Editing Ghost Hunt:Volume4 Chapter4 (section)

=== 5 ===

We walked towards the office. Naru gave the principal a call from there.

Being told to go back to the sleep, I was brought to the Work Room. Under the protection of John, Ayako and Yasuhara, I was forcibly shoved under the covers.

Left without a choice, I fell asleep. When I slept I immediately had a very short dream.

It was somebody’s room.

It was a western styled room of about 6 tatami. There was a table and a bed, stereo <!--(音箱, meaning sound box, could refer to anything from a stereo to a jukebox or even just speakers) -->on a stand, and a bookcase filled with books.

As though there was something attracting me, my eyes were drawn to the spines of the books. “Occult”, “Psychic”, “Principles and Techniques of High Level Magic”, “An Introduction to the Science of the Mysterious”, “The Theory of Spirit Worship”…

It was just like the book shelf in our office. A whole load of obscure books…

Exactly whose room was it?

The room was very tidy. Like there was no one living there.

I walked closer to the table. On the study desk was a student’s school bag. Around the bag were some loose items, like a stationery holder and a wallet and a Monthly Rail Pass Holder. 

I picked up the Pass Holder. I opened it and glanced inside. In it there remained a ticket that had already expired in October. I glanced at the name.

--Sakauchi Tomoaki…

When I woke up the next day I was already past noon. When I opened my eyes, I saw the ugly expressions of 7 people squeezed into the tiny Work Room: Naru, Lin-san, the Monk, John, Ayako, Masako and Yasuhara. I asked them what had happened after the previous night’s incident.

The principal had brought a few teachers along to kick us out of the school. After they saw the floor of the Sickbay, they did turn green, but despite that, they remained very stubborn about not closing the school. Matsuyama, who had came along, insinuated that we had purposely caused the floor to collapse.

Furthermore, they made Naru and the others wait in the Meeting Room, while they gathered the teachers and began a so-called emergency staff meeting.

In the end the meeting took the whole morning, and the conclusion was “cease the investigation, so please leave.”

Even though Naru told them many times that the situation in the school was very dangerous, and that if the investigation was not allowed to continue the danger would escalate, they refused to agree.

“Whatever we say, the teachers seem to think that we played some trick on them.”

The monk sighed.

“What trick… how could it be?”

“It’s not that. The principal never did say that we destroyed their floor. Although what Matsuyama said was approximately of that meaning. In any case, it looks like the principal himself understands that spirit-related strange events have happened in the school. However, he thinks that our clumsy handling caused the situation to deteriorate. Regardless, they have decided to observe for a while, although it is clearly very dangerous.”

“How could it be like this…”

My words received no reply. Everyone had sunk into silence.

What should we do? Stop the investigation? What would the very real spirits growing within the school turn into?

“En, I supposed this is the so-called limits of our abilities. If we drop the request mid-way we would not be allowed to enter the school. This, too, is inevitable.”

Naru chewed his lips on hearing the Monk’s words.

“That is very dangerous… do you want to leave it be?”

Without thinking, I blurted out, “And… if it is allowed to go on what will happen in the end? Would it be as expected, only the strongest spirit remains?”

“What did you say?”

Looking at Naru, I unconsciously straightened.

“That’s why I say…”

“That’s why you say?”

“If the number of spirits continues to decrease… that is to say, if they continue to cannibalize, what would happen? The last remaining spirit would be too strong, and we would be incapable of taking care of it ourselves, right?”

“Cannibalize, and the last remaining spirit…?”

Naru showed a startled expression.

“What’s up?”

His expression was serious.

“What a scary situation… Could this possibly be… a Kodoku making use of spirits…”

“Kodoku?”

When Naru said this, an expression of sudden realization crossed even Lin-san’s face.

We all looked desolate.

“Could you please explain what all this is about?”

“Ignorant.”

“I’m really sorry for that.”

“This so called ‘Kodoku’ is a type of curse.”

I had unconsciously risen to my knees. 

“A curse?!”

“That’s right. Curses can be made using dolls, talismans; there are various different ways to do it. Amongst them is a method called ‘Kodoku’ that makes use of living things.”

Naru tapped the tatami with his finger.

“There are a lot of traditional methods that have been passed down. But we don’t know what it is really like. That part was probably not transmitted. This is an ancient Chinese method of cursing. 

“Kodoku makes use of normal worms. While the golden silkworm is more representative, it is not confirmed what type of worm is really used. In fact there is the use of snakes, centipedes and the like. 

“After catching a few of these worms they are placed in a bottle which is buried underground. After a few months the bottle is dug out, and because the worms feed on each other only one remains. Kodoku is a way of cursing that makes use of this worm.”

“How cruel…”

“Yes… 

“There are other people who say that the worm is killed and its spirit is controlled, and yet others who extract poison from the worm itself. The worm would haunt the home of the curse user, and bring great riches to that home. 

“But the price for that… a person’s life has to be regularly offered in sacrifice to feed that worm. If that is neglected, the worm would eat its owner.”

Ee…

“If one is no longer able to maintain the worm, one must take the property, plus interest, brought by the worm, convert it into gold or silver items, and discard them by the side of the road. This is the so called “Kakinsan”<!--(tl/n: to marry away the golden silkworm, ie give away the golden silkworm in marriage)-->. 

“If someone else covets those riches and pick them up, he would be forced to keep the worm. 

“Believing that he has picked up a bargain and ignorant of the underlying meaning, the person who unconsciously brings the worm back would end up being eaten by the worm. 

“It can also be used as a death curse. After enacting the curse, the worm and some gold and silver is given to the hated target. As the recipient is unaware of the cause, he would neglect to feed the worm and get eaten by it.

“That should be the original method. After that, this method of cursing was combined with the demon cat <!--猫鬼-->method – the curse is on the person that kills the cat to gain control over other spirits – to become the demonic method of killing the remaining worm, and using its spirit to kill the hated target.”

“Wait… wait a moment. The worms are placed in a bottle and allowed to cannibalize on each other… is that right? Isn’t that exactly the same as what is happening in the school?!”

“That’s why I say this is Kodoku.

“Ryokuryou High School is located on an ancient cemetery. Leaving modern cemeteries aside for the time being, ancient cemeteries are sacred places where Kekkais are used to prevent the spirits of the dead from leaving. 

“Spirits are summoned into such a place but are unable to leave. That is to say, the spirits are congregated in the school. And the spirits feed on each other within the school. It is completely similar to Kodoku.”

A chill shot down my back. This is such a scary situation.

“Then, if it continues like this what would it become?”

“Only the strongest spirit would remain.”

“And then?”

Naru’s dark look showed a hint of confusion.

“I don’t know…

“If this is somebody’s planned action, the last remaining spirit would be used as a tool in a curse, and the cursed person would die a cruel death. But…”

“But?”

“If this is a randomly occurring incident – for example, by chance, the school is a place that can contain spirits hence such a thing happens – we still don’t know what is going to happen.” The monk said softly.

“The worms used in Kodoku have to be cannibals, right?”

“I’m afraid so.”

“If that’s the case, if only the strongest spirit remains, wouldn’t the school be forced to feed it? Regularly give it a living human.”

“Hey! Don’t discuss that anymore!” Ayako shouted loudly.

“And if this is not done it will eat its owner. Under these circumstances, who is the owner?”

The ones who gathered the spirits were the students in the school. Could it be…

Naru replied calmly. “It should be all the students who summoned the spirits.”

How could it be!

I stared at Naru.

“Hey, is there no way to resolve this?”

“There is, right?”

The monk looked expectantly at Naru.

“Left to me, I am unable to solve anything. But… Lin?”

Naru turned to look towards Lin-san.

Everyone followed his gaze and turned as one to look at Lin-san.

“Lin, can it be done?”

Can he think of a way to solve this problem?

Lin-san tilted his head slightly.

“This so called ‘Kodoku’, is considered a method of cursing that has been considered to have already been lost in transmission. Until today, I, too, have never encountered an incident related to Kodoku.

“If the Kodoku was started as a curse, this would be the same as a simple curse, with a simple resolution. But if it is a randomly occurring Kodoku, I don’t think I will be of any use either.”

Lin-san spoke, playing it down in a completely emotionless voice.

“Lin…”

Even Naru showed a worried face. Lin-san shook his head.

“There is no way to neutralize the danger of the Kodoku. The only way is”

“Gold Married Silkworm.”

“Yes.”

“That is to say… the only way is to pass the curse on to another person?

“That is what I think. To whom should we pass it to then?”

To transfer the spirit onto a person. This was the only way. How could it be…

Naru lifted his head and looked at Lin-san.

“The mutual cannibalism not ended yet, right? The winner has not yet been chosen. That is to say the Kodoku is not yet complete. If we act now is there anything we can do?”

Lin-san shook his head expressionlessly.

“There is no way whatsoever. A curse that has been started cannot be stopped half way.

“For curses, there are only 2 choices: to not begin it at all, or, once started, fully completed. There is definitely no way to stop midway.”

Naru let out a long sigh.

“I’m really sorry, Naru. If this is not a Kodoku that was created for cursing, but a product of random occurrence, there are 2 methods of resolution.”

“Pass it on to a certain person, or to give up and feed this spirit.”

“Yes.”

Feed that spirit… this type of thing is utterly impossible! Kill a person at regular intervals?! Don’t joke anymore!

That’s why I said, we can’t pass it on to someone. 

I was silent with despair. 

Before long, Naru raised his head resolutely.

“We have yet to confirm it is a Kodoku.

“Or if it is a curse started by somebody at all. If it is a curse, we will leave it to Lin to handle. Until the last possible moment, let us investigate this properly.”

Naru looked around at us. We nodded forcefully.


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