Kyogoku Natsuhiko: Kousetsu Hyaku Monogatari

Yamaoka Hyakusuke, a recluse traveling the country to write his "Hyaku Monogatari" (One Hundred Tales), encounters a mysterious trio on a rainy night due to his own dullness: Yuiichi, an ongyoji skilled in deception; Agin, a puppeteer who manipulates dolls; and Chouji, an imitator proficient in bird-throwing. From then on, he becomes entangled in a series of eerie incidents that provide material for his book. The trio remains shrouded in mystery from start to finish, appearing unexpectedly and vanishing suddenly. Wherever they appear, strange rumors follow, suggesting they are inhabitants of the dark world, possibly even the afterlife (later, Hyakusuke discovers documents indicating Chouji would be 200 years old if alive). There is also the occasional appearance of Kyogokutei, who seems to control the trio, along with two women known as Kuroan and Shiroan, all exuding an air of enigma. Accompanying the trio, Hyakusuke witnesses various supernatural events. The ghosts within are not what people usually imagine; they are transformed versions of ordinary people living among us. Human nature has a dark side. When one abandons their humanity and flees due to certain circumstances, the twisted heart begins to turn into what is called a "ghost," committing crimes repeatedly without realizing it. With suspenseful plots, a pervasive atmosphere of horror, splattering blood, and acts of greed and perversion that shock the soul, the trio exposes sins hidden in the darkness using their unique methods, performing "On-gyo-ho" through talismans. Accompanied by the silent ringing of bells, Yuiichi slowly recites: "Walking the righteous path leads to success, while stepping onto the crooked path plunges you into the abyss. Ultimately, it is nothing but dreams and illusions; evil thoughts and ambitions vanish in the darkness, leaving only bizarre rumors in this world."