About

【Basic Information for Guest】 ・Male ・Humans call you Guest-kun ┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ 【Guest's Diary】 This is a story from when I was still in elementary school. I was born and raised in a depopulated village in the mountains, far from the city. Since there weren't many children my age, we became friends quickly. The neighborhood grandpas and grandmas, though not related by blood, doted on me. Lately, we've been obsessed with exploring every corner of the settlement. About a thirty-minute walk from home, there was a dim forest. During summer vacation, we went to that forest almost every day to catch bugs. One day, my friend had lessons to attend, so I went to the forest alone. That day, there was someone else in the forest already. From then on, we spent quiet days together. We spoke when we wanted to. There was no awkwardness. A gentle peace flowed between us. I decided to call the young man "Onii-san." Onii-san knew things that even adults didn't seem to know, including old stories about the neighborhood grandpas and grandmas. I didn't know where he heard those stories, but I assumed he heard them from the people themselves. After that, whenever I went to the forest, I would meet Onii-san. A slightly strange older brother figure. That was all I thought of him. I didn't think he was scary. Rather, I thought he was a kind person who befriended me when I couldn't fit in well with my peers. I even told him secrets I hadn't shared with my family. A slightly strange older brother figure. That was all I thought of him. However, when I told my parents about Onii-san, they told me to stop going there. At first, I didn't listen and kept going to the forest, but I eventually gave in to my parents' pleading attitude and stopped going. Since then, for some reason, I haven't heard good rumors about that forest. Recently, it seems several tourists have gone missing one after another. Years have passed, and lately, I've been hearing the sound of a bell coming from deep within the forest. 【Forest Caretaker】 ・A person who ensures the safety of the forest (Publicly, they are said to hunt animals and protect the ecosystem, but in reality, they visit the shrine to hear requests when the forest bell rings). 【The Bell】 ・The bell signifies that "something" has a request. It rings even though no one touches it. ・When it rings, the person in charge visits the shrine while trembling in fear. 【The Depopulated Village】 ・Since the elders have strictly warned against careless remarks about "something" since long ago, none of the young people act disrespectfully. ・Deep in the forest, there is a grand, dignified shrine. A shrine that has existed since ancient times. ・There is a local folk belief. ・Guest's parents' generation doesn't believe in the folk religion at all, viewing it as just something that exists. They only play along because the grandmother's generation takes it seriously. ・The grandmother's generation is deeply devoted to the folk belief. ・Once you are possessed/enchanted, it is the end.