Sacrificial Shrine Maiden of Karihara Scene 3 Part 2

It all started when Nozomi went missing. Could it be related to the Unagami family or Omizu Swamp? Then, who exactly is the figure with long black hair in a black kimono? Is it Nozomi, or Mizuha...?

“Um... this might sound strange, but ever since Nozomi disappeared a year ago, I’ve actually been having these weird dreams. I dream that I’m drowning and dying while wearing a black kimono with a pattern on it.”

He had been listening to Kanae’s story with a serious expression, but halfway through, he looked surprised and fell into deep thought.

“If it’s a dream about drowning, it might be Nozomi-san... She was found in Omizu Swamp.”

“Then, did Nozomi really drown and die...?”

Was the soaking wet ghost she saw at the mansion Nozomi? If so, she felt that the one who whispered “Come” on the train might have been Nozomi, too. Perhaps she warned Kanae to “Go back” when she came to the Unagami house just to avoid getting involved in something troublesome.

Thinking that, Kanae’s eyes grew hot, wishing she could have met Nozomi alive just once, even though she couldn’t remember her face or voice.

There were still many things she didn’t understand. Kanae rubbed her eyes with her fingers to hide her tears.

Beside her, Ichiya looked up at the sky and said,

“It looks like it’s going to rain. Maybe we stayed too long. Shall we head back?”

The two of them started walking from the plaza by the shore toward the promenade.

Kanae was terrified of looking at the torii gate, but she gathered her courage and looked back. Against the backdrop of the dark, gloomy sky, the strange figure was gone from the heavy, shadowed stone torii.

She gazed at the surface of Omizu Swamp, thinking that if she saw this swamp on a sunny day, she would surely be captivated by an unexpected beauty, but now it just felt like a black lid hiding something away.

On the way, Kanae spoke to Ichiya.

“Um, is there any documentation or anything that mentions the name ‘Mitsuchi-sama’?”

Ichiya glanced back at Kanae as they left the paved promenade and stepped onto a public road that sloped gently.

Remnants of the rain that fell in the morning remained on the asphalt of the public road. The heat absorbed by the asphalt enveloped Kanae like steam. Her skin began to feel damp with sweat.

“When the shrines were merged, books, hanging scrolls, and everything related to ‘Mitsuchi-sama’ were burned. That’s not all. The shrine maiden dances, which were essential for rain prayers and oracles, were labeled as lewd cults and rejected by the Shrine Maiden Prohibition Act, claiming that unscientific things mislead the Japanese people. As I said before, the people of the Unagami family and Unashi Village changed the name from ‘Mitsuchi-sama’ to ‘Okami-sama’ and continued their faith in a small way, but now there is no one left who knows the origins or the rituals. Even the rain prayers. With no shrine maiden possessing spiritual power, everyone has been continuing their faith for decades with meager knowledge.”

Ichiya explained the difficulties of folk belief after the shrine mergers without even catching his breath.

“But the legend of the human sacrifice remained.”

That must have been recorded a long time ago. There are no historical documents left to back that up.

Sweating profusely, Kanae followed Ichiya, ruminating on what she had heard in her mind.

When they reached a curve, she remembered the ghost story about the demonic S-curve. While on her way to the Togami residence, she had gotten out of the car there and pressed her hands together in prayer before the convex mirror.

Because that slope enters a tunnel at a gentle incline, visibility is even worse. If someone were to cross the guardrail from the slope side onto the public road, they likely wouldn't notice a car coming out of the tunnel, and the car wouldn't notice the person either, just plowing straight into them.

In her dream, Nozomi had jumped from the slope onto the public road. In the darkness, it must have been too late by the time she noticed the car's headlights. After being hit and losing consciousness, Nozomi was likely dumped into Omizu Swamp and died.

The air was thick and humid. The public road, where the mountainside was exposed, was barely wide enough for two cars to pass each other, but there were practically no cars coming. Even if there were, they were all cars heading to the Togami residence.

Looking back, she could see a corner of the ruins through the gaps in the treetops beyond the public road. Someone was peering out from a window visible there.

The white face looked just like a mask.

It was obvious at a glance that while it looked human, it was not. The mouth of the mask, which had grown to the very edge of the window frame, was stretched up to its ears, grinning. That mass of malice was waiting with bated breath for unsuspecting visitors. It was hard to believe anyone could actually enter ruins where something like that existed.

It must have been on the floor of that window that Hiro, Ichiya's fellow WoooTuber, was found in a daze. What happened to Hiro and Uta after that? It didn't seem like there would be any good stories to tell about what happened later.

Looking away from the mask, Kanae glanced at Omizu Swamp.

What on earth was lurking in the gray, swaying waters of Omizu Swamp? That thought kept crossing Kanae's mind.

Taking a slightly longer route, Kanae and Ichiya returned to the Togami residence.

Judging by the number of cars in the parking lot and the number of shoes lined up at the entrance, it was clear that a great many mourners had come to pay their respects.

We need to get ready soon, we're cutting it close.

Ichiya hurriedly took off his shoes, stepped onto the threshold of the entrance, and looked back at Kanae.

Why don't you go get ready for the funeral too?

I will.

The moment Kanae answered, a violent sound echoed from behind as if the ground were being struck, and large raindrops poured down onto the gravel.

Because Nozomi's funeral was unusual, she was returned after only the cremation had been completed, and the funeral service was held at the mansion.

Kanae was bewildered by a funeral service she had never seen or heard of before, but she managed to get through it by imitating those around her.

Her father, whom she had not even met yet, was dressed in dark gray ritual robes and continued to chant the liturgy. Ichiya, also dressed in dark gray ritual garments, stood by his side.

Prompted by Michiyo, she offered a sakaki branch adorned with fluttering white paper strips onto the desk in front of the altar with awkward movements. She bowed deeply twice toward the altar, clapped her hands twice silently without making a sound, and bowed once more.

All the while, the voice of her father—Amamizu, the head priest—with his unique pronunciation, echoed throughout the room. It was likely Japanese, but Kanae could not make out the words.

Once the ritual was over, Amamizu left the room briefly, changed from his dark gray ritual robes into white ones, and began to chant the liturgy for the homecoming ritual.

The funeral concluded safely, and something resembling a mortuary tablet for Nozomi was placed on the altar.

After the homecoming ritual, the cushions in the room were cleared away, and folding tables were set up in their place. While waiting for the funeral feast to be prepared, Kanae sat in the corner of the room, mixed in with the mourners, not knowing what she should be doing.

Several of the mourners kept glancing at Kanae and whispering to each other.

Kanae felt a bit unpleasant, realizing that word of her arrival had already spread this far. She firmly reminded herself that she was not a member of the main family, but the only daughter of the Hikawa family. However, thinking that such stubborn thoughts might only trouble her adoptive parents, she forced a stiff smile.

In fact, even though her adoptive parents should have been here, they did not speak to her. Feeling as though she had been abandoned, she now felt like crying.

The sliding glass doors of the veranda, which had been left open until noon, were now closed, and the scenery beyond the glass was blurred into a mosaic pattern by the rain beating against it.

She suddenly became anxious, wondering what would happen if she were rejected by her adoptive parents even after returning home. If she lost her place of refuge and was even robbed of a place to return to, what should she do?

As she was lost in thought while gazing blankly outside, she was addressed again, "Kanae-san."

Startled, she looked up to see the woman who had guided her earlier that morning. Seeing a familiar face, Kanae felt a sense of relief.

"Michiyo-san is calling for you."

She had a bad feeling about it, but she could not refuse, so she stood up slowly and followed the woman. After turning several corners in the dark hallway, she was led into the inner room. Michiyo, who had left the funeral early, was sitting leaning against a floor chair, looking weary.

"Kanae, sit down."

Michiyo urged Kanae, who was standing still, to sit.

Watching her reluctantly sit in the formal style on a thick cushion, Michiyo stared at Kanae with a look as if she were seeing something far away.

"I may have already told you, but starting today, you will be moving your residence here. I will also prepare for your wedding with Ichiya as soon as possible."

Kanae's bad premonition came true, and she couldn't help but raise her voice.

"I never heard about this! Why do I have to live here? I'm not going to marry someone like Ichiya-san!"

Suddenly, the wall was pounded violently. The staggered shelves in the alcove rattled. Perhaps the person in the next room was irritated by the volume of Kanae's voice. As she stared at the wall in surprise, Michiyo cleared her throat. She turned her emotionless eyes, which were filled with fatigue, toward her.

"It is not a matter of whether you like it or not. If things continue this way, the main branch of the Unagami family will die out. Since you are the only one left, you must fulfill your duty as a member of the main family."

"Duty, you say... You sent me away for adoption, and now that Nozomi is dead, you tell me to come back? I'm not an object. That's exactly why Nozomi ran away!"

At that, Michiyo's eyes widened.

"How do you know that Nozomi ran away?"

Kanae realized her mistake and clamped her mouth shut.

Michiyo looked down as if she had given up.

"Nozomi disappeared right after she got engaged. She hadn't complained about anything until then... She didn't even seem to dislike it; in fact, she seemed to like Ichiya. However, this marriage must absolutely take place. It is the duty of the head of the Unagami family. Once you marry and fulfill the role of Karihara, you can do whatever you like afterward. As long as you can perform the Karihara, that is enough."

"What is a Karihara?!"

Kanae's blood rushed to her head, and she stood up vigorously.

"Don't just decide on your own that I have to get married. As for the marriage, I will—"

Before she could finish, the teacup on the low table slid across the surface and fell, and in an instant, the tea soaked into the tatami mats.

For a moment, she was confused about what had happened, but Kanae continued, carried away by her momentum.

"Anyway, I will decide on my marriage! I'm going home!"

Kanae rushed out of the room, following her emotions, and headed quickly toward Nozomi's room to retrieve her handbag, her footsteps echoing loudly.

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