Chapter 83: Kagome Hall (Part 11)
Chapter 83: Kagome Hall (Part 11)
“Yeah, that’s right—we should go to my place now and get people to help.”
Old Man Saeki finally snapped out of it. “I’ve got a phone there too. We can call the police… Young Master Shun isn’t the killer, and right now, he’s missing. He might’ve been taken by that murderer.”
“Alright! Then everyone should stay inside Kagome Hall. It’s best if we all gather in the Activity Room.”
Fujimatsuri Shigeyoshi agreed with Saeki, his tone carrying a note of resolve. He also didn’t believe his kind-hearted uncle could be a killer.
“I advise you all… not to leave this place. Going outside Kagome Hall might be even more dangerous.”
Toriumi Arisu, who had been silent all along, straightened up and said something that shocked everyone. She bluntly told everyone present that leaving Kagome Hall would bring disaster.
To the already agitated crowd, it sounded like she was casting a curse right then and there.
Saeki Wakae seemed frightened by her words and hid behind Madam Esumi.
Utsumi, Shikatori, and the others frowned at the young girl’s statement.
“Sorry! Sorry! My daughter has no sense of the mood; she’s just messing around…”
Seeing the situation turn awkward, Toriumi Kotaro quickly covered her mouth and pulled her onto the sofa.
(Hey, hey! Miss Arisu, can’t you read the room before speaking?)
(Even if you say that… I’m telling the truth. I don’t think anyone can leave the area outside Kagome Hall.)
The Toriumi father and daughter whispered quietly for a moment. Arisu shook off her father Kotaro’s hand and then sat quietly to the side.
Fujimatsuri Shigeyoshi and Saeki began discussing departure arrangements, while the others moved from the main hall to the Activity Room.
…
After Fujimatsuri Shigeyoshi and the butler Saeki left, Kagome Hall returned to silence.
Everyone gathered in the Activity Room. The warm light overhead brightened the entire hall.
As long as there was electricity and the lights were on, people naturally felt comforted and warm.
Madam Esumi and the young maid Wakae brought in prepared ginger tea, green tea, and coffee. After drinking the hot beverages, the mood in Kagome Hall gradually improved.
Utsumi, Shikatori, and the others relaxed a bit and started playing cards, but they still looked worried and distracted.
Fang Jing sat on a nearby chair, gazing up at the night sky while pondering the entire incident.
—The grandfather clock had stopped at 3:30.
—Inside Kagome Hall, it felt like time had frozen.
—Hirakawa Shun returned late at night, around 1 a.m.
—Old Man Qiao died an unnatural death. The time was unknown, but it was around 9–12 hours ago. The body was stiff.
(The information is too fragmented; there’s no clear direction to analyze.)
Kagome Hall had already descended into a supernatural paranormal event.
The faint, hazy yellow moon in the night sky outside the window could attest to that.
He didn’t understand why this supernatural phenomenon occurred, nor did he know… what mechanism triggered it.
“Paranormal events aren’t entirely without rules. At the very least, the Nishizuka family triggered the apartment’s Curse only after entering Room 405 of Ichinose Apartment.”
“The incident at Sagirimiyama’s Defiled Temple was the same—it happened after I stumbled in. And it wasn’t just me who experienced it; those college students were unlucky enough to get pulled in too.”
“So, what caused this anomaly in Kagome Hall? This isn’t some haunted house, and the Hirakawa Family has lived here for so many years without issue. It couldn’t just suddenly go wrong today. There must be some source that triggered this phenomenon.”
——————————
“Slap!”
Shikatori frustratedly threw his cards on the table.
“I’m done. I have no energy at all; I keep losing.”
“Hey, hey! Shikatori, I was about to win that round.”
Toriumi Kotaro spoke up, sounding a bit annoyed.
“Fine! Honestly, I’m a bit tired too. Madam Esumi, do you have any alcohol to drink?”
Utsumi put his cigarette in the glass ashtray, his tone weary.
“We still have gin and absinthe in the hall.”
“Please bring me a glass of absinthe with ice.”
“Certainly.”
Madam Esumi clasped her hands and gave a slight nod.
“Granny Esumi, I’d like some snacks. It’s boring just sitting here.”
“Ms. Fuyuko, please come with me.”
Madam Esumi and Nagakabe Fuyuko then left the Activity Room.
“Damn it! What’s going on? How could Qiao Weng die, and how could Shun be the killer…”
“Shikatori, we don’t have a conclusion yet. Weren’t you just saying you believed Hirakawa couldn’t be the murderer?”
The two spoke in hushed voices.
“Of course I believe in Shun, but the evidence is stacked against him. What are we going to say when the police arrive? Someone’s dead, and he’s the only one missing.”
“The police will figure it out. There’s no need to worry.”
“No, Utsumi, think about it carefully. Maybe he really did it… After all, that incident, and before that, he never agreed to Old Man Qiao’s request.”
“Ahem!”
Hirakawa Tsurutada, who had been sitting in his wheelchair, coughed twice. His gaze shifted over, slowly fixing on the two of them.
Shikatori and Utsumi fell silent, and the atmosphere grew awkward.
“Mr. Tsurutada, are you okay?”
The young maid Wakae hurried over. Tsurutada whispered something in her ear, which left her looking puzzled.
“What’s wrong, Wakae?”
Madam Esumi and Fuyuko returned with the food cart. The young maid quickly relayed Tsurutada’s message to her.
“I understand.”
She efficiently arranged the items on the cart, then bowed to everyone.
“Sorry, Young Master Tsurutada isn’t feeling well. He wants to return to his room to rest. If anyone needs anything, Mr. Watanabe and Ms. Fuyuko, Wakae might be too busy, so please help if needed.”
“Wait, Madam Esumi, won’t it be unsafe if you’re alone with Mr. Tsurutada…”
Watanabe stood up.
“It’s fine. I’ll lock the door properly. If you need anything, you can come find me anytime.”
With that, Madam Esumi pushed Tsurutada’s wheelchair and left.
Shikatori and Utsumi exchanged glances.
Just then, Ms. Mifuko also stood up.
“Sorry, but I won’t be staying either. The Activity Room is a bit too cold; it’s better to go back to my room.”
“Ms. Fumiko, it’s not a good idea to leave now!”
Nagakabe Fuyuko spoke up anxiously, “Isn’t it always like that in mystery novels? When everyone splits up, the murderer kills them one by one.”
“Hohoho! That’s just in movies and books… How about this, little Fuyuko, come keep me company. I happen to have some rare photos of Yaiba-kun and Rogers.”
In the end, Fumiko and Nagakabe Fuyuko left too, and the Activity Room grew quiet.
“Um… I’m heading back to my room as well.”
After sitting for a while, Shikatori got up with a gloomy expression and went upstairs.
With almost everyone gone, Utsumi sighed and set down his glass, looking troubled.
“Great, now everyone’s left.”
“It’s okay, Utsumi. If there’s alcohol, I’ll stay and keep you company.”
Toriumi Kotaro picked up a glass too.
Fang Jing thought for a moment and decided this was a good opportunity. He wanted to go to the Collection Room again—partly to examine Old Man Qiao’s body more closely, and partly to search for other Collection Artifacts that might contain Yin Energy.
“Watanabe, I think I left something in the Basement downstairs. Can you come with me to look for it?”
“The Basement?”
Watanabe shook his head. “I don’t have the key either.”
“I plan to ask Madam Esumi, but going to the Collection Room alone feels a bit inappropriate.”
Since he was heading to the Hirakawa Family’s Collection Room, acting alone might raise suspicions, so he decided to bring Watanabe along.
Watanabe was Fujimatsuri’s good friend and had a good relationship with the Hirakawa Family. Madam Esumi trusted him.
“Alright.”
Watanabe seemed a bit reluctant but agreed to his request.
The two first went to Madam Esumi to get the key, then headed to the Back Room’s Basement.
“Whoa! This place is really dark.”
Watanabe went down the stairs first, and Fang Jing followed. Once in the Basement, Fang Jing walked straight toward Old Man Qiao’s body.
“Is… is this Mr. Qiao? To end up like this… it’s awful!”
This was Watanabe’s first time seeing a corpse, and his face turned pale.
Fang Jing crouched down, examined Old Man Qiao’s body, and pressed his hand against the skin.
He wasn’t a professional; he only knew some basics about identifying corpses and couldn’t find many details from the body.
After inspecting the corpse, he stood up and began touching the Collection Artifacts in the Collection Room.
Watanabe, feeling uncomfortable, sat outside the Collection Room. After seeing the body, he had no desire to help inside.
“Nishizuka, aren’t you looking for something?”
“It might be around here…”
Fang Jing gave a vague reply, reaching out to touch various antique Collection Artifacts to see if he could gather more Yin Energy… In the end, he actually found a spout-mouthed copper pot and absorbed 10 points of Growth Value from it.
“Not a bad haul…”
In total, he collected 15 points of Yin Energy, which put him in a fairly good mood.
Suddenly, he heard a strange “thump,” and the light bulb above abruptly went out.
At the same time, a piercing scream echoed through Kagome Hall.