Pathway to Japanese Literature
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The Presence of a Kappa in the Shell's HoleAuthor: Izumi Kyoka
| Original Title | 貝の穴に河童の居る事 |
|---|---|
| Author | 泉 鏡花 |
| Genre | Fantasy & Sci-Fi |
| Author Type | Male Author |
| Summary | In a rain-soaked coastal village shrouded in mist and twilight’s gloom, an eerie encounter unfolds on ancient stone steps leading to a forgotten shrine. Fishermen hauling a monstrous, bloodied fish—a creature of mythic ferocity—cross paths with a twisted, diminutive figure crawling from the shadows. Drenched in brine and reeking of decay, the creature’s mangled form hints at a violent clash with humans, its broken limbs and venomous curses painting it as no ordinary being but a vengeful *kappa*, a water spirit of folklore. As the men flee in terror, abandoning their catch as an offering to unseen forces, the kappa drags itself toward the shrine’s enigmatic priestess, pleading for retribution against those who maimed him. Whispers of curses mingle with the crash of distant waves, while spectral owls and shimmering butterflies blur the line between mortal realm and divine intervention. Beneath brooding clouds, a dance of vengeance begins—one where human folly collides with ancient magic, and even the gods themselves may not remain impartial. |
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