This Japanese Monogatari Isn't Lame

In fact, there were very few areas where Shen Gu Mirai could be helpful.

It was absolutely impossible for her to follow him into the Mouchi Main Family, because who knows how many terrifying vengeful spirits might be hidden inside.

Similarly, there was little she could do outside, other than investigating the local customs and traditions in Kagoshima Prefecture to uncover some clues.

But—

None of this compares to the intelligence she gains from sleeping.

Yes.

It's just that real.

Sleep once, and if unsatisfied, sleep again; you will always get some different information.

So it wasn't without reason that Beichuan Si let Shen Gu Mirai sleep.

After Shen Gu Mirai fell asleep, Beichuan Si dialed another phone call.

This was the number of Mouchi Mashi left to him by Nakajima Hiroto before leaving here.

There was signal coverage in the exploration team's camp, so there was no worry about being out of reach.

He wanted to ask Mouchi Mashi some questions.

The call went through after about ten seconds, and Mouchi Mashi answered: "Hello? Is this Mr. Beichuan?"

"Yes, I have some questions for you, Miss Mouchi."

"Uh..."

Mouchi Mashi was stunned by the straightforwardness of Beichuan Si's words, but she quickly let out a small laugh: "If it's something I can answer, I will surely tell Mr. Beichuan, after all, our interests are somewhat aligned now."

Beichuan Si wasn't particularly concerned about Mouchi Mashi's attempt to build rapport, and he calmly asked his question:

"Do you know someone named Mouchi Yingzhong?"

"Yingzhong...? Wait... Let me confirm, Mr. Beichuan, you mean 'Mouchi Yingzhong,' right?"

Upon hearing the name mentioned by Beichuan Si, Mouchi Mashi was initially stunned, then opened her mouth to confirm.

Though her tone remained calm, not losing composure, from her response, Beichuan Si could roughly guess that he might have hit the right target this time.

"Yes, it's Mouchi Yingzhong," Beichuan Si confirmed.

"...I never expected to hear this name from Mr. Beichuan..."

After receiving Beichuan Si's confirmation, Mouchi Mashi murmured to herself.

But she was still the head of the Mouchi family and did not lose her composure over this, simply responding: "This person, Mouchi Yingzhong... I actually do have some impressions."

"I've had impressions of her since I was very young."

Mouchi Mashi, recalling while speaking, continued:

"Because I often saw her standing alone in the courtyard, looking up towards the mountain behind..."

Yes, when Mouchi Mashi was still young, she often saw Mouchi Yingzhong standing alone in the courtyard, her gaze fixed towards the mountain behind.

At that time, the children of the Mouchi Main Family attended lectures in their exclusive classroom, and outside the corridor lay the courtyard, so one turn of the head could catch sight of Mouchi Yingzhong standing there.

"Her appearance... With time passing, I can't remember clearly, but because she often stood alone in the courtyard, everyone had a strong impression of her."

Children usually have a natural playful and active nature, so seeing Mouchi Yingzhong often staring dazedly at the mountain behind the Mouchi Main Family, some kids walked up to ask what exactly she was looking at.

Whenever that moment arrived, Mouchi Yingzhong's brows and eyes, initially smiling at them, would be tinged with melancholy and sadness.

At that point, Mouchi Yingzhong would always sigh softly, then turn back to look at the mountain behind.

"Because we were not sensible as children and found Sister Yingzhong's reactions very interesting, several children frequently inquired in front of her to know what exactly she was looking at."

This was undoubtedly the behavior of mischievous children.

The person already clearly showed a sorrowful expression, and yet, going up to provoke their emotions was indeed somewhat excessive.

But Mouchi Yingzhong never minded.

Her attention seemed completely captivated by the mountain behind, rendering any words impotent.

"After gaining some sense, the sacrificial priest with prestige in the family would tell us that there is a forbidden forest on the mountain behind, and no one is allowed to enter."

Upon hearing this, Beichuan Si became a little more alert.

Mouchi Yingzhong had always been gazing at the forbidden forest on the mountain behind?

So was the black coffin in Shen Gu Mirai's dream actually Mouchi Yingzhong's elder brother?

At this point, Mouchi Mashi's voice paused, with a tone infused with some confusion:

"However, despite living in the Mouchi Main Family for so long, we did not know which branch Sister Yingzhong was descended from, nor did we know her parents' names. We only knew that such a person once existed. Speaking of when the ritual took place... none of the juniors evacuated from the Mouchi family ever saw her again..."

"Could she be related to this incident? Mr. Beichuan?"

"...Indeed, there is some connection."

Beichuan Si did not conceal anything from Mouchi Mashi, responding succinctly before asking: "Is there any other information besides this?"

"I don't have any more impressions."

Mouchi Mashi straightforwardly replied.

"Alright, I understand."

Beichuan Si exchanged a couple of courtesies with Mouchi Mashi before hanging up the phone.

Looking at it now... Mouchi Yingzhong's identity was becoming increasingly clear.

There was a high probability she was 'placed,' and a lower probability she was the Mouchi Witch.

And the Stone of Disaster Blue in Shen Gu Mirai's hand was actually an item left behind by Mouchi Yingzhong.

The reason it was termed the 'Mouchi Witch's Certificate' by the system was likely because the role of Mouchi Yingzhong and the role of the Mouchi Witch in rituals were similar, but her abilities were much greater than those of the Mouchi Witch.

"It's almost twelve o'clock again."