310 - 350F (Up to 400F)
310F - 300th Floor Celebration?
Sanae
F-Finally...
Cirno
It's the 300th floor!
Sanae
Y-You stole my line...
Reisen
It wasn't easy climbing up this high, huh?
Youmu
You don't look all that tired...
Sakuya
Well done, everyone.
Sakuya
We've practically beaten the tower already!
Reimu & Marisa
Yeah, as if!
???
...Hey.
???
PLAYER!
Marisa
Did you fall asleep again?
No, I was just thinking about―
―what you guys said on the 300th floor...
Marisa
Wh-Whoa! Are you OK, PLAYER?!
Reimu
You don't look so well. Perhaps we were going too fast.
Cirno
Are you still tired?
Sakuya
Let's take a break. I'll lay out a picnic mat so you can lie down.
Huh? I thought I saw something for a second.
(There was a scarlet mist, but it was clearing up...)
???
Woohoo!
???
We finally resolved the incident!
Is this the Scarlet Devil Mansion?
Reimu? Marisa?
Reimu
Hm? What's wrong, PLAYER?
Marisa
Yeah, you should be celebrating. It's mainly thanks to you that we were able to resolve the incident.
What do you mean?
Oh, right, I've been helping you.
Marisa
That maid would always kick us out of the mansion, but thanks to your help...
Marisa
...we finally managed to get rid of the scarlet mist!
Reimu
Geez, calm down, Marisa. It still hasn't fully cleared yet.
Reimu
Though, I'm sure the sun's heat will clear the rest when it rises!
You can finally hang out your futon, Reimu!
Let's visit the library once the sun's up, Marisa!
Reimu & Marisa
Yeah!
???
Wake up, PLAYER.
Huh? Miss Sakuya?
What's going on?
Sakuya
Good, you're awake. You had me worried there for a second.
Reimu
You had us all worried! You just suddenly collapsed out of nowhere.
Marisa
But when we went to help you up, you were asleep. Did that battle tire you out or something?
Sorry, everyone. I didn't mean to worry you.
(Is that why Miss Sakuya let me rest on her lap?)
Sakuya
You should be OK if you can talk. Try to stand up.
Reimu
We somehow managed to resolve this incident, so the cherry blossoms should start blooming now.
Marisa
Yeah, I'm glad we resolved it before things really took a turn for the worse.
I feel a bit bad for Miss Yuyuko.
Sakuya
I know what you mean, but I think leaving things as they were would only bring her misfortune.
Reimu
C'mon, let's head home and enjoy the cherry blossoms with a party!
Marisa
Great idea. I'll go gather the others!
Sakuya
And I'll head back to the mansion to invite my mistress.
Reimu
Whoa, hold on! You have to ask me first before you invite anyone!
Ahahaha!
All the petals have fallen.
Marisa
I know we fought to stop it from reaching full bloom, but it's still kinda sad to see it like this.
Sakuya
Flowers wilt. That's what makes them flowers. It's wrong to try and preserve their beauty forever.
Reimu
Aren't you a vampire's maid? Should you really be saying something like that?
Sakuya
Why shouldn't I? Vampires don't necessarily live forever.
Marisa
Wow, that's ominous. It sounds like you've thought about this before.
Sakuya
I was merely giving my opinion on flowers. Lady Remilia is special.
Ha, hahaha...
(Maybe I should try to change the subject.)
Reimu
Brrrr. It's still freezing even though it's spring now.
Reimu
I'll probably catch a cold if I fly back in this weather.
Marisa
You said it. So, what do you suggest?
Reimu
Why don't we stay at Hakugyokurou for a while and help ourselves to some hot tea or something?
Sounds good!
Let's go ask Youmu to join us!
Marisa
Sure, let's go!
Sakuya
(These people are way too nice and forgiving.)
Sakuya
(Though... I guess I'm not really one to talk.)
Come on, Miss Sakuya, let's go!
???
...!
???
PLAYER!
(Miss Yukari...?)
(Someone's calling for me...)
Yukari?
Good, you're finally awake. Hello, PLAYER.
Wh-Who are you?
Yukari?
Hm? ...Oh, I see.
Yukari
I'm Yukari Yakumo. A different Yukari from the ones you know.
M-Miss Yukari?!
Yukari
Were you surprised by how different I look?
Some of the other Miss Yukaris look really different...
...so I was more surprised by how similar you are!
Yukari
PLAYER... I think you might've grown a bit too accustomed to the peculiarities of parallel words.
Yukari
Well, whatever. That isn't exactly a problem...
Yukari
Ahem, I've come here today to ask you a favor.
A favor?
Is there something I can help you with?
Yukari
Let me explain. The Scarlet Mist Incident occurred in my world, and my world's Reimu and Marisa resolved it.
Yukari
...Or so everyone thought. It turns out that it's still going on.
Huh?! Isn't that, like, really bad?!
Are you here to get help from other worlds?
Yukari
Exactly. I've come to ask for your help again to resolve the incident.
What do you mean, "again"?
Have you mistaken me for another PLAYER?
Yukari
Honestly, I'm unable to tell you apart from your parallel presences.
Yukari
I doubt anyone could tell you apart unless you were all in the same room together.
Yukari
However, regardless of which world you're from, you, the PLAYER before me, helped resolve our incident.
Yukari
That's the undeniable truth. And the assistance you provided cannot be understated.
Yukari
...
Yukari
My world's Reimu and Marisa are doing all they can to try and resolve the incident.
Yukari
They needed your help last time, but they've grown since then, so perhaps they can handle it on their own.
Yukari
If it turns out they can't, I shall pay you another visit. I wish you the best of health till then.
And she's gone.
So people can't tell me and parallel mes apart, huh?
I wonder why...
Aya
Good morning, Miss PLAYER. Are you feeling any better?
Aya
By the way, what were you wondering about?
I-It's nothing!
I was just talking to myself.
Aya
Really? You aren't trying to hide anything, are you?
R-Really, it's nothing! Don't worry about it!
Sanae
Oh, Miss PLAYER, you're awake. I hope you're feeling better.
Thanks. I'm fine now!
Sanae
Great! Now, I'm sorry to hurry you after you've just woken up, but we'll be setting off again soon. Please get ready!
OK. I'll get right to it!
Aya
(I'm sure there's a scoop here, and I can't wait to find out what it is!)
320F - When Time Equals Distance
Sumireko
*sigh* I've climbed up pretty high now. I wonder if I'll find someone on this floor, too.
Sumireko
Oh, there's someone over there! I better go say hello!
???
Oh, aren't you...?
???
You're not who I was expecting... Where are those girls?
Sumireko
Which girls?
Sumireko
Wait, you're Yuukarin and Alicia, aren't you?!
Yuuka
Yes, that's right.
Yuuka
But I must say, those nicknames of yours are quite creative. I don't think Alice realized you were talking to her.
Alice
Huh? You mean I'm Alicia?!
Alice
How was I meant to know that? That sounds completely different from Alice.
Sumireko
Really? You think so?
Sumireko
OK, Alicia, I'll try to come up with a better name! One you'll like!
Yuuka
Oh, isn't that nice, Alicia?
Alice
Just call me Alice!
Sumireko
By the way, what were you talking about before I got here? You seemed pretty worked up.
Alice
Ummmm...
Alice
Oh, right, now I remember. We were talking about our good-for-nothing friends... Reimu and Marisa.
Sumireko
Good-for-nothing friends...? Wait, you were talking about Reimers and Rissa?
Yuuka
Yes, though we were more complaining than talking.
Alice
We were complaining about how we followed them all the way here just for them to let us down again.
Alice
We were going to help them train, but they climbed up the tower without us.
Sumireko
(...It sounds like they ran away.)
Alice
The messed up weather ruined the materials I use to make dolls 'cause they took their sweet time resolving the incident.
Yuuka
The scarlet mist lasted for more than a year, affecting every season, so it wasn't easy repairing all the damage it caused.
Yuuka
And another incident could occur at any time, ruining much more than the weather.
Yuuka
We might be in store for something truly frightful.
Alice
Yeah, and even though we'll be there to help, the incident might last forever again if Reimu and Marisa don't get stronger.
Sumireko
(I see. So, in their world, things were still pretty rough even after the Scarlet Mist Incident got resolved.)
Sumireko
(It makes sense. If some strange mist was constantly in the air, it would surely damage everything from flowers to dolls.)
Sumireko
(It seems Yuukarin and Alicia both love Gensokyo no matter what world they're from...)
Sumireko
(Wait, hold on...)
Sumireko
(They're talking about the world where the Scarlet Mist Incident was prolonged, right?)
Sumireko
(I thought their incident kept going on forever 'cause it couldn't be resolved...)
Sumireko
(...but from the way they were talking, it seems their Reimers and Rissa resolved it. Something doesn't add up―)
Reimu
It wasn't easy, but I somehow managed to resolve the incident!
Reimu
It's a shame Marisa beat me to it. But I'm glad the incident has been resolved.
Reimu
Resolving incidents is easy when we work together! Right, Marisa?
Sumireko
(Are these Reimers' memories? The things she says each time seem kinda contradictory...)
Reimu
Shouldn't I do something about the incident? I'm not so sure it has to be resolved. I mean, it's not like it's hurting anyone.
Reimu
...Honestly, I was a little worried when the mist first appeared, but I've gotten used to it now.
Sumireko
(Hold on! Did she just say she gave up on resolving the incident?! Is she really Reimers?!)
Reimu
What?! There's another incident? And you're saying the scarlet mist is back? Don't tell me Remilia's back at it again.
Reimu
But... No, never mind...
Reimu
This isn't right. The same incident keeps coming back no matter how many times we resolve it...
Reimu
And the culprit is always different―
Sumireko
Wait, that sounded really important! Reimers, say that again...!
Alice
―and that's when I... Hey! Are you even listening?
Sumireko
Oh, sorry! I must've spaced out for a second there.
Alice & Yuuka
...
Yuuka
Come to think of it, you look and sound different from the Sumireko Usami I know, but you're her, aren't you?
Sumireko
Huh? Are you just realizing this now?! Yeah, I'm Sumireko... What about it?
Yuuka
I remember hearing you have psychic powers.
Yuuka
So I'm thinking you weren't just spacing out but having some kind of vision.
Sumireko
...I did see something, but I don't know what to make of it.
Alice
What do you mean?
Sumireko
I saw these weird, contradicting visions of Reimers from the world with the prolonged Scarlet Mist Incident...
Sumireko
I saw multiple Reimers who had all resolved the incident, but they said completely different things.
Sumireko
And I also saw a Reimers who'd given up on resolving it entirely... What could that mean?
Sumireko
And at the end, I feel like she said something really important but I couldn't hear her properly.
Alice
Hmm, I'm guessing you saw all that for a reason.
Yuuka
It's hard to say whether something seen through supernatural powers is a dream or an illusion.
Yuuka
But either way, I think it's safe to assume there's some greater meaning to what you saw.
Sumireko
R-Right...
Sumireko
Umm... so what was up with all those different Reimers?
Alice
To put it simply, I assume they were the same Reimu from different iterations of the same world.
Sumireko
That's not simple at all!
Yuuka
There are infinite parallel worlds. You could also call them probability spaces or simply Otherworlds.
Yuuka
And there don't have to be major differences between them. Sometimes, all that separates them is one tiny detail.
Sumireko
Like, how tiny?
Alice
For example, while it's sunny today in this world, there could be a parallel world where the only difference is that it's raining.
Alice
The possibilities are infinite, so there are surely worlds where the incident was resolved differently or with differing results.
Alice
Perhaps it would be easier to think of them as books lined up on a shelf.
Sumireko
You mean like how when you reread a book, time gets reset, and the story plays out the same as it did before?
Sumireko
Like, each time you reread a Momotaro picture book...
Sumireko
...the baby Momotaro comes out of a peach, gathers some animal friends, and then exterminates the oni on Oni Island.
Sumireko
For the reader, the story is repeated each time they read the book, but for Momotaro, it's always a new experience.
Sumireko
Hrmmm... But then, wouldn't the exact same story play out each time?
Sumireko
The book never changes, so the analogy doesn't work with the Reimers I saw. They kept saying something different.
Yuuka
Yes, that would be true if there was only one book. However, there are many books on a bookshelf.
Yuuka
To follow your example, it's like you read snippets from multiple versions of Momotaro all lined up together.
Yuuka
Maybe there was a version where Momotaro befriends a wolf, an otter, and an eagle or goes to the Dragon Palace.
Sumireko
I'm not sure if you could still call that Momotaro, but it does sound like a pretty fun read.
Sumireko
It's kinda like that recent version where he makes peace with the oni. I guess even well-known stories can be told differently.
Alice
Yeah, now you're starting to get it.
Alice
By the way, shouldn't you get back to climbing the tower? Surely that's what you came here to do.
Sumireko
Oh, that's right! Thanks for the chat, you two! I'll catch you later!
Alice
It seems Sumireko is a whirlwind no matter which world she's from...
Yuuka
She did appear rather suddenly. But for now, let's just be grateful for the interesting chat.
Alice
Yeah... All right, we better get a move on too. We have to catch up with our useless friends!
330F - Shikigami and a High Schooler
Sumireko
Now, if this follows the same pattern as the other floors...
Sumireko
...I should meet someone from another world about now!
Sumireko
With a little deductive reasoning, I can predict the future without even using my psychic powers!
Sumireko
...Oops, I shouldn't say that! When I brag about something, it always comes back to bite me.
Sumireko
I'm a long way from home, so I can't just rely on my schoolgirl and supernatural powers.
Sumireko
Wait... THERE'S A CAT!
Chen
Umm... the lasers curve like this, so...
Chen
If I fly between them like this, I should be able to... No, this doesn't work either! I get hit!
Ran
Chen.
Chen
Oh, Lady Ran.
Ran
Are you still struggling with those calculations? What part are you stuck on?
Chen
Ummm...!
Chen
Even if I somehow manage to skirt between the lasers, I end up getting trapped by the homing bullets!
Chen
There's no way I can dodge everything! It's impossible!
Ran
...Hmm, I see.
Ran
I could tell you the answer, but that won't help you in the long run.
Ran
There's nothing inherently wrong with losing battles of bullets. Even I don't win every battle.
Ran
What you have to be wary of is not learning anything from those losses.
Chen
You mean I have to learn from my failures...?
Ran
That's right.
Ran
If you forget about your losses and don't reflect on them, you'll just end up losing the same way again.
Ran
That's why I was very specific in my instructions. I told you to...
Ran
"Think back on all the battles you lost on this climb up the tower and identify things you could've done to win them."
Chen
Waaaaaah!
Chen
Lady Raaaaaan! That's too cruel!
Chen
*sob* *sniff*
Ran
Wh-What's wrong, Chen?! Why are you crying?
Ran
Didn't we just agree that we should learn from our failures...?
Chen
*sniff* I'm, sowwy, Lady Ran. I know I shouldn't cry.
Chen
Umm, it's just...
Chen
I think what you said is absolutely right. I'm not trying to say that you're wrong, but...
Chen
Having to think back on my losses again and again really hurts!
Chen
It makes me feel like a loser. And it makes me scared to lose again...
Chen
*sniff*
Ran
Right... I should've realized.
Ran
I'm sorry, Chen. You're not wrong to think that.
Ran
Everyone's scared of failing. And there isn't a single person who isn't embarrassed by their failures.
Ran
So there's no shame in feeling scared or sorry for yourself.
Ran
Let's try and think of a way to work through this together.
Chen
...OK!
Ran
First, you should forget any preconceived ideas. It's probably too late to react to the lasers after you see them coming, so...
Chen
Urk! (This is super difficult!)
Yukari
(Good, they seem to be handling this well.)
Sumireko
Ah! You're that Miss Yukari from the other world! Didn't I meet you on one of the lower floors?!
Yukari
Yes, it's nice to see you again. Have you enjoyed chatting with all the people from other worlds?
Yukari
I have a hunch that those who can travel between worlds like us will have a large role to play in the near future.
Yukari
The one who knows the most about the Lost Word Incident will probably try to gather us all together.
Yukari
That's what I would do, anyway. So, let's work together when that time comes, OK? Teehee.
Sumireko
Y-Yeah, let's! Hahaha! (That sounds pretty scary!)
Sumireko
Wait, so if you're here, does that mean...
Sumireko
...the Ran-ran and Chen-chen over there are from your world?
Yukari
Why, yes.
Yukari
Would you like to talk to them? I've heard that schoolgirls love to chat.
Yukari
I love chatting, too.
Sumireko
Hmm, that would be nice, but they look kinda busy... So I'm happy with just talking to you over here.
Sumireko
I wouldn't want to distract them.
Yukari
OK, then why don't we share a little about ourselves?
Yukari
I'm sure that knowledge will help us in the adventures to come.
Sumireko
(You say that like I'm planning to go on some big adventure!)
Yukari
Have you heard about shikigami before?
Sumireko
...!
Yukari
Shikigami are non-human entities that serve a master.
Yukari
They bestow great power to their master not just because they are strong but because they can perform a variety of tasks.
Sumireko
I know about shikigami. They're used by onmyouji, right?
Sumireko
(They come up a lot in games and manga and stuff.)
Yukari
Yes, the onmyouji used shikigami as part of their grand plan to manipulate the politics of Japan and its capital city.
Yukari
In fact, the capital city was designed with a grid layout so it would function as a kind of circuit... But I digress.
Yukari
A common mistake people make is thinking that shikigami are more intelligent than humans.
Yukari
Shikigami need a base creature to work off. For Ran, that base is a nine-tailed fox, and for Chen, it's a bakeneko.
Yukari
Of course, youkai, like nine-tailed foxes and even bakeneko, are much stronger than humans.
Yukari
And I suppose nine-tailed foxes are more cunning since even ordinary youkai foxes can easily trick humans.
Yukari
However, it would be incorrect to assume that becoming a shikigami increases a youkai's overall intelligence.
Sumireko
What do you mean? There's no way humans could compete against a beast youkai shikigami...!
Yukari
There's more to intelligence than the ability to make quick and precise calculations.
Sumireko
Huh?
Yukari
Take a look at Chen.
Yukari
Chen's intelligence is on par with that of a human child. She isn't nearly smart enough to make decisions like a human.
Yukari
But since she's a shikigami, her aptitude for calculations far surpasses that of humans.
Yukari
That's why she's so good at searching for something in a designated area or analyzing data.
Sumireko
That sounds pretty intelligent to me...!
Sumireko
...Oh!
Sumireko
(Now I get it.)
Sumireko
(I learned about this at school!)
Sumireko
(Shikigami are just like computers!)
Yukari
Like all shikigami masters, I am constantly searching for ways to improve them. That is of utmost importance to me.
Yukari
But just making them stronger... lacks elegance. It would be as easy as finding and capturing a more powerful youkai.
Yukari
Besides, beauty is what decides battles of bullets. By honing their intelligence, they can potentially create revolutionary art.
Yukari
...That's why I give tasks to Ran and Chen, like the one they're doing now, that force them to act like humans.
Yukari
This wouldn't work if they were still ordinary youkai. Most youkai lack the drive to improve due to their long lives.
Yukari
My hope is that my shikigami will continue getting smarter by choosing to teach each other of their own accord.
Yukari
Until, one day, they become even smarter than their creator. It will be a shikigami singularity from which there is no return.
Sumireko
...!
Sumireko
(That sounds like that thing with artificial intelligence...!)
Yukari
You don't seem all that worried about it, but...
Yukari
No, you live in the outside world, don't you? It's hard to pay special attention to something when they're everywhere.
Yukari
They're so affluent in the outside world. And as things become more ubiquitous, they lose their identity and even their name.
Sumireko
What are you talking about?
Yukari
I'm sure you also use shikigami in every facet of your life... without realizing that you're utterly dependent on them.
Sumireko
Me?! Use shikigami?!
Sumireko
(Oh, right, Miss Yukari is a youkai, so she probably only knows the outside world from back in the Heian era or something.)
Sumireko
Weeeeell, I don't know about that. We kinda moved past all that stuff a while ago.
Yukari
What?!
Yukari
(I heard that the computers humans use in the outside world were evolving at an alarming rate, but...)
Yukari
(Have they become so commonplace that nobody notices them anymore? How interesting! I need to go there and investigate.)
Yukari
(This is so exciting. It looks like I'll soon have enough material to write a follow-up to "The Higan of Computers.")
Chen
I-I figured it out!
Chen
Look, Lady Ran! I finally did it!
Chen
By focusing on the trajectories of the homing bullets before the lasers are telegraphed... I can lure them off to the side.
Chen
Then, if I stay patient and don't make any careless moves when the lasers are fired...
Chen
I can navigate through the tiny gaps between them while not having to worry about the homing bullets!
Ran
Well done, Chen! That's the perfect solution! Just what I'd expect from my shikigami! *pats head*
Yukari
Teehee, they were faster than I anticipated.
Sumireko
Whoa...
Sumireko
That's incredible!
Yukari
Yes, they may be my shikigami, but even I'm impressed. Teehee.
Sumireko
(Sure, it's crazy how much Chen-chen improved in such a short time, but that's not what truly surprised me...)
Sumireko
(Seeing this has given me a new perspective on everything!)
Sumireko
(At first, I thought shikigami were like computers.)
Sumireko
(And then chatting with Miss Yukari made me think they were like AI.)
Sumireko
(But seeing them now...)
Sumireko
(...they look just like a mother and child.)
Sumireko
(Miss Yukari is supposed to be a Greater Youkai who can manipulate boundaries.)
Sumireko
(From what I've heard, she's one of the sages who created Gensokyo... so she could probably create anything.)
Sumireko
(So, what does she plan to use her shikigami for?)
Sumireko
(What is she going to create next?)
340F - Memory Foundation
???
...
???
PLAYER...
???
My beautiful child.
???
My cute, little PLAYER.
???
You fell asleep. You've really been trying your hardest, haven't you?
???
You can rest easy on my lap.
???
There, there.
???
...
???
...
???
No, don't fret. You don't need to feel guilty thinking you should've tried harder.
???
I know how many hardships you've overcome to get this far.
???
And I'm sure there are many more challenges ahead of you.
???
I'm worried about you, PLAYER... I can't bear to see you get hurt.
???
It's not fair. I want to protect. It's dangerous out there, so I don't want to let you go.
???
You're safe here. So let's stay here forever.
???
...
???
...
???
Yes, I know. That's not an option, is it?
???
It would defeat the whole point of me sending you away.
???
...
???
Yes, I sent you away for a reason.
???
Would you like to know what that is?
???
I would love to tell you.
???
But if I could, you would never have forgotten it in the first place.
???
You wouldn't be the same if you didn't forget it. This undeniable truth enables your current existence.
???
It's the origin of the fate that you are following right now.
???
If you didn't forget, you would be a different you.
???
...That's also why me speaking to you now is nothing more than a dream.
???
Like all dreams, you will forget almost everything that happened here when you wake up.
???
...
???
But even so...
???
If I can only send you on your journey if you forget about me...
???
...
???
I will keep sending you as many times as it takes.
???
So, please...
???
Please reach the end.
???
My precious, little PLAYER.
???
My one and only―
...?
...
...!
M-Mothe―
Huh...? Where am I?
(I feel like I heard something important in that dream...)
???
Aren't you...?
I-Is someone there?!
Um, I'm PLAYER!
???
...
???
...
???
Oh, sorry. I mistook you for someone else.
???
PLAYER... So that's your name, is it?
???
Now I get it.
???
You can see me because you're dreaming.
Um, actually... I can't see you!
???
Oh, really?
???
Wait a moment.
???
...
???
...
???
How about now? Can you see me?
I can see something, but it's not very clear...
???
Hmmm. OK, hold on.
???
...
???
...
???
There. Can you see me now?
Kind of. But for some reason, you're all in shadow!
???
*sigh*
???
Unfortunately, it seems that's the best I can do at the moment.
???
Well, I rarely get any guests, so I shouldn't complain.
Do you live here alone?
???
Yes, you could say that. There's been no one here but me for a very long time.
???
But I'm sure all my friends are in a similar situation.
???
We're retired, you see. Our single task is to watch over things from afar.
???
Oh, sorry. I haven't introduced myself yet, have I? My name is ■■.
■■
Though, I'm guessing even if I say my name, you will not be able to hear it.
Yeah, I couldn't hear it properly!
Is that due to a Lost Word?
■■
Hmmm.
■■
Yes, it is connected to the Lost Word Incident. But not in the way you think.
What do you mean?
So, your name hasn't been lost...?
■■
You cannot recognize my name because you, as you are now, are not following a fate where you know me.
■■
I can see you, but you cannot see me. The barrier separating us is like a magic mirror.
■■
But you can still see my silhouette. It's like you're looking down on a maze from up high.
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Even as you are now, you have managed to identify from afar that I exist here.
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You might be able to recognize my name and appearance if you make it through the maze while following a different fate.
I think that could happen...!
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However...
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Time might flow differently for you compared to me.
What do you mean?
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I have something to teach you.
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It's practically a miracle that we were able to meet each other like this. So I want it to mean something.
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Hardly anything has meaning here.
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The Lost Word Incident eroded this sanctuary of gathered memories.
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Now, it is naught but a ruin full of holes.
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However, my friends and I have not chosen to retire and live in isolation for nothing.
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We decided to give up our time in the spotlight to usher in a new world.
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This happened a long time ago.
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Well, for me, it happened a very, very long time ago.
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That may be the same for you, or it could have happened only recently.
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How long ago it was may depend on the timeline. But either way, it happened.
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And that is why we watch over things from afar.
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When you become an adult, you outgrow things you liked as a child. But keepsakes remain, safely stored away somewhere...
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...along with the memories attached to them. We are like those keepsakes, and so is our world.
That... doesn't sound so bad.
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Some people despair at becoming an adult because it means they are no longer allowed to act like a child.
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But only in becoming an adult can you impart things to children.
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That is what we have done. We have bequeathed our world to the girls who came after us, and now we watch over them.
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And we have continued to watch over them for a very long time.
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Memories are recorded when you experience something. But they're kept by transcribing the records again and again.
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My memories have lost all the intensity and vigor of my initial experiences because they've been transcribed so many times.
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The Lost Word Incident must've exploited this.
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Withered memories are like old, worn-out books. It must've been easy to steal them from my library.
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But I held onto a few nostalgic books that I continue to transcribe repeatedly.
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I was a different person back then.
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I was always ready to throw out a witty remark or a cutting insult.
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My candle of life burned brightly as I engaged in countless battles of bullets.
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I was an evil spirit.
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I was THE evil spirit who swore vengeance against all humankind.
Yikes! ...You were really something, huh?!
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Yes, but that's in the past now.
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You're supposed to be one of the people we promised to watch over.
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So, I shouldn't be able to talk to you like this.
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I can't help but think that this situation was also caused by the Lost Word Incident.
Right, that makes sense.
Is there anything I can do...?
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...
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You can't do much.
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But that means you can focus on the one thing you can definitely do.
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You must continue your journey to seek the Lost Words. But now, you can wield the bond we have forged together.
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This meeting may have been what first forged this bond or perhaps it helped reforge it.
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That will become clear in time as long as you keep moving forward.
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Can I count on you, PLAYER?
Y-Yes!
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Good answer.
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Even if you forget that promise when you wake up...
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Another you...
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...will remember it.
350F - Best Buddies and a High Schooler
Mokou
*sigh* Where could they have gone?
Tewi
I know, right? How could we lose them? It's not like we're in the bamboo forest.
Mokou
Speaking of the forest, I never thought I'd end up working with you and the other rabbits of Eientei to guide people through it.
Tewi
Yeah, you're like our friendly next-door neighbor nowadays.
Mokou
At least we haven't run into any fools wanting to use the forest for a test of courage. That'd be a real pain.
Tewi
You think? I reckon they'd be pretty fun to prank.
Mokou
And you wonder why Reisen is always angry with you? That's why she―
Sumireko
Oh! I see more people from another world... You must be Moko-moko and Tei-tei, right?!
Mokou
Moko-moko?
Tewi
Tei-tei?
Mokou
You're... Sumireko, aren't you? A Sumireko from another world.
Tewi
She looks different, but Sumireko acts the same no matter what world she's from, so it's kinda easy to tell it's her.
Sumireko
I've been hearing that a lot lately. I wonder how similar all my otherworldly selves are. Like, we gotta be different somehow.
Sumireko
Well, whatever! I guess this saves me the trouble of introducing myself!
Sumireko
By the way, I overheard you saying something about Reisen...
Sumireko
But I can't see her around. Did you get separated or something?
Tewi
Yeah, kinda. She was dragging behind, and now we've lost her. She really needs to try harder to keep up.
Mokou
What are you on about? I'm pretty sure she ran away 'cause of that prank you pulled.
Tewi
Really? But I thought that prank was actually pretty tame compared to what I usually do.
Mokou
Hmm, yeah, I guess I can't argue with that.
Mokou
I still remember that time when Reisen greeted us by climbing out of a pitfall trap when we brought a patient to Eientei.
Sumireko
(It sounds like Tei-tei's pranks are just as ruthless in other worlds!)
Tewi
Besides, are you really one to talk? You lost the princess, the same as I lost Reisen.
Mokou
Nah, it's not the same at all. It wasn't my fault Kaguya went off somewhere on her own.
Mokou
*sigh* She's way too selfish. We've come all this way to another world, but she still just does whatever she pleases.
Mokou
It's always the same story. You take your eyes off her for a second, and the next moment, she's wandered off somewhere.
Mokou
And she always talks and acts like the perfect princess...
Mokou
It's so annoying!
Tewi
You've got it rough, too, huh? I really don't know what to do with Reisen, either.
Tewi
She seems to think she's the leader of all the rabbits for some reason, even though they only listen to me.
Tewi
Like, can you believe that?!
Sumireko
(I'm not sure why, but I get the feeling that they came from a world that's like a past version of mine.)
Sumireko
(Like, maybe...)
Sumireko
(...the Eternal Night Incident is still going on in their world.)
Sumireko
(I've met a bunch of other people who said an incident lasted longer in their world, so I think it's a reasonable guess.)
Sumireko
(That aside, it sounds like these two aren't on good terms with Guya and Udon.)
Sumireko
(Hmm, that's kinda surprising...)
Mokou
It's such a pain dealing with Kaguya's whims. This one time, I spotted her confidently stepping out of Eientei's front door.
Mokou
She said she was going to go play in the Human Village. It wasn't easy covering for her, but luckily, Eirin didn't find out.
Mokou
And when we got to the village, she kept looking everywhere but where she was walking.
Mokou
I had to hold her hand so she wouldn't trip or bump into anyone. Honestly, I can't take my eyes off her for a second.
Mokou
And on the way back, she said she wanted to take a rest in the bamboo forest, so I ended up having to spend hours with her.
Tewi
I get it. It's kinda sad seeing Reisen get all mad and confused, so I have to give orders to the other rabbits for her.
Tewi
She ran away from the Moon, so there's no way she has the leadership skills required to get earth rabbits to listen to her!
Tewi
In return, I make her report to Eirin and the princess for me. Keeping everyone informed is such a pain, you know?
Tewi
But Reisen's really good at it! I guess this is what people mean when they say everyone's good at something.
Sumireko
...
Sumireko
(Maybe I was wrong about them not being on good terms with Guya and Udon.)
Sumireko
(It sounds like they're just complaining about them, but...)
Sumireko
(Moko-moko helped Guya sneak out of Eientei. There's no way she'd do that if she hated her.)
Sumireko
(And while Tei-tei was making fun of Udon, she also said that she relies on her and cares about her feelings.)
Sumireko
(Not to mention that they both keep talking about them...)
Sumireko
(They must be really close!)
Sumireko
(I get it now! They're―)
Mokou
...All right, we better go look for them before they start crying or something.
Tewi
Yeah, they really can't do anything without us, huh?
Sumireko
Best buddies!
Tewi
Whoa?!
Mokou
Why are you yelling?
Sumireko
Sorry. Hearing you talk made me feel relieved, so I had to let it out...
Sumireko
I realized that you really love them even if you try to hide it!
Tewi
Huh?!
Mokou
Wh-What are you talking about?!
Sumireko
Yeah, it's great that you get along! Good luck looking for your buddies!
Sumireko
I'll see you up ahead!
Tewi
Wait, is she saying me and Reisen are best buddies?!
Mokou
And what was that about love?!
Mokou & Tewi
Where'd she get that idea?!
