Chapter 2 — Village Without BirdsAfter the van engine shut off, no one spoke for a few seconds. Only fog… and the ticking sound of cooling metal.The driver turned the key again — nothing. “Battery dead? Impossible… I just checked it.”Kenji said irritably, “Everyone out. Take the equipment. The village is within walking distance.”As soon as the door opened — cold air rushed inside. Not normal cold. The kind that goes straight into your bones.Aiko immediately noticed — there was no sound.No insects. No leaves rustling. No birds.“When is it ever this silent in the mountains?” sound engineer Park said