SCIAW: Chapter 90/92

Chapter 90: Evil Spirits

In the afternoon, the sea stretched endlessly before them, offering a clear view of the surrounding environment. The sight of the sun setting over the horizon, casting golden hues across the water, was undeniably mesmerizing.

"So beautiful…"

Ran, who had always loved scenic views, leaned against the guardrail, gazing at the breathtaking seascape.

"Mmm, the ocean really looks stunning at this time."

"Amamiya… huh?"

Sonoko turned around, intending to call Ren over to admire the view.

However, when she looked back, she saw that both Isumi and Ren were already by the guardrail, only they weren't admiring the sea.

Instead, their eyes were locked onto their destination in the distance—Tsukikage Island.

"There are quite a lot of evil spirits."

"Can Lord Amamiya see them too?"

"Yes."

Even from this distance, they could already make out malevolent spirits emerging in the evening glow.

Tsukikage Island was fairly large, yet there were more than a dozen spirits floating above it.

To those with supernatural sight, the scene was disturbingly unnatural.

After all, evil spirits didn't manifest easily, the conditions for their formation were strict.

Strong lingering obsessions were the primary cause of their birth.

If these spirits had also experienced wrongful deaths, their resentment and influence would be even greater.

This could be quite troublesome.

"This trip is shaping up to be far more interesting than I expected."

Ren sighed.

"Evil spirits tend to remain within a certain range. Since everyone here is protected by their diaries, it will be difficult for the spirits to approach them."

"But for others, it might be a different story."

"Please don't worry."

Isumi immediately pulled out a large number of talismans.

These exorcism charms were always part of her preparations, she carried them everywhere, just in case.

"I came fully prepared."

"When we reach the island, I'll make sure Maria and the others carry these at all times."

"If the diary offers protection, then those unable to defend themselves should stay close to the diary holder."

"Well, that's one way to handle it."

Ren's gaze remained fixed on the spirits.

"For so many evil spirits to appear on one island… there must be a deeper secret hidden here."

"Sanzenin has no resistance to these kinds of things, right?"

"Yeah."

Isumi frowned slightly.

"Mouri isn't good with them either."

Ren instinctively blurted out Mouri's situation.

Evil spirits weren't something most girls could handle.

"I hate them too."

"But after gaining the means to fight back, they barely bother me anymore."

Isumi nodded in agreement.

"I don't like them either."

Having confirmed the situation, Ren gathered everyone before disembarking.

"Everyone, listen up."

Hearing his call, the group assembled.

"First of all, I need to warn you, this trip won't be as easy as you might have thought, especially for the girls."

Just from this single statement, an ominous feeling settled over the group.

"There are more than a dozen evil spirits at our destination, Tsukikage Island."

"…???"

The girls stared at him in stunned silence.

Then, realization hit, and their expressions shifted drastically.

This wasn't a joke.

"Saginomiya and I believe that the appearance of these spirits is closely tied to certain events that occurred on that island."

"Evil spirits are almost always formed from human souls."

"They have no subjective consciousness and are purely driven by negative energy."

"Normally, their activity is restricted to the areas where they died, and they only appear at night."

"But this situation… is highly irregular."

As he spoke, Ren turned back toward the island.

With the sun gradually sinking below the horizon, the spirits above the island were becoming increasingly active.

"The range of their movements is far too large."

"Normally, this shouldn't be possible."

At that moment, Isumi stepped forward.

"Unless there's a special factor at play."

"Their lingering obsession must be incredibly strong… and the murderer is still on the island."

"This would explain why the spirits continue to wander, because of their excessive resentment and the powerful negative emotions tied to their deaths."

"Isn't that really dangerous?"

Ran couldn't help but interject.

Her face had gone pale.

The existence of supernatural beings was hard enough to accept.

Knowing they were real was terrifying.

"No."

Isumi shook her head slightly.

"The spirits that are freely roaming aren't inherently dangerous."

"If a spirit remains confined to a specific location, that's when they become truly dangerous. The place where they died holds the greatest concentration of negative energy, allowing them to directly harm the living."

"But these spirits have expanded their area of activity, dispersing their negative energy. As a result, they can't cause direct harm."

"At worst, they might induce nightmares or mild depression."

"That's the lightest possible consequence."

However, as she finished, Isumi hesitated.

After a brief moment of thought, she decided to speak up.

"Based on my assessment, a series of serious murders must have taken place on that island."

"The island is remote, located far out at sea."

"If something significant happened there, it's likely that no one outside the island ever heard about it."

"And if those who died had sneaked onto the island, even the residents might not be aware of their presence."

Nagi, being quick-witted, immediately caught on.

"So, if people were sneaking onto the island… then someone must be running some kind of shady business there."

"That would explain why so many people ended up dead, right?"

Saginomiya Isumi nodded slightly, confirming her speculation.

"I see."

"Those who died were likely eliminated because of their involvement in underground dealings."

"Since they were disposed of, they harbored immense resentment and transformed into evil spirits."

Sonoko finally pieced together the cause of their appearance.

For such an operation to exist on a remote island, it had to be motivated by money.

And those who perished likely met their end because the people in charge had no intention of sharing the profits.

A bunch of fools who risked everything for money without considering whether their employers would actually honor their agreements.

No wonder they became spirits.

How could they not, given their grievances?

"There are three industries in the world that generate the highest profits."

"Prostitution, gambling, and drugs."

"This island seems to be infected with all three."

"Secluded from the city, with a sparse population… it's the perfect breeding ground for these kinds of operations."

Ren couldn't think of a location better suited for illicit dealings than this island.

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Chapter 91: This is a Trial

Stepping off the cruise ship, the group set foot on Tsukikage Island.

Evening had already fallen, and with the sun fully set, the island was cloaked in dim light.

Due to its remote location, the island lacked extensive lighting, making the darkness even more pronounced.

Adding to the eerie atmosphere, malevolent spirits drifted in the sky above, casting an ominous and dangerous aura over the entire island.

Ren gazed at the sky.

The lingering resentment had grown stronger.

Just what kind of underground industry could generate such an overwhelming aura of malice?

The seedy operations running on this island only deepened his curiosity.

However, for now, he needed to suppress that curiosity.

Since the girls had already been brought here, their safety took priority.

In truth, the spirits wandering above weren't a major threat.

With Isumi's strength, handling them wouldn't be an issue. But the real danger lurking beneath the surface remained unknown.

First, they needed to uncover the true nature of this island.

Otherwise, how could they grasp the full story behind it?

After taking a moment to relax, Ren picked up his suitcase and boarded the transport vehicle Shinomiya had arranged.

Not long after, the car pulled up in front of the high-end hot spring hotel they had reserved.

"The hot spring apartment has been fully booked for today. Other than the regular cleaning staff, no one else will be entering."

417, Hayasaka, stepped forward to deliver a concise briefing.

Handling these arrangements took little effort for her.

Of course, the so-called "cleaning staff" of this luxury hot spring hotel had all been replaced with bodyguards from the Shinomiya family.

Ensuring that no outsiders could get near was a given.

After all, the people staying here this weekend weren't just the heirs of the Shinomiya family but also those of the Sanzenin and Saginomiya families.

If even in such a secured environment something were to happen, it would mark the utter failure of the Shinomiya family's legacy.

Thus, Shinomiya took complete responsibility for security.

However, Hayasaka hadn't anticipated dealing with something as absurd as evil spirits.

That was beyond her usual job description.

Ren glanced at the hot spring apartment before turning to Isumi.

"Saginomiya, I'll be counting on you for this."

"Rest assured, Lord Amamiya."

"Exorcism is our family's specialty."

Even if Ren hadn't requested it, Isumi would have taken the job upon herself.

Since Nagi was here, she couldn't allow these spirits to frighten her.

At the very least, she had to ensure the hot spring hotel remained secure.

Isumi's abilities were reliable, and her expertise in spirit exorcism made her the best-suited person for this task.

In fact, she was the one person in their group whom Ren could trust completely with this matter.

Of course, her tendency to get lost was a separate issue.

Thus, Ren gave a cautious reminder.

"Hayasaka-san, have a bodyguard accompany Saginomiya."

"I'm more concerned about her getting lost."

Hayasaka blinked in surprise before quickly giving the order.

"Lord Amamiya, I won't get lost in a hot spring apartment."

Her voice carried a hint of resentment.

However, Ren remained firm.

"Saginomiya, this is your first time here. You're unfamiliar with the layout, so getting lost is perfectly possible."

That was a reasonable argument.

It was natural to feel disoriented in an entirely new place.

Besides, the apartment complex was far from small.

Isumi tried to protest for a moment but eventually relented.

It was her first time here, after all, and the possibility of getting lost was indeed real.

It was a valid concern.

"Go pick your rooms first."

"Once you've changed, we'll have a proper discussion."

This unexpected situation needed to be addressed.

But before that, they at least needed to settle in, change into more comfortable clothing, and relax.

Upon entering the hot spring hotel, the girls wisely decided to stay close together.

There was no need for unnecessary complications.

They picked rooms near each other, having friends nearby would make sleeping at night more reassuring.

After changing into thick yukatas, they all gathered in Ren's room.

Ren had also switched into a yukata.

Seated at the small table, he swept his gaze over the girls.

Each of them wore uneasy expressions.

It was clear that today's encounter with the evil spirits had shaken them deeply.

He understood that completely.

It was natural for them to feel this way none of them were accustomed to dealing with such things.

After all, the girls present were, at their core, just ordinary girls.

Thus, Ren chose to offer them reassurance.

"This is the first supernatural event we've encountered."

"But think about the name of our club—the Occult Research Club."

"The experience we're facing now is the very pinnacle of mystery."

"The diary in your hands is the highest artifact of all mysteries."

"So, you need to stay calm."

"You need to gradually come to understand this mysterious world."

"Perhaps in the future, we'll face even more supernatural phenomena."

"Everyone, this is a trial."

Hearing his words, the girls, who had been visibly unsettled moments ago, seemed to relax slightly.

Especially after hearing that the diary was the ultimate mystery, something even greater than the spirits they had encountered.

Thinking about the diary, then recalling the spirits…

It put things into perspective, making their previous fear seem a little less overwhelming.

A sense of stability began to return.

"Saginomiya, have you taken care of it?"

Once he saw that the situation was stabilizing, Ren shifted his focus.

"I've finished the preparations," Isumi replied with a nod.

"That's good."

As expected, hearing that assurance brought further relief to the girls.

At the very least, they could now feel some semblance of safety.

Sensing the calm settling over the group, Ren also allowed himself to relax a little.

Truthfully, he wasn't particularly skilled at handling situations like this.

Standing in the spotlight didn't suit him.

He was far more comfortable in quiet, shadowed places.

Bringing the situation under control to this extent was already the limit of his ability.

"Everyone, I need to explain something to you now."

"It's a part of mysticism—specifically, knowledge related to evil spirits."

At those words, the girls instinctively tensed up.

This wasn't the rational, scientific world they were used to.

It was the realm of the supernatural, one they had only just begun to step into.


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Chapter 92: Mysticism Teaching

"First of all, I need to emphasize that evil spirits are not inherently frightening."

"Often, the human heart is far scarier than any evil spirit."

"After all, most evil spirits are born from human emotions."

Ren knew he had to set an example for the girls.

At the very least, he needed to ease their fear—otherwise, they wouldn't be able to face the spirits properly.

"There are two main causes for the birth of evil spirits."

"The first is an unwillingness to accept fate."

"Most evil spirits originate from those who were killed, their strong refusal to die becoming the negative energy that fuels their existence."

"The second is unresolved emotions, hatred, jealousy, love, or an obsession too powerful to fade."

"These emotions can also lead to the creation of evil spirits."

He explained the common causes of spirit formation in simple terms.

"Of course, there is a third, special case."

"A Beyonder with Beyonder characteristics can transform into an evil spirit under specific circumstances, retaining self-awareness."

"But that scenario shouldn't exist here."

At this moment, Fujiwara suddenly raised her hand.

"Teacher Amamiya, why wouldn't it exist here?"

"Because there should only be one Beyonder in this world."

Ren dismissed the thought outright.

There were no other Beyonders in this world.

And without other Beyonders, there was no possibility of one becoming an evil spirit.

"So, the third scenario is nearly impossible."

"Given what I just explained, the key takeaway is that evil spirits are not terrifying."

"And more importantly, the power you've obtained can be used to counter them."

Ren paused.

"To clarify, the elemental abilities Sanzenin and Miss Maria acquired can be used against evil spirits."

"But the Ice-Ice Fruit that Shinomiya-san obtained doesn't naturally counter them."

"However, Shinomiya-san can enhance the abilities of the Ice-Ice Fruit."

"Evil spirits are a form of negative energy, and energy follows certain rules of motion."

"So…"

"Absolute Zero."

Kaguya immediately understood.

Evil spirits required negative energy to sustain their existence. Since energy is a form of motion, it could, in theory, be stopped.

Thus, Absolute Zero could halt the movement of energy.

"Amamiya-san, that doesn't sound easy to achieve."

"It isn't."

Ren confirmed her concern.

Absolute Zero was the theoretical limit of the Ice-Ice Fruit.

According to his analysis, it should at least be able to freeze the negative energy of evil spirits in place.

However, once the mystical aspect was factored in, it wasn't just energy motion that needed to be considered, positional variables also came into play.

That meant Absolute Zero should be effective against beings below the demigod level.

If faced with a demigod or higher, its effectiveness would likely diminish.

That said, in this world, there were no beings above the demigod level.

This, Ren was certain of.

Therefore, if Kaguya mastered the Ice-Ice Fruit's full potential, she wouldn't have any issues dealing with enemies below the demigod level.

Of course, this was also the absolute limit of a Devil Fruit's abilities.

"The power of a Devil Fruit also depends on training and application."

"You may not be able to do it now, but at least it's possible."

"This should be your goal for the future, Shinomiya-san."

After addressing Kaguya, Ren turned to Ran.

"The real challenge lies with Mouri-san."

"The ability she obtained is purely physical, and she isn't accustomed to supernatural occurrences."

Ran was at a complete disadvantage when it came to dealing with spirits.

Her abilities had almost no effect on them, and her inability to adapt to the supernatural was a major issue.

Ran understood this all too well.

"S-Sorry…"

"There's no need to apologize, Mouri-san."

Ren reassured her.

"Everyone has their own weaknesses."

"Being afraid of spirits isn't a failing. I was afraid of them, too."

"In fact, my fear was far worse than yours."

"Having a weakness is normal. The important thing is whether you choose to confront it."

That was the key.

Ran's fear wasn't a problem in itself, what mattered was her willingness to overcome it.

Taking a deep breath, Ran understood she couldn't let this fear hold her back forever.

She would likely encounter evil spirits multiple times in the future. If she remained frozen in fear, she would only drag everyone down.

So, she had to keep improving.

"I… I'll try my best."

Though her face remained pale, Ren could see that this was a major step for her.

After all, people naturally avoided what they feared.

He didn't expect Ran to suddenly become fearless overnight.

But just having the determination to try was already a significant improvement over running away.

"That's good."

Ren offered her some words of encouragement.

"Mouri-san, don't pressure yourself into overcoming your fear immediately."

"We all have weaknesses to work on."

"…Yeah."

Though still nervous, Ran felt a little better.

It would take time for her to fully adapt, but at least she was willing to try.

"Now, about the situation on this island."

"Despite the large number of evil spirits, as I mentioned earlier, they lack self-awareness and act purely on instinct."

"And because the people responsible for their deaths are still on the island, their instinct is to roam the entire area."

"However, because their range of movement is so vast, their negative energy is spread thin, making their impact on humans minimal."

"The worst they can do is cause nightmares or affect someone's mental state."

"In other words, this is a great opportunity."

"Mouri-san, would you like to accompany me tomorrow?"

Since the spirits on this island were less aggressive, this was a good chance for her to gradually acclimate.

Ran hesitated for a moment but ultimately took a deep breath.

"…Alright. I'll go with Amamiya-san tomorrow."

However, after making the decision, she seemed to waver.

"B-But Amamiya-san, let's take it slow tomorrow…"

"Of course."

"In that case, I'll join too!"

With both hands on the table, Sonoko, who had been quietly listening, suddenly stood up.