Editing Ghost Hunt:Volume4 Chapter4 (section)

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A fog had risen. Tiny droplets of water were flowing. A milky white fog.

Hidden in the mist was the shadow of trees.

Where is this place…?

I looked around me. Tall trees; fog that enveloped everything. It was very dark.

Hu… I let out my breath. I understood.

I’m getting used to this. This is the semi-consciousness of sleep.

Ai… I’ll ignore that for the time being. Where exactly is this place?

I looked around. Rivulets of fog flowed around me. The fog slowly thinned, and soon I could see a Torii in front of me.

It was a shrine.

I passed through the Torii. Beyond the Torii was a prayer path <!--(参拜道路?) -->made of stone. On the right there was a small red Torii. Beyond a pair of ceramic foxes was a small memorial hall<!--(祠堂?)-->.

Is it the Inari Shrine?

The fog started swirling again. I noticed there was an immense building in front of me.

Ah, this is the Main Hall.

The shrine was dimly lit. Standing in front of the Main Hall was…

“Naru?”

Looking like it was about to dissolve into the fog was Naru’s figure.

Naru’s expression was hard. There was no trace of the gentle smiling face that only appeared in my dreams.

“That place is very dangerous.” Naru opened his mouth and spoke.

“That place” refers to?

“You know that, don’t you? That is a dangerous place. Hurry up and get up and leave that place. You must not remain there.”

“I don’t understand… what do you mean?”

What is going on? And this shrine is?

“That place is very dangerous. You must remember the exorcism techniques you’ve learnt.”

“Ok…”

Naru suddenly raised his head and looked at the sky. Following Naru, I too looked back. Thick foliage. Wooden Torii. And opposite the row of houses ahead, was the school.

“Have you understood?” Naru asked.

All at once the Torii and the row of houses, and the school, too, became transparent. Right on the school’s first floor was a pulsating thing.

It looked just like the image of an unborn child. A mysterious feeling surrounded the life-like will-o’-the-wisp.

“It’s about to be born…”

I groaned softly.

“That’s right. Up to this day they have been dormant. Very soon it will hatch. If it is allowed to hatch, nobody will be able to stop it.”

Nobody will be able to stop it…

I gazed at the school. That was the Printing Room. And that wasn’t the only location. I know that. There was something in the LL classroom, and the 2-4 classroom too. And the Sickbay also had one. Ah ah, there were so few other spirits around. Practically only these 4 were left, all within such a short time span. 

I came to a realization. About 90% of the entire student population – approximately 600 students, in 4 months – approximately 120 days, had continuously summoned spirits. Thousands of spirits. In such a short time, these spirits had been so greatly reduced. The summoned spirits devoured and absorbed each other, and reduced their numbers to the level currently observed. And the stronger spirits continued to grow… on and on until they took their current form.

With a sudden “Sa”, the vision cleared, and the ongoing scenario in the Printing Room emerged before my eyes. They had finally arrived – John and Yasuhara – at that very dangerous place.

“I’m going back.”

I said that; Naru nodded.

“Be careful…”

The fog swiftly thickened.

“That place is…”

Naru’s figure was swallowed by the fog. Only his voice echoed could be heard.

“… as dangerous as this one… so…”

I woke abruptly. I sat up suddenly at the same time. I turned to look at Ayako, who was sitting beside me.

“How are you?”

“I want to get up already.”

“Wait a moment, are you fine now? You have not slept for long.”

“En. I’m fine. I want to get up.”

I thought to get off the bed. I leaned against the bed, my body swayed. I still felt nauseous when I tried to get up.

“That’s why I said you are forcing yourself. Honestly, sleep a little longer.”

No way. I can’t stand.

“Ayako.”

The will-o’-the-wisp. About to hatch. If it was allowed to hatch nobody will be able to stop it.

“Hurry to the Printing Room.”

“Hey…”

Ayako looked very astonished. I nodded to her. I’m neither sleep dazed, nor am I talking nonsense.

“John and Yasuhara-kun have gone to the Printing Room. That place is very dangerous. So please hurry there to stop the two of them.”

“Wait a moment, Mai.”

Ayako said that, and nodded to me in comprehension.

“Understood. I’m going then.”

After her nod, Ayako’s expression was uneasy.

“Will you be fine on your own? You know how to use exorcism spells?”

“Yes–“

“What do you know? The Ku-ji<!--(九字?)-->? The Acalanatha Chant?”

“The one with the Acalanatha Seal.”

“Then remember this.”

Ayako formed a Sword Seal with one hand.

“Like this: remember? Rin (臨), Pyō (兵), Tō (闘), Sha (者), Kai (皆), Jin (陣), Retsu (列), Zai (在), Zen (前).”

Ayako’s hand moved in a cross. It was like marking a grid in mid air. Then she made a final cut in the very center of the grid.

“This is the Ku-ji. Have you remembered it yet?”

“Ok, the first cut is horizontal right? I’ve got it.”

“Do this after the Acalanatha Chant.”

“Yes.”

I forced a smile onto my petrified face. Ayako looked at me, concerned, then ran out of the Sickbay.