Kutaka Niwatari
Kutaka Niwatari's Fantasy Rebirth Story
Kutaka
A present for me?! For real?!
Kutaka
Wait, I can't accept this. As a checkpoint guard, I'll be punished for accepting a bribe!
Kutaka
TAKE IT BACK!
But it's not a bribe. Miss Eiki even said it's OK!
Kutaka
WHY DIDN'T YOU SAY SO?!
Kutaka
Even still, to think the youkai sage would give me a gift. It's a little on the flashy side, but this outfit sure is nice.
Kutaka
And seeing as I live on the Youkai Mountain, I can't afford to get on her bad side. My house actually isn't far from here.
Kutaka
The youkai sage's shikigami are often on the mountain. Maybe they live here. Or I guess there could just be a barrier nearby.
Kutaka
Whatever the case, this is a great gift! You can never have enough nice clothes!
I'm sure you'll look adorable in it!
Kutaka
Hehehe!
Kutaka
If I didn't get to wear clothes I like on my days off, there's no way I'd be able to handle the intensity of my job!
Kutaka
I've found that treating myself is super important. I'll even go out for a nice meal alone sometimes, too.
Kutaka
But forget about that! We've got important things to discuss.
We sure do...!
Kutaka
Lady Eiki has basically brought me up to speed regarding our plan to combat the Lost Word Incident.
Kutaka
And that includes your task of exploring the imaginary axis.
Kutaka
...Wait, what's an imaginary axis? That sure sounds like a complicated task. The type only a sage would give someone.
It's OK. I think I understand what she means.
Kutaka
For real?! That's good to hear. I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around all this.
What's your role in the plan?
Kutaka
Hmm... Essentially, I've just gotta keep doing my job as usual. Most days I leave my home on the Youkai Mountain...
Kutaka
...take the Road of Liminality to the Sanzu River, cross the river to get to Higan, then clock in at the checkpoint.
Kutaka
After that, I say good morning to everyone, check how they're getting on, organize their tasks, think up new strategies...
Kutaka
...report to my boss, meet with clients, write up any personnel or material requirements, oversee the souls' destinations...
Kutaka
...visit the destinations if required, return to the checkpoint, sign out for the day, and make my way home.
Kutaka
I'M ONE TIRED CHICKEN!
That's terrible...
...But it doesn't quite explain what your role is.
Kutaka
Shoot, you're right!
Kutaka
In the outside world, I think I'd be called a "project manager."
Kutaka
In other words, my job is to make sure the plan... goes according to plan! I'm here to support everyone involved.
Is little Piyo doing the same?
Kutaka
You bet! In fact, she has the most important job... Waking me up whenever I nod off!
Kutaka
I'm pretty great at controlling the flow of souls. In the end, that's what my role in all this comes down to.
Really?
Kutaka
I'm able to work as a guard thanks to my power to distribute water as Mikumari. Oh, and maybe as Oniwatari, too.
Kutaka
Souls are Water Element, you see? Their flow is determined by fixed principles.
Kutaka
The flow of souls is what allows the karmic cycle to keep spinning round and round. It's like a water wheel.
Kutaka
Someone also described it as an impossible waterfall illusion where the water flows in an infinite cycle, but I forgot who!
(That had to be Miss Yukari!)
Kutaka
Like I said, I dunno what an imaginary axis is, but I know it functions as a pathway for souls―a spiritual pathway.
Kutaka
And since phantoms are just clusters of temperament, that means it's also a network of spiritual frequencies.
Kutaka
All that is to say, there must be a tear or an opening in it somewhere, and it's your mission to find it.
Like finding a hole in a barrier?
Kutaka
That's kinda what it's like. In fact, in a practical sense, that's exactly what it's like.
Kutaka
Apparently, the sage's shikigami find and block holes in barriers. I think I get why the sage chose you for this.
(Meanwhile, I still don't have a clue...)
(It must have something to do with my journal.)
Kutaka
All this talk about Gensokyo's barriers...
What's the matter?
Kutaka
Nothing. I was just thinking about how strange barriers are.
Kutaka
But, actually, they're so common that perhaps it's not worth worrying about!
Kutaka
I guide phantoms to their destinations for a living, so I often wonder about things.
What kinda things?
Kutaka
Well, there are two main questions I have. They're pretty simple, really. The first is where do phantoms come from.
Kutaka
I've pretty much figured that one out.
Kutaka
Phantoms... or at least most phantoms, come from deceased humans.
Kutaka
As far as I know, around 4,000 phantoms pass through the checkpoint each day.
Kutaka
Most of them arrive from Gensokyo. But saying that, there aren't that many people in the Human Village.
Kutaka
In other words, humans who lose their lives in the outside world must become phantoms and enter Gensokyo.
Kutaka
And once they enter Gensokyo, they can't return. So, provided someone's not slacking off, they catch the ferry over to Higan.
Kutaka
All that one-way traffic goes on to create the flow of phantoms.
Kutaka
I don't have any proof, but that's my best guess at an explanation.
(That's why there are so many phantoms in Gensokyo.)
(It seems like Miss Komachi actually works pretty hard!)
Kutaka
The other type of phantoms are humans who were eaten by youkai. About 200 of them a day come from Gensokyo.
Yikes!
Kutaka
Again, with how few humans there are in the village, most of them have to originally be from the outside world.
Kutaka
Which in effect, sets a practical limit to how many youkai can live in Gensokyo.
Kutaka
There are 200 humans to eat per day, and that has to feed all the youkai.
Kutaka
All this kinda stuff is managed by the youkai sage, so it has a big influence on what will happen to Gensokyo in the future.
(As a human, I dunno what to make of all this...)
(Are people being spirited away right now?)
(She said 200 a day. That can't be right...)
Kutaka
Although, maybe I should save thinking about Gensokyo's future till after the Lost Word Incident is resolved.
Kutaka
...Miss PLAYER, are you OK?
I'm fine! I was just a bit surprised by what you said.
Kutaka
Oops!
Kutaka
I'm so sorry. I forgot that you're human for a moment there. No wonder you went quiet.
Kutaka
I can't believe I said all that stuff to you! I must be more exhausted than I thought...
Don't worry about it! It was all useful information!
Kutaka
For real? I sure hope so!
Kutaka
All right, let's refocus! It's time to set this plan in motion.
Kutaka
I dunno where this imaginary axis is, but we should start by looking for it in the Land of the Oni or the Animal Realm...
Kutaka
And if we end up needing to check the depths of Hell, we can always count on...
Kutaka
Miss Hisami Yomotsu!
Costume Presentation
Kutaka
The flow of souls is only orderly because we overseers manage it. Otherwise, oni and spirits would cause chaos. But I suppose I can manipulate this flow... You need this power, right? Lady Eiki gave her permission, so let me help you!
