Published at 16th of January 2020 8:40 pm

Chapter 26: Safe Zone

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I contacted the landlord with my smartphone and told them about the death of my neighbor.

She asked me where I was, so I told her I was on the park.

Thus as the first discoverer of the body, the landlord asked me to return to my room and wait.

Maybe they wanted to ask me a lot of details about the dead body?

Keisuke: “Such a pain.”

After the call was finished, I sat down on a bench.

Angelica sat down next to me and stared into my eyes.

Angelica: “Did I really live with that old man though…?”

Keisuke: “It’s just for several days, so it was just a speculation at best.”

Angelica: “Even if I was controlled back then, he was a roommate to a certain extent, so I wonder if I should attend his funeral as well.”

Are they even going to hold a funeral for him though?

It’s a solitude death after all, so perhaps the families left behind will be content with cremation instead.

Those families might also just be distant relatives.

Keisuke: “After everything has been taken care of, shall we leave a carnation in front of his door? That should be the appropriate distance we can take.”

The night in this park turned silent; there were no other people besides us.

As we finished our conversation, there were no voices left.

Girls do not like silence, so I think I should strike up a conversation? As I thought about that, Angelica opened her mouth first.

Angelica: “When the ghosts were controlling me, I hope I didn’t do anything weird. Hey, what would dad do? If the ghosts had done something terrible to this body, what would you do?”

Keisuke: “What terrible things for example?”

Angelica: “Sexual things, unhygienic things…something like that.”

Angelica looked at me investigatively.

Keisuke: “It’s not Ange’s fault, so don’t worry about it. You’re my precious daughter after all.”

I understand her anxiety.

Even for a man like me, if something controls my body, I’d feel pretty disgusted.

For a sixteen-year-old girl, she’d definitely feel chills running down her spine.

When I checked her status some times ago, the notes said that she had no experience with guys, so I think she’s fine.

Angelica: “Fufu, I had thought that dad would say something like that. I’m your precious daughter, right……eh? Daughter? Daughter!? Even after we get to this point, you’re still saying stuff like that!? When you found me you keep blabbering countless super sweet words, no matter what you think of it, those are the words a boyfriend would say to his girlfriend, you know! Aren’t you supposed to say you’re my precious girlfriend or something!?”

Keisuke: “Aren’t those normally said when fathers and daughters get into a fight? It’s normal for a parent and child that gets along well.”

At that time I also wondered.

I had a strange thought of asking myself was if I just trying to make an excuse for myself, but I want to think that it was unavoidable.

Angelica: “…what an unbelievable bonehead you are…”

I put my hand on Angelica who started sulking.

Keisuke: “That’s right, I’m a bonehead. Until you’ve become a grownup, I’ll dote on you as much as you want. Only as a father. I’ll be doing that whether you want it or not. Well then, let’s start exterminating some insects. It’s a part of my effort on doting on you after all.”

Angelica: “Exterminating insects?”

Keisuke: “You don’t want anymore ghosts possessing your body, right? Some of them are still hiding out there. I’ll put up a barrier magic.”

Angelica: “Ah, that would be good.”

With this, there would be no way for them to possess Angelica again, and with that, we prepared to move.

Sacred Circle; a spell to provide the target absolute protection in the radius of 300 meters.

It’s a barrier to repel ghosts around Ange.

Thinking about it now, if I didn’t use this on Ange at first, we could’ve defeated all of the evil spirits at once.

But back then I didn’t think they came from the other world.

Because I came to the conclusion that ghosts exist in modern Japan, I decided that there were no meaning in defeating them here.

I thought they came from some cemetery or from someone who passed away, and I thought if I couldn’t sever the bond between them and its origins, there wouldn’t be an end to it.

On the other hand, if the source is from the other world using the possession strategy, the “source” would be the ghosts’ commander.

The strongest ghastly monster who is loyal to its employer and takes command of the countless ghosts.

It should be using telepathy to convey its orders to the other ghosts.

They are usually trained by Wraiths or Spectres and are obtrusive in a different way than lower-grade ghosts.

The sooner we can find it the better.

Keisuke: “I wonder where could the ghosts possibly be.”

Angelica murmured as I casted the barrier on her.

Keisuke: “We went around and looked for it the whole day, but we couldn’t find even one of them. I’m concerned with their destination.”

Angelica: “I now realize my lack of ability…”

Keisuke: “It couldn’t possibly be your fault. Something is wrong.”

Angelica’s Perception could sniff out Ayako-chan’s wickedness from hundreds of meters away.

The range and accuracy of her skill was perfect. Yet even an expert like her couldn’t find at least one of them after searching downtown.

Even ghosts should have a blind spot.

If it’s hiding inside a building, how could they precisely and repeatedly keep their distance from Angelica who was walking outside?

Did they perhaps manage to figure out our strategy?

For example, they’re watching our moves from somewhere, and then they use telepathy to inform their friends about it.

If that’s the case, the moment Angelica approached them, they could run away with some time to spare.

But how?

If the ghost is looking over us within Angelica’s Perception radius, she would’ve sensed and found them.

Or perhaps they’re monitoring us from a great distance and tell their friends about our movement?

…doesn’t seem possible. I’ve never heard of a ghost that had great vision range. As far as I know, their vision is even worse than humans’.

Did they perhaps possess something with great sight and monitor us from far away?

No, that’s also impossible.

The ghosts from the other world couldn’t possess anything other than those of the similar race.

Suppose they possess a bird, then the ghost possessing that bird could only be the spirit of a bird.

These bird spirits wouldn’t have the intelligence for a telepathic communication, so they aren’t fit for monitoring.

I also don’t think they could use surveillance cameras or a listening device.

But if they had managed to learn enough about modern knowledge and prepared enough money, they could have bought a small listening device.

Supposing, that it decides to put that listening device on Angelica’s clothing, they’d be attaching it to Angelica’s Sacred Maiden outfit.

After I cast the Sacred Circle and the ghosts couldn’t get close to her anymore, she’s now wearing a modern Japanese clothing down to her underwear.

I’m confident that they didn’t bug her clothes.

So what sort of tricks are they using?

As nothing but question marks fill my head, I finished casting the barrier.

Keisuke: “Okay. Now the area around you would be a safe zone.”

Angelica: “I’m really grateful. You said some pretty heartless tings earlier, so you need to give me extra care, right? There will be more than just this, right?”

Keisuke: “Uu…I guess.”

I flinched even while I was thinking.

A safe zone…ah, right. They’re hiding somewhere safe and hard to find.

They hid in a place where they can monitor us without being detected by Angelica’s Perception.

Where could that possibly be?

If they possess something or someone and they get detected, it’ll be over for them.

What could possibly be a place advantageous only to them?

I might have overlooked some things.

In times like these, I should start thinking in their perspective.

A way to defeat the hero Nakamoto Keisuke from the perspective of the ghosts.

I had an absolute status that I’m proud of, so they couldn’t win in a head-on fight with me.

The best method would probably be to directly control me, but that wouldn’t be possible because of my Magical Defense.

The usual pattern to obtain victory with these ghosts is to “directly control the target and make them commit die”.

That’s the best, smartest way. It’s time efficient and it deals the most damage to the enemy lines.

That’s right.

Ghosts always thought of a way to use their enemies.

The more powerful and influential the enemies are, the stronger and the more influential the ghosts can become.

That was why they possessed Angelica, who had decent status and overwhelming beauty.

Aside from combat power appearances were also considered in the matter of the target selection for possession.

Then why was Gondou possessed?

Perhaps it was because he was considered a “powerful” person in the modern world.

There aren’t any other people who possesses bladed weapons or firearms like a Yakuza could.

Not to mention, he can get access to Rio, who looks exactly like Elza, so of course they would think Gondou is a convenient target.

If they used Rio as a hostage, I would probably be shaken.

…hostage.

That’s the thing I don’t like the most.

Given that they have provided me a beautiful virgin, they had simply expected me to be moved by emotions.

That’s why they used Angelica. This is my newfound weakness.

If I were to be my enemies, I would be using that weakness.

But how?

They used Angelica, who carried them over.

…What was behind that?

The means to be taken from the characteristics of the ghosts and the girl that I always kept by my side…

Keisuke: “…there is. There is one.”

Angelica: “Dad?”

Keisuke: “If it’s that way, they can monitor us in detail, and they can get past my Sacred Circle.”

What is it all of a sudden? Angelica peered at my face.

Keisuke: “It’s simple. Why didn’t I notice it. Even if the evil spirits can’t get closer to Ange’s surroundings, there’s no problem if it’s within Ange. That’s not a place that are protected by the barrier. It’s like the eye of the storm. If the ghost had already hid itself before the barrier is erected, it turned into a safe monitoring spot. The Perception spell also monitors your surroundings and not including within you, so Ange’s skill couldn’t find anything.”

Angelica: “What does that mean?”

Listen here, I continued,

Keisuke: “Aren’t there still some ghost inside you?”

Angelica’s movement stopped.

Angelica: “…still?”

Keisuke: “Yeah. There are some that doesn’t exit your body. They act as a monitor, staying within you. If this is the case then they can somewhat do it. They can monitor us one-sidedly all they want.”

It’s been a several days since Angelica was last possessed, and she can now control her body.

But even then, the ghost can stay within her body and give instructions to their fellow ghosts by telepathy.

Keisuke: “Do you want me to try dispelling it? If nothing comes out, then my guess will is wrong.”

Angelica: “P-Please. I don’t want some weird things to lurk inside of me. Do it quickly if you can.”

I collected mana on the tip of my finger and pressed it onto Angelica’s forehead.

Keisuke: “Dispel.”

The moment I chanted, a dazzling light were emitted, and the barrier magic I put up started to come undone.

As it did, the sanctuary that wraps Angelica erases the darkness of the night.

Next.

If the next step brings about any changes, then that would mean—

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