The wind was blowing.
It was a night breeze. I felt gusts of refreshing wind blowing over me. It felt like my body had been blown away.
… but it was not a very precise sensation.
I opened my eyes.
It was still night around me… wind was swirling; then I was like a bubble in the atmosphere, floating in mid air. That was what I felt.
In the distance beneath me, there were some white lights; weak, un-dazzling white lights. I could feel it.
My consciousness flowed towards the light source, and suddenly I regained my sight. The school was beneath me.
In the night, the school appeared transparent. Illuminated within the school were will-o’-the-wisps or perhaps dark flames.
I was extremely shocked. Their numbers had decreased. The immense amount of floating white spirits had been so quickly and so drastically reduced. Even the original number of black will-o’-the-wisps had decreased. There were 4 which had grown horrendously huge. Compared to this, there were very few little wisps left…
I carefully studied every corner of the school; what I saw was the continued consumption of small spirits.
Even those that were like will-o’-the-wisps - they floated weightlessly, then, attracted to the large will-o’-the-wisps, they were devoured.
Even during my observation, the number of will-o’-the-wisps had visibly decreased.
Sakauchi-kun was devoured in front of my eyes. That scene rose from my memory.
It was petrifying… A disgusting scene.
Unwilling to see more of those scenes, I shifted my vision. I spotted the figures in the second floor of the East Block.
… I was there: in the second floor classroom, a minute classroom. I saw myself there.
I saw myself lying on the ground and the crowd surrounding me. Ayako and the Monk and Masako, and there was John, Lin-san and Yasuhara, and also, Naru…
Ayako was shaking me. The Monk was trying to stop her. The Biology Preparation Room was flooded with a liquid. And strange things lay scattered throughout that liquid. Shards of broken glass sparkled and glowed.
I was so far away, yet I could see so clearly.
Naru said something to Lin-san. Then Lin-san reached beneath my body and lifted me up.
Tsk, I would have preferred Naru to carry me!
Although that was what I thought, Naru’s slender arms are probably unable to handle my 40kg body weight.
Just like that, my body was carried away. It was quietly carried to the Sickbay at the end of the first floor.
… … … …
Wait a moment!
Isn’t this a terrible situation?!
I am floating in the air, and then I see my body moved away by other people.
Stop joking already! I couldn’t possibly be dead, could I?!
How could this happen!
No! I’m still not ready to die!
My body was laid down in the Sickbay. Naru looked at me, and caressed my cheek. Ah, ah, ah… his face was so close. … It was not what I imagined.
Naru was saying something.
What? I can’t hear it.
What?!
“Mai!”
I blinked.
“Mai?!”
A hand gently tapped my face. Eyes framed with extremely long lashes were right in front of me.
The pair of beautiful clear eyes quickly increased their distance from me. Naru tapped my forehead.
“Are you awake yet?”
I scanned my surroundings. Naru’s concerned face was closest to me. Looking over his shoulder were the Monk and Ayako, Masako and John, Yasuhara and Lin-san.
“How do you feel?”
Naru sat gently on the side of the bed.
“Mai?” he said, tapping my forehead once more.
“I’m still alive…” I said hoarsely. Suddenly everyone let out their held breaths.
“Of course you are still alive.”
Naru looked gently at me.
“You only fainted because you inhaled formalin vapor. How do you feel?”
Feel?
“Feel like vomiting…”
My chest felt tight. It was like the sensation of severe motion sickness. The world spun.
“How in the world did you end up in that type of a place? I told you to go to the LL classroom.”
Because the electricity in that classroom was cut; when I was escaping, frightened, I was chased by the child; and in the end I could only escape to that place…
“It’s not my fault.”
When I finished, an ice-cold object was placed on my forehead. Ayako had placed a damp towel on my forehead.
“How is it?”
“It’s very comfortable…”
“You really gave me a shock. Why were you wondering around the school on your own?”
“Because I had to take the tape…”
“Naru, you are also too much.”
Ayako glared at Naru. “You actually let Mai go to that type of place by herself!”
Naru shrugged.
Ayako observed Naru’s response indifferently, then bent down beside me.
“What happened, tell us about it.”
“That…”
I related the entire incident, from the power outage in the LL classroom, to my escape into the Biology Preparation Room, in detail. It’s not like I was purposely trying to scare everyone or evoke everyone’s pity or anything. If I didn’t relate it all, I felt like I would vomit.
After I had finished, Ayako turned to Masako.
“Masako, is that thing still around?”
Masako shook her head.
“No, I don’t think it is here. It’s already fine.”
Hu…
The Monk raised his hand and patted my head.
“You shocked me. You were fainted in a large pool of formalin. For a moment I thought something gory had happened.”
Wu… I don’t even want to imagine that. I don’t want to think of that.
“Really, what did you learn how to exorcise spirits for? Did you not try it?”
“Ah… I forgot.”
“Stupid.”
“You’re right…”
While the Monk and I were conversing, Naru stood up.
“Anyway you are not injured so there’s no problem anymore. Matsuzaki-san, could you please stay with Mai for a while.”
After turning to Ayako he looked at the remaining members.
“Get back to work.”
And abandon me here?
My displeasure probably showed on my face. Ayako looked at me.
“Aiya… are you not happy with me?”
“There’s no such thing…”
Please don’t leave me alone.
Ayako sighed dramatically.
“Ok, you guys go ahead. Mai has me for company.”
Naru nodded, and everyone left the Sickbay. Ayako watched them leave, and then said, “How is it? Are you still uncomfortable?”
“I still feel like vomiting.”
“Take a short nap. You’ll feel better after that.”
With that, Ayako changed the towels. How comfortable…
“Thank you…”
“Aiya, that was really honest.”
“Occasionally.”
I patted my forehead.
Ayako… thank you.
I smiled and shut my eyes.
A fog had risen. Tiny droplets of water were flowing. A milky white fog.
Hidden in the mist was the shadow of trees.
Where is this place…?
I looked around me. Tall trees; fog that enveloped everything. It was very dark.
Hu… I let out my breath. I understood.
I’m getting used to this. This is the semi-consciousness of sleep.
Ai… I’ll ignore that for the time being. Where exactly is this place?
I looked around. Rivulets of fog flowed around me. The fog slowly thinned, and soon I could see a Torii in front of me.
It was a shrine.
I passed through the Torii. Beyond the Torii was a prayer path made of stone. On the right there was a small red Torii. Beyond a pair of ceramic foxes was a small memorial hall.
Is it the Inari Shrine?
The fog started swirling again. I noticed there was an immense building in front of me.
Ah, this is the Main Hall.
The shrine was dimly lit. Standing in front of the Main Hall was…
“Naru?”
Looking like it was about to dissolve into the fog was Naru’s figure.
Naru’s expression was hard. There was no trace of the gentle smiling face that only appeared in my dreams.
“That place is very dangerous.” Naru opened his mouth and spoke.
“That place” refers to?
“You know that, don’t you? That is a dangerous place. Hurry up and get up and leave that place. You must not remain there.”
“I don’t understand… what do you mean?”
What is going on? And this shrine is?
“That place is very dangerous. You must remember the exorcism techniques you’ve learnt.”
“Ok…”
Naru suddenly raised his head and looked at the sky. Following Naru, I too looked back. Thick foliage. Wooden Torii. And opposite the row of houses ahead, was the school.
“Have you understood?” Naru asked.
All at once the Torii and the row of houses, and the school, too, became transparent. Right on the school’s first floor was a pulsating thing.
It looked just like the image of an unborn child. A mysterious feeling surrounded the life-like will-o’-the-wisp.
“It’s about to be born…”
I groaned softly.
“That’s right. Up to this day they have been dormant. Very soon it will hatch. If it is allowed to hatch, nobody will be able to stop it.”
Nobody will be able to stop it…
I gazed at the school. That was the Printing Room. And that wasn’t the only location. I know that. There was something in the LL classroom, and the 2-4 classroom too. And the Sickbay also had one. Ah ah, there were so few other spirits around. Practically only these 4 were left, all within such a short time span.
I came to a realization. About 90% of the entire student population – approximately 600 students, in 4 months – approximately 120 days, had continuously summoned spirits. Thousands of spirits. In such a short time, these spirits had been so greatly reduced. The summoned spirits devoured and absorbed each other, and reduced their numbers to the level currently observed. And the stronger spirits continued to grow… on and on until they took their current form.
With a sudden “Sa”, the vision cleared, and the ongoing scenario in the Printing Room emerged before my eyes. They had finally arrived – John and Yasuhara – at that very dangerous place.
“I’m going back.”
I said that; Naru nodded.
“Be careful…”
The fog swiftly thickened.
“That place is…”
Naru’s figure was swallowed by the fog. Only his voice echoed could be heard.
“… as dangerous as this one… so…”
I woke abruptly. I sat up suddenly at the same time. I turned to look at Ayako, who was sitting beside me.
“How are you?”
“I want to get up already.”
“Wait a moment, are you fine now? You have not slept for long.”
“En. I’m fine. I want to get up.”
I thought to get off the bed. I leaned against the bed, my body swayed. I still felt nauseous when I tried to get up.
“That’s why I said you are forcing yourself. Honestly, sleep a little longer.”
No way. I can’t stand.
“Ayako.”
The will-o’-the-wisp. About to hatch. If it was allowed to hatch nobody will be able to stop it.
“Hurry to the Printing Room.”
“Hey…”
Ayako looked very astonished. I nodded to her. I’m neither sleep dazed, nor am I talking nonsense.
“John and Yasuhara-kun have gone to the Printing Room. That place is very dangerous. So please hurry there to stop the two of them.”
“Wait a moment, Mai.”
Ayako said that, and nodded to me in comprehension.
“Understood. I’m going then.”
After her nod, Ayako’s expression was uneasy.
“Will you be fine on your own? You know how to use exorcism spells?”
“Yes–“
“What do you know? The Ku-ji? The Acalanatha Chant?”
“The one with the Acalanatha Seal.”
“Then remember this.”
Ayako formed a Sword Seal with one hand.
“Like this: remember? Rin (臨), Pyō (兵), Tō (闘), Sha (者), Kai (皆), Jin (陣), Retsu (列), Zai (在), Zen (前).”
Ayako’s hand moved in a cross. It was like marking a grid in mid air. Then she made a final cut in the very center of the grid.
“This is the Ku-ji. Have you remembered it yet?”
“Ok, the first cut is horizontal right? I’ve got it.”
“Do this after the Acalanatha Chant.”
“Yes.”
I forced a smile onto my petrified face. Ayako looked at me, concerned, then ran out of the Sickbay.
Boneless, my body collapsed back onto the bed. My head hurt. I felt a wave of dizziness pass. I wanted to vomit and…
Then…
Fighting the dizziness, I searched the room for any strange atmosphere.
As I tried to control my breathing, all light in the Sickbay suddenly vanished.
It’s here…
“What are you doing… Are you playing with me?”
Indeed, this room is… I turned to look at the beds lined up inside the room. Light from the street lamps outside permeated the windows. The mattresses glowed white in the dark.
My heart raced. The second innermost bed… on the third bed away from me towards the inside of the room… someone slept on the bed. It was a human figure cocooned in the blankets.
“So you have appeared, monster.”
It was really incredible. I was so unexpectedly bold. Perhaps the formalin had spoilt a certain part of my brain.
I sat up slowly.
The fellow inside also sat up slowly.
I could tell the air was changing. The air, the atmosphere; something like that was changing, distorting.
There was a vague black thing below the white mattress.
It (referring to the figure on the bed, not the black shadow beneath) rose at the same speed as I did.
I climbed up. It squatted on the bed.
I stacked my hands together; this time I would not forget.
“Naumaku, sanmanda, bazaradan, kan.”
The black body beneath the mattress swelled. “Dong”, a deep and abstruse sound resonated from beneath the ground.
Its body grew larger than the bed. Once more, a moan resounded from below.
It was the sound of that thing starting to rise. A putrid smell filled the entire room. It was black; as though it was nothing but shadow, it did not even have an outline. I could only tell that it was extremely immense.
I repeated the chant 3 times, and stacked my fingers together again. I gathered the Sword Seal.
“臨 Rin”
I cut a horizontal line through the air.
“兵 Pyoo”
I made a vertical cut.
“闘 Too”
As my hands moved, with a thump the bed started to shake. I was thrown down from the bed, and landed heavily on the ground.
Cold air crept up my legs. It was sticky, ice-cold air. The figure had gotten off its bed. The mattress covering the gigantic shadow fell onto the ground. Its body sank below, dissolved into the darkness and disappeared.
Where?
I looked around me as I moved to the door without changing posture. (tl/n: she landed on her bottom, flung off the bed; now she scrambles for the door, still on her bottom)
Where is it?
The thin darkness had diffused the room. I could not even see the shadow of anything. With my hands against the wall behind me, I searched for the door. Leaning on the hardness of the door, I stood up slowly. Just as I was about to open the door, the room rocked violently once more. I momentarily lost my balance and fell down.
At the same time, came a shocking “Dong” that strong enough to shake my body. My body was suddenly suspended in midair. Even before I could think “Uh”, my body landed on the collapsed flooring.
Moaning, I stood up. Taking note on of my surroundings, I tried my best to quickly reach for the door.
I touched a hard object. It felt like rough concrete. It did not feel like the door.
Uh?!
I involuntarily turned my head.
“Ah…”
The door was still there. Just above my head. I turned back and looked into the room. What in the world happened? On side of the floor had dropped beneath floor level!
Once more I stacked my fingers up.
“naumakusanmandabazaradankan.”
I said at high speed.
Click. Click. Soft noises sounded around me. It was like there were some small animals moving agitatedly around on the ground.
“naumakusanmandabazaradankan.”
I was completely blind. The critters were coming closer to me, their numbers were increasing.
“naumakusanmandabazaradankan.”
There was a soft slithering sound. It was coming closer to me. It was already very near.
I released the seal and gathered the Sword Seal and started the horizontal and vertical strokes.
“Rin (臨), Pyō (兵), Tō (闘), Sha (者), Kai (皆), Jin (陣), Retsu (列), Zai (在), Zen (前).”
I made horizontal and vertical cuts.
I brandished the sword seal at that invisible thing.
“Be gone!”
The room suddenly trembled, and the slithering sound cackled to a stop. The miasma vanished. Now’s the time! I hurriedly jumped up and climbed up the wall. After forcing the door open, I held on to the door frame and climbed up. At that moment, something grasped my foot and once more I fell onto the ground.
It hurt to death…
I’m doomed, if I was alone. (tl/n: “I’m screwed if no one saves me.”) I couldn’t even make enough time for my own escape.
The sound of footsteps approached the door.
“Save me!”
“Mai?!”
It was Naru’s voice!
Lying on the broken surface of the shattered floor, I shouted. “Naru!”
“What happened?!”
“Careful!”
The door above my head was open. A figure halted in the doorway, nearly falling in.
“Naru!”
I lifted my head and looked up. Naru looked, stunned, around the room, and quickly extended a hand towards me.
“Come.”
I stretched my arm out towards Naru’s. Just then something tripped my feet. Before I could reach Naru’s snow white hand I was thrown horizontal. Naru jumped into the room, and helped me up. I leaned against the wall while he stood in front protecting me.
“Where is Ayako?”
“Printing Room.”
As I answering the question, standing behind him, the pitter patter of footsteps and the voices of the monk and the others could be heard.
“What was that noise just now about?!”
With another sound, the room started shaking once more. Naru and I were thrown together onto the floor. At the moment we fell to the ground, the sound of something fracturing came from above.
Something split open with a “peng”. Lifting my head I could see it. The ceiling was about to fall down…!
“Ah…!”
I shut my eyes, and instinctively raised both hands. Then came an intense low pitched crashing sound.
Then I promptly lost consciousness.
I could feel the ice-cold floor beneath my cheek. Brushing my forehead, some fragments fell down.
I opened my eyes. My surroundings were pitch-black and I could not see a thing. The weight on my back was very warm. Neither my arms nor my legs would be energized. As I tried to force energy to my extremities, the weight on my back disappeared.
At the same time sounds could be heard.
“Mai!”
That was Ayako’s lament.
“We are fine.”
Naru’s voice came from above my face. Naru rose just when I lifted my head. His shadow emerged through the door.
“Naru?! What happened?!” That was Lin-san’s voice.
“The ceiling collapsed. The floor also caved in. That’s all.”
Naru answered as though nothing had happened.
“Is everything all right?”
“Ah.”
Naru answered as he helped me up. He carried me and lifted me up. Lin-san caught my arms from above. Just like this I was pulled up, and placed on the corridor floor. As my body was moved, fragments of something dropped pitter patter down.
Yasuhara patted my back. I did not quite grasp the situation.
“Are you hurt?”
“I’m not sure. I think not.”
Yasuhara let out a breath with a “hu”.
When I turned back blankly, Naru grasped Lin-san’s hand and emerged from the room.
“You’re all right?”
“Ah. It’s not a big deal.” – said as though it was an insignificant event.
The monk said, “What do you call a ‘no big deal’? The ceiling fell in!”
“The ceilings of this type of buildings are only made up of soft wooden boards. It’s no big deal. Mai, are you injured?”
“I’m fine.”
Ayako turned and stared at Naru.
“Why is it able to cause something like this…” – in a trembling voice.
Naru did not answer, brushing his dust covered body. The Monk shone the torch around the Sickbay.
The floor had collapsed exactly following the shape of the wall. And covering that was scattered wooden boards from the ceiling.
“Don’t joke with me.”
The monk’s laughing voice grumbled.
“It has hatched.” I said softly to myself as I got up with Ayako’s help.
“Hatched?”
Everyone turned to me.
“En. They have always been dormant. Now they have already gathered enough energy to hatch. There’s already nothing we can do.”
“Mai, did you hit your head just now?”
Ayako gently shook me.
“…”
I did not answer. I felt no answer was necessary. Because, I knew. That was the truth of the situation…
Naru sighed as he walked on.
“Regardless, we cannot handle it as we are now. It would be better to seal the school.”
“The school will have a lot to say about that.”
“When they see this floor, they won’t be able to say anything – if they have any sense (of propriety) at all.”
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 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”.
“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 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.
The wind was blowing.
It was a night breeze. I felt gusts of refreshing wind blowing over me. It felt like my body had been blown away.
… but it was not a very precise sensation.
I opened my eyes.
It was still night around me… wind was swirling; then I was like a bubble in the atmosphere, floating in mid air. That was what I felt.
In the distance beneath me, there were some white lights; weak, un-dazzling white lights. I could feel it.
My consciousness flowed towards the light source, and suddenly I regained my sight. The school was beneath me.
In the night, the school appeared transparent. Illuminated within the school were will-o’-the-wisps or perhaps dark flames.
I was extremely shocked. Their numbers had decreased. The immense amount of floating white spirits had been so quickly and so drastically reduced. Even the original number of black will-o’-the-wisps had decreased. There were 4 which had grown horrendously huge. Compared to this, there were very few little wisps left…
I carefully studied every corner of the school; what I saw was the continued consumption of small spirits.
Even those that were like will-o’-the-wisps - they floated weightlessly, then, attracted to the large will-o’-the-wisps, they were devoured.
Even during my observation, the number of will-o’-the-wisps had visibly decreased.
Sakauchi-kun was devoured in front of my eyes. That scene rose from my memory.
It was petrifying… A disgusting scene.
Unwilling to see more of those scenes, I shifted my vision. I spotted the figures in the second floor of the East Block.
… I was there: in the second floor classroom, a minute classroom. I saw myself there.
I saw myself lying on the ground and the crowd surrounding me. Ayako and the Monk and Masako, and there was John, Lin-san and Yasuhara, and also, Naru…
Ayako was shaking me. The Monk was trying to stop her. The Biology Preparation Room was flooded with a liquid. And strange things lay scattered throughout that liquid. Shards of broken glass sparkled and glowed.
I was so far away, yet I could see so clearly.
Naru said something to Lin-san. Then Lin-san reached beneath my body and lifted me up.
Tsk, I would have preferred Naru to carry me!
Although that was what I thought, Naru’s slender arms are probably unable to handle my 40kg body weight.
Just like that, my body was carried away. It was quietly carried to the Sickbay at the end of the first floor.
… … … …
Wait a moment!
Isn’t this a terrible situation?!
I am floating in the air, and then I see my body moved away by other people.
Stop joking already! I couldn’t possibly be dead, could I?!
How could this happen!
No! I’m still not ready to die!
My body was laid down in the Sickbay. Naru looked at me, and caressed my cheek. Ah, ah, ah… his face was so close. … It was not what I imagined.
Naru was saying something.
What? I can’t hear it.
What?!
“Mai!”
I blinked.
“Mai?!”
A hand gently tapped my face. Eyes framed with extremely long lashes were right in front of me.
The pair of beautiful clear eyes quickly increased their distance from me. Naru tapped my forehead.
“Are you awake yet?”
I scanned my surroundings. Naru’s concerned face was closest to me. Looking over his shoulder were the Monk and Ayako, Masako and John, Yasuhara and Lin-san.
“How do you feel?”
Naru sat gently on the side of the bed.
“Mai?” he said, tapping my forehead once more.
“I’m still alive…” I said hoarsely. Suddenly everyone let out their held breaths.
“Of course you are still alive.”
Naru looked gently at me.
“You only fainted because you inhaled formalin vapor. How do you feel?”
Feel?
“Feel like vomiting…”
My chest felt tight. It was like the sensation of severe motion sickness. The world spun.
“How in the world did you end up in that type of a place? I told you to go to the LL classroom.”
Because the electricity in that classroom was cut; when I was escaping, frightened, I was chased by the child; and in the end I could only escape to that place…
“It’s not my fault.”
When I finished, an ice-cold object was placed on my forehead. Ayako had placed a damp towel on my forehead.
“How is it?”
“It’s very comfortable…”
“You really gave me a shock. Why were you wondering around the school on your own?”
“Because I had to take the tape…”
“Naru, you are also too much.”
Ayako glared at Naru. “You actually let Mai go to that type of place by herself!”
Naru shrugged.
Ayako observed Naru’s response indifferently, then bent down beside me.
“What happened, tell us about it.”
“That…”
I related the entire incident, from the power outage in the LL classroom, to my escape into the Biology Preparation Room, in detail. It’s not like I was purposely trying to scare everyone or evoke everyone’s pity or anything. If I didn’t relate it all, I felt like I would vomit.
After I had finished, Ayako turned to Masako.
“Masako, is that thing still around?”
Masako shook her head.
“No, I don’t think it is here. It’s already fine.”
Hu…
The Monk raised his hand and patted my head.
“You shocked me. You were fainted in a large pool of formalin. For a moment I thought something gory had happened.”
Wu… I don’t even want to imagine that. I don’t want to think of that.
“Really, what did you learn how to exorcise spirits for? Did you not try it?”
“Ah… I forgot.”
“Stupid.”
“You’re right…”
While the Monk and I were conversing, Naru stood up.
“Anyway you are not injured so there’s no problem anymore. Matsuzaki-san, could you please stay with Mai for a while.”
After turning to Ayako he looked at the remaining members.
“Get back to work.”
And abandon me here?
My displeasure probably showed on my face. Ayako looked at me.
“Aiya… are you not happy with me?”
“There’s no such thing…”
Please don’t leave me alone.
Ayako sighed dramatically.
“Ok, you guys go ahead. Mai has me for company.”
Naru nodded, and everyone left the Sickbay. Ayako watched them leave, and then said, “How is it? Are you still uncomfortable?”
“I still feel like vomiting.”
“Take a short nap. You’ll feel better after that.”
With that, Ayako changed the towels. How comfortable…
“Thank you…”
“Aiya, that was really honest.”
“Occasionally.”
I patted my forehead.
Ayako… thank you.
I smiled and shut my eyes.
A fog had risen. Tiny droplets of water were flowing. A milky white fog.
Hidden in the mist was the shadow of trees.
Where is this place…?
I looked around me. Tall trees; fog that enveloped everything. It was very dark.
Hu… I let out my breath. I understood.
I’m getting used to this. This is the semi-consciousness of sleep.
Ai… I’ll ignore that for the time being. Where exactly is this place?
I looked around. Rivulets of fog flowed around me. The fog slowly thinned, and soon I could see a Torii in front of me.
It was a shrine.
I passed through the Torii. Beyond the Torii was a prayer path made of stone. On the right there was a small red Torii. Beyond a pair of ceramic foxes was a small memorial hall.
Is it the Inari Shrine?
The fog started swirling again. I noticed there was an immense building in front of me.
Ah, this is the Main Hall.
The shrine was dimly lit. Standing in front of the Main Hall was…
“Naru?”
Looking like it was about to dissolve into the fog was Naru’s figure.
Naru’s expression was hard. There was no trace of the gentle smiling face that only appeared in my dreams.
“That place is very dangerous.” Naru opened his mouth and spoke.
“That place” refers to?
“You know that, don’t you? That is a dangerous place. Hurry up and get up and leave that place. You must not remain there.”
“I don’t understand… what do you mean?”
What is going on? And this shrine is?
“That place is very dangerous. You must remember the exorcism techniques you’ve learnt.”
“Ok…”
Naru suddenly raised his head and looked at the sky. Following Naru, I too looked back. Thick foliage. Wooden Torii. And opposite the row of houses ahead, was the school.
“Have you understood?” Naru asked.
All at once the Torii and the row of houses, and the school, too, became transparent. Right on the school’s first floor was a pulsating thing.
It looked just like the image of an unborn child. A mysterious feeling surrounded the life-like will-o’-the-wisp.
“It’s about to be born…”
I groaned softly.
“That’s right. Up to this day they have been dormant. Very soon it will hatch. If it is allowed to hatch, nobody will be able to stop it.”
Nobody will be able to stop it…
I gazed at the school. That was the Printing Room. And that wasn’t the only location. I know that. There was something in the LL classroom, and the 2-4 classroom too. And the Sickbay also had one. Ah ah, there were so few other spirits around. Practically only these 4 were left, all within such a short time span.
I came to a realization. About 90% of the entire student population – approximately 600 students, in 4 months – approximately 120 days, had continuously summoned spirits. Thousands of spirits. In such a short time, these spirits had been so greatly reduced. The summoned spirits devoured and absorbed each other, and reduced their numbers to the level currently observed. And the stronger spirits continued to grow… on and on until they took their current form.
With a sudden “Sa”, the vision cleared, and the ongoing scenario in the Printing Room emerged before my eyes. They had finally arrived – John and Yasuhara – at that very dangerous place.
“I’m going back.”
I said that; Naru nodded.
“Be careful…”
The fog swiftly thickened.
“That place is…”
Naru’s figure was swallowed by the fog. Only his voice echoed could be heard.
“… as dangerous as this one… so…”
I woke abruptly. I sat up suddenly at the same time. I turned to look at Ayako, who was sitting beside me.
“How are you?”
“I want to get up already.”
“Wait a moment, are you fine now? You have not slept for long.”
“En. I’m fine. I want to get up.”
I thought to get off the bed. I leaned against the bed, my body swayed. I still felt nauseous when I tried to get up.
“That’s why I said you are forcing yourself. Honestly, sleep a little longer.”
No way. I can’t stand.
“Ayako.”
The will-o’-the-wisp. About to hatch. If it was allowed to hatch nobody will be able to stop it.
“Hurry to the Printing Room.”
“Hey…”
Ayako looked very astonished. I nodded to her. I’m neither sleep dazed, nor am I talking nonsense.
“John and Yasuhara-kun have gone to the Printing Room. That place is very dangerous. So please hurry there to stop the two of them.”
“Wait a moment, Mai.”
Ayako said that, and nodded to me in comprehension.
“Understood. I’m going then.”
After her nod, Ayako’s expression was uneasy.
“Will you be fine on your own? You know how to use exorcism spells?”
“Yes–“
“What do you know? The Ku-ji? The Acalanatha Chant?”
“The one with the Acalanatha Seal.”
“Then remember this.”
Ayako formed a Sword Seal with one hand.
“Like this: remember? Rin (臨), Pyō (兵), Tō (闘), Sha (者), Kai (皆), Jin (陣), Retsu (列), Zai (在), Zen (前).”
Ayako’s hand moved in a cross. It was like marking a grid in mid air. Then she made a final cut in the very center of the grid.
“This is the Ku-ji. Have you remembered it yet?”
“Ok, the first cut is horizontal right? I’ve got it.”
“Do this after the Acalanatha Chant.”
“Yes.”
I forced a smile onto my petrified face. Ayako looked at me, concerned, then ran out of the Sickbay.
Boneless, my body collapsed back onto the bed. My head hurt. I felt a wave of dizziness pass. I wanted to vomit and…
Then…
Fighting the dizziness, I searched the room for any strange atmosphere.
As I tried to control my breathing, all light in the Sickbay suddenly vanished.
It’s here…
“What are you doing… Are you playing with me?”
Indeed, this room is… I turned to look at the beds lined up inside the room. Light from the street lamps outside permeated the windows. The mattresses glowed white in the dark.
My heart raced. The second innermost bed… on the third bed away from me towards the inside of the room… someone slept on the bed. It was a human figure cocooned in the blankets.
“So you have appeared, monster.”
It was really incredible. I was so unexpectedly bold. Perhaps the formalin had spoilt a certain part of my brain.
I sat up slowly.
The fellow inside also sat up slowly.
I could tell the air was changing. The air, the atmosphere; something like that was changing, distorting.
There was a vague black thing below the white mattress.
It (referring to the figure on the bed, not the black shadow beneath) rose at the same speed as I did.
I climbed up. It squatted on the bed.
I stacked my hands together; this time I would not forget.
“Naumaku, sanmanda, bazaradan, kan.”
The black body beneath the mattress swelled. “Dong”, a deep and abstruse sound resonated from beneath the ground.
Its body grew larger than the bed. Once more, a moan resounded from below.
It was the sound of that thing starting to rise. A putrid smell filled the entire room. It was black; as though it was nothing but shadow, it did not even have an outline. I could only tell that it was extremely immense.
I repeated the chant 3 times, and stacked my fingers together again. I gathered the Sword Seal.
“臨 Rin”
I cut a horizontal line through the air.
“兵 Pyoo”
I made a vertical cut.
“闘 Too”
As my hands moved, with a thump the bed started to shake. I was thrown down from the bed, and landed heavily on the ground.
Cold air crept up my legs. It was sticky, ice-cold air. The figure had gotten off its bed. The mattress covering the gigantic shadow fell onto the ground. Its body sank below, dissolved into the darkness and disappeared.
Where?
I looked around me as I moved to the door without changing posture. (tl/n: she landed on her bottom, flung off the bed; now she scrambles for the door, still on her bottom)
Where is it?
The thin darkness had diffused the room. I could not even see the shadow of anything. With my hands against the wall behind me, I searched for the door. Leaning on the hardness of the door, I stood up slowly. Just as I was about to open the door, the room rocked violently once more. I momentarily lost my balance and fell down.
At the same time, came a shocking “Dong” that strong enough to shake my body. My body was suddenly suspended in midair. Even before I could think “Uh”, my body landed on the collapsed flooring.
Moaning, I stood up. Taking note on of my surroundings, I tried my best to quickly reach for the door.
I touched a hard object. It felt like rough concrete. It did not feel like the door.
Uh?!
I involuntarily turned my head.
“Ah…”
The door was still there. Just above my head. I turned back and looked into the room. What in the world happened? On side of the floor had dropped beneath floor level!
Once more I stacked my fingers up.
“naumakusanmandabazaradankan.”
I said at high speed.
Click. Click. Soft noises sounded around me. It was like there were some small animals moving agitatedly around on the ground.
“naumakusanmandabazaradankan.”
I was completely blind. The critters were coming closer to me, their numbers were increasing.
“naumakusanmandabazaradankan.”
There was a soft slithering sound. It was coming closer to me. It was already very near.
I released the seal and gathered the Sword Seal and started the horizontal and vertical strokes.
“Rin (臨), Pyō (兵), Tō (闘), Sha (者), Kai (皆), Jin (陣), Retsu (列), Zai (在), Zen (前).”
I made horizontal and vertical cuts.
I brandished the sword seal at that invisible thing.
“Be gone!”
The room suddenly trembled, and the slithering sound cackled to a stop. The miasma vanished. Now’s the time! I hurriedly jumped up and climbed up the wall. After forcing the door open, I held on to the door frame and climbed up. At that moment, something grasped my foot and once more I fell onto the ground.
It hurt to death…
I’m doomed, if I was alone. (tl/n: “I’m screwed if no one saves me.”) I couldn’t even make enough time for my own escape.
The sound of footsteps approached the door.
“Save me!”
“Mai?!”
It was Naru’s voice!
Lying on the broken surface of the shattered floor, I shouted. “Naru!”
“What happened?!”
“Careful!”
The door above my head was open. A figure halted in the doorway, nearly falling in.
“Naru!”
I lifted my head and looked up. Naru looked, stunned, around the room, and quickly extended a hand towards me.
“Come.”
I stretched my arm out towards Naru’s. Just then something tripped my feet. Before I could reach Naru’s snow white hand I was thrown horizontal. Naru jumped into the room, and helped me up. I leaned against the wall while he stood in front protecting me.
“Where is Ayako?”
“Printing Room.”
As I answering the question, standing behind him, the pitter patter of footsteps and the voices of the monk and the others could be heard.
“What was that noise just now about?!”
With another sound, the room started shaking once more. Naru and I were thrown together onto the floor. At the moment we fell to the ground, the sound of something fracturing came from above.
Something split open with a “peng”. Lifting my head I could see it. The ceiling was about to fall down…!
“Ah…!”
I shut my eyes, and instinctively raised both hands. Then came an intense low pitched crashing sound.
Then I promptly lost consciousness.
I could feel the ice-cold floor beneath my cheek. Brushing my forehead, some fragments fell down.
I opened my eyes. My surroundings were pitch-black and I could not see a thing. The weight on my back was very warm. Neither my arms nor my legs would be energized. As I tried to force energy to my extremities, the weight on my back disappeared.
At the same time sounds could be heard.
“Mai!”
That was Ayako’s lament.
“We are fine.”
Naru’s voice came from above my face. Naru rose just when I lifted my head. His shadow emerged through the door.
“Naru?! What happened?!” That was Lin-san’s voice.
“The ceiling collapsed. The floor also caved in. That’s all.”
Naru answered as though nothing had happened.
“Is everything all right?”
“Ah.”
Naru answered as he helped me up. He carried me and lifted me up. Lin-san caught my arms from above. Just like this I was pulled up, and placed on the corridor floor. As my body was moved, fragments of something dropped pitter patter down.
Yasuhara patted my back. I did not quite grasp the situation.
“Are you hurt?”
“I’m not sure. I think not.”
Yasuhara let out a breath with a “hu”.
When I turned back blankly, Naru grasped Lin-san’s hand and emerged from the room.
“You’re all right?”
“Ah. It’s not a big deal.” – said as though it was an insignificant event.
The monk said, “What do you call a ‘no big deal’? The ceiling fell in!”
“The ceilings of this type of buildings are only made up of soft wooden boards. It’s no big deal. Mai, are you injured?”
“I’m fine.”
Ayako turned and stared at Naru.
“Why is it able to cause something like this…” – in a trembling voice.
Naru did not answer, brushing his dust covered body. The Monk shone the torch around the Sickbay.
The floor had collapsed exactly following the shape of the wall. And covering that was scattered wooden boards from the ceiling.
“Don’t joke with me.”
The monk’s laughing voice grumbled.
“It has hatched.” I said softly to myself as I got up with Ayako’s help.
“Hatched?”
Everyone turned to me.
“En. They have always been dormant. Now they have already gathered enough energy to hatch. There’s already nothing we can do.”
“Mai, did you hit your head just now?”
Ayako gently shook me.
“…”
I did not answer. I felt no answer was necessary. Because, I knew. That was the truth of the situation…
Naru sighed as he walked on.
“Regardless, we cannot handle it as we are now. It would be better to seal the school.”
“The school will have a lot to say about that.”
“When they see this floor, they won’t be able to say anything – if they have any sense (of propriety) at all.”
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 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”.
“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 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.
