。

NoraThis is the first night of the Zero Village Observation Diaries.现在是泽罗村实地考察记录启动以来的第一个晚上。

NoraAfter organizing the information I've collected since entering the village and the reminder from the boy, I've already decided on my first stop for clarifying the truth of those stories—the town hall!通过整理入村以来搜集到的情报，结合少年的提醒，我已经规划好了求证传闻的第一站——礼堂！

NoraMost of the obstacles in my way have been removed, except for a certain albatross around my neck that has been particularly difficult to shed.现在大部分不利因素都已经被排除，只剩下一个很难解决的累赘了。

ZangyinDon't think I can't tell that you're badmouthing me.不要以为我听不出你在损我。

NoraOf course, the badmouthing would have gone to waste if you hadn't picked up on it.那当然，听不出我不就白损了嘛。

Zangyin is still acting as casually as ever despite the circumstances and laying on the snark. However, I have a broader perspective and decide not to get into it with her.蔵音这家伙即使到了这种关键时刻也还是没轻没重，不忘对我使用阴阳之术。好在我以大局为重，没怎么跟她计较。

ZangyinYou have some nerve to be saying that.真有脸说啊。

I look at the lens, with it pointing to the way ahead, and together we walk step by step through the shadows of the buildings. There is a blind spot for the windows, so we probably won't be exposed right away even if someone isn't sleeping and is looking around outside.我盯着镜头，镜头盯着前路，沿着建筑物的阴影一步一步地走着。这里是窗户的死角，就算有人大晚上不睡觉到处乱看，我们也不会立刻暴露。

NoraOooh... You know, this angle looks really cool...喔喔……别说，这个角度还真有感觉……

Zero Village's architecture has always been pretty old, and the 3 AM moonlight makes it look like a work of art.泽罗村的建筑风格本来就很古早，配上凌晨3点的月光，真是宛如艺术品。

Just looking at this scene makes me think of several dozen great horror films, and the fact that I'm actually holding a camera makes it even more immersive.单是看着这幅画面，我就能联想到几十部恐怖大作了。更不要说现在手里拿着摄像机，代入感更强烈。

ZangyinWe're here on business, aren't we? Don't get distracted.我们不是来干正事的嘛，别开小差了。

NoraI'm the only one here on business. I'm here to get inspiration for a screenplay. What are YOU here for?只有我是来干正事的吧，我可是来给剧本找灵感的，你是来干什么的？

ZangyinResearching folklore.民俗调查。

That sounds way more decent than what I'm doing... No, I can't let her beat me in legitimacy!好像听起来比我还正当一点……不对，气势上不能输。

NoraHumph, folklore research. It sounds pretty enough, but what we're doing is going against their practices.哼，民俗调查，说得好听，咱们现在做的事情可是违背他们的习俗的。

ZangyinResearch requires a calm, objective viewpoint, so such methods aren't exactly nonexistent.调查需要冷静客观的他者视角，所以用些手段并无不可。

NoraI mean, you're only here because you were bothered by what that boy said. No need to look for excuses.反正你也只不过是因为在意少年说的话才过来的吧，还找什么借口。

ZangyinWasn't it the same for you? You said you were looking for inspiration, but then you wanted to secretly visit that kid before setting out. If I didn't know any better, I'd have thought you were planning to jump his bones.你还不是一样？嘴上说着来找灵感，出发前还想偷偷摸摸地去找人家小孩子，不知道的还以为你打算夜袭呢。

NoraI was just worried about him. Though we didn't manage to find him in the end...我，我只不过有点担心那个孩子罢了。虽然最后也没找到……

ZangyinI advise you to be quiet. See, you're so worked up now that you can't even hide the sound of your footsteps.我建议你冷静一点，瞧你一激动，脚步声都藏不住了。

NoraWho's worked up? YOU'RE the one pretending to be calm, but you're more scared than I am, aren't you?我哪有？倒是你装得很镇定，其实比我更怕吧？

NoraI can already hear your footsteps!我都听到你的脚步声了！

ZangyinHm? You heard it too?嗯？你也听到了？

ZangyinNo, wait... That sound probably isn't our footsteps.不对，那这……应该不是我们的脚步声。

We exchange looks, and then simultaneously come to a halt.我们两人对视一眼，立刻不约而同地停下了正在进行的动作。

Thud...笃……

Thud... Thud... Thud...笃……笃……笃……

Thud... Thud...笃……笃……

The sounds are dull and irregular. I can't tell if it's the wind, or if someone's walking.不规则的闷响，听不出是风声的误导，还是有人在走动。

The thing is, why are there so many people walking around outside here...但这个点怎么会有很多人在外面走……

Thud... Thud...笃……笃……

Thud...笃……

The sounds gradually move further away.声音渐渐远离。

NoraHey, Zangyin, do you think that's...喂，蔵音，你觉得那个是……

Thud.笃。

As I turn to speak to Zangyin, a low noise comes from behind me and I nearly jump out of my skin.扭头和蔵音说话的同时，一声沉重的声音落在我脑后，吓得我一个激灵。

It's the sound of footsteps—I'm fully confident of it now, after hearing it at such close range.那个是脚步声——距离这么近，我可以有充分的把握认定了。

NoraZangyin, did you hear that just now?蔵音，你刚刚听到了吗？

NoraThey're footsteps, and it sounds like there are a lot of them. Maybe the guards came back. Should we go back first...脚步声，好像还有不少人。可能是守卫回来了吧，我们要不要先撤……

NoraZangyin?……蔵音？

Zangyin is standing stock still. Those green eyes that are usually so annoying are narrowly constricted, like a snake that's been stepped on.蔵音呆立在原地，平日里惹人生厌的绿色瞳孔此刻骤缩，仿若一条被踩到尾巴的毒蛇。

NoraHello? Zangyin? Are you alright...喂？蔵音？你没事……

Before I can finish, Zangyin covers my mouth and drags me into the shadow of a nearby building.话音未落，蔵音一把捂住了我的嘴巴，将我拖至建筑阴影处。

NoraMffff?呜呜呜？

ZangyinShhhh!嘘——！

Twist - 3 急转-3

After being dragged a good distance away by Zangyin, we run into an alley between two houses near the town hall, then make ourselves as small as possible to avoid being noticed.被蔵音拖着好一番辗转腾挪，我们跑到离礼堂更近的两栋房子之间的窄道里，缩起身子，避免被发现。

A cloud drifts past, blocking the moonlight, and we are also swallowed by the shadows. Some time passes, but the sound of footsteps doesn't reach us. Looks like we're safe for now.一朵乌云飘过，遮蔽了月光，我们也就顺势被阴影吞没。过了一会儿，脚步声还没有传来。看来暂时安全。

NoraOi, Zangyin, you owe me an explanation after we've come this far, right? What did you see earlier?喂蔵音，跑到这里总该交代了吧？你刚刚到底看到了什么？

ZangyinI saw something with a huge amount of data around it... I think I know what's going on with the stories surrounding this village.看到了信息量很大的东西……我想我知道这个村子的传闻究竟是怎么回事了。

NoraTell me, then! Leaving a story half-told is just asking for it.那你倒是说啊！讲话讲一半真的很欠欸。

ZangyinBut you saw it too, didn't you? The camcorder should have filmed it.你不是也看到了嘛，录像机都应该拍下来了。

NoraAs if... Do you expect me to play back the footage here?我哪有看到……你总不能让我在这放录像吧？

Thud...笃……

Thud... Thud... Thud...笃……笃……笃……

The sound of footsteps suddenly appears, and we immediately shut up.脚步声陡然出现，我们在第一时间止住了口。

Thud... Thud... Thud...笃……笃……笃……

Thud... Thud...笃……笃……

The footsteps grow distant, and I breathe a heavy sigh of relief.脚步声渐远，我长出了一口气。

NoraZang...蔵……

NoraZangyin?!蔵音？？

Just as I'm about to relax, I find that Zangyin is gone.就在我舒缓情绪的这短短几秒内，蔵音不见了。

What happened? Is she messing with me again? Or did she meet with some kind of danger?为什么？这又是她在捉弄我吗？还是说她遭遇了什么危险？

No, if she were messing with me, she'd make a bigger spectacle of it. Pretending to go missing isn't the style of that showy woman...不对，如果是捉弄我的话，她一定会搞得更加大张旗鼓才是。玩失踪不是那个爱显摆的女人的作风……

Could she have been captured by the owner of those footsteps? "People who go near the town hall go missing"—could there be an ounce of truth to that story after all?难道她被那些脚步声的主人抓走了？靠近礼堂的人都会失踪，这个传说也应验了吗？

I glance at the still-recording camera, and the impulse to laugh at myself fills me. To think the events would actually develop like this were a movie plot!我看了眼还在录制中的录像机，突然有种自嘲的冲动。没想到剧情真的完全按照电影里的桥段展开了。

NoraHello, everyone, this is the second half of the Zero Village Observation Log. The time now is 3:30 AM.大家好，现在是泽罗村实地考察第一夜的下半场，凌晨3点30分。

NoraAs you just saw, the stories are all turning out to be true. Even that annoying greenhair has disappeared.正如大家刚才所见，传说逐一应验了，连那个讨人厌的绿毛也消失不见了。

NoraIf ghosts or whatever do exist, then well done on the last one!如果真的有什么鬼怪存在的话，最后这件事倒是干得不错嘛！

NoraNow then, what should I do next? If I carry on ahead, I might very well be the next one to go missing.那么，接下来我该怎么办呢。继续前进的话，很有可能下一个消失的就是我了。

NoraBut if I run off like this, that greenhair will probably laugh at me in my dreams.但是就这样逃走的话，会被那个绿毛托梦笑话的吧。

NoraI don't know what she saw, and I don't know what was behind me, but this spooky atmosphere makes me very—我不知道她到底看到了什么东西，也不知道身后到底有什么东西，但这种怪诞的氛围让我很……

Thudthudthud—笃笃笃——

NoraAiieeee—噫——

The sound of footsteps fills the air again and I have no choice but to leave my hiding place, and quickly pick a new direction to go.脚步声再度响起，我只好从藏身之所离开，慌忙选择了一个方向。

NoraWhile I'd like to say that this creepy encounter is really exciting considering that I've had no material to work with so far, this situation is just too scary—!虽然我想说这种怪诞感让一直苦于没有素材的我很激动，但现在这个情况也太恐怖了啊——！

NoraIf there really is a monster out there, please go look for that greenhair instead of me!如果真的有什么鬼怪存在的话，麻烦还是去找绿毛吧！

NoraAfter all, the fact is that I wouldn't have come to a place like this to collect material if she hadn't egged me on. Heck, I might even be enjoying myself in my comfortable room.说到底，要不是她怂恿，我也不会跑到这种地方来取材，现在可能还在自己的房间里舒舒服服享受呢。

NoraAh—This is such a pain, I should be glad to part ways with one of my hecklers, so why am I so panicked now?!啊——好烦啊，和喷子分道扬镳我应该高兴才对，为什么现在这么慌！

Thudthudthud!笃笃笃！

NoraOh no, it's getting closer... Someone save me...糟了，好像越来越近了……谁来救救我……

As I go around the town hall, I look up and see a ventilation window.绕着礼堂，我抬头看了眼通风窗。

NoraI guess the only thing I can do is duck inside...只能先躲进去了吧……

I raise my hands and try to grab the edges of the window, but just then...我抬起手臂，试图去抓通风窗的边框。就在那一刹那……

Thump!咚！

A powerful numbing sensation spreads out from the back of my head. I feel all control over my body being snatched away in an instant, and then the world turns upside down.强烈的麻痹感突然从后脑传来。我感觉自己对素体的控制权在一瞬间被抽去，随后便是一阵天旋地转的画面。

Twist - 4 急转-4

WillowI knew it. At this point, I'm certain that it really is the same Zero Village.果然，看到这里可以确信了，真的就是那个泽罗村啊。

NoraSpoilers!我都说了不要剧透了嘛。

ProfessorFeels like I'm the only one who's in the dark here.总感觉只有我被蒙在鼓里。

WillowIt's all your fault for not paying attention to the news, Professor! Considering we live in an age where information is life, that's a huge sin!都怪教授太不关注新闻啦！在这个情报就是生命的时代里，这可是大忌！

ProfessorAlright, I'll pay attention to it in future.好嘛，以后我会注意的。

NoraHehehe. Since you don't know about it, then naturally it's all for the best.哼哼哼，既然教授不知道，那自然是比什么都好了。

ProfessorHow so?怎么讲？

NoraActually, since you've insisted on reading this far, I wanted to play a game with you, Professor.其实，我想让坚持看到这里的教授和我玩一个游戏。

ProfessorA game? What kind of game?游戏？什么游戏？

Nora doesn't answer. Instead, she produces an ink-stained brush from behind her back and lightly whisks it over a sheet of paper—野良没有答话，而是变戏法般从身后掏出了一支蘸着墨水的毛笔，在纸面上信笔一挥——

Professor...A "wager"?……“赌约”？

It's so dark.光线好暗。

Once I regain control privileges over my body, I spend a few seconds adjusting my visual simulation sensors. There are faint rays of light visible, I can feel damp air, and then... I see metal bars.当我再度取得素体的控制权时，我首先花了几秒来校正视觉模拟系统。微弱的光线，潮湿的空气，还有……金属栏杆。

By the time I react to this, I realize that I've been thrown into a huge metal cage like a piece of luggage.等我反应过来的时候，我意识到自己被人像一件货物一样塞进了一个巨大的铁笼里。

NoraWhere is this place?这是哪里？

ZangyinHehehe, this cell suits a third-rate scriptwriter like you very well.哼哼哼，这笼子跟你这三流编剧还真是相称呢。

NoraZangyin!蔵音！

My eyes go wide as I stare at the Doll outside the cage.我吃惊地瞪大了眼睛，望着笼子外面的人形。

ZangyinAre you so shocked that I'm here?我在这里让你这么吃惊吗？

NoraZangyin, you...蔵音，你居然……

NoraYou got caught too!居然也被抓了……！

There is another jail cell opposite this one. Zangyin is sitting there with one leg crossed over another. She seems to be very used to her surroundings.笼子外面，是另一个笼子。蔵音翘着二郎腿坐在里面，一副已经习惯了的样子。

ZangyinWhat do you mean "too"? I was caught first.什么叫“也”呢，先被抓的可是我哦。

NoraThat isn't anything to be proud of, is it?不是，这种事情没什么好自豪的吧。

NoraAren't you supposed to be the smart one? How could you have ended up in the same situation as me?你不是自诩聪明人吗，现在不还是跟我一样。

ZangyinCivilization naturally appears weaker in the face of savagery. It's hardly a failure on my part.文明在野蛮面前自然会显得弱小，这并不是我的失败。

NoraHm... Well, looks like they didn't treat you too badly, if you're able to muster up that kind of energy.嗯……看起来至少你没受什么虐待，还能这么有精神。

NoraSo, where is this place?所以，这是哪里？

ZangyinDidn't you crawl in here of your own accord?你不是自己主动爬进来的嘛。

NoraSo you're saying... We're inside the hall?你的意思是……这里是那个礼堂的内部？

ZangyinYup, look over there.喏，你看那边那个。

Zangyin pouts and glances to the side, indicating that I should look up.蔵音撅起了嘴，朝边上努了努，示意我抬头。

It is only then that I realize the true nature of this place—我这才看清楚这个空间的全貌——

The two of us seem to be in some kind of cellar. There are walls on all sides, with the only connection upstairs being a metal trapdoor.我们两个人所在的位置是个类似地下室的空间，四面都是墙，只有顶部用金属活板门和上方相连。

The area surrounding the cells is dirty and messy, and parts can be seen discarded everywhere, while the air is heavy with the combined smell of rotting meat and machine oil.铁笼周围又脏又乱，甚至可以看到很多零碎的零件被四处丢弃，空气中飘散着腐肉和机油混合后的气味。

Meanwhile, the view through the trapdoor above is completely the opposite:而透过活板门的缝隙朝上看，则是一副截然相反的景象：

There are neat rows of chairs facing a solemn-looking stage. Though it all looks a little old, it's easy to see that their owner is still taking care of all this.整齐的座椅，肃穆的舞台，虽然显得有些破旧，但还是不难看出，它们的所有者至今也仍在保养这一切。

And there is a figure sitting on the right side of the old stage.而在那破旧的舞台右侧，颓坐着一个身影。

NoraWhat's that?那是什么？

ZangyinWhile I'm not totally sure of it, I'm fairly certain that—虽然没有十足的把握，不过我觉得应该没猜错——

ZangyinIt's the Zero that the villagers hold in such high regard.那个想必就是被村人尊崇着的泽罗吧。

Twist - 5 急转-5

NoraSo that's... Zero?这个就是……泽罗？

I squint and try to peer at the figure. It has a humanoid silhouette while its head is lowered and lit from the rear, making it very difficult to see its face. Even so, it's fairly easy to tell that it does not have a fully-featured face.我努力眯着眼仰视那个身影。它有着人的轮廓，面庞在背光下俯视着我，很难看清楚，然而也能大致辨别出那张脸上没有成型的五官。

Also, its torso composed of steel bars and metal cables betrays its era of production.而那由笨重的钢条与金属线缠绕组成的躯干，更是明示了它的生产年代。

NoraHey, by Zero do you mean...喂，你的意思是泽罗他……

ZangyinYup, the "Zero" who saved the village was probably just an antique without a neural cloud, an ordinary, old-school robot abandoned by the Military.对，所谓拯救村子的“泽罗”，恐怕只是个还未搭载心智的古董，一台普通的、被军方遗弃的老式机器人罢了。

NoraSo the legend of Zero helping the villagers with everything was...那泽罗对村民有求必应的传说是……

ZangyinIt was probably under orders from that Engineer fellow. Old-school robots like this can't carry out complex decision-making, so saying that it did everything it was told was very appropriate.被那个叫工程师的人下达了指令吧。这种老式机器人还不能进行复杂逻辑的判断，用“有求必应”这个词来形容再合适不过了。

NoraSo you're saying the villagers can't tell old-school robots apart from contemporary Dolls?你的意思是，村民其实分不清楚现在的人形和老式机器人的区别？

NoraWell, that makes sense. After all this place doesn't even have Internet access...也对，毕竟这里甚至没有通网……

ZangyinNot just that, they had very little contact with Dolls too. I mean, they treated us as human beings when we first came to the village, right?不仅如此，他们对人形的接触也很少。我们两个刚来到村子的时候，不是都被当成人类了嘛。

ZangyinThey couldn't tell the difference because they haven't had much contact with Dolls.就是因为他们很少接触人形，才会分不清楚的。

NoraSo this "Zero" was just a political symbol, then? A role model the Engineer propped up to unite the villagers?所以所谓的“泽罗”，只是个政治符号吗？是工程师为了团结村民而树立的榜样？

ZangyinNot really. I think they're truly grateful to it. I mean, when you came it was treated as a good sign, right?倒不是，我想他们应该是真心很感谢它。你刚到的时候，不是还被当成好兆头嘛。

NoraHow do you know that... You WERE stalking me, weren't you?怎么这事你也知道……你果然是跟踪我过来的吧？

ZangyinI can't be bothered to do all that. It was Little Si that saw it.我才懒得做那种麻烦事，是小巳看到的而已。

When she can't come up with a reason, she pushes all the blame onto that pet snake of hers.这家伙编不出理由的时候才会把责任推到那条宠物蛇身上。

NoraOkay, so we're their lucky star, but then why lock us up?那就算我们是福星了好吧，为什么又要把我们给关起来？

Zangyin(Sigh) There's a limit to how stupid one can be. Don't you get it yet?嘶……蠢也要有个限度吧，你还没懂吗？

She presses her tongue to her teeth and sucks in a breath, hissing like a snake would.她把舌头顶在牙齿上，发出蛇一样的吸气声。

ZangyinListen up. All these people here, with the exception of the Engineer, are all refugees who've never been on the web before, right? So they don't know how Dolls work or what they need.听好了，这里的人，除了工程师，都是些连网都没怎么上过的难民哦？他们根本不懂人形是怎么运作的，需要什么。

ZangyinMeanwhile, Zero, who helped build the village, is an unfeeling tin can.而跟他们一起建村的泽罗，也是个没有感情的铁疙瘩。

ZangyinSo what they feel for Dolls is simply what they feel for a tool. The adults treat us decently but the kids don't give a crap about us at all. It's just like how you're so obsessed with that crappy brush pen of yours.所以他们对人形的感情只是对工具的感情而已，大人对我们态度还算不错，小孩则完全不感兴趣。这就好像你会对你那根破毛笔恋恋不舍一样。

NoraOi, that comparison of yours... Well, I can understand why you'd say that. It does sort of make sense.你这个比喻……倒也可以理解嘛，不是没有道理。

ZangyinYup, so you won't mind if they make you do hard labor, right?嗯，所以他们要派你去搬砖犁地你也没意见吧。

NoraI DO mind!这个还是有意见的！

村民According to tradition, Dolls bring good luck to Zero Village. Looks like we won't have to worry about food this year.根据传统，人形可是我们泽罗村的福星啊。看样子今年不用愁吃的啦。

NoraHm? Dolls are lucky...呃……人形是福星……？

NoraNow that's a rare tradition...还真是罕见的传统……

NoraAh, I get it now! So THAT'S what they meant!啊，我想起来了！原来是这个意思？

NoraNo, wait, how do you know all this?不对，你怎么知道那么多？

ZangyinAs much as I hate to admit it, I overheard quite a bit of it when they kidnapped me and brought me here.虽然不想承认，不过有相当一部分内容也是刚刚被绑到这里的时候，我听他们说的。

ZangyinThey've got so many idle folk around yet they want others to work for them...明明村里还有闲汉在游荡，就净想着让别人出力气……

NoraBut I'm a Cyber Media screenwriter! Surely it would make more sense to lock me up in some cell and write rather than have me move heavy loads around, right?可我是赛博传媒的编剧啊！哪怕把我关进小黑屋里码字，也比搬砖要合理吧！

ZangyinWriting isn't nearly as valuable as carrying stuff in the wilderness.在这种荒郊野岭，码字还真没有搬砖有价值。

ZangyinIt doesn't matter what's inside your neural cloud. They only value a Doll's strength.不管你的心智里有多少内容，他们都只是看重了人形的体力而已。

ZangyinAnd I also heard them say that once they use up Dolls, they strip them for parts and sell it off.我还听他们说，用坏了的人形就会直接卸下零部件拿去卖。

ZangyinPerhaps all those people who went missing are Dolls that they kidnapped.没准之前失踪的那些人，其实也都是被他们拐走的人形。

NoraDammit...可恶……

Zangyin chuckles bitterly, and then leans against the metal bars. I can vaguely hear her hissing again.蔵音苦笑一声，靠在铁栏杆上。我隐约好像听到她又用舌头“嘶”了一声。

ZangyinAh, the star of the show is here.啊，正主来了。

Thud—咚——

Two villagers open the door to the cellar and a man enters. He's wearing a strange-looking outfit that's clearly pieced together from components made by different manufacturers.两个村民推开了地下室的大门，一个男人走了进来，他还穿着一身造型古怪的装备，明显是由不同公司产出的器件拼凑而成的。

村民Boss, they're the ones.头，说的就是她们。

村民We treated them well like you asked us to. We were worried they'd run off before long, so we called you back ahead of time.我们按照您的吩咐好吃好喝供着，本来还担心她们呆不久跑了，所以才提前喊您回来。

村民But, heh, in the end they came to us on their own.结果没想到，嘿，自己送上门来了。

???It's fine. You did well.没事，你做的很好。

工程师Allow me to introduce myself, though you may already know me. I am the Engineer.自我介绍一下，虽然你们可能已经认识我了，我是工程师。

工程师While I don't know why you came here, it is no longer important. After all, making humans happy is a Doll's lot, isn't it?尽管不清楚你们是为什么来到这里的，不过已经不重要了，反正为人类谋取福祉是人形的天职，对吧？

工程师In that case, we'll have to trouble you to work hard for the happiness of Zero Village.那么，就委屈你们，为泽罗村的复兴添砖加瓦吧。

With that, the Engineer activates a device he is holding. The modules around his wrist chug into action.说罢，工程师启动了自己身上的装备。手腕处，那些被拼接在一起的模块嘎嘎作响。

The modules emit a scanner-like beam which sweeps over Zangyin and me.模块发出了类扫描仪一样的光束，对着我和蔵音来回扫射。

工程师Firearms? No... High-energy devices? Also no...枪械？没有……高能设备呢？也没有……

工程师Why don't these Dolls have anything? Did you guys decide to help yourselves to trophies while I wasn't around?这两个人形怎么什么都没有？我说你们啊，不会是在我还没到的时候，就自己私藏战利品了吧？

村民How could we? Boss, we wouldn't dare do anything like that! We just knocked them out and dragged them here. We didn't dare touch them.怎么会！头，我们哪敢做那种事啊！把她俩弄晕后就拖下来了，碰都不敢碰。

村民Don't you remember, Boss? One of our bros barely touched the hand of that Doll from before and he got his eye shot out.头您又不是不记得，之前那个人形，我们只是摸了摸她的手，子弹就把兄弟的眼睛打烂了。

工程师Tsk...啧……

Annoyed, the Engineer takes out another scanner cobbled together from who knows what and sweeps it over us again.工程师不甘心地拿着不知道从什么犄角旮旯淘出来的扫描仪又对着我们来回照了一遍。

工程师Never mind then, go ahead and scrap them. It's not like they pose a threat to us anyway.晦气，那就直接上手把她俩拆了吧，反正也没有什么威胁。

Crackle—滋——

The frame freezes at the exact moment before the two villagers move up to obey.画面定格在两个村民听命走上前来的瞬间。

Joint Effort - 1 合力-1

Professor...So, what's this wager about?……所以，“赌约”是什么？

ProfessorLet me point out that the Oasis does not support gambling.事先声明，绿洲可不支持赌博行为。

NoraRelax, Professor. It's not gambling like you think it is.安心啦教授，不是你想的那种赌博行为。

NoraWe won't bet money and one match decides the winner, so you won't get hooked. Also, it won't be decided by dice, but by our brains.我们不赌钱，一局定胜负，不会上瘾。而且，也不把输赢交给骰子，而是用自己的脑袋较量。

WillowOhhh, now that sounds interesting!唔哦哦，听上去很有意思！

ProfessorSo what exactly will this be about.具体是要做什么呢？

NoraAfter this, that greenhair and I will attempt to escape.接下来，我和那个绿毛要开始逃亡了。

NoraDo you think we succeeded?教授觉得我们逃出去了吗？

ProfessorOtherwise who would I be talking to now...不然现在跟我对话的是谁……

You did.逃出去了。

You didn't.没逃出去。

NoraThen who the heck are you talking to now...那现在跟你对话的是谁……

ProfessorSurely that wasn't what you were wagering on?你说的打赌不会就是这个吧？

NoraNo, no, there's no point betting on such an obvious question.不至于不至于，这么明显的问题有什么好赌的。

NoraI, however, would like to play a little game with you, Professor. I mean, you're the nerdy sort, so I'm sure you understand, right? It's a choose-your-own-adventure game.我呢，就是想跟教授玩个小游戏。教授这种理科宅肯定多少有所了解的吧？那种文字冒险类游戏。

NoraGood, good~ That's what I want you to try out, Professor.那就好那就好~想让教授尝试的就是这个哦。

Nora taps the page constituted from operands with the tip of her brush and the page suddenly expands, revealing more words.野良在算量组成的书页上用毛笔笔尖点了一点，书页突然就伸展开来，出现了更多的文字。

Oh, I know this one. Usually there are options to choose from after a dialogue like this.我可熟悉了，一般这种对话后面会接选项。

I'm not too familiar with them, but they seem kind of close to me somehow.也算不上很熟悉，就是总觉得有点亲切。

WillowWow—It's a story branch!哇——是选择分支！

ProfessorWell, that's a Cyber Media Doll for you... This looks pretty novel.不愧是赛博传媒的人形……这个好新颖啊。

NoraWell, don't start praising me just yet. Your job is simple, Professor. You control me in the story, and think of a way to escape that village.先别急着夸了。教授你要做的事情很简单，就是操控故事里的我，想办法逃出那个村子。

NoraIf you succeed, you win.如果顺利做到了，就是教授赢了。

NoraBut... I bet you can't do it. How about that?但是……我赌教授做不到，怎么样？

ProfessorNow that sounds interesting. What are the stakes?有点意思。那么赌注是什么呢？

NoraIf you lose, you have to help me find someone.要是教授输了，就去帮我找一个人吧。

ProfessorIs it Zangyin?蔵音？

NoraSince, since when do people ask about the ending right off the... We can save those questions for after the game!哪，哪有一上来就问结局的……那种问题等游戏结束再说！

ProfessorAlright, then. But what if I win?行吧。但如果我赢了呢？

NoraYou won't.肯定赢不了啦。

ProfessorWe still have to make things clear.那也得说清楚。

NoraI... uh...那……呃……

ProfessorThen you'll be good and back up your neural cloud, as well as staying to work in the Oasis. How about that?那你就乖乖做心智备份，顺带留在绿洲工作，怎么样？

NoraUm... Al... alright then...唔……也……也行吧……

WillowActually, the Professor would have gone looking for her even if he didn't mmmmfffff!话说其实就算不打赌教授也会去寻找……唔唔唔！

ProfessorMiss Nora said so just now, didn't she? We can't spoil the ending right away.野良老师刚刚不是才说过吗？不能一上来就把故事的结局说出来。

ProfessorWillow, you be our witness.薇洛儿，你就当我们的公证人吧。

WillowNfff prffbrrff! (No problem!)诶唔提！（没问题！）

NoraIt's a deal, then.那就算是契约成立了吧。

ProfessorI'll move along, then.那我就继续往下翻咯。

NoraEh! Wait—诶！先等等——

NoraThe next part is the highlight of this story. If our wager is in effect, then you'll have to make your first choice here!接下来的情节可是这段故事的重点，赌约成立的话，教授就要在这里做出第一个选择了哦！

NoraPlease tell those of us who are in danger, what we should do to get out of the situation we're in?请问即将面对危险的我们，该如何做才能摆脱当前的局面呢？

Joint Effort - 2 合力-2

The sound of gunfire and screams fill the air.枪炮声和惨叫同时响起。

Crimson light enters our eyes.血光浸透了我们的双眼。

The place where Zero should be sitting is empty, and there's no telling where it's gone. Meanwhile, the sounds of mechanical footsteps, gunshots and humans moaning in agony comes from above.属于泽罗的座位上空空如也，不知道它去了哪里。而头顶时不时传来机器行走、开火的声音，以及人类痛苦的呻吟声。

NoraLooks like it's begun attacking humans indiscriminately.看样子它开始无差别攻击人类了。

村民It? You mean Zero?它？你说泽罗？

村民That can't be. It hasn't moved in years!不可能，那玩意都多少年没动弹过了！

ZangyinThat's just because you don't know, right? Dolls actually have emergency modes they can activate, you know?那只是因为你们不懂吧？人形其实都是有应急模式可以启动的，你们知道吗？

村民This... Boss...这——头……

ZangyinYou didn't know about it, did you? After all, you're just a self-taught technician.不懂对吧？毕竟你也只是个自学成才的工程师呢。

NoraWe activated Zero's emergency mode, so right now it must have recalled its original purpose.我们启动了泽罗的应急模式，现在它大概已经回想起自己的本职工作了吧。

ZangyinSpeaking of which, what WAS its original purpose? Serving in the military?话说它的本职工作是什么来着？在军队服役？是这样吧。

The screams continue. The villagers grow paler and paler.惨叫声还在继续。村民们的脸色越来越难看。

村民What if our bros up there really were...难道上面的弟兄被泽罗给……

NoraLike I was saying, these idiots were looking down on us.所以说啊，这些笨蛋太小瞧我们啦。

村民Boss... We...头……我们……

工程师Shut up, all of you.都给我闭嘴。

The Engineer angrily barks a command, then glares at us before activating the body-mounted weapon he's wearing.工程师怒喝一声，而后恨恨地看了我们一眼，启动了自己身上的外挂武装。

工程师I'll go up and see what's going on. So what if Zero is moving again? It's just a written-off tool.我上去看看情况，泽罗启动了又怎么样，不就是一台报废了的工具而已。

工程师You two, keep an eye on them.你们，给我看住她们两个。

After tossing off that terse statement, the Engineer heads outside and doesn't look back.撂下狠话，工程师头也不回地往外走去。

Nora(Well done, Little Si.)（干得漂亮，小巳。）

Zero's body has not left its place—It was only knocked off the stage by Little Si.泽罗的机体并没有离开座位——它只是被小巳推倒藏到舞台下了。

As for the gunshots and the flashing lights, those are from the climax of Silent Mountain, where the protagonist activates mechanical soldiers to attack the zombies. Little Si is playing that scene using the camcorder's projection feature.至于枪炮声和血光，那当然是《死寂之山》高潮部分里，主角启动机器兵攻击丧尸的桥段啦。小巳用录像机的投影功能，将那些画面投在了礼堂里。

Those villagers sure were gullible; all we had to do was play off each other about an emergency mode or what not and they didn't dare doubt us any more.那些村民果然好骗，只要我俩一唱一和地扯一扯应急模式之类的概念，他们就不敢质疑了。

Little Si looks happily at me. If it weren't a snake, I might even want to pet it.小巳也快活地看着我。如果它不是蛇的话，我真想摸两下。

村民You... Stay there! Don't move!你……你们都不准动啊！

The villagers turns around, waving their wrenches, but what greets them is—村民慌张地转过身来，挥舞着扳手，然而迎接他们的却是——

巳Hiss, hiss, hiss—嘶嘶嘶——

Little Si has already undone our bonds, and it savagely pounces one of the villagers.小巳解除了我们身上的束缚，找准其中一个村民，猛地窜了上去。

村民Ugh! A snake?!唔！蛇！？

Little Si has already coiled around his neck, and Zangyin follows up with a punch that knocks him out.小巳勒住了他的脖子，蔵音配合着一拳将其击晕。

村民You guys! Don't mess ar... urgh—你们！不要乱来……呃——

Thud—咚——

While the other villager is distracted by Little Si, I take out a collection of short stories and smash it into the back of his head.趁着另一个村民的注意力也被小巳吸引，我掏出小说集对着他后脑勺就是一个爆栗。

Much as I hate to admit it, Zangyin and I have perfect teamwork.虽然不想承认，但我和蔵音成功达成了一次完美的配合。

NoraHumph! Knowledge is power.哼！知识就是力量。

NoraHonestly, if we hadn't been ambushed earlier and the Engineer wasn't fully kitted out, we wouldn't have to fear you!真是的，要不是先被暗算了，还有工程师那一身装备，不然谁会怕你们啊！

NoraEven if we're weak, you're still no match for us!就算我们再弱，也不是你们能对付的好吗！

ZangyinSave the rubbish for later! If that Engineer comes back and finds us, we're...废话还是留到之后再说吧！等那个工程师发现不对回来我们可就全完……

Zangyin starts climbing out of the cellar as she says this. However...蔵音一边说一边爬出地牢。然而……

Bang!砰！

A gunshot suddenly rings out from above us.头顶突然传来一声突兀的枪响。

NoraZangyin?!蔵音？！

Just as she finishes climbing out of the cellar, Zangyin collapses to the ground. I immediately make my way out of the cellar after her, but am met with the sight of a menacing gun barrel.刚爬出地牢的蔵音倒了下去。我马上跟在她身后跳出地牢，却迎面看见黑洞洞的枪口。

工程师Humph... You're full of tricks, aren't you?哼……很会玩嘛。

The Engineer glares at us. Zangyin is lying on the ground off to the side.工程师恶狠狠地盯着我们。蔵音就倒在一旁。

NoraZangyin, are you alright...没事吧，蔵音……

ZangyinI'm fine, he didn't hit me. I was just startled and fell down.没事，他没打中我。只是事发突然，摔了一下。

NoraIs your leg hurt?腿部有受伤吗？

ZangyinI'm not that fragile.我可没那么易碎。

工程师Hm, you're pretty solid—I can't wait to scrap you now.嗯，蛮结实的嘛——我已经等不及要拆你了。

The Engineer interrupts our whispered conversation and approaches us, his gun held high.工程师蛮横地切入我们的小声对话，举着枪走近。

工程师I have to admit, you're much more capable than the previous Dolls. To think you could run circles around me with just a pack of lies and an old camcorder.你们确实比之前的人形都要厉害，居然靠嘴皮子和一个破录像机就把我耍得团团转。

He grits his teeth and takes aim at my camera.他咬牙切齿地瞄准了我的录像机。

Bang—砰——

The machine shatters to bits, and the noise suddenly stops.机器四分五裂，喧嚣声戛然而止。

Joint Effort - 3 合力-3

After dealing with the camera, the Engineer turns to us.处决了录像机之后，工程师转而看向我们。

NoraDammit...可恶……

ZangyinWhat do we do? Your plan's been exposed!现在怎么办？你的计划暴露了！

ZangyinIf you've got any backup plans, now would be a good time to reveal them!还有没有备用方案，赶紧拿出来！

NoraI'm a screenwriter, not God! It's good enough I managed to put together a passable script for you at the last minute, okay!我是编剧不是上帝！能给你临时赶出一个还算合格的稿子已经很了不起了好吗？

NoraWhy don't you come up with something? I'm just a fragile little scriptwriter and I don't have the experience you do.倒是你来点作用啊！我是个小编剧，不像你山路走得多。

ZangyinTsk... Little Si!啧……小巳！

Zangyin doesn't move, but instead directs her snake to bite the Engineer's calf.蔵音没有动手，而是指挥蛇冲着工程师的小腿咬了上去。

巳Hiss—嘶——

The snake's fangs instantly sink into flesh—That was what we expected, but...蛇的牙齿瞬间就能划破人类的皮肤——理当如此，然而……

工程师Tsk.嘁。

The Engineer sweeps an armor-plated hand down toward his feet. The plates might be old, but they're enough to solidly incapacitate Little Si.工程师挥动着覆满甲片的手臂砸向脚边，尽管那些甲片老旧斑驳，却也实打实地瘫痪了小巳。

ZangyinHey, Nora, is there a chance, a possibility perhaps...喂，野良，有没有一种可能……我是说可能。

ZangyinThat you could come up with a story to delay him? If you can do it, I promise not to call you a third-rate screenwriter.你再编个故事来忽悠他？要是能成的话，我保证再也不喊你三流编剧。

NoraWake up, will you? They might be stupid, but they're not complete morons!你清醒一点好吗？他们虽然傻，但没有完全傻啊！

A gunshot erupts just as I finish speaking.话音刚落，枪声骤响。

I move as fast as I can, but a bullet still grazes my thigh.我以最快的速度作出了反应，但腿部还是被子弹擦过。

NoraOh no...糟……

This isn't like the warning shots from before. The Engineer isn't concerned with not hurting our bodies any more—in other words, he's really mad.和刚才示威性质的鸣枪截然不同。工程师已经不再顾忌会不会伤到我们的素体了，也就是说——他啊，是真的生气了。

ZangyinYou idiot!这个笨蛋！

Zangyin had already gotten some distance away, but after seeing me almost get shot, she doubles back and returns.本来已经拉开距离的蔵音在见到我险些中枪后，竟然又折返了回来。

ZangyinHarming us is against the law. You should stop.擅自伤害我们是犯法的，你快停手吧。

工程师How can you live in this world without breaking a few laws?法都不犯几条，怎么在这世道活下去啊？

工程师I've heard high-sounding stuff like that countless times, but when the bombs fall, it's still what I'm holding here that counts, no?你们这种大道理我听得多了，等大炮打进来的时候，哼，还不是我手里这个有用！

This guy is impervious to everything. Reason doesn't work, emotional appeals don't work, and the worst part is that we can't beat him in a fight.这家伙简直是油盐不进，讲道理他不听，讲感情他也不听。更糟糕的是还打不过他。

工程师Now get up!爬起来！

工程师Then get back into your cells. I don't want to waste any more time.然后都自己滚回笼子里去！我不想浪费时间了。

There is a vicious look on the Engineer's face. His hands keep moving, feeding fresh rounds into his gun.工程师神情狰狞，手里动作一刻不停，开始装弹。

工程师Even if you can talk or speak, you're still Dolls, so don't get cocky on me!哪怕会写几个字、说几句话，你们也只是破人形而已，少给我自以为是了！

工程师Dolls should be like my Zero, nothing more than obedient tools!人形就该像我的泽罗一样，乖乖坐好当工具！

Ka-thud.咔哒。

ZangyinYou... Huh?你……咦？

Zangyin's hands clench up into fists, and she looks like she wants to say something. However, she suddenly stops halfway. Her gaze goes past the Engineer and behind him.蔵音攥紧了拳头，本想再说些什么，却蓦地止住。视线越过了工程师，直勾勾地盯着他身后。

ZangyinZe... Zero?泽……泽罗？

In the dim light, we see something that looks like Zero standing up.在昏暗的光线下，我们好像看到了泽罗站起来的身影。

Joint Effort - 4 合力-4

ZangyinZe... Zero?!泽……泽罗？！

工程师Who are you calling Zero? Do you think I'm stupid?泽什么罗，还想再把我当成傻子耍吗！

Ka-thud, ka-thud, ka-thud.咔哒咔哒咔哒哒。

??Zero, not a tool!泽罗，不是工具！

泽罗[System Initialization: 30%...] [System Initialization: 70%...] [System Initialization: 90%...]【系统初始化进度：30%……】 【系统初始化进度：70%……】 【系统初始化进度：90%……】

??Zero has been working hard to help everyone, Zero is everyone's friend!泽罗一直在努力帮助大家，泽罗是大家的朋友！

泽罗[Scout No. 36 entering battle-ready status.]【侦察兵No.36，进入战备状态。】

Zero, who's lying at the foot of the stage, slowly begins to stand up.躺在舞台下的泽罗，缓缓站了起来。

工程师What the hell...?什么玩意……？

??The village can only be restored if everyone works together, and not like this. This is wrong!复兴村子，是要靠大家一起努力，而不是靠这种方式。这么做不对！

泽罗[No orders received during the stipulated interval. Now commencing semi-automatic action.]【规定时间内未接收到指令，即将开始半自主行动。】

工程师Hey!喂！

Shocked and frightened, the Engineer has no choice but to turn his gun toward Zero.工程师又惊又恐，不由得将一直对着我们的枪口转向了泽罗。

And just then—在那一瞬间——

ZangyinUppercut!上勾拳！

Bang!砰！

NoraLeg sweep!扫堂腿！

Wham!咚！

Zangyin suddenly throws a punch and hits him from behind. I follow up with a sweep and we knock the Engineer to the ground. He scrabbles for his gun, but Little Si has already taken it away.站在一旁的蔵音突然出拳，从后方袭击；我也接上一脚，将工程师打翻在地。他在混乱中还想伸手去抓枪，却早被小巳先一步推走了。

ZangyinTime for you to take a nap, the kind you won't wake up from.睡会儿吧，醒不过来的那种。

Zangyin kicks him in the back of the head and he passes out at last.蔵音又补了一脚踹在他的脑袋上，他总算是昏了过去。

NoraPfft.噗。

ZangyinWhat, what's so funny?笑，笑什么？

NoraThat line of yours just now was so cringy.刚刚那句什么台词，好羞耻啊。

ZangyinMeh, you wrote it, didn't you... oh.还不是你自己写的……啊。

NoraI knew it! You were imitating it, weren't you? You DID imitate it, right?果然！你刚才是模仿了吧？确实模仿了吧？

ZangyinI have no idea what you're talking about.不知道你在说什么。

NoraAt the end of Silent Mountain, the protagonist and the robot do a combination move just like that and they have the same lines too. You keep calling it a crap movie but you were actually paying close attention to it, weren't you?《死寂之山》结尾，主人公和机器人的组合技，还有那之后的台词。嘴上说是烂片，其实看得很仔细嘛。

ZangyinOh shut up. How could I slam you online if I didn't pay attention to it?吵死了。不看仔细点，要怎么上网喷你呢。

NoraAw, knowing that someone likes my work so much makes me happy too.哎呀，看到有人这么喜欢我的作品，我也很开心呀。

NoraAnd you even went so far as to have that robot feature in it as well. That was a pretty pro move, jazzing up the scene like that.而且还特意准备了那出机器人秀，很上道嘛，都会自己加戏了。

ZangyinI have no idea what was going on there.那个我也不知道是怎么回事。

NoraHuh?诶？

We take another look at Zero. It appears to have been manually activated and only powered up for a short while before shutting down again right away due to a lack of power.我们重新打量起泽罗。它好像只是被人手动启动，稍微活动了一会，马上就因为没有能源而停滞了。

NoraYou didn't start it up?不是你开的？

ZangyinI thought YOU did it.我还以为是你开的呢。

NoraThen what's going on...那是怎么回事……

??It was me.是，是我开的。

A familiar face pops itself out from behind the curtain.一个熟悉的小脑袋突然从幕布后面钻了出来。

野良&蔵音Ah.啊。

少年Are you guys okay?你们没事吧？

少年Sorry, I was going to tell you that the town hall was fishy and not to stay around the village for long and to leave, but...对不起，我本来想提醒你们礼堂有问题，不要在村里久留，赶快离开的。但是……

NoraI see. Thank you very much.原来如此。真是谢谢你了。

少年No, I should be thanking you. Zero was always a friend of our village, and I still remember how it helped us build houses when I was a kid.不，要说谢谢的是我才对。泽罗过去一直都是我们村子的好伙伴，我还记得小时候，是它帮我们搭起了屋子。

少年I thought it would protect us forever... But after he got old, the Engineer had other ideas.我一直以为它可以永远像那时候那样守护我们……可是，当他老化之后，工程师就打起了别的主意。

少年He led the adults in dismantling Zero and even began targeting Dolls who passed by. He also showed footage of Doll combat and said you were all bad guys hiding your true nature...他带着大人们开始拆卸泽罗，甚至把目光盯上了其他路过的人形，还拿出了人形战争的影像，告诉我们你们都是伪装的坏蛋……

少年I'd always had my doubts about his words, but... I didn't know what to do about it either, until I saw your movie...我其实早就开始怀疑这个说法了，只是……我也不知道该怎么做。直到看了你的电影……

少年Thank you for your movie, onee-chan. I'm still a little scared now, but I want to do what I ought to do.大姐姐，谢谢你的电影。虽然我现在还是有点害怕，但我想做我认为应该做的事情。

After saying that, he takes a crumpled piece of paper out of his pocket.他说完，从口袋里扯出一张皱巴巴的纸。

少年You guys should hurry up and flee. The others will be coming over soon. I drew this map myself; you'll be able to get down the mountain more quickly and they won't catch up with you that fast.你们快逃吧，其他人很快都会聚过来的。这是我手绘的地图，有了这个，下山更快些，不容易被他们追上。

I take the map from him with both hands.我双手接过地图。

NoraThis is wonderful. We'll bid you farewell, then.太好了。那我们这就先告辞了。

ZangyinTake care.保重。

少年Yeah...嗯……

After taking a couple of steps, I think a little, and then turn back.走出两步后，我想了想，又回头补了一句。

NoraThis whole experience will become a great movie.这次的经历，一定会变成一部很棒的电影的。

NoraI guarantee it!我向你保证！

少年...Yeah.……嗯。

Below the cloudy sky, the boy smiles as brightly as the moon.在乌云渐散的天空下，少年露出了月光般清澈的微笑。

Joint Effort - 5 合力-5

NoraWe're safe at last.总算安全了。

ZangyinDon't lower your guard. There's no telling when the villagers will catch up.别松懈，还不知道村民什么时候又会赶上来呢。

NoraYes, yes, I know.知道啦知道啦。

The air suddenly goes quiet.空气突然安静。

Nora...Come to think of it, why are you so quiet?……说起来，你现在怎么这么安静啊？

NoraNormally you'd be taking shots at me around now.平时的话，这种时候应该已经开始损我了。

NoraWhat, still embarrassed about just now?怎么，还在为刚才的事害羞呢？

NoraDon't worry, for I, Nora, am a big-hearted person. I won't quibble with you about secretly copying my lines.没关系啦，野良我可是很大度的，偷偷学我台词这种小事，我不会计较的。

NoraDidn't that boy take to it eagerly too? The two of you are pretty alike.你看，那个少年不也学得很起劲吗？你俩还真是像呢。

NoraWho would have thought that crappy flick of mine would have inspired two people, it sure was worth it—没想到我一部烂片就激励了两个人，真划算啊——

Zangyin(Sigh)唉。

NoraWhat are you sighing about?你叹气干什么？

ZangyinOh, it's nothing. I was just thinking that I preferred the you just now, when you were on the verge of tears because you couldn't find your friend.没什么。我只是在想，还是刚刚那个找不到同伴急得快哭出来的野良比较顺眼啊。

NoraYou, you heard that?你，你听见了？

ZangyinYou were muttering to yourself so loudly I could have heard you from dozens of meters away.自言自语得那么大声，我就算在几十米外也听得见了。

ZangyinWho knows, those villagers might have caught you because you were so loud.啊，没准就是因为声音太大，那些村民才抓到你的。

ZangyinWhat's this, was it so scary to not have my guidance around any more?怎么，少了我的教育原来有那么可怕呀？

NoraI, I was just worried I'd miss the sight of you becoming bear food!我，我是担心错过你被扛去喂熊的珍贵画面而已！

NoraAnd what do you mean by guidance, I was the one who came up with the escape plan just now, right?而且你那算什么教育，刚刚还是我教你怎么逃出来的吧？

ZangyinWere you? If it wasn't for that uppercut of mine, you'd probably have eaten a bullet.是吗？要是没有我那个上勾拳，你说不定已经吃枪子了。

NoraYou've got some nerve saying that, seeing as you even stole your move from—你连技能都是从我这抄来的还说——

村民的声音There they are! Get them!找到了！她们在那！

The sound of footsteps suddenly comes from behind and the two of us spring up.身后突然脚步声大作，我们两个同时“蹭”地站了起来。

NoraThis is all YOUR fault! You were too loud and drew them over!啊，都怪你！声音太大把人引来说的是你自己吧！

ZangyinYou were the last to speak, weren't you?!明明最后一句是你喊的啊！

Nora...I can't be bothered with you. Just hurry up and run!……不管你了，赶紧跑吧！

ZangyinYou're not even going to look at the map?地图你都不看就跑？

NoraThere's no time, let's put some distance between us and them first!来不及啦，先拉开距离再说！

ZangyinCan you outrun them if you don't know the terrain?!不熟悉地形你跑得赢他们吗！

NoraAll I need to do is outrun you!我只要跑赢你就可以了呀！

Fortunately there IS a God, and just as I say that, Zangyin trips over a rock.大概是上天有眼，我刚说完这句话，蔵音就一脚踢到了一块石头上。

ZangyinGuwaaaargh!唔啊啊啊啊！

NoraSee! I TOLD you to sow some good karma! Now it's come to bite you in the ass!你看！我劝过你积点口德的吧！遭报应了吧！

Before Zangyin can retort, the villagers swarm her.蔵音还没来得及反驳，村民就一拥而上。

村民Got one!抓到一个！

村民Hurry and tie her up!快捆严实了！

ZangyinDon't just focus on me. There's another one up ahead!别，别光抓我啊，前面还有一个啊啊啊！

NoraYour sacrifice was meaningful, Zangyin. I won't forget you!你的牺牲是有价值的，蔵音。我不会忘记你的！

Zangyin's screams come from behind me, but I know that I can't look back.身后传来蔵音的惨叫声，但我知道，此时我绝对不能回头。

I have no choice but to betray my comrade.除了卖队友，我别无选择。

I run and run, with all my might, until Zangyin and the shouts of the villagers disappear into the night wind.我一个劲地跑着，跑着，直到蔵音与村民的咆哮，一同消逝在夜风中。

The Extraordinary Tales of Zero - END《泽罗的非日常》 完。

To Be Continued 待续

ProfessorAwesome, I escaped!好了，我逃出来了！

WillowI didn't think you'd end up betraying your teammate to escape... Were you always such a ruthless person, Professor?没想到最后居然靠卖队友逃跑……教授原来是这么狠心的人吗？

ProfessorThat development was entirely in keeping with Nora's personality, you know.这可是完全按照野良性格的发展哦。

ProfessorOr rather, she put a fair bit of her personal feelings into this ending.不如说，野良写出的这个结局似乎掺杂了不少个人感情啊。

NoraNo, how could I make it personal? I'm a professional scriptwriter, and I was simply being thorough.没，怎么会有个人感情啊。我只是作为职业编剧，写得比较周全而已。

ProfessorMhm, amazing, truly amazing.嗯嗯，真厉害真厉害。

ProfessorNow then, it's about time to keep your word, isn't it?那么是不是该到职业编剧践行诺言的时候了？

The Professor snaps his fingers and Willow immediately appears with a neural cloud backup document. Clearly, she's had it ready for a long time.教授打了个响指，薇洛儿立刻将心智备份协议书送了上来，怎么想都是备好多时了。

WillowGo ahead, Miss Nora~请吧，野良小姐~

WillowI'll be taking pictures throughout, so you don't have to worry about it losing effect~我会给你全程拍照的所以不用担心失效哦！

Nora...Exactly how much did the Professor offer you to do this, anyway...……教授给了你多少好处啊……

NoraFine, I'll sign it. I never intended to welch on my debt, anyway...行，我签。本来我也没打算食言……

NoraThere, it's done.喏，好了。

ProfessorYup, everything checks out.嗯，确认无误。

At this rate, I'll have to stay in the Oasis and work for the Professor.这样下去，我就必须留在绿洲，给教授打工了。

While they don't seem too hard to get along with, and truth to be told they're actually quite to my liking... I find it hard to imagine myself being able to stay here with any peace of mind as long as that matter isn't resolved yet.虽然看上去不难相处，甚至还挺合我意的……但我难以想象自己能在那件事落实之前安心待在这儿。

After thinking about it, all I can do is work up my courage and ask.想来想去，还是只能硬着头皮开口了。

NoraAh, Professor...那个，教授……

NoraI know I've lost, so making another request might not be appropriate, but...虽然我输了，再提要求可能不大合适，但……

NoraCould I have some extra operands while I'm staying in the Oasis?我留在绿洲的时候，您能不能分一点额外的算量给我呢？

NoraI was hoping to use my rest time to find a certain someone. It won't interfere with my work.我希望可以利用休息时间找一找人，不会耽误工作。

ProfessorOh, that.啊，你说那个啊。

ProfessorActually, the Exiles' mission was always to find our lost Doll friends. Right, Willow?其实流亡者的使命本来就是找回人形同伴啊。对吧，薇洛儿。

WillowYup.是哦。

NoraHmmm?嗯嗯嗯？

WillowYou saw the huge search terminal outside, right? The Professor usually uses that to find our Doll friends.外头不是有个很大的检索终端嘛。教授平时就是用那个搜寻人形同伴的。

WillowThey were overjoyed to hear that you needed help finding someone!听说你要帮忙找人，高兴还来不及呢！

How...怎么会……

NoraHow did it end up like this...怎么会这样啊……

NoraSo you wanted me to sign the form just so you could trick me into doing work?所以你要我签协议，就只是为了顺便骗我干活？

ProfessorYup. Also, you just gave yourself an extra assignment, which is to take responsibility for maintaining the search terminal.是哦。而且你刚刚还给自己加了一笔工作，要额外负责检索终端的维护哦。

NoraYou, you're so sneaky—!你，你好狡猾——！

ProfessorAh, what a happy day it is, yet another hardworking friend has joined us.哎呀，今天真高兴，又多了一位勤劳的伙伴。

ProfessorCome back up your neural cloud, Nora! Willow, get the professional team.来心智备份吧，野良！薇洛儿，去叫专业团队。

WillowKay~是~

I wonder if... I should add another name to the list of the deceased in my next work...下一本的死者……要不要加一个呢……

ProfessorAnd back on topic. Can you tell me about it now?话说回来，现在可以告诉我了吗？

NoraTell you about what?告诉什么？

ProfessorWhat the REAL ending was like. You didn't really abandon her in the village now, did you?真实的结局到底是什么样的。你没有真的把蔵音丢在村子里吧？

NoraI'd ditch someone like her at the earliest possible opportunity.那种人，要是有机会丢，我肯定早就丢掉啦。

ProfessorBut weren't you hoping that I'd save Zangyin when you made your bet just now? That means she must have escaped and joined Project Neural Cloud with you.但你刚才打赌的时候，不是希望我去找蔵音吗？这说明她肯定逃出来了，还和你一起参加了“心智云图”计划。

NoraI never said I was looking for Zangyin now, did I?我没说要找的一定是蔵音吧？

ProfessorIf it wasn't her, then what was the point of telling me this story in the first place?如果不是蔵音的话，你一开始给我讲这个故事的目的又是什么呢？

ProfessorWasn't it to see if I knew where Zangyin had gone?不是为了观察我知不知道蔵音的去向吗？

There is an inscrutable look in the Professor's eyes, and it's hard to tell the exact meaning behind it.教授看我的眼神深不可测，难以看清那背后的用意。

But for some reason, I don't feel afraid. Perhaps it's because I know there is no malice there, or perhaps...不过不知为何，我倒没有感到害怕。或许是因为我清楚那并非恶意，也或许是因为……

NoraThe story's ending, hm... So you want to know how it went?故事的结局吗……你想知道到底是什么样的？

"Your sacrifice was meaningful, greenhair. I won't forget you!"“你的牺牲是有价值的，绿毛怪。我不会忘记你的！”

Screams come from behind me, but I know that I can't look back.身后传来惨叫声，但我知道，此时我绝对不能回头。

I run and run, with all my might, until Zangyin and the shouts of the villagers disappear into the night wind.我一个劲地跑着，跑着，直到一切咆哮全都消逝在夜风中。

The Extraordinary Tales of Zero - END《泽罗的非日常》完。

NoraSo, how was it?怎么样？

NoraHey, isn't that look on your face a little too dumb-looking?喂，表情是不是太呆了一点？

NoraI mean, how often is it that I agree to attend a premiere screening with you, anyway? Shouldn't you be weeping in gratitude with snot hanging off your nose or something?难得我答应你来看首映哎，是不是应该表现得感激涕零才对？

ZangyinSo you expect me to gush over how moving the scene of me being dragged away was?你是要我夸自己被拖走的镜头很有张力吗？

NoraI never said it was you, green... Er, Zangyin.我没说那是你嘛，绿……蔵音。

ZangyinZangyin. Right, right, I haven't even started on that name yet. A little too casual don't you think?对，这个名字我也还没吐槽呢。是不是太随便了一点啊？

NoraAw, you don't need to be so serious with the supporting cast. I couldn't let the audience have too many hopes for her, so I needed to establish her importance through her name...配角是可以随便一点嘛，不能让观众对她寄予太大的期望，得从名字开始就让人明白这个角色的分量……

ZangyinBut she's got about half the screentime in the movie!但她挨打的戏份占了快一半了！

NoraThat... That's because the audience likes watching that sort of thing.这个……也是因为观众爱看嘛。

NoraLook at these reviews, each one's better than the last.你看这个评分，节节高呢。

Just as I take out my smartphone, Zangyin snatches it away.我刚拿出智能手机，就被蔵音一把抢去。

ZangyinOho, they really do keep getting better. Let's see what this is: "Only covers online trends", "incredibly cliched plot", "developments more familiar to me than my parents' faces"...嚯，节节高呢。让我看看这是什么：“只是在照搬网络热点”，“超级老套的情节”，“比父母亲的脸还要熟悉的展开”……

ZangyinWow, they're all one-star reviews.哇，全是一星哦。

NoraWell of COURSE that's going to happen when you list them from lowest to highest!你勾选了评分从低到高排当然会这样！

ZangyinThere's a ton of them, though.但数量也不少嘛。

NoraThe more successful you get, the more enemies you make.树大招风而已。

NoraAlso, even if people heckle me...而且，就算有人黑我……

NoraThere'll be people who like me too.也同样有人喜欢着我啊。

ZangyinHm?哼？

NoraSo I'll just pretend my scripts are for those people who like them, the people who are willing to be moved by me. That'll do.我就当我写的剧本，是给那些喜欢的人的，给那些愿意被我打动的人的。这样就好了。

I recall the sparkle in that boy's eyes.我又想起了那位少年闪闪发光的眼睛。

NoraWhich is why there's no point trying to rattle me with personal attacks.所以用人身攻击激我已经没有用咯。

ZangyinNora...野良……

ZangyinRight, then make sure you like the one-star review I left you tonight—懂了，那我今晚发的一星长评，你记得点赞——

NoraI'm still going to delete it!这个我还是要挂的！

ProfessorSo, have you thought of your answer yet?如何，你想出回答了吗？

NoraYes, I have, but it's a very complicated ending.嗯，我想出来了。不过那是个很复杂的结局。

NoraAre you willing to set some time aside and let me tell you about it?您愿意花点时间，听我慢慢说吗？

Fan archive of the official game scripts. All story text and art belong to their publishers.