Yachie Kichou
Yachie Kichou's Fantasy Rebirth Story
Yachie
Well, PLAYER, I trust you enjoyed that tour of the Animal Realm.
Yachie
Have you had enough? Or should I take you to one last extra-special spot?
There's so much to see in the Animal Realm.
It actually seems like a nice place to live...
Yachie
Haha! For a human, you say some pretty outrageous stuff.
Yachie
This is the Animal Realm, a place so terrifying it silences babies in their cribs. A human could never survive here.
Yachie
Then again... with you and certain others, I suppose nothing's out of the question.
What others?
Yachie
Perhaps humans like Reimu and Marisa would stand a chance living here.
Yachie
But that's only because they've got the guts and the fighting prowess to go toe-to-toe with animal spirits.
Yachie
They're highly unusual, though. Ordinarily, humans sit at the bottom of the Animal Realm food chain.
Yachie
They're exploited for all they're worth, then eaten. Not even their bones remain.
Y-Yikes!
That's exactly how humans treat animals...!
Yachie
Indeed. You know, you're pretty smart for a kid.
Yachie
Countless animals have lost their lives as humanity has advanced. I don't seek to get back at them for that, though.
Yachie
Humans are strange in that they don't feel guilt toward the victims of their progress but gratitude.
Yachie
At times, they even worship them. They elevate their status as they trample them into the dust.
Yachie
Now then, why do humans engage in such seemingly contradictory and foolish behavior?
...Because they're scared?
Yachie
Interesting... Scared of what, though?
Hunger, disease, old age, natural disasters, war...
And even if all those fears vanished...
There'd still be... death.
Yachie
...
Yachie
...Hehe.
Yachie
Hehehehehehe!
Yachie
Death!
Yachie
That's right. No matter how advanced their civilizations become, humans always fear death!
Yachie
Which is why they fear the ire of those they trample on! It makes perfect sense!
Yachie
Those who fear death wish for a world beyond death. But their victims also get to experience that world.
Yachie
Meaning humans are forced to confront the existence of the lingering resentment felt toward them.
Yachie
Ask a vengeful spirit if you want to know more. The Animal Realm is a post-death world for both humans and animals.
Yachie
But the animal spirits remember their deaths. That's why they don't rule over humans through fear.
Yachie
Instead, they simply use them. If you consider humans to be animals, they are the weakest of them all.
What scares me...
...isn't my own death...
...but the death of the people I care about.
Yachie
...
Yachie
It's frustrating, but I can never be sure if my ability works with humans as honest as you.
Yachie
But forget about that. Let's discuss the reason you asked for permission to visit the Animal Realm.
Yachie
You're here looking for ways to stop the Lost Word Incident.
Yachie
Serums, antibiotics, vaccines... Humans often turn to animals to solve their problems.
Yachie
The Animal Realm is an isolated ecosystem. You may find what you're looking for here.
Yachie
You bring with you knowledge from that Lunar Sage, no? I wonder if it will serve you well in this place.
Yachie
Right, then. I think it's time...
Yachie
...to take you to some special places!
We've been to the Kiketsu HQ, your favorite shop...
An otter park, an otter spirit store, an otter grill...
The Gouyoku Alliance HQ ruins, and the Keiga HQ.
Yachie
It was fun, right?!
Y-Yep! Thanks so much!
The Kicchou Noodle Shop abura soba was delicious!
Yachie
Hehehe, it sure was.
Yachie
Everyone in the Animal Realm has a blood-for-blood mentality. Here, the strong dominate the weak.
Yachie
But no world is built purely with destruction. The violence rests upon an equilibrium of creation and consumption.
Yachie
To put it another way, everything we do―the fighting, the scheming, and the betrayal―is to survive.
Yachie
It's also to help the animal spirits in our clans and this violent world survive.
Yachie
Survival is everything.
Yachie
We've talked about some rather bleak truths. And we didn't find anything to stop the Lost Word Incident.
Yachie
I've failed you.
Yachie
What's this all of a sudden?
I can't quite explain it, but the person who sent this―
―hoped it would deliver a message.
Yachie
This outfit...
Yachie
Is the sender from Gensokyo?
Yachie
They must be.
Yachie
Once, at a party, I spoke to Kurokoma and Toutetsu about animal spirits in our clans not returning from Gensokyo.
Yachie
We laughed together, and strangely enough, all came to the same conclusion...
Yachie
That we would let the missing animal spirits be.
Yachie
Gensokyo is said to be the place where all lost things end up.
Yachie
If that's so, then there may yet be a way to protect the Animal Realm. I'll have to think on it some more.
Yachie
...Hehe!
Yachie
Thank you, PLAYER. And thank you to the sage pulling Gensokyo's strings from the shadows.
Let's do our best together!
To protect everything till the end!
Yachie
I'll spend a little more time thinking of ways to combat the Lost Word Incident.
Yachie
And with me being as smart as I am, you should expect to hear good news from me before long.
Yachie
That horse should've arrived by now. I wonder where she's galloped off to.
Yachie
Ah well. I'm sure she won't be much longer.
Costume Presentation
Yachie
This will place you in more danger than any of us. Are you sure you're up to the task? You don't have a messiah complex, do you? ...No, that was a foolish question. You will inevitably choose to help others. You're just that kind of human. Hehehe.
