Chapter 106: The Priestess, Training Her Courage

Two hours later.

Qiao Qiao watched the entire movie with an expression utterly devoid of emotion.

Although Ariko Asano was startled by a few scenes, she finished watching without much feeling.

Nearby, Maki Araki leaned against Ariko Asano, barely managing not to close her eyes the whole time.

As for Suzuka, she had slipped out to go shopping as soon as the movie started.

The remaining four shrine maidens huddled tightly together, occasionally screaming as the plot unfolded.

By the end, all four had shut their eyes, screaming only at the sounds.

Had it not been for prior warning, others at the shrine would have thought Qiao Qiao was engaged in some embarrassing, heart-throbbing activity.

"Although the film enhanced many horror scenes for dramatic effect, in reality, these spirits are somewhat less terrifying than genuine vengeful ghosts. We will encounter such images often during exorcisms going forward," Qiao Qiao said as he packed up the projector after the movie ended.

"Hmm? What are you all doing?" he asked.

The four shrine maidens, huddled in a corner, murmured prayers.

"Amitabha, Amitabha, may God bless us..."

"I will be a good child from now on. Father, Mother, I know I was wrong..."

"I have never had a boyfriend, I don’t want to die yet..."

"¥%…@¥%…@! &a;a;* )%..."

Wait a moment—has the last one lost her mind?

"They’re all quite timid. Not just vengeful spirits, they’re scared even watching horror movies," Maki Araki said with lingering unease.

"That won’t do," Qiao Qiao said thoughtfully.

"If they can’t overcome even this level of fear, it will be difficult to complete exorcisms."

Ultimately, Qiao Qiao believed their fear stemmed from inexperience.

If they could be more comprehensively and frequently exposed to such terrifying things, they would grow accustomed and no longer fear vengeful spirits.

In fact, many ordinary people can watch horror films repeatedly without batting an eye.

Qiao Qiao felt exorcists should be even more unfazed.

"However, many of the images in the film were dramatized. Real vengeful spirits might be even more terrifying. Watching movies alone isn’t nearly enough," he said, folding his arms.

"More... terrifying?" Maki Araki asked, her voice tinged with fear.

Having had only one exorcism experience herself—an accidental one where she didn’t even see the spirit’s face clearly—she was understandably frightened.

"In that case, I have a suggestion," Ariko Asano said, holding her phone which displayed a travel guide to Kyoto.

"This says there’s the most terrifying haunted house in the Kansai region, just a few minutes from Kyoto Station."

Qiao Qiao glanced at the information on Ariko’s phone.

---

Toei Uzumasa Eigamura.

Located in Ukyo Ward, it’s not entirely a haunted house.

Functionally, it resembles more of a film studio.

The entire village consists of traditional Japanese-style buildings, frequently used by production crews filming historical dramas.

Among them, the haunted house is famous nationwide, rivaling the Fuji-Q haunted house in Yamanashi Prefecture as one of Japan’s most renowned.

"Haunted... haunted house..." Maki Araki shuddered instinctively upon hearing those words.

"Miss Maki, how about we take the four shrine maidens to experience this haunted house firsthand?" Qiao Qiao proposed.

Although Maki Araki hesitated, since she had entrusted Qiao Qiao with full responsibility for their training, she had no choice but to comply.

"Everyone, pack up. We’re heading to the haunted house now," she told the four shrine maidens.

"What? I’m not going! That haunted house in Eigamura is way too scary. My classmate said he ran out just three minutes after going in," a girl named Haruka Sasaki said.

She wore a ponytail and the uniform of a public high school in Kyoto.

"Why do we have to do this during summer break? Everyone else is at the beach or amusement parks. Why must we be with vengeful spirits?" complained Ryoko Kitagawa, sporting short hair. Her family owned a supermarket, making her the most well-off among the shrine maidens. She didn’t need to work for money.

In fact, being a shrine maiden had cost her much leisure time.

According to her, if her family hadn’t forced her to learn exorcism, she would have run away long ago.

“Isn’t there an easier way? Like sending a text message that can exorcise spirits? No matter how much we train, we’ll never be stronger than the great exorcists at the big shrines,” said Nanase Hayami, staring at her phone without lifting her head, her words tinged with resignation.

She had once dreamed of a perfect high school life, but now faced spending summer at the shrine.

"I-I’ll—I’ll try my best," said Kotone Hashimoto, the only one with a trace of fighting spirit. It made sense, as she was the daughter of a Shinto priest and destined to stay at the shrine.

Still, she was the most timid of the four.

Though their attitudes varied, out of respect for Maki Araki, they all accompanied Qiao Qiao and Ariko Asano to Toei Uzumasa Eigamura.

It was summer break, and the park was crowded with tourists.

A production crew seemed to be filming inside.

People dressed in Meiji-era costumes walked back and forth, while some suddenly appeared in monster makeup, startling the shrine maidens.

Finally arriving at the haunted house entrance, Maki Araki looked puzzled at the deserted ticket booth.

"Is... is the ticket seller busy with something?"

Kotone Hashimoto hid behind Maki, clutching her sleeve tightly.

"Should we ring the bell?" Qiao Qiao noticed a small bell beside the booth with a sign saying, “Ring the bell for assistance.”

He reached out and rang it.

Ding ding ding—

A clear bell sound rang out, and suddenly, someone emerged from inside the haunted house.

No—this wasn’t a person.

It was green, bald on top, with a bird-like beak.

A kappa.

Maki Araki instinctively stepped back.

"Modern haunted houses have gotten so realistic they even have costumed ticket sellers," she said, her voice trembling.

She purchased seven tickets and distributed them.

This haunted house operated on a self-guided exploration basis, with visitors walking along a path and encountering monsters that popped out to scare them.

This mode was the most terrifying; unlike a haunted roller coaster, if you were faint-hearted, you couldn’t easily escape the monsters.

"You can store your luggage here," the kappa ticket seller said, pointing to the lockers nearby.

Suddenly, screams echoed from within the haunted house, causing the shrine maidens to cling to each other.

Qiao Qiao placed his backpack in a locker and hesitated before deciding not to carry his assembled pistol.

If he instinctively pulled out his gun inside, that would be problematic.

He was sensible enough to know that.

Thus, Qiao Qiao led the group, followed by Ariko Asano, then the four shrine maidens, with Maki Araki bringing up the rear.

They entered the haunted house amid a respectful bow from the kappa ticket seller.

"I wonder what kind of monsters are inside. But they should all be props," Ariko Asano looked around with curiosity.

"Not sure, but the quality should be excellent," Qiao Qiao said, glancing at the five trembling shrine maidens holding hands behind him under the dim lighting.

"After all, that kappa ticket seller earlier wasn’t an actor—it was a real kappa."

Hearing Qiao Qiao’s words sent a chill down Maki Araki’s spine.