'If you have this picture, God will bless you with a baby.'

Rumors began to spread through the streets of Edo that a painting by the owner of a liquor wholesaler had magical powers.
In reality, there are several couples who, despite praying hard, were unable to conceive, but then cried out in joy.
A couple who have been worried for 7 years with no sign of a baby hears about it and finally manages to get their hands on it.
It was a picture of the goddess Byun Jae-cheon riding on a boat while holding a baby.
Thanks to this, the couple had a good dream as they had hoped and had a baby boy.
however--.

The baby suddenly died.
Why, when the baby was growing up healthy and painless? The couple who sent the baby away spent the night in tears, and he gradually became thinner.
Then, by chance, I came across a picture.
I noticed something strange in the picture the owner of the liquor wholesaler drew.
For some reason, only the belly was there, and Byun Jae-cheon holding the baby was not visible.
It was as if Jae-Cheon Byun, who had taken possession of the baby, had a change of heart and took the baby back.
What on earth is going on?
The guitar combo steps in to solve this strange case.

Author Miyuki Miyabe has the guitar duo uncover a conspiracy of those who believe in superstitions and exploit those who believe in them to satisfy their own greed, while also examining the flaws of the Edo period judicial system, which relied solely on confessions to identify criminals and solve cases, resulting in many false accusations.

In an attempt to brighten the atmosphere of Takaya, which had become extremely dark, the maids began a major cleaning even though it wasn't the end of the year.
At that time, while trying to move the reading desk in the bedroom of my son and daughter-in-law, I dropped the document box on top of it, and Gen'emon's Boseon paintings poured out.
“But, Mr. Byun Jae-cheon is not visible in the picture.”
As if he was the only one who got out of the by-election.
---From "A Picture Calling a Baby"

Kitaichi carefully turned his head and looked at Shin-chan's face behind him.
Because his head was bowed, his face was completely hidden by the shadow of his forehead, so his expression was not visible.
All that can be heard is a mumbling sound, like chanting, or a cat purring.
“Mumble, mumble, mumble, mumble, mumble, mumble.”
---From "What's Inside Jjanggu's Head"

“I will keep that nail and when the need arises, I will drive it into Kitaichi’s neck with my own hands without bothering the new Nari.
At that time, I will make sure to stab that child so hard that he stops breathing.”
Wow, that's scary.
Please look, ma'am.
Kitaichi clamped his hand over my mouth even tighter and shrank down like a garden stepping stone.

---From "The Mermaid's Poison"