Chapter 38: CHAPTER 37 - Malevolent Presence (1)

"What is the meaning of this?" Hiroshi's voice was laced with annoyance as the main butler summoned him late at night, reporting the chaos that had erupted among the servants.

"Master," the main butler began, his expression serious, "they kept insisting that the estate is haunted."

Hiroshi wanted to dismiss the notion immediately, but the looks on his servants' faces gave him pause. He chose to remain silent and let the main servant explain the details. One by one, each servant who had experienced the eerie occurrences described what had transpired.

Hiroshi couldn't believe what he was hearing. To him, it all sounded like nonsense, but he knew his loyal servants wouldn't make up such stories just to get his attention. There had to be a reason behind their claims.

"Are you all sure?" Hiroshi asked, his voice calm and composed, though he couldn't help but feel a sense of suspicion clouding his judgment.

"Master, we are all telling the truth," one servant affirmed.

"That's right, Master. What would we gain from lying?" another chimed in.

Hiroshi nodded, understanding the sincerity in their voices. He knew that his servants had no reason to deceive him, and that troubled him even more. There was only one person he could think of who might be involved in this, someone who had both the motive and the means to create such disturbances within the estate.

He made up his mind to investigate further, determined to uncover the truth and put an end to the unsettling occurrences that had befallen his household.

"You all can rest," Hiroshi told the servants, his voice firm yet composed. He then turned to Kenji, the main butler, and commanded, "Follow me."

Kenji was an old servant, a loyal one who had served the late patriarch of the household. Though he was in the dark about the purpose of this late-night journey, he trusted Hiroshi enough to follow him without question. Hiroshi was now the master of the house, and Kenji had witnessed firsthand the power he wielded.

As they arrived at their destination, Kenji's lack of surprise was palpable. He had harbored suspicions for a while now, particularly regarding the young boy who had returned to the estate. It was clear to him that this boy was not the same as before. His master had been desperate to get rid of him, a clear indication that something had changed.

Kenji had even entertained the notion that this boy might be an imposter. After all, who would have the audacity to suddenly defy the family and servants after enduring their abuse for so long? Kenji had taken pleasure in watching the boy suffer, but now, since his return, he had transformed into someone untouchable, someone they couldn't control.

As they stood in that fateful place, Kenji knew that he and Hiroshi were about to uncover a truth that had been hidden for far too long. He braced himself for what lay ahead, determined to assist his master in getting to the bottom of the mysterious disturbances that had plagued their household.

"Master, what should we do now?" Kenji inquired, his eyes scanning the darkened house. The hour was late, and the estate had fallen into silence.

"Hmm, wake him up then," Hiroshi replied with an air of indifference. He didn't care whether the boy was asleep or not. To him, the boy was not his nephew, and the events that had transpired had made that abundantly clear.

Kenji didn't hesitate to carry out his master's request. He stepped into the courtyard, a place he hadn't visited in quite some time. His steps were purposeful, and a hint of nostalgia tugged at his heart. Unlike Hiroshi, who was now the master of the house, Kenji had once been a skilled warrior. His current status as a servant did little to diminish his inner strength.

As Kenji made his way deeper into the courtyard, he suddenly paused, his senses alert. "Hmm," he muttered, his eyes narrowing as he felt a change in the air, a shift in the atmosphere around them.

"What is it?" Hiroshi asked, noticing Kenji's hesitation and the unease in his voice. Hiroshi had initially dismissed the servants' claims and the mysterious occurrences as mere nonsense, likely the work of the boy they had once tormented. However, the fact that Kenji, a seasoned warrior, was sensing something that he couldn't sent a chill down his spine.

Kenji remained cautious and observant, his years of experience ingrained in his approach. He knew that reckless actions could lead to defeat, or even worse, death. "Master, it's best if you head back..." he began to advise when a sudden and unexpected event disrupted his words.

"What was that?" Hiroshi exclaimed, his voice filled with surprise and pain as he was kicked forcefully from behind, causing him to drop to his knees.

Kenji turned quickly, his trained instincts taking over. He was astonished that he hadn't noticed any threat approaching. "Master, are you alright?" he asked, concern evident in his voice as he helped Hiroshi to his feet.

Hiroshi, still reeling from the unexpected attack, looked pale and shaken. He hadn't expected that the claims made by the servants could hold any truth, but the evidence before him was undeniable.

In a mixture of anger and disbelief, Hiroshi shouted into the darkness, "Come on, boy! Where are you hiding?"

"Master?" Kenji was bewildered, for he couldn't sense anyone nearby, and Hiroshi's outburst seemed unfounded.

"I know you're out here, so come out!" Hiroshi continued to shout, his anger mounting. As he attempted to stand, his leg was kicked once again, sending him tumbling face-first onto the ground. Frustration and helplessness washed over him as he muttered, "Damn it!"

Kenji's anxiety intensified as he rushed to Hiroshi's side, driven by the nagging feeling that something was terribly wrong. Before he could reach Hiroshi, however, an unseen force grabbed his arm with a strength that threatened to break it.

"What are you doing there?" Hiroshi shouted angrily at Kenji, his patience running thin as he struggled to understand the situation. He couldn't see what had just happened to Kenji.

"Master, we really should leave for now," Kenji insisted, his voice trembling from the sheer force he had felt on his arm. He knew this was no ordinary threat.

"How can I leave if I can't even stand?" Hiroshi's frustration grew as he attempted to stand repeatedly, only to fall to his knees each time.

Kenji made another attempt to approach his master, but his leg was kicked once more, sending him sprawling onto the ground. The unexpected and supernatural nature of the attacks had left Kenji dumbfounded and shaken.

"Show yourself!" Kenji called out, his voice filled with a mixture of fear and defiance.

Hiroshi, too, looked shocked by the events unfolding before him. "Master, I think we aren't allowed to leave," Kenji finally confessed, his voice heavy with dread. It was becoming increasingly clear that something malevolent was intent on keeping them trapped within the estate, subjecting them to suffering before they could ever hope to escape.

Hiroshi's mind raced as he considered the implications of the haunting. If, by some dark twist of fate, his sister had returned to torment them, it was clear that she would not only come after him and Kenji but would seek to bring suffering to their entire family.

He couldn't bear the thought of his loved ones enduring the same torment he and Kenji were experiencing. Panic set in, and Hiroshi began to speak aloud, his voice trembling with desperation. "Ha-ha, sister, is that really you? Don't be like that. I'm your big brother. You won't hurt your big brother, right?"

Kenji, still in pain from the previous attack, finally managed to get up. He made his way toward Hiroshi, concern etched across his face. But before he could reach his master, another unseen force struck him, this time in the stomach, causing him to curl into a ball of pain. "Ma-master..." he gasped.

Hiroshi's complexion grew even paler as the realization sank in. They were not just facing a physical threat; they were in the presence of something otherworldly and malevolent. Fear gripped his heart as he began to understand that the danger they faced was far graver than he had ever imagined. Death seemed like a real possibility now, and he couldn't help but tremble at the thought of what lay ahead.