作・画 赤江かふお

◇妖怪の伴侶

辰岩の裂け目に佇むと、一筋の涼やかな風が吹き抜けた。村はずれの小さな祠には、辰岩の乙女と呼ばれる若き巫女が住んでいた。彼女は村の安寧を願い、日々祈りを捧げる生活を送っていた。

ある夜のこと、天を覆うほどの大妖怪が辰岩に現れた。村人たちは怯え、その怪物を追い払おうと試みたが、誰一人近づくことはできなかった。その時、乙女は静かに前に進み出た。妖怪は弱っており、乙女の慈悲深い視線に心を許したのか、巨大な身を彼女の前に横たえた。

乙女は妖怪を岩の上に乗せ、その大きな昆虫のような姿を慈しみながら、自らの運命を受け入れた。彼女は妖怪の伴侶となり、祟りを鎮めるため人柱となることを選んだ。二人は目を見つめ合い、その眼差しは互いの運命を認め合うようだった。

◇誓いの夜

月明かりの下、乙女と妖怪の間には見えない絆が芽生えていた。村人たちはこの奇妙な光景に畏敬の念を抱き、乙女の犠牲を讃えるようになった。乙女は村の守り神として祀られ、妖怪はその力を辰岩に宿して村を守る存在となった。

妖怪は乙女にその昆虫のような大きな体を寄せ、彼女の温もりを感じながら弱々しく息をしていた。乙女は優しく妖怪を抱きしめ、その巨大な体が自分の運命の一部であることを受け入れた。二人はこの誓いの夜、新たな章を始めるとともに、辰岩に新しい伝説を刻んだ。

◇絆の調べ

時が経ち、乙女と妖怪の物語は伝説となり、辰岩は神聖な場所として人々に崇められた。妖怪はもはや怖れられる存在ではなく、乙女とともに村の守護者として讃えられた。

乙女はその後も、妖怪と共に岩の上で静かに佇み、二人の絆は時を越えて語り継がれる調べとなった。そして、辰岩の裂け目からは、乙女の優しい歌声と妖怪の深い鼓動が聞こえると言われ、それは辰岩に訪れる者たちに平和と希望を伝え続けている。

Maiden of Tatsu-Iwa

◇ The Ghastly Deity’s Companion

As one stood at the crevice of Tatsu-Iwa, a cool breeze swept through. In a small shrine on the village outskirts lived a young maiden known as the Maiden of Tatsu-Iwa. She dedicated her life to praying for the village’s tranquility.

One night, an enormous and hideous creature, feared as a vengeful deity in ancient Japanese folklore, appeared at Tatsu-Iwa. The villagers were petrified and tried to drive away this grotesque being, but no one could dare come close. It was then that the maiden calmly stepped forward. The creature, feeble and unsightly, seemed to find solace in the maiden’s compassionate gaze and laid its massive body before her.

The maiden placed the creature atop the rock, tending to its ghastly, insect-like form, and embraced her fate. She chose to become the companion of this feared deity, becoming a human pillar to appease the curse. Their eyes met, silently acknowledging their shared destiny.

◇ The Night of Vows

Under the moonlight, an unseen bond blossomed between the maiden and the ghastly creature. The villagers watched this odd scene with reverence and began to honor the maiden’s sacrifice. She was venerated as the village’s protector deity, and the creature, with its power residing in Tatsu-Iwa, became a guardian of the village.

The creature, with its large, insect-like and abhorrent form, drew near the maiden, breathing faintly while feeling her warmth. The maiden held the creature gently, accepting that its monstrous form was part of her fate. Together, on this night of vows, they started a new chapter, etching a fresh legend into Tatsu-Iwa.

◇ The Melody of Bonds

As time elapsed, the tale of the maiden and the ghastly creature transformed into legend, and Tatsu-Iwa was revered as a holy place. The creature, once an object of dread, was now celebrated as the village’s guardian alongside the maiden.

The maiden continued to stand silently on the rock with the creature, and their bond evolved into a melody that transcended time. It is believed that from the crevice of Tatsu-Iwa, one can hear the soft singing of the maiden and the profound heartbeat of the creature, conveying a message of peace and hope to all who visit Tatsu-Iwa.