This work uses many preexisting true ghost stories and pieces of net lore as its motifs. In particular, this section will note those which have been used directly. This will touch on the content of the main book, so if you are concerned about spoilers, please tread carefully.
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The “Shishinoke” in this chapter comes from the “Hen na Mono wo Mite Shimatta” [I Saw Something Strange] thread (2010/4/12) on 2channel’s Breaking News (VIP) board, where the story was told by the first poster. The poster’s story of an encounter with a three-eyed giant slug covered thick hair concluded in another thread of the same name (2010/10/10) with a poster claiming to be the son of the Shinto priest he had consulted reporting the original poster fell down the stairs and was now comatose.
The description of the giant slug as three-eyed with needlelike hairs is reminiscent of Glaaki from Ramsey Campbell’s short story “The Inhabitant of the Lake.”
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This chapter has no particular ghost story as its motif.
The ghost story featuring ice pop sticks that Sorawo mentions in her conversation with Kozakura is “Aisu no Mori” [Ice Cream Forest] which was told in Night 5 (2) of the ghost story Twitcast “Magabanasi.” Likewise, her mention of a story where a kettle shows up while experiencing sleep paralysis is in reference to Miki Tori’s Ai no Sakaagari (Chikuma Bunko, 1995) where it is depicted as an experience had by Yutaka Izubuchi. Furthermore, currently as of 2024, if you search for “金縛り やかん” [sleep paralysis, kettle] on Twitter (which now calls itself X), you can also find an experience report by the film writer Ningen Tabetabe Kaeru. The fact that there are at least two reports of sleep paralysis involving a kettle speaks to the depth of an “everyday” phenomenon like sleep paralysis.
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This chapter has no particular ghost story as its motif.
The name “chimera house” mentioned in the work comes from an American urban legend. This thirteen-story haunted house, packed with every kind of fear, demands payment on entry, and refunds a certain amount with each floor cleared. However, no one can clear every floor, and no challenger has ever returned from it.
It’s an interesting story, where you can sense both the desire to kill off the challengers, and to make money in the process, but only the name itself is referenced in this work.
I know I always say this, but I would like to give my thanks to the people who reported the many other true ghost stories and net lore from which I have taken direct or indirect influence.
Thank you for your continued enjoyment and for being frightened. I hope this book can repay my gratitude in some small way.