Ghost Hunt:Volume 5 Chapter 1

Chapter 1 - That Mansion

1

On the second day, I rushed to the office after the term opening ceremony. It was already filled with people.

“What is going on?”

Taka shrugged in response to me, who had entered the office and couldn’t help peering around.

“I don’t know.”

“Has Naru returned?”

“It looks like it. When I got here he was discussing something in his office, but I haven’t seen him yet.”

“Then, why did he gather everyone here?”

“Please don’t ask me.”

On the sofa used for guests sat 4 people who were not guests. And they were, Bou-san, Ayako, Masako and John. Although they are not members of “Shibuya Psychic Research”, they are psychics who act in adjunct with us.

I gently lowered my head.

“Yo.”

It was Bou-san who raised his hand in his usual leisurely manner. Takigawa Housou. A monk originally of Takano Mountain.

“What is going on?”

“Don’t ask me. I was called here by Naru-chan.”

“Really?”

“Ah. I cancelled all my prior engagements before coming.”

“What’s up, again?”

“On the phone last night he said there’s a big job. He hung up after saying there’s a job; I came at the designated time, but he himself is waiting in his office instead.”

“In that case I completely don’t understand what is going on.”

“It is exactly like that.”

I poked John, who was sitting right in front of me, in the shoulder. John Brown - an exorcist whose attractions are his doll face and Kansai accent.

“What about you, John? Have you heard nothing about it?”

John’s soft blond hair shook side to side.

“It’s the same on my side; he didn’t tell me anything either.”

“But he actually gathered everyone here - what type of situation could it be?”

The one who cut in was Ayako. One had better not be tricked by her fancy make-up and mistake her for a bar hostess. Matsuzaki Ayako. Self proclaimed Miko.

As I was thinking along with Bou-san, John and Ayako, Masako started laughing softly. Hara Masako - a 16 year old top grade spirit medium.

“What is it?”

Ayako used her sharp voice to ask in response. Masako used the cherry-blossom colored sleeve of her kimono to hide her mouth.

“… then, that is saying there was no adult contacting everyone.”

“Contact? What about?”

“Contact from the client in this situation. And when so many psychic users are clearly gathered.”

“And this so-called ‘client’ is?”

“For me it was a person called Ohashi (大桥) who contacted me.”

Saying that, a mocking smile appeared on that doll-like face.

That was saying, this Ohashi-san had nothing to call us for – I think that was what Masako was trying to say.

Ayako’s face was filled with fury. Just as she was about to speak with displeasure, the door to the boss’s office opened, and the verbal war did not have the chance to start.

It was Naru, dressed entirely in black, who pushed the door open and walked out.

Aiyaya, he really did come back.

Following him was Lin-san’s tall form and Mori-san’s gentle figure. Then,

“… eh?”

John and Ayako said simultaneously,

“Young man?!”

Bou-san stood up.

“Yasuhara-kun!”

I shouted.

The fourth person who came out from the boss’s office, was Ex-Student Council President Yasuhara, who had fortunately entered a certain first class public university this spring.

Regarding us, who stood there with our jaws hanging open, Naru looked like he found us noisy; he waved his hands and called for everyone to sit on the sofa. Following Naru’s instructions, we sat, and everyone asked the question that I wanted to ask. Naru, looking impatient, waved his hands once more.

“We will explain the situation in order from the beginning to everyone; could I have a bit of quiet?”

A frown had already appeared on that other-worldly beautiful face, there was no use for us to continue pestering. Out of options, everyone shut their mouths; Naru looked around at us.

“Someone has made a request to us. I have already accepted. So I hope to receive everyone’s help.”

Masako cut in and said,

“That is… is it a request from the agent – a person called Ohashi?”

“Yes.”

“He made his request to me last week.”

Naru nodded.

“Then Hara-san must act independently.”

“Of course, ask if there’s anything I can help with.”

Doll-san said that with a coy tone, smiling. Ayako raised her brows.

Naru only nodded, then looked around at us once more.

“The investigation will begin in 5 days. Is there anyone here who cannot participate?”

No one replied to Naru’s words. After confirming that,

“I hope to receive everyone’s help this time.”

Naru turned to look at Yasuhara. Yasuhara Osamu - the Student Council President who came here to make his request on behalf of the students in the previous case.

Upon seeing Yasuhara’s gentle nod, Naru dropped a bomb.

“Yasuhara-kun, I would like to ask you to act as my substitute.”

“What in the world?”

“That is to say, have Yasuhara-kun play your part?”

To Ayako’s abrupt outburst, Naru shot a cold look.

“Didn’t you hear what I just said?”

“Of course I heard it. But why?”

“I will explain the situation. Can’t you wait a little?”

Swallowing Naru’s ice-cold words, Ayako fell silent. Then suddenly Mori-san cut in.

“Wh~y do you have to use that tone of voice?”

She glared at Naru, shocked. And then she looked around at us,

“I’m really sorry. This child has such poor manners.”

This… “This child”!

“Could everyone treat him as a person with an abnormal disposition and tolerate him please.”

What type of response do you think we should have? Everyone looked on blankly, while Naru looked extremely displeased and coughed once.

“… this is an extremely big job. It could even be called a job for publicity. The client has requested secrecy in its execution, but to what extent secrecy can be maintained I don’t know. If the media gets wind of this I can imagine it turning into a big uproar. I did not want to accept it initially, but some events have occurred such that I had to accept. That’s why I have requested Yasuhara-kun to be my substitute.”

The last job was also a famous one, besides paranormal events becoming the target of the media, we, the ones responsible for resolving the situation, have also become celebrities. News reporters and magazine reporters have arrived in droves and gave us endless trouble. For the media-hating Naru, he left this place from the second day of the incident until the clamor had subsided.

“However, is this a situation of the level that requires Naru to orchestrate?”

To Bou-san’s query, Naru replied coolly,

“If that was not the case I would not purposely have Yasuhara-kun come here.”

Naru gently rested his hands on his knees.

“It looks like the client has gathered many psychic users. They are practically all suspicious people widely lauded by the media. I don’t want to have anything to do with that type of people.”

Bou-san smiled, satisfied.

“So you are forcing something you dislike onto someone else?”

“I’m not particularly forcing you all. If you don’t feel like it, you may leave.”

When Naru said those cold words, once again Mori-san interrupted everyone’s words.

“Why don’t you ask everyone nicely? You do wish for everyone to go together, right? That’s why you have gathered everyone here, am I wrong?”

… and that’s true too.

“When you are asking people for something, do you use this tone to speak? I’ve clearly told you before – such a child that refuses to learn.”

Has there ever existed a person who was so firm with Naru?

When Mori-san lectured Naru, who had turned to a side, we started laughing.

“I’m so sorry he is such a mal-mannered child. Could everyone please not hate him.”

“Madoka!”

Aiya, Naru looks rather displeased.

“Wha~t?”

In contrast, Mori-san wore a smile that looked like heart symbols were about to come flying out.

“Could you be quiet for a while? I can’t speak at all like this.”

“Ah, Ok.”

Saying that, Mori-san flashed a smile.

“If that’s the case, you have to mind your tone *heart*.”

… very, very strong. This person is so inconceivably strong.

Naru, wearing an expression of extreme displeasure, was momentarily lost for words.

Mori-san looked around at us again.

“Naru really dislikes the publicity stage. He planned to refuse this job, but he accepted only because of my situation. Although I think it is going to trouble everyone, could everyone please help him.”

When asked by someone like that, everyone should have trouble refusing. Everyone nodded, as though influenced by Mori-san’s smile.

Naru knocked on the table with his fingertip unhappily.

“In conclusion, I beg to be excused from the foolish uproar like the one that happened the last time. And I don’t wish to cooperate with the fools who are immeasurably self-satisfied when lauded by the foolish media.”

… Eh. Isn’t this a little out of the ordinary?

“And then? Is Naru-chan not going to the site?”

Bou-san asked. Naru frowned.

“Even if I didn’t want to go, I don’t have any reason not to.”

“I have a question.”

I raised my hand very respectfully.

“Then what character will Naru go as?”

“I will go as a simple investigator from this place.”

… Oh. If he’s an investigator then isn’t that the same rank as me?

“Then, what is the client like this time?”

Ayako asked. Using a dangerous expression, Naru gave a name. Everyone was instantaneously stumped.

This was a super famous person whose name even I knew of. That being the case, if the media finds out, there would really be a huge uproar.

Regardless, it was the name of Japan’s former prime minister.

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.”

3

(tl/n: this part lists a large number of names and characters. I’ve tried to copy the names off the English manga, but the manga cut down several characters, so I’m not too sure if I’ve gotten all the names right. Characters whose names were copied from the manga are written in English with the Chinese characters in apprentices; other characters with names not from the manga are written with the Chinese characters, with the English pronunciation in apprentices followed by a question mark. The English pronunciation listed will be used in all future references to that character, unless no pronunciation is given.)

(tl/n2: In the original text – as original as a Japanese to Chinese translation can be – Mai refers to all the other staff and minor characters as 大叔, 老婆婆, 哥哥, 姐姐 etc. They translate directly as ‘uncle’, ‘granny’, ‘older brother’ and ‘older sister’. However, I found it very awkward to have Mai calling complete strangers so intimately. Hence I have replaced these honorifics with descriptions about the ages and genders of the characters. ‘uncle’ became ‘man’, ‘granny’ became ‘old lady’, ‘elder brother’ became ‘young man’ and ‘older sister’ became ‘young woman’.)

Ohashi-san led us through many turns in the wide corridor, towards the center of the house. It was a really quaint, intricately complicated building, or perhaps a mansion as it was originally called. As I am merely a plebian I don’t quite understand.

The place Ohashi-san brought us to, was a frighteningly large room. In the center of the grandiose room was a large table with many people sitting at it, waiting.

… Aiyo, Masako was there too.

Masako had arrived here much earlier, and sat there dressed in her usual kimono. She looked at us from there, with a slight smile on her face.

We were apparently the last group to arrive. After Naru, who was the last, had entered, the man standing next to the door shut it.

Ohashi-san had us seated properly.

“Everyone has arrived, so I shall begin.”

Saying that, Ohashi-san,

“First, let me introduce each of our guests who have come to visit us.”

Ohashi-san initially gestured to a man seating at the extreme end.

“Mitsuhashi Houmei-sama 三橋芳名 from Sankonkai 三魂会 (Association of the Three Immortal Souls of Taoism).”

That man wore a face filled with suspicion and nodded in greeting towards everyone.

“聖忍 Hijiri Shinobu-sama of the 澄明協会(Choumei Association), with his assistants Uehara Miki-sama(上原美紀) and Atsugi Hideo-sama (厚木秀雄).”

A group of 3 consisting of a man about 30, and a young man and woman.

“Professor Igrashi Chie(五十智絵) of the National Defense Academy of Japan (防衛大学) and her assistant Suzuki Naoko (鈴木直子)-sama.

A refined old lady and a young miss.

“The Abbott of Housen Temple(法专寺), Imura Kenshou(井村健照)-sama.”

An “Abbott” is a type of monk, Bou-san had said before. Just like the mentioned bald-headed man.

“Psychic, Hara Masako-san.”

I don’t need to explain more with Masako.

“Head of Minami Psychic Research (南心灵调查会), Minami Reimei (南麗明)-sama. And the members 中原清明 Nakahara Kiyoaki-sama, Shiraishi Yukie(白石幸恵)-sama, and Fukuda Miwa(福田三輪)-sama.”

An elderly man, a younger one, a middle-aged woman and a young woman.

Ah ah! Really, who exactly is whom? Can I remember everyone’s name before the end of the job? Hee hee.

The only ones that had yet to be introduced were us, and a kind looking foreign gentleman.

“This person listening by the side is Professor Oliver Davis from the British Society for Psychic Research.”

Everyone’s vision was immediately focused.

Professor Davis.

Even I know of him – this celebrity within the industry – a researcher in the English Society of Psychical Research, aka SRP. He is a psychic gifted with both ESP (Extra Sensory Perception) and PK (Psycho Kinesis).

Everyone’s gazes were filled with mixed respect and competitiveness, but only those who were taken aback showed it clearly on their faces. (tl/n: please proofread)(pr/n:I believe there is a mistake in the chinese ver.)

Ohashi-san ignored the minor chattering and continued the introductions.

“The Head of Shibuya Psychic Research, Shibuya Kazuya-san and co.”

Aiyo, Ohashi-san had turned everyone into assistants.

“Takigawa Housou-sama, John Brown-sama, Matsuzaki Ayako-sama, Narumi Kazuo-sama, Taniyama Mai-sama, and Lin Koujo-sama.”

Ohashi-san pointed us out individually, while correctly listing our names. Incredible.

“There are twenty persons listed above.”

Following that Ohashi-san introduced the 5 men who had appeared without me noticing. They were the men standing by the door just now. Saying they were there to look after us or something, ie they were the staff here.

Ohashi-san continued to speak.

“My master’s wish is that everyone lives here during the course of the investigation.”

His ‘master’ refers to Ohashi-san’s employer.

Eh~~. ‘Politicians’ should be public servants. But nobody mentioned the man in the City Hall. Why is that? Thinking about it closely, it is really strange~~.

“Of course, there is no problem if you should wish to withdraw from the investigation and leave, but prior to that could I request everyone not to enter or leave this place.”

4

After taking care of the luggage, myself, Ayako and others went to the Dining Room. I’m not sure why, but everyone was together in the Dining Room. That is to say, twenty people, all drinking tea.

After Ayako, Masako and I sat down, a man asked if we would like tea. In this manner it was really like a hotel.

I asked for a cup of coffee. Seated at the table, Minami-san from Minami Psychic Research, was talking very proudly to the people around him.

“Please leave it to me. There won’t be any trouble at all. Not only do we have advice from Professor Davis, in the worst scenario we can get help and advice from the American Alex Taunus (阿历克斯?塔乌纳斯) – everyone knows him, right?, he’s a famous psychic – and Uri Geller.”

Ales Taunus. Uri Geller.

Aren’t they both famous psychics? I think anyone in this field would know of Taunus, and Geller is a very famous person. Famous to the extent that it makes one feel that that Minami-san is lying.

Isn’t that fellow at a little great at least?

Minami-san continuously bragged about how wide his connections were. Psychics and researchers whom even I know of all appeared to be his friends.

The people around him wore expressions of half-doubt.

“He’s really incredible.”

I whispered to John who was seated next to me.

“Yeah. He actually knows of Professor Davis.”

Yeah. However one puts it, the Professor is a person nobody in the industry wouldn’t know of.

The Professor sat next to Minami-san, smiling calmly while replying to the fragments of English spoken by the people around him.

“Which county is the Professor from?”

“He is English.”

“So it is like that. How should I put it – he gives off the feeling of an English gentleman.”

“Yes indeed. However,”

John tilted his head.

“However?”

“Nothing much. However, the Professor is much older than I had imagined. … I originally thought he would be a much younger person.”

The Professor is probably around 40. I feel that he is young enough. Because the image of ‘Professors’ in my mind is that of an old man.

“Hey, can you speak English, John?”

When I asked that, John’s blue eyes were shocked wide open.

“I… do come from an English speaking country.”

… Yeah, I know that. It’s just that people fluent in English are a little hard to come by.

“… I’ve asked a really stupid question. Because your Japanese is not bad, John.”

“Thank you for saying that. Then, what do you want to do?”

“Could you act as interpreter in a while or something?”

After I said that, John laughed out loud.

“With the Professor?”

“Yeah. Regardless he is a famous person, and I want to speak to him.”

John smiled.

“Is he very ugly?”

“No. Just now Takigawa-san also said the same thing to me.”

What the ~~ Is Bou-san also~~?

“Even Bou-san too, can’t defeat a famous person.”

“What did Takigawa-san say to the Professor… could I ask?”

“Admiration?”

“Exactly. Takigawa-san admires the Professor greatly.”

Eh~~ that is to say he is a fan of the Professor. Putting it like that, Bou-san regularly uses anecdotes of the Professor as examples.

As we were chit chatting, Naru spoke to Yasuhara.

“Then, boss, let’s begin.”

… Eh. I felt a little unwell.

“Yes.”

Yasuhara doesn’t make others feel the slightest bit that he is the head of the “Shibuya Psychic Research”. After giving an honest reply, we, who are the muscle, stood up.

5

To begin we had to move the equipment to the room which was to act as the headquarters of the investigation. There were computers, instruments of all shapes and sizes, a huge pile of surveillance equipment, etc. We put together the stands then installed the equipment while connecting the computer and monitor cables. While we were engaged in those jobs, Ohashi-san appeared.

“Is the arrangement of having your rooms here alright?”

Yasuhara nodded to Ohashi-san in greeting.

“Yes. Thank you very much.”

“The equipment is really impressive.”

Ohashi-san looked up at the equipment on the stands with a look of awe.

“Thank you for saying so. Then, I have a question I would like to ask you, may I?”

… Eh eh. Yasuhara is doing the questioning?

“Ah, ask away.”

“Then…”

With that, Yasuhara turned back to look at Naru.

“Narumi-kun, could you please.”

Aiyah, so there was still this hand to play.

Yasuhara smiled pretentiously.

“I have to go to the van to check on the equipment. –Ohashi-san, excuse me. Thank you.”

With that said, Yasuhara left. Naru let Ohashi-san take a seat, and then sat down himself. He opened a file at the table we had asked them to prepare.

“First, could you please confirm once more the content of the initial request.”

Eh. With Naru starting work, the atmosphere also started to stretch taut. Even the air around the ones assembling equipment tensed.

Ohashi-san began to speak very seriously.

“This building was originally the property belonging to the master’s in-laws. Not only had the mistress never lived here, even her father… that is the previous generation, had also never lived here. Furthermore there are legends about spirits appearing here, and then now these things have all been forgotten. The month before last, there was a boy who vanished in this building.”

“… this, how is it explained?”

“Because this is a vacant house, there were some young people from the nearby suburbs coming and going. That is to say the entire ‘Bōsōzoku’ (tl/n: motorcycle street gang) trespassed in here, then one of them disappeared, and they reported it to the police. Because the design of this huge building is extremely complicated, everyone thought that the youth was not feeling well at some place and couldn’t be found; the police also gathered manpower to search, but he still couldn’t be found. And this isn’t the only thing.”

Ohashi-san laughed bitterly, looking very troubled.

“Even a youth from the fire department involved in the search has disappeared.”

… wow…

“At that time there were a few who said they had seen ghosts and the type. When this place was renovated, an incident of a workman disappearing had also occurred. The previous generation had repeatedly exhorted during their lifetime that this building should not be touched.”

Ohashi-san himself looked half-believing; his face wore a bitter smile.

“However, two people have disappeared here, and bad rumors have spread, so we can’t leave it as it is. Or rather, we also don’t wish for more victims to appear… Therefore we are trying to ask you psychics to take a look.”

“So that’s the case.” Saying that Naru looked around the room. This was also a posh and spacious room – just like the mansions that appear in foreign films. Although there are some places that have been badly degraded, it was spick and span.

“This looks like an ancient building… when was it built?”

“I’ve heard that it was initially built around the 10th year of the Meiji Era.”

“The 10th year of the Meiji is…”

“About 110 years ago. The year was 1877. However, after its construction this house was continuously added to or renovated, and it is said that there is practically nothing remaining of the original building now.”

“Do you know when the renovations took place?”

“Unfortunately… This building was built by the generation before the last – by the mistress’s grandfather. Apparently from that time he had frequently renovated the house. When the previous generation was around, he would renovate a part of the house almost every year.”

Naru stopped writing in the notebook and looked up.

“Every year? But they don’t live here right?”

“Yes, it was like that.”

… how strange. If that’s the case, what did they do the construction for?

“Could I ask what the name of the generation before last was?”

“He was called Miyama Kaneyuki (美山钲幸). He owned a large piece of land in the Suwa region. Then he built a (cotton? silk?) spinning factory, and was a philanthropist. Apparently he founded an orphanage or a private hospital or something. At first, it was said that due to the unrest in Meiji 40, that is to say 1907, the hospital etc was forced to close amongst all the other businesses that were sold off.”

… is this a Japanese History lesson?

“In the end Miyama Kaneyuki passed away about three years later.”

How tragic ~~. He must have felt very depressed then.

“Subsequently the next generation 宏幸(Hiroyuki?) inherited Kaneyuki’s work. The previous generation also died about twenty years ago.”

Naru knocked on the table with his fingertip.

“Did Kaneyuki live here?”

“Yes. The previous generation was born in the main house in the Suwa region, and apparently never lived over here. This place was just a holiday home at first.”

“Has Hiroyuki ever been here before?”

“It appears so.”

“Have you ever seen anything here yourself, Ohashi-san?”

“I arrived here about a week ago to make preparations. However nothing like that has happened.”

“The others too?”

“Yes. I have not heard of anything happening.”

Naru looked deep in thought. He frowned slightly,

“That… Could I talk to the people who were with the missing person?”

“I’m very sorry; if it is possible we would wish to proceed with the investigations in secrecy…”

Naru frowned slightly. But regarding that issue he made no further comment.

“Lastly, do you have any opinion on the cause of the rumours?”

“I really don’t know anything.”

“Thank you very much.”

Lowering his head gently, Naru spoke.

“Ah ah, Ohashi-san. Could you give me the floor plan of this building?”

“I’m really very sorry. I’ve enquired before, but it’s said that such a thing doesn’t exist at all. Just as a floor plan was about to be drawn the building was coincidentally renovated again and…”

“… is that so? Thank you.”

“This building does give one the feeling of a haunted house don’t you think?”

Once Ohashi-san had left, Ayako’s excited-for-no-reason voice piped up.

Bou-san also laughed contentedly.

“Exactly. An ancient bungalow. A deep and long history. … Naru-chan, how is it?”

Naru looked reluctant.

“I feel a little unsettled.”

“What about?”

“A haunted house left vacant for a long time. The building itself is very complicated and there is no floor plan. But we have to live inside.”

Yeah. In such situations Naru has always advocated not staying at the site until safety can be verified.

“Aiyo, such a cowardly statement.”

“Can’t you call this being cautious? – Mai.”

“Yes~~.”

“Anyway set up thermographs around this area and observe. Go with Bou-san. Do not continue once the sun has set. After dusk you must stay together with the others. Do you understand?”

“… Yeah.”

After saying that, Naru looked at Ayako.

“Can you write some protective charms?”

“Of course I can. I am a Miko after all.”

… and that’s true too. If there’s anyone who thinks that Bou-san looks like a monk he deserves my praise.

Naru rapped the table with a bang.

“The protective charms – please make one for each person. Also make one for each room.”

Bou-san tilted his head.

“Isn’t this over-reacting?”

“This is a line from a fellow lacking in thought trying to find excuses to be lazy.”

Bou-san’s face sank momentarily. Then he smiled contentedly.

“-Yeah. It is indeed better to be a little more cautious.”

He looked at Naru with a celebratory expression.

“… what?”

“That attitude, if you aren’t more careful and change your behavior normally you would be seen through, Narumi-kun the investigator.”

Ayako also clapped her hands.

"Ah, what he says is true. Oh, you are really too arrogant to be seen as an investigator~~"

Hehe.

"Oh, we were asked to helped to the best of our capabilities by the director, who is our distinguished guest. If you don't listen to us with the appropriate attitude~~"

Naru frowned slightly.

“… I understand. And your ages are truly much greater than mine.”

This guy. He clearly emphasized the words “much greater”.

Naru stood up. He immediately put a pretentious smile on his face.

“Then, I would like to start work. Could everyone help out? Matsuzaki-san, Takigawa-san?”

This is really chilling. Or more accurately it makes one shiver although it isn’t cold. John, looking over, also hugged his head.

“Whatever… Mai, let’s go.”

“Yes, I’m coming.”

Only Bou-san and I hurriedly escaped from that place.

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