Chapter 6, the Ullambana Festival

While the siblings Kyosuke and Ritsuko Taniguchi were deceived by the slippery demon, other regions in the eastern part of Heijokyo also began to witness the emergence of legendary monsters

Until Kyousuke Taniguchi returned home, he was surprised to see his sister attending to an old man of unknown origin, exclaiming, "Ritsuko, who is this guest?"

In legend, the mountain child is a monster that roams in the deep mountains. When the day of the hundred demons' night march arrives, the mountain children will come down from the mountains in groups, pass through human cities, and reach the deep river, where they transform into kappa

"Who are you?" Yamaguchi Kyousuke realized something was amiss and asked with a fierce gaze

Although the mountain spirit is a creature that harbors no malice towards humans and only engages in mischief, it never takes the initiative to harm others

Indeed, my grandfather passed away long ago; how could he possibly be my grandfather

It is said that the slippery-headed ghost is a monster transformed from an octopus in the sea. It often sneaks into human homes to eat and drink, and the humans who find it in their homes often cannot help but believe that it is the true master of the household. Not only do they not drive it away, but they also warmly entertain it

Outside the closely arranged houses, white lanterns are hung high.

It is not that she is too beautiful, but rather that she is too tall

In the Land of the Rising Sun, where the average height is only 1.56 meters, a height of 1.78 meters is already considered tall.

But this woman's height is at least 2.56 meters

Under the glow of the fire, a tall woman laughed uncontrollably

Jiang Hao observed the debates online, and he did not pay much attention to the voices of doubt.

In front of a low wooden cabin, the two white lanterns hanging in front of the cabin had unknowingly gone out. An elderly man calmly crossed in front of the white lanterns and stood at the door

Ullambana Festival, Night Parade of One Hundred Demons

Grandfather? Didn't our grandfather pass away long ago?

I am your grandfather

A group of children is joyfully jumping forward in a line on the street

The only thing that reassured Yuzuki is that the slippery goblin is a very benevolent creature; apart from sneaking into human homes to eat and drink, it does not harm others

What is even more remarkable is that in her height of 2.56 meters, her legs alone account for at least 2 meters

The siblings Kyosuke and Ritsuko Taniura felt a sudden dizziness, completely forgetting their earlier vigilance and ferocity.

"You all take the elevator, why do I have to walk up the stairs? Are you discriminating against my height?" The tall woman was furious

It is quite challenging to destroy their worldview solely through a video

The mountain spirit was recognized by a passerby, who immediately turned around and covered their eyes

After being touched by the old man, Ritsuko Taniguchi felt a dizziness in her head and, in a daze, followed his words and said, "It is grandfather."

The moment she recalled that she had just felt he was very familiar, even thinking of him as her grandfather, Yamaguchi Ritsuko's heart trembled. This situation reminded her of a type of monster from myth and legend—the slippery-headed ghost.

In this day and age, fake news is everywhere, and the credibility of television reporters is severely lacking. Even when videos are released, those who have not personally experienced the events still harbor doubts about the 'miracles' depicted in the footage.

You can take the stairs, said someone in the crowd who picked up on the tall girl's remark

The tall woman stood at the elevator door. After the elevator doors opened, she bent down and glanced inside. Her snow-white eyebrows furrowed, and white powder fell down in a flurry.

Everyone likes girls with long legs, but if those legs are longer than the person herself, then liking it becomes peculiar

At the mention of Kyosuke Taniguchi, Ritsuko Taniguchi suddenly awoke

However, when miracles bloom everywhere, one need not fear that the people on Blue Star will not refresh their worldview

The old man's lips curled slightly, and his hand, covered in brown spots, brushed over Yuzuko Kamimura's wrist, "I am your grandfather"

But she was completely unconcerned, "How can I ride this elevator since it is so low?"

Tsunemura Ritsuko led the elderly man into the house, and the elderly man appeared to be as relaxed and at ease as if he had returned to his own home

The old man, dressed in a white robe, at first glance resembles a wealthy merchant from the Edo period, his head completely bald, much like an old monk in a temple. He raised his bony fingers and rhythmically knocked on the door.

Someone took a curious glance, and immediately felt a chill run down their spine

Those who discriminate against my height can all go to hell

These children are hardly children; their hair grows down to the level of their noses, with the split ends revealing a single eye. Unlike normal humans, whose two eyes are positioned on either side above the nose, their single eye is located in the center of the forehead, either horizontal or vertical.

The grand temple fades into the night, as men and women dressed in traditional Japanese attire sing and dance by the firelight, celebrating the spirits of their ancestors who have emerged from the afterlife and come to the present world

The eastern part of Heijō-kyō

Tsunemura Ritsuko turned her head to look at the elderly man leisurely eating and drinking at the dining table, and the more she looked, the more unfamiliar he seemed, completely lacking the sense of familiarity she had felt at the beginning

At this time, when the white lanterns are hung up, the ancestors can find their way home under the guidance of the light

As soon as she entered, she attracted the attention of everyone in the building, regardless of whether they were men or women, all of whom paused in their tracks to pay her their respects with their gaze

At first, she did not recognize the old man, but now the more she looked at him, the more familiar he seemed, as if he were someone she had not seen for a long time, and upon suddenly meeting him, she did not react immediately, but gradually began to recall who he was

However, if humans do not immediately turn around and cover their eyes upon seeing it, they will inexplicably fall ill, which is why the mountain spirit is one of the least popular monsters

... ...

It is said that every year at this time, the underworld intertwines with the human realm, and the deceased tread upon the Path of the Yellow Springs to arrive in the present world

In an instant, flames swept in

Knock knock

Next, we arrive at Heijō-kyō

Outside a tall building, a statuesque woman dressed in a traditional kimono, with her hair styled in a shimada bun and a pale complexion, walks into the building

They shouted in unison: "Grandfather!"

The elder waved his large sleeves

Without waiting for others to respond, the tall woman extended her hand and pressed it against the elevator wall

Then he attentively served the slippery ghost

After all, the scientific community on Blue Star denies the existence of God, and the vast majority of those who have received scientific education do not believe that God truly exists. Even those who hold the belief of 'better to believe in its existence than to disbelieve' predominantly think in their hearts that 'God does not exist'.

He is grandpa. Yatsukura Ritsuko thought in a daze: How could my brother not even recognize grandpa?

Ritsuko Taniguchi heard a sound and walked out of the room. She was taken aback upon seeing the old man and quietly asked, "Who are you?"

He sat boldly at the dining table, eating sushi and sipping tea, occasionally commenting on the merits and shortcomings of the food, while Ritsuko Kumura attended to the elderly man as if he were truly her grandfather.