Ch. 4 EX3: Islands of 8 - Netherworld
Sushi Diver
Remilia
Why are we crossing the sea again? If we were humans, this would be like us jumping back and forth over a river of lava!
Flandre
What are you talking about? We're noble vampire ladies! Sure, we're weak to water, but it's not that big of a deal for us.
Remilia
Just because I wouldn't die doesn't mean I want to burn my toes off! You're a vampire, too, so you should understand!
Flandre
Oh, right! I was focusing too much on how we could just go "whoosh" and heal up any damage.
Flandre
Like, "Whoosh! CHARISMA HEAL!"
Remilia
You're making fun of me, aren't you?! What did I do to deserve that?!
Flandre
Whoosh!
Flandre
CHARISMA HEAL!
Remilia
...
Remilia
(Is she OK? I'm really starting to get worried. Has she been able to make any friends...?)
Please stop swinging your arms about! It's dangerous!
There's nothing but water below and sunshine above!
The parasol I'm holding isn't that big.
Remilia
Hear that, Flan? You really have to be more careful, or you'll be the one going "whoosh" in the sunlight...
Remilia
...Wait, can you smell something burning?
Flandre
Yeah, I can. It smells kinda tasty.
Remilia
Huh? Tasty? There really might be something wrong with you, after all... Ah!
Flandre
The tip of your cute devil wing is burning!
Flandre
You must've missed a spot when you applied Patchy's sunscreen! Silly goose! We should call you the Scarlet Ditz!
Flandre
Or the Scorched Devil! Kyahaha!
Remilia
Hot hot hot hot hot hot!
Remilia
I'M BURNING!
Oh no!
We have to put it out!
Flandre
A MASTER SPARK?!
Flandre
How cruel! What kind of Marisa would do such a thing?!
???
If I was any slower, you woulda turned into a devil steak.
Red Marisa
But blasting all the oxygen away with my Master Spark extinguished the flames in seconds.
Red Marisa
It seems you live to see another night, little vampire!
Flandre
Urgh! What's the crazy drill sergeant doing here?!
Flandre
Weren't you the last boss we defeated in a glorious battle before you awoke to your full power?!
Red Marisa
No, you must've dreamed that.
Red Marisa
The Wishing Balls are scattered across all the islands, so I figured you might need some help gathering them all.
Red Marisa
And I'm sure people have already taken possession of some of them... no, probably all of them by now.
Red Marisa
Since everyone loves festivals in this Gensokyo of eternal summer, they're bound to use them as prizes for competitions.
Red Marisa
By pulling in more participants and a bigger crowd, they'll garner more glory, more respect, or, in some cases, more fear.
Flandre
Competitions?! Right, didn't the karakasa-obake say something about a baseball competition?
Red Marisa
Yeah, we'll have to win that competition soon, but gathering Wishing Balls is still too dangerous for you three right now.
Red Marisa
Lucky for you, I'm not so mean as to send you out on your own.
Red Marisa
In fact, I'm so nice that I've even decided to accompany you.
Remilia
You're aware that your Master Spark uses more sunlight than other Marisas, right?
Remilia
Are you sure you know the meaning of the word "nice"?
Red Marisa
Shut up and spread out!
Remilia & Flandre
Huh?
Red Marisa
It came from underwater! The vampires can't retaliate against anyone down there!
Red Marisa
Come with me, PLAYER! We'll handle this!
Yes, ma'am!
Red Marisa
(...Hm? I think I see someone.)
Red Marisa
(Yep, she's definitely the one who attacked us!)
Youmu
...
Youmu
...!
Youmu
Glub-blub?! Blublublub! Gablub boboboboblub!
Red Marisa
(I got you now!)
Sushi Swordswoman
Youmu
...And now I'm here. You found me as I was searching for fish to make sushi for Lady Yuyuko.
Youmu
I never expected to run into anyone underwater.
Youmu
It was a big surprise!
Red Marisa
This world's Youmu seems even more cheerfully clueless than usual.
Remilia
Forget about that. Did you hear what she said?!
Remilia
Honestly, I didn't understand a word of it!
Flandre
She said something about temperament, right? But I still don't get what that's got to do with sushi.
Youmu
Umm, about that...
Youmu
Would you like any sushi?
She changed the topic...
Red Marisa
And she did it with a really big smile...
Remilia
Why are you here in Gensokyo, anyway? Shouldn't you be in the Netherworld? Start explaining from there.
Youmu
What?! That's so mean! I visit Gensokyo practically all the time! Haven't you seen me wandering around?!
Flandre
You'll never explain anything properly if you keep misinterpreting people's questions and changing the topic.
Remilia
(Flan's destroying someone with logic...)
Youmu
So what? It's OK if you don't understand.
???
...No, this isn't OK at all.
Yuyuko
You haven't gathered nearly enough fish.
Yuyuko
I'll have to send you out to get more as soon as you finish making sushi out of this catch. You need to do better, Youmu.
Youmu
*sob* Lady Yuyuko...!
Remilia
...!
Remilia
Uh oh!
Flandre
Huh? What's wrong?
Remilia
She's going to steal our position as the noble swimsuit ladies!
Flandre
What?! We can't let her do that!
Remilia
We have to do something before it's too late! Umm, try walking elegantly!
Flandre
You no-brained noble!
Flandre
How is that elegant?! All you're doing is walking around in a panic!
Flandre
You're meant to be the noble head of the illustrious Scarlet family! Not some headless chicken!
Flandre
(Calling her a disgrace might actually make her cry, so I think I'll stop there.)
Flandre
I'm way more elegant! Give me your title! From this day forth, I'm the Eternally Young Rainbow Super Moon!
Flandre
You might have lived a bit longer than me, but you're still just as small!
Remilia
Yikes. How can you say all that with a smile on your face? Honestly, it's pretty disconcerting...
Flandre
Sorry, I went too far.
Please try to stay under the parasol, OK?
Remilia
Is that all you have to say, PLAYER?! Shouldn't you be backing me up?!
Yuyuko
Have they finished their little soap opera?
Red Marisa
Yep, that was the final episode. I reckon it was a pretty heartwarming conclusion, all in all.
Red Marisa
By the way, Yuyuko, since you've gone out of your way to meet us here...
Red Marisa
I'm guessing you've come to explain this thing with the sushi and give us some advice.
Yuyuko
Hmmm, I can see why you might expect that.
Yuyuko
You already know about the Wishing Balls, don't you? The vampires wouldn't have crossed the sea otherwise.
Red Marisa
Yeah, we know.
Yuyuko
Good, that saves me the trouble of explaining everything.
Yuyuko
I still don't know who, but someone's going to hold a competition on this island with a Wishing Ball up for grabs.
Yuyuko
The preparations are still being made, but it should start fairly soon.
Red Marisa
Good... It seems my prediction was correct!
Yuyuko
Youmu and I came here to participate in the competition. We have a really big reason for doing so.
Yuyuko
Ummm...
Yuyuko
...
Red Marisa
What's wrong? Is it meant to be a secret or something?
Youmu
No, this is something different. It's like this thing that Lady Yuyuko can't control...!
Youmu
Get ready!
Yuyuko
*TUMMY RUMBLE*
Remilia
Huh? What was that cute sound?
Flandre
I think she's hungry...
Red Marisa
Oh, is that all? Do you want a hot dog?
Yuyuko
No, thank you.
Yuyuko
That's not nearly enough to satisfy me.
Red Marisa
...!
Yuyuko
I'd be happy to tell you what I know. That could only help us, after all.
Yuyuko
But I have one condition.
Red Marisa
What kinda condition...?
Yuyuko
It's simple...
Yuyuko
You just have to wait until I finish eating.
Yuyuko
All right, Youmu, it's time to cook. You have to make super yummy food while being both fast and refined.
Youmu
I'll do my best!
Yuyuko
Your skills still leave a lot to be desired, so you need to practice. We'll never win the competition unless you improve.
Yuyuko
Remember that, OK?
Yuyuko
Now... get sushi-ing!
Become Sushi
Temperament is more complicated and mysterious than you might expect. It's what makes up the entire universe, after all.
In the outside world, they think there are over 100 elements and that elementary particles can be broken down indefinitely.
They seem to have forgotten that the word "element" implies that it shouldn't be possible to break them down at all.
The Three Essences constitute all of nature. The Moon is a part of nature, so it makes sense that fairies also exist there.
The four seasons constitute all life. The Moon shuns life, considering it impure, so there are no obvious seasons there.
And the Five Phases constitute all matter. The essences, the seasons, and the phases are the only "elements" we need.
...That's what you've been wanting to say, isn't it?
No matter the world, no matter your fate, you always talk about these things with Yuyuko Saigyouji.
Is that because you're best friends?
Okina
What say you, Yukari Yakumo?
Yukari
What do you want me to say? The Yukaris in other worlds are essentially strangers to me. I can't answer for them.
Okina
Even though you can manipulate boundaries?
Yukari
There's no such thing as an all-powerful ability. You should know that as well as anyone.
Okina
Hmm, I walked right into that one...
Okina
We already know that an all-powerful being couldn't possibly exist.
Okina
If there was such a being, they would be able to alter the world whenever and however they liked.
Okina
The concepts of effort, friendship, victory, skill, conflict, defeat, and even fate would lose all meaning.
Okina
If someone was truly all-powerful, they could bring about any result they desired while skipping all the stages to get there.
Okina
All the good stories in this world would get replaced by boring occurrences that don't resonate with anyone.
Okina
It would be the same as watching a blank screen. No audience would stick around for that.
Okina
However, we know this isn't the case because the universe is practically an ocean of colorful and compelling stories.
Okina
There is zero evidence that an all-powerful being has interfered. Ergo, none exist, and all abilities have limits.
Yukari
Quod erat demonstrandum. As you say, I am constantly limited by what I can and cannot do.
Okina
Yes. You, me, and everybody else.
Yukari
That said... I'm still capable of inferring more about our current situation.
Okina
Hm?
Yukari
I'm talking about you.
Yukari
Just like how there are two of me here, there should be another you―a you native to this world.
Yukari
And she must've also caused an incident in this world.
Yukari
While the specifics probably differ, I'm sure she caused this incident by meddling with the four seasons.
Okina
Surely you aren't insinuating that the incident caused by this world's me brought about this eternal summer...
Yukari
Of course not. That incident couldn't produce such drastic changes.
Yukari
What I'm trying to say is that since, for whatever reason, only summer temperament is prevalent in this world...
Yukari
There's no way this world's you isn't aware of that.
Yukari
So, naturally, she would try to do something about it.
Yukari
You like to meddle as much as me, don't you? Or have I misjudged you?
Okina
Haha, no, it seems you know me well enough.
Okina
As long as this world's me isn't overly divergent, she would definitely try to fix this eternal summer.
Okina
Even though everyone seems to believe that it's been like this for a long time, this lack of balance is extremely dangerous.
Okina
The cycle of life cannot continue without a cycle between summer and the three suppressed seasons.
Yukari
What do you think will happen if this continues?
Okina
I don't know. But the fact that outsiders like us managed to come here indicates something bad will happen soon.
Yukari
You're talking about marebito―visitors from other realms who arrive precisely when they are needed.
Okina
Yes, but I'm also referring to how stories work in general. If a world can be observed, something of note is bound to happen.
Yukari
I see. That's similar to how incidents and history work.
Okina
Probably, but I'll defer to you on that.
Yukari
If what you say is true, Yuyuko must have a key role to play in whatever's going to happen next.
Yukari
While it's true that you meddled with the seasons, Yuyuko's incident was the first one to alter their flow.
Yukari
If this world's you noticed something was up, it stands to reason that Yuyuko would notice before you.
Yukari
It seems I was right to plan ahead by sending the red Marisa to see Yuyuko.
Okina
Clever.
Okina
...Summer temperament, huh?
Yukari
What? Is something the matter?
Okina
Kind of. I was just thinking about the incident I started.
Okina
It might be a good idea to go over all the secondary effects it had on Gensokyo.
Okina
That might help us better understand what's happening in this world.
Red Marisa
...Right, that makes sense. Thinking about it now, you might be the person most knowledgeable about temperament.
Yuyuko
That's partly because I can somewhat alter my own temperament.
Yuyuko
But mainly because I researched how to manipulate the seasons by reading a bunch of old books.
Yuyuko
It's clear to anyone who can read the flow of temperament permeating this world that a storm is brewing.
Yuyuko
And whatever that storm is, I'm almost certain it's related to the Wishing Balls that appeared recently.
Red Marisa
So you're not here to claim the Wishing Balls. You just want to investigate them. Is that what you're saying?
Yuyuko
Pretty much. I already have my hands full with my wish concerning the Saigyou Ayakashi.
Yuyuko
I have to work to make that wish come true by myself. It's part of what makes my life as a ghost so fun and interesting.
Yuyuko
So, while other people might want the Wishing Balls, I don't.
Red Marisa
Good to know... So, back to this island's competition. You said it had something to do with seafood, right?
Red Marisa
Since you don't need the Wishing Balls, I'm guessing you're competing solely for Youmu's sake.
Yuyuko
That's right. And we're not in it for the prize.
Yuyuko
Youmu needs the practice.
Red Marisa
That's really nice of you.
Yuyuko
Yes.
Yuyuko
I'm nice.
Yuyuko
But...
Yuyuko
That was a lie!
Red Marisa
Huh?
Yuyuko
I really just want to eat lots of yummy food!
Yuyuko
Lots and lots!
Red Marisa
It was so important she had to say it twice!
Was that the reason?! Well, I guess eating is important...
Red Marisa
Why'd I call you nice?!
Red Marisa
...No, I can't let her get to me. Yuyuko says stuff like this all the time.
Red Marisa
And, from the looks of it, she's still hiding something from us!
Flandre
H-Hold on! Why do we have to learn how to cook from the half-human half-phantom?!
Flandre
And why sushi, of all things?!
Flandre
Who in their right mind would wanna eat sushi made by a blonde vampire with red eyes?
Flandre
Huh? There's plenty of people?!
Flandre
Maybe I should sprinkle sand on my sushi.
Remilia
I'm more confused by why everyone wants to train us all of a sudden! Also, this isn't really related, but...
Remilia
I want to eat Sakuya's sushi.
Remilia
I might be a little homesick.
Youmu
Stop moping around, you two. It's pathetic.
Youmu
The seafood cook-off is a team competition, so I can't enter it unless you learn how to cook.
Youmu
Please help me!
Remilia
You're the one acting pathetic!
Youmu
I've been thinking about this for a while, but considering your last name and how much you like tea, you must be from...
Youmu
...that former empire famous for gathering luxuries from all over the world. So you should be able to make sushi!
Youmu
No, that's not right, is it?
Youmu
That place is famous for having bad food!
Youmu
Sorry!
Flandre
She's trying to diss us with some half-baked knowledge! How should we punish her?! Should we do it scarlet devil-style?!
Remilia
Flan. A proper lady shouldn't speak like that.
Flandre
Ah... My apologies, sister.
Remilia
Apology accepted.
Remilia
Now then... Youmu, the half-human, half-phantom gardener of Hakugyokurou...
Remilia
You're right that we can't make sushi. But that's not because we're terrible cooks.
Remilia
It's because our hands are too small.
Remilia
So...
Remilia
I'll forgive your impertinence.
Uh oh! I don't know how to react to all that!
Youmu
You kind of lost me, but I'd be really grateful if you started cooking already!
Youmu
If you don't hurry, I'll have to prepare two new dishes for Lady Yuyuko's dinner.
Flandre
Yikes! She's way too violent!
Youmu
*sigh* I guess I'll have to make do with Remilia and Flan sashimi, after all.
Flandre
If you're gonna cook us, you could at least be more enthusiastic about it!
Youmu
I'll make sure nothing goes to waste.
Flandre
That doesn't make it any better!
Flandre
Don't you know that steaks and vampires don't go together?!
Yuyuko
Youmu. Why are you playing around?
Youmu
Ah, Lady Yuyuko! No, I was just teaching these two how to cook...
Youmu
But they still need more practice. I was planning to show you their skills once they've improved some more.
Yuyuko
There's no way they'll become chefs in such a short time. You should know that.
Yuyuko
I'd rather check to see how far your cooking skills have progressed. Right now.
Youmu
Huh?
Youmu
What?!
Youmu
But didn't you just eat?!
Yuyuko
Right, I forgot. Teehee.
Youmu
*stunned silence*
Red Marisa
PLAYER. Yuyuko still hasn't told us everything.
Red Marisa
But I'm sure she'll be more willing to talk on a full stomach, so please help out with Youmu's training.
Red Marisa
I'm counting on you.
Yuyuko
Ahhh, that was delicious. *rubbing her belly*
Youmu
What about dessert? Would you like some Remilia and Flan sashimi?
Yuyuko
I can't eat that much right now, so save them for later, OK?
Remilia & Flandre
...Huh?
Remilia & Flandre
She can't be serious!
Yuyuko
I sent Youmu to look for more fish because she won't be able to keep up with what I'm going to tell you.
Yuyuko
Everyone in Gensokyo who has even a modicum of pride in their cooking skills will gather here for the seafood cook-off.
Yuyuko
It will be a food festival, with every type of cuisine you could imagine.
Yuyuko
Youmu will surely improve as a cook by taking part. She might even learn how to make a dish that will truly satisfy me.
Yuyuko
But that's not why I'm here.
(I'm starting to feel a bit sorry for Youmu...)
Yuyuko
Have you heard of bioconcentration?
Yuyuko
The most efficient way to assess the temperament makeup of this world is through the organisms that live here.
Yuyuko
Organisms are like vehicles for temperament. They continually absorb temperament from their environment.
Yuyuko
And the quickest way to analyze what temperament they've accumulated...
Yuyuko
...is by eating them.
Remilia, Flandre & Marisa
Huh?
Yuyuko
The five tastes perceptible by the tongue can be used to assess the Five Phases.
Yuyuko
In other words, a tongue that can detect the tiniest variations of taste is the perfect temperament sensor!
Remilia, Flandre & Marisa
...!
Remilia, Flandre & Marisa
...What are you on about?
Yuyuko
It's simple. By tasting all the food at the cook-off, I'll learn all that there is to know about what's happening in this world.
Yuyuko
What don't you understand?
Remilia, Flandre & Marisa
...
Remilia, Flandre & Marisa
......
(Is everyone thinking what I'm thinking...?)
Remilia, Flandre & Marisa
You just want to eat, don't you?!
Yuyuko
That's not it at all!
