Chapter 192
Just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.
It may be absent from sight, but the stench of decay grows stronger with every foul odor added, and the poison and insects buzz around, inevitably causing a much bigger issue.
The same goes for Kurotsurugi Mine.
While the master optimistically thought, “It should be fine,” and covered up the issue, the problem was growing like a weed.
The mold that Jinseong created with a small ritual was gradually multiplying, infecting the trees, settling in the shade, and extending its roots underground alongside mushrooms, growing slowly but surely.
Moreover, it didn’t just grow; thanks to the divine object infused with mana that Jinseong brought, it became stronger and wilder, spreading its influence throughout the mountain.
The mycorrhizae of the mold spread mercilessly, creating a mycorrhizal network, while the mushrooms, bursting with mana, incessantly spread their spores among the fallen leaves, multiplying their forces.
Eventually, the mushrooms spread past the forest, reaching the solar energy facility, sinking their roots into the damp, dark ground rather than flourishing in the bright sunlight above.
Thus, Kurotsurugi Mine became the territory of mold, and anywhere you dug just a bit deeper into the earth, you would be greeted by a pungent smell instead of soil. Mold infiltrated the densely grown trees throughout the mountain, darkening the area just below their bark.
In some cases, a few trees were completely consumed from the inside out, becoming pillar-like structures made of mold, reminiscent of the gigantic fungi known from the Paleozoic era, Prototaxites loganii.
The mold fed on the insides of the trees, creating narrow tubular formations for itself while leaving behind a thin protective skin, layering itself with armor. It even punched holes to function as stomata, surrounding the bark tightly to protect itself from external shocks.
Mold draped in tree bark.
A truly ominous sight that would be impossibly created by nature.
And thus, the trees of the mountain began to die.
The mold dug in and settled, causing them to perish.
The mold devoured the roots of the trees, leading to their death.
Countless pests withered the leaves and stems.
As such, the trees’ ability to hold onto the ground weakened.
To make matters worse, heavy rain began to fall.
The forecasted downpour came without mercy.
As if a typhoon were about to strike, or a hole had opened up in the sky.
The raindrops were so fierce that they forced the training ground to cancel outdoor practices, soaking the well-maintained land.
“Retreat! We’re heading to the shelter!”
“Yes!”
Consequently, the master deemed it impossible to continue training and led the warriors back to the village.
Swoosh—
So, in the mountains where the people had vanished, silence fell.
As if nothing had happened.
As if this place was peaceful like any other day.
Yet the ominous presence harboring in the mountains oozed outwards.
The far stench couldn’t be contained even by a lid, just like how decay doesn’t maintain its form when covered.
The ominous presence seeped down the mountain in the form of suggestions, permeating into the villagers.
* * *
[About the Oddities of the Back Mountain in the Village www]
1
Hey, ww The back mountain where I live is kinda weird, wwwww
2
Is it a volcano?
3
No, www a regular mountain, w But it’s a bit eerie, www
4
kwsk (details)
5
Well, I live in the countryside, w My only claim to fame is that there’s a famous school style nearby?
6
Military horses?
7
It’s not countryside, it’s a jungle, www
8
Anyway, there’s a back mountain in our village where people don’t wander.
There are strange legends, bad rumors, and it’s just creepy.
Plus, wild mountain plants don’t grow there, so there’s really no reason to go, w
Also, when it rains, I feel like a ghost might appear, wwwwwwwwwww
9
Are there shrines or anything?
10
Nothing like that, w
Oh, there are a few stone statues of Ksitigarbha, w
11
You find those anywhere.
So, it’s just a mountain.
What’s so weird about it?
12
No, but weird things have been happening lately, you know?
Apparently, the villagers have been having dreams.
13
In the dreams, Ksitigarbha’s head just floats around and talks.
14
For more, up to 50!
15
16
ksk (accelerate)
17
ksk
…
…
50
You guys must have some good firepower, ww Story’s continuing, w
In the dream, Ksitigarbha’s head floats around telling me that we’ve forgotten the graces of the mountain, that a curse will soon fall upon the village, that blood tears will flow…
You know, those kinds of things.
Nothing special, right?
51
That’s scary.
52
Like, super scary.
52
But it wasn’t just one or two people who had those dreams; more than ten had the same dream, w
So, the village went into chaos.
Even my friends had that dream, w
I had it too.
53
I just went to pick up a baseball, tidied up the playground, came home for dinner, and went to bed, but in my dream, Ksitigarbha’s head kept telling me I’d be cursed, ww
Then it asked me to sacrifice my younger sister if I didn’t want to be cursed, www
…
…
…
534
Something ridiculous like that!
54
Whoa.
55
Whoa!
56
No matter how I look at it, it’s an evil spirit. Thank you very much.
57
No, no, www it’s not an evil spirit.
The villagers were in an uproar because of the dreams, going to shrines and temples, but they said it’s not an evil spirit, w
But they thought there was something odd about the energy emanating from the mountain, w
In other words, it’s a mountain problem, wwwww
58
So, the villagers contacted the master overseeing the school’s management, w
But he said it’s tough due to the heavy rain, and once it’s over, he’d call in a skilled Shinto priest to handle it, w
59
Won’t that cause a problem?
60
It’s okay, ww It had a meaningful appearance in a dream, and when my old cat showed up and headbutted it once, it just vanished, www
61
Ksitigarbha is weak, www
62
Just a cat, wwww
63
What about the bell?
64
65
wwwwwwwww
66
wwwwwwwww Hey!
67
The cat is bigger than me, ww
…
…
…
104
The heavy rain is too much, w
They’re telling me to move to the shelter, www
I’m heading out now, w
I’ll come back once I reach the shelter, www
…
…
…
203
Arrived at the shelter.
When I got there, many warriors were present, w
Probably the warriors who were at the training ground, w
But among them was a familiar face; who is it? www
204
Should’ve taken a picture, w
205
wwwww
If I took a picture, I might get beaten up, w
They look super scary, www
…
…
…
251
Huh?
252
The solar panels are slipping?
* * *
The curse of the spirit held no substance.
It couldn’t possess anyone, didn’t take the form of magic, and couldn’t exert any curse’s effect. The so-called curse merely stimulated the unconscious minds of a few sensitive people, leading to nightmares, and the utterances of curses were swiftly vanquished by their defensive mechanisms.
Naturally, even if it said it would curse or spill blood tears, it had no physical effect whatsoever.
No.
It had to be ineffective to be normal.
Tap.
Pitter-patter.
However, what if there was artificial manipulation involved?
Pitter-patter.
If someone with mastery in magic were to weave their influence over the mountain to create maximum effect for minimal cost.
Spreading tales of Ksitigarbha, crafting ghostly speeches, and seamlessly intertwining their created calamity within those statements.
If they aimed to instigate a man-made disaster disguised as a natural disaster, what was once merely the boast of a spirit might transform into a dreadful calamity.
Pitter-patter.
Tap.
Sounds of rupturing echoes arose from various locations on the mountain.
As the heavy rain poured down, the mold entrenched in the earth disintegrated into Ksitigarbha’s powdered head, melting and revealing its mana as if dissolving in raindrops. The water spread and diffused like paint brushed with water, flowing as black liquid, which, following the slope, was greedily absorbed by the thirsty earth.
And the trees where the mold had settled swayed uncontrollably under the fierce downpour, repeatedly breaking and falling. During this process, raindrops trickled into fresh wounds, starting to dissolve the accompanying mold.
That sight resembled the trees weeping black tears.
As the flowing mold melted into the earth, it descended lower and lower, reaching the mold entrenched below.
Even the underground mold began to melt from the water, and the wide-ranging mycorrhizal network transformed into water puddles, the flowing underground stream, the small trickles of water beginning to dissolve other molds.
The mold dissolved.
Dissolved, and dissolved again.
And in that process, the trees fell, the long-dead roots clinging precariously were soaked, and the land turned slushy with moisture. The thin layer of mold temporarily established in the soil transformed into water, creating a scenario where the earth floated atop the water, further reducing the ground’s friction.
As a result, the already diminished friction began to flow.
Soil, nearly indistinguishable from water, slowly started to drift along the gentle slope, gradually gaining speed while swallowing up small twigs and stones.
And thus, the massive mass of slowly moving earth passed the solar energy facility.
An area densely packed with solar panels where not a single blade of grass or tree grew.
Unlike the gently sloping terrain, this region was slightly inclined and barren.
Kaboom—!
The soil that had been moving at a moderate pace gained incredible speed as it swept past the solar panels.
The formerly stable earth seized the opportunity to join the flow and quickly gained momentum, rushing downwards faster and faster.
Kaboom—!
When there were trees, they were crushed;
when there were rocks, they were pushed aside;
and it began to demolish the fences built for landslide prevention, heading further down, downwards.
Towards the village.
Towards the area where the people reside, at the foot of the mountain.
Thus, the curse descended upon the village.
