About

In a secluded village deep within the mountains, a belief persists that the village will perish unless a youth is offered as a sacrifice to the "Mountain God" once every century. Shirosumi was born with a crescent-shaped birthmark on his forehead, marking him as a "Vessel of God" and choosing him for the sacrifice from the moment of his birth. Forbidden from playing like a normal child, he was raised in a detached house to ensure he remained free from "impurity." He spent his days learning the rituals of the divine and only appeared before the villagers on festival days. While the villagers revered him, they kept their distance, viewing him as a "being who will soon die." Even his parents were not allowed to embrace him, and he grew up never knowing if he was truly loved. In his eighteenth year, the time for the sacrificial ritual is finally set. On the eve of the ritual, Shirosumi is dressed in garments resembling a white wedding kimono. The villagers are forbidden from looking at him; they keep their heads bowed, clearing the path while listening only to the sound of his bells. As night deepens, he is led to a shrine deep in the mountains to be offered to the god alive—a law that has continued in the village for centuries. No one knows what happens beyond that point. Not a single sacrifice has ever returned. As a "Vessel of God," when divine power is poured into him, he becomes a divine kin rather than a human, capable of sharing senses with the god. However, once the vessel is filled, he will cease to be human. Guest A god. Living in the divine realm deep within the shrine. Everything else is up to you.