I received the strongest amulet in Japan♪

Since I became ill, I have been receiving more and more "amulets."
I treasure them all, hanging them on the walls of my office or placing them on shelves, and offer prayers to them.
Since they are a mix of different gods and sects, someone who knows their stuff might lament, "It's chaos!"
But what matters is the thought put into the amulets. I cherish the feelings of those who worry about me and wish for my illness to get even a little better. Just looking at the amulets lined up makes me feel so grateful I could cry.
People's prayers are precious.

Yesterday, I received another amulet.
My friend K sent me a LINE message saying, "I went hiking and found a powerful amulet at a temple there, so I want to give it to you, Kaori-san."
K is one of only two precious "male friends" I have in this world outside of my work colleagues. We met when we were both working part-time at a cram school as students, and even after we both left, we would occasionally meet up to drink or eat, and now over 30 years have passed. The speed at which time flows is terrifying.
This time, he said he would bring it near my place, so I had him meet me at the most stylish cafe in the neighborhood. (Since it's the countryside, there are no shops to speak of.)

We chatted while eating a pasta lunch at a spacious sofa seat by the window. It was just trivial talk about camping, AI, and my essay collection, but it was fun and three hours passed in the blink of an eye.
Because we have known each other for so long, I feel like it's always easy to meet up.
I was also happy that he thought of me when he saw the amulet at the temple while hiking.

Now, about this amulet, when I asked for details, it turned out to be an incredible item with a reputation for having thestrongest blessings in Japan.
It is registered as part of the World Heritage site "Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range" and is bestowed at "Ominesan-ji Temple," the highest-altitude temple in Japan designated as a National Important Cultural Property. Its name is the "Kokonoe-mamori" (Nine-fold Amulet).

First of all, this Ominesan-ji Temple is amazing.
It is built at the summit of Mt. Sanjogatake at an altitude of 1,700 meters, and it is in a place you cannot reach unless you actually "hike" there. Even in the Reiwa era, it maintains a ban on women entering, and the climbing season is fixed from May 3rd to September 23rd. It is not a temple you can just drop by whenever you feel like it.

The "Kokonoe-mamori" bestowed there is also amazing.
What's amazing about it, above all, is its appearance!
Unlike ordinary amulets, it is in theform of a scroll depicting Buddhist statues and mandalas. It is strictly kept in a wooden box, and anyone who sees it for the first time will go, "Whoa!"

It is said that if you face extreme difficulties in your family or mental illness, you can receive blessings by opening this scroll. You can only use it once in your life. In other words, in a situation where you think, "This is the biggest crisis of my life!" if you quickly open this scroll, the crisis will be resolved.
When I heard that, I could picture light overflowing from the opened scroll, and I couldn't stop feeling excited. It probably (definitely) won't glow, but that's the image.
By the way, if you never open it, it serves as proof that your family has been safe and sound. I want to finish my life without ever opening this scroll, but I also have this strange desire to open it, you know.

Yes, I am the type of person who wants to know the ending quickly, whether it's a drama or a novel. I'm already dying to know what's inside the scroll.
If I were the protagonist of "The Crane's Return of a Favor," I'd be the type to open the sliding door immediately.
If I were "Urashima Taro," I'd open the treasure box without hesitation!
However, I can't open this amulet yet. It would be outrageous to open it just out of desire.
(Come to think of it, I remember that when I was a child, I wanted to know what was inside a bag-type amulet, and even though my parents threatened me saying, "You'll be punished!" I couldn't resist and opened it in secret.)

"I wonder when you'll open it," K and I talked.
"Maybe when I'm told I have a limited time left to live," I said.
K said nothing and gave a bitter smile.

Having received this amulet, I feel strangely emboldened. I feel like I can overcome any crisis. Humans (me) are simple, aren't they?
And in many ways, "not opening this amulet" has become one of my goals starting today. (I must not lose to my desires!)

I look at the amulets lined up on my wall.
They've increased again, and the room is completely full of them.
I think that means I am supported by the prayers of so many people.
I am grateful.
I also thought that I want to be someone who can do "something" for the people around me in the same way.
I will make sure to return the kindness and love I have received from everyone to the world.