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The same carapace that protects me does not allow my growth. Not everything that shields you is good for you.

We can assume there is a hole in whatever seal is in place with the Ofuda placed on the house due to Inugami escaping said seal, but I'm of the belief that there is still a functional barrier in the house keeping youkai from entering and exiting due to the ao bozu still not leaving the building after it is clearly not uninhabited anymore. I'm not an expert on Youkai psychology, however, I don't think they would want to stay in a place with someone that scares them. One may counter that Agappa went through the seal just fine, yet I am of the opinion that any Youkai helping the Yama is considered a 'good' Youkai in the terms of the seal, and thus exempt from its effects. Alternatively, the barrier is so weak that it can only redirect, not block a Youkai going through. Thus, I believe that putting extra strain on it would make it break and we have the same problem as just removing the seal by asking an unsuspecting human, just with ever so slightly less energy, which is crucial for a rescue operation conducted by weak Youkai against a definitely formidable opponent. We also have our third Youkai to watch out for, which is another reason I chose to convince a human instead of flying in through the balcony... because we've already gone through the balcony. We don't need the third problem we haven't seen in complete action as our first trial of the day, best we lure them out somewhere away from our Outside World Conman, and in a place that isn't a Youkai Nest.

hey there, yet another one dropped, slightly late if you've seen the wattpad ver but idc now. since im already 3 chapters in as of making this moriya ver, next week i'll probably drop [2]. i'll also need to make a separate topic in misty lake for discussion of my fics as a whole without further ado, let's get to the actual thing, enjoy!! [1] -> *A massive flash happened at the place that was said to be the mark where Gensokyo is. A land of fantasy where the forgotten go. The gone and forgotten, basically.* Human: "What happened?" Human: "A massive flash... c'mon!" Human: "Is that so?" -> *Humans gathered where the flash was, like they knew where Gensokyo is. Only to see...* Human: "What's... happened here?" -> *Two familiar girls stood at the back of the crowd before squeezing through them. It was Renko Usami and Maribel/Merry Hearn...* Renko: "Is this... Gensokyo?" Merry: "It is... Renko.. c'mon!" -> *The crowd watched the two disappear into the territory of Gensokyo.* Renko: "Eh? Wow, Gensokyo is larger than I thought." Merry: "Yeah, I've been here before, remember?" Renko: "Oh yeah. Say... what's happened?" Merry: "I'd say, an almost world ending event..." Renko: "Oh my..." -> *The two dashed off to their first destination, the Hakurei Shrine. Or... what is left of it...* Merry: "This is where that shrine maiden is... what the?" -> *As soon as she paused, she slowed down until she stopped.* Renko: "Th- the... shrine maiden? Gensokyo..." -> *Renko looked around. The whole place is almost flat, except the Youkai Mountain, which doesn't look that mountainous anymore, and this hill.* Renko: "Merry, is this what Gensokyo looks like?" Merry: "R-Renko, I could've sworn... it was all here when I went... no..." -> *Merry remembered the flash from earlier. It seems like... whatever this flash was... it wiped out everything notable of Gensokyo. But were the residents prepared for this event?* Renko: "Search party?" -> *Merry looked down, realizing this is Renko's chance to get into the action of being in Gensokyo but it was ruined... however, maybe hope is not lost?* Merry: "Search party. C'mon, Renko, let's-" -> *A pillar of light flashed in front of them and in that pillar was... Sumireko?* Renko: "S-sumi!?" Sumi: "Ah, say... how you do Renko!" Renko: "H-hey. What brought you here?" Sumi: "The flash, of course! Lookie here!" -> *Sumireko showed the screen of her phone, it showed that the flash is becoming breaking news.* Sumi: "It's so bad that Japan had to cancel most airline trips! Have you heard?" Renko: "Is that so?" Sumi: "I know right! Say, where's Reimu-cchi-" -> *Sumi began to dash to the shrine before stopping when she past the Hifuu Club girls.* Sumi: "... oh. That's... something?" Merry: "Well, we were about to figure out who was behind this... you.." Sumi: ".. want me to join you? Well, I have more knowledge of Gensokyo since I've been there longer than you have. Bet I'll be a valuable asset..." Merry: "How'd you-" Sumi: "You're kinda.. predictable, y'know?" Merry: "Whatever... anyway, what abilities you have? I can almost manipulate boundaries... Renko-" Sumi: "-Can determine location by the night sky like a GPS, yup. I can use ESP!" Merry: "ESP? Sounds familiar..." Sumi: "Ohoho.. watch this!" -> *One of the few nearby half-dead cherry blossoms broke out the ground and starts to float around for a bit before Sumireko sends it flying off somewhere.* Renko: "Ok, enough about Sumi... shall we go ahead for a search party across Gensokyo?" Sumi: "Sure! I'm coming with ya!" -> *Another pillar of light appeared next to them, Sumireko appeared in that spot.* Merry: "Well, no time to lose, I suppose!" -> *The three headed down the mildly broken steps of the Hakurei Shrine hill and determined their next destination to what was left of the Forest of Magic.*

I honestly couldn't be bothered to draw Seiga's silk scarf thing... Anyways, as always, feedback pls

Digital Moonlight By: Richter Season 138, End of Spring Garden Status: Sup-optimal, rains have been disappointing, and will have to compensate with magical influence(See “Nature of Hydroponic Gardening”, Shelf 15 Row 3 Book 4). Gatekeeper is too focused on playing with child-like youkai to take of the more decorative flowers properly Current Research Subject: Digital Technology and its effects on the conscious mind. A recent visit to Eientei for some superfluous social gathering Remi insisted on dragging me to yielded surprising findings: The princess of the estate, one Kaguya Houraisan showed off a strange piece of outside-world technology capable of displaying and sorting information rapidly. While it made troubling noises and required one of the rabbit servants to power it by pedaling on a stationary bike, she showed off its abilities. Of particular note are the media she kept on it, stories told like electronic puppet shows featuring a bright and cheery art style that emphasized large eyes and small noses. I managed to persuade the princess and her observing doctor(Eirin Yagokoro) to allow me to observe her using it for a period of time yet to be defined. The intention of this study is not to steal or replicate the technology as of yet, but to understand its effects fully. Note: The name “digital” is mentioned in many outside-world texts in reference to two sacred numbers which act as polar opposites, likely as runes to allow this thinking machine to sort information. —---------------------------------------------------------------- The unmoving library sleeps over her report, her unnatural body still needing some rest as she is shaken awake. Today is the first day of observation of the effects of digital technology in constant use. The magician has her hair washed and tied up in preparation for the journey through the bamboo forest as she picks out a recognizable, noble, but comfortable robe cinched at the waist with a corset to give it the appearance of a dress. Her usual slippers are taken by her faithful servant in a bag along with notebooks, writing utensils, and equipment for measuring the health and concentration of a subject. “Lady Patchouli, may we walk today? We have plenty of time before we're expected, It would be quite rude to arrive too early” the small devil says with a smile as they step out into the early morning sun. The magician sighs: “..Fine, but we're not stopping in the village for anything” she says as the gatekeeper peers an eye open at the couple, tilting her head in surprise, but knowing better than to say anything. The dull early morning sunlight offers a gentle light to the journey as Patchouli goes over her method for the study in her head: To conduct some basic vision and concentration tests, observe the princess in her daily routine, then perform the same test at noon. Observation will be kept up until dinner. Koakuma seems to rejoice in a chance to leave the mansion with her reclusive master as they see the fairies wake up and flit about, hear the songs of the local fauna, and crisp morning dew on their shoes. The two are guided through the labyrinthine forest by the white-haired hermit who Remi still brags about besting in Danmaku despite the dubious circumstance of the match. It's a quiet walk, the only extrovertive member of the party knowing her master's tolerance for small talk was fairly low. The house of eternity was an exquisite example of traditional Japanese architecture, with its rabbit servants being directed in morning preparations. The white-haired hermit leaves the group before they enter without a word, promising the group she will be available to escort them back. The lunar rabbit and her master, doctor Eirin Yagokoro stand at the entrance dressed finely for the occasion. Koakuma exchanges pleasantries with the lunar rabbit as Patchouli walks toward the princess's chambers with the doctor. “She is not awake yet. Last night's festivities have taken a toll on her” the doctor says, adopting a colder, calculating voice than she uses with the rabbits. “I see.. Has her constitution always been particularly fragile?” “Yes, despite her abilities she tends to strain herself easily” Patchouli notes this as she notes how tall and straight-backed the doctor is, a posture that is uncommon among even the healthier women of the human village who are of advanced age as her grey hair would point. Eirin slides open the door to Kaguya’s large chambers. The girl sleeps in a bedraggled manner on her futon. The device from last night was upside down on the floor next to her the air of fried food can be smelled in the room, even if it is otherwise clean. The doctor gently shakes the girl awake, helping her up so she can be made presentable in the other room. Patchouli takes a moment to set out her equipment and inspect the folding screens and artifacts in the girl's room. She keeps an assortment of odd-looking devices, seeming like smaller versions of her own device with some even having a folding screen for greater storage capabilities. Patchouli makes sketches of these. After an hour, the princess re-enters her own room, her long black hair groomed and the princess dressed in a crimson and gold kimono, the obi tied loose for comfort. Eirin excuses herself to manage the household, as Patchouli watches the girl's elegance leave with her, sitting down on her futon an sighing in frustration at her device. It does not light up as it did last night. “Uhhhhhhh…” she groans as she rings a bell, a rabbit servant coming to charge it by bike “Miss Houraisan, while the device is being filled with power, I ask you focus on this simple set of tests” Patchouli says as she prepares a deck of cards with shapes on them “Is this part of your study? I just wanted to show you some of the games I’ve found on this thing” The princess says “....You thought this was a social call” “Yeah, I’m not good at memory games so let's skip it” “But-” “Oh! There we go! This one is really fun..” Kaguya ignores the scientific aspect like a child wishing to show a friend a new toy. Her game includes the digital puppet shows from before but is interspersed between sections of gameplay involving maneuvering cute, demon-like creatures and penguin-suited people. The princess brags about her large numbers and comments on the “grindy” nature of the game. Her enthusiasm for her game overwhelms the shut-in mage as lunch flies by. As the sun shows signs of starting to set, Kaguya yawns: “That was fun! Do you want to try playing? I’ll let you take it back if you promise to bring it back” She says to the socially burnt-out Patchouli “O-Okay..” she says as Kaguya mutter something over her device… “Its battery should hold for a long time now” she says with a wink, before yawning again. “I’m getting sleepy..” she says as she slips under the covers of her futon. “..Excuse me? Its barely evening…” Patchouli says, still socially off balance The girl rolls herself over to look toward Patchy: “Give me a break, I’ll be up early tomorrow..” she says as her eyelids grow heavy and she stretches out. The mage sits stunned at the utter inelegance of the princess as the lunar rabbit opens the door quietly: “Oh dear. Just let her sleep Miss Patchouli, Master Yagokoro will handle her” Patchouli nods as she puts the device in her bag “Oh, and that devil girl is really helpful! We organized all the patient records while you were with the princess!” The lunar rabbit says excitedly as Patchi gives a slight smile, glad Koakuma made use of herself for once. Patchouli would find that the device was a dangerous time-waster upon further research, causing her to miss research goals and improperly file books due to spending too much time optimizing her party of demons and penguins.

By now, I figure my stronger preferences in music are detectable. If not, then I'm succeeding in my goal of variety. Either way and to that end, this week should be a bit more unusual: Guilty Gear XX Without question, this is a hard metal soundtrack. Each theme uses a gimmick to make it stand out from the others, usually a contrasting instrument or style. Holy Orders employs a harpsichord, Babel Nose features some oriental influences, and The Original has interludes that almost sound like they came from a different game, but the electric guitar is always present in one way or another. Despite this not being my usual cup of tea, the track Blue Water Blue Skies caught my interest, and eventually led me to investigate the full OST. That's why it's GGX2 specifically; the piece I came across was from that game, and I've not been motivated to search beyond it. Anyway, it's really late, so Imma come back to the tournament tomorrow. G'night!