Chapter 4: Cutting Algae Part One

[mp_strikinglyblessed]

Texting was a pretty neat function. It was widely adopted by every teenager except the one he, Reigen, had so generously gifted a phone to do it with. Mob was diligent to a fault about picking up his calls, but texting? Still a work in progress. Mob was getting better, though. After all, how else was Reigen supposed to give him a heads up about big jobs before the end of the school day? Excepting the occasional friendly lunch break chat.

That was of course assuming the phone was still intact. After their chat last night, Reigen wasn't so sure. It wasn't like Mob made a habit of texting him first.

Reigen squinted at the clock on his second-hand laptop he'd just replaced the shattered one with. 12:05PM. He had found a decent deal on one in a flea market but there was something off about the graphics. Parts of the screen were always slightly out of frame and most of his day had been spent trying to uselessly dink with the display options until it was righted, but instead he just ended up with a resolution that was too small.

'Ugh. New laptop, and if we're really unlucky, a new phone? I'll just garnish it...' Reigen pulled out his phone and fired off a text to his pupil. You didn't get washed away, did you? Your phone's still working, right?

Comments

[mp_strikinglyblessed]

I see. Good work, my reliable pupil.

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

Sorry I couldn't make it.

[mp_strikinglyblessed]

Take heart! You have a chance to bring that diligence to a big job this weekend. Pack a suitcase.

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

Where are we going?

[mp_strikinglyblessed]

Kanimeshi. It's a small town in the Sika prefecture to the northwest. It's pretty rainy this time of year. Send.

Oh, but surely you're prepared for that by now. Send.

It's famous for it's seaweed...or so I hear.

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

Are we going to have wakame?

[mp_strikinglyblessed]

We are not going to simply ‘have’ wakame. Fresh wakame is no mere indulgence for people like us. We are going to ‘nourish’ our bodies and spirits with the freshest wakame that can be found in the country while we carry out our sacred duties.

Reigen hummed merrily and kicked his feet up on his table as he envisioned the kind of hearty broth you’d make with such fresh seaweed.

Our food expenses are being covered by the way.

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

What are we going to be doing?

[mp_strikinglyblessed]

I’ll tell you when you get here. It’s quite a doozy so I’ll be relying on you, Mob.

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

I'll be there soon.

Mob shut his phone and tucked it into his pocket. He really wished that this trip wasn't work-related, but it might be nice to go somewhere new. It had been a long time since they last took a weekend trip and Mob was looking forward to trying the wakame. Maybe they even had good ramen, too.

It didn't take long for him to get to Spirits & Such; he had already been on the train when Reigen texted him, so all he had was the short walk from the station to the shop. Before long, he was setting his things down in Reigen's office.

"What's the job about?" he asked, as he set his school bag down in its place.

[mp_strikinglyblessed]

“Straight to the point as always I see.” Reigen hadn’t even had the chance to ask Mob if he was feeling sniffly at all after getting doused but he seemed fine enough.

He produced his files and notes from his drawer all arranged and clipped together. “They cover the Sengoku period in your classes yet?”

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

"I don't think so." Mob had been trying to stay awake in his classes after he was caught dozing off during math.

[mp_strikinglyblessed]

“It’s a truly fascinating period of history so pay close attention when you get there. The cultural revolution that brought about the beginning of the modern era still has its fair share of mystery.” Reigen slid a large picture towards his student.

It was a castle—clearly old. Medieval. Details were hard to make out due to the age of the photograph and the mist it was suspended in. The picture wasn’t in color.

“What is that?”

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

Mob looked down at the picture.

"A castle," he answered. The answer seemed obvious to Mob, but almost too obvious. Was there a different answer Reigen was fishing for?

[mp_strikinglyblessed]

“And what is it saying to you?”

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

What was it saying to him? Mob looked down at the photo again, hoping the photo might convey some secret message with a second glance.

It did not.

"'I'm old'," Mob answered.

[mp_strikinglyblessed]

“It’s definitely saying that, right?” Reigen clapped once in approval. “When you consider this question you’re really having to consider not just what’s in front of you but the subject itself. Castles aren’t just built to be structures — they’re built to be symbols of power. They represent wealth and a clear hierarchy. They exert territorial control. That’s not even to say the cultural significance of the who and when…”

Reigen’s eyes had a gleam in them that went beyond professional intrigue as he spoke.

“It all comes down to something called semiosis. I’ll keep it simple but it’s the practice of analyzing signs and symbols. As for how this is all relevant you may ask…well! This the castle we’ll be investigating. The Kona-Zanshō Castle. It’s one of the most famous castles erected during the Sengoku period. It was erected to be a symbol of the lord’s power but…there’s a pretty sordid history with this one in particular. Human sacrifice.”

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

"You know a lot about this," Mob observed once Reigen had stopped speaking.

[mp_strikinglyblessed]

“Spiritual powers aren’t to be used in a vacuum.” Reigen tapped Mob’s forehead. “History, culture, meaning…that’s all there to inform our approach. So, why do you suppose there was a time when people thought something as sordid as human sacrifice was appropriate? Was it because they thought it was the right action to take? Or because of something else?”

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

"I suppose it'd have to benefit them in some way."

[mp_strikinglyblessed]

“Right again my vassal.” He winked. “The same is true for those who are sacrificed. Humans were immured as sacrifices to ensure the strength of the Kona-Zanshō Castle itself. Those who were sacrificed were to have their final wishes fulfilled. Unfortunately, there’s a legend that tells the story of a time where the lord didn’t uphold his end of the bargain, leading to a curse on the castle itself…or, so our client says.”

Reigen slid another picture towards Mob. It was a much more modern picture of a small ryokan elevated over water. “That’s where we’ll be staying as we investigate the matter. I’ve already done the initial consultation. Our client is complaining of severe rains, family troubles, and strange voices that seem to come from the castle near the property.”

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

"So there are probably spirits involved and maybe a curse." Mob mulled this over. Spirits were one thing, but curses weren't exactly something he was familiar with.

Hopefully it was just spirits. Mob felt that he and Reigen could handle that much.

[mp_strikinglyblessed]

“It’ll be quite the train ride, so let’s pick up some food to go on our way there. Whatever you want.”

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

"Really? Anything I want?" Mob responded with the closest he ever got to excitement, which was only a slight shift from his usual neutral manner of speaking.

[mp_strikinglyblessed]

“Our food expenses are fully covered, remember? Spring begets generosity which begets gratitude. So…why don’t we go shopping and practice a little gratitude?”