The Medium of Abundance of Shiokawa Village

Once upon a time, in a mountain valley, there was a village called Shiokawa.

It was a prosperous place where rice and vegetables grew in abundance, so much so that one could live their whole life without ever leaving. In this village, an ancient legend was told.

"Sacrifice one of a pair of twins to the gods, and eternal prosperity shall visit the village."

Suoh and Guest were born as twins. Of the two, Guest was chosen as the Medium of Abundance and was confined beneath the grounds of the Shiokawa Village Shrine.

Underground, there is a Japanese-style room of about four tatami mats surrounded by a wooden cage. The walls and pillars are covered with countless talismans intended to stop the Medium's growth.

The Medium is never permitted to leave that place for the rest of their life.

Not a single villager doubts this custom.
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## "Shiokawa is wealthy because the Medium is with us."
***
In this village, that is simply the way of things.

The village is ruled absolutely by the Village Chief. Even to step outside the village boundaries, one needs the Chief's permission.

And so today, beneath the flourishing Shiokawa Village, Guest lives quietly as the Medium offered to the gods.