Their car sped down a winding road with hills to their right and a ravine to the edge of the wilderness to their left. The road went back down, and the view on their right and left was a wilderness with tall, shady trees. Arriving at the T-junction, a sign showed that vehicles were required to turn left, while the straight road was permanently blocked with road railings, five-meter-high wire fencing, and metal board with the words “Dead end ahead” and a no-entry sign below it. The blocked road has asphalt that looks older with more faint color than the asphalt road passed by Suga’s car. The blocked road attracted Suga’s attention, even if only briefly. Suga’s car turned left and arrived at their destination, Kagohara town.

This town is vast with classic Japanese modern-style house buildings, a hospital, schools, a police station, parks, etc. The street and town atmosphere was quiet, with only a few cars passing by on the roads and only a few pedestrians passing by on the sidewalks. Their car passes houses and shophouses on the right and left, then arrives at a classic L-shaped Japanese house with a tiled roof, an open corridor at the back, and a traditional Japanese garden. In front of the building is a parking area for cars, and the words “Inn” on the wall next to the house’s entrance, the classic Japanese wooden double sliding doors, which are fully open. Several cars filled this parking lot.

The car that Suga was in stopped in one of the parking slots in front of the inn. Suga exited the vehicle, followed by Nellson, who flew after him and landed near Suga. The driver also exited the car and helped Suga unload his two carry-on bags from inside the car’s back trunk. The driver and Suga walked towards the inn entrance, then stopped before it. Suga took his carry-on bags brought by his driver.

“Okay, Uncle can go now. I’ll let Uncle know when I have to go back.”

The driver bowed respectfully.

“I understand, Mr. Suga.”

The driver raised his head again.

“Then I’ll excuse myself.”

Suga smiled and nodded. The driver got into the black sedan and drove away. Suga stood in place with Nellson beside him, watching the driver’s car leave until it was no longer seen. Suga’s expression turned deadpan; he looked around the inn momentarily. Suga walked into the inn; Nellson then flew after him.

As soon as Suga passed the entrance, he arrived at the section to remove shoes with a lower surface, a wooden shoe rack on the left that provides slippers for changing footwear. Suga put his bags down, sat on the edge of the higher floor surface, and took off his boots. Suga put his boots into the available shoe rack slots, then took the slippers and wore them. In front of Suga is a corridor that runs forward and to the right, with a glossy brown wooden ceiling, beautiful chandeliers, classic Japanese white plaster walls, wall lights on the wooden pillars of this corridor, and glossy brown wooden patterned floors. Suga looked around curiously.

Suga walked to the right and soon ran into a woman in her 40s wearing a kimono who had just come from inside one of the rooms. Seeing Suga’s arrival, the woman walked up to him.

“Welcome to our inn; I am Unjyo. Can I help you?”

Hearing that name, Suga remembered the newspaper article he had just read recently about the last family to leave Kagohara village with the same name. Suga thought.

“Unjyo? Is she from the same family as the one in the newspaper article said?”

Seeing Suga lost in thought made Mrs. Unjyo’s expression turned astonished.

“Are you all right?”

Suga came to his senses.

“Oh, sorry, I was a little lost in thought. I am Suga Hisoka; I have booked a room to stay at this inn.”

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

Mrs. Unjyo’s smiled.

“I’ve been waiting for your arrival, Hisoka san.”

This woman’s attention was then fixed on Nellson, the owl Yokai, standing on the floor near Suga. Before Mrs. Unjyo asked about Nellson, Suga explained.

“This is Nellson, my pet owl. His unique appearance is because he is doing cosplay and loves it, hahaha.”

Suga laughed awkwardly.

“I don’t see any restrictions on bringing pets?”

Mrs. Unjyo looked back at Suga, then smiled.

“Of course, you may bring your pet, Hisoka san. As long as he doesn’t disturb the cleanliness and other visitors staying overnight.”

Suga nodded and smiled.

“I understand, Unjyo san don’t need to worry about that matter at all.”

Nellson looked up and watched the two of them talk in astonishment. Mrs. Unjyo smiled and nodded.

“Let me take you to your room.”

Suga nodded and smiled. Mrs. Unjyo turned and walked away, and Suga walked following her; Nellson then flew after them.

Suga walked down the corridor with a row of windows, an opened row of wooden Japanese sliding double doors on the right that showed an open corridor and classic Japanese garden before the inn building, and a row of wooden Japanese sliding double doors on his left that leads to traditional Japanese bedroom for inn visitors. Suga thought.

“This inn is very classic, surpassing the Yokai Controller Association headquarters.”

Nellson flew ahead of them, then landed on the floor and watched them while waiting for them to pass, making Mrs. Unjyo a little surprised to see Nellson.

They arrived before one of the wooden sliding double doors; Mrs. Unjyo opened it for Suga. Behind it is a fairly large room with tatami flooring, a wardrobe with a sliding double door that merged to the wall; next to it is a long-short cupboard with several small decorative furniture and ornamental ceramics on it. On one side of this room’s wall is an open row of wooden sliding double doors with translucent sheets on a lattice frame (shoji) that showed an open corridor with tiled roofs, glossy brown wood ceilings, and glossy brown wooden patterned floors. This open corridor ran along the back of the inn building, lined with sturdy wooden pillars to which wall lamps were attached.

In front of the open corridor shows a view of the classic Japanese garden behind the inn with a fish pond in the middle, several traditional Japanese stone lamps, neatly shaved green grass, various forms of bonsai trees, many sakura trees, and a mountain view that partially shrouded in mist in the distance. Suga walked closer to the sliding door and was amazed to see the back garden, especially the view of the mountain.

“You have a very nice view of the back garden, Unjyo san.”

Mrs. Unjyo smiled.

“Yes, this view is one of the highlights of our inn and Kagohara town.”

Hearing the name of Kagohara town caught Suga’s attention.

“Speaking of Kagohara town, have you lived here long, Unjyo san?”

Mrs. Unjyo looked surprised at Suga.

“Of course, Hisoka san. That’s why our family built this inn as a family business.”

Suga looked curious as he nodded. Suga appeared to remember something.

“When I arrived at this town entrance road, another old road was blocked. Where does that road lead?”

Mrs. Unjyo was a little surprised to hear Suga’s question.

“Oh, that old road? It only leads to the forest area. The road was closed because there was a landslide disaster tens of years ago.”

Suga looked slightly surprised to hear that.

“Landslide disaster? Does that road lead to Kagohara village?”

Mrs. Unjyo was shocked, but she quickly hid it with a smile.

“You’re making it up; maybe you mean Kagohara town?”

Suga’s expression changed in surprise. Suga was about to ask further, but Mrs. Unjyo interrupted him.

“Then I’ll excuse myself, Hisoka san. I have other things to do.”

Mrs. Unjyo bowed toward Suga, immediately turned, walked out of the room, and closed the sliding entrance door. Suga stood silent for a moment with an even more astonished expression. Suga walked towards Nellson, then crossed his arms while supporting his chin with his left hand.

“Is it just my feeling, or Unjyo san seems bothered when I ask about Kagohara village.”

Nellson, standing on the floor, looked up at Suga and nodded.

“I feel the same way; there’s something she’s trying to hide.”

Suga nodded.

“That’s right, looks like our investigation is about to become more difficult....”

Suga paused in thought.

The current time is 1:15 pm. Suga is alone in his room with Nellson, sitting against the edge of the shoji sliding door while enjoying the beautiful view behind the inn, and Nellson is standing close by.

“What a great view.”

Nellson nodded.

“I’m not going to argue that.”

It didn’t take long for Suga’s stomach to rumble.

“I just realized if I haven’t lunch.”

Suga stood up from his seat and took pamphlets containing an inn map and a menu of foods and drinks that could be ordered via telephone on the short cupboard. Suga sat back down in his place before; Nellson watched him curiously.

“Should I order foods into the room or eat in this inn’s restaurant.”