Precious Words
Index
Precious Words
Yumemi
Hmm...
Yumemi
Hmmmmmm...
Yumemi
Hmmmmmmmmmm!
Chiyuri
Stop that!
Chiyuri
I can't focus with all that noise. We've got no computing power to spare, so I have to run these calculations manually.
Chiyuri
If I make a mistake, you'll sink along with me.
Yumemi
My bad. Sorry.
Chiyuri
So... what's on your mind?
Yumemi
Oh, I didn't think you'd be interested.
Chiyuri
Of course, I am. You're Yumemi Okazaki, humanity's last great thinker, and I'm your assistant.
Yumemi
You're too kind.
Yumemi
I was just thinking about the other girls we sent out as probes. They should be back soon.
Chiyuri
Right. Rika's back already, so they shouldn't be long... But what's there to think about?
Yumemi
Are you serious? *sigh* It seems you've been cooped up in this ship so long that you've lost sight of the big picture...
Yumemi
We hide away within the realm of fantasy, having long ago given up any hope of influencing outside events...
Yumemi
But we can still observe. We're nothing more than sightseers, bystanders, onlookers...
Yumemi
However, it turns out that our observations might have more of an impact than we initially thought.
Yumemi
It's like how the fate of Schrodinger's cat is determined by observation alone. And when you consider Maxwell's demon...
Chiyuri
I don't suppose you can give me the tldr...?
Yumemi
...And so, outside observers can be considered a part of the worlds they observe.
Chiyuri
W-Wow...
Chiyuri
Now I get it!
Yumemi
I haven't finished yet.
Chiyuri
Oops...
Yumemi
All I've done so far is explain the basics of Everett's many-worlds interpretation. How can you not know this?
Chiyuri
It's 'cause you keep making quantum leaps in logic that no one else can follow...
Yumemi
Save your excuses. Now, to get to my point...
Yumemi
I'm worried that our crew who leave the Probability Space Hypervessel and the crew that return...
Yumemi
...might not be the same people.
Chiyuri
N-No way! But that'd mean you and Rika aren't yourselves anymore...
Yumemi
Who's returning next?
Chiyuri
Umm, according to the calculations...
Chiyuri
There's a more than 99.9999999 percent chance that it will be Alice.
Yumemi
Alice, the girl from Makai who wields the ultimate magic. Good, that means we'll have access to her grimoire again.
Chiyuri
What's so important about her grimoire?
Yumemi
It's a font of highly potent and complex magical power, which we can use to create complex navigational programs.
Yumemi
There's not much point fishing in the same pond over and over again, so once everyone's back from their latest errands...
Yumemi
We're gonna perform a hyperjump with the help of Alice's grimoire.
Yumemi
But if it turns out that the Alice who returns to us isn't the Alice we know...
Chiyuri
*gulp*
Yumemi
She might blow up a world or two with her ultimate magic.
Chiyuri
Yikes.
Yumemi
If any of the fragments hit our ship, our efficiency could decrease slightly, and my morale would go way down.
Yumemi
I might get so depressed that I decide to end our journey then and there.
Chiyuri
That's nowhere near as bad as I was expecting.
Yumemi
I thought you'd be a bit more sympathetic. Oh well, I'm sure you'll understand if you ever captain a ship of your own.
Chiyuri
Maybe. I guess there's nothing else for it but to pray that she hasn't changed!
Alice
Hey, Chiyuri, I'm back. Oh, Yumemi's here too.
Chiyuri
Eeep!
Chiyuri
When did you get here?!
Alice
Just now. I let myself in through the logic hatch.
Chiyuri
You really need to stop doing that...
Chiyuri
Hmm, you don't seem any different from normal.
Alice
How rude. Whatever this is, can it wait? I'm exhausted.
Alice
Oh, and don't worry. I put the data I collected in the usual spot.
Chiyuri
*sigh* Doesn't anyone here follow proper procedure?
Chiyuri
...
Chiyuri
Wait, there's new data!
Chiyuri
I gotta check it! That's the main reason why I'm here.
Yumemi
Right you are, Chiyuri. Checking the data is your top priority.
Yumemi
We have to make this experiment a success, but that's not to say we cannot fail. Failure is fine as long as we don't give up.
Yumemi
Accepting defeat will determine an end from which we cannot progress. We'll lose our ability to observe other worlds.
Yumemi
You understand that, don't you, Chiyuri?
Yumemi
Eventually, we must become data ourselves. That's all we can hope for at the moment.
Yumemi
The data we're gathering right now won't be perceived as true events performed by people who actually existed unless...
Yumemi
...data of our current existence and actions is observed and analyzed by someone else.
Yumemi
This information will then be passed on. That's how history and the future―
Chiyuri
Hey, Alice. Can you change the names in this data to aliases for me?
Alice
You gotta be kidding me! What's the hurry? I told you I was tired, so I'm gonna go take a nap in my room!
Chiyuri
If you don't do it now, you'll forget!
Alice
Argh! I really can't be bothered!
Alice
You do it! I don't care what names you use!
Chiyuri
She never listens...!
Yumemi
It seems you've forgotten from being cooped up in this ship so long, but Alice isn't that bad compared to the others.
Chiyuri
You mean the ones that I'll have to deal with next....
Yumemi
Are much worse!
Chiyuri
Great...
???
...
???
What is knowledge?
???
It's like the mist in spring. It appears from nowhere, and then it's gone, leaving naught but a faint impression in your mind.
???
...
???
It's like the clouds in autumn. Unnoticed, they float up high in the sky until they fade to nothing.
???
...
???
Knowledge is like...
???
...a world in miniature.
???
Contained within the mind of every sentient being.
Patchouli
...
Patchouli
This won't work, Koakuma.
Patchouli
We can't resolve the Lost Word Incident like this.
Patchouli
It's not too late. Let's go back and try something else.
Koakuma
Y-You can't be serious, Lady Patchouli!
Koakuma
What about all the progress we've made?!
Koakuma
And besides, weren't you the one who came up with this plan in the first place?!
Koakuma
I don't understand!
Patchouli
You're right. We've come this far thanks to Remi's charismatic leadership, Flan's power...
Patchouli
...Meiling's quick thinking, Sakuya's speed, your magical support...
Patchouli
...and the plan I put together, using all my skills as the magician of knowledge.
Koakuma
So why...?
Patchouli
Because I've finally received some new information from another world.
Patchouli
Sending something, even just a snippet of information, from one parallel world to another is practically impossible.
Patchouli
Fortunately, magic has the power to make anything possible... as long as you can pay the price.
Patchouli
I don't even want to think about what it cost the other me to send it. I can't blame her for the info arriving late.
Koakuma
What did you learn?! What was the info about?!
Patchouli
You're my familiar, so you should know better than to ask me that. Weren't you listening when I told you about my plan?
Patchouli
Knowledge can't always be expressed with words. It's like trying to explain the wind in spring or the clouds in autumn.
Patchouli
This indescribable nature might be what makes some things resistant to the Lost Word Incident, but regardless...
Patchouli
Before I received this info, I was absolutely certain we could resolve the incident if we kept to my plan.
Patchouli
But now I know it has no hope of working. The parallel-world me learned that first-hand.
Patchouli
She used the last of her magic to impart the knowledge of what she felt at that moment to me.
Koakuma
B-But...!
Remilia
...
Flandre
Are you serious, Patchy?! What are we gonna do?!
Patchouli
Remi... Flan...
Patchouli
I won't beat around the bush. We have to stop what we're doing immediately and think of another way.
Remilia
...
Remilia
All right, Patchy. If that's what you think is best. Our losses will be great, but it's better than losing everything.
Remilia
Everyone, stop what you're doing.
Flandre
No way! That's so boring!
Patchouli
Thanks, Remi. I've lost contact with the parallel-world me, but I promise to come up with a better plan―
Remilia
We have a new target―this Patchouli Knowledge look-alike.
Flandre
R-Remilia?
Koakuma
What?!
Patchouli
...
Remilia
...
Remilia
Patchy...
Patchouli
Yes, Remi?
Remilia
I've always relied on you. Probably too much.
Remilia
I traveled the world after leaving my home in the far west, but I've never had as much fun as when I first met you.
Remilia
You say you're terrible at making medicine, but back then, you worked as an apothecary, making medicine out of wild herbs.
Remilia
The moment I laid eyes on you, I saw your fate. I knew we'd become fast friends.
Remilia
And when I staked my territory in that smoke-hazed city in China, your knowledge and magic never let me down.
Remilia
We couldn't have found Gensokyo without your help. We would've faded from existence like so many other youkai.
Remilia
Even after that, you continued to give me advice during the Vampire Incident and our Scarlet Mist Incident.
Remilia
And you came up with our plan to counter this Lost Word Incident.
Remilia
Your knowledge from other worlds was invaluable, but whenever you received this knowledge, your fate changed.
Remilia
Your fate keeps changing so drastically that when I look at you, it's like I'm looking through a kaleidoscope.
Remilia
I believed in the future you championed. I trusted in the victory you promised.
Remilia
I had faith that you'd still be you despite the influence of your otherworldly knowledge.
Remilia
That you'd still be an ally of the Scarlet Devil Mansion. That you'd still be my friend.
Remilia
But most of all...
Remilia
I had faith that you'd still be my dear Patchy.
Remilia
Are you still you? Are you still the Patchy I know?
Remilia
And what about me? Am I the same Remi... as the Remi inside your head?
Patchouli
...
Patchouli
Unfortunately, I don't know.
Patchouli
I remember our meeting and our time together differently from how you described it.
Patchouli
Your version of events could be correct, but my knowledge has been replaced with knowledge from other worlds.
Patchouli
The knowledge I received also contained a warning.
Patchouli
Our enemies can take the form of those we hold dear. You must've seen this fate, too.
Patchouli
That's why you're pointing Gungnir at me. That's why we must fight.
Patchouli
I bear you no ill will, and I'm sure you bear me none either.
Patchouli
But even if we're still friends, this clash is inevitable.
Koakuma
...
Patchouli
Make a choice, Koakuma. Pick whatever side you want.
Patchouli
That's my final order to you.
Koakuma
Lady Patchouli...
Patchouli
...
Patchouli
I've collected another snippet of otherworldly knowledge.
Patchouli
Please record it for me...
Patchouli
Koakuma.
Koakuma
On it.
Patchouli
I'm counting on you.
Koakuma
Don't worry. I'll make sure to transcribe it perfectly―word for word.
Patchouli
Thanks.
Patchouli
...
Patchouli
How long has it been?
Patchouli
Since the Lost Word Incident got here, I've had to continually spend almost all of my magic just to prolong my existence.
Patchouli
Then, I began collecting and preserving memories from other worlds brought here by the whims of fate.
Patchouli
I wonder if this is what that girl felt as she amassed a collection of other people's books...
Patchouli
Koakuma has also changed. I'm not sure how much of her devil nature I was able to preserve.
Patchouli
Since summoning her, I've had to repair her over and over again, supplementing her existence with my magic.
Patchouli
She's like a living ship of Theseus. There's no longer anything left of the original Koakuma.
Patchouli
So, while it might be more accurate to call her a golem now rather than a little devil, I still couldn't do this without her.
Koakuma
Would you like some tea, Lady Patchouli?
Patchouli
Oh... Yes, please. I don't feel that sick today, so I'm sure it will taste delicious.
Koakuma
Definitely! I'll go make you some.
Patchouli
...
Patchouli
I've endured this long thanks to the magical medicine I created... even though I've never claimed to be good at that.
Patchouli
Magical power is a finite resource. And while magicians may be long-lived, there is always a limit.
Patchouli
I've bought as much time as possible, but I still haven't worked out how to resolve the Lost Word Incident.
Patchouli
That's all I think about now.
Patchouli
How can it be resolved?
Patchouli
Who in what world knows the answer?
Remilia
Patchy...
Patchouli
Yes, Remi?
Remilia
How about we both resolve the Lost Word Incident together?
Patchouli
Huh?
Remilia
Once we resolve it, everyone will bow down in fear before me. I bet that would feel amazing.
Patchouli
I suppose...
Remilia
I'm sure we can do it. Will you come up with a plan for me, Patchy?
Patchouli
All right, fine. I'll give it a shot.
Remilia
Thanks.
Remilia
Patchy...
Patchouli
Yes, Remi?
Remilia
Isn't there some kind of magic item you can use to fly to the Moon? I think it's called a rocket or something.
Remilia
Do you know how I can get one? Once I gain control of the Moon, we'll never have to worry about our future again.
Patchouli
Oh, I thought you were joking about that.
Remilia
I never joke.
Patchouli
Well, I tried reading up about rockets in some outside world books, but it seems you need several things to make one.
Remilia
What kind of things?
Patchouli
First, we need a cylinder to form the body of the rocket and a cone to direct the magic.
Patchouli
We also need liquid propellant... which I think is some kind of blood. And a stupidly powerful device called an engine.
Patchouli
I also read about this thing called an "armstrong," but I've got no idea what it is.
Remilia
Hmm, an armstrong, huh? That sounds powerful, too.
Remilia
All right, I'll get Sakuya to investigate.
Remilia
No matter how rare this armstrong thing is, I'm sure there's one lying about in Kourindou or Marisa's house.
Remilia
Once we get everything, we can start building the rocket. This is so exciting.
Patchouli
I'm more worried than excited...
Remilia
Patchy...
Patchouli
Yes, Remi?
Remilia
I want to cover Gensokyo in a scarlet mist so I can walk outside during the day.
Remilia
That way, Flandre will be able to safely go outside, too.
Patchouli
That's a pretty crazy idea...
Remilia
Sounds fun to me.
Patchouli
The sages who run Gensokyo won't be happy about this.
Remilia
I beg to differ. We've already had a little chat, you see.
Patchouli
What do you mean? Aren't the sages allied with Hakurei Shrine?
Remilia
I was told that the most important thing about raising a child is knowing when to let them fend for themselves.
Patchouli
*sigh* It sounds like they're trying to use you.
Remilia
They can try. I'm not afraid of them.
Patchouli
Right... I should've guessed you'd say that.
Patchouli
OK, so about the mist...
Patchouli
As a species, vampires are skilled at transformation, even though you don't seem to make much use of this ability.
Remilia
Yeah, what about it?
Patchouli
I'm saying you can produce the mist yourself since transformation is all about changing the properties of matter.
Patchouli
It might take some practice, but you should be able to produce mist from your fingertips.
Remilia
No kidding. I'll give it a try.
Patchouli
You'll also need a lot of magical power, but I'll handle that. I'll get back to you tomorrow night.
Remilia
Hehe, thank you.
Patchouli
Why are you laughing?
Remilia
No, I was just thinking that it's really fun doing stuff like this with you.
???
Where are you, devil?
???
There's no escape, Scarlet Duchess.
???
Show yourself.
Patchouli
...Who are you?
???
Hmm, you're not a vampire. Are you one of her thralls?
Patchouli
What if I am?
???
Then I shall slay you as well.
Patchouli
Perhaps you will, but I sincerely doubt you'll be able to defeat the mistress all on your own...
???
Hmph. What would you know?
???
No devil can escape me. No vampire can hide from me. And nothing can evade me.
Patchouli
Oh, is that a riddle? Are you going to perform a trick for me next?
???
Laugh while you can. You are not long for this world.
Patchouli
*sigh* So dramatic...
Patchouli
It looks like Remi will be here soon.
???
Remi? Is that the Scarlet Duchess' name?
Patchouli
The Scarlet Duchess...? Are you talking about her predecessor or something? Either way, she's a vampire.
Patchouli
However...
Patchouli
...you won't live to see her.
???
...?!
Patchouli
Recitation.
Patchouli
Lurker of the night, embodiment of darkest sin, heed my call and obey my contract of blood.
Patchouli
Thy hate is indiscriminate. Thy wrath is eternal. Slake thy thirst for destruction.
Patchouli
Greater Devil Summon―
Patchouli
*cough* *cough*
Patchouli
*huff* *huff* It failed...!
Devil?
Hey, I resent that!
Devil?
Who are you calling a failure?!
???
...
Patchouli
...
Patchouli
...
Patchouli
I'm starving...
Patchouli
...
Patchouli
Hm?
Patchouli
What do you want?
???
You bear an interesting fate. Are you a fortune teller? A conjurer?
Patchouli
...
Patchouli
...Umm, I make medicine. Or, at least, I did.
???
Oh, why did you stop?
Patchouli
Because I'm dying.
???
...
Patchouli
Are you like some kind of princess or something?
Patchouli
That would explain why you don't know anything about this country or the struggles of people like me.
Patchouli
Apparently, it's all your country's fault. I've got no interest in politics, but that's what everyone keeps saying.
Patchouli
Honestly, I don't care either way. It won't affect me much longer.
???
Hmm, I like you.
Remilia
I'll let you be my friend. My name is Remilia.
Patchouli
...
Patchouli
Huh?
Remilia
You're my friend now. Come to my house.
Patchouli
...
Patchouli
I get it now. You're just playing, pretending to be a princess.
Patchouli
Sure, I'll be your friend if that'll stop you from bothering me.
Patchouli
I'm busy preparing for the end. Since you're my friend, you should respect my wishes.
Remilia
What are you talking about?
Remilia
You're a magician, aren't you? You won't die for a very long time.
Patchouli
H-How did you know that?!
Remilia
I can sympathize, though. Even magicians can get that way sometimes.
Remilia
Perhaps that's the curse of all long-lived species.
Patchouli
Who... What are you?
Remilia
Don't worry.
Remilia
This country's problems were all caused by humans. I had nothing to do with it.
Remilia
Beings of magic should live in a world suffused with magic.
Remilia
Well, Patchouli Knowledge? Won't you become my friend? We can live that dream together.
Patchouli
What did you say your name was again?
Patchouli
Remi... Remilia?
Remilia
Yes. Remilia Scarlet.
Patchouli
Y-Y-You....
Patchouli
You're way too pushy!
Patchouli
If you want me to become your friend so badly, why don't you make me?!
Patchouli
Fight me! But I warn you now, I'm no pushover!
Patchouli
I'll use my ultimate spirit magic! You'll be competing against me along with the building blocks of the universe!
Remilia
Wow, what a great idea! Let's do this!
Remilia
If you win, you can end your life however you wish. But if I win, you'll come live with me in my Scarlet Devil Mansion.
Remilia
I plan to expand my mansion as I move from place to place, but you can have free reign of the library.
Remilia
It's dark and gloomy, so I'm sure you'll love it.
Remilia
You can stay cooped up in there for as long as you like, reading books and growing mold.
Patchouli
Shut up and fight!
Patchouli
...
Patchouli
Hehe...
Patchouli
Hahahahahahahahahaha!
Patchouli
As if!
Patchouli
None of those memories were mine. They weren't even close to what I actually experienced...
Patchouli
Honestly...
Patchouli
It's ridiculous.
Koakuma
Sorry for the wait, Lady Patchouli. Your tea's ready.
Koakuma
I picked one of Lady Remilia's favorites. She loved its aroma...
Koakuma
...
Koakuma
Lady Patchouli? Oh, you fell asleep at your desk again.
Koakuma
It looks like the beginnings of a very, very long nap... But don't worry, I'll stay with you until you wake up.
Koakuma
And then I'll make you a fresh cup of tea.
???
...
???
...
???
Good. It worked.
???
Hello.
???
Can you hear me?
???
Patchouli Knowledge.
???
Stay calm, and listen closely.
???
Empty your mind and open your eyes.
???
Trust me...
Patchouli
...?!
Patchouli
*cough* *cough*
Patchouli
Wh-Where am I?! Wh-What... am I doing here?
Patchouli
D-Didn't I...? Wasn't that the end?!
???
Good morning, Patchouli Knowledge. Would you like some coffee to help wake you up?
Okina
I'm Okina Matara, the god of back doors, god of hindrances, god of Noh, shukushin, and astral god...
Okina
I plan to rebuild Gensokyo.
Patchouli
Okina Matara...? I know you. You're one of Gensokyo's good-for-nothing sages.
Patchouli
*cough*
Okina
Take your time. You don't have to force yourself to speak.
Okina
Not everyone is here yet.
Patchouli
Everyone...? Who's everyone?!
Okina
Calm down. I'll explain everything. However, there is someone here whom you should meet first.
Patchouli
R-Remi!
Remilia
Patchy!
Patchouli
How is this possible...?
Patchouli
Weren't we trying to come up with a plan to fight back against the Lost Word Incident?
Patchouli
I can only remember bits and pieces... but everything we tried failed...
Patchouli
...
Patchouli
Wasn't Yukari Yakumo the one who suggested we fight? Where is she? I've got some words for her!
Okina
Yukari isn't here. My servants are still looking for her.
Okina
Regardless, I'm truly glad that we found you, Patchouli.
Remilia
Patchy.
Remilia
We need your knowledge and your ability. Now more than ever.
Remilia
The Lost Word Incident is still a mystery to us. We don't fully understand what's happening.
Remilia
We have to investigate its effects, analyze them, and reveal the truth.
Remilia
We need your help...
Remilia
...to change our fate.
Okina
You are the custodian of knowledge, and we have a lot of knowledge to share with you. And I mean a lot.
Okina
Don't worry. You can rest as we talk.
Okina
Let's begin.
