In this anime crossover, who stole my module?

Seeing that his son's father was the first to break the silence.

"Same to me, I'm the same."

Seeing this, Natsume Ryo took over the conversation and then looked at Miko, who was still somewhat nervous.

He gestured to her that she didn't need to do that, and then began to explain:

"As I just said, not all spirits are harmful."

"What you are worried about is the most common type of spirit that exudes malice. It is usually born from strong negative emotions, obsessions, or resentment."

"They are like sediment of emotional garbage, instinctively attracted to dark, filthy, and negative places."

"To give an example, they are like abandoned corners of schools, hospital morgues, or neglected garbage dumps. They are even places where unfortunate events have occurred. These places tend to accumulate them easily."

"This type of spirit."

"Their very existence is composed of pure negative energy; they have no reason, only the instinct to devour the aura of the living and spread fear."

"Therefore, it is absolutely harmful to humans."

"It falls into the category that you should try your best to avoid."

Natsume Ryo's mind flashed through the vast knowledge system brought about by professions such as the [Urban Ghost Stories Module] and the [Quqiang Exorcist].

Then, changing the subject, he turned his gaze to the spirit of Miko's father sitting to the side and continued his explanation:

"but."

"As I just said, the things you can see are diverse and not monolithic."

“Earthbound spirits, tsukumogami, mountain spirits and monsters, and strange creatures derived from specific legends.”

"Their nature and behavior patterns vary; some are neutral, while others may interact with humans for specific reasons."

"Your father's situation is rather special."

"It is not composed of purely negative emotions, but retains a fairly complete set of memories and personality from before death."

"Generally speaking, if a person has a strong attachment to unfulfilled wishes after death..."

"Then their soul will remain in the world for a short time."

“And in your home, there is an altar, and you and your mother worship and yearn for each other day and night, which is equivalent to providing an anchor for this obsession.”

“In this case, if the obsession is strong enough and forms a close connection with a specific place, such as this house, it may make it similar to a bound spirit.”

Natsume Ryo explained it in a simple and easy-to-understand way:

“If a landbound spirit is worshipped and does not harbor strong malice, then within the territory it is bound to, it is almost the guardian spirit with the highest authority in that area.”

"In a sense, this house is like your father's shrine or domain. His activities are usually limited to the house, and he rarely leaves."

"Because it is essentially an obsession with protecting family members. So it will not harm you, and may even protect the family to some extent, resisting some low-level malice from the outside world."

After listening to Natsume Ryo's detailed explanation.

Yotsuya Miko nodded as if she understood, her fear of her father's spirit dissipating considerably, replaced by a complex emotion.

It turns out that her father had been protecting her and her mother in this way all along.

"Then... what about it?"

After understanding his father's situation, Jianzi pointed to the huge dog spirit that was still hiding at his father's feet, only daring to show half of its head and trembling, with a puzzled look on his face.

Surely this big, menacing-looking creature can't be harmless, right?

"about it……"

You can think of them as guardian beasts.

Natsume Ryo's gaze fell on the dog spirit, which immediately shrank back behind Miko's father.

"In traditional Japanese beliefs, during the Obon festival, deceased relatives are said to ride on the spirits of oxen or horses to visit their homes."

Natsume Ryo looked at the dog spirit and continued to explain:

"Although it is not the Obon Festival now, the principle is similar."

"Your father remained in this world because of his unfulfilled wishes and his concern for his family. So this animal spirit, which may have had some connection with him in his previous life, may have also remained for the same reason, or simply because it was influenced by your father's obsession, and thus became a similar being."

"Moreover, the ferocity it displayed just now was clearly directed at me alone, not at you. It's more like a protective instinct, sensing that I, as an outsider, carry an aura that it finds threatening, which is why it adopted a wary and intimidating posture."

Natsume Ryo added, his gaze sweeping over the dog spirit once more.

The latter shuddered again.

Was it actually this timid?

Or is it because the senior was too strong?

Seeing the timid dog spirit, Jianzi felt a complex mix of emotions.

Just then, the spirit of the father, who had been listening quietly, smiled and nodded, speaking gently:

"What this classmate of mine said is quite right."

"The explanation was very clear, and it helped me understand my current state."

Chapter 33 The Golden-Eyed Girl's Visible Emotional Desires!

"but."

"In that case, you should be able to see me all the time, right?"

"It's been visible for a long time..."

"I bet you were terrified when you first saw your dad like this..."

"I'm so sorry, Miko..."

“Even though I’m no longer from your and Mom’s world, I’m still staying here because I can’t let go of my worries, causing you unnecessary trouble…”

"Speaking of which, there's something else I'm sorry to apologize for, Miko."

"That pudding... it was Dad's fault. He knew it was your favorite, but he still ate it without permission... You were angry about it for a long time, weren't you?"

"Regarding this matter, Dad has always felt guilty and has wanted to find an opportunity to properly apologize to you..."

This long-overdue apology, like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, stirred ripples in Miko Yotsuya's heart, unearthing long-buried memories: that afternoon when she argued loudly with her father over a piece of pudding and stormed off; the often hesitant expression on her father's face; and what followed—

The sudden death of my father brought with it a heavy sense of regret for not being able to say "I'm sorry" and "I forgive you".

At this moment, it surged forth like a flood bursting its banks.

"Dad... Dad."

Tears could no longer be held back, rolling down her cheeks like pearls from a broken string.

Miko Yotsuya choked back tears, her eyes glistening as she stepped forward, reaching out to grasp the hem of her father's shirt, just as she had done when she was a child—

result.

Jianzi's fingertips passed directly through her father's translucent spirit body, grasping only a void of air.

Nothing at all……

I can't grasp anything...

"dad."

Seeing his empty hand, Jianzi looked up at his father, his body trembling slightly with emotion, his voice choked with sobs and heavy with nasal sounds.

Seeing the kind and gentle look on the son's father's face, along with his obvious guilt.

He instinctively raised his hand.

I wanted to stroke my daughter's head and comfort her, just like I used to.

But his hand also passed through Miko's hair, as if passing through mist, without bringing any real tactile sensation.

The boundary between spirits and the living is so clear and cruel.

The reality before her reminded her that her father was no longer a tangible entity she could grasp.

This unbridgeable distance made Jianzi's tears flow even more fiercely.

"No! Dad!"

Seeing Zi shake her head vigorously, tears blurring her vision, her voice thick with nasal tone.

"It's my fault!"

"You're arguing with me over a little pudding... You know how hard Dad works..."

"I've wanted to apologize to you for so long... I'm sorry, Dad! I'm so sorry!"

The misunderstanding was cleared up, and the knot in their hearts was untied.

Despite being separated by the distance of life and death.

At this moment, the father and daughter finally achieved a reconciliation that had been many years overdue.

"..."

However, although the father and daughter's unresolved issues regarding Pudding were resolved before their deaths.

Despite his heightened perception thanks to his [Superior Spiritual Sense], Natsume Ryo was still able to clearly notice that this alone did not completely eliminate all of Miko's father's lingering obsessions in the world.

His spirit remains solid and has not completely dissipated.

Clearly, resolving the lingering attachments of the deceased is not something that can be done overnight.

but.

The father and daughter have just reached a belated reconciliation and are still emotionally volatile, so it is clearly not a good time to delve deeper.

Natsume Ryo is not an ungrateful person.

As an outsider, the most appropriate thing to do at this moment is naturally to leave.

"Now that the misunderstanding has been cleared up, I'll head back to the living room..."

"To avoid making your aunt worry that something might have happened."

Just as Natsume Ryo was about to find an excuse to suggest returning to the downstairs living room to leave this private moment for him and his daughter,

Unexpectedly.

As parents, they had long since seen the feelings that were quietly growing and gradually sprouting in their daughter's eyes, which she always inadvertently revealed.

After calming his daughter down, Jianzi's father slowly stood up.

His gentle gaze passed over his daughter's shoulder and then landed on Natsume Ryo.

"Natsume-kun."

"Actually, when you brought Jianzi back last night, I saw you in the living room..."

"I could clearly sense the shock and unease that Jianzi showed when she stepped into the house; it was definitely not just a matter of being frightened."

"Perhaps it's just to avoid worrying her family, so she forcibly suppressed the truly terrifying experience in her heart?"

Seeing his daughter, the father paused, looking at his daughter who was still teary-eyed but had lowered her head slightly because of his words, his eyes filled with loving affection.

"But no matter what terrifying things Miko has experienced, some things cannot be faked."

"The sense of security she felt when she saw you, that complete trust as if she were grasping at the only straw, is absolutely true."

"So, please, Natsume-kun."

"Jianzi has been somewhat introverted and timid since childhood, with a delicate and sensitive mind. Now, with this ability to see, he must be living cautiously every day."

"Most of the time, she would rather suffer in silence than cause trouble for those around her."

"But as I just said, Miko really trusts you, you could even say she's very dependent on you."

"so."

"If this won't cause you too much burden or trouble."

"I'll be relying on you from now on, Natsume-kun."

"..."

Although Miko's father is now only a semi-transparent spirit,