Chapter 5
The Quest for Healing

Yuki's husband, driven by a mixture of anxiety and hope, quickly sent for an exorcist monk reputed for his wisdom and his knowledge of the ailments of the soul. When the monk arrived at the residence, a respectful silence fell over all the servants, testifying to the gravity of the situation.

The monk, a man of mature years whose features were marked by a life of contemplation and devotion, crossed the threshold of the house with a quiet but imposing presence. Shortly after entering, he was seized by a sudden faintness, as if struck by an invisible force. He lay back for a moment in an armchair in the reception room, his face tightening under the effect of an inner tension.

The monk's brows drew together, his pulse quickened, and he closed his eyes, concentrating all his energy on perceiving the nature of the force that pervaded the house. When he opened them again, he turned to the couple with alarming gravity. There is a presence here, he declared in a deep voice. A demonic spirit is hiding in this place.

The husband, anxious, asked where this spirit came from and why it was attacking Yuki. The monk, his eyes closed once more, drew a deep breath and murmured sounds in a low tone, as if communing with invisible forces. This spirit is devoid of compassion and empathy. It manipulates the art of the game, and the players, to achieve its dark ends. It eludes our understanding and defies expectation, he explained.

The husband felt helpless in the face of these revelations. What can we do to drive it away? he implored.

After a moment's reflection, the monk opened his eyes and stood up. The game board your wife is holding is this spirit's anchor in our world. It must be burned at the temple, and without delay, he ordered with palpable urgency.

The monk quickly left the house, leaving the husband with a burden of responsibility. He took his wife in his arms, gently explaining the need to part with the game for her own good. He delicately removed the ōgiban from Yuki's trembling hands and made ready for the night journey to the temple, a sacred place where he hoped to find purification and peace for his tormented wife.

Night had fallen over Kyōto, wrapping the streets in a veil of mystery. The husband, holding the board firmly, made his way towards the temple, determined to put an end to the curse that had plunged his beloved into an abyss of despair.