Voices were heard from the direction of the main building. Oliver and the others rushed from the base, and as they all hurried towards the main building, the uproar rapidly increased. There was the violent sound of a voice shouting something. And then, as SPR rushed in, they were confronted with the figure of Eijirou, who was raging and grasping a kitchen knife.

The room appeared to be a living room. Taizou and Kazuyasu were holding Eijirou under the arms from behind. In the corner of the room, crouching and attempting to embrace each other, were Hiroe and Teruka, who had frightened expressions.

Eijirou's face was red with blood. There was a deep cut on his forehead and from there blood flowed down, staining half his face, however, Eijirou didn't seem to notice. The tip of the grasped knife was broken and the broken tip was sticking out of the TV frame. Foam had accumulated at the corners of his mouth and he was shouting something, but he wasn't speaking clearly and they couldn't understand what he was saying. He was struggling with his whole body, trying to shake off his restraints. Though both Taizou and Kazuyasu appeared to be considerably heavy people, the momentum seemed liable to shake off the pair who were clinging to him.

"Lin."

When Oliver spoke in a low voice, Lin walked up to Eijirou without a word. Moving very naturally, he didn't seem particularly nervous or enthusiastic. Eijirou glared at Lin. He raised his voice menacingly and bared his teeth. He raised his right arm, which was holding the kitchen knife. Taizou, who clung to his right shoulder, was pitched forward and fell.

"Lin-san—"

John involuntarily cried out, but the truth was there was no reason at all for him to raise his voice. Lin shifted his body and with a *pop*, swept away Eijirou's right hand, which he had thrust out. With excessive force, Lin wound his arm around Eijirou's neck, causing him to slump forward, and that was the end of it. Eijirou's neck was being embraced by Lin and Eijirou had fallen on his backside.

Lin expressionlessly looked back at the others, who were unable to react to the impromptu action.

"I think it would be better if we tied him with something."

Akifumi moved to bound and ran off.

"What exactly happened?"

It was Oliver who calmly spoke. At last taking a breath, Hiroe and Teruka stood up again.

Teruka spoke in a trembling voice, "I'd like to know precisely what happened here. It happened without warning."

Her tone was as if she was blaming Oliver.

"He suddenly became violent?"

"Yes. When we were talking here, he suddenly stood up and… it was a small argument."

"May I ask about the details?"

Raising an arm full of small cuts, Teruka brushed her hair back.

"It was because of his moodiness at mealtime today, I just asked him the reason why. He insisted it was nothing, so in a moment of anger I said, 'If it's nothing, then why did you have such an expression?' and then he suddenly stood up and left the room. Just when I thought he had immediately come back, he was carrying a kitchen knife… I was certain that he had taken leave of his senses."

Eijirou reached out. Lin removed his necktie and fastened Eijirou's arms behind his back.

"Do you have any idea why Eijirou-san was in a bad mood?"

"I don't know. He was normal before the meal. Even in the itaba..."

"Itaba?"

"It's the kitchen. My husband is a chef. Ordinarily, with my father, the pair always prepare the dishes. They completed the preparation from start to end, then he left saying he was going outside for some fresh air. When he returned he was like that."

Akifumi came back with a first aid kit and cargo rope. While seeing to the first aid, Takigawa said,

"I wonder if it's spirit possession."

Oliver nodded.

"I'm sure it is. That's why Mai requested John to perform tonight."

Oliver looked back at Ayako and continued.

"Matsuzaki-san, are the charms ready?"

"Yes, of course. Let me just go back and get them."

Ayako left the room.

"John?"

"Let me get prepared and then I'll start."

...

Eijirou, who had lost consciousness, was carried to a storeroom in the immediate vicinity of the living room, which appeared to be safe even if he rampaged again. Once everyone present had a charm placed on them, John performed the exorcism. It was a little past eleven o'clock when the prayer began.

Everyone watched quietly and before Eijirou, who had been lying limp until then, opened his eyes. He tried to get up as if repelled, but unfortunately for him, his body was wrapped in cargo ropes. Eijirou ground his teeth and, as he rolled around like a caterpillar, he began to growl. The sound rumbled in the back of his throat like what a dog issues when intimidating an enemy.

Oliver widened his eyes.

"...Mai. Step back."

The shadow of something pale overlapped Eijirou's figure was visible. The form of some kind of beast.

"What... is that?" Ayako asked clinging to Takigawa unconsciously.

Suddenly, Oliver looked up at the ceiling. Creaking from the house rattling could be heard as it overlapped with John's prayers.

Oliver's eyes moved in the direction of Akifumi and the others who were looking inside from the entrance of the storeroom.

"Lin, accompany Mai. Take care of the spectators."

"Yes."

With a nod, Lin urged Mai along.

"No, I refuse. Naru, you promised me that you wouldn't do this, this time. Lin, take the others out, I'm staying with Naru."

Lin nodded before slowly proceeded to walk over to where Akifumi and the others were standing in a stupor, visibly surprised. Eijirou burst into laughter. Eijirou was laughing so hard that he was writhing. The character of his unpleasantly loud laughter was completely empty.

Meanwhile, the creaking also continued. The figure of the beast, which seemed to double in Eijirou's body, gradually became darker. It appeared to be a long tailed beast. Although similar to a fox, it was very large since it was taller than a person. It stooped down and its pair of eyes stared steadily in this direction—

As John finished, the beast sprang up. A muted scream arose in the background.

It was like slow motion from there. Jumping high, the beast passed overhead of John. Visibly surprised, John followed it with his eyes. It was heading straight in the direction of Lin and the others. Lin and Takigawa stepped forward. The pair were the reason the beast altered its direction of landing. Straight in line of its altered path was Oliver and Mai. All of a sudden, Oliver crouched low as if to square off. It was at that time.

"Naru! Don't do it!"

Startled, Oliver looked at Lin just for a moment. About to raise his hands, he suddenly stopped. Almost simultaneously as Oliver returned his gaze to the beast, it collided with him.

"Naru!"

Oliver's body was blown back. He immediately slammed into the wall behind, then the figure of the beast disappeared. It looked like time lapse as the head of the beast penetrated Naru's chest, gradually disappearing until the tip of the tail as if slipping through.

"Are you okay!?"

Takigawa ran over. Oliver was kneeling while leaning against the wall. He coughed into his hand.

"Are you injured?"

"...I'm fine."

"You idiot!" Mai screamed. Everyone looked at Mai.

"Taniyama-san?"

Akifumi looked into Mai's face.

"Are you alright?"

"I'm fine. Just angry at a stupid idiot."

Oliver stood up and lightly brushed dust off himself.

"How is Eijirou-san?"

That being said, Ayako rushed over in a panic. Absently, Eijirou raised just his head, wearing a blank look.

"Are you alright?"

Hearing Ayako, Eijirou looked around restlessly.

"What is this... what happened?

...

After going outside in the evening, Eijirou didn't at all remember the events of that time onward. Lin also tried to play the video from during the prayer, but there was a problem where the image got interrupted from around when the figure of the fox-like beast appeared.

"The image doesn't show up."

Lin nodded.

"It's probably a spirit barrier. Since the tape is running properly. All the needles on the other instruments are off the scale."

The screens, which have numbers lined up are filled with the letters, "ERROR." And even the thermography image jumped. This isn't a trivial matter by any means.

Takigawa spoke in a low voice,

"It appeared to be a mere fox, but it might not be such an easy opponent…"

Lin looked back with a questioning look.

"Naru?"

Oliver was resting his elbow on the table and covering his face.

"What's wrong!?"

"...Nothing, my back just hurts a little."

"Are you okay?"

"Nothing serious. —Lin, I'm sorry, but I'm going to take a nap."

Lin frowned slightly and nodded. His complexion didn't look particularly bad. Oliver stood up and Ayako stood up as well.

"Are you really okay? Are you sore anywhere other than your back?"

While asking those things, she proceeded to follow after Oliver.

Mai quickly grabbed Ayako's arm, preventing her from leaving the room.

"Lin, please go knock out Naru."

"What?"

"The fox spirit didn't pass through Naru, Lin. It possessed him. Naru took off his charm."

Lin remained in shock for a moment before racing after Oliver.

Mai turned back to the monitors.

It was the video of the shop corridor. In the center of the screen, the distant figures of people were visible. Quietly Mai watched as Lin chopped his hand on the back of Oliver's neck and then caught him as Oliver dropped unconscious.

"What's happened?"

Mai was spoken to by Takigawa before he spotted the image.

"John! Come on!"

Takigawa's voice was desperate.

By the time they had rushed into the hallway in a panic, Oliver was being carried back by Lin.

"Bou-san, what happened to Naru?" John asked.

"Lin one shot him with a knife hand strike."

Saying this, he hit his neck with the side of his palm in imitation.

"Why…!?" Ayako stood by watching Lin, frightened.

"That thing from earlier. It didn't pass through the wall. It went into Naru." Mai replied.

"...What?"

"He's been possessed. It had to have been a strong-willed spirit in order to possess Naru." Lin confirmed.

Takigawa made a bitter expression. "This thing is going to be troublesome."

...

For now, they carried Oliver and laid him down in the room adjoining the base.

"What is that thing?" Ayako's asked.

"I'm telling you, it's trouble. It came out of nowhere. It was awful!"

"Wouldn't it perhaps be better if he was tied like Eijirou-san was?" John asked Takigawa

Takigawa frowned. "Tie up Naru-bou?"

"I think it will be useless." Lin replied calmy.

"Why?"

To Takigawa's question, Lin, remaining absolutely expressionless, answered,

"In the case of being tied, it would be impossible to stop Naru."

Takigawa tilted his head.

"...What do you mean?"

"It's as you've heard." Lin said.

"I think that perhaps the person who has possessed Naru also does not yet quite understand how to use him. Otherwise I would never have been able to knock him out so quickly."

"Okay, what does that mean?"

"Thus, it's as you've heard. When that thing learns to use Naru fully, we have no countermeasures. It's useless to try to tie or confine him. We— and also Naru himself, would not be able to survive."

They directed their gazes to Oliver, who was involuntarily sleeping.

"If I ask you what that means, can you tell me?"

"I'm sincerely sorry, but this is my own discretion."

Crestfallen, Takigawa dropped his shoulders and sighed once.

"Come on..."

"I understand your displeasure, but I cannot say. You have no choice but to believe me here. Believe me that Naru is a more dangerous man than you can imagine."

Ayako looked at Mai who watched Oliver sleeping calmly.

"Answer one thing. Are you strong in a fight?"

Takigawa asked and Lin readily answered.

"Presumably."

"Compared to Naru?"

Lin expressionlessly declared, "If we fought to the death, it would be an overwhelming victory for Naru."

Takigawa looked at Lin intently, then released a deep, deep sigh.

"...Got it. In other words, it's useless even if we wrap him in a bamboo mat and throw him in the storeroom, right? You're saying Naru is a dangerous person. Which means we have no choice but to try to do an exorcism before it's too late."

Lin looked at Takigawa.

"I think it's impossible even if Brown-san tries."

"Why?"

"A human being of the type such as Naru, in exchange for being difficult to possess, is unmanageable once possessed."

"Type such as Naru..."

"The type that have excellent self-control are very strong-willed. If we fecklessly meddle and lose control, it will be seriously dangerous. Especially for Naru."

"—Well, what should we do?"

"I don't know."

"Can I speak now?" Mai asked coldly.

The others looked to her in surprise.

"We will not be performing anymore exorcisms tonight. Instead, in the morning, Ayako & I will go to the shrine across the cove and Ayako will use those trees to perform her shintos. Once she has finished that, Naru will wake up again. In the meantime, Lin, please set your shiki to watch over Naru. Takigawa please make sure there is a barrier around our base as I don't know when that stupid piece of wood will try to wake him up with it's zombies and I'd rather be prepared than dead."

"I'll leave my shiki." Lin nodded after a moment.

"Is it reliable?" Takigawa asked.

"If I leave them all."

"All?"

When Takigawa asked, Lin replied,

"There are five shiki in my possession. In each, there is a strong point and there is a weak point. The reason is that they are intended to complement each other in five. If I leave them all, it's perfectly safe, but instead, I'm not capable of doing much else."

"In other words, you'll be completely powered-down."

"That's the general idea."

Takigawa nodded. "Then I will set the barrier. Ayako, can you put some charms up around the rooms as an extra precaution?"

"Yes. Mai... how did you know about the shrine and that I need trees?" Ayako looked at Mai confused.

"I've lived this case before and I'd really like to avoid the zombies if we can." It was all Mai would say on the matter.

...

Mai was running down a path at night.

She was nearly at wit's end and running with desperation. 'Oh god,' Mai muttered over and over in her mind. (Oh god?) While running away, she steadily began to feel sorrowful. 'How did it end up like this?' Mai thought. (Ah, the dream. I forgot it was in first person view) She wondered what the hell she should do now.

It was a path in the forest. Mai ran and ran, and when she escaped the forest, she came out to an excessively small open area. Very slightly, all over the grove clearing, there was overgrown summer grass. There were figures visible there. One was standing and the other was lying down. Mai stopped as if sewn into place, thinking, 'Oh god,' once more.

Standing there was Oliver. No, Gene. Basking in the moonlight, his complexion was white as if he wasn't of this world. He was holding a knife in his hand. The blade was wet with crimson and droplets still dripped from the edge of the blade.

"I killed him."

Gene said. Lying there was Akifumi. Mai closed her eyes tightly (It's just a dream. Just a dream). There were no signs of breathing. Mai covered her face. This..is the end.

"I had no choice."

Gene said and threw away the knife. He held out his white left hand.

"...why?"

Mai couldn't take his hand.

"When I came, he was here. I thought you betrayed me, Mai."

"There's no way I would do such a thing."

"But he's richer and also has status."

"That's completely irrelevant."

Mai covered her face once again.

"I thought you betrayed me, Mai. After all, I thought you chose the better man."

"But there's no way..." (stupid love triangle.)

"If not, then why did he come here?"

"...to do something like this. I told you I'd run away with you. Why didn't you believe me?"

"Only you should have known about this place."

"The letter was secretly switched. I was waiting in a completely different place..."

Mai took Gene's hand. Gene pulled her towards himself.

"...what are we going to do now?"

"I killed someone, I can't run away."

"...death?"

"Yeah. Even if I surrender, I'll be killed anyway."

"...we'll go together."

When Mai said this, Gene smiled. Silently, he lead her by the hand. Still being lead by the hand, Mai began to run.

Mai ran with Gene. When she looked back, pursuers could be seen. They ran and ran until they finally arrived at a shrine. (The shrine instead of the sea. The dream switched again.)

Barely managing to reach the shrine, Mai's legs lost their strength. Gene tugged, but she couldn't run anymore. From somewhere, Takigawa appeared standing toward one side.

"There's nothing else we can do. We're surrounded."

Gene overlooked the surrounding area.

"This far?"

"What will become of us?"

Ayako said this. Lin was toward one side.

"We must prepare ourselves."

People suddenly came out from the surrounding forest. Mai didn't know the number. Although they all had swords, there was no way out for them. With a hopeless feeling, she watched those people rush towards them.

—This… betrayal.

"Always."

Someone said. Mai nodded and clenched her fists.

"They will always be cursed until the end of days…!"

Eijirou, who swung up his sword, had approached. His drawn sword gleamed and Mai just stared as it swung down.

Mai sat up. Another dream change.

The inside of the room was dark. On the wide eight tatami mats, there were two futons. A sleeping Ayako was visible.

The paper sliding door that was supposed to be closed was open, and the bright, clear moonlight was penetrating through the window of the veranda.

There was a loud *bang* from the direction of the window. Mai lifted her head. The windowpane thudded once again. Someone was throwing pebbles.

She stood up and went to open the window. Beneath the window, the water surface of the cove was far below. Pitch black water extended, mirror-like. From the surface of the water, innumerable white lights were floating up with the speed of falling snow. The very dimly lit lights, which resembled spirit lights, disappeared straight into the sky.

The figure of a person on the surface of the water was visible… it was Gene. He raised his head and looked up at Mai, then called, "Come on. She climbed over the window frame and jumped down as if drawn. It was no big deal. Since this is a dream.

Mai gently descended and landed on the surface of the water. It felt like she had stepped on glass barefoot. A number of lights went floating into the sky. Gene smiled. His warm smile appeared slightly troubled.

"It's become serious, hasn't it?"

Gene nodded. Then,

"...did you see the dream?"

He asked.

"Dream? Perhaps the one where you and I commit lover's suicide?"

Gene nodded and smiled as if relieved. Then he tilted his head a little.

"...were you scared?"

"Nah. Not really. I've dreamt it before. Though I really thought you had stopped trying to pretend to be Naru."

"If that's the case, I'm glad."

Gene smiled. His eyes calmed and his expression became exceptionally beautiful.

"Then let's check out this stupid god, Gene."

The cove was completely surrounded by cliffs. One of the cliffs was disconnected by a thin, V-shaped crack, and from there the cove joined with the sea. In the thin alley, rocks projected from the cliff as if fighting each other, and waves scarcely shifted the surface of the water. When Mai looked up behind her, the building was visible, which jutted out atop linked timber similar to the stage of Kiyomizu Temple. It was a rather spectacular view. An infinite number of white lights softly rose up and crossed over there. A large dark hole was visible in the stone of the crack. The cave Akifumi spoke about. The sheer cliff seemed to be made of really hard rock. In the rock face, a depression, as if scooped out, led on from the cave entrance. It couldn't have been made naturally. Someone must have carved out a pathway. It was just wide enough for a person to walk alone, and when Mai followed it with her gaze, it soon became a stone stairway continuing until the top of the cliff.

Viewing her surroundings, small lights crossed before her eyes.

It truly seemed like snow.

"So many spirits."

"Yes. They seem to be drifting spirits."

Gene replied and started walking toward the cave. He went to the cave entrance with Mai following.

The cave wasn't that big. It was less than half the size of a gymnasium. The ground of the cave was one meter or higher than the surface of the water. Stones, which seem to be scattered about, were lying to one side. The cave curved in the shape of a 'く' and the sea could be seen on the other side. Gentle waves rolled across the surface of the water, from which various sized rocks protruded, and broke onto the shore. The ground of the seaward side was a little lower. The waves had reached up to the entrance of the cave. A small shrine was built in the innermost bend of the cave. Then, as if riding a wave, small, white lights blew into the cave from the entrance of the seaward side. After they passed through the inside of the cave and exited to the cove, they blew upwards and went up high.

Mai reached out her hand to touch a small light with her fingertip. There was the sensation of something splashing on the end of her finger, and she somehow understood this was a fish.

"So, there's the shrine."

Mai said and looked at the shrine. It was a small, old shrine. Somehow, it appeared to be a little bit distorted.

"Sacred ground huh."

Gene nodded.

"I don't understand it well, either. It's not a bad place, but it doesn't seem like a good place... yeah, it's a sign of sacred ground."

"Hmm... You know it's almost time for Naru to find your body, right Gene?"

"Yeah, I know."

—Then Mai really woke up.

The moment Mai opened her eyes, she shifted her head while still lying down. The paper sliding doors were properly closed. The bluish light of predawn was shining in across the white paper.