Editing Ghost Hunt:Volume 6 Chapter 2 (section)

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What the hell? How can such a thing happen?

For now, we carried Naru and laid him down in the room adjoining the base.

“What is that thing?”

Ayako’s voice had gone hoarse.

“I’m telling you, it’s trouble. It came out of nowhere. It was awful!”

“Now, now. Naru didn’t do it of his own volition.”

“Would you still be able to say that if you were the one being attacked? Do you have any idea how frightening it was when Naru’s eyes glazed over!?”

...certainly, that would be frightening.

“I’ll never forgive him!”

Yeah, yeah. With a perfunctory pat on Ayako’s back, I  cautiously tried to advise Bou-san.

“Wouldn’t it perhaps be better if he was tied like Eijirou-san was?”

Bou-san frowned.

“Tie up Naru-bou?”

Well, that sentiment is understandable. Who knows what he’ll say when he’s recovered his senses. In spite of this, keeping him asleep like this is dangerous.

“I think it will be useless.”

The one who said that in a calm voice was Lin-san.

“Why?”

To Bou-san’s question, Lin-san, remaining absolutely expressionless, answered,

“In the case of being tied, it would be impossible to stop Naru.”

Bou-san tilted his head.

“...What do you mean?”

“It’s as you’ve heard. I think Matsuzaki-san was very lucky.”

Lin-san said and looked at Ayako.

“I think that perhaps the person who has possessed Naru also does not yet quite understand how to use him. Otherwise, Matsuzaki-san would already be dead.”

“Okay, what does that mean?”

“Thus, it’s as you’ve heard. When that thing learns to use Naru fully, we have no countermeasures. It’s useless to try to tie or confine him. We— and also Naru himself, would not be able to survive.”

We directed our gazes to Naru, who was involuntarily sleeping.

?? What do you mean?

“If I ask you what that means, can you tell me?”

“I’m sincerely sorry, but this is my own discretion.”

Crestfallen, Bou-san dropped his shoulders and sighed once. 

“Come on...”

“I understand your displeasure, but I cannot say. You have no choice but to believe me here. Believe me that Naru is a more dangerous man than you can imagine.”

Ayako and I looked at each other. I don’t know the meaning at all.

“Answer one thing. Are you strong in a fight?”

Bou-san asked and Lin-san readily answered.

“Presumably.”

“Compared to Naru?”

Lin-san expressionlessly declared, 

“If we fought to the death, it would be an overwhelming victory for Naru.”

—What did you say?

Bou-san looked at Lin-san intently, then released a deep, deep sigh.

“...Got it. In other words, it’s useless even if we wrap him in a bamboo mat and throw him in the storeroom, right? You’re saying Naru is a dangerous person. Which means we have no choice but to try to do an exorcism before it’s too late.”

Lin-san looked at Bou-san.

“I think it’s impossible even if Brown-san tries.”

“Why?”

“A human being of the type such as Naru, in exchange for being difficult to possess, is unmanageable once possessed.”

“Type such as Naru...”

“The type that have excellent self-control are very strong-willed. If we fecklessly meddle and lose control, it will be seriously dangerous. Especially for Naru.”

“—Well, what should we do?”

“I don’t know.”

...What do you mean you don’t know!?

“If we were able to grasp the true identity of the possessing spirit, an effective method of exorcism might be found. Conceivably, I may be able to expel it as well.”

Bou-san ruffled his hair.

“Just great...”

“Hey, Bou-san.”

I timidly tried to ask.

“Is it such a difficult thing to expel a possessing spirit?”

As far as what’s seen on television, this isn’t a spiritualist’s typical work. Lin-san, Ayako and Bou-san are spiritualists, but even so, none of those three can exorcise the spirit.

“In brief, it’s because there are various things known as spirit possession. —People will often say, ‘I think I may be possessed by an evil spirit.’ In fact, when a person’s physical condition is poor, in a run of bad luck, no matter what one does it doesn’t work.”

“Why not?”

“Although one might say he’s possessed with something, it’s only keeping close to his side. Since spirits consume the energy of people, a person’s physical condition will become poor and no matter what one does it doesn’t work.”

“Is that so?”

“Maybe. I don’t often have trouble expelling that sort. When it comes to the shabby fellows, they’ll run away when just approached by a spiritualist.”

“Ohh?”

“When it comes to the fellows with a little bit more resistance, they tend to cling tightly. They whisper bad things, or provoke unthinkable desires. When a person is possessed by one such as this, they’re ‘under an evil influence.’ ...still, this also isn’t very difficult. If a spiritualist has a stronger will than the possessed person, then the spirit will come out even if the spiritualist doesn’t call out to it.”

Ahhh.

“The cases that are the most serious are with guys like Naru-bou. For example, even if intense hypnosis is applied, it isn’t possible to make a human commit suicide and murder if he doesn’t even want to. If you’re psychological resistance is too strong, you’ll awaken.”

“Even so, Naru...”

“Right. Therefore, it’s serious. To make a person do something against his own will means that they become unable to compete with their own will. So to speak, the spirit is infesting the inside of the mind. It’s not that easy to expel spirits of this kind.”

“Hmm...”

“Roughly, the power of the possessing spirit is the person’s own will… weakening the energy of the possessed. When this is the case, there are worries, a depressed mood, and a drop in physical strength. When the mental state is enhanced with positive energy, some spirits don’t come in the first place. Most spirits would dislike dealing with Naru-bou.”

“He’s of the type that are obstinate and stubborn, and they have full confidence in themselves and they don’t feel depressed.”

“That’s it. It seems he was probably caught momentarily off guard and forcibly infested, but given the kind of person he is, it can’t be done by a half-hearted spirit. ...definitely, it may be tough even for John.”

“But Naru, so to speak, has exceptional willpower, which is extensive…”

“So it’s more troublesome. The thing that possessed Naru successfully entered his consciousness and has control over him. When this happens, you would expect the willpower to reject the spirit, but the truth is, it’s exploited and used in order to protect the spirit. Exorcism, and all that, is, after all, a battle of wills, so as a matter of course, the one with a better willpower wins. Which one of Naru and John do you think is stronger?”

“...Naru.”

“See? That’s why exorcism is difficult. This means we have no choice but to continue the investigation. However, what do we do with Naru-bou in the meantime?”

It’s useless even if we tie or confine him?

“I will not allow anything. It’s best to leave him asleep as he is, through sleep paralysis. Since he’s dangerous when conscious.”

“Isn’t it dangerous to Naru-bou?”

Bou-san was grim faced.

“So to speak, doesn’t that mean he’ll be completely defenseless?”

“I’ll leave my shiki.”

Shiki means an employed spirit that obeys Lin-san’s orders.

“Is it reliable?”

“If I leave them all.”

“All?”

When Bou-san asked, Lin-san replied,

“There are five shiki in my possession. In each, there is a strong point and there is a weak point. The reason is that they are intended to complement each other in five. If I leave them all, it’s perfectly safe, but instead, I’m not capable of doing much else.”

“In other words, you’ll be completely powered-down.”

“That's the general idea.”

Bou-san snapped his fingers.

“Since we’re confused about what to do about Naru-bou, we need to make him incapable of moving. Especially if, as you say, Naru is dangerous goods.”

Bou-san regarded us.

“Well, what do you want to do? Ayako, Mai.”

Bou-san laughed at Ayako and me, who, confused by his meaning, looked at each other. 

“In other words, the fact is, we have to do it without Naru.”

Time stopped for just a moment.

“He’s completely useless. We probably can’t afford to run away and take him with us in his condition. In other words, there aren’t many options for us. Flee and abandon Naru, or else try to do everything within our ability.”

I was involuntarily shouting.

“There’s no way we can leave and we’re not abandoning him!”

Bou-san smiled.

“We’ll then, Mai is staying. What about you, Ayako?”

I looked back behind me. A short silence descended as we stared at Ayako.

“If you lack self-confidence, withdraw.”

Ayako brushed back her hair.

“So you have self-confidence, huh?”

“Well, I think I’ll manage somehow.”

“Doesn’t seem too reliable.”

Bou-san scratched his head.

“It’s painful that Naru-bou isn’t available. But there’s something we have that Naru doesn’t.”

“Oh, that’s news. I wonder if you can tell us what it is?”

Bou-san lightly closed one eye.

“A humble attitude and kind personality.”

...that was bad.

After a moment, Ayako burst into laughter.

“That’s true!”

Well, it is compared to Naru....

Ayako breathed an exaggerated sigh.

“How can I help out? Because I’m no longer human if I abandon Naru.”

“Therefore, when it comes to us, we’re kind human beings.”

“Just so.”

That’s right, if we hold out here, Naru will become indebted to us.