Update 12: See? You’re Weirded Out
“He’s actually sleeping...Was, anyways.”
“We’re done for today...Sorry for the wait.”
“
Good to hear...Ugh, ow.”
Unfortunately, waking up proved that this whole mess wasn’t just a nightmare.
“So, is the ‘feast’ some sort of ritual? The kind you do to ward off evil or whatever?”
“No. It’s more of a gathering.”
“I see. So you try to find the culprit.”
“Haruaki-san, you don’t beat around the bush, do you?”
“Yeah. I realized I’m a real victim here, so I need information. It’s a tall order to stay alive without any.”
“*sigh*Takumi-niichan, can I tell him about this?”
“Yeah. Better you than me. I gotta go clean up and stuff.”
Takumi-san walked away.
“Clean up...the bodies, I assume?”
“Yeah. Tae-baachan probably won’t let us off until we’ve sent the yomibito to Saranaga.”
You’re supposed to preserve the scene of a crime, right? This is doing the exact opposite. Then again, it didn’t seem like anyone expected the cops to show up in the first place.
“Here’s my first question, then…”
“Let’s take this somewhere more private.”
BGM: Tragic Morning
Chiemi took me to the place where I’d met Rikako Uematsu and Meiko. It was a grass field with stones littered all over. It bordered Saranaga.
“You could say that this is the heart of our religion, the Graveyard of the Hanging Pine.”
“Now that’s a hell of a name.”
The place was filled with dense mist, but it was probably thinner than that in the rest of the settlement. The sunlight seemed brighter here. I could even see a bit farther. The “Hanging Pine” had to be the old-looking tree at the edge.
“Is this really a graveyard?”
“Yes. I don’t know about the ones in the actual settlement, but these stones here are all graves.”
“Remember how you tripped on one of ‘em? Pretty bad move, huh? Better apologize.”
“
Huh?! Seriously?! You should’ve told me sooner! Yasumizu’s ancestors, I’m so sorry!”
“Ahahah. Sorry. I thought that’d scare you.”
“I know you didn’t really have a choice, but I brought you to a half-ruined village with monsters in it.”
…
I asked, ignoring what I’d seen for myself.
“Yeah. I do.”
Chiemi’s voice resounded through the impossibly thick, cloudy air.
“I didn’t think you were the type.”
“And you’re the type who’s weirded out by that.”
“Umm...I wouldn’t go that far.”
“Bullshit. I can see it all over your face.”
Was it that obvious? It wasn’t like I found it disgusting or anything, I just didn’t think I could get along with people who believed stuff like that despite a lack of actual proof. That was probably how it was.
“Can I have a reason?”
“What? I don’t have one.”
“Not sure I believe that.”
“Well, if I do…”
*Everything goes silent*
“
See? You’re weirded out.”
“Tell me more.”
“Wow, not bailing out after all. For now, let’s just focus on the immediate issue.”
She was hiding something. It was either that hard to explain or a lot more important than she was acting.
“About this ‘feast’ thing, huh? All right then.”
“
Chiemi’s Explanation!”
“Yaay! I’ve been waiting for this.”
A graveyard probably wasn’t the place to joke around like this, but at least you could see past your nose, and it didn’t seem like we had to worry about anyone eavesdropping.
BGM: Encroaching Supernatural
First, Fujiyoshi Village had a unique legend. There might’ve been similar ones somewhere outside, but I’d just treat it as Fujiyoshi-exclusive for the time being.
The people here worshiped a god called “Great Lord Shin’nai”, “The Avatar of Shin’nai”, or just “Shin’nai-san”. Also, the mountain this village was on was called “Mount Shin’nai”, meaning this religion deified a mountain.
However, just like nature could be really harsh, he had a scary side, too, and if you didn’t follow his “laws of the mountain”, he’d curse you without mercy. The Ookami-sama was the ultimate form of his cruelty. Though the Ookami-sama watched over the hunt, the Ookami-sama also oppressed, tortured, and punished humans.
The other guardians, though, were largely benevolent ones.
The snake predicted the weather and harvest yields, bolstering the humans’ prosperity.
The monkeys defied the wolves, secretly teaching the people of fire, along with other important bits of knowledge.
The crow pecked at and ate up the flesh of the yomibitio - the enemies of Shin’nai-san.
The spider warded off the yomibito and ensured that the humans slept and dreamt soundly.
The “yomibito” did, indeed, mean “people from Yomi” - as in, the land of the dead - but apparently, it wasn’t very clear what they actually were. But just as I’d suspected before, it was thought they had something to do with the corruption and death. The most likely idea was that they were the dead that had returned to bring harm to the people still alive.
At the start of the legend, Shin’nai-san, the animals and humans were facing the yomibito. Apparently, that was still how it was in Kamifujiyoshi - the leading part of Fujiyoshi. It was the basis of the teachings of Great Lord Shin’nai’s religion. Thanks to that, the five beasts - including the Ookami-sama - and Shin’nai-san were still worshiped there.
In Yasumizu, however, things were a bit different.
With the destruction of their cruel rule, the human village experienced great growth. That had been when the four head families - who were said to have the blood of the four guardians in their veins - were formed. The snake was Miguruma, the monkeys were Higuchi, the crow was Nosato, and the spider was Uematsu.
However, it didn’t end there. The Ookami-sama joined the yomibito side and became a sinister creature that wanted to bring harm to humans. The Saranaga Rapids were yomibito territory, and the Ookami-sama appeared from there whenever the evening mists came. The Ookami-sama would then kill an inhabitant, take on their form, and act like them. But at night, they would show their true self and brutalize the real inhabitants.
That was why the people of Yasumizu, who lived next to the Saranaga Rapids, had to stop them. For that, Great Lord Shin’nai created an event called the “Feast of the Yomi-Purge”. Despite the name, it was no banquet, but a ritual to kill the wolf.
You had to basically kill your own people - something that was taboo for ages...But it was permitted here in order to rid the group of the wolf. Some humans were also given the powers of the guardians - snake, monkeys, crow, and spider. It was like a banquet of betrayal. They all drank some sake and chose someone to kill.
“I see…”
It was a lot to unpack, but I got the gist of it. Basically, the humans betrayed the Ookami-sama - one of their guardian divinities - and were still paying the price. But…
There were some points I didn’t really get.
“I won’t tell this to anyone else but you, but I’m pretty sure I saw the Ookami-sama.”
“
No way...Where?”
“Umm, I just took a peek through a space in the outhouse door, so I didn’t get a good look.”
I couldn’t tell her that I’d had a realistic dream where I was killed.
“It had a human body and the head of a wolf...I think.”
“No way…”
“Uhh, can I take that as ‘he seriously saw it?’”
Hmm…
“Before I saw it, though, I heard a woman’s scream, so I figured that thing killed Mamiya-san. Was that the ‘brutalization’ you told me about? I mean, if it ‘killed and replaced’ here, you wouldn’t have her body, right?”
“Sorry, I forgot to tell you something. Shin’nai-san is very strict with his laws, and gives various punishments to those who break them.”
“You mentioned something like that.”
“Umm, basically…”
“They broke the rule of preparing for the feast by bathing, locking up in a room all by yourself, and sleeping. That’s why it’s believed they died to the corruption.”
I couldn’t see how you could get such mutilated corpses from something called the “corruption”, but there was something more important.
“
Basically, you didn’t tell me about the laws and turned me into toilet-man so I could die, huh?”
“
No no no no!”
“Listen, I honestly thought there was no way an outside could survive. But I wanted to at least find a way that gave you a shot at making it through the night…’cause I didn’t want to let you die...”
“And look at that, I actually survived.”
“Yeah...Sorry, but I really didn’t expect this.”
“Shame I didn’t get splosh sploshed, huh?”
“Don’t be like that. I’m actually really glad you didn’t die.”
I wasn’t sure how to feel about this, but hey, at least she tried, right?
“Hmm...So that scream really was Mamiya-san’s, huh? Or was it someone who got brutalized?”
“No...I’m not really sure.”
“Well, it’s possible. But I know full well I’m no wolf, and that’s what I’m gonna say.”
“Just like everyone else, huh?”
“Fair point…”
Now this was a predicament.
“Question one.”
“Ask away.”
“Are those marks the only proof that there are two wolves?”
I recalled the strange symbols on the large rock - the two warped diamonds with spirals inside.
“Yeah, that mark represents the Ookami-sama returning from Yomi, so since there are two marks, it stands to reason there are two wolves.”
“So it’s speculation.”
“Not much reason to question it, though...We have these annual mountain festivals, and there’s always a guardian costume parade. The number of wolves in the parade is announced in a similar way.”
Hm?
“So it’s normal for there to be multiple wolves, huh?”
“Yeah. In Shin’nai-sama’s shrine, for example, you have three wolf statues. For the festival, the Miguruma divine the number of wolves or something, and then record that number overnight.”
“By leaving those marks on the stones, huh?”
“No. Kamifujiyoshi doesn’t have okiba - those stones, I mean - so they apparently draw them on the shrine grounds.”
“‘Apparently’?”
“The people of Yasumizu are taught to wait for the guardians in Yasumizu, so I never saw the marks myself.”
“Hmm...So one of those marks in Kamifujiyoshi means one wolf in the parade?”
“Not exactly. The wolf’s sign in Kamifujiyoshi isn’t as warped, for one. The mark with the spiral is only a sign of the wolves that came back from Yomi. It’s a Yasumizu thing, so they don’t have it there.”
“I see. But still, the number of wolves and marks match up.”
“Yep. A three-wolf festival is considered good luck there.”
Chiemi herself didn’t look the least bit happy to talk about it. Anyway, all I had to take from this was that there were at most three wolves.
I wasn’t too well-versed in myths and folklore, but I certainly hadn’t heard of any Japanese myth about werewolves or wolf-men. I did hear of jinmenken and of possession by fox spirits, but werewolves did seem like a very...European thing.
On the other hand, the fact there were three of them seemed pretty standard. I guessed it had something to do with presentation. Trinities and all that. Though, the idea of three werewolves did seem a bit...excessive in terms of content.
Anyway, I now had a better grasp of the situation. That made it easier to understand what was going on here.
“There are two monkeys, but only one of the rest.”
“I see...So there are five guardians and two wolves, and the rest are humans.”
“It’s pretty bad that there’s two wolves.”
“‘Cause that makes them strong?”
“That’s one reason, but you can only kill one per day, right? If there’s multiple, getting them all will take more time.”
“Oh yeah...I just realized, the crow would be kind of pointless if there was only one wolf.”
“Why?”
“The crow’s ability lets them tell whether the corpse is a wolf or human, right? That means that a wolf doesn’t transform back into a wolf even when it dies. The corpse stays human. That makes the crow’s power useful. You wouldn’t be able to tell if a wolf was dead otherwise.”
“Yeah, that’s true. But what does that have to do with the number of wolves?”
“Imagine if there was only one wolf. They killed him. What happens next?”
“U-Umm...I got nothin’.
“Exactly that, ‘nothing’. Or, rather, the wolves won’t kill any more people. Game Over. Humans win.”
“Oh...I see. So if there was only one wolf, you could tell it was dead because the killing would stop...And the crow would be pointless.”
“Exactly.”
“Wow, you’re sharp.”
“Well, it’s not like this information is very useful.”
“What else could I be?”
“A detective?’
“I like that. I’m a famous detective who came to solve a difficult case in the countryside. Seishi Yokomizo’s world.”
“And you normally investigate affairs and debts.”
“Wow, that got real quick...Anyway, I got more questions.”
“How many people can the wolves kill per day? It’d suck if everyone got killed overnight.”
“That won’t happen. Remember the snake? They need to ask the mountain who’s what.”
“True. And the spider would be pretty useless if they just protected one human while everyone else including them died. This is also why I wondered if Mamiya-san and Hashimoto-san got ‘brutalized’.”
“Killing even two peoplel would make it pretty bad. But if it was just one per day, or…”
“Well, that raises another question. Why do these supernatural monsters even need to follow rules like that?”
“Is that weird?”
“Of course it is. Imagine if there were three. One corpse would barely serve as a snack.”
“Uhh...I don’t think they’re attacking people because they’re hungry.”
“Oh, so they’re just out for revenge?”
“Not really sure, but it doesn’t seem like they’re doing this because they want to. I feel they have their own laws they have to obey.”
That was what bothered me so much. The Feast of the Yomi-Purge had rules, and breaking them would mean being taken by the “corruption” - some sort of supernatural punishment from Shin’nai-san. If this was really just divine retribution, surely he would want the yomibition done away with immediately.
However, instead, the humans retained the aid of their guardians, and only one kill was permitted each day. Even the wolves couldn’t break that rule. Were the laws of the mountain equally binding to both man and wolf? In Christian theology, buth human and Satan were God’s creations, equal before him and all acting based on his master plan. Was the god of the mountain similarly inclined?
A legend of slain wolves and their revenge...Was it really that simple? Or was there something else going on?
“True…”
“But...is someone really gonna die again tonight?”
“We already got two casualties. And for all we know, those the wolves replaced might be dead, too…”
“Hold on. They’re cleaning up the bodies, right? We gotta check them properly. To see if there aren’t more than two bodies or anything.”
“Kanzo-jiichan checked it first thing in the morning. There were only two people’s worth of bone and guts.”
“Huh? Really? Does he have experience doing this kind of thing?”
“He’s a hunter, so he’s used to butchering animals.”
Well, that made sense.
“That reminds me. This is probably the most important thing. Why aren’t you trying to run away and call the police?”
*Everything goes silent*
“I want a straight answer to this. I honestly can’t think of a better move in this situation.”
I was aware the people here were superstitious, but those superstitions are getting people killed. So why was not a single person objecting?
BGM: Creeping Despair
“We can’t escape this place.”
“Can I ask why?”
“It’s complicated, but we all know it’s true. There is no way to escape this place. The mist is completely impassable. I’m not going to waste time on something I know can’t be done.”
“Have you seen it yourself or are you just trusting what someone else said?”
“Sorry, I can’t really explain how, but I just know.”
“Once the feast begins, no one can leave Yasumizu.”
...
So it wasn’t logic, but blind conviction. Or perhaps she’d subconsciously gained that knowledge through some experience.
Yeah, as if.
“So you have no proof, but still believe you can’t escape.”
“Yep. Everyone else would probably say the same.”
“What are the odds that your blind faith is in something that’s total bullshit?”
“Well, higher than zero…”
“What if I said that I, as someone overlooked by the god of the mountain, would try to leave anyway?”
“I’d do everything I could to stop you. Even if the others allow it, it’s because they don’t care if you die.”
That was pretty scary.
“So you’re worried about me?”
“More than anyone else here!”
“Thanks. I can just feel the love.”
*Everything goes silent*
“
Love?!”
She was going all red on me now. This seems to be taking it pretty far for an act.
BGM: Safety Zone
“Uhh, no. I just have a conscience.”
“The others here don’t, then?”
“Well, you should know that they’re way colder to outsiders than they appear. I’m kind of an outsider myself, so I can relate to your situation.”
“You’d go on a road trip with someone just based on that?”
“Huh? You only agreed ‘cause you felt sorry for me? Don’t think you can get out of your promise that easily.”
“W-Wow, how do I respond to that? Oh, but wait, your bike’s broken.”
“Id it’s for a date, I’ll take out a loan on a new one.”
“A-A date? I-I guess it is! But wait, you’ll take out a loan while you’re still in school?!”
“Besides, don’t promises like that usually end up with someone dying? Let’s worry about that after we survive!”
Shit. First she was all over me, and now she was playing hard to get. In normal circumstances, that could be kind of fun, but right now she was the only one I could rely on. The emotional support would’ve been nice.
“Back to the whole police thing...Really, you can’t escape much from them here.”
“Because it’s supernatural?”
“Well, that’s one reason, but we also have just one officer in Kamifujiyoshi. And Kamifujiyoshi wants nothing to do with what happens here in Yasumizu.”
…
*Everything goes silent*
“You know, I’ve been thinking…”
“Spot on.”
I hadn’t even said anything yet.
She really did guess what I was gonna say. Ostracism. In ancient times, villages often punished criminals and the like by ostracizing them. They were ignored and excluded from all social welfare aid. Basically, people were excluded from the larger group and treated coldly. It was one step away from banishment.
It wasn’t just emotional torment, either. Back in those days, not getting the help of other people was a matter of life and death, making this quite a harsh punishment.
“Did you all do something?”
“Most of us did nothing. The Makishima, Yamawaki, and Muro families have been here for generations.”
“Can you keep a secret?”
“Sure.”
“Kaori Oribe-san was originally an outsider who married into the Higuchi family, but her husband messed up somewhere down the line and died. I heard she was forced to move here with Yasu-kun, who was still very little.”
“...”
Well, that wasn’t a pleasant story. I had heard ostracism still survived even in this day and age. Some rural groups would brazenly cut off your gas or water supplies if you didn’t fit in. Then again, neighbors in cities had their own communication problems. Basically, humans really hadn’t changed much over the years.
Still, ostracism because of family troubles? In this day and age? It seemed so weird, ugly, and behind the times.
“Then there’s Mocchi. He was the Nosato family’s heir apparent. Guy’s an actual blue blood.”
“Huh? Really?”
“Yeah. He and Kiyonosuke-san are uncle and nephew.”
They were nothing alike.
“Mocchi’s a bit weird, though, so he was put up for adoption and sent to Yasumizu.”
Oh yeah, Kiyonosuke-shi had said something like that. Sheesh, what century did they think it was?
“What about you?”
“Hahah, I did an oopsie.”
“Did you use to be a bit wild?”
“Hm. Uhh, you don’t like that?”
“Nope, I’m actually into that.”
“Wow, you really go all-in, don’t you?”
With her pulling hit-and-runs, I really had no choice.
I couldn’t expect any outside help. And everyone here believed they couldn’t escape this place due to supernatural reasons.
Another choice. As before, you may pick whichever option you like, as long as you justify it in some way, however serious or not it may be. The total will include both votes from SA and LPBeach, should there be any.
”. I am begging you. Please.
“I bid you welcome to the world of this visual novel, Raging Loop.”
“
“
“
“
“Huhh?”
“Umm, don’t you have a map or something?”
“I’m not sure I believe that. Convenience stores often get asked for directions. You must have a map handy.”
“I appreciate the sentiment, but I’d rather be on my way. Are you sure you can’t help?”
“This here’s this store...Go to the north of the crossroads.”
“You’ll find an overpass soon enough. Cross it. When you come to a fork next to a giant boulder, turn right and head straight.”
“What of it?”
“I’ll go to that one, then. Thank you.”
“Ohh boy…”
“Helloooo.”
“
“Can you help me out, at least?”
“Go ahead.”
“Hmm...”
“I wouldn’t say so.”
“Time for a Chiemi Serizawa quiz!”
“Here’s the question! My virginity is threatened, yet I don’t feel like I’m in danger. Why?”
“Well, I don’t think you look like a bad guy, but no, I doubt you’re good either. You look experienced with women, for one.”
“Hmm?”
“Or maybe you’re a serial killer who brought me here just to get me drunk and kill me.”
“I did?”
“Huh? I do?”
“Or maybe this settlement you stumbled into is actually the haunt of a murderous psycho! Happens all the time in B-grade horror flicks!”
“
“Are you all right?”
“You friends with Chie-nee?”
“Are you a friend of hers from college? She didn’t tell us anyone was visiting.”
“It really is, old man…”
“
“
“Who are you?”
“
“
“Why’re you acting like you’ve known her your whole life?! W-Wait, she’s not getting out...Don’t tell me you…”
“
“D-Don’t tell me you…”
“How dissolute.”
“You drank with a girl you just met? And she’s not coming out…”
“...”
“Absurd…”
“Umm...Well…”
“That’s...a bit…”
“Two people over just two days…”
“No you don’t! Just go already. We’ll catch up.”
“S-Sure.”
“Stop treating me like a child!”
“
“...”
“...”
“
“
“
“And please don’t blame her for helping me.”
“Do what ya want.”
“
“Thought so. Tae-baacahn, wait a bit while I help the guy. I already spread the stuff on the fields, so I’ll mow the grass at noon.”
“What a good boy…”
“Hahahah. It ain’t a big deal. I’ll be so quick you’ll think nothing happened.”
“Here you go.”
“Oh my. Eheheh.”
“
“
“
“Stop talking ‘bout bro, you ugly bitch!”
“
“
“You datin’ or something?”
“There’s a pulley. We bring stuff up from the bottom every now and then.”
“No…”
“
“Huh? What?”
“Are the tires tubeless?”
“
“Hmph. How about, instead of relying on me only when it’s convenient, you just give him a traditional Yasumizu welcome? You know, throw him off the cliff.”
“Well, I don’t mind that much, but I’ll want compensation for anything you break. Student or not, I’ll have you act proper.”
“
“
“Uh…?”
“Figured...I’m not a big name yet. And the magazines I do get printed in are marketed for housewives and the elderly.”
“...”
“Heheheh. I have my stomach medicine. I’m sure I’ll be fine.”
“...”
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“...”
“Come in, Haru-chan.”
“The feast is there to help us decide if he’s shady or not, right?”
“...”
“But…”
“B-But…”
“Sake…”
“Not like it’d kill me…”
“Yoshitsugu, this is just for tradition’s sake.”
“Haru-chan, just kiss it. There, done. And I’m done, too.”
“Same here...Chie-nee.”
“This is enough for me…”
“It’s better than I expected. Muro.”
“Onee-chan, what does ‘slay’ mean?”
“Scary..”
“Good grief, what nonsense.”
“Yoshitsugu!”
“Oribe-san, I’m concerned about your son’s upbringing.”
“I’m like this ‘cause I wanna be! Don’t drag the hag into this!”
“What? You’re saying there’s someone shady among us?”
“Oji-chan…”
“That’s just what Yasumizu’s numbskulls say, isn’t it?”
“Mocchi, stop that...I’m sorry. So, what do we do now?”
“Chie-nee, what do you think?”
“
“Takumi-nii, you said he’s shady.”
“‘Hail democracy’ and all that? That’s not very like you.”
“Ah! Old fart?! You know about it?”
“The wolf has come…”
“But...that’s…”
“Calm down, Haru-chan. Are you all right?”
“...”
“That’s pretty sad.”
“Takumi-nii, is that true? How do you even know that…”
“Oh, so you believe in monsters?”
“
“I saw the evening mists come...but I hoped you could escape.”
“Um...this isn’t something we can share with outsiders.”
“
“I-I’m not that bothered.”
“Are you messing with me?”
“I’m sorry you had to see that.”
“Stop it already!”
“
“It’s been so long since I did this that I kinda panicked…”
“Uh...W-Well, all right.”
