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The Root of Belladonna.

A dangerous land teeming with water ghosts.

A tourist spot where those who have exceeded courage and reached the realm of rashness foolishly trusted their abilities, only to die while scuba diving. It appeared to be an inviting cave from the outside, but due to the currents, or being trapped in narrowing passages, or the illusions that distorted distance, many met a fatal end from suffocation.

Ultimately, too many lives were lost, leading to the decision to repurpose it from a tourist destination for something else. Just like Bikini Island, it became a controlled area rife with danger, exploding bombs polluting the surroundings.

Some might ask.

Why should anyone go to such a place?

What is this Artificial Intelligence named Anael that compels one to step foot in that cursed land, filled with dangerous water ghosts? Why would one take the arduous journey to a spot where the path is long and fraught with the risk of exposure to hazardous materials, or fall victim to heavy metals and toxins leaching from illegally dumped waste—perhaps even harmed by bizarre entities thriving on those substances?

Yet if you were to ask for the reason.

‘There is something there.’

It’s not simply the words of a hiker who climbed a mountain because there was a mountain to climb, nor is it the carefree disposition of one who acts out of impulse.

Rather, it is instinct and intuition.

The experiences of a mere man who wandered the world in search of magic, shaped and honed alongside his heart, guide him toward that location. It’s like the instinct to recoil and turn away from danger, or to guess the direction while gazing at the stars.

Ah.

What is it trying to lead him to?

This instinct.

His experiences.

The hint from a shaman he once encountered.

Where are they directing him?

It is the unknown, something he did not know even before his return.

Yet, he knows.

Park Jinseong knows.

To find what he desires, he must willingly step into the unknown, for the things yet undiscovered are likely hidden within that very unknown. Thus, a person must take step after careful step, breaching the daunting barriers of danger and annoyance, even if there might be snakes lurking in the grass or fruit fallen nearby, they must push through the thicket to see for themselves.

‘It was a place unknown even before his return.’

Before the outbreak of the World War, he had no business entangled in mercenary work.

After quitting mercenary life, there was simply no reason to go there.

Ah.

‘The world is vast, and there are so many places I have not been. Isn’t this precisely why ancient explorers wandered across the earth?’

Now, the names of those who would appear in textbooks come to mind.

He understands their sentiments.

However,

He, unlike explorers by nature, seeks out the treasures rather than savoring the journey itself. He isn’t aiming for a hobby or enjoyment; rather, it is much closer to a task of efficiently pulling electricity into the water to lift fish from the depths rather than leisurely fishing.

‘Water ghosts, water ghosts. Hahaha.’

If those water ghosts are indeed toxic, what of the several creatures that might cling to them?

Would they really dare to annoy him?

* * * *

Do you know of something called Shishi Odoshi?

You may have seen it in Japanese movies, dramas, or animations.

Most likely, when recalling it, you won’t know the precise name but rather just vaguely remember “that bamboo thing that makes noise in Japanese gardens.”

Toh-ong.

Water drops into the cut bamboo. It fills the bamboo’s interior, causing it to tip over like a seesaw, hitting the ground with a sound of toh-ong. Then it shifts to an angle optimal for collecting water, spilling out to repeat the sound again, creating a noise fitting for scaring away beasts.

That is the elegance of nature.

A quintessential aspect of a traditional Japanese garden.

Kacho-fugetsu!

If such a thing were absent from a miniature version of nature in a Japanese garden, could one claim it possesses charm?

Thus, even in modern times, in somewhat atmospheric places, one can easily spot Shishi Odoshi.

But if you were to ask whether this Shishi Odoshi was installed solely for the sake of aesthetics…

The answer would be no.

What appears to be a simple traditional landscape feature for style or to scare away wild animals surprisingly has far more uses.

Toh-ong.

Sooryuk.

Toh-ong.

The repetitive sound.

If there are no variables, the intervals of time remain unchanged.

A consistent speed and the rhythm of repetition at specific times.

It holds magical meaning as well.

Toh-ong.

Nature is filled with myriad sounds.

The rustling of leaves, chirping of birds, the flutter of wings, the cries of beasts, the sound of flowing water, the thunderous boom when lightning strikes, the chilling sounds as wind sweeps through a cave, the last gasps of dying life, the sprouting of new life….

Humans discovered patterns and harmony within these sounds.

By stringing, cutting, and combining them, they created new sounds.

This is music.

In times long past, when humanity desperately sought survival amidst nature, they harbored an awe for animals, monumental stones, natural phenomena, ancestors, or any concepts they created. They sought to express their faith in those elements, and thus, the combination of these sounds became that expression.

Yes.

Music is closely tied to religion.

And one of the essential aspects of music—repetition—holds an aspect of magical meaning.

Perhaps the traces of this magical meaning or humanity’s experiences from ancient times to the present are deeply inscribed in the subconscious or genes. It’s why humanity has always sought out and lived alongside music.

Listening to repetitive sounds and entering a trance state, or meditating, may perhaps stem from this influence.

Maybe within the flesh… or soul of humanity, music is deeply etched in.

Toh-ong.

Toh-ong.

Toh-ong.

“Cluck, cluck, cluck.”

Thus, it’s no wonder someone could easily fall prey to magic.

There may be treasures hidden, but equal to or even greater than their value, there lies risk in that place, making it impossible for the foolish to resist their ingrained instincts.

“Fools, they are. I wonder what prompted them to infiltrate this place.”

The man dressed in traditional Onmyoji garb, Kariginu, clicked his tongue while gazing at the man who was subdued by the magic laid out at the Shishi Odoshi.

“Heh… hee hee…”

A well-trained figure presumed to be a warrior.

With small scars scattered across his face, one could guess he had lived a rough life.

Yet, despite his rugged appearance, his eyes seemed dazed, as if under the influence of drugs, and his half-open mouth had a tongue sticking out—like a dog panting in the summer heat.

From that agape mouth, droplets of drool fell, looking unkempt and reeking of foul odor.

Especially, just by looking at that rugged face and wrinkled body, the scent of sweat wafted through the air.

The Onmyoji concealed his rising disgust upon seeing the state of the man and snapped his fan shut, exhaling a sigh. He then turned to Dr. Sanjiro, who was next to him—a man adorned in the makeup once typical of Onmyoji.

“Professor Sanjiro. Really… I can’t understand why such disgusting things are showing up these days.”

In response to the man’s words, Dr. Sanjiro, with his bizarrely made-up face, grimaced.

“Who wouldn’t know? That fellow is quite the enigma. If you don’t, who would know? Unless it were our renowned Akita the Almighty, who has fame surpassing even the Onmyoji’s purview, who else could possibly know the answer?”

“Right. If it’s not me, then who else would know? Yes, I have some inkling. But…. cluck.”

The Onmyoji known as Dr. Akita gazed at the warrior with contempt.

“What I mean is, I simply cannot fathom the reason behind their brazen entrance knowing full well it’s unwise. It utterly baffling why these morons would act like beasts and do something so foolish….”

He seemed unable to comprehend the thoughts of these foolish beings or perhaps just loathed to understand, shaking his head. Thus, along with Dr. Sanjiro, he moved forward to get back to their original plan.

Yes.

The original plan—

To meet with a ‘promising collaborator’ recommended by an Onmyoji.

 

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