Chapter 2: Higurashi Temple

After having lunch together with Leonardo and Richard, he first gave me the address of a rather old temple a few hours drive away, while he second came with me as translator and driver. 

"We have eaten, we have drunk and now it's time to work, are you ready Professor Christopher?"

"I'm bringing money for the hotel, verification equipment and Leonardo's letter of recommendation. We can hit the road anytime."

Finished talking to each other, we got into the vehicle and set off for Higurashi Temple. This trip takes a few hours, making us arrive in the afternoon and obviating the fact that we will have to stay in a hotel, so we can leave in the morning towards the museum. 

"Are we still going up or are you tired already?"

"How can you be so physically fit, not that you're a history professor or something?"

As we were making our way up the stairs leading to the temple, I noticed that Richard looked terrible, I almost gave up on the poor guy. 

"It's nothing compared to the heat in the Sahara desert, the cold in Siberia or even climbing the Swiss Alps. Besides, you didn't think I earned the respect of the sword collecting circles just by talking, those guys are fencing geniuses."

"A swashbuckling teacher, perfect. Ha, ha, ha. We finally arrived!"

After a while we reach the top of the mountain, the place where the temple is located, eye that does not mean that it is away from society, it is quite the opposite in this case. A torii gate marks the entrance to the territory of the temple itself, there are several ancient-looking structures while modern amenities are seen, but what stands out most is the huge sacred tree of the place. 

"I see the tree has attracted you young travelers, would you like to know the story behind it?"

As if he were the wind incarnate, an old man wearing a yukata and wooden sandals, all very traditional of these temples, approaches me. He then began to speak to me, causing me to stare at him, unable to respond. 

"What's wrong young man, did the cat got your tongue?"

"Excuse him, Mr. Higurashi. This is the expert from abroad that we had informed you about, he came specifically to investigate the provenance of the item in question."

Richard comes out at the right and indicated moment, causing the old man to turn his attention to him and between them he begins to speak in Japanese. 

After a few minutes and basic introductions, it was time to show him the letter from Leonardo.

"Umm... I understand, I understand. Well, then let's get going, I've got it ready."

Releasing the frown he kept slightly frowning, he returns the vivacity with which he spoke to me the first time and signals for us to follow him. 

With a light walk that lasted a few minutes as he gave us a little guided tour, we arrived at an old wooden shed or hut. 

"Calm down. I can assure you that everything inside is safe and sound, despite the poor outward appearance."

"We trust you Mr. Higurashi, but you must understand that experts are like that with everything related to the past."

It seems the old man is quite perceptive, or has eyes in his back to have noticed my slight grimace at the sight of this artifact's housing. 

Continuing on the subject at hand, the elder Higurashi opens the sliding wooden door, revealing a rather dark and gloomy place. Here there is a lot of junk lying around, from boxes to meaningless things, an amphitheater-like railing separates the outside from the inside and in the center of the room there is a well.