In an abandoned village at the foot of Mount Mitsukado, a group of gods live in human form. These gods, including Ishi the stone god, Kiku the chrysanthemum god, Kura the storehouse god, Yane the roof god, and Ōsugi the great cedar god, now experience human frailties such as hunger and the need for sleep. Mononoke, or specters, visit the village to trade goods with the gods, while other eerie shadows lurk in the forest.

The story follows Ishi as he questions the mysteries of their existence. Plagued by gaps in his memory and the strange events occurring around him, he wonders if the key to understanding lies in his own past. He decides to visit his sacred vessel, or yorishiro, to search for answers. The narrative explores the central theme of whether something that is forgotten ceases to exist entirely.

As Ishi delves deeper, the story expands to include the neighboring Mount Futatsukado, whose gods once had friendly relations with the gods of Mitsukado. That bond was severed for reasons no one fully remembers. When Futatsukado’s gods attempt to reestablish contact, suspicion arises, particularly toward Kiku, whose origins and true nature become a source of doubt. Ishi’s fragmented memories seem to hold the secret behind Kiku and the reason why the human population vanished from Mitsukado.

The tale weaves together the quiet, mundane routines of the gods with the slowly surfacing truth of a past mistake. Ishi eventually recalls what he did to Kiku and why the memories of both mountains have been altered. The story concludes as the full reasons behind the village’s abandonment, the strained relationship between the two mountains, and the nature of the gods themselves are brought to light.