LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 40
A urban legend circulated.
A very small, inconsequential urban legend.
Like a storm in a teacup, it briefly became a topic of discussion before disappearing, such a city urban legend.
Yet it continued to spread, a story known to those in the know.
Someone said that if you don’t spread this story, you’ll be cursed.
“It is said that a rich man’s cow gave birth to a Kudaan.”
“The Kudaan gasped for breath as soon as it was born and foretold that a great calamity would soon befall Kagoshima Prefecture.”
Someone claimed this story to be true.
“I am from Kyushu, and we also heard rumors that a Kudaan was born. It only said that in order to prevent disasters, everyone must unite, so it seems to be the counterpart of the Kudaan born in Kagoshima.”
Someone said this story was merely a scandal to hide what’s happening in the political sphere.
“Recently, scandals keep erupting in politics. It’s common for people to get caught frequenting kyabakura (hostess bars) every day, and rumors are circulating about wild parties at villas.”
“Stories are also whispered about celebrity escorts. I heard they even call AV actresses to hotels and invite announcers to orgy parties?”
“I also heard renowned capable individuals gather for social events and indulge in crazy parties?”
Someone remarked that strange things seem to be happening lately.
“When I was a child, I visited Fushimi Inari Shrine and gained spiritual powers after seeing a fox. Since then, I’ve been able to occasionally see Baekko, a white furred fox that looks as if it has been shampooed and conditioned, always smooth and shiny. Sometimes it appears, then turns transparent and disappears. It’s incredibly cute.”
“Thus, despite the struggles of a tough work life, I’d stop by the shrine to see Baekko. It’s cute, and seeing cute things revives my spirits.”
“But lately, the Baekko seem different. They move as if being chased, busy as if searching for something. Even when I try to speak, they ignore me. Did Inari-shin send them on an urgent errand?”
Someone asked.
“What on earth is happening in Japan?”
* * *
In every country, there are famous prophets.
In France, the well-known prophet is Michel de Nostredame, known by his Latin name, Nostradamus. It is said that Nostradamus contracted with an undocumented transcendent being and gained knowledge of the secrets of the world, acquiring a magical tool that let him glimpse into the future.
In Korea, the famous prophet is Doseon, who had a talent for reading the Qi of the land and was said to grasp Feng Shui marvelously well, achieving the level of seeing into the future by comprehending the workings of the earth. Doseon is said to have gained this power through repeated ascetic practices, and his abilities were so impressive that he could predict the rise and fall of nations and even the existence of future kings who would establish new kingdoms.
Then, who is the most famous prophet in Japan?
Shōtoku Taishi, known for his divine powers?
The earless Hoichi, who hid prophecies in song?
Certainly, both are famous.
But truly renowned is an unnamed high monk.
It is said that this unnamed high monk from the Heian Period underwent severe ascetic practices and attained divine powers. Through these powers, he learned the heavenly principles and recorded his dreams into a book, fearing they would be destroyed under the excuse of deceiving people, he concealed it in a temple until it was discovered after a long time.
The book created by this monk, Dreaming Future Sight, contained various dreams, the most famous of which is the Story of the Sun.
“I had a dream on a certain date. In the dream, all manner of sorrows and cries were present, and the world was engulfed in darkness, witnessing Ksitigarbha sigh empathetically, a truly horrifying sight. Then, a bright light, like the sun, spread from the sky, illuminating the whole world, and the hot rays emitting from it spread out in all directions, shining brilliantly.”
“With this brilliance, all evils vanished, the world was purified, and everyone wore smiles, as Ksitigarbha seemed pleased. The light spread and, ultimately turning into a white radiance, erased everything, resembling a truly auspicious dream.”
Upon reading about this radiant good dream, people created flags based on it, which later became the Rising Sun Flag symbolizing the Japanese Empire. The people of the Japanese Empire hoisted this flag while conquering many nations, enjoying prosperity, thus fulfilling this monk’s prophecy.
And at its end, America unleashed bombers to drop atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, bringing forth the sun upon the earth, aligning with the monk’s prophecy.
This wasn’t all.
“I had a dream on a certain date. In this dream, a golden wind blew from across the sea, enveloping the realm, and the light infiltrated the land, causing the houses to grow tall. What appeared was like bamboo crafted from stone, growing towards the sky in a rectangular form, sparkling brightly, indeed looking quite precious. However, when the wind ceased, it scattered like dust and sank to the ground, causing people to bend over as they aged instantaneously, making it hard to tell whether this was a good or bad dream.”
It predicted the Japanese bubble economy as well.
“I had a dream on a certain date. In the sky floated a white mirage, yet its shape was horrific and ugly, making it unforgettable. These figures, shaped like wailing ghouls, traversed the world like flocks of birds, swathed in pale white cloth drifting in the wind. The cloth descended to the ground with a streak of lightning, covering everything, whereupon animals became feral and attacked people, transforming into Tsukumogami, malevolent spirits that harmed humans.”
“Terrifyingly wicked, seeing them acting in hordes, making the night raucous, truly strange. When counting, the number reached One Hundred, and the grouped entities swelled, forming three gigantic monsters.”
It foretold the phenomenon of the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons that instilled fear throughout Japan. Moreover, it even predicted the appearance of three Great Evil Spirits that emerged after the first Night Parade, a testament to its remarkable abilities.
Yet this remarkable ability could also manifest as a curse.
That was the prophecy of destruction.
“I had a dream on a certain date. The dream was exceedingly bizarre and shook my spirit, causing me to vomit upon waking.”
“A large altar was built on the land, covered with all sorts of sacrifices, releasing smoke. This smoke snaked around, shimmering in various colors, writhing its way into the sky, resembling a dragon. However, instead of auspiciousness, it gathered grotesque and abominable creatures. When it descended, it was clear that a great calamity would undoubtedly ensue.”
“The flames igniting on the altar took on the shapes of tails, spreading across the land and seeping into the ground, resembling a fox digging a hole, like the fox tearing its tail to stake the earth with calamities.”
“The smoke soared through the sky, dragging its tail to piece it into embers and scattering it throughout the world, while everyone slowly began to burn as embers clung to their bodies, illuminating the realm and presenting a truly eerie sight.”
“As darkness settled over the world, the embers clung to the people, who appeared as remnants of charred corpses, and as they floated above, looking down at the world like stars, it was undeniably a dreadful bad dream.”
The altar would be built, and horrific events were prophesied to unfold.
Had another said this, it might have been dismissed as a mere nightmare, but no one could ignore the foreboding of destruction from the dreams of an unnamed high monk, who had accurately predicted countless omens.
In a bid to escape this dreadful annihilation, Japan’s capable individuals devised numerous countermeasures. They sought help from transcendent beings, assistance from contractors, and called upon the brilliance of various geniuses. The nation poured in resources as it teetered, a vigilant eye never leaving the watch.
They built barriers, thus connecting generations across time, fortifying the defenses.
They fortified the nation against the cruel wolf from threading into Japan with precision and thoroughness.
This resulted in a massive fence that seemed perfect.
Perfect.
Neither excess nor deficiency, complete in itself.
Neither excess.
Nor deficiency.
* * *
“Absolutely perfect!”
Jinseong grinned at the two men who approached him.
The two men had hollow eyes and gaunt faces, yet their bodies were solidity that belied their age, with muscles that seemed unyielding despite the depletion of energy draining their countenance.
“Ah, I see, it seems the potency you acquired has outperformed your usual vigor.”
They were showing utmost reverence towards Jinseong, akin to those paying homage to an ancient shaman.
Happiness adorned their faces, and satisfaction shimmered on Jinseong’s as well, creating a sight that was simply beyond perfection.