Loading User Commands:
[X] Quickly finish cooking the dish, then bring it out with a tray.

---

Grimnír doesn't know what Wriggle wants to say, but it must be something important if she travelled all the way here to find him. According to her actions, she doesn't want the others to know that she is here.

"A-anyway," says the stranger, raising his hands toward him, "I don't believe we've met before."

"E-eh?" Grimnír says. Oh wow, what horrible timing.

"My name is Vincent," says the stranger. "I am a guest of Hakugyokurou. Nice to meet you."

Grimnír nods politely, taking a quick glance at the window as he does so. Wriggle isn't there anymore, thankfully.

"I am Grimnír. I'm an apprentice magician of sorts," he returns. "Pleasure to make your acquaintance."

Vincent walks over to him, and the shake hands. Grimnír observes that the guy's coat isn't of the same design as the clothes of the others. Vincent said that he is a guest; perhaps he comes from the Outside too? Maybe they should find time to chat, but first, he needs to find Wriggle.

"So... what's for lunch?" says Vincent as he turns toward the others.

"Oh no!" cries Youmu. She hurries over to her counter.

"I took care of it while you were... busy," Grimnír returns. "Don't worry about it."

"Thank you very much!" Youmu says, complete with a formal bow.

Grimnír carefully transfers his now cooked dish onto a plate and prepares to carry it out of the kitchen. This is his chance to escape unnoticed!

"I'll take these to the dining room," says the magician before heading out of the kitchen. He tries to act naturally as he speedwalks out.

A few moments after leaving the kitchen, he feels someone gently tug at his robe. Grimnír recognizes the youkai girl immediately.

"Sorry about the wait. I didn't want anyone to get suspicious," he says.

"Mr. Grimnír, you're a magician, right?" asks Wriggle.

"I guess you could say that," replies Grimnír, not meeting her eyes.

"I-I need your help! Can you come back with me to the Forest of Magic?"

She looks really worried about something.

[ ] Go with Wriggle immediately.
[ ] Ask her for the details right here.
[ ] Find someplace they can talk in private.
[ ] Tell her that you need to finish here first.
[ ] Refuse to get involved.
[ ] Custom

Loading User Commands:
[X] Don't say anything. Bad idea to get involved in this.
[X] Continue cooking. Try to be invisible.

---

"Ara?" says Yuyuko with a smile. "Then why are you still holding hands, I wonder~"

Youmu gasps audibly, her whole body shuddering in embarrassment. Grimnír isn't completely sure, but the ghostly wisp hovering behind her seems to turn slightly pink as well. Is that thing part of the girl?

"There is a perfectly good explanation for this," returns the man. The others wait intently for him to continue, not bothering to mask their excitement.

Grimnír focuses his full attention on his cooking instead. He isn't going to be part of this conversation. The whole thing sounds like trouble, and he has his own problems to worry about. Also, he has no idea about what is really going on right now, and he doesn't want to make it worse. Maybe if he just stays quiet like this, no one will notice his active non-participation.

"T-that is, umm..." mumbles the man. A glance tells Grimnír that the man seems conflicted and lost for words. Poor guy.

Suddenly, something else catches his eyes. Someone is peeking inside from a window on the left. She is wearing a boyish costume with a cape. A pair of antennae protrude from her healthy green hair. What is Wriggle doing here?

"Err..." the man says. For some reason, this guy's love problems don't seem that important right now.

Grimnír nods slightly at Wriggle before quickly turning back to his cooking. Glancing with the side of his eye, he can see the youkai girl motioning for him to meet her outside. While this is an unexpected surprise (She does look pretty cute when she is playing a mime, he notes), nothing explains the main question in his mind. What the hell is Wriggle doing here?

"She is someone important to me," says the man with finality.

What? Did this guy just make a public confession? This guy is digging his own grave, it seems. But Grimnír has something else to worry about right now. A quick survey of the room tells him that pretty much everyone is engrossed in the current scenario. None of the others have noticed Wriggle waving at him by the window.

Grimnír pauses to think. This might be a good chance to sneak out. He needs to think of a subtle way to leave the kitchen.

[ ] Just walk out. No need to explain anything.
[ ] Excuse yourself politely, saying you need to use the toilet.
[ ] Quickly finish cooking the dish, then bring it out with a tray.
[ ] Let something catch on fire as a diversion.
[ ] Try throwing one of Marisa's mushrooms into the dish.
[ ] Custom

Youmu stays silent, her cheeks are bright red as she looks away from the man. After a moment, the man turns around, and by the expression on his face, he just realized that everyone is watching.

Everyone continues to stare silently at this shameless act of affection. Komachi looks completely shocked. Yuyuko looks amused. Chen, on the other hand, seems to be pouting.

Youmu whispers something into the man's ears, words of affection, no doubt. Grimnír blushes and turns away quickly. Somehow, he feels like he is watching something of a private nature.

Without warning, the man grabs Youmu by the hand and leads her behind one of the shelves at the back. He can't see what they are doing from the counter, but he has a few guesses. Maybe girls really do prefer an aggressive approach, he notes.

For the next few minutes, Grimnír tries to focus on his cooking. It really doesn't matter what those two are doing behind the shelves; it isn't any business of his. His business here is serious; Marisa is dying. He needs to find Yukari quickly. A Youkai as powerful as her must be able to do something.

Suddenly, he hears Youmu cry out from behind the shelves. What the hell? There is a child in the room, for crying out loud! Can't they do such things in private? Grimnír continues muttering to himself, bitterly aware that deep inside, he is a bit jealous.

After a few moments, Youmu and the man step out from behind the shelves. They finished far more quickly than he expected. He wonders idly if they actually enjoyed doing such things in a place where they can easily get caught.

"Sorry about that. I just needed to have an urgent talk with Youmu," the man says. "Strictly business," he adds.

Youmu nods in agreement, though her face is still quite red.

"Ara?" says Yuyuko with a smile. "Then why are you still holding hands, I wonder~ I wonder~"

[ ] Don't say anything. Bad idea to get involved in this.
[ ] Support Yuyuko during the conversation.
[ ] Support Komachi during the conversation.
[ ] Support the lovers during the conversation.
[ ] Custom

Optional:
[ ] Continue cooking. Try to be invisible.
[ ] Escort Chen out of the kitchen before this gets out of hand.
[ ] Try to find an excuse to leave.

Loading User Commands:
[X] Help the silver-haired girl with the other food.

---

"I believe that the silver-haired young lady at the back might have better use for my assistance," Grimnír says. "She looks pretty busy."

"Well said," says Yuyuko. "I'm sure Youmu would appreciate the help. Chen can help me with this special soup, instead."

"Yay! Let's finish the special soup for Vincent!" cries Chen happily.

Grimnír nods politely before heading towards the back of the kitchen. As he approaches the girl, she pauses to have a look at him. Her eyes are a beautiful shade of blue, but they seem to reflect some kind of unease.

"Good day, Miss Youmu," says Grimnír, "My name is Grimnír. May I offer to assist you with the cooking?"

"T-thanks I guess," she mutters. "Could you take care of the dish to your right? Just make sure it doesn't get burned."

Following Youmu's instructions, Grimnír easily takes over the counter beside her. The smell of the dish is wonderful as it sizzles against the pan. It seems to be some kind of chicken dish wrapped in bread crumbs and fried with hot oil.

...

Grimnír takes a glance at the newcomer. Dressed in worn traveller's clothes and a heavy coat, he seems like a rugged fellow. For some reason, the person is heavily armed. On his waist lies a scabbard complete with a dangerous looking sword. Slung behind his back is a large crossbow.

Heavily armed? Has this person come to attack them? Grimnír quickly reviews the chant for his defensive spell in his mind. He might not be experienced in combat, but if it comes to it, he has a few cards of his own to play.

Before he could warn anyone, the newcomer rushes straight toward Youmu, who, busy with the cooking, was clearly unaware of the visitor.

"Ah! V-Vincent?" cries Youmu.

Youmu takes a step back from the man, looking at the newcomer uncertainly. This doesn't look good. If he attacks from this range, she's finished.

Suddenly, the man, completely unashamed, rushes close to Youmu's face.

Did he just kiss her?

Extra: Discount Lamprey

"This is our last stop for today," he says. "We will continue with advanced manipulation of light and heat tomorrow."

Wriggle nods obediently as she follows. The day's lesson was harsh and tiring; she never expected it to be so difficult. The black-white really does make it look a lot easier than it really is when she casts those ridiculously flashy spells. Master himself mentioned that this kind of magic takes a lot of hard work to master, and despite how she acts, Marisa was not an exception. Her Mini-Hakkero is powerful, but all in all, it is still only a focusing device that reflects the energies of its user.

"We have arrived," says Master. "It's been a while since I've tasted her specialty."

"W-what? But isn't this -" Wriggle says.

"Something different is nice once in a while," he interrupts. "Variety is good for a magician."

Suddenly, a strange melody comes from behind the counter as they sit. This night stand is surprisingly popular in the area for its specialty. Wriggle heard that humans, youkai, tengu, and other strange beings travel from far away places just to taste the dishes. A few restaurants even offered to buy the recipe, offering quite a bit of coin, but the owner refuses to sell. A bit of a weird one, the owner seems satisfied with managing this little red-lantern stand.

"Night bird, night song~ Human shall turn off the light in the darkness~" sings the owner as she turns to her customers.

For a moment, the owner, a Night Sparrow youkai, looks at them with mouth agape. Wriggle gives her a polite smile and a wave, while her Master just nods slightly. But before Wriggle could say another word, the owner leaps from the counter and gives her a tight hug.

"I-It's great to see you too, Mystia," Wriggle says in a muffled voice.

"Firefly of the Evening~ On a journey she did go~" sings Mystia. "Leaving poor Mystia~ Alone I missed her so~"

Mystia takes Wriggle's hands and dances merrily around the night stand, singing a beautiful melody as they went. Twisting and turning, and interspersed with hugs, the sparrow lead her three times around before finally letting go and returning behind the counter. Throughout the commotion, Master said nothing and stayed completely silent.

"Now I shall cook something special~" Mystia says. "Something special for my long lost sister!"

"W-what?" Wriggle cries.

"We are the closest of friends~ the world cannot deny! Far more than best friends~ we are sisters, you and I!"

Mystia smiles brightly as she serves them each a large serving of grilled lamprey. The night went on pleasantly, with plenty of good food and polite conversation. The night sparrow was in such a good mood, that she even offered them a discount on the food.

"Just don't tear me up so badly next time," Mystia says playfully.

Loading User Commands:
[X] Talk to Yuyuko Saigyouji and Chen.

---

This must be Lady Yuyuko Saigyouji, the Ghost Princess of Hakugyokurou. Grimnír didn't know what to expect when he first heard of the Immortal Spirit, but most certainly, he did not expect this. In contrast to her regal title, she actually seems very cheerful and friendly. As he observes her chat with Chen, she seems quite good-humored, and perhaps even a little playful. She really looks like type who would spend her days drinking tea and taking it easy, rather than some grand judge and executioner of the netherworld. For a moment, he completely forgets that he is staring at a dead person.

"Ara? I didn't notice you there. Did you want something?" she asks him suddenly.

Grimnír mumbles incoherently as he tries to calm himself. When did he step so close to her? Was he drawn to this beautiful woman unconsciously? For indeed, she was beautiful. Her eyes reflected a duality, both childlike innocence and aging wisdom, something he never expected to see in one place.

Her short wavy hair is smooth and silky. He wonders idly about how it would feel to the touch. Everything about her: her face, her lips, the way her clothes caress her delicate curves, is simply dazzling. But there is something else as well. Something he can't explain. He feels safe around her. Safe.

"If you keep smiling and mumbling like that, you might scare Chen," she whispers. The sound of her voice is enough for him to feel warm and excited inside.

"I'm not scared of him!" Chen retorts. "I can take care of myself!"

"Of course, of course," says the ghost princess as she strokes the nekomata's hair. "I'm sure Ran would be proud of your efforts."

Grimnír manages to shake himself free of her trance in the short moment she turns away. He quickly bows to the ghost princess as an apology.

"F-forgive my indiscretion," he says, "Such a lapse of judgment will not happen again, I assure you."

"Your name then?" she asks. "Komachi mentioned that she found you while cooling off outside."

"Grimnír the Grey, or simply Grimnír. I'm an apprentice magician of sorts."

"I see," says the ghost princess as she adds some herbs to the soup pot. Her eyes widen slightly. She quickly turns away to focus on her cooking. Somehow, this seems far too deliberate. When she heard his name, she seemed almost startled.

"Is something wrong?" he asks her.

"Nothing wrong. I was just thinking for a little bit," she says. "However, I do believe that your urgent question may be answered after lunch."

Yuyuko turns to look at him. She smiles kindly, but sadly.

"You are having lunch with us, of course?"

"O-of course! Your generosity is well received by this humble traveler."

Her smile widens at his answer.

"Well then, I could use some help with the cooking," says Yuyuko.

"I'll help!" cries Chen, glowing with enthusiasm.

"Or you can help the others if you like," Yuyuko adds.

[ ] Help Yuyuko and Chen with the soup dish.
[ ] Help Komachi with her stir-fry.
[ ] Help the silver-haired girl with the other food.

Loading User Commands:
[X] Make up an excuse and head for the kitchen. You need to get away.

---

What could possibly go wrong? It wouldn't be too bad if Chen started hallucinating and jumping around the room like crazy. He might even have a chance to see her cast spell cards at imaginary opponents in the room. Perfect for dinner and a show. Or perhaps the mushrooms would alter her perception and hormones. It might be nice to watch her struggle in discomfort until she snuggles up to the closest warm body she can find - namely himself. Maybe when the others arrive, they'll want to join in the fun too. Alternatively, the mushrooms might just make her sick. Nursing the cute little cat girl back to health sounds quite appealing, for some reason. Maybe she would begin to think of him as a real big brother then.

Grimnr shakes his head. No. He can't let Chen have even one bite of these mushrooms. That would be dangerous. That would be irresponsible. That would be downright idiotic. He has absolutely no idea what they do, and Marisa is in no condition to explain what they are for. It simply won't do to even consider such an option.

"Er, Chen?" he manages. "Are you hungry?"

The little nekomata nods vigorously before returning to her sniffing. She seems to be enjoying the aroma of the mushrooms quite a bit. Grimnr himself didn't smell anything especially good about them; maybe her sense of smell is like that of a cat?

"Then why don't we get you something from the kitchen? Maybe we can find you something nice."

Chen's eyes light up at the suggestion.

"I want a sweet bun!" she cries. "Big sis Yuyu~ always has great sweet buns!"

He pats her gently on the head in an attempt to calm her down. This wasn't exactly what he had in mind, but it did get her attention off the mushrooms. Still, his nervousness only increases. For some reason, he has a really bad feeling about the sweet buns.

"W-well then, why don't we see what's cooking?" he suggests.

Before he can say anything more, Chen grabs his hand and practically drags him out of the dining room. Half-running and half-tripping, Grimnr finds himself in the kitchen before he can get himself oriented. He rubs his head as he waits for his vision to clear.

"Is this the magician you were talking about?" says a blue-white blur on the left.

"Yep, that's him. Funny-looking fellow, isn't he?" replies a taller blur that could only be Komachi.

"Oh. I thought it might have been Vincent," comments a slightly disappointed voice from the back.

"Now that's why I told you to be nice to the man," the blue-white says. "He might just run off with someone else, and I know that I wouldn't turn him down~"

"L-Lady Yuyuko!" cries the voice from the back.

"Quit teasing her, you scheming ghost princess. The guy isn't that special. He's just a little bit different from the others." Komachi says.

"Ara? But didn't you say earlier that he was pretty cool when he protected Chen? Perhaps the lazy shinigami is scheming as well, I wonder~ I wonder~" says the blue-white.

"Stop listening only when it's convenient! A-and don't mind what I said! Don't mind! Don't mind!" argues Komachi.

Grimnr pauses. He heard a saying about this in the past - something that went like, "Wherever there are three women, it is noisy." He feels a bit guilty to overhear such a conversation.Somehow, he feels like he shouldn't hear any of this, even if the discussion doesn't seem to be about him.

Chen lets go of his hand and runs toward the blue-white blur. She seems to be excited.

After a few more moments, his vision returns to normal. He looks around. They all seem to be in a large kitchen, not unlike those in restaurants and hotels. Surely, such a large mansion is well-equipped for large parties and other events. There are several different cooking implements hanging on the walls, as if in display. He then notices that the owners of the three voices seem to be preparing dishes at different sides of the room.

To the left, a kimono-clad woman of otherworldly beauty cheerfully stirs a soup pot, adding a few ingredients every now and then. The childlike expression in her deep maroon eyes goes well with her antics. Dressed lavishly in a blue and white kimono, this must be Yuyuko Saigyouji, the Ghost Princess of Hakugyokurou. Chen is chatting with her animatedly.

To the right, a familiar girl seems to be stir-frying something. Wait, did she just add something like a snake into the pan? Her red eyes are full of focus as she concentrates on her cooking. For some reason, the look doesn't suit her. With her trademark scythe lying against the counter nearby, this is definitely Komachi, the shinigami from Sanzu River.

Somewhere toward the back, another girl is multi-tasking as she runs back and forth between three different counters. The speed at which she moves is incredible - she is but a blur in his eyes. As the silver-haired girl pauses to wipe her forehead, he manages to get a closer look. She wears a neatly pressed green and white dress of an Eastern design, yet that is not what catches his attention. A large ghostly wisp hovers beside her as she hurries with her work.

"Umm..."

[ ] Talk to Yuyuko Saigyouji and Chen.
[ ] Have a chat with Komachi.
[ ] Approach the silver-haired girl.
[ ] Don't talk to anyone. Head back to the dining room.

Optional:
[ ] Specify topic of discussion.

Loading User Commands:
[X] Accompany Chen in the dining room.

---

"Chen," she mutters weakly.

"Master Ran! Are you alright?"

"He is too strong... You have to get out of here..."

"I can't leave you behind! Just hold on to me and -"

"..."

"Master Ran! Speak to me! Master Ran!"

Chen holds back her tears. She has to be strong. With Ran defeated and Yukari missing, she has to defend Mayohiga. No matter what happens, he can't let that man through. Her family. Her home. Her world. All of it will end if he makes it through. This person is not a man, he is a destroyer! He will consume everything in Gensokyo, and even that will not be enough. He will devour the Outside and the countless other worlds across the boundaries.

Chen carefully lays Master Ran on the ground. It is too late for escape. She has no choice - even a shikigami's shikigami must fight. She knows that she is not strong. She knows that she is not smart. She knows that she is not wise. But she will not stand and watch idly as everything she loves burns down to the ground.

"Is that all the great Calculator is capable of? You disappoint me Ran," the dark wizard says. "I expected much more from the fabled disciple of Yukari. Perhaps I was mistaken to think that the Yakumo family was a threat."

Chen stands up and turns around. She carefully lands on the last portion of the destroyed mansion. She looks up to see the dark wizard approaching through the fog of war. Master Ran said that he was magician from another world. He fooled Lady Yukari into teaching him the secrets between the borders, then swallowed her up to strengthen his own powers. This person has lost his humanity long ago, no doubt. He crushed the magician of the forest and the shrine maiden like flies when he unleashed his true wrath. His power threatens to break the boundaries of Gensokyo itself. But she won't run away. This time, as a shikigami...

"I won't let you pass!" she shouts. She spreads her arms and bravely hovers before the dark wizard.

"Oho? The servant's servant dares stand in my way? Don't you realize the futility of your efforts?"

"I will fight and I will defeat you!"

The dark wizard chuckles, then breaks out into laughter. His voice echoes eerily into the devasted landscape.

"Very well then. I will make your death worthy of a thousand songs in Valhalla!"

He raises a single hand lazily at the young nekomata.

"Open... the gate..." he mutters.

Without warning, thousands of black spears start falling from the heavens. Chen barely dodges the swift projectiles that easily impaled her master. If there is anything that she is confident in, it is her speed. She manages to weave in and out of the barrage completely unscathed.

"Not bad, for a servant," the dark wizard says. "You will need to do much more than that if you are to defeat me, however."

Chen grits her teeth. She has no choice. She must use her ultimate technique. She closes her eyes and begins to focus.

"Giving up already? Well all the better then."

It took her over two hundred years to master this technique. She trained in the mountains in secret, hiding it even from Lady Yukari and her beloved Master Ran. In all honesty, the technique is still incomplete, but she has no choice. She won't have enough stamina to use this if she delays any longer.

"I will make your death swift, in respect to your bravery."

Chen opens her eyes and looks at the dark wizard in defiance.

"No..."

The focusing seal is almost complete, but this will use all of her strength. She has only one chance.

"It is your death that will be swift."

She draws out her last spell card.

"Ultimate Servant, 「Legion of Promised Victory」"

...

"And with the power of the ultimate shikigami, she defeats the dark wizard and saves Gensokyo from destruction!"

Grimnír clears his throat loudly.

"I-I see. That's great and all, but you should really get down from the table, Chen."

Chen gets down from the table, blushing slightly. The cat girl seems to have a great imagination, at the very least. What was all that about a dark wizard? And for some reason, why does he feel that he should be greatly annoyed at this, as if it was a rip-off from something he has seen before? Too bad he can't remember anything from his own past.

"And that is why I need to become strong!" Chen says with confidence. "Someday, I will protect both Master Ran and Lady Yukari all by myself!"

"That sounds great! Good to hear that you have found your own drive to succeed," he manages. A little encouragement won't hurt.

Grimnír takes a moment to examine his sack. After making sure that he hasn't lost anything, he raises his head.

"E-eh?" he says, startled. Chen is standing right beside him now, sniffing at him.

"Something smells good," she says.

He pauses. There isn't anything on his person that has any particular smell except for...

"..."

This doesn't look good. He has no doubt that Chen can take the mushrooms by force if she really wants to.

[ ] Let her have a mushroom. She says that it smells good.
[ ] Challenge her to a magician's duel. You need to distract her.
[ ] Try to talk about something else. Tell her that she must be smelling lunch.
[ ] Make up an excuse and head for the kitchen. You need to get away.
[ ] Tell her that you need to use the toilet. Escape before she can argue.
[ ] Custom

Loading User Commands:
[X] Try to talk to Chen about something.

---

Grimnír flies a little bit closer to Chen.

"So Chen, what sort of things do you like?"

"E-eh?" the cat girl stammers.

She quickly hides behind Komachi. The shinigami chuckles a bit.

"Careful there, Grim," she says. "Despite her appearance, she is a top class nekomata. Her combat skill is at a different level compared to yours. Unless you are hiding some kind of world shattering power, I would be careful."

Komachi pats Chen on the head encouragingly.

"So-sorry about that," he manages. "I couldn't help myself. Anyone would want to get closer to a cute little girl like her."

Chen peeks from behind Komachi, blushing slightly.

"Such a dangerous thing to say, Mr. Magician," the shinigami comments.

"I-I mean that I want to be her friend! Don't misunderstand!"

"Of course! Of course!"

Komachi turns to the nekomata.

"So, would you like to make another friend today?"

Chen takes a long look at Grimnír before speaking.

"I like big brother Vincent better!" she says finally. "This guy looks pretty weak."

Grimnír smiles weakly.

"That's a pretty mean thing to say, even if he is just a human," Komachi says sternly. "You should apologize."

"I don't wanna! This guy is weak! I don't like weak guys! They're useless!" she whines.

"Don't make me tell Ran about your rude behavior," the shinigami adds.

"E-eh? Please don't tell Ran! Please don't tell! I promise to be good!"

"Then apologize."

The cat girl flies in front of him and bows politely.

"I'm very sorry!"

...

Several minutes later, they find themselves at the entrance to the Hakugyokurou grounds.

"Wait patiently at the dining room," Komachi instructs Chen. "I'll see if I can find Youmu. She must be in the kitchen by now."

Grimnír pauses to think.
[ ] Accompany Chen in the dining room.
[ ] Follow Komachi to the kitchen.
[ ] Take a walk around the grounds.
[ ] Wander around aimlessly.
[ ] Custom

Loading User Commands:
[X] Ask for directions to Hakugyokurou.

---

Grimnír stands up and brushes the dust off his robes and sack. Nothing seems to have been damaged during the chase. He takes the walking stick before turning back to Komachi.

"I am currently on an urgent errand," he says. "May I ask if you know the way to Hakugyokurou?"

"The ghost princess' place?"

"That is correct. I need to see the good Lady Yuyuko Saigyouji as soon as possible."

Komachi pauses for a moment. She seems to be in deep thought. Somehow, such a serious expression doesn't fit this girl. She seems pretty friendly and carefree, if not a little bit odd. She has a strange, macabre air about her. The scythe she carries is especially disconcerting. He wonders idly about what a shinigami does for a living.

"Alright then," she says finally.

The girl turns toward her left and peers into the deep fog. There are a few gloomy trees near the steps.

"Why don't you come out now? This guy seems alright."

Grimnír follows her gaze toward an ancient old tree. A small child steps out in view. She is wearing a red and pink outfit with gold trimming. A comfortable looking green hat covers her her brown hair. Her dark orange eyes are strange, but that isn't what catches his attention the most. She has a pair of cat ears protruding from hair and two long cat tails poking from under her dress. Is she some sort of cat demon?

"Come on closer, don't be shy," Komachi says.

The cat girl takes a few steps closer. Grimnír takes care not to make any sudden moves. Somehow, he feels that she might run off if she is startled. After a few more encouraging words, the girl finally steps beside Komachi. The shinigami ruffles the smaller girl's hair.

"This is Chen," Komachi says. "We both just came from Hakugyokurou."

"N-nice to meet you," the cat-eared girl says with a bow. "M-my name is Chen."

Grimnír returns the bow before continuing.

"I am Grimnír."

"Grim-nier?" Chen asks. "G-Grim-near? Grim-neir?"

He shakes his head as she tries to pronounce his name properly.

"Just call him Grim," Komachi says.

"Grim," Chen repeats. "B-big brother Grim?"

Grimnír nods reluctantly. It will do for now.

"Anyway, why don't we head back to Hakugyokurou together? It's just a few minutes away," the shinigami suggests.

"Weren't you leaving?"

"Not really. We were just asked to have a 'time-out' of sorts. Nothing you need to worry about."

Grimnír has a slightly bad feeling about the way she dismissed the question.

"Anyway, we should get going. They need to know how many guests we are having for lunch."

Before he can reply, Komachi grabs his hand and takes off into the air. It takes a moment for him to recover and fly on his own. Chen follows close behind Komachi. Soon, all three of them are flying over the endless stairs toward Hakugyokurou.

[ ] Start a conversation with Komachi.
[ ] Try to talk to Chen about something.
[ ] Stay silent. Let them speak first.
[ ] Custom

Loading User Commands:
[X] A scythe wielder

---

Without warning, several projectiles fly toward him from the newcomer.

"W-what the fu -"

Grimnír doesn't have time to dodge them. He closes his eyes and braces for the impact, but it never comes. Slowly, he opens his eyes.

"..."

Grimnír watches the scene with mouth agape. Dozens, maybe hundreds of projectiles fly past him. Several of them miss him by only a few inches. While he finds it strange that they aren't hitting him, something else grabs his attention. The projectiles seem to be coins, or some similar currency. He can't help but feel that this is out of place. Why would someone use coins as a weapon? Wouldn't that be extremely inefficient in terms of cost?

"Pop!"

After a few moments, he realizes that he isn't the target. He turns around to a pleasant sight. The crazed fairies have begun to retreat. He watches in awe as several of them are hit by the speeding coins. The unlucky few that are hit by the barrage suddenly disappear with a comical "Pop!". Somehow, he is reminded of bubblegum or popcorn. The rest flee back down toward the mountains.

Grimnír heads down to the ground, landing deftly on one of the steps. It seems like he isn't going to end up as a meal for these insane fairies today. He actually has a few more cards to play in case the barrier broke, but he is thankful for the assistance all the same. He sits down and takes a few minutes to catch his breath.

A tall figure pauses above him for a moment. He can't make out much of the details, but the person seems to be carrying a long scythe. He waves at the stranger to show that he is alright. After giving him a wave back, the person heads back in pursuit of the fairies.

...

Before him stands a tall and confident presence. The woman's shining red eyes sparkle with life. Her short wavy hair is tied comfortably in two different places. She is wearing a white and blue dress of some sort. A wide belt is tied around her delicately slender waist; a single large coin is tied at the center like some sort of buckle. She is carrying a dangerous looking scythe carelessly with her right hand.

She raises a hand to silence him before he can speak.

"Always a pleasure to help out a future customer," she says cheerfully. "Just as a formality, may I ask if you are currently dead or dying?"

"Neither, I guess?" he answers carefully. That's a pretty morbid question to ask.

She sighs in relief before smiling brightly at him.

"That's convenient. I don't really feel like working right now."

Grimnír scratches his head in confusion.

"I don't really get it, but thanks," he manages. "You saved my life just now."

"D-don't mind! Don't mind!" she says as she blushes slightly in embarrassment. The girl strokes one of her stray hairs nervously. The gesture is pretty cute.

"..."

The two look at each other in an awkward silence for a few moments. Grimnír decides to speak first.

"Thank you very much for your help," he says. "My name is Grimnír. I'm an apprentice magician staying with a friend at the Forest of Magic. Pleasure to meet you!"

He extends his hand at the girl, but she just chuckles. Instead of shaking his head, the girl simply ruffles his hair.

"I'm Komachi, the Shinigami in charge of Sanzu River."

Grimnír pauses to think.

He can probably talk about one or two things.
[ ] Ask for directions to Hakugyokurou.
[ ] Ask about Shinigami.
[ ] Ask about the Sanzu River.
[ ] Offer to repay her somehow.
[ ] Offer to stay and chat for a while.
[ ] Offer her a mushroom.
[ ] Custom

Loading User Commands:
[X] Flee straight towards Hakugyokurou.
[X] Cast a protective barrier. Those things hurt when they hit.

---

Grimnír flies toward Hakugyokurou at full speed. It isn't very far from here, and he might be able to get help. Eirin said that the gardener is in charge of controlling rowdy spirits; perhaps she or the ghost princess can help him deal with these crazy fairies. He can't remember doing anything that would upset them. Why the hell are they after him anyway?

In the Forest of Magic, maybe they were just defending their territory. They probably considered him a threat (or perhaps food? He'd rather not think about it..). However, they followed him all the way out here - it can't be just that. Have they gone completely insane, or is it something else?

"D-dammit!"

One of the shots flies dangerously close to his head. If that hit, he would probably be falling down to his doom right now. If he doesn't do something fast, those foot-high little misfits will tear him apart. He takes a glance behind him. They are relentless in their attacks, and they look like they are catching up. This can't possibly end well.

"Terra...Anima... Murus..." he mumbles.

A yellow-orange spherical field forms around Grimnír. It isn't perfect, but he was able to use this spell to defend himself against Alice's assault earlier. She said that she was holding back only slightly, and that his barrier was pretty decent. It should be enough to take a few hits from these fairies. Sure enough, one of the shots hits its mark. He cringes as he feels it through the barrier. The force of the blow did little damage, but it really hurt. These cute little winged demons are out for blood.

"S-stupid fairies! Leave me alone!"

As he takes a closer look at his pursuers, he notices that the fairies have odd blank expressions on their faces. They aren't even chattering to each other like those he encountered at the Forest of Magic. Something is wrong with them. Even as a newcomer to Gensokyo, he can tell that this isn't natural.

"What's going on?" he asks loudly.

...

The chase continues for several long minutes. Thankfully, the fairies are fairly inaccurate with their shots. However, the sheer volume of energy globes is dangerous. Every so often, one of the shots manages to hit him. Each successive shot weakens the barrier considerably.

"Not good," he mutters.

Another shot hits the barrier. Grimnír flinches in agony as he feels it burn his left arm. The barrier is getting weaker. He can't take much more of this. He looks below to see that the terrain has changed. He seems to be flying over a ridiculously long set of stairs now. He must be getting close to Hakugyokurou. But his vision is blurring.

"..."

He can see something approaching from somewhere in front of him.

[ ] A ghostly presence
[ ] A scythe wielder
[ ] A young child

Loading User Commands:
[X] Continue toward Hakugyokurou at full speed. You can't get sidetracked here.

---

Grimnír can't afford to waste any time.

Eirin said that the ghost princess Yuyuko Saigyouji is a good friend of Yukari Yakumo. She lives in Hakugyokurou together with her gardener and retainer Youmu Konpaku. The lunarian doctor mentioned that they are both quite amiable as long as he doesn't do anything offensive. Hopefully, he can get the help he needs without trouble.

He takes one last look of longing at the street stand as he passes over it. Some grilled chicken and a beer would be a great, but now isn't the time. He sighs as he checks his things again.

"Got no money anyway," he mutters to himself.

He hears a faint melody as he flies by, but he pays it no heed. Soon, the red-lantern stand is far behind him. He probably didn't miss anything important.

Maybe.

...

A few minutes later, he finds himself flying over a heavily forested mountain. To the left, he can see a large peak reaching high into the clouds. He can't see the top of the peak from here.

Grimnír pulls out the map Eirin left him. According to the map, that large peak is Youkai Mountain. He is getting pretty close to Hakugyokurou. Perhaps he can make it there without incident.

He takes a moment to examine the contents of his sack as he continues onward. He looks sadly at the small pouch full of mushrooms. It must be useful somehow, since Marisa gave them. He still has the beginner's magic book that he borrowed from Alice. He is almost halfway done with the book, though he still hasn't tried some of the more advanced exercises. He is carrying five blank spell cards and one special card of his own. He isn't exactly sure how to use them, so he should find time to ask someone about it.

"W-what the hell?" he cries as he barely dodges a shining ball of light.

Grimnír turns around and finds over a dozen fairies flying behind him. Small globes of light are already forming in their hands. This doesn't look good. Didn't Eirin say that this path is supposed to be safe?

"Oh shi-"

What should he do?
[ ] Flee straight towards Hakugyokurou.
[ ] Try to lose them in the mountains.
[ ] Stand and fight.

How should he deal with the attacks?
[ ] Dodge the projectiles. A moving target is harder to hit.
[ ] Cast a protective barrier. Those things hurt when they hit.
[ ] Try your spell card. It might help somehow.
[ ] Attempt to counterattack. Fight fire with fire.
[ ] Use _____ magic. You don't have much choice.
[ ] Custom

Grimnír continues soaring above the trees as he heads toward Hakugyokurou. Eirin said that the route should be safe as long as he doesn't get sidetracked. So far, he hasn't seen anything unusual.

"..."

However, he is sure that he is being followed. He can feel several pairs of eyes watching him from beneath the treeline. For now, they seem to be trailing him at a relatively safe distance, so he isn't sure who they are or how many.

He is currently flying over one of the trails north of the Human Village. He doesn't see any travellers walking along the path. Strange.

Suddenly, something catches his eye from below. There seems to be a red-lantern stand along the road. Maybe they sell grilled chicken or other tasty snacks there. Grimnír can feel his stomach grumble at the thought.

Then he remembers that he doesn't have any money.

[ ] Continue toward Hakugyokurou at full speed. You can't get sidetracked here.
[ ] Continue toward Hakugyokurou at half speed. See if you can identify those following you.
[ ] Head down and check out the stand. Maybe you can ask for help.
[ ] Head down and check out the stand. Maybe you can have a snack.
[ ] Custom

Loading User Commands:
[X] Go to Hakugyokurou alone.
[X] Custom

---

Grimnír finds his will wavering, but he really believes that Yukari can help. She may be difficult to predict, but someone with her abilities can surely be of great assistance. At the very least, she might be able to point them in the right direction. The power to manipulate boundaries must count for something, after all.

"I'm sorry Alice, but I really believe that Yukari can help," he says sternly.

Alice lowers her head. He can't see her face expression. Grimnír swallows nervously. He can feel a rift forming between them. She isn't taking this well.

"I understand," she whispers. Alice turns around to leave.

He needs to do something. Without warning, he grabs her hand.

"Wait," he says. "I can't let you go alone out there."

Alice pulls her hand away.

"I'm not that weak. I can take care of myself," she says cooly.

"No doubts here, but that isn't the reason."

Alice turns around and looks at him. Her eyes are cold and angry. He wouldn't be surprised if she would attack him right now. At this moment, she really doesn't seem like an ordinary human. However, she waits patiently for him to continue. Grimnír takes a moment to organize his thoughts.

"I don't want you to feel alone anymore," he continues.

"..."

Silence fills the room.

"- and that's why I'm going to go with you anyway, even if I disagree." he finishes.

Alice looks up at him in surprise. He can see her eyes starting to tear up again.

"W-what? Y-you don't have to! I mean -"

Suddenly, a loud snap interrupts them. Eirin smiles slyly as she watches the two blush and fidget in embarrassment. She clears her throat loudly before speaking.

"While I hate to interrupt such a touching moment," she says, "We should get moving some time this week..."

Eirin suddenly points at the bunny girl.

"Reisen will accompany Alice in the Forest of Magic. I believe that the two of them should be able to handle themselves in case of trouble."

Eirin points at Grimnír.

"I'll give you directions to Hakugyokurou. Since you can fly, you shouldn't meet any problems on the way. Just don't get sidetracked and you will be fine. This way you can try both methods."

Eirin nods to herself confidently.

"This will also prevent you two from getting distracted by each other," she adds with a mischievous grin.

Extra: Winter Firefly

Wriggle shivers in the cold.

"W-why have we come here?" she asks. "Y-you know that I hate this weather!"

He nods slowly to the youkai girl.

"We have come here to test your abilities," he says slowly. "Magic does exist outside of Gensokyo."

She pouts at him, shuddering violently.

"B-b-but you said that magic doesn't normally work in the Outside! Only really powerful beings like Yukari can use their powers easily. I-I can't even keep warm, much less fly out here."

"No, you can't," he says. "Even if you could fly, it would be a bad idea to attract unnecessary attention here in the Outside. Youkai who are foolish enough to expose their abilities in this place are often mistaken as aliens by government agencies. They end up killed, captured, or worse."

"O-of course I know that," she says. "Due to their weakened state, even youkai are vulnerable when they cross over to this world."

"Good to see that you were listening to my lecture," he says with a gentle smile.

Wriggle only listened half-way, of course. She still doesn't understand why magic and other youkai abilities are difficult to use in the Outside; perhaps she fell asleep at that part of the lesson. She does remember that Humans in the Outside rely on technology and science, and have found numerous ways to cope without magic.

Master said that Youkai and Humans from Gensokyo cross the border over to the other side every once in a while, not unlike the Outsiders who sometimes end up in Gensokyo. Those incidents rarely end well. He said that most of them end up disoriented and confused, as they can't use their powers properly.

The foolish ones often end up killed or captured by the local authorities, since human weapons work very effectively in a world that weakens magic. There are a few who manage to return to Gensokyo, while some willingly choose to continue living in the Outside.

"This place will do," he says.

Wriggle looks around. This must be what Outsiders call a "park". Master said that they sometimes construct artificial forests inside cities for their own enjoyment. However, she finds these places as poor imitations of nature, not unlike the "zoo" they visited earlier.

"There isn't anyone around at this time of the night," he says "We can begin your training."

"T-training? O-out here in the blistering cold?" she argues.

"The conditions are perfect to test your casting ability under stressful conditions."

"..."

"I want you to light up those pine trees," he says pointing. "If you can't pass this trial, then we may as well return to the border."

...

"Did you hear about it, Renko? Did you? Did you?"

"Of course I heard about it. It was all over the evening news. Fireflies gathered into one of the large pine trees in the park."

"I rushed over there to see it for myself, but by the time I got there it was all over."

"Some say that the University did it as a present for the children in the orphanage beside the park. I heard that they couldn't afford to set up a Christmas tree this year."

"Impossible. My biology professor told me that while their pheromone research on insects is promising, there isn't any technology available to pull such a stunt. This has got to be a supernatural incident!"

"I suppose. But don't you think that it is pretty sad that all the fireflies died after about half an hour? The weather was freezing. They never had a chance."

...

When they got back, she bid her master good night before returning to her room.

After making sure that the door was locked, she crept into her bed.

Wriggle Nightbug cried long into the night.