Trapped on a Terrifying Island, This Good-for-Nothing Just Wants to Survive

1.

“Ever since she returned from Ye Island, she became somewhat delusional, and not long after, she took her own life. At first, she was completely silent, constantly washing her hands until they were red and swollen. When she finally spoke, it was all gibberish—about Rakshasa ghosts, flesh and blood, sins, Ghost Hidden, divine punishment… It made no sense at all.”

“That island must have issues. No wonder people call it the Island of the Insane, the Island of the Mute!”

Before arriving at Ye Island, Genji had dismissed the eerie tales shared on the boat. Now, however, he found himself surrounded by real madness and disappearances. His visit to the police station was fruitless, as they dismissed him without letting him finish his story.

Frustrated and with no other options, Genji returned home dejectedly.

Rumors about Mikagawa’s disappearance were spreading throughout the institute.

“Is that medical student Mikagawa Shingo affected by ‘Ghost Hidden’ or ‘Divine Punishment’? I heard that people cursed by gods and spirits first go mad and then vanish. A friend of mine said Mikagawa was acting weird during his internship at the town center hospital, often mumbling to himself with a blank stare and ashen face. We thought he was just heartbroken.”

“What exactly is ‘Ghost Hidden’?”

“It’s being taken away by Rakshasa ghosts! Villagers in ‘the tribe’ often hold mysterious rituals, almost like a cult. Mikagawa used to go there for medical volunteer work, so it’s not surprising that he encountered unclean things.”

“A cult? Aren’t those just regular shamanic rituals?”

“Anyway, I think hopping around and shouting seems pretty sinister. Maybe they even have human blood sacrifices.”

“What about ‘Divine Punishment’?”

“Mikagawa didn’t like life on the island and often wandered near the port, probably offending the deities. Kunitsukami doesn’t like people leaving Ye Island at will. Those who leave without permission are punished unless they make a pact with the deities, like luring more people to the island. The more followers a deity has, the stronger its power. Otherwise, it may weaken and eventually perish.”

“I’ve heard another theory: ‘Fear in human hearts gives birth to monsters, reverence gives birth to deities.’ Is it possible—just possible—that Kunitsukami is actually a Rakshasa King? Some shrines do worship monsters and evil spirits as deities.”

This was not a new story. Genji had read a mystery novel, “The Island of the Black Shrine,” depicting a similar situation:

The main deity worshiped in the shrine on Yasha Island turned out to be the murderous demon “Horse-Headed Yasha.” The “Ascetic,” revered and feared by people, was actually a blood relative of the demon.

In other words, the novel’s shrine-controlling family had both the Ascetic’s and the killer ghost’s genes.

Could it be the same with Ye Island’s Kamibe family?

Genji shook his head. There were no ghosts or deities in the world, at least not that he had ever seen. It was not appropriate to apply fictional settings to real life.

People are more terrifying than ghosts and spirits. The myths were likely created by someone to achieve certain goals, and the biggest beneficiaries were the Kamibe family.

As long as superstitious beliefs are deeply rooted in people’s hearts, and all misdeeds are attributed to non-existent entities like “Rakshasa ghosts” and “Kunitsukami,” “Ghost Hidden” and “Divine Punishment” can serve as a shield for the Kamibe family’s misdeeds.

In the past, someone who trespassed into the shrine was mutilated, yet the police turned a blind eye.

Now, with disappearances unaddressed, it’s hard not to suspect the involvement of the same powers.

A very reasonable deduction.

“…Rakshasa ghost, Ghost Hidden, Kunitsukami, Divine Punishment… I get it now, I finally understand. Genji, be careful, those demons… they’re coming for us…” Mikagawa’s last words before his disappearance echoed in Genji’s ears.

Genji clenched his fists. Others might be indifferent or treat others’ misfortune as gossip, but he couldn’t.

Because Mikagawa was the only person Genji had ever considered a friend, and those invisible hands always seemed intent on destroying his hard-won “only.”

Since no one was willing to help, he decided to investigate on his own. It was summer vacation, after all, and he had plenty of time.

Genji took out the stress-relief spray and inhaled deeply. He passed through the gossiping crowd and returned to his dormitory to pack.

Mikagawa’s bookshelf had been emptied long ago, all his paper books burned to ash.

What about the e-reader

? It should have been on the desk or in the drawer, but Genji hadn’t seen it since the day Mikagawa disappeared.

Genji didn’t believe it was burned. When he cleaned the basin, there were no remnants of electronic products, just ash from paper.

Something was off. Had someone tampered with the room? Genji instinctively checked his pocket. Thankfully, the pocket-sized memo Mikagawa left him was still there, never leaving his side.

He scanned the room, trying to spot any signs of intrusion, but found nothing amiss. He locked all doors and windows before leaving.

Some details were like grains of sand, slipping through the tight mesh of memory.

Don’t think about it. Such trivial matters weren’t worth remembering.

Even as he reassured himself, Genji couldn’t help but sigh silently.

2.

Finally, Genji arrived at Endomura by five o’clock and checked in. As usual, the owner’s son, Endomura Rin, led him to his room.

Genji was puzzled: why would such a tall young man have the cute, feminine name “Rin”? But it wasn’t important, and he had other concerns.

As he pondered how to ask Endomura Rin for information, the usually reticent young man unexpectedly spoke up: “Are you alone today?”

Hesitantly, Genji shared Mikagawa’s disappearance with him.

“Ms. Somezaki doesn’t want us to discuss ‘Divine Punishment’ or ‘Ghost Hidden,'” Rin said after hearing Genji’s story.

Somezaki?

“Somezaki Airi, the chief shrine maiden of Cicada Hidden Shrine.”

Rin proved to be a man of few words, offering one-sentence responses and revealing little else.

“Is she… the fiancée of the Kamibe lord?” Genji cautiously probed, unsure if Somezaki was the icy girl he had previously encountered.

“??” Rin furrowed his brow and glanced at Genji with a “don’t talk nonsense” look, “If there’s nothing else, I have to help serve the dishes.”

Again…

As Mikagawa said, the townspeople were reluctant to divulge information about the Kamibe family to strangers.

Amid the melodies from the disaster prevention radio, Genji ate dinner with a restless mind.

After seven, it was time for the girl to perform her blood ritual to drive away spirits.