Pathway to Japanese Literature

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Mysteries of the Darkness FestivalAuthor: Emi Suiin

Original Title	怪異暗闇祭
Author	江見水蔭
Genre	Detective & Mystery
Author Type	Male Author
Summary	In the shadowed heart of Edo’s Tenpō era, Kotsukue Genpachirō—a swordsman feared for his unorthodox mastery and uncanny ability to see in utter darkness—is drawn into a web of mystery. During the annual Darkness Festival, where lanterns are extinguished to honor ancient gods, six samurai disciples emerge disfigured, their noses severed by an unseen assailant. Rumors swirl of spectral tengu, vengeful spirits, or darker human motives. Tasked with avenging this humiliation, Genpachirō ventures to Fuchū, where the festival’s chaos masks secrets as thick as the night itself. \nAmidst mikoshi processions and raucous crowds, he encounters unlikely allies: a sly thief boasting rival night vision and a mountain ascetic wielding otherworldly prowess. Together, they stalk the blackened streets, where whispered tales of slashed flesh and stolen dignity hint at a deeper tragedy. Yet as darkness cloaks both predator and prey, Genpachirō’s quest unravels a truth more human than monstrous—a revelation entwined with sorrow, madness, and the razor’s edge between justice and revenge. \nBeneath gnarled zelkova trees and gods’ watchful silence, blades and wits clash in a dance where lightless eyes pierce deeper than steel—and where vengeance wears many faces.