Of course, after that, it becomes the private business of the Shimizu family.
*
"So the reason why Madam Shimizu was disappointed when she saw the person who arrived wasn't Iijima Ritsu, was because she hoped Iijima Ritsu could help her break the curse?" Kisaragi Chiyo finally had a basic understanding of the situation.
No, the mystery is only halfway solved." Hara Kenji didn't feel that things were clear yet. "Why did Shimizu Kagami appear in the state of a Wandering Soul?
Hara Kenji watched Kisaragi Chiyo leave the room after her conversation with Madam Shimizu, floated after her.
And this domain within the Shimizu residence—it's clearly not something that Shimizu Kagami or Shimizu Megumi could achieve on their own.
Hmm.. it's quite easy to understand when you think about it." Kisaragi Chiyo gave a light laugh. "I was a bit confused at first too. After all, a Wandering Soul is ultimately just an illusion that can be observed by people; it's impossible for it to possess such power.
But after seeing the guardian deity enshrined by the Shimizu family, my doubts were resolved.
Are you saying this domain was actually created by the Rat?" Hara Kenji frowned, maintaining a distance of three meters from Kisaragi Chiyo. "But why would it do that? Just to trap us here?
"Don't you understand yet, Hara?" Kisaragi Chiyo stopped with a hint of amusement, turning back to look at the Dark-purple-eyed Wraith, who looked lost in thought.
“This is a space created specifically because of your presence.” A smile played on Kisaragi Chiyo's lips, a hint of mirth danced in her misty-gray eyes. “For a house god, an uninvited Wraith is nothing less than a blatant provocation.”
"Am I not also a guest who came here with you?" Hara Kenji raised his eyebrows, appearing somewhat dissatisfied with Kisaragi Chiyo's statement.
Oh?" Kisaragi Chiyo gave him a slow glance. "Wasn't I the only one invited?
"Not a human, Dark-purple-eyed Wraith." He deliberately placed heavy emphasis on the word 'human.'
"Is that supposed to be a joke?" Hara Kenji let out a low laugh after hearing that.
"If you say so," Kisaragi Chiyo said, stopping in her tracks. They had already reached the corridor near the garden; looking up, the continuous heavy rain had gradually lessened and would likely stop in a short while.
"This is good news in its own way," Hara Kenji said, glancing at Kisaragi Chiyo. He hadn't forgotten how Kisaragi Chiyo had looked when they were leaving—after seeing that it was raining outside, his expression had been so solemn, as if he were heading into an exam, that he had nearly burst out laughing.
Even though this person sometimes looked like a mushroom growing in a dark corner on a rainy day, he unexpectedly hated the rain.
"As for Shimizu Kagami falling into a deep sleep, I'm afraid it was also the work of the Rat." Kisaragi Chiyo quickly ran into Date Wataru, who had come looking for him, learned from him that they had already found Shimizu Kagami.
That child was curled up in the washitsu where they had met before. Beneath that pale white tatami mat, there was a square alcove reserved for a winter hearth, a space just large enough to hide a frail child.
When he was found, it was surprising that he was merely in a deep sleep and had not suffered any injuries.
"Speaking of which, it was quite miraculous." Date Wataru spoke to Kisaragi Chiyo in a rather relaxed tone, recounting the process of how they had searched for the person.
We searched almost the entire Shimizu residence without finding Shimizu Kagami, but in the end, we found the sleeping Shimizu Kagami thanks to a tip from a little white Rat.
After finding Shimizu Kagami, everyone tacitly agreed not to mention how he had suddenly disappeared before their eyes in such an abnormal manner.
As for that book, it was ultimately found on the ceiling of that Japanese-style room," Date Wataru said, letting out a sigh. "By the time it was found, it had been gnawed to pieces by rats, its original appearance was almost unrecognizable.
But it wasn't without its rewards.
“We obtained a clue regarding a member of that church from Shimizu Kagami; it was that person who handed the book to Shimizu Kagami.”
As long as you follow the method above, you can resurrect the dead.
As for what the method above entails, it is naturally to sacrifice one life in exchange for another.
"It's complete nonsense." As Date Wataru spoke, his seaweed-like eyebrows furrowed deeply, his face filled with intense loathing for cults.
Um," although the other party was acting very friendly, Kisaragi Chiyo still asked an unnecessary question, "Is this kind of information something you can tell an uninvolved person like me?
You wouldn't exactly be considered an uninvolved person." Date Wataru smiled upon hearing Kisaragi-kun's description. "You should be considered a witness to the incident as well.
"Is that so?" Although Kisaragi Chiyo still harbored doubts, she still chose to accept Date Wataru's answer.
Then, as a witness, do I still need to go to the Metropolitan Police Department to give a statement?
So that's what you're worried about?" Date Wataru gave him a strange look, then reached out to pat his shoulder. "Don't worry, since it doesn't involve much, there's no need to make another trip to the Metropolitan Police Department. I'll just ask you a few questions in a moment, we'll call it a statement taken at the scene.
However, it's also for other things we might need to ask later," Date Wataru said, naturally pulling out his phone. "Let's exchange contact information first.
Kisaragi Chiyo: ".."
After hearing Date Wataru's words, Kisaragi Chiyo fell silent, while Hara Kenji, standing behind him, let out an undisguised sneer.
It was simply because just the day before yesterday, Kisaragi Chiyo had used her own number to bravely report a lead to the Metropolitan Police Department. At the time, she hadn't been worried at all that the police would trace it back to her personally, she never expected that she would have to face the risk of being exposed by a wolf today.
Author's Note:
----------------------
Thanks to all the little angels for the collections, mwah 033330
Chapter 24
Kisaragi Chiyo remained silent for a long time, so long that Date Wataru began to wonder if he had said something wrong, before Kisaragi Chiyo finally averted her gaze as if nothing had happened.
I accidentally fell into the pond in the courtyard just now." Kisaragi Chiyo raised her hand and shook her still-damp haori. "My phone also got water in it just now, so it won't turn on for the time being.
"I see," Date Wataru nodded, not asking why the other person had run out into the courtyard during such heavy rain.
"Do you need to borrow a change of clothes from Mr. Mitsui?" Date Wataru looked at Kisaragi Chiyo, whose hair was still damp, frowned with a look of concern on his face.
If you wear wet clothes like that, you'll catch a cold, won't you?
"It's fine." Kisaragi Chiyo refused Date Wataru's suggestion without a moment's hesitation. Although wearing damp clothes was uncomfortable, she would rather not wear someone else's clothes.
Just thinking about it for a moment made him feel quite uncomfortable all over.
"I won't catch a cold," Kisaragi Chiyo replied with absolute certainty, clearly possessing great confidence in his own constitution.
One had to know that he had not fallen ill for nearly ten consecutive years, so he naturally wouldn't catch a cold or run a fever from such a minor accident.
"Alright." Although Date Wataru didn't entirely agree with Kisaragi Chiyo's persistence, he didn't bother to keep persuading him, instead turning to bring up another matter.
Kisaragi-kun, did you drive here? Or..
"I took the bus." Kisaragi Chiyo doesn't have a driver's license, of course, she can't afford the costs of buying a car, its maintenance, insurance.
"In that case, do you need me to drive you home?" Date Wataru flashed his signature, hearty smile. His voice was deep and powerful; unlike his somewhat stern and fierce appearance, even Kisaragi Chiyo, despite her potential density, could feel that he was likely truly a very good policeman.
"I told you so." Hara Kenji crossed his arms, hovering in the air beside them.
The Dark-purple-eyed Wraith was already quite tall, but now, relying on his anti-scientific abilities, he looked down upon everyone from a position of absolute superiority.
This officer looks like a good man.
Kisaragi Chiyo lifted her gaze, cast a glance at the Dark-purple-eyed Wraith that was nearly floating up to the ceiling, then withdrew her gaze.
"Then I'll leave it to you, Officer Date." Kisaragi Chiyo nodded slightly and expressed her thanks to Date Wataru.
"You're welcome." Date Wataru raised his hand to scratch the top of his head. He wasn't sure if it was just his imagination, but he had been feeling a chill coming from directly above his head for a while now.
*
The books Iijima Ritsu's grandfather lent to the Shimizu family were not many, only three in total. Kisaragi Chiyo leafed through them casually; they were mostly about Onmyodo and legends of ghosts and gods. Thinking about it, the person who borrowed these books back then must have been hoping to find a way to solve the curse brought by the Rat within them.
Thinking of this, one couldn't help but sigh at how much fate plays tricks on people.
Kisaragi Chiyo left after saying goodbye to Mr. Mitsui, before her departure, Mr. Mitsui accompanied Kisaragi Chiyo and Shimizu to the entrance.
Shimizu Kagami seemed to have no major physical issues, likely because of the protection from the Rat; even though he had been in a deep sleep for more than half a month, he was still lively and energetic once he regained consciousness. However, he himself didn't seem to remember much of what happened during the time he was an incarnation of a Wandering Soul.
As for the matter of obtaining the book from the Church of Hope cultists, Shimizu Kagami had a very deep impression.
However, while Date Wataru was taking a statement from Shimizu Kagami, Kisaragi Chiyo did not participate; instead, she was more interested in the books in the Shimizu warehouse.
While waiting for Mr. Mitsui to get the book for him, Kisaragi Chiyo caught sight of a book being used casually to prop up a cabinet; it was a scholar's notes regarding folklore and urban legends.
Kisaragi Chiyo had read the first volume, which was part of a collection, from her teacher, but because it was a private notebook, her teacher had never been able to find the second volume. Kisaragi Chiyo had always felt a sense of regret because of this; that restless feeling of wanting to know how the story continued was not easy to bear at all.
Moreover, the scholar who wrote these notes on rural folklore and legends had passed away several years ago, so until Kisaragi Chiyo saw the second volume in the Shimizu warehouse, she had once thought she was forever destined to never know the ending.
“If Kisaragi-kun likes it, then I'll give it to you.” Mr. Mitsui acted very magnanimous; he had never been interested in these things, the more important books in the warehouse had long since been sorted out and packed. What remained now were just some trivial items waiting to be recycled.
So, upon seeing the expression of interest Kisaragi Chiyo showed toward one of the books, Mr. Mitsui simply wrapped it up and gave it to Kisaragi Chiyo as a gift.
"Thank you so much!" Kisaragi Chiyo's voice carried a rare tremor of emotion as he accepted the wrapped books from Mr. Mitsui with unusual solemnity. Then, as if handling a rare treasure, he carefully cradled them in his arms, holding them tightly against his chest.
Seeing Kisaragi Chiyo's happiness, Hara Kenji's mood also became involuntarily pleasant, he followed the young man's brisk pace ahead with a smile.
Even with a safe distance of three meters between them, the faint fragrance lingering in the air still brushed against his nose, captivating his soul.
Hara Kenji subconsciously licked his canine teeth, his gaze drawn to the swaying silver long earrings, naturally following them down to the section of pale neck that stood out against the raven-colored hair.
As if sensing something, Kisaragi Chiyo stopped and turned around, her gaze colliding directly with a pair of smiling eyes that were as calm as an abyssal vortex, yet surging with hidden undercurrents.
The Dark-purple-eyed Wraith, whose gaze had been caught, tilted its head and put on an innocent, guileless expression, as if silently asking Kisaragi Chiyo if there was something she needed.
Kisaragi Chiyo: ".."
Forget it, let him stare if he wants to; it's not like he has anything to lose.
*
When Kisaragi Chiyo got into the car, she discovered that, in addition to Date Wataru and Takagi Wataru, there were two other people present.
"Kisaragi-kun." Amuro Tooru nodded to him, treating it as a greeting.
Conan, sitting in the middle, was actually quite interested in the books in Kisaragi Chiyo's arms, asked Kisaragi Chiyo in a sweet, curious voice, "Kisaragi-kun, what kind of books are these?"
“Hmm.. Storybooks and special skill books?” Kisaragi Chiyo thought for a few seconds before a few words popped out of his mouth. Fearing that Conan might not believe him, he handed one of the books related to Onmyodo to Conan.
Conan, who had flipped through a few pages only to find that he couldn't understand a single thing: ".."
"It really is a special skill book.." After flipping through a few pages and finding himself completely unable to understand it, Conan decided to let it go. Rather than believing in such things, even after witnessing something quite unscientific, the young detective decided to use his scientific methods to explain these phenomena.
"Rather than this matter." Sitting side by side, Mr. Amuro Tooru's lips curled into a gentle arc, his beautiful blonde hair appearing to shimmer even in such gloomy weather.
Compared to Kisaragi Chiyo, who sat beside him with a gloomy temperament and hair covering one eye, he looked more like a dark mushroom growing from a corner.
"Kisaragi-kun only arrived in Tokyo the day before yesterday, right?" That impeccable, sunny, cheerful older brother-next-door expression has appeared; it's enough to make the interior of the police car overflow with sunshine.
"So this Detective Amuro has this kind of personality??" Because the seats were full, the Dark-purple-eyed Wraith, now occupying the roof, passed his head through the roof from top to bottom, creating a bizarre sight of a handsome head embedded in the middle of the car's roof.
"I get the feeling that something is a bit strange." Hara Kenji narrowed his eyes, observing the smiling and gentle-looking Amuro Tooru with interest. That sense of slight surprise was much like how Kisaragi Chiyo felt when she would greet him upon seeing a little mouse at the Shimizu residence.
Perhaps it was someone he knew in his past life, Hara Kenji thought.
But he didn't dwell too much on the question. After all, he didn't remember, he didn't remember, he didn't remember, he didn't remember.. So, would anyone still remember him?
"What is it you want to say, Amuro-kun?" Kisaragi Chiyo noticed a flash of excessive, deathly loneliness on Hara Kenji's face, but the next second, when she wanted to examine it more closely, it had vanished instantly.
What is it?