Holy Again
Index
Holy Again
Byakuren
...
Byakuren
...
Miko
So, Byakuren, have you found any friends?
Miko
I have. I found new friends to help me build a new future.
Miko
Ooube no Oo.
???
Prince.
Miko
In one version of history, she sowed discord after I entered my long sleep.
???
But now we are of the same mind.
Miko
We are indeed.
Miko
Imoko.
???
Prince.
Miko
In one version of history, she sailed to the continent and back as my envoy.
???
Yeah, but that's just one of the many possibilities.
Komachi
Sorry, Grand Acharya of Myouren Temple. I've decided to side with the prince.
Miko
Just so.
Byakuren
...
Miko
...
Miko
I did not foresee this.
Miko
Who would have thought the future would be this unpredictable?
Miko
It's too hard to see and too hard to hear.
Byakuren
But aren't you supposed to be able to see the past and future by listening to the ten desires?
Miko
Yes...
Miko
I suppose I could've worded it better. I see too much of the future.
Miko
I hear too much.
Miko
There are too many branching fates that lead to an absurdly diverse abundance of potential events.
Miko
It's impossible to determine the one true future with only ten desires.
Miko
But that's also what let me gather my new friends.
Miko
Since I cannot see or hear the constraints and limitations of the future, I don't have to obey them.
Miko
It's the same with you, isn't it...
Miko
...Byakuren Hijiri?
Byakuren
...
Byakuren
...
Byakuren
Yes.
Byakuren
I was able to find a new friend precisely because they are different. They are unlike anything I know.
Byakuren
And with their help, I will reclaim my lost friends.
Byakuren
I'm the same as you, Toyosatomimi no Miko...
Byakuren
...the great saint who invited Bishamonten to Japan.
Byakuren
...
Byakuren
But I don't understand why you're standing in my way.
Miko
...
Miko
For the same reason I couldn't predict the future.
Byakuren
What do you mean?
Miko
I do not stand here to oppose or deny you.
Miko
But to know you.
Byakuren
Know me? ...Why?
Miko
Because I cannot see or hear.
Miko
Because you're different.
Miko
You are completely different from the Byakuren I accused of being an evil overlord. We're both saints, you and I.
Miko
But bandying words is not enough to truly know someone.
Miko
Luckily, we have bullets.
Miko
Tell me all about yourself, Byakuren Hijiri.
Byakuren
Fine. It seems the time for talk is over.
Byakuren
Let's do this.
Byakuren
Namusan!
Reimu
That's her! That's Byakuren Hijiri! I can't believe we actually lured her here.
Okina
Your shrine maiden instincts are more powerful than you know. Same with your position as the Hakurei shrine maiden.
Okina
This worked just as I predicted it would.
Byakuren
*cough* *cough* Wh-Where am I? What happened?
Okina
Calm down. All in good time.
Okina
We've been monitoring you for a while, so you don't need to rush to say anything.
Byakuren
B-But... I have so many questions...
Okina
I'm sure you do. And I shall endeavor to answer them all. We have plenty of time here, even if it doesn't flow like it should.
Okina
For now, you don't have to worry about being chased or threatened. Let's both share what we know.
Byakuren
R-Right... *cough*
Byakuren
(This seems to be some kind of hidden refuge for people in the same boat as me.)
Reimu
Byakuren, I'm glad you're OK... Well, not OK, but... You know what I mean.
Reimu
Honestly, it's reassuring to have someone as strong and capable as you here.
Byakuren
Oh my...
Byakuren
(Reimu just complimented me. She was never this nice before...)
Byakuren
(But I can guess what changed. She probably arrived here at the end of an impossibly long journey―same as me.)
Marisa
Looks like it worked.
Marisa
I can only imagine what you've gone through, Byakuren.
Marisa
We've got a special greeting for new arrivals like you.
Marisa
Welcome back.
Byakuren
Back? Does that mean...?
Marisa
Yes. This place still looks like the Land of the Back Door, but it's exactly what it sounds like...
Marisa
This is the 80th provisional Gensokyo―our temporary home.
Byakuren
80th? You mean there are others?
Marisa
No, it's called that for a different reason...
Okina
I'll explain that later.
Okina
We're currently gathering and analyzing data to try and make sense of everything.
Okina
To that end, our top priority is finding Yukari Yakumo.
Okina
We cannot make any concrete plans until, at the very least, we determine whether she still exists or not.
Okina
Everything starts with her. That's the long and the short of our current predicament.
Byakuren
Are you saying that youkai, famed for spiriting people away... got spirited away?
Okina
Correct. But if anyone can find her, it's me, the secret god.
Okina
But there are other problems I can't handle alone.
Okina
We need your help. We need your skills as a magician and your power to gather faith as a youkai monk.
Okina
We might not be alone here...
Okina
Our enemies could be lurking among us.
Byakuren
(Enemies...)
Marisa
Oh, right, before I forget...
Marisa
Can I take a look at that magic item on your back later?
Marisa
Me and a few of the others are investigating the strange, unfamiliar items that everyone brought here.
Marisa
I'm sure they can tell us something, but even if they don't, it's something to do while we wait around until Yukari is found.
Marisa
Don't worry. If we learn anything, we'll let you know.
Okina
Now, let's talk about you.
Okina
We'll take it slow, and as we talk, I'll salvage what information you have.
Okina
Then, I'll use that information to fish up our next helper.
Okina
That's how you got here.
Byakuren
...
Byakuren
...
Ichirin
We've done pretty much everything you asked. Well, Unzan did most of the work, but still.
Minamitsu
I can't believe this counts as training. Maybe being a priest isn't as hard as I thought.
Minamitsu
What's wrong, Byakuren?
Ichirin
Something on your mind?
Byakuren
...
Byakuren
...Hm?
Byakuren
Sorry. What was that? Oh, you finished today's training.
Byakuren
Hehe, you've been working really hard, haven't you? I'm proud to call you my disciples.
Minamitsu
...
Ichirin
...Th-Thanks.
Minamitsu
Yep, that's us―super hard workers. I sure am glad I decided to join your temple.
Ichirin
That's what Unzan said, too.
Byakuren
...
Byakuren
...
Byakuren
(This is nothing like the Buddhist concepts of reincarnation or samsara. What purpose do the Lost Words serve?)
Byakuren
(Did someone place me in a prison of my own mind to wear down my memories? To slowly but surely erase my identity?)
Byakuren
(But what would be the point of that? I don't know... I've already considered and discarded every possibility.)
Byakuren
(There's no answer I can find. And there's no way to fight back...)
Ichirin
Psst, Miss Byakuren randomly spaces out sometimes, huh?
Minamitsu
Can you blame her?
Minamitsu
You know who led her down this path, don't you?
Ichirin
Right... Makes sense...
Nazrin
Byakuren, everyone, you gotta hide! Quickly!
Ichirin
Huh?!
Minamitsu
Wh-What's going on?!
Shou
It's what we all feared would one day happen...
Minamitsu
Our followers... What are you all doing here so late at night?
Follower
So you're both youkai, too, huh?
Ichirin
How did you...?!
Follower
Head priest... No, let me call you what you are―evil incarnate. What are you playing at?!
Follower
There's been hardly any youkai attacks since you got here. Word is, that's 'cause you're the big youkai boss!
Follower
I heard that you haven't aged in a very long time! It's 'cause you drink the blood of children, isn't it?!
Follower
Don't tell me you caused that plague last month, too?! M-My mom... We even held the funeral here!
Follower
My children are starving! All because youkai laid waste to the fields!
Shou
Please calm down, everyone!
Follower
What does Bishamonten have to say about all this?!
Shou
Huh?
Follower
Yeah! You can't be happy that youkai are hiding out in your temple!
Follower
What are you talking about?! We gotta protect Bishamonten and get rid of these youkai for her...!
Follower
I know we'd usually hire a youkai exterminator, but we outnumber them! I'm not scared!
Shou
Oh no...
Byakuren
(Shou...)
Shou
(L-Lady Hijiri?)
Byakuren
(It's OK. Seal me away... like you always do.)
Shou
(What?! How do you know I can do that?! And... what do you mean like always?)
Byakuren
(I know this probably sounds crazy to you, but this has all happened before. Countless times.)
Byakuren
(Don't worry. We'll meet again. I know we will.)
Byakuren
(I no longer see you as you were back then. I see you as you will be much later, after we truly get to know one another.)
Byakuren
(This proves that my memory is fading. I'm subconsciously making do with what few memories I have left.)
Byakuren
(This might even be the last repetition. If it is, I want to treasure it all the more.)
Byakuren
(Shou, I know this doesn't make any sense to you, but please...)
Byakuren
(...do what you think is best.)
Shou
...
Shou
Quiet, everyone.
Shou
You've done well in exposing the youkai hiding in my temple. And you've even gathered here to exterminate them.
Shou
But they're dangerous, so please step back.
Shou
I shall send this evil creature to where she belongs. I'll seal her away in Makai―
???
Hold on! There's no need for that!
Shou
What?
???
Relax a little, would you, Bishamonten?
Byakuren
...
Shou
No way!
Nazrin
It's you!
Nazrin
Myouren!
Myouren?
Hey, Nazrin. I'm back.
Byakuren
...Myouren? I can't have heard that right.
Myouren?
What's wrong, sis'? Don't you recognize your own brother?
Myouren?
It's me, Myouren! I've returned from my pilgrimage.
Myouren?
Hahaha!
Ichirin
Myouren's here!
Minamitsu
He's returned!
Ichirin
Welcome back, Myouren!
Minamitsu
What kinda crazy pilgrimage did you go on this time?
Myouren?
Hahahaha!
Follower
It's Saint Myouren!
Follower
I had no idea he was back!
Follower
Saint, what should we do about these youkai in the temple?
Myouren?
Huh? Oh, umm... Listen up!
Myouren?
So, youkai. Well, you see... youkai exist... in this world.
Follower
Please share your wisdom, Saint. We're scared, and we don't know what to do.
Myouren?
...
Myouren?
Even grass, trees, soil, and stones can attain enlightenment.
Myouren?
Buddha nature dwells within all things, regardless of sentience.
Myouren?
The path to salvation does not discriminate between gods, humans, or youkai. We're all trying to achieve the same goal.
Follower
So... what should we do?
Myouren?
From now on...
Myouren?
We should all train together!
Myouren?
Well, I tried...
Myouren?
But I got sealed away, too!
Myouren?
Well, I guess living here in Makai with you isn't so bad. It's true what they say... home is where you make it.
Myouren?
Hahaha!
Byakuren
That was centuries ago. Why are you talking like it just happened yesterday?
Myouren?
Probably 'cause I still can't get over Nazrin's face when she saw me! That was so funny!
Byakuren
Myouren, I know it's a bit late for this...
Byakuren
...but there really was no need for you to get sealed away with me.
Myouren?
That's not true. I stand by every word I said back then.
Myouren?
There's no difference between gods, humans, and youkai.
Myouren?
Everyone and everything in the universe is equal. We're all training to attain enlightenment and salvation.
Myouren?
Unfortunately, those people couldn't accept that. They pleaded to have us sealed away, if only for appearances' sake.
Myouren?
Still, I don't have any regrets.
Byakuren
Myouren...
Myouren?
Makai is a pretty fun place to live. That god in the city said we're welcome to stay as long as we like.
Myouren?
Oh, but if you're worried about those girls, I'm sure they haven't forgotten you.
Myouren?
I bet they'll come here to bring you back one day. They'll use the power of the Flying Treasures I created.
Byakuren
I'm not so sure.
Byakuren
They've probably been sealed away somewhere else, and the treasures would've been scattered to the four winds by now.
Byakuren
The humans sealed us here to maintain appearances, but their children and their children's children won't remember that.
Byakuren
No... Perhaps those girls would come here to bring you back, Myouren. They'd do anything for you.
Byakuren
I can believe that.
Myouren?
That's not true.
Myouren?
They'll come here for you. No matter how long it takes or how much it hurts them.
Byakuren
I don't understand. Why would they?
Myouren?
Because they love and respect you.
Byakuren
I befriended those girls for my own benefit―to increase my magical power.
Byakuren
I hate myself for that. To atone, I decided to watch over them and help them attain salvation.
Byakuren
I'm a failure, a heretical priest.
Myouren?
Yeah, I know.
Myouren?
But it's not me they love. Because I...
Byakuren
Don't say it.
Myouren?
I...
Byakuren
Stop!
Myouren?
I no longer exist here.
Myouren?
It's OK, Byakuren. You don't have to keep doing this.
Byakuren
...
Myouren?
Stop looking for a world where we continue living together.
Byakuren
Why?
Byakuren
Why can't I search for that world?!
Byakuren
I want to go there!
Myouren?
Such a world doesn't exist.
Byakuren
No, it must...
Myouren?
It doesn't. If I was still alive, you would never have become a magician.
Myouren?
And besides, I lived my life without regrets. I wouldn't have entered nirvana otherwise.
Myouren?
Don't you see? There's no reason for me to keep living with you.
Byakuren
But...! But...!
Myouren?
No, Byakuren.
Myouren?
We can only be reunited once everything has ended.
Myouren?
I can't see you again until then.
Byakuren
...
Myouren?
But know that I genuinely look forward to that day.
Myouren?
I want you to promise me, Byakuren.
Myouren?
Promise me that the next time we meet will be after everything has ended.
Myouren?
Then, we can live happily together with everyone again. OK?
Byakuren
...
Byakuren
...OK. I promise.
Myouren?
Thank you.
Myouren?
It's time to resolve the contradictions.
Myouren?
You continue to live as a magician, so I must have already entered nirvana.
Myouren?
The threads of fate shall soon be reknit.
Myouren?
Listen. Can you hear it? The bell is ringing. Your fate is moving again.
Myouren?
Makai's night is at an end. The Sun rises.
Byakuren
Myouren...!
Myouren?
Goodbye, Byakuren.
Myouren?
Goodbye... my dear sister.
