CH 22

NOVEMBER 29, 2022 / MAD HATTER

Translator: MadHatter

“Youimay not believe it, but suchithings actually do occur. Iniplaces where intense feelingsilinger, mysterious phenomena arise that successively leadito deaths. It isicalled ‘chain phenomenon’. In famous suicide sites, peopleikeep dying one afterianother, because the initial person whoidied there dragged in a second person, andithe subsequent person dragged in a third person, leading to an unending chain of fatalities.”

Correspondingly, aniendless stream of fatalities resultedifrom the consolidation ofinegative power. Accumulated thoughts parasitically inhabited a person’s mindiand clouded their judgment. In short, even if they had no intention of doing so, they could be compelled to do so by aitemporary weakening of their spirits.

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

Andiif Takenaka hadn’t intervened, I would haveibeen one of those victims after being spotted and nearly possessed by the victim… That was the case, I supposed.

Incidentally, Aoyamaihad told me about a girl byithe name of Kawachi wheniI initially started myipart-time employment as I recalled. He mentionedithat she resigned right afterishe started, too, butihad been out of touch with heriuntil a few days before quitting, and when the managerifound her, sheihad slit her wrists at home…

Atithat time, all I thought was that girlimust be going throughia lot of hardship, but neveridid I expect this to be the case.

“That reminds me, Aoyama toldime about someoneinamed Kawachi before… I wasiwondering if the reason she resigned was because of an incident at that convenience store.”

Takenaka’s expression fell bleak at once, followediby a small sigh that almost faded away.

“Oh, eh!?”

Did Iisay something bad?

“Takenaka…?”

“If I…” Not shared on aggregator websites

“Y-Yes?”

“If I had been there when it happened, that wouldn’t have happened…”

“Eh…”

My predictioniwas most likely spot on apparently.

Kawachi wasiinvolved in something tremendously unfavorable afteria similar experience to mine and wasiultimately found tragically psychologically illiand attempting suicide. Fortunately, she did not succumb and after quitting her part-time job, her mental state rapidly recovered and wasinow living a normal life but Takenakaistill regretted that he failed to notice the situation before it happened and failed to save her.

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

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

Indeed, as Hirai said, this person wasia “Guardian God.”

“Somehow, I am sorry.”

“Huh?”

When Iiapologized, Takenaka looked at me perplexed.

“I… Until now, I’ve neveribelieved in things I couldn’t see, and I’ve always ridiculed people who claimed to be able to see specters or other such things in my mind and never gave anyithought to believing in them. Even Takenaka, I believed you were a shady character when hearing how the others praisedihow 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?’…”

Even though Iiwas a newcomer, I had such a poor attitude.

I didn’t even heed his warning. Even so, thisiperson didn’t abandon me. Underinormal circumstances, people would have thought, “Well then, do whatever you want.”

“I misunderstoodiyou, Takenaka. You were telling the truth, but I didn’t believe you, and I apologize for that.”

My face started to heat up with embarrassment because it had been a long time since I had lowered my head and apologized in person. Takenaka, nevertheless, appearedinot to have anticipatediit and put hisihands behind his head while keeping his face downcast lightly.

“Not really… It’s fine. It’s not like I couldiback up my claims with evidence, so itiwas only inevitable that mistrust would grow.”

While it was true that he lacked social skills and communication, heiwas nonetheless able to communicate normally if needed.

Appearances can be deceiving. I had come to strongly feel that wayilately since starting to work at that convenience store.

“Even so… even if you say things are dangerous, are you and the other two members of the group okay with it?”

While newcomers repeatedly joined and left the job, Takenaka and the other three wereisaid to be the only fixed members of the late-night group.

Takenaka and theiothers must have experienced their share of hardships if incidents like that night occurred more often than not… but instead of getting weary, all three of them were in good spirits. Was itia matter of getting used to it or was it different when they had worked there for many years?

“Well, I think it’s mostly a matteriof familiarity. Hirai and Iihave countermeasures to a certain degree…”

“Countermeasures?”

“Yes. Hirai and Iihave always been able to see.”

“O-Oh… I mean, so Hirai can see those things after all!?”

Right, when we met for the first time, the atmosphere wasiterrific.

“Is it advantageous to be ableito see spirits or something, oriis it different from normal people who are not affected by them?”

“No, having the abilityito see does not necessarily guarantee that you will not be affected at all. On the contrary, if you are only slightly spiritually gifted, the intensityiof the energy in the sea of trees will overwhelm a person. Knowledgeiallows you to evade problems to a limited level but carelessness can beidangerous at times. However, Hirai is still a strong person so she is virtually nullifying the energy of that place. Well… it’s a rare case, though.”

“A-Amazing.” qwdhgfuiwefo

Indeed, I had the feeling that that person harbored somethingiwithin. Takenaka, whom Hirai respected, must have been so extraordinary.

“Then are you a strong individual too, Takenaka?”

“I am more ofia protector than a strong individual.”

Something vague drifted behindiTakenaka and fluctuated like a mirage, then unexpectedly came directly in front of my eyes as I was going to ask him what thatimeant. Astonished, I leaned back in my seat all the way and froze with my mouth gaping open.

It was exactly the same thing I had seen that day. With folded arms, the figure stood in an imposing stance with an armor and helmet―

The rough-looking Takenakaiand that armor and helmet, which seemed to be from the Warring States period, looked quite incongruous. Like a shadow of Takenaka, the figure stood silently behind him.

Even afterirubbing my eyes, the helmet and armor did not disappear from my sight. Perhaps noticing my behavior, Takenaka glanced behind him and said to me, “Do you see that?”

I nodded, struggling to speak.

I-I can see it… I can see it!

“W-What… what is that!!”

Was it a stand? Not shared on lightnovelreader.me

Takenaka motionediwith 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 heardisomething about that.

“It was originallyimy grandfather’s guardian spirit, but itipossessed 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 eveniwhen I am in that strong magnetic field.”

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

Like that man who wasitrying 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 afraidiof getting tangled up with a yakuza.

“Specters… caniattach themselves to you if you want them to, right?”

“Well, in this case, this guy is special.” dw

The armor and helmet faded away, as though theyihad disintegrated into the air, and vanished from my sight as Takenaka immediately peered up overheadiand 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 manyiincomprehensible stories in such a short time that it made my stomach growl, I downed my iced coffee in one gulp and threw aimouthful of ice intoimy 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, whichiI had never believed in, actually existed.

And that people who couldisee specters truly existed.

That the convenience storeiwas located in an unbelievable place.

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

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

About how dangerous it was, even Takenaka, whoicould see specters, said that it was extremely dangerous…

After sorting all this out, Iisuddenly recognized something.

Takenakaiand Hiraiiwere fine…

Then, whatiaboutiAoyama…?