
Nuonuki the mountain god, an apotheosis of methyl mercury?
The swirling, fluid tendrils that come out of Hikaru's body resemble pools of reflective, mirror-like mercury, heavy metal, liquid at room temperature. Is this town haunted? Possessed? Harboring a mountain god? ... Or being gradually poisoned? What really happened to the children?
Mercury... is neurotoxic. Slow mercury poisoning causes hallucinations, birth defects, rashes, poor wound healing, coma, cerebral palsy, vision and hearing problems, severe disfigurement, and death.
This story: a memorial to the Minamata Health Disaster, in which a small town was poisoned--sacrificed--by chemical factory Chisso Corporation polluting the environment with industrial waste in the 1960s.
What did you do to the children, Chisso?

If anyone ever uploads chapters in annoying order like this again I'm hunting them down asdkslaksdjghfg
how dare you do this to an idiot like me (≧∀≦) I keep losing my place! Anyway hard to believe this is the same creator as A Physical Education. I saw the cameo appearance and was like... no way LOL.
The first time they go into Hiwako's room, you catch a glimpse of the artwork over the door--it looks like a plant at first but then you realize it has the same shape as the insect that landed on the car window when Akane first arrived at the mansion.
This is great gothic horror! Dario Argento vibes...