Shingo’s Diary
Shiori Amiga, my twin sister was alive. That was all the thing that mattered to me at that time. However, I couldn’t help wondering, what made her not reach out to me with telepathy until now.
Alas, I had to put that question aside, as another person reached out for me. It was a telepathic call for help from my girlfriend, Mariko Chime.
So, in response to that, I decided to go to Mariko’s house in Tsubaki Temple with the help of my friends, Gale and Chiyo.
To reach Tsubaki Temple, we must follow the path through Tsurugi Woods. Strangely, the once peaceful and beautiful woods were haunted by ghosts, zombies, and the like.
Truthfully, I didn’t have a face to see Mariko again. But she needed me, so there I was, coming for her rescue like a faithful boyfriend should.
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As the center of Shinra Religion in the Daitoshi Metropolitan, the ancient Tsubaki Temple was a magnificent place. Every day, thousands of worshippers and tourists visited the landmark and historical site of the Shimanese religious and cultural legacy.
However, to reach the holy place on the northeast edge of the outskirts of Daitoshi, one must traverse through Tsurugi Woods by foot.
Most people viewed it as unnecessary in modern times like this and preferred vehicles. But, Junko Chime, the current Head Priest of Tsubaki insisted on preserving the Shinran dogma as follows,
> To reach the divine, one must take the hard road
> To go the hard road, one must embrace nature
> To embrace nature, one must deny oneself
> To deny oneself, one must take the easy ways aside
> That way, one will reach divine blessing with a good, sincere heart
Even in the time of emergency, the rescue team must walk to the temple, all the same. And the more logical reason for it presented itself almost immediately.
As they traversed through Tsurugi Woods, Shingo couldn’t help but feel grateful for his two companions, Gale and Chiyo. They had come to his aid without hesitation, just as he had done for Gale when he was in trouble with the Okabe Brothers.
The forest was dense and ominous, with a thick layer of mist enveloping the trees. The ground was uneven and covered with fallen leaves, making it difficult to walk. Shingo led the way, carefully navigating through the forest.
“Thank you for your help, guys,” Shingo said, turning to Gale and Chiyo.
“Don’t mention it. You’re my soul brother,” Gale replied with a grin. “Of course, I’ll do the same for you.”
Chiyo, on the other hand, seemed less enthusiastic. “Don’t get me wrong, but you already agreed to my reasons, and I don’t want to say it again,” she said, with a hint of annoyance in her voice.
Shingo understood her reluctance. Chiyo had agreed to help him find Mariko, his girlfriend, who had left Tsubaki Temple under mysterious circumstances. He had promised to reveal the reason behind Mariko’s sudden departure, but Chiyo was still curious about it.
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Shingo interrupted the silence, pointing to the boulders that blocked their path to the temple. “Big boulders are blocking the way straight to the temple like a landslide result. So, we have to take a detour and go through the treacherous maze. It must be Mariko’s doing.”
Gale, angered by this new development, exclaimed, “What did she do it for? It’ll make our journey there a lot more difficult!”
Chiyo patiently explained, “You just don’t get it, huh, Gale? The priestess did that to keep the kamaitachis contained within the perimeters of the temple. It’s the defense system that defines the real function of Tsubaki Temple.”
Gale looked puzzled. “That is…?”
Shingo spoke up, “Tsubaki is the last line of defense between our world and the underworld, the realm of the monsters, in this case, the kamaitachis. There is a portal to the underworld beneath the temple. Somehow, the portal was unsealed. The Wind Priest’s ghost possessed the Head Priest, Mariko’s grandfather.”
Shingo paused for a moment, taking a deep breath. “Mariko was so terrified, she ran away from the temple, sealed the path with big boulders, and put a magic barrier in the forest. She then took refuge with an old lady who lives in the center of the forest entrance area and reached out for me, telling me the whole thing.”
Gale’s expression softened. “She’s really powerful, isn’t she?”
Chiyo wasn’t convinced. “If she’s that powerful, she wouldn’t run away and she would free her grandfather already.”
Shingo shrugged, “Either that or the Wind Priest’s ghost is far more powerful than both Mari and her grandfather. Either way, we must proceed with extreme caution.”
As they continued through the forest, the mist became thicker, and the trees grew closer together, forming a dense canopy overhead. The path became even more treacherous, with sharp rocks jutting out of the ground and vines blocking their way. Shingo led the way, hacking through the vines with his katana.
Finally, they reached the center of the forest entrance, where an old innkeeper was waiting for them. “You must be the ones looking for Mariko,” the old woman said with a smile.
Shingo nodded. “Yes, we are. Can you take us to her, Madam?”
The old woman led them through a small path that opened up to a clearing, where a small cottage stood.
Shingo and his companions stood next to the old innkeeper. Shingo’s heart leaped as he saw Mariko Chime, the Priestess of Tsubaki Temple, walking towards them. As soon as she reached them, she embraced Shingo warmly.
“Shin Kamui be praised! Thank you for coming all the way here, Shin,” Mariko said, her voice filled with gratitude.
Shingo introduced Gale and Chiyo to Mariko, and the Priestess thanked them all for coming to help her. She admitted that she couldn’t fight the Wind Priest, Ogama Roshi, alone. Chiyo inspected the marks on Mariko’s skin and confirmed that the Wind Spirit Sickles was indeed vicious.
Gale explained that they were happy to help Shingo since he had helped them in the past. Mariko was surprised that Shingo had disappeared without a trace and apologized for not being able to help him earlier.
Wind Spirit SicklesShingo explained that he had lost everything, including his sister Shiori, in the fire. Mariko shook her head and said that she had foreseen that Shiori was still alive.
Shingo was overwhelmed with emotion at this revelation but Mariko reminded them all that they must reach the temple before it was too late. Chiyo mentioned that they had already encountered a few of the kamaitachis on the way here.
Gale, ready for action, stretched his arms and hands and said, “So, what are we waiting for? Let’s kick some kamaitachi butts back into the underworld!”
Mariko and Shingo exchanged nervous glances and Mariko commented on Gale being the spirited one. Shingo only smiled and replied, “You have no idea.”