Editing Ghost Hunt:Volume 5 Chapter 3 (section)

=== 4 ===

After everyone finished dinner, we had a meeting at the base. Lin-san produced the floor plan constructed from today’s measurements. It was nearly touching the outer perimeter of the house. However,

“There are still blank spaces.”

Naru pointed at the blue colored blanks on the diagram. Large and small, they totaled 18. The small ones were about 1 tatami’s size; the large ones could be the size of a few rooms.

“Ignoring the small spaces, I’m very concerned about this large empty space.”

That large blank space was at the heart of this mansion. Jutting in and out it formed an ‘L’ shape. Although it’s size couldn’t be accurately determined, from the look of the surrounding rooms it was clearly the size of a few rooms.

Naru took the floor plan for the second floor and made a comparison.

“The second floor hasn’t been accurately measured, so it’s better not to say anything now… it looks like there is that blank space on the second floor too.”

I pulled out the floor plan made from today’s measurements. Indeed, at approximately the same location on the second floor was also a large blank space. Compared to the corresponding part on the first floor, it was probably only half its size. I happened to think to compare the first and second floors’ plans to the thirds, and found out that the third floor was only a part of the house. It covered almost exactly the blank area from above, so I understood that the blank area did not extend into the third floor.

“… Isn’t it a hidden room? If it isn’t then it’s a little too large to imagine.”

Bou-san said.

Indeed, if we were to think that the blank space was created as a result of it being convenient for construction, it would be overly large. The question was how to enter it…

“Isn’t the third floor very suspicious? There’s also entry from the second floor, I think there’s the possibility of gaining access from above.”

Yasuhara spoke.

“But surrounding this blank space there are a lot of strange and weird rooms, furthermore aren’t they more complicated than at other places? Or rather the area surrounding the blank areas are strange areas.”

Just as we were talking like this and randomly comparing the diagrams, ‘knock knock’.

The majority of the members unconsciously stood up. We frantically searched for the source of the sound; it was the window facing the courtyard. A person’s face was plastered to the glass; I couldn’t help starting to get scared. It was really frightening before I understood that there was someone outside the window, and that someone was knocking on the glass.

Naru stood up.

“Madoka.”

Cough cough. Was it Mori-san?

Opening the windo, Mori-san climbed through to enter. What an energetic person.

“How’s it going?”

“Yeah. I wanted to tell you all about the results of the investigation. It’s freezing…”

“How did you come?”

“I rented a car to get nearby, and then I walked over. It’s very cold outside.”

It should be. Because the elevation here is quite high.

Wearing the jacket Naru handed her, Mori-san sat down on a chair. Rubbing her hands together for warmth, she looked like a squirrel, and appeared very pathetic. 

“… Why would you do something so dangerous? What would you do if something happened?”

“Ah lah, Naru will come to rescue me right?”

Wu. This person, is unexptectedly so incredible.

“… that.”

Naru’s face was filled with displeasure. Mori-san took out a large notebook from beneath her jacket.

“First is this morning’s incident of calling Suzuki-san’s home.”

He~, so it was all communicated.

“Buses pass regularly along the road beneath this place. And then, I tried asking the bus and car rental companies. I thought that when she left this building, which mode of public transport would she take? Although it’s not impossible to hitchhike.”

Mori-san spoke while she flipped open her notebook. 

“The result of my questioning was that there didn’t appear to be any drivers who had seen or met such a person. As expected, Suzuki-san probably never left this building.”

… huh u.

“Regarding this issue, this is all I know. Then about the 2 people who disappeared in this house.”

… he~. So she’s already investigated that.

“The first to disappear was Matsunuma Eiki (松沼英树), 18 years old, unemployed. That happened on the 13th of February. He and 7 friends, 8 in total, came here at night; no news of him has been heard since. Although they came here frequently, it was the first time they did so at night. They planned a test of courage by exploring the mansion, then when they had a feast within one of the rooms, Matsunuma Eiki left the room, apparently to look for a toilet. Following that he never came back.”

Mori-san flipped over a page.

“The missing person report was made a week later. The police who heard of this incident recruited the young people in this area to search for Matsunuga Eiki. Although they separately searched the building and its surrounds, they did not find Matsunuma-kun. Furthermore when they prepared to leave and did a head count, they realized they were missing one person. The missing one was Yoshikawa Masaya (吉川雅也), 21 years old, farmer. Everyone frantically searched the house again; not only did they not find him, because some of the people saw spirits floating through the corridors and created a ruckus, they gave up the search and went back.”

While she spoke, Mori-san retrieved a few mini tapes from her pocket, and scattered them on the tabletop.

“These are recordings from witnesses. The fact is, not a hint was found in here.”

“… so that’s what happened.”

“And then,”

Saying that, Mori-san hugged her elbows and looked at her notebook.

“Regarding the owners of this house. The one who built this house was Miyama Kaneyuki. For generations, the Miyama family was rich and powerful in Suwa (the region). Kaneyuki was the eldest son; at 16 he became the head of the Miyama family. At that time income was practically limited to that from farmers. This place is apparently the location of the Miyama family’s mountain villa. When Kaneyuki was 18, he went to Europe for a tour. He returned at age 20. Apparently, after he came back he immediately changed this place into a western villa. That happened in 1877.”

Mori-san flipped over a page.

“From that time onwards, up until his death from kidney disease in 1910 he always lived here. It should be said that he wasn’t good with getting along with other people, because besides leaving a few times on trips, he was always closed in here. He let his wife live in the city residence, but he himself hardly every went back. And despite his dabbling in charity, overall he has never appeared to be a society man.”

This was really surprising. I always thought that this Mr Kaneyuki was a great person who treated the ones around him very well. Could it be he was unexpectedly a shy person?

“Madam,”

Bou-san spoke to Madoka-san, who had stopped for a breath.

“Don’t call me ‘Madam’. I’m not such an old fashioned person.”

“Then Miss.”

“Yes~ (heart)”

“Didn’t Mr Miyama own a hospital called ‘Miyama Benevolent Hospital’?”

Mori-san flipped through her notebook to search.

“Yes. Miyama Benevolent Hospital. Located at the edge of the city, it was an extremely large hospital.”

“What about a secured facility in the vicinity of the hospital?”

“There was one. You do know quite a bit. Patient’s family members, or recovering patients who do not stay in the hospital, and people who have recovered but have difficulty in their daily living – it was a relatively large facility which accepted these types of people.”

While she said that, a complicated expression showed on Mori-san’s face.

“There were quite a number of assistants there. Apparently it was a place with excellent service. Admission into the facility was free of charge. Meals were also free. Apparently they also distributed necessities to those they did not admit. As long as one lived in that facility, one need not worry about clothing, food or lodging.”

Oooh, how gracious.

“People who could work apparently helped with the cleaning of the Hospital, and logistics etc. Although half of Miyama’s fortune was lost due to the Panic of 1907, before that, this facility had already consumed a significant portion of the fortune.”

That overcoat belonged to someone at that facility. I’m afraid it was a rationed overcoat. However, why would this overcoat be at that type of place? And then, there’s the paper note with words written on it. It definitely wasn’t a rich person who would wear that rationed overcoat. Yet what exactly was written on that note?

“There were also hospices and orphanages, a center for tuberculosis sufferers etc. In the end, in Meiji 41 (1908), Mr Miyama started giving up of various industries one by one. When Kaneyuki died, besides farmland and forests, there was practically nothing left.”

Hu, this should be what they call charitable poverty. Still it’s quite queer.

“Kaneyuki’s eldest son was Hiroyuki. Besides giving this building various strange renovations, Hiroyuki’s history is comparatively normal. I’ve brought the detailed histories of his and Kaneyuki’s along.”

Mori-san handed the notes sandwiched in her notebook to Naru.

“Tomorrow it’s regarding the characters of this father and son. I feel that this needs in-depth investigation.”

Mori-san said that with a school teacher’s tone; Naru looked clearly unpleased.

“Madoka, this is very dangerous. It will do to make a call, don’t come near this place.”

Mori-san tilted her head.

“But isn’t meeting face to face better?”

“In any case do not come here.”

Being told off so severely by Naru, Mori-san nodded.

“Yes, yes.”

Somehow it was a tone used to humor a child.


Lin-san used the car to send Mori-san back. When we were discussing this strange philanthropist, Lin-san returned through the window, and then we discussed it in greater detail. It was 11 when the meeting adjourned and we returned to our own rooms. – Then that night, Atsugi Hideo-san vanished.