Chapter 6.3: The Shifting Normalcy of Daily Life III

Chapter 6.3: The Shifting Normalcy of Daily Life III

You may not believe it, but such things actually do occur. In places where intense feelings linger, mysterious phenomena arise that successively lead to deaths. It is called chain phenomenon. In famous suicide sites, people keep dying one after another, because the initial person who died there dragged in a second person, and the subsequent person dragged in a third person, leading to an unending chain of fatalities.

Correspondingly, an endless stream of fatalities resulted from the consolidation of negative power. Accumulated thoughts parasitically inhabited a persons mind and clouded their judgment. In short, even if they had no intention of doing so, they could be compelled to do so by a temporary weakening of their spirits.

Takenaka said that the man was probably another victim swept up in this chain of events.

And if Takenaka hadnt intervened, I would have been one of those victims after being spotted and nearly possessed by the victim That was the case, I supposed.

Incidentally, Aoyama had told me about a girl by the name of Kawachi when I initially started my part-time employment as I recalled. He mentioned that she resigned right after she started, too, but had been out of touch with her until a few days before quitting, and when the manager found her, she had slit her wrists at home

At that time, all I thought was that girl must be going through a lot of hardship, but never did I expect this to be the case.

That reminds me, Aoyama told me about someone named Kawachi before I was wondering if the reason she resigned was because of an incident at that convenience store.

Takenakas expression fell bleak at once, followed by a small sigh that almost faded away.

Oh, eh!?

Did I say something bad?

Takenaka?

If I

Y-Yes?The source of this content nov(el)bi((n))

If I had been there when it happened, that wouldnt have happened

Eh

My prediction was most likely spot on apparently.

Kawachi was involved in something tremendously unfavorable after a similar experience to mine and was ultimately found tragically psychologically ill and attempting suicide. Fortunately, she did not succumb and after quitting her part-time job, her mental state rapidly recovered and was now living a normal life but Takenaka still regretted that he failed to notice the situation before it happened and failed to save her.

Not only that, but I got the sense that he was more than a little bothered by the people who had resigned up to this point. Takenaka was not simply working part-time there. He was constantly on the lookout for newcomers, watching out for them and offering advice to ensure harm would not befall them.

Regardless of how much someone might think he was shady or creepy. Regardless of the odd looks they cast at him. So that no one else would end up as a victim.

Indeed, as Hirai said, this person was a Guardian God.

Somehow, I am sorry.

Huh?

When I apologized, Takenaka looked at me perplexed.

I Until now, Ive never believed in things I couldnt see, and Ive always ridiculed people who claimed to be able to see specters or other such things in my mind and never gave any thought to believing in them. Even Takenaka, I believed you were a shady character when hearing how the others praised how great you were, and to be honest, I was extremely irate when you abruptly informed me that I ought to resign I even thought, What the hell is this guy?

I nodded, struggling to speak.

I-I can see it I can see it!

W-What what is that!!

Was it a stand?

Takenaka motioned with his hand for me to settle down as I was in a strange state of shock. The other customers were eyeing me as I suddenly began to make a fuss. However, I realized that only Takenaka and I could see the armor and helmet. After cooling down, I asked in a whisper this time, What is that?

It is commonly referred to as a guardian spirit.

Oh, I have heard something about that.

It was originally my grandfathers guardian spirit, but it possessed these to ward off bad luck because I was weak and kept getting injured and sick since I was a child. Thanks to it, I am fine even when I am in that strong magnetic field.

The armor and helmet (apparently something like a yagura) usually drove away any spirit that sought to get close to Takenaka by intimidating them, so Takenaka rarely suffered any harm from them. Furthermore, to a certain extent, the spirit operated according to Takenakas will, so it could help people other than him.

Like that man who was trying to possess me and was driven away. To simplify it, it was like a bodyguard.

I see, indeed, with such a large guy behind me, I might not be afraid of getting tangled up with a yakuza.

Specters can attach themselves to you if you want them to, right?

Well, in this case, this guy is special.

The armor and helmet faded away, as though they had disintegrated into the air, and vanished from my sight as Takenaka immediately peered up overhead and locked eyes with it. It seemed to me as if Takenaka ordered the armor and helmet to step back if there was no further business to be done.

Having listened to so many incomprehensible stories in such a short time that it made my stomach growl, I downed my iced coffee in one gulp and threw a mouthful of ice into my mouth while I was at it. While chewing on the ice, I tried to digest what was happening in reality and put all the stories in order.

The fact that specters, which I had never believed in, actually existed.

And that people who could see specters truly existed.

That the convenience store was located in an unbelievable place.

The fact that the place produced negative energy daily to the extent that it had an adverse effect on human beings.

Dozens of people were sent to the hospital after being exposed to this negative energy, and dozens of people escaped from the place after witnessing the horror of the place.

About how dangerous it was, even Takenaka, who could see specters, said that it was extremely dangerous

After sorting all this out, I suddenly recognized something.

Takenaka and Hirai were fine

Then, what about Aoyama?