This original story begins at 古い寺の裏にある杉林, where generations have shared warnings about 幽霊（ゆうれい）. The first sign was always 白い着物と濡れた足音. One moonless night, a traveller dismissed the warning and went alone to investigate.
As the traveller drew near, every ordinary sound stopped. The figure ahead looked familiar, yet cast no shadow and left no natural tracks. Remembering the local rule—“三度目の呼び声には返事をしない”—the traveller stayed silent and slowly backed away rather than following it.
At sunrise, strange marks remained where the encounter had taken place. People still repeat the warning, especially to visitors unfamiliar with the land. This is original fiction inspired by folklore imagery and the local landscape of Japan; it is not presented as a verified legend or historical event.