Chapter 39: Listening to Uncle Hachishiki tell stories of the past...

After knocking on the door to signal their arrival, Tsukino and Chiya stood at the entrance waiting. However, before anyone from inside the mansion could open the door, Ouma Kokichi pushed the door open.

"Wow, I just tried it casually, and it actually opened!"

Wang Ma Xiaoji, who had successfully pushed open the door, did not swagger in. Instead, he first peeked inside and curiously looked around.

"The last time I was here was the last time! Even though so much time has passed, Uncle Hachishiki still hasn't gotten into the habit of locking the door~ He's really carefree."

"Um……"

Tsukino and Chiya also felt that this wasn't a good habit, but...

"Perhaps it's because the Kujo Mansion is located in such a remote area that there's not much to worry about thieves? Generally speaking, unless you know about it beforehand, no one would be able to find this mansion from this grove of trees."

"Hehe, that's hard to say."

Wang Ma Xiaoji's smiling eyes fell on the decorations inside the mansion.

"Because as the head of an evil secret society, I've memorized this address perfectly~ Hmm... Let me see, the Kujo family truly lives up to its reputation as a family with a rich history, quite a few things here look quite valuable... Oh, Uncle, long time no see~!"

"It's been a long time, Ohma, Tsukino. Please come in."

Kujo Mansion is quiet most of the time. Currently, only Yashiki Kazuo lives in the huge mansion, so whenever he hears some noise at the door, the mansion's owner knows that it is probably his friends who were once connected by the mark coming to visit... What a pitifully small network of relationships.

Moreover, Tsukino and Chiya had already discussed with him that they would come with Ohma Kokichi today, so Yashiki Kazuo was well prepared.

"And... I heard what you just said."

Kazuo Yashiki is a middle-aged man with a beard. Judging from his appearance, he does indeed have the air of a somewhat decadent middle-aged man. However, he is actually quite handsome, so calling him a "handsome uncle" is perfectly acceptable.

Judging from their ages... although Tsukino and Chiya weren't sure of Yashiki Kazuo's exact age, they were certain that Ouma Kokichi's use of "uncle" was appropriate.

Because of the mark on his body and a request from Konoeen Academy, Yashiki Kazuo had spent some time with students of this age, so he had long since experienced being called "uncle" and had become accustomed to the title.

Wang Ma Xiaoji walked through the door and into the house with complete ease, showing no signs of the awkwardness of being only visiting for the second time and not being very familiar with the host family: "Hmm, should I say that the uncle is brave or honest? He actually dared to admit to me, the 'Ultimate Mastermind,' that he had heard about my dark and evil criminal plans... It seems that I have to consider killing him to silence him now!"

Kazuo Yashiki expressed his incomprehension of the thinking of young students: "Generally speaking, shouldn't the first reaction be to stop doing it once others find out about the plan?"

"Huh? Does this 'eccentric doctor' think I'm just an ordinary person?"

"Wait a minute, Ouma, have you heard about that title too?"

"Hehe, after all, I'm currently being haunted by weirdos. To know my enemy, I've subscribed to Ozukino and the 'Monthly OOPARTS' magazine that she recommended to me, which tells the story of an old man's heroic battle against weirdos!"

So of course I also know the nickname given to Yashiki Kazuo in that magazine after he experienced the Death Mark and a series of other events.

Tsukino and Chiya, who had sat down on the sofa, nodded to Yashiki Kazuo, indicating that this was correct.

In fact, long before they met Yashiki Kazuo, Tsukino and Chiya were already loyal readers of Monthly OOPARTS.

It has to be said that the saying "one is influenced by one's company" is quite true. Influenced by the person who had read many strange articles, Tsukino and Chiya also read a lot of relatively niche articles, adding some strange knowledge to their minds that they didn't know when they would be able to use.

So, when they encountered Kazuo Yashiki, who was investigating a paranormal event, while fleeing from the strange pursuers behind them, and heard his name, Tsukino and Chiya immediately realized, "You're the one with the 'Strange Doctor' nickname who was involved with the Death Mark back then...", which is quite normal, isn't it?

This was Tsukino and Chiya's rather disheveled first meeting with Yashiki Kazuo.

At that time, Tsukino and Chiya, who had only recently run away from home and didn't have much money with them, accepted a request from a young woman to help her retrieve a spirit artifact from the location where a strange event had occurred. This person was a Calamity Master with a great reputation in the Calamity World.

Such a matter would naturally be a simple one for the Calamity Messenger, but she was held up by other matters and couldn't reach the city where the spirit artifact was located. Because she was worried that the item would be obtained first, she entrusted it to Tsukino and Chiya, who happened to be in that city at the time.

Tsukino and Chiya originally intended to refuse the request.

He's not the kind of person who'll take on any job he wants. If he wanted to make money, he could easily find a part-time job at a convenience store or something. Besides, that magical artifact is located in a haunted place, and he's just an ordinary person without any supernatural powers or calamities... Going to a place like that is practically suicide, isn't it?

However, after Tsukino and Chiya decisively refused upon hearing the details of the request, the client casually quoted a price that was hard to refuse.

At that time, Tsukino and Chiya said, "But then again, I'd still be happy to help you. It's not about the money, it's just that I'm happy to help others."

There was no way around it; she gave him just too much. Uh, no, it wasn't really about the money. It was mainly because when he was little, his parents taught him to be a good child… well. Although this so-called "good child" had certain prerequisites, that's not important.

The important thing is that good children are willing to help others, right?

So, in order to obtain the spirit tool, Tsukino and Chiya skillfully avoided the police officers patrolling the streets late at night and came to an abandoned inn with ghostly rumors. Then, before they found the spirit tool, they encountered a strange creature wandering around there, and then—they met Yashiki Kazuo, who was also in that inn investigating the strange creature.

The matter ultimately ended with the two of them, along with former detective and now detective Masashige Satoru, who later joined the investigation, working together to uncover the story behind the strange occurrences and successfully resolve the case.

Of course, Tsukino and Chiya also successfully obtained the spiritual tool they needed and handed it over to the Calamity Envoy, thus earning a considerable reward.

Kazuo Yashiki is undoubtedly a good person. During the time they worked together to investigate the strange occurrences at the inn, he kindly offered Tsukino and Chiya a room in Kujo-kan so they could stay temporarily after learning that Tsukino and Chiya were temporarily without a place to stay.

The vast Kujo-kan is usually inhabited only by Yashiki Kazuo, so there is no shortage of bedrooms. Of course, there was a lively time when many people visited the place because of its inscriptions, and some people used the bedrooms to rest.

However, Tsukino and Chiya did not stay at Kujo Mansion for long. After they worked together to resolve the incident, he bid farewell to Yashiki Kazuo and left Kujo Mansion.

After all, while providing accommodation was just a small favor for Yashiki Kazuo, who owned a Western-style mansion all by himself, Tsukino and Chiya didn't want to cause trouble for others.

Moreover, to avoid trouble, Tsukino and Chiya did not tell Yashiki Kazuo and the others, whom they had only known for a few days, that they were running away from home, but instead used another reason to cover it up.

Because Tsukino and Chiya realized that the detective, Mr. Mashita, who used to be a police officer, probably didn't believe their story.

Like Yashiki Kazuo, Masashige Go was also a handsome guy in terms of looks... but they were completely different types.

Mr. Mashita, both in appearance and personality, is more intimidating, always giving the impression of being "not someone to mess with" or "a menacing face" upon first meeting. However, as they spend time together, Tsukino and Chiya quickly realize that he is also a kind person at heart.

Perhaps due to his past profession, Makoto was more sensitive to elements like "a kid wandering the streets alone at night, hiding from the police." So, when Tsukino and Chiya ran away from home, they thought... they'd better get out of there quickly!

As a result, after leaving Kujo House for some time, the two, who both thought their previous encounter was just a minor episode in their lives, met again.

In different locations, Tsukino and Chiya, both being chased by strange entities, once again encounter Yashiki Kazuo, who has come alone to investigate.

Tsukino and Chiya: "Um..."

Um, this time it really was just a coincidence, okay? He just accidentally wandered into a haunted place... and he really didn't expect to run into Yashiki Kazuo again.

There's a psychological phenomenon called the "suspension bridge effect," which roughly refers to the tendency to perceive a rapid heartbeat as romantic attraction in a stimulating situation. Of course, the relationship between Tsukino and Chiya and between Yashiki and Kazuo isn't quite like that. However, it must be said that going through life-and-death situations together is indeed a good way to strengthen a relationship.

After resolving the incident a second time, the two gradually became acquainted and developed a good relationship. Although there was a significant age gap... they were indeed friends.

After that, Tsukino and Chiya would occasionally visit the Kujo House when they had nothing to do, after giving prior notice. As a large family, the Kujo House had a very rich collection of books. With Yashiki Kazuo's permission, he would borrow books from the Kujo House.

Later... Tsukino and Chiya found Ouma Kokichi.

Wang Ma Xiaoji's mark was located on his collarbone, which he had noticed when he took off the black and white checkered scarf. He also noticed the mark on his own body... This situation reminded Tsukino and Chiya of a report about the Death Mark in Monthly OOPARTS.

Although there are related reports in the magazine, the content is limited. To know more specific details, you really have to hear the stories from the people themselves.

Once Ohma Kokichi's health had recovered enough to allow him to go out, Tsukino and Chiya obtained Ohma Kokichi's permission, and the two of them visited Kujo House together because of the mark.

Upon learning that more people had developed marks, Yashiki Kazuo was surprised. Although the marks on Ohma Kokichi, Tsukino, and Chiya were clearly different from what Yashiki Kazuo remembered, he explained his experience in more detail, thinking that "maybe they can be of some use."

Many years ago, Kazuo Yashiki's sister found a paulownia wood box containing a doll in the warehouse of Kujo-kan. The doll was an extremely dangerous entity that had been sealed away by Kazuo Yashiki's great-grandfather. The doll's power was sealed and suppressed by a small Buddha statue, also known as "Nenchi-butsu-butsu".

However, as time passed and the power of chanting the Buddha's name gradually reached its limit, the seal would eventually fail, and something terrible would happen sooner or later.

Finally, Yashiki Kazuo, then known as Kujo Masamune, devised a plan after careful consideration. He would first remove the contaminated Nenjutsu (Buddhist sutra) and place it in a place like a shrine to purify it. Once the "Summer Purification" period was over, the Nenjutsu would be completely purified and could then continue its sealing function. (*)

Of course, Kujo Masamune, who hadn't yet used the name "Yashiki Kazuo" at that time, was well aware that the removal of the Nenjo Buddha, temporarily unsealed, would likely have terrible consequences. But at that time, it was the only method he could think of. So, despite the disaster that removing the Nenjo Buddha would bring, he had no choice but to do it.

If I had to put it another way... it would be, "This is a necessary sacrifice."

Ultimately, the seal was broken when the doll was removed through chanting Buddhist prayers. The power of the doll's curse did indeed lead to some terrifying events—Yashiki Kazuo's sister died from a strange occurrence, and Yashiki himself also developed the doll's mark, losing his memory under its influence and even forgetting his own name.

Even so, the man who temporarily used the name "Yashiki Kazuo" after losing his memory gradually approached the truth with the help of the seal people he had formed a bond with because of the Death Seal and his deceased sister. He successfully sealed the doll that was the culprit with the purified Nenchi Buddha.

However, the effects of reciting the Buddha's name are ultimately limited; one day, the recitation will be corrupted to its limit again. If a way to completely eliminate the doll is not found before then, tragedy will inevitably strike again. Thus, to this day, Kazuo Yashiki is still tirelessly searching for a solution.

...That's roughly the story of the old Death Mark.

At that time, Tsukino and Chiya noticed the existence of the "dolls" in the story. Although Aurora, who was also a doll, had not yet officially appeared in front of them as she had in the school building, it was normal for them to want to know more about the stories related to dolls since the dolls were the culprits in the old Death Mark story.

However... information about the dolls is not so easy to obtain. Even now, Kazuo Yashiki is still searching for information related to the dolls that are currently sealed in the warehouse of the Kujo House.

While he couldn't provide much more information, after noticing Chiya's interest in the doll, Yashiki Kazuo told another story related to the doll.

This story is also related to his personal experience.

There once was a village called M Village, where a horrific ritual was held regularly to sacrifice brides to the gods. The brides thought they would find happiness, but instead, they were met with only terrible torment.

Later, as time passed, a school was built on the land that originally belonged to M Village, which is now Konoeen Gakuin, also located in H City, Tokyo.

The school's first principal, sympathizing with the innocent victims, built a clock tower on the school grounds. Inside one of the rooms of the clock tower, an altar was specially set up, where a beautiful Western doll was enshrined.

The doll was obtained by the first headmaster from someone whose identity is now lost to history. It is said that the doll girl was created to nourish pitiful souls, and that she contains spiritual power.

The first headmaster believed that such dolls could commemorate and comfort the poor brides who had been sacrificed, but he did not expect that the resentment of the brides who remained in that land would reside in the doll girl who possessed spiritual power.

Thus, a series of tragedies ensued, and a strange creature named "Sibito" appeared at Konoe-en School. His true identity was that of the brides who had died in the past... Of course, the matter has now been successfully resolved by Yashiki Kazuo and others.

How should I put it... Yashiki Kazuo really seems to have a connection with dolls.

To date, including "Aurora" mentioned by Tsukino and Chiya, this is the third strange event related to dolls that Yashiki Kazuo has learned about in just a few years.

Admittedly, Chiya himself had encountered a few strange occurrences. But when it comes to dealing with strange things, the more experience you have, the better. So he listened attentively to Yashiki Kazuo's account from back then.

This is what Ouma Shokichi experienced when he visited Kujo House.

In other words, Ouma Kokichi had heard about Yashiki Kazuo's stories. Moreover... Tsukino and Chiya guessed that even if he hadn't heard them at the time, he probably would have looked them up in magazines later.

However, as the mark failed to react for a long time, Ouma Kokichi never went to the Kujo Mansion again. On the other hand, Tsukino and Chiya maintained contact with Yashiki Kazuo and learned about some of his later experiences related to the supernatural.

Perhaps because Tsukino and Chiya had personally experienced events related to the supernatural, such as when they encountered Matsuda Jinpei and Hinata Hajime, Ohma Kokichi liked to entrust the task of explaining to Chiya, and would even occasionally throw out a few questions himself.

As for which of those questions were questions that Ouma Shokichi genuinely didn't know, or questions that he knew but wanted to confirm, or questions that he just wanted to ask... Tsukino and Chiya didn't really try to judge. Anyway, if he asked and they happened to know something, then they would just answer.

However, this is not the focus at the moment.

The exchange of intelligence and information is relative. If you want to get help from Yashiki Kazuo, you should first let him know what situation you have been going through.

"Apart from this."

Tsukino and Chiya recounted the two strange events they had encountered recently, with Ohma Kokichi occasionally chiming in to add details, giving Yashiki Kazuo a general understanding of the current situation.

However, some things...

"...Back then, Aurora said she had a gift for me. And now, after what happened at the preparatory course, I roughly know what her gift for me is."

Long ago, the mark was left on humanity by a doll named Meryl and the monsters she summoned. The primary purpose of the mark is to instill fear in people.

After all, to watch helplessly as one's memories gradually fade under the influence of the mark, and ultimately die with complete loss of one's memories... that must be an extremely painful and terrifying thing.

However, this was a method that other dolls had used before, so although Aurora knew this, she only left a mark on Qianye and the others. In terms of the effect of the mark, it was obviously much more perfunctory than the previous one.

Because Aurora never took the mark she gave her to heart. The mark might be a warning that "you're in big trouble," but her real method of instilling fear was—

"It's an illusion."

Tsukino and Chiya said, "When death is near, illusions will appear."

Just like at the very beginning, when he observed his class and noticed something unusual about the teacher.

Then, at night, in the classroom, in Tsukino and Chiya's eyes, the scene in the classroom on the top floor was distorted, and some strange and terrifying things that shouldn't exist appeared in their field of vision.

Then, the illusions become even more intense, naturally, when the cloth-striped man returns.

Fortunately, they dealt with the cloth-wearing man not too late. Because they didn't wait until the very last minute before their deaths, the illusions in Tsukino and Chiya's vision hadn't distorted to their worst state by the time they finished off the cloth-wearing man.

It must be said that Aurora did indeed give a remarkable gift.

Just like the mark left by the doll now sealed in the Kujo Mansion, Aurora's illusions are just as terrifying.

The more intense the hallucination, the closer the death seems. This sense of impending doom amplifies the panic in one's heart, and the more panicked one is, the more likely one is to break down after seeing even more terrifying hallucinations... This cycle of negative emotions continues until death.

This is truly...wonderful.

Fortunately, as Aurora said at the time, it was a gift for Chiya.

In other words, until Aurora, the culprit, is dealt with, only Tsukino and Chiya will be troubled by the illusions.

If that's the case... then the situation hasn't reached the worst possible point.

"...Our previous experience and current situation are similar."

Tsukino and Chiya finished their story.

He subconsciously glanced at Ouma Kokichi, who was also sitting on the sofa. The purple-haired boy, who had been listening at the same time, also looked over, and after their eyes met, he winked at Chiya.

Wang Ma Xiaoji didn't seem surprised at all, which is to be expected.

Tsukino and Chiya had already told him about the hallucinations he was seeing. He brought it up again today simply to tell Yashiki Kazuo—after all, they might have to cooperate sometime in the future, and it wouldn't be good if the hallucinations in front of him held them back.

In fact, for reasons such as "not wanting to be worried" and "even if I have such an illusion, it shouldn't be a problem for me to act," Tsukino and Chiya did hesitate briefly about whether to tell others about this... to Ohma Kokichi.

Although Qianye didn't really want to talk about it emotionally, he was very clear rationally that hiding it would only cause harm.

He was very clear about what situations allowed him to lie and conceal information, and what situations did not.

Moreover, although it's uncertain whether it's even possible to do so, but...

He wanted to be someone that Oma Kokichi could completely trust.

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Author's Note: (*) "Summer purification ritual" refers to a Japanese folk custom where a ritual is performed at a shrine in June to cleanse the impurities of the first half of the year and pray for health and safety in the second half. [Pat on head]

This chapter is mainly to introduce the story about dolls in the original work to readers who are unfamiliar with it. Readers who haven't read the Death Mark series should still be able to understand it... [hugs]