Pathway to Japanese Literature
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The Bell of the LakeAuthor: Suzuki Miekichi
| Original Title | 湖水の鐘 |
|---|---|
| Author | 鈴木 三重吉 |
| Genre | Children's Literature |
| Author Type | Male Author |
| Summary | In a serene mountain village lies a lake concealing an underwater realm ruled by a fearsome Demon King and his three ethereal princesses. By day, these enchanting beings bask on sunlit shores, their beauty eclipsing even celestial wonders, until a chapel’s bell disrupts their peace. The tolling terrorizes the demons, driving them into hiding. Desperate, the Demon King bargains with a cunning cowherd to steal the cursed bell—a pact that transforms the man into a beast and unleashes chaos. \nYears later, a farmer’s sons fall prey to the princesses’ allure: two vanish into the depths, ensnared by siren songs. The youngest son, armed with courage and a magical branch, ventures into the lake’s crystalline palace to confront ancient curses and retrieve the stolen bell. Beneath shimmering waves, he battles monstrous guardians and unravels secrets binding human souls. \nAs droughts and floods ravage the land, a half-human heir emerges—a boy bridging two worlds—whose fate hinges on breaking the Demon King’s wrath. Whispers of drowned villages, enchanted brides, and a bell’s resonant power weave a tale where love and treachery collide beneath moonlit waters. Will redemption silence the lake’s haunting song? |
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