Dice In The Darkness: Cthulhu Calls

Chapter 557: An Unexpected Joy

However, when we get right down to it, Hashi Motojun really did set a trap for his three classmates this time. After all, any sane person, even a fervent enthusiast of Cthulhu mythos, would not willingly participate in a Cthulhu Role-Playing Game Hall where one’s very life is at stake.

Who would be so reckless with their life?

Getting back to the main point, Zhang Jingxu began to speak, “Alright, let’s return to discussing the matter of the Soul-Eater Demon. Firstly, the Soul-Eater Demon is not as terrifying as it seems. Although its abilities appear very powerful and are seemingly impossible to guard against, as long as you stay alert, the Soul-Eater Demon won’t be able to do much to you... Of course, that’s unless you are incredibly unlucky and roll a critical failure.”

Yamada Tatsuo nodded his head in agreement, his face reflecting his relief, “That makes sense. When I first entered the module and saw this plot, I was scared out of my wits. To think that our first task was to participate in a ritual to summon a Demon. Although I’m not very familiar with the Cthulhu mythos, I do know how terrifying these mythical creatures can be. So when Maeda Katsuya met with disaster, I thought I was done for, especially since I believed that there was no way to withstand the attack of the Soul-Eater Demon.”

Without an understanding of the abilities of the Soul-Eater Demon, Liu Xing would also consider it an unsolvable existence.

After all, the Soul-Eater Demon can kill without leaving a trace.

“At that time, as long as you follow the plan we’ve discussed earlier, even if you can’t kill the Soul-Eater Demon, you can still drive it away. Then your mission would be considered complete. However, on the flip side, our intrusion into your module might have its drawbacks, as you might miss some of the original plot of the module. According to the original script, before the Soul-Eater Demon launches its attack, you should encounter an NPC who knows about the Soul-Eater Demon. So, with our meddling, you might not meet that NPC.”

Of course, Zhang Jingxu didn’t lay out everything.

Based on the research of players in the Hound of Tindalos region, it’s been found that the key NPCs they met in the first three modules, who had the closest ties to them, would still contact them even in the Hound of Tindalos region, providing assistance... That is, if those NPCs were still around by then.

Liu Xing understood what Zhang Jingxu was getting at and thus said with a smile, “So, Hashi Motojun, can you think of any NPC you know who might be aware of the existence of the Soul-Eater Demon?”

After pondering for a moment, Hashi Motojun finally spoke up, “I do know of one NPC who might be aware of the existence of the Soul-Eater Demon. I don’t know his actual name, as he’s someone I met on a website related to Yin Yang Masters. I only know the username he goes by, Roshomon; the website was just a place for enthusiasts of Yin and Yang studies, so I initially visited out of curiosity, as it was quite entertaining to see amateurs discuss Yin and Yang studies from a professional’s perspective.”

“But I soon realized that Roshomon was different from the other users. His foundational knowledge in Yin and Yang studies was even more extensive than mine, and that piqued my interest. There was one thread discussing some esoteric aspects of Yin and Yang studies that outsiders misunderstood, leading to an argument involving Roshomon. I couldn’t help but step in to support Roshomon, and through that, we became friends, recognizing that we were both genuine descendants of Yin Yang Masters.”

“Of course, I come from a declining Yin Yang Master family, but I could tell that Roshomon must be a member of a legitimate Yin Yang Master lineage, as his knowledge in the field was much more substantial than mine. Moreover, he had once subdued a mythical creature, albeit with assistance from his uncle... But I’ve heard Roshomon mention that he also has some understanding of foreign mythical creatures. So, if nothing goes wrong, the original plot of this module would have me seeking out Roshomon for information on the Soul-Eater Demon.”

Hearing this, Liu Xing and the others were relieved because Hashi Motojun had already established contact with Roshomon, meaning their intrusion would likely not have a significant impact on Hashi Motojun’s experience.

Furthermore, as the leader of their quartet, Hashi Motojun was the pillarof their group. If he remained calm and collected, it would greatly increase their chances of successfully overcoming any challenges that lay ahead.

Liu Xing offered a reassuring smile and said, “It seems that fortune favors the prepared. Since you have this connection with Roshomon, you should definitely take advantage of it. But remember, while you are seeking his guidance, do not let your guard down. In the Cthulhu mythos, knowledge is not without its price, and those who seek forbidden wisdom may find themselves paying with more than they bargained for.”

Hashi Motojun nodded solemnly, acknowledging the wisdom in Liu Xing’s words. He had learned that lesson all too well in the past, having encountered dangers that stemmed from his own curiosity and eagerness to delve into the unknown.

“Well, it’s settled then,” chimed in Zhang Jingxu, eager to move the conversation along. “We’ll make preparations to confront the Soul-Eater Demon. Meanwhile, Motojun, you should reach out to Roshomon. Perhaps he can provide us with the necessary insight to not only deal with the demon but also to unravel the deeper mysteries that this game hall has entwined us in.”

As the group formulated their plan, there was an undercurrent of excitement. They were, after all, deep in the throes of a genuine adventure, one that tested their wits, courage, and ability to work together. Yet, they couldn’t shake off the sense that they were pawns in a much larger game, the rules of which they were only beginning to comprehend.

“Remember, we must be cautious,” Liu Xing reiterated, his eyes scanning the room as if expecting the Soul-Eater Demon to leap from the shadows at any moment. “This game hall has already proven that it does not play by the rules we are accustomed to. Keep your wits about you and trust in the plan. We will overcome this challenge, just like we have all the others.”

But let’s circle back to the topic at hand: Liu Xing has now developed a keen interest in this "Roshomon".

Originally, Roshomon referred to a gate situated at the "Ruo City"—the outer walls of the city, meaning "Capital City Gate". However, due to the perpetual state of war and turmoil in the ancient Island Nation, with corpses strewn across battlefields, many unidentified bodies ended up discarded at the city’s gates. Over time, due to neglect and deterioration, Roshomon became more desolate and eerie. As the years passed, it garnered a reputation for being a sinister place haunted by spirits, and eventually, Roshomon came to be seen as a gateway to hell, a portal frequented by phantoms.

Therefore, during the Heian period, especially on the night of the Hundred Ghosts Parade, Roshomon became the primary gathering place for specters. Among them was the infamous demon, Ibaraki-doji, who undoubtedly claimed Roshomon as his domain, for it was there that he resided.

Now, here’s the crux of the matter: these renowned spectral fiends of the Island Nation inevitably met the same fate—they were vanquished by the Island Nation’s Yin Yang Masters.

So, who was the Yin Yang Master that subdued Ibaraki-doji?

Abe no Seimei.

Hence, Liu Xing suspects that this "Roshomon" might very well be a descendant of the legendary Abe no Seimei.

If "Roshomon" is indeed a descendant of Abe no Seimei, then Hashi Motojun has struck it big, for in this parallel world grounded in Cthulhu mythos, Abe no Seimei is considered a grand wizard of sorts.

It’s conceivable that Abe no Seimei might still exist in this world, in some form or another.

Thus, Liu Xing feels that Hashi Motojun is incredibly fortunate to have such a dependable NPC friend... Of course, in the world of Cthulhu RPG, every advantage comes with its drawbacks, so Liu Xing anticipates that Hashi Motojun will most likely join "Roshomon" in combating mythical creatures, which will probably include some of the most notorious ghostly entities from the Island Nation’s history.

At this moment, Ling Ishikawa chimed in, "When it comes to Roshomon, people invariably think of Ibaraki-doji, and then naturally of Abe no Seimei. So, if things go as expected, Hashi Motojun, your online friend could be related to Abe no Seimei. You should keep in touch with them; after all, we’re talking about a real heavyweight."

To the surprise of Liu Xing and the others, Hashi Motojun shook his head and said, "No, no, no, I actually don’t think my online friend is a descendant of Abe no Seimei, because the story involving Roshomon and Ibaraki-doji also features another famous historical figure."

"Are you referring to Watanabe no Tsuna?" Zhang Jingxu asked.

Hashi Motojun nodded and continued, "Watanabe no Tsuna was a retainer of Minamoto no Yorimitsu and a well-known samurai. One night, he made a bet with a friend that he could walk the length of Suzaku Avenue without encountering any ghosts. In that era of the Hundred Ghosts Parade, monsters were as common as stray dogs. As it turned out, Ibaraki-doji set his sights on Watanabe no Tsuna, transforming into a lost beauty seeking his help to get home. Watanabe no Tsuna naively fell for the ruse. However, when Ibaraki-doji launched an attack, Watanabe no Tsuna managed to evade the lethal blow. A fierce battle ensued, and in the end, Watanabe no Tsuna emerged victorious, even severing one of Ibaraki-doji’s arms with his sword, which thereafter became known as ’Oni Cutter’."

"Only then did Abe no Seimei enter the picture. Watanabe no Tsuna presented Ibaraki-doji’s severed arm to his lord, Minamoto no Yorimitsu, who in turn handed it to Abe no Seimei for divination. Once aware of Ibaraki-doji’s existence, Abe no Seimei tasked Watanabe no Tsuna with guarding the arm for seven days. However, on the sixth day, Ibaraki-doji cunningly reclaimed his arm and retreated to his lair, leading to events not recorded in folk stories."

"To eliminate the threat once and for all, Abe no Seimei, accompanied by Watanabe no Tsuna, ventured to Ibaraki-doji’s lair, intending to put an end to the demon. At that juncture, they encountered Shuten-doji, Ibaraki-doji’s superior and one of the three great demons of the Island Nation, whose strength was formidable. Abe no Seimei andWatanabe no Tsuna joined forces to battle Shuten-doji, and after a grueling fight, they managed to seal the demon away, thereby ensuring the safety of the capital.

So you see, while it’s true that Abe no Seimei was involved, the real hero of the Roshomon incident was Watanabe no Tsuna. His bravery and martial prowess were pivotal in overcoming the demon Ibaraki-doji. In tales retold over generations, his legacy is often overshadowed by the mystical figure of Abe no Seimei, but in the annals of history, his valor stands tall.

Hashi Motojun’s knowledge of the lore impressed everyone. "Perhaps, then," Zhang Jingxu suggested, "your online friend ’Roshomon’ might be a descendant of Watanabe no Tsuna instead?"

Hashi Motojun smiled, a spark of intrigue in his eyes. "Exactly. If ’Roshomon’ is indeed a descendant of Watanabe no Tsuna, that would bring a different set of advantages—and possibly, different troubles too. After all, samurai bloodlines are known for their martial traditions and indomitable spirits. It’s a thrilling prospect."

The group continued their discussion, exploring the possibilities of this connection and how it might influence their adventures in the Cthulhu RPG. With the shadow of Roshomon and the legends of the Island Nation hovering over them, their game sessions promised to be nothing short of epic.

Upon hearing Hashi Motojun’s words, Liu Xing and the others also felt that "Roshomon" was very likely a descendant of the Watanabe clan.

Although Watanabe’s fame did not rival that of Abe no Seimei, he was still considered a significant figure. The Island Nation, despite its constant state of war, did not follow the Chinese system where a new emperor meant all new officials, resulting in many illustrious families not surviving beyond a single dynasty. The only family that could truly claim ancient lineage up to the present day in China was the Kong family from Qufu.

The Island Nation was different. For the most part, they adhered to the principle that calamity should not extend to one’s family, not like in China where an entire extended family could be implicated for one person’s crime. Hence, many of the noble families in the Island Nation have been able to continue for at least several hundred years.

Of course, Liu Xing believed that the reason for this was simple: the Island Nation had limited land and a sparse population, making people a rare resource. Moreover, in ancient times, scholars were primarily from the great families, which made them even more indispensable.

Furthermore, with the Island Nation’s limited land area and population, the families in power had no need to worry about the out-of-favor families gathering forces in some remote area to make a comeback.

But it seemed the topic had digressed...

Shaking his head, Liu Xing spoke up, "By the way, Hashi Motojun, do you have any information on the Tokyo Skytree explosion incident?"

It was then that Yamada Tatsuo finally caught up with the conversation and exclaimed, "Ah, I remember now! Mr. Zhang Jingxu, you appeared in the news about the Skytree explosion. Right after you left the Tokyo Skytree, it blew up."

Liu Xing just shrugged his shoulders and said with a smile, "If we had been in the real world at that time, we couldn’t have avoided that explosion. But speaking of which, do you know the nickname ’Thousand Face’?"

Upon hearing the words "Thousand Face," Hashi Motojun and the others’ expressions changed, indicating that they too were beta players of that mobile game.

This was an unexpected piece of good fortune.

After a while, Yamada Tatsuo began to speak, "If you’re talking about ’Thousand Face’ from the now-defunct mobile game, then yes, we really do know them. Our first module was related to ’Thousand Face.’ Back then, we were veteran players of the game and had accepted a commission from ’Thousand Face’ to transport a large leather suitcase from Fukushima to Tokyo, finally leaving it in a van in a parking area in Shinjuku. From the very beginning, that suitcase was emitting the stench of rotting meat, and occasionally, it would let out strange moaning sounds."

What a revelation!

Liu Xing was certain that the large leather suitcase Yamada Tatsuo and his group had transported contained ’Thousand Face’!

Now, Liu Xing had a way to convey the news about ’Thousand Face’ in Shinjuku district to OkoHayato.

Seeing the change in Liu Xing and his companions’ expressions, Hashi Motojun immediately guessed the truth, "Uh, could it be that the large suitcase was carrying ’Thousand Face’? And that ’Thousand Face’ is also a mythical creature?"

Liu Xing nodded and replied, "That’s right. The large suitcase was indeed carrying ’Thousand Face,’ and now ’Thousand Face’ happens to be a Kamafera!"

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