Nyoko

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.

...The hell did I miss? Seriously, I manage to take the best times to disappear and see this place transform into a different house entirely. However, I don't have much to add that hasn't already been said or implied, other than that danmaku seems to be the safest bet as at least a couple of games has danmaku happen regularly at the Human Village... Though destruction of property is forbidden in the rules. And my lack of presence recently has had a few reasons that are still not fully resolved, so I'll make sporadic appearances that hopefully last long enough for me to write.

I never thought I'd get the honour to be the first linked in a post with both the original creator of the Gensokyo my story takes place in and The survival guide by the same maker. I both feel honoured and guilty about it. Ha~, it is a shame I have so much to do, though, my pen wants to be put to paper.

You can use my name if necessary, I wouldn't mind so long you keep me posted to the best of your ability. I'm also a vengeful person, and an acquaintance of some of the participants here already, so I should fit in... mostly.

WP&V is postponed until further notice. Reason: Way too much is going on for me to give you an update of a quality I find acceptable, though I will say that I have been thinking about how to incorporate the stuff I saw in other works of art to use as plot points. Also, I'm apparently Reimu now, because I managed to intuit when I got the flu without any symptoms that would point to it being the flu.

Ring Yeah, yeah, just let me sleep for a while longer. Ring Perhaps you would let me sleep for a slight bit longer? Rin- Okay fine, I’m up! Stupid bell. Time to change out of my Yukata and into my long-coat-ish dress to get ready for work. While I’m at it, I’ll also wash myself. “Good afternoon, Katto-san”, the familiar voice of Orin calls out to me the second I stepped out of my front door. It’s only natural to respond in kind, but I have to wonder how long she has stood here waiting for me. “Don’t worry about that~”, Orin answers in a tone that indicates that she has been here for a long time, “I came here to introduce you to an applicant for the expedition you’re organizing.” “…What did you do this time?” “Maybe a little lie and circumventing Celestial bureaucracy for a child spirit, nothing much, really.” Sure buddy, last time I had to deal with a confusing urban legend regarding a certain Mary-san, I won’t be taking any chances. “…I present to thee, a Zashiki-Warashi!” Orin exclaims so enthusiastically I could’ve sworn a theater appeared there for a split second. A Youkai of diminutive size walks into my field of view at the same time, looking like they just put on a pillow. “H-Hello, Mina. I… wish to join this expedition to flip every pillow in the world!” they exclaim after mustering the courage to speak to me. Am I that really that scary for Youkai? Disregarding that question, “Orin, mind telling me why you’re sending a child to war?” “You’re the vengeance specialist, you’ll figure it out in time~.” Now is not the time to dodge questions, Orin! And she’s gone off to the Prison of Blazing Fires, of course. I’m in an incredibly vengeful mood today, so she won’t get away with just a retribution. As for the child I’m now stuck with… I guess I have to swing by the Queen to get rid of them. “…She stays.” “I beg your pardon?” “The kid will be more useful that you think, considering she has the ability to flip anything 180 degrees.” “…Fine”, I agree, pouting. Is this her new attempt at secretly trying to kill me for being a massive spanner in the works? “It would not be the first time, at least.” “I’m aware, Mistress Satori”, I answer. She might also have some vengeful feelings for me being more popular than her now. Well, I’ll deal with that later, when it becomes a problem I can’t ignore. Now I have to fill in a form to send a child to war… with an Asura and a Sinsack in the same group. Orin, You’ll pay me back four times over for this, understand!? “Name, please”, I ask in a resigned voice. “Nezuko Katyusha.” Nezuko… Katyusha – Does fate hate me? Why the hell is it someone from the Katyusha line, who have very potent vengeances for things I do not understand because they manage to present their vengeance in the most Russian way possible. “A bit about your past, so I know how best to command the group.” “My parents died in front of Orin.” The hell did I say, 火焔猫 燐? What mess did you get into this time? “She tutored me to take revenge on the people who killed my parents using my ability to flip anything, like you, hehe!” I don’t have anything to say in my defence. She got me fair and square. Well, now I have three people under my command, none of whom are a normal being in the widest sense of the word. 助けてください、神様。 “You would go so low as to enlist a child?” Mark asks rightfully baffled when I introduce Nezuko to the rest of them. I answer with my half-lidded eyes that I tried to keep her from joining the army, but I can’t exactly go against a direct order from my mistress who sees me as a spanner in the works and has in every discreet way imaginable tried to exile or kill me. Other news to note, Ashura seems to have taking a liking to the child, as he is playing peacefully with her. Yes, the Wrath is still permeating the air and fueling vengeances more than your typical amount, but the sight has not turned bloody yet. Then again, I have yet to see a spirit bleed.

You’ve certainly done your research, goodness me. Though some could certainly be excused as me not utilizing all of my situations to the fullest potential. Heaps of praise for you and faults that your writing exposed in mine to analyze, I’ve been complacent. First though, a question that comes from the end of that ‘small’ introduction you wrote: Do you want me to also keep the choices Mark makes in mind when writing? You would be using the OoC to cast his vote, mind you, but I can’t help but read a wish to continue in between those lines. I won’t stop you if you do happen to do that, nor can I change your mind if you don’t. As for the story itself, let’s go through it while I tell you my observations. This opportunity for you came because of how I have kind of chained myself to Mina, which comes with its own strengths and weaknesses, like this one as an example of both. I certainly could've utilized that time more, yet at the same time it created a gap that people can have a little fun in their fantasy. As for the actual substance, it feels like it manages to have more substance than my roundabout way of getting to the point, but maybe I’m just not analyzing my own writing correctly. Our vengeful spirit is from the Outside World, with all that that implies. It also serves as an explanation of how he got into Gensokyo, considering that it appears he was getting sent to the Road of Reconsideration, but was stopped for some reason in an abandoned village. Gensokyo, becoming the much more militarized anime Game of Thrones Illusionary Nirvana and thus not friendly to outsiders, gave him no shortage of slights. Yet he continued on without a lot more hatred in his heart. Saying more would actually be revealing parts of my plan for his character development. Bonus points for the interesting usage of actual Japanese, even if it uses a translation website, it adds a layer of immersion. Point two for being in a between zone of Anime Game of Thrones and actual Touhou, Spell card Duels, with small adjustments, are being held. I also see that you took the Lunarians into account, as well. Other than that, this mostly deals with just the slights given to him with his horrendous hand... and don't think you can let 志村 (Shimura) slip me by. Rumia murdered him, which has the added benefit of at least dying to a leader of a minor faction! The one of the ravenous and half-mad Youkai, yes, but still! Your interpretation of Jun when he is not around Mina Katt is something I wouldn't be able to write with the chains I willingly put on myself, but you nailed the bit completely. I hope it wasn't too hard and easy enough to write him. You also took your time setting up the start of the character development train in this instance, with multiple locations that we will be going to for me to explore as well as multiple people we should meet. For the actual interview, I merely changed a few details that are probably very important, as well as rewriting the entire thing from the perspective of the upstarting cat who somehow earned the Queen's favour, which reveals some things I assume you didn't know. Don't force yourself, my writing quality also decreases when I do that... But I also asked you all to do something so I don't start getting complacent and give it my all. I'll also be looking to resolve a few threads that started in the beginning, so look forward to that~. Also, I'll be moving the updates to the morning of monday / evening of sunday. I got lucky this time and the writing came naturally, but I spent way too much of my day to be comfortable doing that when I actually need to go to school, thus this measure. (Also because then I start competing with Yumetou, which can actually [paradoxically] increase the amount of readers here.) I also didn't mean to send you completely away from your Makuragaeshi, so sorry if that "try again" attacked you more than I wanted it to. You gave me a concept of a character, so I gave you a chance to further deepen your understanding of it, while also luring you to basically everywhere else. I didn't expect you to take one of the baits, at the very least. You can probably tell why I complain about the hours I sink into these comments, can't you?

At least, that was the plan before the incredibly useful annoyance calls out to me in that foolish voice again. “It has been a long day for me today, Kuroshiro; so may I retire for the day?” I acknowledge his existence… which is a mistake, Katt. It didn’t take long before I begrudgingly join him to an interview room, politely turning down his increasingly more elaborate proposals. Once inside the interview room, I take the initiative to pressure him to leave me alone for a while. Eventually culminating in the sentence: “Look, Kuroshiro, you would do me a favour by staying here and taking care of your work.” However… He’s not one to back down. “What if you get hurt? I wouldn’t be able to continue living!” he nearly screams so loudly I worry that the Gods of the Mountain can hear his whining. Though I do suppose he gets some points for prostrating himself, but those are instantaneously deducted because he is possessed. That vengeance… belongs to a spirit who calls himself Mark. A delusional person who holds a grudge against the world, though it has been tempered so much you can barely sense it. Orin didn’t want him due to his weak vengeance, so I am the only person who wants this vengeful spirit that doesn’t know what a targeted grudge is. Still, I treat him the same way I do every other vengeful spirit, as that’s the only way he is going to get a grudge against me specifically… and add some colour to the flame. Readying my whip as I stoke his grudge, the poor young soul comes out of the body he is possessing, telling me that Kuroshiro is making the face of a loser… Do you truly have nothing better to say, Marc? I whip him, though the crack didn’t sound as my weapon disappeared right in front of my eyes. Then Jun tries to strangle himself, which I wouldn’t recommend due to how useless the action is. But, considering I get to win in both situations, either a nuisance dies or I learned of a fairly strong ability with my aide getting a free torture session for no reason, satisfying my sadistic impulses, I slowly start clapping… In fact, I might be able to drive the fear of vengeful spirits through the roof with Mars’ ability, so I take a formulary and pen and, upon witnessing them stopping, ask them their name. “Jun Kuroshiro and Maru”, uh… Jun answers. I know it is Mark, but I must write in Japanese, so the closest is マルク. Alright, next question. “Why do you want to join this expedition?” I say in English, prodding Marle first. “To understand…” he begins saying, yet stares with a confused look into the wall behind me for a decent minute. He shakes off his confusion, reaching the answer of wanting to understand himself to find peace. I don’t need to ask the other one why, nor do I want to listen to his self-aggrandizing stories of his exploits. I also skip over the question of their past, as I am fairly knowledgeable about them. Marx went through the front door of his home to find himself in Gensokyo without the ability to speak Japanese. Considering that Gensokyo started to become the modern day one a couple of years prior to my awakening, he came into contact with a lot of folk who did not understand him, and his delusions got him in trouble with the local authorities, which eventually lead to his death. Though the circumstances regarding his spiriting away is suspicious, I’ve never really had the opportunity to look into it… Well, better late than never, I suppose. As for the last question, which I also ask in english because I’m certain beyond a shadow of a doubt the Sinsack will ask for something to do with my body, I ask what the other soul wants from me. “Your hand in marri…”, the body says. I need a rest because I am hallucinating or Kuroshiro understood English just now, but I also want my whip back. So, considering the possesser is a resourceful being, I hold my hand up expectantly. The Sinsack’s hand goes towards mine, nearly touching, but the whip appears just as they were about to touch. So I swiftly pull it back with my whip in tow. “I look forward to working with you two~” I say in a calculating tone to keep them on edge, though I won't be able to work with them if I am exhausted to the point of collapse. A quick catnap should fix me right up, so I retreat to my quarters for a bit.

Well, it turns out I have been a bit too tight in my scheduling again... So I'll just spin this into a way to make everyone else have a chance to contribute at a more relaxed pace. I'll create a character every week and process the suggestions when I find out about them. Also, I'm quite lax when it comes to the restrictions, finding something that could work in the context presented is already hard enough, that you don't necessarily have a completed character, but rather a concept of one is natural. There are a few key answers to important questions that need to be answered, though. First: Does it feel like he/she is wrongfully persecuted? -> If yes, they pass this question. -> If no, did they live in Former Hell originally? -> If yes, they pass. -> If no, they don't. Second: Would they even somewhat agree with the core ideal of the country? (That being: "Through Understanding Comes Peace!") ->If yes, they pass. ->If no, they don't. You can ask a few other questions, but those two are cardinal rules I follow when I characterize people from the Underworld. It's possible for there to be an exception to those rules, but good luck finding it. I have no clue what my subconscious has planned for me either, I just know it has something coherent planned. This is also not the best first chapter/prologue I have ever written, but it's there now, as a testament to my struggles to become a 'good' writer. whatever that illusionary title may hold. The Troubles have indeed kept me away longer than I'm willing to admit, though for now it hasn't been so bad as to require hospitalization. I also bought quite a few things not related to Touhou that interested me, which also kept me away, but Gensokyo is a place that feels familiar to me. It is a place to rest the weary bones of a traveler of the internet, though too much rest hurts the same as too little rest. I also get way too carried away making plans and working side jobs that I don't rest as much as I probably should, and I refuse to complain about my situation because it can always get worse. My whims also haven't taken me to Gensokyo in a while, so that's also a reason. Considering I disappeared of the face of the earth for a while, I completely understand why you didn't come here every Wednesday just to confirm that I am in fact still gone. I was more so gauging the interest and the trust of the people who care to come here and read my ramblings than I actually wanted one person to create six characters. Also, it is extremely difficult to be mediocre at something. To write well enough it doesn't have any notable mistakes while writing bad enough to not leave a lasting impact on the people that read your work. Also, you don't have to contend with city poets. Well, I don't want to make a habit out of advertising my story in another story's forum, but if you want to contact those people privately I won't mind. In case you haven't noticed it yet, I bury as much meaning into everything I can, which leads to some strange circumstances when people don't pick up on certain key meanings and I misdirect them because I want to practice manipulation. Though I somehow retain a certain air that makes them keep their guard low around me. That mystery is hard to keep when you're the one initiating the conversation, so I avoid doing that as much as possible or provide answers that bring more questions. So you can consider this a source of inspiration to make my writing a little more complicated; I like a challenge, after all. Yumetou once said that I was someone with a great understanding of Youkai. I respectfully disagree, as I only know two, maybe three Youkai deeply and about half a respectable amount, with most of my information coming from trusted sources or applying common storytelling tropes to Youkai to make the illusion that the net I have is as wide as it is deep. I also do a lot of research if I think I am lacking something necessary for the misdirection, which then somehow turns into a great understanding of Youkai for someone who can barely recall what a Gotoku Neko is. (That being a forgetful cat that came into this world by having their tail singed at the fireplace [at least, that's the most likely explanation].) So I can't say I would know much more than you. I had not, but I did hear of the Youkai that sits on you so hard you suffocate, the Kanashibari, which the pillow-flipper is related to. Also, there is opportunity there for a Former Hell Makuragaeshi. Straight from Yokai.com Does that remind you of someone? If it does not directly fit the theme of Old Hell, figure out if it is related to someone who is. While you're there, go read up on the kanashibari, as well. It does not have to be a 1-1 transcription of the Youkai as stated, as Goutokuji Mike will remind you with her mere existence. Considering you got another try due to me overestimating my abilities, go try again. I should also put up a timer when I start writing these things because where the hell did the last hour go?

I barely put up the notice before I could feel the familiar presence of the Asura of Former Hell… Well, what did I expect when I decided to put up a notice of recruitment to go to a battlefield? Despite being primarily driven by the sins of Buddhist myth, this person somehow retains the ability to take orders and would probably be reborn in the Human realm if my understanding of Buddhist theology hasn’t failed me. Though that is only if he can be reasonable during the interview. Turning around to greet whoever this person is, as he never introduced himself, ever, the hulking giant proudly flexes his muscles on his four arms as I question whether or not taking him with us would be a half-decent idea… Well, considering the other option is probably dueling with him, I’ll take the option with the greatest chance to not get me killed. Thus I, the Nekomata who is half the height of the Asura who follows me, lead him to a special interview room specifically for him. I order him to be seated as I mentally prepare myself for my first true interaction with him. This specific Asura wears a red cloak and enough bandages on his waist that it doesn’t seem healthy, has hair so drenched in blood nobody knows what its original colour is and is naturally muscular to the extreme. Even Oni have trouble getting that much muscle, likely because they don’t have to constantly fight. Even so, his personality, while mostly in line with the violent, impulsive and greedy gluttony they’re known for, differs in that he knows how to be a normal person… At least, as normal as a four-armed red giant with the feeling of wrath emanating from it can be. I ask for his name just so I can be complete, to which he gestures to his body as an answer. I forgot he had taken a vow of silence for as long as he is not either condemned to live in the realm of the Asura or judged to be reborn in the realm of humanity by the Yama, so I thank him internally for not getting mad at me. He does still need a name, though, so I write Ashura in that field. The next serie of questions would be about his past, but everyone in the nation knows the story of Ashura, so I ask him if that’s the past I should write in the questionnaire. He gives three thumbs up and one down, to which I ask if it would be worth it trying to get that last thumb up. The answer to that was a definite no, so I write down the story I have told and been told so many times I know it by heart. On one of the battlefields of the Grand Civil War, a red warrior with four arms slayed the Oni who were at war with one another, drinking the blood of his victims. It was only when queen Satori talked to him that he stopped the slaughter and took orders from us. “Why do you want to join this expedition?” Ashura punches his four sets knuckles together. “For the thrill of battle”, I say to myself as I mentally bully myself for asking a stupid question. Now we’re off to the last question, which I am scared of. “How much do you want to be compensated?” He starts gesturing, but quickly stops as he thinks things out. Surely everything is what he wanted, yet he knew that was going to get him nowhere. Instead, his gestures after he thought about suggest he wants to split it however I want, as long as he got the most. He passes my judgement, but I should swing by mistress Satori in case she has any objections. “It should be fine, as long as he behaves as good as he had in the interview.” “That’s everything I wanted to ask you, mistress.” That’s a wrap for today, dealing with the theatrics of an Asura and the amount of wrathful energy they dissipate around them is tiring...

Hello again, if you wish to know where the hell I was for the past month or so, go read up on the War, Peace and Vengeance stall. I have a lot to catch up on, so let me just do that real quick. ...It has been so busy here the place I want to quote is on a different page. I suppose it is my fault, but fine then, here I go, quoting Soshmal I am not going to welcome you because everyone has already done that and I would stick out like a sore thumb, what I will do is try to give you advice because you requested it. How do you structure stories? ...That depends on your writing process. How I do it is I have an overarching storyline where I know the beginning, the end, and some important pitstops along the way. Then I break down each of those pitstops down into its widest form that still sounds entertaining, followed by identifying pitstops along the way if there is empty space and taking that Modus Operandi for the rest. Also, I'm of the opinion that the best way to see if something is for you is to try it, but writing is notorious for feeling like your throwing your heart on a page, which makes criticism feel like an assault on your feelings. I don't know if I have been of use, but I hope I have. You can search my qualifications if you want, as well. ...Why have Kymoh and Mota started a bromance? Well, they can do as they please so long it does not hamper their own judgement. I will hold it against them should it come to that. Quoting Soshmal again I should probably do something similar for my own sake because you slowly start to go mad when you know the jargon to three different stories on command while writing two of them. Now we have returned to the present day, which means explaining why I chose to lie directly to the Youkai's face that Oscar has no neck to hang. Simply put, it is mostly blind due to the flashbang and should thus take a moment to confirm that Oscar does indeed have a neck from which he can hang from, but a moment is all we need to flee in this confused mess of an abandoned cottage with our books we so painstakingly collected. Details are to follow on how we do that, but not getting chased by a youkai is a great start, don't you think? We also stay on the floor where we dropped our books.

I'm back with a vengeance~. As a quick explanation of where I disappeared off to, I got lost in the realm of my own imagination, the rabbit hole that is attempting to categorize vengeance, a school that is a lot heavier on the homework, and a small purchase of the entire Reincarnated as a Sword saga. Getting into a rhythm with all of those things was (and still is) difficult, but I'll manage. The rhythm is tantalizingly close, so it'll be fairly easy to begin incorporating the things I sacrificed to do emergency work back into it. That is not to say I have been standing idly by, it just has not been a lot of Touhou. Now then, you may have read that we're about to depart to Arc 2, of which I have some ideas floating around of what I want to do, but with the person who wants to learn how to write being here, I wonder if what I am about to do would even fly with him... Eh, screw it, what could go wrong? ~------------------------------------------~ With permission from both the captain of the Military and Queen Satori herself, I, Mina Katt, hereby query any valiant soul with a body to join our expedition to the Hakurei Republic. The Republic is currently at war with the Netherworld, so expect battle and unceremonious death. I expect people proficient in combat against spirits and capable of surviving on their own in the wild. We’re going to be fighting the Netherworld as a contingent on the side of the Hakurei, so we better leave a good impression on them. Lastly, know that there are merely six places to be filled, so the earlier you sign up, the better your chances at getting in. We leave within a week of first posting this announcement on the – of --------------, Season 142. ~------------------------------------------~ There is your prompt for your character creation. You may even attempt to write how the interview is going to go, and I'll certainly take as much of how you would write it into consideration when it is time to actually depart for the Hakurei Republic. You may also write as many as you want, though six is the maximum that are going to come with her and I shall take a character from a new person over another from the same. Just remember: I am incapable of forcing you to write, nor do I want to.

Even though his help in keeping the relationships between the guards and inmates healthy, it does not help me. I feel weaker with each passing day, and the only thing that makes me feel stronger is if there is more vengeful desire running around. It is at that moment the Sinsack notices me and invites me over to have a pleasant chat with those spirits… Though I politely refuse and ask him to come to me for I have certain ideas I have to discuss with him. After a small discussion on what I am planning to do with his… I’m not going to finish thinking that sentence; he asks: “Why don’t you let one of the animals in this place get possessed first?” to which I retort: “Surely you must understand that those animals won’t allow you to do as you please with them?” “Understood, Though I will ask for one condition”, he answers diplomatically after reading my glare that may as well state that I will not under any circumstances accept a no. Despite my piercing magenta eyes still staring daggers at him to make him drop that request, I eventually relent as it is overly clear that there is only a small amount of things I will do for him. He took the opportunity to surprise me. “May I know how you get your Mana?” I stare at him quietly, though not a piercing glare like before. His voice had this tinge of compassion, like he could see that I am struggling to gain it. But at the same time, do I actually trust this person to give more than a basic overview of my collection activities? “I get it from vengeance, as should have been obvious enough, right?” he gets as an answer. It did not fool him in the slightest. “Allow me to rephrase the question, then”, he courteously queries, “What gets you the most Mana?” “…Envious vengeance. The type that appears when you wish to do an act of wrath out of jealousy for what the victim has.” “I assume you have a name for that kind?” “…I don’t, but if I had to name it something, it would be… vindication.” Now that my part of the deal is done, I take him and a lucky soul to the Former Hell of Blazing Fires and, with prior permission from Orin, ascend into the Former Hell of Needles via the use of the great technology of a hook on a rope. Still not the best place for agriculture, but it’ll have to do. The holes left after the intense needling of tongues of eternities past still exist here, which provide excellent seed pits for the agriculture. As for where the soil I brought with me comes from, well, let’s just say that a small pit near one of the entrances to the caves won’t immediately be noticed, shall we? The seed I picked for this experiment is the quick-growing lettuce, to be grown twice in a week. Naturally, they also got food to last a week up there. Seeing as there is nothing to do for that week except work and keep the nation from entering a civil war, I use my free time in between those two chores to brush up on my knowledge of spirits and the way Gensokyo used to be before this plague set upon the place. I did not learn much I didn’t already know, but any information on potential enemies is good information. I also brush up on my English in those moments, though how useful it will be is to be perceived at a later date. After that week of momentary calm subsides, though, it is back to whipping the lust-fueled Youkai into working shape. Climbing up the grappling hook again to see a large field of nearly ripe lettuce next to a dozing Kuroshiro. To say that I am taken aback by the amount of lettuce there is would be an understatement, they nearly harvested twice the expected amount with that week of time here. Not like I am going to give even a hint of my surprise to that one, I still do not trust the poor soul. “Wake up, you demon.” “I’m not a demon, I’m a Youkai~, miss Katto-heagh!” he responds like a drunkard. Though that kick was to throw out the vengeful spirit from his body instead of an action of malice against him personally, I did attack him a little too forcefully, as he was sure to notify me in between his coughs. “How are the results?” “You can see that for yourself, can’t you?” he asks rhetorically, “It is a major success.” The evidence has been acquired, now it is time to present it to Parliament. Luckily, things seem to have calmed down in Parliament as well, though the unconcealed wrath due to that incident merely became grudges. They listen to my arguments and agree with most of my conjecture, as only the most stubborn of Oni remain on the side of banishing vengeful spirits. Though I did not use fair means to get those Oni on my side, as everything except actual bribery was fair game to me. Though even those persistent Oni eventually concede to the entire chariot filled with lettuce that I asked our resident Kasha to bring for me. Another couple of normal days pass, with the streets being in high spirits, praise from every branch of the country directed at me to the point where I question if people forgot that I am the singular person who would encourage hatred against someone, even if that someone would be me. Yet it is the day that I got called to the Palace that interests me the most, as the most influential person in the history of Gensokyo save the Dragon God pays us a visit then. “Oh, hello. You must be that Nekomata everyone here is so joyous about”, she says. “…That is indeed correct, but I have to wonder what you are doing here.” “I have a favour to ask of you.” “Come again?” “Can you convince Queen Satori to send a small contingent to the aid of the Hakurei Republic?” What is she… Hold on, the Hakurei Republic and the Netherworld are at war!? “I’ll even let you in on a small secret regarding what is happening to the world, how does that sound?” She’s desperate, but is it my prerogative to weigh the lives of everyone in that contingent to my pursuit of knowledge? Then again, that could strengthen our bond with the Hakurei, and that weird dream I had a few weeks ago basically stated that the Netherworld was going to demand something of us if we don’t do anything… so it might be in our best interest as a nation to help the Hakurei. “…Consider the favour done, after you tell me the small secret.” “Ah, thank you kindly. The small secret is that everything is absorbing the Mana at an unforeseen rate”, she says before gapping to god knows where. Leaving me with more questions than answers and a problem. I thus enter the audience room to meet a Queen who has forgotten what she was going to ask of me after reading my thoughts. “…You don’t know when she is going to repay that debt, but you still took it.” “The Mana dissipating is a problem for all that I have been keeping an eye on internally, in the hopes that I could maybe find a way to deal with it.” “I see your reasoning… it is hard to find a hole in there, but we’re not going to declare war against the Netherworld, so you only get six people to bring with you.” “That’s enough, we’ll leave in a week.”