Original subtitles

In the western village once dwelled a skilled carpenter.

His only son was a young man named Jurota.

With the help of the village youngsters, he built shrines both large and small,

but they were major projects that took significant time to finish.

More than enough time for the elder sister to develop a yearning for Jurota.

The other villagers would whisper how the two of them would make a fine couple.

But the young man felt nothing toward the elder sister but respect.

And in his free moments,

he would head out to patch up the younger sister's hut.

With the passing of time, the two gradually grew closer.

As she watched the little sister she had once laughed at and admonished,

brand-new feelings of jealousy and loss began to swirl within the elder sister,

and the suspicion and resentment wrought by the tainted, miasmic well

began to worm its way into the already twisted feelings she held for her twin.

And once the poison within her had festered for several years...

Father. Mother.

I'd like to discuss a matter with you.

It began to overflow from the elder priestess.

You must never approach those grounds.

A glimpse will sicken you; a touch will curse you.

Its name, passed down since ancient times, is Yamatagi-Madara.

Yamatagi-Madara

Yamatagi-Madara

Dara-san of the Reiwa Era

Dara-san of the Reiwa Era

Dara-san of the Reiwa Era

Dara-san of the Reiwa Era

Dara-san! Where you at?!

Turn the volume down, Sis.

What are you two fussing about now?

There she is!

You'll bring down the townspeople's wrath if they catch you here.

I mean, it's not like we can call for you on the phone.

Call for me?

I hope you realize that "calling for" supernatural entities never ends well.

Don't "eheheh" me.

Well, I can't have you shouting the forest down every time you need me.

A broken phone?

I do this only under duress.

Huh? What'd I just get on my phone?

You'll want to add that e-mail and number to your contacts.

And it'll work?!

I'm a modern-day apparition, you know.

'Tis child's play for one such as I.

You will be paying for all the data, however, so do use it responsibly.

So, what are you here for today?

We're gonna roast some potatoes over a fire and eat 'em!

Are you not... overburdened?

I can hide the smoke, but you two don't need to bring offerings every time.

At your age, you two should be really be using your money on yourselves.

Actually, a neighborhood granny gave us a whole buncha taters!

I suppose that's fine, then.

It's getting to be pool season.

We didn't go to the beach last year, so we had to settle for the town pool.

What's wrong with the town pool?

We are amidst the mountains, after all.

Speaking of pools...

I trust you wore swimsuits?

Which kind did he wear?

Well, y'know...

This kind.

Yes, but... is this kind of swimsuit appropriate for a lad with a willy?

Okay, but have you considered

how it would look if Kaoru went out in public wearing nothing but trunks?!

After serious consideration as his sister, I bought him the girls' swimsuit.

It is what it is, I suppose.

I reckon my school swimsuit would've been perfectly fine, though...

Speaking of clothes, Dara-san...

I heard you used to be a priestess, so...

Since you probably shouldn't be quite so exposed all the time...

This is more authentic than I anticipated.

It's even the right kind of material.

And you really want me to have it?

Behold Fudegi-sensei's true power!

Sensei!

Well, let's commemorate it with a group photo.

Children these days are always looking for any excuse to take pictures.

Do you even show up on camera, Dara-san?

I can at will!

At will?!

Look, I'll do it, but I'm going to make it so only you two can see me in the photo!

LOL at how granular your control over this is.

- His sister's hand-me-downs - The priestess clothes she wore during a festival at the local shrine

A photograph, huh...

I've never taken one before.

Disposal

Transparent plastic sheets?

Kaoru has some left over from a project, so I'll bring them next time.

Whatcha need 'em for?

Well, you know...

Accursed things!

Aw, come on! Tell me! Quit holding out.

- Kaoru's homeroom teacher who, despite appearances, is in his early thirties. A bachelor who lives alone. His hobbies include sewing and making felt dolls. - His overall aura tends to give rise to misunderstandings, with students and guardians often getting a terrible first impression, but he tends to gradually gain acceptance as his naturally considerate personality shines through.

He makes money on the side by taking commissions crafting cosplay outfits, but as his teacher position forbids side jobs (and because some of his works are fairly provocative outfits for ladies) he tries to keep this hobby a secret.

The older sister decided to rid herself of the one who was troubling her,

even if it meant resorting to taboo means.

Now relieved from the burden of a traveling exorcist

and accepted into a community who looked upon her warmly,

she could set down roots in this village

with no further need for the younger sister

she had forced unpleasant duties on and sometimes used as a scapegoat.

And if that sister would only be a hindrance to her own romantic pursuits...

My younger sister, who was raised without love...

It is my duty, as your sister, to ensure

that every last drop of your blood is put to good use.

The corruption of the well signified corruption of the land,

acting as a beacon to entities who thrived on filth and decay...

To the point where exorcisms would only provide temporary relief.

Yamatagi-Madara has ascended to the divinity of a mountain god.

No ordinary means will allow me to stand against it!

Yes, no ordinary means...

I've discovered the source of the well's taint.

The seal in the east that my sister manages has grown weak.

The eastern settlement has always been poorer,

with a distinct position of inferiority to the western settlement...

Perhaps my sister has grown to envy us,

leading her to purposefully weaken the seal to invite Yamatagi-Madara's taint.

So she seeks revenge?

The parents knew that their treatment of her would naturally invite resentment.

It was for that reason that they accepted the elder sister's story without question.

The villagers' unrest grows with each passing day.

If nothing is done, they will see the slaying of the serpent as the cause

and attempt to lay the blame at our feet.

It would be wise to address this problem before they reach that point.

We're lucky no one was hurt or went missing during the period

between the shrine getting destroyed and rebuilt.

But on the off chance

that Yamatagi-Madara-sama has descended from the mountain

and is wielding her power somewhere outside our purview...

Even with the shrine moved and the recovery of the mountain underway,

there may be grim consequences.

Uncle, could you check for any local reports of people going missing recently?

I imagine we don't want rumors going around that people just disappear up here.

Do you realize how many commit suicide every year?

If people get the idea that they can just come here and effectively vanish

without causing any trouble for anyone, way too many idiots will do just that.

We can't have the mountain turning into a suicide hotspot.

I thought I heard someone show up...

It's the priestess who helped rebuild the shrine.

I wonder what she wants?

I hid us because I assumed it'd be a nuisance if we were seen, but...

Is that a priestess of the modern age?

Our scent yet lingers in the living world.

She might catch on.

We really can't touch stuff on the other side!

It's like we're ghosts!

You two do realize you've technically been spirited away, right?

Huh? That's awesome, Dara-san!

You're like a real yokai!

What else did you think I was?

So this is what being spirited away is like...

I can't see squat 'cuz of all the fog.

Spiriting away takes many forms,

You Are Here!

Spirit World

but in my case, I drag people into the interstice between worlds.

Depth =/= Distance

Living World

You Are Here!

Spirit World

The deeper you go, the more dangerous it is,

but you're not truly getting further away from your original world.

Someone spiritually gifted enough would be able to pull you out if they acted quick.

And we have to stay in the shallows?

Risky to Even Look At

Easy to Interact

- Limited Time in Spirit World, Still Human - Fully Tainted by Long Stay in Spirit World - Miasma Gauge

The deeper you go, the heavier the miasma,

Risky to Even Look At

- Easy to Interact - Limited Time in Spirit World, Still Human - Fully Tainted by Long Stay in Spirit World - Miasma Gauge

Which can lead to you being trapped in the spirit world.

- Risky to Even Look At - Easy to Interact - Limited Time in Spirit World, Still Human - Fully Tainted by Long Stay in Spirit World - Miasma Gauge

You don't need to worry, though. At this depth, there'll be no ill effects.

Check it out, Sis! I'm the man-faced tree!

Pay attention!

The point is, being able to affect both the living realm

and the spirit world is only possible for someone capable of walking in both,

or people with the spiritual ability to open a hole in...

Dara-san! Dara-san!

I found a scarab beetle!

She caught an insect?!

Spirit World

But she hasn't left the boundary...

Meaning Hinata, right now,

is more akin to a ghost that is capable of interacting with the living world.

Living World

That's not like being spirited away...

T'would take but the slightest spiritual sensitivity to perceive her.

What do you think, Nagi?

There were no issues with the shrine, and I didn't sense anything untoward.

There's a chance Yamatagi-Madara-sama may have left the mountain already.

But the contents of the shrine have never left the mountain.

That true?

Sure is.

According to my predecessor,

crossing the fence gave her a powerful feeling of wrongness,

like trespassing somewhere she didn't belong.

The fact that I feel nothing could be the real supernatural phenomenon here.

We'll have to come back and take a closer look another day.

There's a beetle on your head.

And that's all the spiriting away for today!

That young priestess... Despite her appearance...

The shrine was repaired without flaw, the relocation ritual performed without issue.

'Tis clear that she has devoted herself to her studies.

Which... can only mean...

that she's completely spiritually blind!

She couldn't detect the residual scent of miasma or see Hinata at all.

But for her to perform her duties as a modern-day priestess...

Could the spiritually sensitive one be the man?!

That bug that Nagi tossed...

I think it was a female stag beetle.

Could this mountain be a hotspot for stag beetles?

I must say, this case has begun to pique my interest, too.

I see.

He came home with an armful of mantises and got yelled at

He came home with an armful of mantises and got yelled at.

Oh, Dara-san, that thing that came up before...

Yeah, what's inside the shrine?

Since you're likely to learn about it when you inherit your family duties,

I'll inform you.

It contains all that remains of my human self.

I was once quite attached to it—literally— But now it remains out of my reach,

a cursed object in the care of the humans:

the priestess's arm!

Wow! Scary!

I'll have you know this lore is central to my character, and yet...

I don't sense a lot of interest.

Wait, you mentioned us inheriting the mountain...

We can do whatever we want with it, then!

New construction!

Dara House

Shrine

Pool

Direct Tunnel

Our House

Miwa-san's

They'll be doing whatever they want, huh?

- Her real name is Saeko Hatahiro. Eighteen years old. - She inherited the title of "Nagi," the priestess who maintains the mountain's shrine, from her predecessor when she was fourteen. - Her distinct fashion sense incorporates accessories such as talismans and good luck charms that have clearly been used in actual rituals. - She currently commutes to her high school via bus and train.

A mysterious illness struck both the eastern and western villages.

Since it mostly seemed to afflict those who lived closest to the tainted well,

a rumor began to spread...

Could the illness in the well be spreading?

The elder sister volunteered to investigate the well,

examining it daily, with no regard for the muddy mess she would end up in.

To those who witnessed her dedication, she must have seemed like a saint.

Which was when a new rumor began to spread in the elder sister's western village...

"Maybe the disease stems from the curse of the serpent which was sealed away."

I, too, have been wondering about this matter.

But there appears to be no problem with the seal

on Yamatagi-Madara which I oversee.

Though the elder priestess was lying,

after seeing her seemingly earnest examination of the well,

the villagers had no reason to doubt her.

Could it be...?

Lady Priestess?

Do you have something in mind?

Perhaps my sister knows something.

The elder sister's twisted obsession had reached its final stage.

Won't you be needed for the mikoshi ceremony?

They already did the one for kids in the afternoon!

We're starting to see more people.

Could you lend me a mask so I can hide my mouth?

I got a new one and a used one.

I'm unsure why you thought I'd appreciate that choice.

So that is the town's new grand shrine.

'Twas already built when I regained my senses,

so this is my first time approaching it.

That's strange.

What is?

Well...

On both a physical and spiritual level, this holy ground is well maintained.

And yet, it doesn't reject me at all.

I want cotton candy! Let's split one!

H-Hey!

I actually made it in...

Ain't that funny?

It might seem weird, but me and Kaoru are just glad you get to join us.

You ever consider how I might feel, getting treated by a grade schooler?

I want some of that!

Shaved Ice

I may not feel exhaustion,

but I lack the agility to keep up with children.

Gonna give some to Dara-san and then split it.

We're back!

We ran into some friends and chatted a bit.

Huh? Where's Dara-san?

To protect my sources, I can't say where I am right now, but...

According to the viewer who tipped me off, even locals avoid this forbidden ground!

The aerial view from Geegle Maps doesn't show any cliffs or anything,

Setting Foot on Forbidden Ground?! Eru hunts for the truth! ♪ EruKusahasHorrorChannel ♪Livestream ♪ EruKusaha Eru Kusaha's Horror Channel 1181 Watching now Started streaming 20 minutes ago

so we have to assume there's some special reason for this fence!

And now, we cross that threshold and charge toward the truth!

It looks like the blocked-off area has expanded due to a recent natural disaster.

That fence we just passed looks brand new.

Huh?

What is it?

Our connection just went down.

We've still got plenty of battery, though.

Let's keep filming, and we can post an edited video later.

Tch. We were doing great numbers, too.

Whoa... Make sure you get this!

Get what?

Look at that! It looks pretty new, but that shrine has one ominous aura!

Not only is it locked...

There are wires running through those ropes, too.

Pretty sinister, but that just makes me wanna look inside even more!

Some kind of box?

It's heavier than it looks.

Inside...

There's something wrapped in... paper?

Let's take a look.

What?! What is it?!

It was... wet?!

They say that cursed objects

will neither rot nor decay as long as their curse lives on.

What?! What is happening here?!

Is that someone's arm?!

If the curse is strong enough, the briefest exposure is all it takes.

They will devour one's life without a hint of mercy.

Still your tongue.

These curses can spread through karmic connections,

and if left unattended, they may forget their original grudge entirely,

indiscriminately cursing anything within reach.

Hello. You're watching Eru Kusaha's Horror Channel.

In the end, there was nothing there.

It was just a habitat for mountain greens.

If you go further in, I bet you'll see a wild boar Won't you get reported if someone finds you? Should you really be cutting a lock on the shrine? Good thing no one caught you lol lub u eru-chan Seems like a lot of work I hope the next stream is from a crime scene There's some pretty crazy rumors where I live. Wanna check 'em out? The stream where she spent two nights in the suicide forest was a good one Thinking back to that time she had a nip slip and the archive got deleted Best episode ever lolol I saved a copy locally GG so predictable I loled lol I bet you got some good footage Did anything supernatural happen? Good episode I'm looking forward to next time They barely showed anything Hopefully something happens next time Looks like technical problems lol Good night Seeya When's the footage from when the stream was down gonna be posted? I subscribed! Get some rest lol You should check out a more famous location

Looks like this time was a bust.

Next time, we're going to go somewhere more notorious.

All right, that's it for today. Remember to like and subscribe.

See ya.

- The stream has ended. - The stream has ended.

Unbelievable. If you want to get yourself cursed to death, that's your business,

but I can't have you causing trouble on this mountain.

Granted, 'twas my arm that was the source of the disturbance.

Looks like Yamatagi-Madara-sama is still active.

I'll need to replace the lock and the ropes.

Honey? It's Chiyo.

Yeah. Sorry, but on the left side of the shed,

there should be a black...

Right, that's it.

Put it on a trolley, and I can take it from there.

Sorry about this. I know it's your day off.

I haven't been able to see or sense anything since I had the kids, but...

I'm sure Yamatagi-Madara-sama is still protecting the shrine.

How can I leave now?!

And, if possible...

Please watch over Hinata, Kaoru, and the mountain,

so that my children can grow up healthy and curse-free.

That isn't the kind of thing you should ask a tatarigami, Chiyo.

With the shrine in this state, I probably shouldn't return to the festival.

I should email them.

Kaoru would later reply to complain at length.

Kaoru would later reply to complain at length

Fourth Strange Tale

The Return of Yamatagi-Madara