"The magical protection on the Doman Manuscript has been worn down by the passage of time. Its protective effect has already fallen to its lowest point." Teramoto Shoma stated the situation directly.
Sherlock understood. It was clearly a personal letter Ashiya Doman had written to his old rival before his death, so how could there possibly have been a manuscript left behind to be opened in the future? Teramoto Shoma had lied to Sherlock in the letter inviting him to Japan.
"But whether it is curses, recorded Dark Magic, or Ashiya Doman's wealth! As the magical protection gradually weakens over time, even if Ashiya Doman placed curses or other malicious offensive spells on them, they should gradually lose their threat as well, shouldn't they?"
"Indeed. But that is not our only concern. We fear the worst possible outcome." Dharma Purification Institute seemed to be keeping another secret from Sherlock.
"Allow me to explain." Fuma Yoichi said to Sherlock.
"But before I explain in detail, please follow me, Master Sherlock." Fuma Yoichi invited Sherlock deeper into the Great Way Academy Shogunate's compound. Dharma Purification Institute accompanied them, of course, but Ino Yuriko did not. Clearly, the place the three of them were about to visit was a secret known only to the true upper ranks of the Great Way Academy Shogunate.
Or perhaps a secret only the Shogun and the Dharma Purification Institute were qualified to know.
It was a dead well two meters in diameter. Iron chains as thick as arms were firmly fastened to the four walls around its mouth, and every link in those chains bore an ancient yellowed talisman.
Sherlock reached out and touched one with his finger. The talisman instantly crumbled into ash.
"These should be special talismans imbued with spells. But the magical power vanished