Minakami Village is presided over by a man called Ryokan Kurosawa, the head of the Kurosawa family. We greeted him politely. Beside Mr. Kurosawa stood a pair of identical sisters who looked to have been twins. They seemed to be acquainted with Munakata, appearing bashful for some reason or another as they exchanged words.
"...So, Mr. Makabe, you came to our village for the express purpose of conducting your studies into folklore?"
I hastily returned my gaze to Mr. Kurosawa as he addressed me with the question.
"That is correct. I am interested in the faiths and legends of many different places. After I learned that Minakami Village practices the unusual custom of worshipping twins as shrine maidens, I became determined to study it. I have also heard that a festival is to be held in the village this year, and asked Munakata to do me a great favour by accompanying me here, intent as I am on trying to perhaps glimpse it for myself."
I could have sworn that Mr. Kurosawa knitted his brows for a mere moment, but he quickly smiled at me.
"And you came all the way into the mountains for that? You must be tired. Please, stay at the Osaka House tonight. We cannot offer you much in the way of hospitality, but you may investigate the village mostly at will. Perhaps the documents in my own house's study may be of use in your research. Please do feel free to come over and examine them whenever you so wish."
To be frank, I was utterly delighted by this unexpected offer. The Kurosawas are the ceremony masters in the "Crimson Sacrifice Ritual", and boast the longest history of all of the families in the village. I am truly grateful that not only am I afforded permission to come and go from their home as I please, but that they are even cooperating with my research. I am troubled by the grim expression I saw upon his face for a brief moment earlier, but perhaps I am simply making too much of it.
For the next few days, we were hosted at the Osaka House. Each and every day was fulfilling. The documents kept at the Kurosawa House were of course ideal for investigating the "Crimson Sacrifice Ritual", but I made a variety of discoveries simply strolling about the house. One such discovery was passageways leading out behind the family altar room, built to be symmetrical on both sides. As I made my way outside through one of them, I came upon two long, narrow passageways. I attempted to head further in, but was unable to, the doors seemingly locked. As I wandered around, looking to see if I could perhaps find a way to unlock the doors, I found myself being chided by a woman who appeared to be a servant.
"This is a sacred place. Valued guests of the master's or not, I do not approve of your trespassing here."
I swiftly made my apologies and left, but I am certain that the answers to that which I seek can be found in that place. I shall have to return later to investigate.
During the course of my many investigations, primarily centred around the Kurosawa House, I have come to understand the distribution of roles within the village. First of all, the Osaka House at the entrance. As one would expect, they appear to be responsible for keeping watch over outsiders who come to the village. I believe that they also keep a look out for any attempting to leave. Someone peers through the latticed window at all times, and even merely heading to Misono, I was questioned as to where I was going and when I would return. The people of this house also seem to be responsible for entertaining guests.
Next, the Tachibana House and the Kiryu House. These two are positioned at the centre of the village, both families' dwellings connected by a roofed exterior corridor. It appears as though the Twin Shrine Maidens of the Crimson Sacrifice Ritual take up residence here in order to prepare for the festival. One twin lives in each of the two similarly constructed houses, performing prayers and rituals for their purification. The Tachibana House is the home of Munakata's childhood friend, a young man called Itsuki Tachibana, but unfortunately, it seems as though he and his younger twin brother both became sick and died. It must have happened immediately after he sent that letter to Munakata.
The Kiryu House belonged to the dollmaker who created both the dolls and the many mechanisms found throughout the village. Years ago, a pair of Twin Shrine Maidens called Azami and Akane lived there, but their bloodline was ended for a time after the sisters became deranged. Later, a branch of the Kurosawa family took on and continued the Kiryu name.
Finally, there is the Tsuchihara House. For generations, this family has managed locations related to the Crimson Sacrifice Ritual, such as the shrine and Misono. There is a storehouse on the premises of their manor, where lawbreakers who commit crimes within the village are detained - in certain cases, they even seem to have the authority to try criminals. (I tried peeking into the storehouse, but was stopped by a man who appeared to be a lookout. He claimed that it was not currently in use, but I could have sworn I sensed a human presence within.) Furthermore, smaller homes are dotted about as if encircling these larger mansions. They were all built to face in the direction of the Kurosawa House, almost as if the villagers are always standing watch over the direction in which it lies. Just what are they trying to see?
Additionally, there is a small shrine called Kureha Shrine, a large tree called the Old Tree, and a graveyard on the outskirts of the village. The Old Tree has a sizeable hole in it, making it into a sort of cavern, and when I peered inside I saw countless pinwheels spinning within. Could there be a breeze blowing in from somewhere?
It is said that the "Remaining", one half of the pair of Twin Shrine Maidens who has fulfilled her role in the festival, is enshrined here. However, according to a tale told to me in secret by a man who was visiting a grave in the cemetery, there was once a path leading out of the village within the Old Tree, through which a pair of Twin Shrine Maidens attempted to escape, only to be killed by the villagers. As well as blocking the path to make sure that such a thing would never again occur, the ceremony master turned the place into a graveyard for Remaining in admonition. What is a "Remaining"? And, given that Twin Shrine Maidens have attempted to flee, could the Crimson Sacrifice Ritual actually be dangerous? My interest further piqued, I continued to study the documents of the Kurosawa House, the true form of the dreadful ritual beginning to emerge.