106. Ghost Story Game

"[Hyakunin Isshu]? What kind of game is that?"

Lu Ban glanced at Tachibana Masamune.

He still appears to be human, but his eyes are not human; they are made up of countless smaller eyes. Tachibana Masamune's eye sockets resemble the compound eyes of an insect, which evokes a sense of disgust.

Momiji was taken aback, but remained standing in the same spot.

Lu Ban calmly pulled her down and made her sit next to him.

"[Hyakunin Isshu] is a ghost story game popular on Harmony Island. Each person stands in the corner of a dark room, holding a candle. Starting with the first person, they blow out their candle, close their eyes, and walk along the wall to the next person, reciting a waka poem as they go. Then they gently tap the other person's shoulder so that the other person can pass the candle flame to them. The second person then blows out their candle and continues in the same manner as the first person."

Tachibana Masamune's dense array of eyes stared at Lu Ban and Momiji. Lu Ban could sense that Momiji was momentarily tense, but she quickly regained her composure.

According to Momiji, the more you understand something and the more knowledge you gain, the less susceptible you are to obstacles.

Previously, Lu Ban and Momiji thought that Tachibana Masamune and the others were at least human beings. Now, after experiencing the changes with the Harmony Island shrine, they seem to have a deeper understanding of this world, so they see more things.

Thinking about it this way, the Divine Child who oversees the Wa Island Grand Shrine must know far more than ordinary people. Is the world even more terrifying in her eyes?

Is there any secret in this game?

Lu Ban asked casually.

He found the game mode somewhat familiar, but the version he knew was much simpler. And since there were extraordinary things on the Harmony Island itself, he wondered what special effects these games would have.

"Well, it's said that if you recite the waka poem correctly, you might attract the spirits of the dead. Originally a game for four people, you'll find that someone is always reciting the waka poem, while candles are always lit in the four corners."

Tachibana Masamune's vast array of eyes glanced at Momiji.

"And the reason it's called ' Hyakunin Isshu) is because this game can be played by up to one hundred people in a huge and open environment, and eventually one hundred and one people will appear!"

Ginpei fiddled with the folding fan in his hand; the writhing flesh seemed to tremble like a heartbeat.

"Shall we give it a try?"

Lu Ban also glanced at Momiji.

"?"

Momiji was taken aback, a question mark appearing in her eyes.

This is clearly a problematic game, and you're playing it with them who have already turned into monsters. Don't you think it's dangerous?

Or is he trying to gain some information through the game?

After a moment's thought, Momiji nodded slightly.

"Then let's play."

The four of them took candles, closed the doors and windows, extinguished the lights, and stood in the four corners in the order of Tachibana Masamune, Ginpei, Lu Ban, and Momiji.

In the dimly lit room, only the flickering candlelight illuminated the faces of the four people.

Let's start with me.

Tachibana Masamune said something and then blew out the candle.

Instantly, the room darkened considerably. Each person's candle could only illuminate their immediate surroundings, obscuring any view beyond that point. This was not normal; it was as if they were bound by some force beyond human comprehension.

"In the desolate mountains, the winter solstice is even more bleak. Looking up, there are no traces of people, and all that can be seen is barren white grass."

Tachibana Masamune recited waka poems in a strange tone mixed with babbling, the sounds echoing in the silent room like an ancient call.

After waiting for a while, Lu Ban saw a hand suddenly reach out from the shadow of the candlelight next to Ginpei and gently pat his shoulder.

Tachibana Masamune appeared beside Ginpei. He seemed to have changed a little more, with cracks appearing on his skin, revealing red flesh beneath the cracks.

Ginpei lit the candle for Tachibana Masamune, then blew out his own candle and disappeared into the candlelight in the corner.

"I can't bear the loneliness"

Lu Ban turned his head to look in the direction Ginpei had come from. Beside the dark and deep wall, he could see nothing but Ginpei's indistinct voice.

The edges of the illuminated and dark areas were blurred, as if the weak candlelight in his hand might be swallowed up at any moment.

"Leaving the hermitage to gaze at the sky"

Ginpei's voice came from the side. Lu Ban focused his attention and waited for his arrival.

But the voice always seemed neither too close nor too far, just inches away from Lu Ban, yet it never truly drew near.

Everywhere was desolate.

The whispering chanting sounded in Lu Ban's ears, and he couldn't help but turn his head, because just now, Lu Ban clearly heard the sound coming from his right side, that is, from the direction of Momiji.

But only Momiji, holding a candle, looked at him with a serious expression.

Lu Ban then looked to the left.

A face was right in front of him.

"The chill of late autumn is biting."

Hearing the voice coming from Ginpei's mouth, Lu Ban felt his heart skip a beat.

He passed the candle flame to Ginpei, then blew it out and walked toward Momiji.

Darkness enveloped Lu Ban, and all was silent. Lu Ban turned around and saw the ferocious Ginpei holding a candle, standing in the corner. He also saw Tachibana Masamune in another corner, also holding a candle, standing there like a stone statue.

Lu Ban turned his head and looked ahead.

He suddenly remembered something.

It's supposed to be a hyakunin-sho (Hyakunin Isshu) set, but I have absolutely no idea what kind of waka poems are in it!

These things were not included in his studies.

It's a bit awkward.

"Or should I turn on the lights now and tell everyone I'm sorry, I'm uneducated and don't understand waka poetry?"

Lu Ban thought to himself, "This is so embarrassing."

He closed his eyes, slowed his pace, and continued forward, when suddenly an idea struck him.

"Moonlight shines before my bed"

Anyway, waka poems and ancient poems are similar, so memorizing a couple on the spot shouldn't be a problem.

As soon as he opened his mouth, Lu Ban, who had his eyes closed, felt that the surroundings had become even darker.

Only ahead, the candles of Momiji faintly flickered before his eyes, guiding his way.

"It looks like frost on the ground."

Lu Ban continued walking forward. According to his senses, he should have already gone halfway. He subconsciously raised his hand to hold onto the wall on the right, but he missed.

"?"

Lu Ban stretched out his right hand, but it never touched the wall.

He even moved a little to the right.

"I was walking along the wall at first, and I don't think I changed direction in the middle. Why is the wall gone now?"

Lu Ban thought to himself.

"Is it okay to just walk straight ahead like this?"

He took steps forward, wanting to open his eyes, but he tried hard to suppress the urge.

"Raising my head, I gaze at the bright moon."

When Lu Ban read the third sentence, he felt that the surrounding environment had changed.

A gust of cold wind blew from behind, giving Lu Ban goosebumps.

How can there be wind in a room with its doors and windows tightly closed?

Moreover, this wind doesn't seem like a natural wind; it's more like someone is blowing on you from behind.

He quickened his pace slightly, wanting to finish this stretch of road as soon as possible, but then Lu Ban realized something was wrong.

"I've been walking for so long, why haven't I reached Momiji yet?"

Lu Ban continued walking forward, almost running.

But this road seems to have no end, and the destination remains elusive.

The walls, the room, everything seemed to have disappeared, and Lu Ban felt as if he had entered another dimension.

Lu Ban calmed down and slowed his pace, realizing that he only had two choices.

First, open your eyes and check the situation.

Second, finish reading the poem and then see what happens next.

Thanks to "The world is so big and I'm afraid I'll get lost" for the 4,500-coin reward, thanks to "Crying Cat Maotou" for the 1,500-coin reward, and thanks to "Quickly Roll Over" for the 500-coin reward!