Exorcist in America

Because of the issues involving Higa Makoto, York and Higa Kotoko decided to get involved in this strange matter. It was unknown whether it was fortunate or unfortunate for the unseen vengeful spirit or ghost, but for the two of them, dealing with such a powerful entity sooner was better.

Spiritual incidents in the island nation were not as straightforward as those in the West.

Instead, due to the influence of a world rift, they had become bizarre in nature, encompassing all sorts.

Even the more intractable situations were present.

During his time living in the island nation, York had encountered an especially puzzling vengeful spirit that could continuously resurrect in its territory. Regardless of the state of its territory, it seemed to resurrect endlessly, giving the impression that as long as the real world existed, so would it.

This type of bizarre entity could not be killed but only sealed.

Sealing was the only solution for intractable spirits, and indeed, these cases were more troublesome than the more direct spiritual incidents in the West.

This type of curse-spreading and life-taking vengeful spirit would grow stronger with each victim, eventually becoming uncontrollable.

"So many people have died already?"

York, sitting in the back of a car, looked over the data that Higa Kotoko had pulled up and commented calmly.

"It really needs to be dealt with promptly."

Higa Kotoko, as one of the most powerful spirit mediums in the island nation and a revered figure in official and sacred circles, had access to more detailed information than Higa Makoto.

Higa Makoto had only known about the deaths of three female students and a male teacher, but the data Higa Kotoko had collected revealed four entire families had died in the area Makoto had visited.

The numbers were alarming.

This indirectly indicated that the mortality rate for ordinary people encountering this spirit was very high, possibly even one hundred percent.

"It must be eradicated; otherwise, as the ghost grows stronger, its curse will spread indiscriminately."

While reviewing the files, York felt a strange sense of familiarity with the type of vengeful spirit described, though he couldn't place where he might have seen this type before.

But if it felt familiar, then he must have seen something similar in a movie in a past life; otherwise, this sense of familiarity wouldn't exist.

York turned to Higa Makoto, who was squeezed between them, and praised her.

"Well done, Makoto. Without you, we wouldn't have discovered this. More people would have died."

"Hmph!" Higa Makoto, suddenly praised, snorted in delight, her eyes narrowing into smiles as she gently nudged her sister on the right.

Higa Kotoko's expression soured. She looked at Higa Makoto, wanting to say something.

But York interrupted, "However, one thing you didn't do well was to run off without understanding more clearly beforehand. That was just courting death. If you weren't Higa Makoto, Higa Kotoko's sister, the consequences could have been dire."

"You're still young, lacking in experience with exorcism. Don't do this again and worry your sister."

"Ah?" Higa Makoto's expression, ready to boast, froze.

Higa Kotoko swallowed the scolding she had prepared, turning silently back to the data.

"Nii-san, I think this vengeful spirit might move through curses. It likely inhabits a specific location and can't move."

Hearing Higa Kotoko suddenly use the term 'Nii-san', York chuckled softly, ignoring Higa Makoto's stunned expression, and continued the discussion.

"These families must have a triggering point for contracting the curse, or they might have all been cursed at the same location. We could have someone check where these families used to live, look for their common point. If we find a common location, that place must undoubtedly be where this spirit resides."

"Yes." Higa Kotoko nodded, taking out her phone.

With the power of the Higa family and the divine sanctuary, such minor investigations were simple.

If necessary, she even had the authority to forcibly evacuate an area or seal it off, turning the police into her assistants.

Before they even arrived at the area Makoto mentioned near Showa Medical University in Setagaya, Tokyo, Higa Kotoko had already received the necessary information. The efficiency was astonishing; within just minutes, her subordinates had found the common point of the four families.

Higa Kotoko handed the phone, moving past a stunned and confused Higa Makoto, to York.

"Found it, Nii-san."

"Mm."

York nodded, taking the phone from Higa Kotoko and looking at the screen.

Just one sentence.

It summarized the common location of the four families.

That was that all four families had once lived together in an old apartment at No. 164 in Setagaya District.

Even one of the three deceased students had once

 lived in this apartment.

Everything suddenly became clear.

Realizing this, York finally understood where his strange sense of familiarity came from.

First, the curse kills, and it seems to be contagious.

Second, the mortality rate is likely one hundred percent.

Third, and all the deceased might have once lived or visited the same apartment.

These points reminded York of a very classic and explosive horror movie from his previous life.

That was the renowned series "Ju-On," starting in 2000 in the island nation, considered a pinnacle of horror films, representing the purest form of horror.

Before he came to this world, the "Ju-On" series was always a benchmark in horror cinema, consistently ranking in the top ten of various horror film lists, even ranking first in many media reviews, highlighting its profound impact.

Anyone who liked horror films knew of this movie, whether they were just passersby or had seen it themselves.

In his previous life, this movie had been a part of many people's childhood fears, including his own, unforgettable for a long time.

He remembered being dragged to watch the movie by his mischievous cousins one day; he hadn't wet his pants, but he had been too scared to sleep all night.

The movie's plot was simple yet terrifying.

The protagonist was a woman named Kayako, who was deeply infatuated with her college classmate Toshio. Even though she was married and had a son named Toshio, she continually stalked and kept detailed records of Toshio's every word and deed, including his dates with other girls.

Kayako wrote all this in a diary, which she treasured deeply. However, her husband, Takeo Saeki, discovered the diary. The detailed content and his wife's affection for Toshio enraged him.

This fury peaked when Takeo, during a medical examination, found out he was infertile. He believed that even his son Toshio was not his own, thinking that Kayako had cheated on him, despite the reality that Kayako's feelings for Toshio were just unrequited love.

But under Takeo's rage, none of that mattered anymore. He lost his mind, killed his wife Kayako and son Toshio, and put Toshio's favorite cat in the microwave, cooking it alive.

Eventually, Takeo left the house alone, his whereabouts unknown, while the dead bodies of Kayako and Toshio remained in the apartment, along with the barely alive Kayako reflecting on her life, feeling immense sorrow and resentment. Ultimately, she became a vengeful spirit, cursing anyone who entered her home or had any connection with the apartment, and killed them.

"Kayako and Toshio, that explains everything. That male teacher must have been the Toshio Kayako was infatuated with in life, and the drunk who broke into Toshio's home and killed his pregnant wife must have been the missing Takeo Saeki. As for the other victims, they all had some connection with Kayako's dead home."

York mused, now certain that this incident was undoubtedly "Ju-On." Only because of this sense of familiarity, which was related to his previous life, could such a feeling arise.

And Kayako and Toshio were likely the vengeful spirits they were about to deal with.

Thinking this, York raised an eyebrow. He felt no particular emotion about dealing with a vengeful spirit related to his past life, just considering Kayako's abilities.

In the "Ju-On" series, Kayako seemed to have the ability to attack through temporal and spatial displacement.

York carefully recalled details from the movie.

"Those killed by Kayako seemed mostly to die of fright, and importantly, the victims of Kayako seemed to be quickly assimilated, becoming new sources of the curse.

This does seem quite troublesome."

York handed the phone back to Higa Kotoko, who had been watching him.

"Kotoko, can you evacuate the people around this apartment? I'm afraid these people might be assimilated by this vengeful spirit into helpers."

Higa Kotoko took the phone and replied in one word: "Can."

After speaking, she began notifying others while asking, "Nii-san, do you know what type of vengeful spirit this is?"

York nodded and said calmly.

"Probably a sort of bound spirit."

"Bound spirit?" Higa Makoto, squeezed into the back seat, chimed in.

"I know, I know! Bound spirits are those whose range of activity is restricted to a certain area after death, bound to that place. Such spirits often have unresolved grievances and thus become vengeful spirits."

"Yes, you're right," York replied with a smile. "It seems you've studied well, Makoto."

According to Kayako's actions, isn't this a bound spirit? But Kayako's capabilities indeed surpass the concept of a bound spirit, possibly influenced by the world rift.

According to the Church's sealed records, the world

 rift that had plagued the island nation for many years could erupt with a particularly unique source of energy. This energy would merge with the island's vengeful spirits, making them even more special and troublesome.

"Onii-chan, you're underestimating me!" Higa Makoto exclaimed, her face serious, seemingly believing that was the case.

"I am the Higa family's genius spirit medium!"

"Heh." York didn't respond, instead looking towards Higa Kotoko.

Higa Kotoko nodded. "I've already notified our people to start evacuating the residents near that apartment."

"Good," York said calmly.

He was actually quite excited because he was about to face a childhood fear from his past life.

What could be better than personally resolving one's childhood fears?

This time, he was determined to get revenge.

"Who made me so scared that I couldn't sleep all night, afraid to even go to the bathroom, only daring to go when I absolutely couldn't hold it any longer!" York thought.

"Kayako, Toshio..."

As York brooded, the area around Apartment No. 164 near Showa Medical University in Setagaya, Tokyo, was swarmed by a large group of people.

They were either police, government officials, or members of the Higa family and nearby divine sanctuaries.

They spread from a junction like cockroaches, densely packed yet orderly, very professional and experienced in their actions.

Using government orders, plausible reasons, and the prestige of the divine sanctuary, they evacuated everyone.

They also set up barricades and checkpoints nearby, posting guards at all key points, strictly forbidding entry to avoid disturbing the Saintess's exorcism.

Ultimately, a large section of Setagaya was forcibly sealed off. Although there were spectators outside the barricade tape taking pictures, the guards stationed at key points remained unmoved.

Only when a black sedan approached the main road leading into Setagaya did their icy faces show movement. They quickly opened the barricades and bowed as the sedan drove through.

"This is it, Onii-chan," Higa Makoto whispered.

"Can you feel a heavy aura of resentment?"

For some reason, the genius spirit medium of the Higa family, perhaps too caught up in the moment or trying to set the mood, spoke in a tone like the eerie voiceovers in movies.

Come on, have you forgotten how you behaved when you came here alone to investigate?

York's lips twitched, silently thinking Higa Makoto was a real character, but he showed no outward reaction.

"Yes, I can indeed feel it."

Without needing to sense deliberately, the atmosphere alone was oppressively heavy. It was hard to imagine how anyone could have endured living here.

For anyone faint-hearted, the lighting and atmosphere here were truly terrifying.

At that moment, Higa Kotoko spoke up, "Makoto, why don't you get out here?"

"No! I don't want to get out!"

Upon hearing this, Higa Makoto immediately clung to York's arm beside her, seeking his support.

"With Onii-chan here, no one dares to bully me! Right, Onii-chan?"

Ignoring Higa Makoto's expression and gaze, York sighed resignedly. He felt that if he didn't agree, he would probably be endlessly nagged by Higa Makoto later, likely facing constant sarcastic remarks about tonight's events.

Thinking this, York inwardly groaned, then looked towards the cold-faced Higa Kotoko, saying with a headache,

"Let her come along then, consider it a learning experience by observation. With us here, even if there's an accident, we still have the ability to get her out safely."

Once York spoke, Higa Kotoko generally wouldn't refuse, and indeed, she didn't seem to want to. She turned her head, tacitly agreeing.

Only Higa Makoto, sitting in the middle, silently cheered.

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