The Faceless

The Faceless begins with the blindfolded Calm Woman beside the red torii near Higashioji Street. Her story leads to a house reached through the lanes near Shijo Street. The courtyard's tangled root barrier must be opened before you can investigate the room inside.

Speak to the Calm Woman beside the red torii

From the Higashioji Street Spirit Mirror, follow the stone path toward the red torii gates and small stone statues. The Calm Woman sits beside a low table at the open-front wooden stall nearby. Speak to her with Cross (×).

She describes a faceless apparition occupying the house built by the son of an older man you helped. Finish her conversation and the following discussion with Murasaki until New Story — The Faceless appears.

Select the image for a larger view.

If she has not offered this story, this route's starting condition has not been met. The directions below begin with the investigation available; they do not establish every earlier quest prerequisite.

Reach the house through the basket-lined alley

Travel to Eastern Kyoto → Shijo Street. From the mirror beside the bamboo fence, take the red-lantern street and follow the lane away from the larger buildings into the thatched houses. Go around the end of the hanging mat partition and through the clearing near the wooden gate and pale roots.

If The Night Parade is active here, its blue-mist procession is a separate encounter. Clearing it does not investigate the Faceless house. Keep The Faceless selected when following this guide; L2 + R2 — Oni Vision reveals the route trail.

From the clearing, follow the ground-level path along the long wooden wall toward the baskets and stalls. Enter the narrow alley lined with large upright and overturned wicker baskets, then turn between the wooden fence and house wall into the courtyard.

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You do not need to climb the nearby scaffold ladder for this approach. That ladder leads to an upstairs supply room and returns to the ground-level route. The Faceless updates as you reach the courtyard enemies.

Clear the courtyard and tear open the roots

Defeat the enemies around the open-front house, stacked baskets and burning brazier. Use L1 to guard and Circle (○) to evade; keep your Square (□) attacks short when another enemy is approaching from the side.

At the far side, a large tongue-bearing Genma stands in front of the tangled grey-and-red root barrier. Watch for its exposed glowing orb. Hold R2, aim and release to shoot the orb when you have a clear line, then use the opening to continue attacking. Defeat it before stopping at the barrier.

Select the image for a larger view.

Stand close to the roots. When Cross — Use Oni Power appears, press Cross to tear the obstruction apart. Wait until the passage opens and The Faceless updates, then pass through it toward the wooden house doorway beside the crates.

The supply chest near that doorway is optional. Continue inside to investigate the apparition.

Defeat both Genma in the mat-floored room

Enter the house and let the introductory scene finish. Two Genma wait in the mat-floored room containing low lamps, overturned furnishings and bodies.

Select the image for a larger view.

Keep both enemies in view. Guard or evade their sword swings, counter after the immediate attack ends, and reposition if the second enemy moves behind you. Do not assume the room is clear when only one falls: finish both enemies.

Leave through the open doorway back into the courtyard. The conversation outside confirms what was found in the house and moves the story toward reporting back.

Finish the Calm Woman and Murasaki scenes

Continue the following scenes with the Calm Woman at the same stall, the house owner's son and Murasaki. Let the explanation finish and wait for The Faceless completion feedback.

The rewards are Iron ×2, Oni Stone ×2 and Fencer’s Strength Charm ×1. The ongoing Night Parade objective may still be shown on the HUD if that other story is tracked; use the named The Faceless completion notice to confirm this investigation is finished.