The Legend of Tokyo Taoist

Chapter 51: Supernatural Department

"So it's someone I know~" In the activity room, the man with glasses who grabbed Inuyama Heita and begged him not to leave poured him a cup of barley tea.

"Thank you." Inuyama Heita muttered softly and secretly looked around the activity room.

The activity room is not very big, and there are some things around that look like they are related to some supernatural rituals, such as crystal balls, hexagram tablecloths, creepy human-shaped dolls, funny raccoon cat sculptures, etc. However, the atmosphere in the activity room is not weird. Those strange things are more like some randomly placed decorations with too mixed styles, making people feel like they have come to a shop that specializes in selling souvenirs.

"Ah~ Finally someone is here. I almost thought the Psychic Club was going to be finished." The man with glasses introduced himself: "My name is Kawasaki Tosaku, a sophomore, and the head of the Psychic Club. This is a member of our Psychic Club, Tanaka Sho. He doesn't like to talk much, so don't mind him."

There were only four people in the room, including Inuyama Heita and Suzuki, the ordinary man with glasses Kawasaki Tosaku, and Tanaka Sho who was reading a book. When talking about him, Tanaka Sho just raised his head and nodded to Inuyama Heita symbolically, and then continued reading. Inuyama Heita looked at the cover and knew that this was a work by a man named Edgar Allan Poe.

Inuyama Heita looked around and asked, "Um...are you the only two in this club?"

"What do you mean just the two of us?" Kawasaki Tosaku asked in surprise, "Isn't there another one? And Suzuki-san, so you two should be acquaintances, right?"

"We're in the same class." Inuyama Heita turned around and asked, "I was a little concerned about you before, why are you here, Suzuki?"

Suzuki adjusted his glasses and said as a matter of course: "This is the Supernatural Department. Of course you come here if you are interested in these supernatural events."

"I don't believe you!" Inuyama Heita complained in his mind, "He is obviously a super-firm materialist, right? This guy must have other purposes."

Kawasaki clenched his fists excitedly and said, "That's right! This is where the supernatural enthusiasts in the school gather! Anyone who loves supernatural events can come!"

"But I really just came here to read a book. I'm obviously just interested in supernatural novels." Tanaka Sho sighed. He was simply deceived by the reasons made up by Kawasaki Tosaku.

"Stop sabotaging us, Tanaka." Kawasaki said dissatisfiedly.

Inuyama Heita asked, "Are you the only ones here? No one else?"

Kawasaki sighed again: "Originally there were quite a few of them, almost reaching the standard of the establishment department. At the beginning, everyone was happily discussing various supernatural events, but gradually no one came. Really, they are too timid, right? If this continues, the activity room will be gone."

Tanaka was still teasing as he read the book: "Is it because the activities you organized are too scary? You are not as good as the courage test."

Kawasaki said angrily, "This is a necessary step to find ghosts! Besides, what's so scary about the activities I chose? Aren't they just pen spirits, dish spirits, Ouija boards, four-corner games... these? These are just child's play. My real plan hasn't even been implemented yet."

"The problem is..." Tanaka flipped a page of the book and said, "You specifically choose to do these things at night, and take people to dark places, abandoned buildings, urban legends and so on. Everyone knows that the head of the supernatural department is a scary chuunibaku."

"Damn it!" Kawasaki said angrily, "Geniuses are always misunderstood by others! I will not be hindered by the shallow eyes of the world. As long as I discover the existence of the soul, the Nobel Prize will be mine!" "Nobel..." Suzuki took a sip of tea, holding the teacup, and said faintly, "But what if the soul does not exist at all? What if humans have no free will at all, and everything is just an illusion caused by the chemical reactions in the brain? Humans may be just dust in the universe, not even as dust, neither important nor unique, and without any meaning, just existing."

Kawasaki trembled as if he had heard extremely terrifying words, and asked: "How...how can you say such horrible words! How can humans...how can humans not have souls? Suzuki-san, aren't you very interested in supernatural legends?"

Suzuki smiled slightly and said, "It was just a joke. I was just saying it casually. I am still very interested in supernatural legends."

"That's good..." Kawasaki breathed a sigh of relief, holding his chest and said weakly: "Don't tell such horror stories in the future, it will scare people to death."

Tanaka couldn't help but complain: "Which side is the supernatural department?"

The corner of Inuyama Heita's mouth twitched: Suzuki-san is indeed an upright materialist, so what on earth is she doing here?

Kawasaki recovered after a while. He pushed his glasses and said excitedly, "Alright! With Inuyama-san, we now have a new member in the Psychic Club! This is really cause for celebration. Let us continue the tradition of the Psychic Club..."

"Wait a minute." Inuyama Heita hurriedly stopped him, "I haven't agreed to join yet."

The three of them turned their eyes to him, and Suzuki couldn't help but ask, "Then what are you doing here?"

"I..." Inuyama Heita said directly, "I've been very interested in urban legends recently. I heard that there are people here who specialize in this, so I came here to ask if there is any new information about urban legends."

Kawasaki laughed. "Then you've come to the right place! This is called the Supernatural Club, but it's a club at a higher level. You don't need to submit an application to join the club. And, the tradition of the Supernatural Club I just mentioned is related to urban legends."

"What tradition?" Inuyama Heita asked curiously.

Kawasaki drew the curtains, lit a candle and turned off the lights. The activity room suddenly fell into darkness, with only the light of the candle flickering slightly.

"Of course... to exchange information about urban legends." Kawasaki put the candle on the table. His glasses reflected the candlelight, making him look a little mysterious. He explained, "During the daily activity time, the members of the Supernatural Department will share the information they have collected about urban legends and supernatural events here."

Inuyama Heita perked up. This was exactly what he was looking for! So he immediately asked, "So, you know a lot of recent urban legends?"

"Of course!" Kawasaki was very proud, then looked at Suzuki and said, "Just now, Suzuki brought us the latest urban legend information, and there is also evidence. Suzuki, tell us the whole story today."

Suzuki nodded, her face changing under the candlelight, and she slowly said: "We mentioned before that among the various new religious groups in Tokyo, there is one called 'Lucky Mutual Aid Society'..."

(End of this chapter)