『Um～, I would appreciate it if you could let go of my hand』
The ghost looks at me timidly.
「Ah, sorry. I was surprised because I thought I could not touch you, but I could」
『Yeah. Understood』
It is troublesome enough just being able to see them, but now I can touch them too. This seems like it will become very complicated.
「Huh? If I can touch you… does that mean I can exorcise you?」
『Eh!』
The ghost’s eyes widen at my mutter. I smile at him.
『Whoa～』
The ghost quickly moves to the side of the wall. Then he shakes his head.
How rude. Is there really a need to be so afraid?
『No, wait. That is impossible』
The ghost mutters incomprehensible words. His reaction makes me feel a bit amused.
「Ah, no, no」
I remember my father warning me. Playing with ghosts is dangerous. Ghosts can increase their spiritual power level. We, the living, cannot increase our spiritual power level. Therefore, it is important to build a good relationship with ghosts. To avoid revenge.
「Sorry. I was being a bit mean」
『You will not exorcise me?』
「Yes. As long as you do not interfere with me, I will not exorcise you」
I must be careful when conversing with ghosts. I must not make careless promises or contracts. When making a promise or contract, I must look ahead carefully and steer the situation to be even slightly in my favor.
『Rina, you can exorcise ghosts?』
「Probably. The condition for exorcism is having enough spiritual power to touch a ghost」
But I have never actually performed an exorcism. I have seen my aunt do it, though. Also, how strong has my spiritual power become? Just enough to drive a ghost away? Or enough to make them disappear completely?
『How do you perform an exorcism?』
「You get as close to the ghost as possible and pray with strong intent」
『Eh, is it that simple?』
No, it is not simple. It is not just about praying. You need to circulate spiritual power throughout your entire body. And that is very difficult.
Regardless of spiritual power level, controlling spiritual power freely is an extremely difficult task. Even my grandmother, who is at spiritual power level five, reportedly took ten years to master it.
Ah, right. I cannot perform an exorcism unless I can control my spiritual power. Since it had nothing to do with me, I completely forgot the conditions. It is better if the ghost does not know this. I will keep quiet.
『So I will be exorcised just by praying? Wait, what happens to me if I am exorcised? Do I go to heaven? Or does my soul disappear?』
「There are two outcomes for exorcism. One is driving the ghost away from my vicinity. The other is completely extinguishing the ghost」
If my spiritual power is weaker than the ghost’s, I can only drive them away. If my spiritual power is stronger than the ghost’s, I can extinguish them. However, I must be careful because if I recklessly extinguish ghosts, I will be punished by the Shinigami.
「Since the Shinigami gets angry, I rarely extinguish them」
『Eh』
Why does the ghost look surprised? I did not say anything shocking, did I?
『Does the Shinigami really exist? What do they look like? A skeleton with a black cloak and a large scythe?』
A skeleton with a black cloak and a large scythe? What is that? Ah!
「The Shinigami in anime and novels are different」
『They are different?』
Why does he look dissatisfied?
「Yes, they are different. I do not know what image you have of the Shinigami, but the Shinigami I speak of is like a guide. They are beings who send lost souls to the correct place. Although, they seem to wear black cloaks. I have never seen one, but my grandfather, who encountered one, told me」
『Black cloak』
He looks happy.
『What about their face? What did it look like? No, what kind of skeleton? Hmm? All skeletons look the same, I guess』
What is going on in this ghost’s head? Is he okay?
「Apparently, you cannot remember the Shinigami’s face」
『Eh? You cannot remember?』
「Yes. Even though you can see them when you meet, you apparently cannot recall them once the Shinigami leaves. But this is just a story passed down from my great-grandmother, who met one, so I do not know if it is true」
For some reason, it is not recorded anywhere.
『I see』
I tilt my head at the disappointed ghost. Does he want to meet the Shinigami? Wait a minute.
「When you died, did the Shinigami not come to see you?」
『Yeah. Besides Rina, no one else could see me』
「No, my siblings and relatives also use that station, so I think there were others who could see you. They just pretended not to」
『What is that? How cruel!』
No, what do you mean by cruel?
「It is natural to pretend not to know if you do not want to get involved」
『Well, that may be true. But I could not move, and I was anxious because no one knew I existed!』
「Did you have strong regrets? Even so, it is strange」
『Strange?』
The ghost tilts his head and looks at me.
「I have never heard of a complete form being unable to move」
『What is this complete form you keep mentioning?』
Huh? I explained it earlier… but the conversation shifted to souls.
「A complete form means spiritual power level five. When I first met you, you had legs and your clothes had color」
『Color on my clothes? No, before that』
What is it?
『My name is Sato Yuuto. Being called ‘you’ gives me the creeps』
The ghost? This ghost might be a bit strange after all.
「Um, I was Yamamori Rin before. Now I am Rina?」
『Yamamori. Does that mean protecting the house?』
「Yes」
I cannot help but smile at the ghost, who nods in understanding.
「Yamamori」. It seems to be a surname for a clan that enshrines the god who protects the house.
『I was an office worker, thirty-six years old. My life was deeply immersed in games』
I do not think that information is necessary, but wait? He looks like it is my turn to share.
「I was also an office worker, thirty-one years old. …That is all」
『…That is all?』
「Yes」
Because there was nothing I was immersed in.
『Ah, we were talking about spiritual power』
He goes off-topic often.
「Spiritual power is divided into levels one to five. Level one is weak. Level five is strong」
『Okay』
「Spiritual power level one is your current appearance, Yuu. Visible from the waist up, with white clothes. You do not have the power to move far from where you died. Spiritual power level two is visible from the thighs up, with white clothes. You can move a little, but there are restrictions. However, some ghosts can go slightly farther. Spiritual power level three is visible from the knees up, with white clothes. They are troublesome existences that can follow those with spiritual power. Some ghosts at this level can even touch those with spiritual power. Spiritual power level four has legs, but the clothes are still white. Since they have legs, they can move freely, and even those with slight spiritual power can see them. Spiritual power level five is the most terrifying existence, called the complete form. They can change their clothes freely and add color. Once they become this strong, exorcism requires multiple psychics at spiritual power level five. They are very rare」
『Rina. No, is Rin better?』
「Rina is fine」
Since I am in this body.
『Have you ever met a complete form other than me?』
「Yes. When I went to a castle for a school event, I was chased around by a woman in colorful twelve-layered robes who was laughing」
It was really tough once they realized I could see them.
『That is an amazing experience. Any others?』
「No. They are rare existences, so you do not meet them easily」
『I see. I am a rare existence』
「Yes. But right now, no matter how you look at it, you are at spiritual power level one」
Where did you lose your power? Because you crossed worlds? Ah, maybe the reason my spiritual power level increased was not because of possession, but because I crossed worlds.
『What a waste』
「Eh? A waste?」
I look at the ghost, who has placed both hands on the floor for some reason.
『To think I was such a rare existence! And I could not utilize it at all!』
This ghost is strange after all. Is that what he is worried about?
『Ah, so the Shinigami did not come because I was scary as a complete form』
「That is not it. Even if you are a complete form, the Shinigami is much stronger」
『No way…』
I am getting sleepy. Can I just leave this ghost be?
「I am going to sleep. Good night」
『Eh! Let’s talk more. I am not sleepy at all』
「That is because you are a ghost」
『Eh. Ghosts do not get sleepy?』
「That is right」
『So that is why I have not slept since the day I died』
He seems to be realizing it now.
『Damn it. Getting such a skill now is pointless. I wanted it when I was alive』
It is impossible. I told you, 「Ghosts do not get sleepy」, right?
『Damn it』
Ah, I am so sleepy… My eyes are closing. I will sleep.
「Good night」
Ah, I have not treated my neck. I will do it tomorrow.
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