Chapter 23: He and her past

“Ren, what are you doing there?”

“Ah, Tsuki…”

Even today, Takahashi Ren and the investigation team searched around the shrine but found no unusual phenomena.

More than eight months had already passed since they entered these mountains and met Tsuki.

“I’ve experienced many ghost story incidents, but this is the first time for something like this. A domain that twists the concept of time.”

Takahashi Ren examined the time-measuring device he had since the investigation began.

[Exploration Time: 288 hours, 32 minutes, 17 seconds elapsed]

The time outside the domain indicated less than two weeks had passed, yet the seasons had changed and the environment transformed where they were.

“I don’t know if it’s the absolute flow of time or perceived time… but it’s certainly been more than half a year.”

“It’s already been that long since I cooked for Ren and the investigation team.”

“Ah, right. If it weren’t for the food in the shrine’s storage, we would have been eating grass. Haha.”

“Did you find anything today?”

“No, nothing at all. We’ve tried countless times, but we can’t leave this place.”

They investigated the surroundings daily, attempting to escape, but at some point, they would always return to the shrine, leaving them no choice but to spend several months helplessly.

However, fortunately, aside from being unable to leave the shrine, the place was safe despite being a ghost story’s domain.

“By the way, Tsuki, it’s already been eight months since I met you.”

“Fufufu, you said not much time had passed outside, right?”

“Well, what can we do? A day passes outside, while weeks pass here.”

It was a strange space.

The shrine Takahashi Ren and his investigation team found when they first arrived.

And the miko living there, Tsuki.

She didn’t know why she was there.

She only remembered that she was the shrine’s miko and her name.

‘At first, I thought Tsuki might be a ghost story…’

After several months of observation, Tsuki was an ordinary, no, rather, a very diligent miko.

Every day, she prepared meals for the investigation team, cleaned the shrine, and always prayed towards the moon.

‘There’s no way Tsuki like this is a ghost story. She must have been caught up in an accident here and lost her memories.’

“Ren, why am I here?

I’ve tried many things to find my memories, but I can’t remember anything…”

“Tsuki…”

“I’m actually afraid… I wonder if I’ll be trapped here forever, unable to leave, having lost my memories.”

Takahashi Ren quietly sat beside Tsuki and held her hand.

“Don’t worry.

Even if you don’t remember anything, once we get out of here, I’ll keep helping you.”

“Keep… helping?

Fufufu, Ren, really.

Where did the image of you pointing a sword at me when we first met go?”

“Cough!

Tsuki… I’ve been saying I’m sorry for that for months…”

“Fufu, I’m just kidding, Ren.

I would have been wary at first too.”

Tsuki smiled shyly and leaned her head on Takahashi Ren’s shoulder.

“Not remembering anything is truly frightening.

But I recently recalled something.”

“What is it?”

“I was someone who blessed royalty.”

“Royalty?”

Tsuki stretched her hand towards the moon, seemingly reminiscing about something.

“Even if I don’t know why I’m here, I was always someone who looked at the moon and prayed for the happiness of the kingdom’s people.”

“Perhaps Tsuki was a miko who bestowed blessings in a moon-related country.”

“Fufufu, would Ren like to receive a miko’s blessing?”

Takahashi Ren felt a faint emotion looking at Tsuki like that.

‘When I first set out for the investigation, I thought it was just an annoying ghost story.’

But now, he considered it fortunate that he had come here.

If he hadn’t come for the investigation, he wouldn’t have met Tsuki.

****

Just as they had grown accustomed to their peaceful life, an incident occurred.

[The ghost story ‘Eclipse’ begins.]

[From ancient times, a solar eclipse is a ritual of offering.]

[The moment the solar eclipse is complete, all humans will be offered to the moon.]

A strange voice echoed throughout the area.

Takahashi Ren and the investigation team had experienced this countless times, knowing well what it meant.

It was the declaration of a ghost story’s rules.

“What, what’s happening all of a sudden!”

“We were too complacent.

The fact that this place was slowly getting darker meant the eclipse was progressing.

Just as its name implies, Eclipse was slowly awakening.”

“We have to stop the eclipse immediately.”

“The moon is in the sky, what can we do?”

How could they stop the phenomenon of an eclipse with human power?

They all put their heads together, but no answer came.

“If it’s Tsuki…”

“Tsuki?”

“If it’s Tsuki, the miko of the moon, she might know a way.”

“Certainly… Then you go ahead, Ren.

We’ll follow right behind you.”

Takahashi Ren immediately ran to the shrine and began searching for Tsuki.

However, the Tsuki he found inside the shrine was somehow different from the Tsuki he knew.

“Tsuki… you…?”

Inside the shrine.

The figure of a woman staggering as if about to collapse.

“Re… Ren… something’s wrong with me.

My body…”

Tsuki’s appearance was strange.

A dark red mist rose from her body, darkening the surroundings like an eclipse.

“Tsuki… what on earth—”

The moment Takahashi Ren tried to take a step closer.

—Woooong!

“My sword?”

The weapon Takahashi Ren possessed began to resonate strangely.

A sword capable of discerning and sealing the true nature of a target, an ability gained by defeating the Calamity-grade ghost story ‘The Inquirer and Observer’.

But now, that sword was reacting more strongly than ever.

“Ren, what on earth is this…!”

“Tsuki’s appearance is strange.”

“The detection equipment is reacting.

That means…!”

—Biiiiiiii.

The detection equipment of the following investigation team screamed as it blared.

Takahashi Ren and his comrades, knowing what this phenomenon meant, finally realized.

Eclipse, in other words, a solar eclipse.

And Tsuki, the miko of the place called the Moon Shrine.

“The eclipse, this phenomenon itself, was a ghost story.

And the Moon Shrine and even Tsuki were part of this ghost story.

To only realize this now!”

Takahashi Ren didn’t believe that fact.

No, he didn’t want to believe it.

“That can’t be… Tsuki… Tsuki can’t be a ghost story!”

“Ren!

Are you saying you don’t believe the detection results?

More than anything, your sword!

You know it best!”

“Shut up…!”

“Snap out of it!

Have you forgotten why we came here?!”

“I know… but… but…!”

He couldn’t believe it.

Tsuki, a ghost story?

‘That can’t be.’

That can’t be…

It can’t be!

But his sword was still trembling.

‘Damn it.

No matter how much I deny it, is it telling me Tsuki is a ghost story?’

“Re… Ren……”

Tsuki still had an expression of not being able to understand what was happening.

“I… I was the ghost story…? I was holding everyone back…?”

“No, that’s not true!

Tsuki, snap out of it!”

At that moment, a strange voice echoed.

[Eclipse’s first phase: Partial Eclipse complete]

[Second phase: Annular Eclipse begins.]

“Second… phase?”

“Ren, there are three types of eclipses.”

“Partial eclipse, annular eclipse… and a total eclipse where the light is completely obscured.”

“If it progresses to a total eclipse, everyone here will surely die according to the ghost story’s rules.”

If there was any way to stop the progressing rules, he would try anything.

But how could human power stop the moon floating in the sky?

“Damn it.

I wish there was even a small clue to try something!”

At that moment, as if their wish had been heard, an additional rule echoed.

[If you want to stop the eclipse, kill the miko of the moon.]

“What… did you just say?”

“Ren, you have to attack Tsuki.”

“What…?”

“Tsuki is clearly part of the ghost story.

And she’s the only one here with a physical form as a ghost story.

That means… we have to kill her.”

“Are you serious…?”

“Besides, you heard that rule just now, didn’t you?

A way to break it has appeared!”

“Are you all insane right now?!

A ghost story telling us its way of being defeated?

Do you think that makes sense?!”

A ghost story that toys with and hunts humans telling them its weakness.

And at such a convenient time?

‘That’s absurd.

Moreover, the voice announcing the rules is subtly different.’

The voice that announced the rules initially was dry and devoid of any emotion.

However, the voice that echoed a moment ago, while still carrying a strange aura.

‘It contained emotion.

It was ‘hatred’.’

It’s certainly worth checking!

Takahashi Ren drew his sword and aimed it at the moon.

“I, Takahashi Ren, ask you.

Is Eclipse’s last rule a lie?”

A dark red aura burst from Takahashi Ren’s sword, activating his ability.

The underworld naturally didn’t respond to the question, but this ability was a power unconstrained by such things.

“Show me.

Is the rule true or false?”

[False]

The dark red aura revealed the answer in the form of words.

“You all saw it, right?

This is clearly the ghost story’s trick to deceive us.”

Takahashi Ren informed his comrades behind him of the truth, but for some reason, he heard no reaction from them.

“What are you all— Wait, your eyes…?”

The focus of everyone in the investigation team, except for him, was blurry.

They looked as if they were being controlled by someone.

“Re… Ren… Ki-kill Tsuki…”

“Ki… kill……”

“Snap out of it!

What’s wrong with all of you!”

The comrades approached Takahashi Ren with grotesque steps, like puppets, repeating the same words.

—‘Kill Tsuki.’

“Such a cowardly trick, just because your lie was seen through…!”

At that moment, Tsuki, who had been writhing in agony, surrounded by black aura, began to speak with difficulty.

“Re… Ren… run away quickly…”

“What are you talking about?

How could I leave you behind!”

“The ghost story’s aura is… gradually seeping into my body.

Surely… I’ll lose my self soon.

I won’t be able to remain myself anymore… Before that happens… me…”

“I can’t… How could I do that!

You know how I feel about you!”

Tsuki smiled sadly at Takahashi Ren’s words.

“Then… I know.

I cherish you… just as much.”

“Tsuki…!”

“Although I’ve lost many memories… I can understand what this feeling is… I… I love you… Ren…”

“Tsuki, me too.

I also—”

*Squeeze—*

“Ugh?! What are you all doing?!”

Just before Takahashi Ren could answer, the comrades behind him began to restrain him, preventing him from moving.

“Ren…… kill…… Tsuki…”

“Ki… kill…”

“Let go of me!

Are you still being controlled?!

Everyone, snap out of it!

This is Eclipse’s trick to deceive us!”

Takahashi Ren wanted to shake them off, but if he recklessly unleashed his power at such close range, his comrades could be in danger.

“Eclipse, such a cowardly act…!”

[It would have been better if you had just followed my words.]

At that moment, a strange voice echoed in the space.

It was the same resonance as the voice that had announced the last rule just before.

“This voice… are you the real Eclipse…?”

[Only you can hear this anyway.

And fare well.

You who killed your loved one with your own hands.]

“What do you mean—”

With Eclipse’s voice as the last sound, Takahashi Ren lost consciousness.

It was truly a fleeting moment, he had only lost consciousness for a mere few seconds.

Yet, the scene that unfolded before Takahashi Ren’s eyes when he regained consciousness was:

“Ren… it’s not… your fault…”

Tsuki had a sword plunged into her chest and was bleeding.

“Ah… ah… what on earth is this…?”

“Ren.

I… I stabbed your sword… into my own chest.

To die… before I became… a ghost story…”

A blatant lie.

Tsuki hadn’t moved from her initial spot.

This clearly meant Takahashi Ren himself had lost consciousness and attacked her.

However, even as death approached, Tsuki covered for him, lying so that Takahashi Ren wouldn’t blame himself.

“No… no, Tsuki!”

“I’m sorry, Ren… I couldn’t keep our promise… to leave together…”

With a sad smile, she collapsed and was sealed within Takahashi Ren’s sword.

[Not dead, huh… Fine.

You will surely struggle to save the miko.

Not knowing that it will ultimately bring about disaster once more.]

[I will leisurely await that time.]

“Eclipse——!!!!”

[The ghost story Eclipse has been sealed.

The eclipse stops.]

****

After the series of events, all members of the investigation team were able to safely escape the place.

They told everyone that the ghost story ‘Eclipse’ had been defeated, but in reality, it wasn’t over.

It had only been temporarily stopped because Tsuki was sealed within Takahashi Ren’s sword.

“Eclipse… I will definitely eliminate you and save Tsuki.”

Takahashi Ren traveled across the country, collecting information to save Tsuki, but he couldn’t find a way.

Then, a peculiar piece of news came from the neighboring country, Korea.

The appearance of a Calamity-grade being.

And the existence that annihilates ghost stories without a trace, Phantom.

When he heard that fact, Takahashi Ren’s heart pounded with anticipation.

“If it’s Phantom!”

A hope arose that perhaps he could eliminate only Eclipse and save Tsuki.

And now, Takahashi Ren, unable to find Phantom, had chosen his last resort.

‘I will bear an unforgivable sin for the rest of my life.’

He knew himself that this was wrong.

But Takahashi Ren, already devastated beyond measure, could not think rationally.

Only the fervent desire to see her remained.

“I will…… never lose you again.”

—Chwaaaak!

A black wave spread out from Takahashi Ren, and red letters announced the beginning of despair to the people in the city center.

[Calamity-grade ghost story ‘Eclipse’ begins.]