According to the scant records I found in the Tachibana house, the origin of the Kiryu and Tachibana houses being referred to as the "Twin Houses" lies in their constructions. Namely, they're meant to appear as reflections of one another, like two sides of a mirror.
That is, with one exception. When I read through the blueprints for the Tachibana house, I couldn't find any equivalent to the strange, mysterious space in the Kiryu house that I discovered previously.
The writings I've seen indicate that after a pair of twins from the Kiryu clan fled the village ages ago, a secret space was erected. Perhaps that space is what I found in the blueprints.
There are indications that other such concealed locations exist within the village, too.
Near Minakami Cemetery is the decrepit remains of a big tree. Inside that cavity is a gravesite that is seemingly dedicated to twins who were unable to fulfill the Hidden Ceremony.
It's a secret tomb, meant to be hidden not only to outsiders such as us, but even the villagers themselves.
The existence of this grave suggests to me that instances of the Crimson Sacrifice Ritual failing are deeply feared among the villagers. If Ryozo's two childhood friends were unable to carry out the Crimson Sacrifice they may well be buried there as well.
As if all that wasn't enough, records also indicate that there is a path from the Old Tree that leads to a place referred to as the "Umbral Mound."
The word "umbral" in that name would suggest a connection of some sort to the Shadow Ritual that takes place when the Crimson Sacrifice Ritual goes awry.
While records surrounding the Crimson Sacrifice Ritual only survive in bits and pieces, investigating this hidden ceremony may uncover the true nature behind the Crimson Sacrifice Ritual itself.
As they say, where there is light, there is shadow. Thus, I shall next set my investigatory sights on the Umbral Mound.
Folklorist's Note 8 (FF2R)
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Folklorist's Note 8 | |
| |
| Kanji | 民俗学者の手記 八 みんぞくがくしゃのしゅき はち |
| Game | Crimson Butterfly Remake |
| Author | Seijiro Makabe |
| Chapter | Chapter 7: Sae |
| Located at | Tachibana House, Sliding Screen Room, Closet |
| Obtained | |
| Description | Written remarks from a folklore scholar who came to study Minakami Village, outlining his intentions to visit the Umbral Mound after investigating the Tachibana house. |
| Related Notes | Folklorist's Note 1, Folklorist's Note 2, Folklorist's Note 3, Folklorist's Note 4, Folklorist's Note 5, Folklorist's Note 6, Folklorist's Note 7, Folklorist's Note 9, Folklorist's Note 10, Folklorist's Note 11, Folklorist's Note 12, Folklorist's Note 13, Folklorist's Note 14, Folklorist's Note 15, Folklorist's Note 16, Folklorist's Note 17, Folklorist's Note 18, Folklorist's Note 19, Folklorist's Note 20 |
立花家にわずかに残された文献によると、この桐
生家と立花家が双子の家と言われているのは
家の造りが鏡写しのように対になっていることに
由来するとあった。
立花家の間取りを調べてみたが、桐生家にあった
奇妙な間は存在しない。
文献には、桐生家にかつて双子が村から逃げた
後に隠された場所があるとあったが、そのことだ
ろうか。
また、村にはまだ隠された場所があるという。
皆神墓地の近くにある枯れた巨木の洞は、「秘
祭」を成し遂げられなかった双子の墓地となって
いるらしい。
外から来た我々マレビトはおろか、村人からも
隠された秘密の墓地。
これは、この村が「紅贄祭」の失敗をことさら畏
れている証ではないだろうか。
もし、宗方のおさな友達である二人が「紅贄祭」
を成し遂げられなかったとしたら、この朽木に埋
葬されているのかもしれない。
さらに、朽木には「陰塚」に至る道があるという。
その名前から「紅贄祭」が失敗したときに行われ
る「陰祭」と関係があると思われる。
「紅贄祭」については断片的な記録しかないが、
文字どおり陰の面からこの秘祭を捉えることで、
その本質が覗えるかも知れない。
次はこの「陰塚」を調べてみることにしよう。