落とし穴９５堀：繰り返される悲劇 (Part2)
Whether it was good luck or bad, we didn't encounter any ghosts ourselves. It seemed the spirits had drifted toward the other teams, where everyone was either being pressed into temporary service, becoming friends with them, or being threatened.
"Hey, Yuki."
"Ah, Comet, Zargis. You’re safe. Did anything show up on your end?"
"No, fortunately, we didn't have any incidents."
"Yeah. But tell me, why aren't you two afraid of the ghosts?"
"Well, this is work, isn't it? I didn't come here to enjoy the thrill of being scared. Besides, there’s a restriction in place that they can’t cause us harm. If that’s the case, isn't it better to just catch them and talk it out?"
...Ah, I see. That’s just like Yuki. No, I suppose that’s only natural. If we ran away, we’d be playing right into Luna’s hands. It’s much easier to just capture them and intimidate them.
"I understand the situation. So, can we talk to them? I mean, the anatomical model and the skeleton specimen don't look like they can speak. Or rather, are they golems?"
"I wouldn't call them golems. The skeleton is closer to an undead, but the anatomical model... hey, are you the type made from real remains?"
When Yuki asked the anatomical model, it rattled its head up and down in affirmation.
"Then this one is also of the undead variety. It’s the type where the body was preserved like a taxidermy specimen. Since there’s an original vessel, it moves because of the lingering remnants of its soul."
"I see. Like the undead magic swordsmen and mages Firia used to make. But this anatomical model doesn't look that strong, does it?"
"Well, I don't know about this one specifically, but the rumor is they have enough strength to lift a person with ease and kill them with their bare hands. The classic trope is that they collect organs they’re missing."
"Oh, is that the legend? So, anatomical model, do you collect organs?"
When I asked that, the model shook its head, walked over to the chalkboard, and wrote with a piece of chalk.
*『I have received a blessing from a Goddess, so such things are unnecessary. Before, I just walked around the school. After I died, I was the one who asked for my body to be put to good use. I have no intention of harming anyone.』*
"Wow. You chose to be useful to others even after death."
*『I never thought I’d be able to talk to people normally like this, even if it is in another world.』*
...Wait a minute. Is my ambition smaller than this anatomical model's? I mean, I just thought death was the end, and when I was being controlled by Firia, I just thought, "Well, this is easy enough..." I’m starting to feel a bit sad. I should stop thinking about this.
No, no, that’s not it. This is supposed to be an interview, too. I need to make a judgment.
"Yuki, I think this anatomical model is fine."
"Yeah, I think so too. But how many more are there? Just finding them all is going to be a chore..."
Yuki was grumbling, but I didn't see it that way. Because...
"Yuki, look over at Taizo’s group."
"Taizo?"
Where Yuki turned his gaze, he saw...
"As of this moment, this abandoned school is under the command of Weed. To ensure the safety of the residents, interviews with everyone are essential. Therefore, I wish to assign a mission to Corporal Yamamoto, who is a member of this school and a disciplined Japanese soldier!!"
*『Sir!! Yes, sir!!』*
"First, as a field promotion, I am raising Corporal Yamamoto to the rank of Second Lieutenant."
*『Sir!! Thank you very much!!』*
"Second Lieutenant Yamamoto, I want you to gather all the residents of this school. As I said before, this is for the safety of everyone here. You could say the future of this school rests on your shoulders. Gather them immediately."
*『Sir!! I will gather them at once!!』*
Just like that, Taizo had already brought the soldier into his fold and started working to resolve the situation.
"You’ve got to be kidding me, he even has a Japanese soldier..."
"If I recall, he mentioned something about the Solomon front."
"…Oh boy. Luna really pulled him from a brutal battlefield in World War II. We’re going to have to listen to what he actually wants."
"Why? Isn't he just a ghost Luna brought here?"
"In his case, it was likely conscription. He left his homeland for a foreign land for the sake of his country... on the Solomon front, that means death by disease or starvation, or if he was lucky, death in battle. If he can pass on to the afterlife, that would be better for him, wouldn't it? I don't feel like working him even harder in another world."
"...I suppose you're right."
"Besides, it must be painful for Taizo, too. Seeing soldiers younger than him still existing as ghosts."
Indeed, the expression on Taizo’s face as he watched the Japanese soldier run off was complex.
"Haa... well, the preparations for taking control are complete. I don't intend to keep fulfilling Luna's requests one by one. But between the reports and managing this place, it's just more work for me..."
...Hang in there, Yuki. That’s all I can say!
And so, those who wished to stay settled down in Weed, becoming soldiers or working as "real" extras for the haunted house. The rest were sent to the afterlife by Luna.
*『...Um, are you Taiki? I’d like to move on to the afterlife...』*
"If you go now, you’ll just be a suicide victim piling stones by the riverbank, right? Why not build up some good deeds here first? Fortunately, even as a ghost, you can still do things like calculations, right?"
*『Oh, I see. But someone like me, who committed suicide because of bullying...』*
"I need the help, even from someone with your level of academic ability. Well, I’ll have you working like a horse. Learn a bit more about the world before you go to the afterlife. Besides, even if it is another world, try living a little more enjoyably."
*『Haha, I’m already dead, though... Thanks.』*
It seems Taiki is also doing a solid job of recruiting. Well, in the end, it’s a net gain in human resources, right? As always, cleaning up after Yuki is a lot of work. Tragedy is a recurring theme, after all.
And so, the horror series concludes today. Thank you for sticking with us.
Well, in the end, it all turned into a gag, but that doesn't change the fact that someone’s workload just increased. And so, we’ve added the care of ghosts to our duties. However, since this force is strictly for internal use, we won't be deploying them outside. If we start doing various things within Weed... well, you understand, don't you?