Chapter 140: Is This the Modern Way of Exorcism?

"Hmm, it seems they have decided to split up."

"That’s right. Aside from Shrine Maiden Hashimoto and Shrine Maiden Hayami, who remained at the starting point, the other three have begun moving toward the exorcism sites."

The two commentators, Nishimoto and Tono, were quite surprised by the equipment carried by the Shimogamo Shrine maidens, but they were professionals after all. Regardless of what tools are used for exorcism, the essence remains the same. The principle never changes.

In the abandoned village, a chilling, unsettling melody seemed to echo.

"However, is having only three people on the front lines of the exorcism enough?"

"That is a fair point. There are twenty sources of resentment and fifty simulated vengeful spirits in the area today. Three people would indeed be stretched thin. Oh, wait, they are about to encounter the first one."

Commentator Nishimoto’s words drew the audience's attention to the giant screen. The screen zoomed in on a source of resentment located on the third floor of a building. It was flanked by two simulated vengeful spirits lurking on the staircase. If they were to enter the building using conventional methods, they would inevitably be hindered by the spirits.

Ryoko Kitagawa took the lead, with Haruka Sasaki in the middle and Maki Shinoki bringing up the rear. The three watched different directions, keeping the entire three-hundred-sixty-degree perimeter under control.

On the other side, the drone piloted by Nanase Hayami reached the sky above the abandoned village.

"Suspected source of resentment detected in sector J4. All units, be advised."

Through a window, she immediately spotted the source of resentment and the simulated spirits behind the wall. It was an alarm clock.

"Uruz 3, can you eliminate it?"

Haruka Sasaki glanced at the building. The spirits held the high ground; a direct frontal assault would likely meet with significant resistance. The best approach would be long-range fire suppression.

"No problem."

In the distance, Kotone Hashimoto responded while peering through her scope at the building. In the field of view of her high-magnification electronic scope, the movements of the source of resentment and the simulated spirits were crystal clear.

"Uruz 3, preparing for fire suppression," Hashimoto announced over the radio, simultaneously calculating the trajectory.

Inside the venue, the bewildered crowd watched the maidens’ method of exorcism. Even the commentators were momentarily speechless.

"...Mr. Nishimoto, I suddenly feel like I’m watching a war movie."

"Indeed. Could Shrine Maiden Hashimoto be planning to use long-range sniping to attack the spirits? I assume her weapon must have been blessed with spiritual power."

"I see. If we view the sniper rifle as a longbow, then it doesn't seem to be a problem at all."

Hearing the commentators, Suzuka, sitting nearby, shivered. No, they didn't understand at all. That wasn't just some "sniper rifle." What Kotone Hashimoto held was a sniper cannon in the truest sense.

On the screen, Hashimoto pulled the trigger after only a few seconds of aiming and trajectory calculation. The rifle body recoiled, but the scope—mounted on a sliding rail—did not shift. Through the scope, Hashimoto watched as the projectile exited the barrel and, after a brief flight, dove through the window into the room.

*BOOM—*

A massive explosion echoed across Mount Hiei.

"???"

The two commentators were left dumbfounded.

Within the rising smoke, the third floor of that building had vanished. It was gone. Forget the source of resentment or the simulated spirits; the entire floor had been decimated by high-explosive ordnance, sending rubble flying and kicking up a thick cloud of dust.

The spectators at the scene looked at one another in confusion. Did we misunderstand what exorcism is?

But the Shimogamo Shrine maidens did not stop.

"Sector H7, in the bungalow with the red roof: one source of resentment, one simulated spirit," Nanase Hayami reported, observing the village via drone.

*BOOM—*

Another explosion erupted. The building, which looked like it had once been a small shop, was completely leveled. Only a ruin remained where it once stood. Hashimoto and Hayami coordinated, methodically clearing the visible sources of resentment and spirits.

"Sector B6, there is a source of resentment in the warehouse behind the school."

Hearing Hayami’s report, Hashimoto shifted the cannon’s muzzle.

"Wait, this one is blocked by the school building, Mr. Nishimoto."

"You are correct. It seems Shrine Maiden Hashimoto’s heavy fire suppression has its limitations."

The two commentators exchanged these thoughts after seeing the situation from the first-person perspective. After the initial shock, they had regained their composure. No matter how unusual the equipment might be, it was still an exorcism. Providing simple commentary was still within their capabilities.

"Huh? Has Shrine Maiden Hashimoto raised the muzzle?"

"Is she intending to use parabolic firing? That is a highly advanced shooting technique. As everyone knows, similar indirect fire techniques exist in Kyudo, though they are extremely demanding in terms of experience and skill."

Kotone Hashimoto could not hear them. At this moment, her electronic scope was calculating the trajectory for the indirect shot. In her mind, she recalled what Joe Qiao had told her.

"This sniper grenade launcher can strike objects within twenty-five hundred meters using the electronic sight and parabolic trajectory."

Using the electronic map generated by the drone, Hashimoto locked onto the warehouse hidden behind the school.

*BOOM—*

The grenade traced a beautiful arc, accurately striking the warehouse. A flash of fire immediately engulfed the wooden structure, consuming it entirely, along with the source of resentment—the appearance of which even Hashimoto didn't know.

"..."

The two commentators fell silent.

While the two provided fire suppression, the three-person squad led by Ryoko Kitagawa had entered the abandoned village. The commentators, feeling they could no longer explain the sniper's actions, turned their attention to the squad. After all, these three seemed somewhat more conventional.

"Oh, Mr. Nishimoto, there is a source of resentment in the building ahead of them."

"Yes, it seems this source of resentment has become quite powerful due to the Obon festival. If they enter the building rashly, they might be entangled by the three simulated spirits surrounding it, making it difficult to escape."

"A typical shrine maiden would likely seal the area around the house with paper charms, weaken the spirits with a kagura bell, and then enter to perform the exorcism."

"Mr. Tono, you certainly are knowledgeable about these types of sources of resentment."

While the two analyzed the situation, Ryoko Kitagawa noticed the house. She signaled her companions with a hand gesture, then moved to the side of the door, crouching at a distance from the wall. Maki Shinoki hid behind a utility pole directly across from the door, while Haruka Sasaki took cover near a window on the opposite side of Kitagawa.

Following another quick exchange of hand signals, Kitagawa reached to her waist and pulled out a breaching hammer.

"A hammer? That is indeed a hammer in Shrine Maiden Kitagawa’s hand, isn't it?"

"It is indeed a hammer. What is she planning to do?"

Kitagawa raised her hand, and the hammer swung in an arc, striking near the wooden doorknob.

*CRASH—*

The locked door was shattered by the immense impact. Before it could even swing open from the inertia, Haruka Sasaki pulled a black, canister-like object from her pocket and tossed it inside.

*HUM—*

A blinding flash and a deafening blast erupted from within the house, shattering the window glass of several nearby buildings. Before anyone could react, Sasaki raised her submachine gun and, keeping only a small portion of her body exposed, swept the room with fire.

"?"

The two commentators were left speechless.