Suga opened up to the next newspaper article:
“September 29, 1987
Bad weather prevented the handling of the Kagohara village landslide disaster.
Kagohara village, Japan. Rainstorms that occur for the next few days will disrupt the process of reopening road access to Kagohara village, and it is predicted that this will prolong the process for up to several days. The government has prepared aid to be supplied to the village.”
Suga went on to the next newspaper article:
“October 5, 1987
Sixteen people were declared mysteriously missing.
Kagohara village, Japan. On the fifth day, the rescue team went to Kagohara village to monitor; they were surprised by the villagers who reported that sixteen people of them were gone missing. The police, villagers, and rescue teams helped each other search for the missing victims. This news immediately caused an uproar; it was only known that the cause of the victims' disappearance was related to the natural disaster that had recently occurred."
“October 7, 1987
Kagohara village access has been successfully restored.
Kagohara village, Japan. After over a week, the disaster countermeasures team handled the landslide disaster, and access to Kagohara village was finally restored. However, repairs to damaged infrastructures are still being carried out until an unspecified time limit and access to the village can be fully restored.”
Suga’s expression turned surprised.
“This similar missing person cases even from decades ago.”
Suga searched for the logs of the rescue team from those in charge of the village, and it turned out that the Yokai Controller Association database also had them. Suga read through them and found some activity logs that caught his eye:
“Activity log date: October 2, 1987
On the fourth day after the landslide disaster in Kagohara village, the disaster countermeasures team returned there by boat via the river route. There’s something unusual today. Residents reported that some of them saw people who had died or gone missing walking around the village at night in unusual conditions. Not only because the person in question has died or gone missing but also appears covered in blood and bruises, like someone who just had an accident. Some also reported that the people they saw resembled corpses and were hideous. I don’t know how to respond; either people hallucinate from the stress of this isolation or something, or... they actually see it? My team and I have never seen anything as outlandish as they have. However, because these reports kept coming from different people, the police assigned several of their members to guard and secure the village, and considered it as “There is a possibility that criminals are roaming around disturbing order”. The reactions of villagers are happy when they heard this.”
“Activity log date: October 3, 1987
Our team gets bad news when one of the police assigned to guard and secure the village goes missing while on patrol duty at night. The victim’s colleagues said that they divided the task of patrolling several corners of the village while communicating with each other via radio communication, but then one of their colleagues disappeared. The victim’s last words were, “I see someone suspicious; I’ll check immediately”, but not long after, they lost contact with the victim. The rescue team, police, and the villagers worked together to find the victim, but until this log was made, the victim’s whereabouts had not been found.”
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“Activity log date: October 4, 1987
Yesterday’s missing police case was still not finished. Shockingly today, the police reported that 15 villagers had disappeared and were last seen the previous day when they went about their respective activities. This caused commotion from all parties; the villagers, the rescue team, and the police immediately tried to find the victims, but until this log was made, not a single victim could be found. The search would continue tomorrow morning because the weather was bad, and it was too risky to search at night. It’s just my feeling, but I think this village is cursed. There’s something strange about the villagers, like there’s something they’re trying to hide.”
It was the last Log of the rescue team on duty at that time. Suga’s expression turned curious; he continued looking for newspaper articles related to Kagohara village and found them:
“February 9, 1999
The last resident of Kagohara village finally decided to leave.
Kagohara village, Japan. The Unjyo family, who was the last family to inhabit Kagohara village, finally left the village just a few days after the family before left the village. With zero inhabitants, Kagohara village has been declared an abandoned village. There is no certainty whether this village will be re-occupied by either the previous residents or other residents. Even though no one might live in the village anymore, the villagers say they are ready to give up their land and houses to be abandoned.”
Suga’s expression turned surprised.
“Although it seems unnatural for all the villagers to decide to leave, something like this sometimes happen to some small villages for whatever reason. Especially if the village's location is so remote that natural disasters can isolate it, anyone will think of leaving. But especially for this mission, I will still find it strange.”
Nellson nodded. Suga continued talking.
“What’s strange is not only because of this, but also because tens of years have passed until now, there is no news that tells if the missing victims are found.”
Nellson replied.
“Maybe because the news didn’t get it, or the victims still weren’t found.”
Suga nodded; he then reads the next newspaper article he finds.
“April 20, 2000
Landslide Disaster Again Affects Kagohara Village.
Kagohara Village, Japan. After dozens of years had passed, another landslide hit Kagohara village, which cut off access to the village, and the village became isolated. But unlike dozens of years ago, this village has now been abandoned, so no isolated victims need to be rescued. Until this news was published, there was no plan from the government to restore access to the village, considering the high costs of handling the disaster after effects, the safety of the officers, and the cost of repairing damaged infrastructures. Even so, there were no demands from the villagers for the government to restore access to the village.”
Reading the last sentence in this news article made Suga’s expression change in astonishment, as did Nellson, who also read it while standing on a table near Suga.
“The last sentence of this news article indicates that the villagers do not want access to the Kagohara village to be restored.”
Nellson nodded.
“Right, things are getting weirder.”
Suga searched and found another news article regarding Kagohara village, which was the last article he could find that year:
“April 27, 2000
The Government Compensates Kagohara Villagers.
Kagohara Village, Japan. After discussing efforts to restore access to Kagohara village for the last few days, residents came to the local government office. They said they appreciated the government’s efforts to restore access to the village. Still, they emphasized that the government did not need to consider them and would agree if they decided not to restore access to Kagohara village. Considering the level of difficulty and cost, the government finally agreed not to restore access to Kagohara village but will provide appropriate compensation to every resident affected by the disaster.”
Suga leaned back and crossed his arms.
“And this news confirms it. I don’t understand why the villagers don’t want access to Kagohara village restored. Something must have happened.”
Suga’s expression turned curious.
“I’ll find out if the cases from decades ago are included with Yokai involvement and whether the Yokai Controller Association is investigating it at that time.”
Nellson nodded.
“Good idea Suga.”
Suga walked away from here, followed by Nellson, who flew close to him.
The current time is 8.45 pm. Suga walked with Nellson, who flew after him, through the tall shiny wooden framed glass double door with “Members Archives” written in wooden board above it. Suga arrived in an expansive room, in a classic European style decorated with wood trim on the walls and ceiling. This room has a carpeted floor with groups of long and single sofas on the right and left after the entrance, with a long front desk made of beautifully carved glossy brown wood that extends to the right and left, separating the guest hall area from the dim part area with tall shelves arranged in an orderly manner behind the front desk.
The front desk has two short wooden double doors as an entrance and exit to the archives area. The front desk is guarded by an old man while reading a book; he wears a suit, loafers, and glasses; his grayed hair formed regular patterns in his black hair. Suga walked with a smile while looking at this old man.
“Good evening Mazo san, I want to….”
Suga had not finished saying, Mazo interrupted his words.
“Those who are not authorized are prohibited from being here; even those who are authorized but don’t have special permission are also prohibited.”
Mazo said, not taking his eyes off the book he was reading. Suga stopped not far before the front desk where Mazo was. Nellson landed on the floor not far from where Suga was standing and looked at the two of them curiously.