Nue Houjuu
Nue Houjuu's Fantasy Rebirth Story
No one's here...
???
Everyone's in a strategy meeting. But you knew about that, right?
Uh-huh.
???
That's why no one's here. Not even Mamizou.
???
I'm here, of course. Unidentifiable me...
Good evening, Nue.
Nue
And to you, PLAYER. I've been waiting for you.
Where did you come from just now?
Nue
Hm? Didn't I tell you? I spend most of my time out of sight.
Nue
I love sitting above the ceiling beams. I can listen in on anyone from up there.
It's better for greater youkai to stay hidden, huh?
Plus, you have the whole "unidentifiable" thing.
Nue
Yeah, pretty much.
But... you seem a lot calmer than usual.
Are you trying to reinvent yourself?
Nue
No, it's nothing like that. It's just with the Lost Word Incident here...
Nue
Being mysterious is a big part of who I am, but this incident is way more mysterious than I am.
Nue
It makes me kinda mad, but mostly, it's just a bummer.
Nue
*sigh*
You're not feeling yourself, huh?
Nue
No, I guess not.
Nue
Things are getting real bad. It's tough to joke around these days.
But joking around is what you do!
Nue
Hey, this is serious!
Nue
Even I can see this is no joking matter!
S-Sorry! (She really is serious!)
Nue
I'm worried. Like, properly worried.
Nue
I don't want to be, mind you. Worrying like this is pretty out of character for me.
(She's right about that.)
Nue
...And that's my plan.
Nue
The oni seem enthusiastic enough, so I'm considering asking them for help outright.
You want to put on a New Night Parade?!
Are you sure Miss Yukari won't be mad?!
Not to mention Miss Reimu. She might blast you away!
Nue
I know doing this without permission could get me in trouble. But my New Night Parade isn't to scare humans.
Nue
Whatever Hijiri and the others are thinking, it's way above my head. I think they want to send people to another world...
Nue
But will one or two really make a difference? And what good would sending a human do?
Nue
If we want this plan to succeed, we need to send as many powerful people as possible.
Nue
Including some of us youkai.
I guess that makes sense.
Nue
Right?
Nue
You can think of the Night Parade as a multistage rocket.
Nue
The Western youkai flew a rocket to the Moon once. I plan to invite them here and learn what I can from them.
Nue
We need to send the head of the rocket... the head of the Night Parade to another world.
Nue
If we're lucky, that'll include a good few people.
Nue
What do you think? It's a pretty good plan if you ask me.
I like it. And I think the sages will let you do it.
But it sounds like some youkai could die in the process.
Nue
...
Nue
...What's your point?
I can't support any plan that puts lives at risk.
Nue
...
Nue
Huh?
Nue
Either you're underestimating us youkai or the Lost Word Incident.
Nue
Let me put this simply for you.
Nue
Youkai are going to die. Too many to count.
Nue
If you don't wanna be a part of this, then don't be. Go home and hide under your bed covers.
Nue
Just like the humans did in the Heian era.
That's not what I meant, Nue.
Nue
So what did you mean?
Nue
During the Heian era...
Nue
Back when I met Mamizou... And while I was living in the Underworld...
Nue
Aside from the occasional scrap, I was able to live peacefully and wanted for nothing.
Nue
I wasn't so different from any other youkai.
Nue
My lifespan was far longer than any human's, which meant I had little to worry about. But that made life boring.
Nue
In the same way that life's boring for most youkai.
Nue
But...
Nue
Everything changed when I moved up here to Gensokyo. I felt that way then and I still feel that way now.
Nue
There's no longer a place for youkai in the outside world. In fact, they actively try to get rid of us...
Nue
But Gensokyo is a place we can call home.
Nue
I...
Nue
I want to protect it.
Nue
And I don't care how many lives we lose in the process.
Nue
Even if mine is one of them.
Nue
The whole Night Parade could die for all I care.
Nue
Just so long as Gensokyo survives!
Me and you are the same, Nue.
Nue
We are?
I want to protect Gensokyo just as much as you.
But to me, that also includes the people in it.
It includes you and me.
Miss Mamizou and everyone at Myouren Temple.
And all those who call this place home.
Nue
PLAYER...!
Let's protect them all together.
So that Gensokyo and all the people in it...
Are never lost again.
Nue
...
Nue
...I'm with you.
Good.
Nue
What's this?
It comes with a message from one of the sages.
Nue
*gasp*
Nue
It's beautiful!
Nue
Where's the message...?
Nue
Hmm...
Nue
"I've already spoken to the chief oni. Don't worry, no lives will be lost."
Nue
"Prepare for the Night Parade."
Miss Yukari always knows just what to say...!
Nue
Whoa...
Nue
Hehe. Heh. Hehehe!
Nue
I was worried for nothing!
Nue
I shoulda spoken to the sage right away. All that energy wasted thinking about youkai casualties!
Nue
But this is good news! It means I can go back to being my usual youkai self, right?
I suppose Miss Yukari did tell you not to worry...!
Nue
This is awesome!
Nue
I'm sorry for all the things I said before, PLAYER. But also, thanks for listening. We really are the same.
Told ya!
Nue
I'm an unidentifiable greater youkai. A nue. And if my oldest memories are to be believed...
Nue
I'm the 87th youkai of the Night Parade.
Nue
So just watch.
Nue
I'll make this Night Parade a success.
Nue
Without anyone having to die!
Costume Presentation
Nue
...So you want to do math with Seeds of Unknown Form? I know why. It's to resolve the big incident, right? But I don't know if they can be used like that... Making a super lightweight, super high-performance shikigami? Sounds interesting.
