Editing Ghost Hunt:Volume 5 Chapter 1 (section)

===2===

Discussion and preparation took 3 days. On the fourth day we set of for the distant Nagano-ken to begin our investigation.

The subject of the investigation was said to be an ancient manor. Because there were spirits appearing it was abandoned for a long time. … Yeah, this is a clichéd story.

Before entering the city we turned off towards the mountains. We followed the road, covered by greenery and winding according to the slope and climbed upwards. Very soon we encountered an ancient, dilapidated gate: an unwelcoming iron lattice red with rust. The doorpost looked like it was made with bricks, but it appeared half rotten, covered entirely with green moss. Although there was a door, there were no walls on either side. On both sides of the door was a dense forest. It gave one a feeling of not wanting to take a single step in – a dark and frightening feeling.

When the gates were opened, our “Shibuya Psychic Research” van travelling ahead of us entered. That vehicle was driven by Lin-san, with Naru as passenger. I took Bou-san’s car. In the passenger seat was Ayako; John, Yasuhara and I were in the back.

After travelling in the dim forest for a while, we saw a majestic building. 

- It was huge. Really very huge.

“… incredible…”

I raised my head to look at the building and couldn’t help muttering. Yasuhara also nodded in agreement.

“Really. It’s like a hotel or a museum.”

Indeed, this manor looked like an ancient hotel or a museum. Rather than calling it a big house, it might as well be called a castle. The gardens surrounding the house also looked abandoned. Even from the outside, one could tell that this house had been vacant for a long time.

Ayako, too,

“Really incredible. There really is everything in this world.” 

For no reason we were all moved.

“But it is very poorly maintained. Left like this it is almost like a haunted house.”

Ayako said that; Bou-san couldn’t control his laughter.

“Certainly, isn’t this a haunted house?”

“Ah, it is.”

Indeed, there isn’t a house more like a haunted house than this one – an immense abandoned manor. The haunted houses in foreign horror films are just like this one.

Counting the number of windows, the house was basically a 2 storey structure. There were 3 levels at some places. The exceedingly steep roof was a grayish green color, and attic windows could be seen. Brick colored chimneys normally protruded from the roof, but about half of them have already been destroyed.

The windows too, kept up the appearance with cracked glass. Although all the windows were fitted with frames, only about half remained in a whole condition. The wall, which repetitively protruded and receded in a complicated shape, was made with grey stone. On that wound crisscrossing ivy; due to the season, its naked stems created a tortoise shell appearance. 

The gravel pathway overgrown with weeds led straight to the building. After disembarking on a patch of withered, yellowed weeds had overgrown such that it was no different from a lawn, our feet up to the calves were buried in leaves dampened by dew.

“Mai, your first impression is?”

Looking up at the house, Bou-san asked.

“It gives me goosebumps.”

For some reason, this house gave off a very strong oppressive feeling. If I weren’t in a group with adult psychics, I definitely wouldn’t think of entering.

“Yeah, anyway such impressive haunted houses are rare.”

Even Bou-san looked a little tense.

After we disembarked and were looking vacantly at the roof, Naru’s sharp voice came from where he had walked up to the main door.

“What are you lot doing?”

Bou-san couldn’t help bending his head slightly down and whispering into my ear.

“With that type of attitude, do you think he can pass as just a simple investigator?”

“You’re right.”

It looks like the day this huge lie is seen through isn’t too far off.

After ascending the stone steps was the main door. Beyond the immense pair of doors was a ridiculously humongous hall. It looked like the electricity was connected; the hanging lamps were lit and shone brightly. At the center of the hall were fairy-tale like stairs. Two men stood at the base of the stairs.  One was a man above forty, and the other was about sixty. 

We walked through the main doors which had always been open, one of the men walked up to us.

“I am called Ohashi.”

Saying that, the man bowed deeply.

“The boss is…”

When that was said, Yasuhara took a step forward.

“That would be me.”

… ah ah, I ah’ed because I’m an honest person and therefore dislike this. However, Ohashi-san did not have any suspicion, and bowed towards Yasuhara.

“I have been given full responsibility over this issue. You can take me as the client.”

Yasuhara also bowed gently.

“I am the boss, Shibuya Kazuya.”

He said that with perfect composure, as though without any guilt on his conscience.

“So I see. You are as youthful as I’ve heard you to be.”

Saying that, Ohashi-san looked towards us.

“You all are?”

Bou-san gently lowered his head.

“I am called Takigawa.”

“Takigawa… the first name is?”

“Housou.”

Ohashi-san softly repeated “Takigawa Housou” once. Then he turned to Ayako.

“I am Matsuzaki Ayako.”

“I am called John Brown.”

Yasuhara spoke.

“They are psychics who have deigned to work closely with us. They have specially come to help us this time.”

“Is that so. And the other 3 are?”

Yasuhara lightly replied.

“They are my assistants.”

“And their names are?”

Ohashi-san asked like that; I momentarily glanced unconsciously towards Naru and Lin-san. Being asked like that was no big deal for me, but what would Naru and Lin-san do?

Naru spoke up first.

“I am called Narumi Kazuo (鸣海一夫).”

… That big liar. (tl/n: but calling him 'Naru' still works, so it works for me :P)

Ohashi-san looked at me.

“Ah, … I am Taniyama Mai.”

Ohashi-san’s vision turned towards Lin-san. Even we had shifted our sights onto Lin. He was finally about to divulge his name. Or would he refuse as usual? That we were enthusiastically looking forward to it was something that couldn’t be helped. Everyone was unconsciously staring at Lin-san.

Lin-san wore an extremely blank look and lowered his head.

“I am Lin Koujo (Lin2 Xin4 Chu2 林兴除).” (tl/n: The chinese characters used, the han yu pin yin for the mandarin pronunciation are listed, but since he is from Hong Kong, and Cantonese is the main dialect spoken there the mandarin pronunciation is probably wrong, so I copied the name given in the English Manga…)(con't: In mandarin pronunciation (hanyu pingyin) 林兴除 is indeed Lin2 Xin4 Chu2. In cantonese romanization it is Lam4 Hing3 Cheui4. In Kanji romanization, 林興除 is hayashi kyou jo. 興 is an alt form of 兴 which means joy/prosper and 除 means remove/except, so 兴除 might match his description.)

… ai, ai~~!?

Compared to Ohashi-san who had asked the question, the lot of us were gasping unconsciously.

“You are Chinese?”

“I have gone back to China recently.”

“Were you born in Hong Kong?”

“Yes.”

So… so Lin-san was actually a foreigner! Really, really incredible.

It’s really annoying, about that Lin-san, it wouldn’t hurt to tell us directly. … no, wait a moment. It could be that the supposed “Lin Koujo” was a temporary pseudonym like Naru’s. 

Eh~~ It’s very deep…

Ohashi-san looked around at us, then gestured towards the corridor at the upper left.

“Please come this way. All the guests have already gathered.”