Synopsis: Noroi-michi Hanashi

It wasn't very difficult to get to Noroi-michi. It was just a small little town nestled in the middle of the forests. One merely leaves their own home and continues traveling in a straight line, and eventually they'll find a forest path that leads to a simple stone sign that reads, "Welcome to Noroi-michi". After that you merely continue going forward, and you'll easily find the town. It's easy to miss, though, since it's so secluded.

The simplicity of the town itself is what makes it the ideal getaway, one might imagine. There is a tiny hotel off to one area, fields of rice, a small shinto shrine near the main entrance of the town, and then a small collection of old-fashioned homes that make up the majority of the community. On the other hand, there does appear to be a western-styled mansion tucked away a bit further passed the clearing. It has all the innovations of the modern world - a pool in the local school, a mostly up to date library, even decent internet connection providing you bring the equipment for it yourself. In essence, it's the perfect town to escape the hustle and bustle of urban life that seems to so rapidly engulf this tiny country of ours.

And yet... this almost approaches this town in such a way that it's become a utopia in one's mind. When down and out, searching for a retreat, unable to flee, this town appears to manifest. Should it be called Shangri La, rather than Noroi-Michi? But then where does the population stand?

It seems that research shows that most of the people in the town are the children and grandchildren of those who moved here. The amount of people who move away are extremely few, so few that none can be named. Still, there is contact with the outside world via the occasional tradesman or the few travelers who come for a particular season. Actually, the most common visitors to Noroi-michi are those of my trade: the occultist and folklorist, those who examine the principles which exist beneath the ideals of reality.

Indeed, my trade has led me to this wonderful town of Noroi-michi. This town seems so perfect and kind, but seems to be also stagnant with the stence of malice. The town seems to bless its people with good health and safety, but curses its residence with the breeding of unnatural circumstance. Just yesterday, for example, I believe I felt the presence of something in my home that should not have been there. Another time, an entire family vanished overnight - no moving van, no movement of their possessions, no trace - and worst of it all, nobody claimed to know of the family I spoke of. Finally, a seen something so terrible that I feared for my life. A creature, a phantasm, something that had a killing aura flowing from it like tentacles wandered the streets at night.

I wondered if it has to do with something at the shrine, but even most of the priests there are unaware of the trouble. And for those like me, who have yet to grow blind... all they can do is call in support from other shrines; to add to the positive powers of their Shinto rituals against the curse of the town. It seems counter-productive, however, since they're merely giving the town more bodies to curse... once they, too, fall under the curse, then those who were brought in for help can only call for more help... a snake eating its own tail.

There's also one other thing. I can't seem to find my way back. Once this town has taken a hold of you, I fear there is little chance of escape. All roads return to my home here. The farthest I can leave the town before I grow sick or find myself staring at my home is the "Welcome to Noroi-michi" sign. Will I ever actually be able to leave?

Or will I, like so many before me, succumb to the curse?