spr | The House in Which Nightmares Dwell 11.5

"I had some research done on you."

Saki leaned against the sliding screen's edge and looked at Naru. She paid no attention to the other people in the base.

"Is that so."

Although Naru replied, he didn't look into Saki's direction.

"Why do you pretend to be part of the deniers?"

"I am not particularly a denier."

"You don't seem a believer either though."

"I am not a believer, certainly."

Of course Hirota, Takigawa as well as John widened their eyes a little and gazed at the expressionless face looking up at the monitor.

"If that is certain, you cannot come with positive proof. Other than no proof, you don't deny or affirm it." Saki stood and looked down on Naru. "Even if you yourself are a psychic?"

"If I weren't a psychic, I would have been a denier a long time ago."

Hirota looked at Saki.

"Psychic?"

"That's what they call a person with a psychic ability."

"Do you really think that this guy has that kind of ability?"

"It's not my evaluation, but it's the evaluation of the academic world. He was certified by the specialists as a genuine psychic. -- Right?"

Naru didn't reply at this.

"He's famous for his psychometry."

"Psychometry --"

"It's an ESP that reads out information associated with an object or information related to the owners of those objects. Croiset, or whatever his name is, from the Netherlands was famous for this. Croiset cooperated with the police many times. He used psychometry to find the whereabouts of a missing person by using their personal objects. From the objects of a deceased person he was able to see the whereabouts of the body and see through the criminal's situation."

"What the hell," Hirota sighed. To think that law-upkeeping police would borrow the strength of those type of people.

"Hurkos in the United States was also like that. And, he -- Oliver Davis as well."

Hirota looked at Naru.

"Did you cooperate with the police?"

"There have been cases like that."

The one who replied was Saki instead.

"Four times in the United Kingdom. Once in the United States. At least that amount. -- Other than that, he also he uses PK. I heard that you are able to move rather large things?"

Naru didn't affirm or deny it.

"You're an up-and-coming researcher belonging to the Pratt Laboratory of the Society of Psychical Research - abbreviated SPR - in England. Three years ago you published a paper called "The System of Paranormal Phenomena" -- the title which is translated as "The System of the Unexplained Phenomena" - Because of this achievement, you were conferred a doctorate in parapsychology that was created by the Londenberg Foundation and the American Society of Psychical Research - ASPR. Normally, the professorship of parapsychology that Londenberg established at New York University is simultaneously conferred, but you were restricted by the university's age limit and your professorship was suspended."

"Three years ago -- Just how old was this guy back then?"

At the moment he probably seemed to be 17 or 18 years old. He gave off a composed atmosphere, so he appeared older, but he seemed a little younger if only judged by his looks.

"It seems to be courteous in this field to not touch upon the profile of Doctor Davis. His thesis was presented, but he never once attended a public symposium. Doctor Davis didn't appear at his degree's awarding ceremony; the leader of SPR, Sir Dorey, attended as his representative. Owing to that, only those involved with the SPR know what kind of person he is."

"... ... Why so shady?"

"Those involved in that field don't seem to think of it that way? Aside from being a researcher, Doctor Davis is also a famous psychic. However, the doctor himself doesn't perform research on paranormal abilities. A pet theory seems to be that he sees no point in holding experiments relating to people with paranormal abilities?"

Saki glanced at his calm profile that looked the other way.

"The theory that holds the most water is that he dislikes being rounded up for experiments and making public appearances. Another theory is that it's because he's too young. He doesn't publicly appear as he'd be considered suspicious instead. -- Which one is true?"

There was no answer to that either.

"Anyway, it's true that he's young, right? It was also unknown which university he attended until recently, but nowadays he's actually a student of the Trinity College. There are rumors that he'll obtain a doctor's degree soon. His merits were recognized because of the specialized book on religious studies he published in spring."

"Did this guy skip?"

"Why not? To those related to the university he's reputed as a genius for the first in a long time after all. His subject of study is philosophy -- philosophy of religion, but he's also the favorite pupil of the renowned psychologist Doctor Hinnells. He seems to be the cherished child of SPR's leader Sir Dorey?"

-- Geez, I'm entirely unable to stomach this, Hirota thought angrily.

He got conceited because of those things. The adults in his environment were no good. He may be somewhat smart, but spoiling a child warps their personality.

-- Isn't his personality practically warped like that?

"So far he's a little different from the usual type from the researchers of psychic phenomena and among the young researchers who succumb to the traditional research methods, he's becoming quite the charismatic person." Saki said and sarcastically looked at Naru. "Then why don't you tell me the reason why you deny what I said from the beginning?"

Naru's reply was simple and clear.

"It's because I'm a specialist after all."

"If you were a specialist--"

Naru looked over to Saki. He expressed an extremely superficial smile.

"I am a specialist, so I have no spare time to engage with false mediums."

A bright red Saki glared at Naru. Hirota tapped her shoulders. Any more strife would probably be unproductive. Saki more or less looked like a little boy who bit her teeth audibly.

"Nakai, do you have a moment?"

"-- What do you want?"

"Enough, just come with me."

Back to Chapter 11.4 | Forward to Chapter 11.6

Notes

I've also noted the names that are fictional. In those cases the transliterations may or may not be correct.

- Gerard Croiset a.k.a. Gerard Boekbinder was a Dutch parapsychologist, psychometrist and psychic.

- Peter Hurkos was a Dutchman who allegedly manifested extrasensory perception (ESP) after recovering from a head injury and coma caused by a fall from a ladder when aged 30. He became a popular entertainer and lived in the United States.

- The Society for Psychical Research (SPR) is a non-profit organisation in the United Kingdom.

- The Pratt Laboratory is fictional.

- Yes, the paper by Oliver Davis that was mentioned in this chapter is indeed "The System of the Unexplained Phenomena" paper as painstakingly translated by

witchuntress.

- The Londenberg Foundation seems to be fictional. It was mentioned in 2.3 of the fifth volume. The name in that translated chapter was left untranslated.

- The American Society for Psychical Research (ASPR) is an organisation dedicated to parapsychology based in New York.

- New York University (NYU): The university exists, but as far as I'm aware there's no chair of parapsychology.

- Sir Dorey or Dory seems to be fictional.

- Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in England. Also referred to in the currently untranslated Chapter 15 - "14th of August, 6.00 pm and beyond" in volume 8, but a translated snippet referring to this can be read here.

- The psychologist Doctor Hinnells seems to be fictional.

The House in Which Nightmares Dwell 11.5

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