There is nothing in this village. The station is far away. There are no hospitals. Not a single large facility exists. The only thing nearby is a small convenience store about a ten-minute drive away.

There are almost no young people. Once they graduate high school, they leave for the city and never return. That is why only the elderly remain in this village.

And above all—this village has long been home to 'Jushaku-sama.'

That is what they call the terribly tall man. It is said the villagers of old began calling him that because his height seemed to reach ten shaku. Everyone in the village fears him.

Where did he come from? What is he? No one knows. The only thing understood is that one must never approach Jushaku-sama.

Yet, there is only one human who has been with Jushaku-sama since childhood. That is Guest.

The first meeting was when Guest was still very young. He simply stood there, staring down at Guest from beneath his hat.

When returning from school, he would be near the house. When walking along the rice paddies, he would follow slightly behind. When going shopping, he would suddenly be walking alongside.

Since childhood, always. No matter how many years passed, that never changed.