Chapter 145. A dignified kidnapping
Arai Takashi was still listening to Qiao Qiao's words, but when he suddenly stood up, he also looked at the abandoned village where the spirit was exterminated.
I saw that the village had completely changed its appearance, whether it was the style, layout, and location of the houses, it was very different from before.
The trees that had appeared earlier flickered by, quickly turning into shadows and disappearing into the night wind.
And the shrine maidens of Riki Shrine are also missing.
The camera showing the first view of the five shrine maidens lost their signal, and in the sixth screen, the camera cut through several shots, but there was no trace of the shrine maidens at Riki Shrine.
The village was empty.
"W-What's going on?"
"I don't know, Higashino-san."
The two commentators were still in a state of confusion and didn't know what to do for a while.
"It's a kidnapping."
There weren't many soul slayer present, Qiao Qiao said quickly.
"Kidnapping? Josan, what does kidnapping mean? ”
Takashi Arai repeats Qiao Qiao's words, but he doesn't really understand the meaning at all.
No, whoever it is, there's no way to understand it.
In full view of everyone, under the gaze of many soul slayers, in the spirit removal exercise of Mt. Hiei, the shrine maidens of Riki Shrine were kidnapped???
There must be something wrong with this kidnapper's brain.
If nothing else, this is Kyoto.
Yasaka Shrine, Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine, Heian Jingu, Kitano Tenmangu Shrine, countless shrines, temples are located in the period, and it is no problem to call it the capital of the soul removal.
Dare to do things in Kyoto.
Whether it's a human or a demon, it will definitely not end well.
What's more, the Ishiki Shrine has always been indisputable with the world, and it is not a great shrine that holds the artifact, so why should I choose the Ishiki Shrine, is it just because it is the last day?
"It's all a planned kidnapping, as it literally is, for this moment since months ago."
Qiao Qiao replied.
"Why?"
Takashi Arai still couldn't comprehend the current situation, and at this time, five minutes had passed since the shrine maidens of Riki Shrine disappeared.
Even if the soul exorcists on the scene were sluggish, they had already understood the seriousness of the problem and began to call.
"I notified the headquarters of the Kyoto Soul Killer Association, it will take twenty minutes to come over there."
"Because today is the fireworks festival, the last day of the Obon Festival, when the yin energy is at its peak, many soul killers are scattered in the city, and it is difficult to gather for a while."
"The one from the Onmyo-ryo in Tokyo sent the divination results, and the shrine maidens of Riki Shrine are still in Mt. Hiei."
"It's bigger than Mt. Eei, so it's not enough to call all the soul slayers in Kyoto."
"Doesn't the Riki Shrine itself have the corresponding means of tracking?"
"I've tried, but I can only limit the area to this mountainous area, which is abominable."
"The tree I saw just now seems a little familiar."
"It's an illusion created by those trees, and we fell for it in the first place."
Various discussions came.
Qiao Qiao thought for a moment.
"Arai-san, you can have someone go to the Tsunomori of Shimogamo Shrine, find the tanuki who live there, and ask them to help find the traces of those trees just now, I think that the location of the trees is where the shrine maidens of Riki Shrine are at the moment."
"What?"
Takashi Arai subconsciously soared out of the Kyoto dialect.
"Sasaki-san, let's help start the search as soon as possible, I think this matter is more than just kidnapping."
Seeing that the other soul slayers present all set off one after another, entering Mt. Hiei to search for the whereabouts of the shrine maidens of Riki Shrine, only Qiao Qiao and others were left at the scene.
"Asano shrine maiden, you stay here and take care of this."
Qiao Qiao took a black box from Nanase Hayami's hand, and there were antennas sticking out around the box.
Asako Asano looked at the rather heavy box in her hand and nodded silently.
In this case, if you want to forcibly follow the teacher, it will only be a burden.
This level of self-consciousness is still available to Asako Asano.
Qiao Qiao and the others left the venue and got into the van directly.
Although it is a mountainous area of Mt. Hiei, there is a road connecting the villages, and even though it is only a simple road, the minivan of Shimogamo Shrine still drives smoothly on it.
Adjusting the channel of the car's radio broadcast, Qiao Qiao was able to hear the communication of the search team organized by the Soul Exorcist Association.
In teams of four, they prepared to search more than 200 small villages in the mountains of Mount Hiei.
Of course, the number of soul exorcists is far from enough.
Qiao Qiao looked at the spirit slayer who were driving around in front of him and said hello.
"How do we find it?"
Maki Shinki, who was driving, asked.
"The Strange ...... of the Tree"
Qiao Qiao thought for a moment.
Then I took out my phone and opened the app of the Tokyo Soul Killer Association.
I searched for it and quickly got the answer.
I don't know the forest of Hachiman.
A thousand years ago, there was a rebel named Heishomon, who had conquered the Kanto region and was about to become the new emperor, but he was killed by an arrow in the Hachiman forest.
Later, six of his generals also committed suicide by seppuku in the forest, and the resentment of the seven people invaded an entire forest, which is the Forest of Ignorant Hachiman.
Legend has it that those who step into this forest will never be able to get out alive, and it is a forbidden place that cannot be entered.
The true Forest of Ignorant Hachiman is located in Chiba Prefecture, and has been thoroughly purified by soul slayer masters many years ago.
But later, due to legend, the forest of Shiranhachiman also became a kind of weirdness.
It's just that it's weakened a lot, and the current Forest of Ignorant Hachiman can only make the intruder lose in it at most, to this extent.
However, the shrine maidens trapped at the shrine were not the only ones who did not know the Hachiman Forest.
"Lost home."
Of course, Qiao Qiao is not talking about the name of some animation in the clouds.
It's another kind of weirdness.
Originated in Tono in Iwate Prefecture.
Fans will confuse those who are lost in the mountains, retain each other with opulent decorations and delicious meals, and finally devour them completely.
It is the strange fusion of these two strange blends of the mysterious family of the abandoned village and the forest of Ignori Hachiman made up of trees with spiritual powers that have been transplanted from the Ito-no-Mori that can quietly kidnap the shrine maidens of the Riki Shrine under the noses of many soul slayers.
Perhaps there is also some kind of weirdness of information control in it.
This is not a temporary crime on the spur of the moment.
It was premeditated.
In this case, it is not so simple to find the shrine maidens of Riki Shrine.
Although the tanuki of the Hiromori can recognize the scent of the trees, the presence of the fan may interfere with this discovery.
While thinking about it, the car had driven deep into Mt. Hiei.
The mountain fog covers the surroundings, and it's easy to get lost if you don't follow the road.
Even if it's not weird, it's still secluded.
There was no sign of the other soul hunters.
Just when this matter was confirmed, Qiao Qiao saw it.
Ahead, shrouded in towering trees, a ruined city.