The End of a Certain Village

That village had a legend of the Great Turtle.

Long ago, during a drought, they had offered a sacrifice to the Great Turtle and received rain in return.

The advisor who had witnessed this firsthand made a painful decision together with the village chief and others: they offered up a girl who had been raised with care, practically the child of the entire village, to the Great Turtle. Tearfully, reluctantly. Even though she had been raised so lovingly.

But it couldn't be helped — the villagers were so parched they couldn't even shed tears.

The girl had also accepted, saying, "If it's for the village."

Everyone carefully lifted the girl onto the altar before the shrine on the mountain, adorning it with utmost care.

Leaving behind the girl who showed her resolve by remaining perfectly still, the adults turned their backs so she wouldn't see their tears and departed.

Oh, how admirable she was.

That child is the pride of our village.

A shrine maiden who married the god known as the Great Turtle.

Surely she would fulfill her duty. Everything would be fine now. Let us give thanks to that child.

And so the village offered its sacrifice. But the next day, rain had not yet fallen.

The sky remained clear, the hateful sun shining down.

"Will it really rain…? Maybe we just fed that child to a monster…"

"Shh! Don't say that — if the old man hears you, you'll be next."

"… Sorry."

But. However. Perhaps — had it failed after all?

Just as anxiety began to grip the village once more. Right at that moment.

Clouds appeared. Sudden clouds.

The sun hid its face, and then.

"Rain!"

Plop, plop, pitter-patter… rat-a-tat-tat, it was pouring! Rain! The rain they had been waiting for, yearning for!

Soaking into the cracked earth.

The pale brown fields growing dark with moisture.

The wilted grass regaining its vitality and standing tall.

A blessing from heaven — no, a miracle bestowed by the Great Turtle!

"We did it! Rain!"

"YEAAAAH! Now, now we can survive!"

"All hail the Great Turtle! All hail the Great Turtle!"

Forgetting their exhaustion from moments ago, they looked up at the cloud-covered sky, opening their mouths wide to drink the rain directly.

Being healed. By the water.

And all of this was thanks to offering the sacrifice to the Great Turtle. In other words, they made this rain fall.

All living things should be grateful to us for making the decision to offer the sacrifice.

And then, the rain continued for three days and three nights, and the village was thoroughly replenished.

"It could stop anytime now."

"Yeah. The well water's back too."

"If the rain keeps falling like this, the crops might rot at the roots."

Just as they were starting to think such things, the rain stopped — at the perfect timing.

The Great Turtle must have been pleased with the sacrifice. Yes, it seemed to approve. How wonderful. That's why the rain stopped at such a convenient time.

Ah. Once things settle down, let's build a shrine to honor the sacrificed girl. So we never forget this.

As proof that what we did was not wrong.

So our descendants can remember what to do if rain doesn't fall.

For the future's sake, records should be as accurate as possible.

Sacrifices should be girls, it seems. Would boys not work? Girls are probably better. The Great Turtle must be a male god.

Virgins are probably preferable… No one had touched her, right? Of course not. Obviously. My wife would kill me. Besides, we didn't have the energy for that.

Having magical power must be better. Perhaps the amount of rain corresponds to the amount of magical power? Then too much might also be a problem. In that case, a young girl would be just right. My sister was about the same age. If the advisor says so, it must be correct.

My, the Great Turtle sure likes women! I know what you mean, I know!

But wasn't she a bit too young? Oh, it's just that kind of preference.

They even came to feel a sense of familiarity with the Great Turtle.

If the sacrifice girl saw this, what would she say? Surely she would say she was glad the village was saved.

After all, that child volunteered to be a sacrifice for the village's sake—

… At some point, that became the story. A toast to the brave shrine maiden!

And then.

And then, several days later. A large turtle appeared before the village.

A turtle so tall its shell reached an adult's chest, walking slowly on all fours.

From that large shell, its head extended out, slowly turning to look at them.

They had never seen such a large turtle. This turtle must surely be the Great Turtle.

The villagers offered their gratitude to the Great Turtle.

They cut the nearby grass, piled it up for easy eating, and presented it.

The Great Turtle gracefully extended its neck and ate it.

Chomp, chomp — the Great Turtle eating grass.

Oh, it ate! It seems to like grass.

What a divine figure. Majestic. Cool. Wonderful.

Please, continue to look after us! We humbly beseech you!

When the villagers said this while tending to the Great Turtle, it let out a "BMOOOOO" — a bovine-like cry.

Ah, surely that was thanks for their gratitude. The villagers bowed in worship. They pressed their hands together and prayed.

The Great Turtle, just as it had come, slowly plodded back toward the mountain.

It must have been satisfied. Good. We must record this as well—

—and the village does not exist in any records thereafter.

Presumably, the sacrifice and hospitality pleased the Great Turtle so much that, as a reward, everyone was invited to the land of the gods where there is neither hunger nor suffering, and they lived happily ever after.

The End.