At Kazemori Masaki's call, Kana and the others came over, leaving only the Shrine Maiden, who was still deciphering the text. They looked at the blank stone tablet beside him, their faces filled with confusion.
"Mr. Kazemori, is there something special about this tablet?" Kana asked, bending down to examine it closely. She confirmed that there really was nothing written on it, rather than lettering too faint to see.
"I can't be sure, but its placement is unusual. I don't think it's just an ordinary stone tablet." Kazemori Masaki ran his hand over it. Its texture felt no different from any other stone tablet.
Everyone carefully examined where the tablet stood. Given the room's layout, it occupied the very center, as though deliberately drawing attention to its presence. It was hard to believe it was merely an ordinary tablet. Even if it truly bore no writing, it ought to serve some other purpose.
"What purpose do you think this tablet serves, Captain Kazemori?" Yamanaka Takuma asked.
"I'm not sure. If there really is something special about it, there should be a condition for activating it, but I can't say what that is," Kazemori Masaki said slowly. "I believe the first Shrine Maiden built this place. The activation condition might have something to do with a Shrine Maiden's power. Another possibility is that it's connected to ninshu."
"Then we'll have to ask the Shrine Maiden to take a look." Kana nodded slightly, then turned to fetch her.
The Shrine Maiden had already deciphered the general meaning of the secret scroll. When Kana told her about a strange stone tablet, she set her work aside for the moment and went to examine it first. Standing before the tablet, she listened to Kazemori Masaki's analysis. After a little thought, she nodded in agreement.