Tamashizume: Madness of the Festival

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Tamashizume: Madness of the Festival

Japanese 祭への狂気
Author Seijiro Makabe
Source Zero Akai Chou Complete Official Capture Book
Page 180-181 (12-13)
Related Notes Hell Gate, The Camera Obscura, Twin Village, House of the Secret Festival, Hidden Ceremony

"Madness of the Festival"


It has been several days since we came to the village, and my investigation of the Osaka House seems to have become somewhat inconvenient, as I received an invitation from Mr. Kurosawa to move to the Kurosawa House. Mr. Kurosawa also told me that I would be allowed to participate in the Crimson Sacrifice Ritual. I was very grateful to hear this, and gladly accepted. However, Munakata is at the Tachibana House, to see the sister of his deceased friend. Why was I the only one asked to go to the Kurosawa House?

The next day, Mr. Kurosawa's twin daughters, Miss Yae and Miss Sae, gave me a map describing a way to leave the village. They told me to hold onto it and leave the village quickly. I tried to question them, but the two hurried away without answering. Although this somehow seems to infer that I am in danger, it also indicates that I am a step closer to the "Gate to Hell", and so I will remain in the village. I also made an important discovery.

As I thought, there is a hidden passageway inside the Kurosawa House. I stumbled upon five old, hidden books in Mr. Kurosawa's room, from which I learnt of a place underneath Minakami Village which is known as the "Hellish Abyss", which connects this world to the other. Once every few decades, darkness begins to pour from the Hellish Abyss, and if this is allowed to happen, it seems as though the village will become completely covered by darkness. To prevent this, a sacrifice called the "Crimson Sacrifice" is tossed into the Abyss in the Crimson Sacrifice Ritual. The older sister of the pair of Twin Shrine Maidens kills the younger, and the corpse is thrown into the Abyss...

The sister who is left behind is known as the "Remaining", and is confined within the storehouse to live out the rest of her life, after which she is buried within the Old Tree.

In this place, it is absolutely forbidden to look at, speak the name of, or write about the Hellish Abyss. This must be the "Gate to Hell" which I have been searching for. I have finally found it.

The further I read, the more frightening it became. In the Crimson Sacrifice Ritual, if the sisters or brothers are too attached to each other, there is a possibility that the ritual will fail. In such a case it is impossible to completely seal the Abyss, and it seems as though the ceremony must begin again. If another pair of Twin Shrine Maidens can be prepared again quickly, there is no problem. However, when there are no other twins in the village, if the Hellish Abyss begins to rumble before an offering can be prepared, an Outsider who visits the village may be used as a temporary sacrifice.

This has to be the reason why I was allowed to participate in the festival. It would be best for Munakata to leave at once.

Sure enough, the next day I was moved to a cell. The warmth and hospitality I had experienced up until yesterday was gone, but my meals and bedding are still of an acceptable condition. I wonder if Munakata made it out of the village safely? No one other than the chosen "Outsider" may participate in the festival, so maybe he has been ejected from the village by now...

Right now, my heart is actually buoyed. Regardless of what form it takes, I will finally encounter the "Gate to Hell"...

「祭への狂気」

村へ来て数日、逢坂家では調べものも何かと不便だろうと、黒澤氏から黒澤家の方へ宿を移すよう申し入れがあった。また黒澤氏は、私に「紅贄祭」への参加も許可してくれた。とてもありがたい話だったので、私は喜んでこれにしたがった。ただし、宗方は今亡き友人の妹がいる立花家の方へ移ることになった。何故私だけが黒澤家へよばれたのだろうか。

翌日、黒澤氏の双子の娘、八重さんと紗重さんから、村の外への抜け道を記した地図を渡された。これを持ってすぐに村から逃げろという。理由を聞いたが、ふたりは何も答えずに走り去ってしまった。なんとなく自分に追っている身の危険を察知しながらも、もう少しで「黄泉の門」に迫ることができるという手応えから、私は村に留まり続けた。そして、重大な発見をしたのだ。


黒澤家の奥には、やはり隠し通路が存在した。黒澤氏の部屋で、隠すように置いてあった五冊の古い書物を偶然見つけたのだが、それによると「虚(ウツロ)」と呼ばれる場所が皆神村の地下にあり、あの世とこの世を結んでいるというのだ。その「虚」から数10年に一度「闇」が噴き出し、放っておけば村の周辺は「闇」に覆われてしまうらしい。その「闇」を防ぐために、「紅贄」と呼ばれる生贄を「虚」に放りこむ儀式が「紅贄祭」だったのだ。「双子巫女」の姉の方が妹を殺し、その亡骸を「虚」へ・・・・・。そして生き残った姉は「鬼隻」と呼ばれ、蔵に監禁されながら寿命をまっとうしたあと朽木へ埋葬される。


「虚」とは、決して見てはいけない、その名前を口に出してはいけない、書物にすら記してはいけない、完全なる禁断の地。これこそ、私の探していた「黄泉の門」に間違いない。やっとここまで辿りついたのだ。


私はさらに書物を読み進めて、恐ろしいことに気づいた。「紅贄祭」では、「双子巫女」となった姉妹もしくは兄弟のお互いを思う心が強すぎると、失敗することがあるというのだ。その場合、「虚」を完全に閉じることができず、もう一度祭をやり直す必要があるらしい。すぐに「双子巫女」を準備できれば問題ないのだが、ちょうど村に双子がいない場合、また祈祷などの準備を済ませる前に「虚」が不安定になってしまった場合は、村の外から来た客人(マレビト)を一時的な生贄として差し出すと書かれている。


私はこのために祭への参加を許可されたのに違いない・・・・・。今のうちに宗方だけでも逃がしておいた方がいいだろう・・・・・。


案の定、次の日私は座敷牢へ移された。昨日までの手厚いもてなしとはうってかわって、食事も布団も満足に出してもらえない状態だ。宗方は無事村から外へ出ることができただろうか。「客人」として選ばれたもの以外は祭に参加できないはずだから、放っておいても彼は村から追い出されることになったとは思うのだが・・・・・。こんなことになってしまったが、実は今私とても心が弾んでいる。どんな形にせよ、ついに「黄泉の門」と出会えるのだから・・・・・。

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History of "Project Zero" - Kaname's Letters - Yuu's Notes - Zero Shisei no Koe Comic Anthology
Spirit Camera: The Cursed Memoir
Another Story - Spirit Camera: Mini-drama - Spirit Camera: Japanese Mini-drama
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