Why the Bell Tolls at Dusk

Nestled deep within the mountains lies Mitozu, a secluded town home to just six thousand residents. Life in this isolated community is governed by one unbreakable rule: every evening at precisely six o'clock, heavy bells begin to toll through the streets, signaling the arrival of nightfall. The moment those chimes echo across the valley, every citizen knows they must remain indoors until the sun rises again. This strict curfew is not born of mere superstition, but of survival, as the darkness harbors something far worse than the cold mountain air. For generations, the townspeople have respected this law, keeping themselves safe from the horrors that roam after dusk. However, the fragile peace is shattered when an unwitting outsider returns to his hometown after spending ten long years living in Tokyo. Unfamiliar with the gravity of the local customs and ignorant of the danger lurking in the shadows, he breaks the cardinal rule by stepping outside after the bells have rung. His fatal mistake seals his doom. By violating the ancient curfew, he inadvertently draws the attention of Myoudo-sama, a terrifying apparition feared by the locals. With a victim finally exposed to the night, the horrifying entity seizes its opportunity to prey upon the unsuspecting newcomer, unleashing a nightmare upon Mitozu.