410 - 500F
410F - Doubts
???
...
???
PLAYER...
???
My beautiful child.
Um, Miss Wordsmith, I've got something to tell you!
Wordsmith
Oh, what is it?
Wordsmith
I'm suspicious?!
Wordsmith
I can't believe this...
No, um, that's just what some people said...!
Wordsmith
S-Sorry.
Wordsmith
It's not that I didn't consider this possibility, but it hurts a lot more than I thought it would...
Wordsmith
I need a moment to compose myself.
...
(This is taking a while...)
Wordsmith
OK!
Wordsmith
I'm fine now!
Wordsmith
I'm mostly back to my usual self.
Wordsmith
...
(That must've come as quite a shock.)
Wordsmith
...
I don't think you're suspicious, Miss Wordsmith.
I remember what you told me before.
You said you could only talk about stuff I already know.
Wordsmith
...!
So if I doubt you... I'd be doubting myself.
Doubts won't get me anywhere.
I have to trust in myself and learn new things.
Wordsmith
Wow...!
Wordsmith
I couldn't have said it better myself! You'll never broaden your understanding if you doubt everything you already know.
Wordsmith
That said, we should probably start doing that now.
Wordsmith
We don't have enough time to waste it talking about random things.
Wordsmith
And when I say time, I mean your proper time. Or more specifically, PLAYER's proper time.
What do you mean?
Is this about how my time will eventually run out...?
Wordsmith
In a manner of speaking.
Wordsmith
Time that is not proper time is called coordinate time, and its length is relative.
Wordsmith
Since time and space are interconnected, there is no past or present, and all spacetimes are covariant.
Wordsmith
The only reason you experience time as a continual flow is because you're a human, and humans move slowly―
T-Time out! What are you talking about?!
Wordsmith
Hm?
Wordsmith
Oh, now I understand. It should've been obvious.
Wordsmith
We share the same umbrella of understanding, but that doesn't mean you can understand all the words I speak.
Wordsmith
You will misinterpret my explanation if I don't choose the right words. But unfortunately, that's unavoidable.
Wordsmith
I am the Wordsmith. I can only know something by putting it into my own words.
Wordsmith
Please forgive me.
Wordsmith
It's like we speak different languages. We share an understanding, but not the words used to express it.
Wordsmith
But that's OK. Since we share an understanding, you already know what I'm trying to tell you.
You've lost me...
Wordsmith
To you, I'm sure my words are like ancient fossils.
Wordsmith
We speak words to express ideas, but words can never become the ideas themselves.
Wordsmith
If words change, so does the interpretation of the ideas they were meant to express. This is a big problem.
Wordsmith
If you found the bone of an animal you didn't know the name of, would you call it a fossil?
Wordsmith
The boundaries of such a thing are so vague that they become one with the world around them.
Wordsmith
I have to use words to explain things to you. But one day, these words might evolve and distort my intended meaning.
Wordsmith
Normally, there wouldn't be any point for beings like us who share an understanding to converse with each other.
Wordsmith
However, the words we use, their connotations, and the boundaries they set are different.
Wordsmith
So, our conversation may lead to new discoveries.
Wordsmith
We don't have long to talk, so let's quickly summarize what we know.
Wordsmith
We will discuss your connections with the Lost Word Incident, the worlds you visited, and the people you met...
Wordsmith
And what you have to do next.
Wordsmith
First, let's talk about the Gensokyo you wandered into.
Wordsmith
The people there are strangely kind toward you. You share a common destiny with them.
Wordsmith
As a general rule, they cannot retain any memories from other worlds.
Wordsmith
But thanks to the sages, some have recognized the danger of the Lost Word Incident and are working to prevent it.
Wordsmith
Festivals are periodically held in that Gensokyo to educate the inhabitants and help them hone their bullet battle skills.
Wordsmith
I'm sure you already know this, but the Lost Word Incident will eventually reach that Gensokyo.
What?!
Wordsmith
Even if, for some chance, you still don't know about that, it will not come as a surprise.
Wordsmith
You and all of Gensokyo will rally together to confront the Lost Word Incident.
Wordsmith
And for that very reason, you will lose.
(Is that a prediction...?)
(No, it can't be... She said there's no future or past.)
Wordsmith
Now, let's talk about the other Gensokyos and the parallel presences who inhabit them.
Wordsmith
Those worlds lost something due to the Lost Words, and you presumed that's why they were on the brink of destruction.
Wordsmith
But that doesn't appear to be the case. The worlds suffering from prolonged incidents contradict that theory.
Wordsmith
It's also strange how you can travel through a chain of parallel worlds despite the fact that they are supposed to be infinite.
Wordsmith
Is this really OK? Shouldn't there be repercussions for doing such a thing?
Wordsmith
How many worlds were destined to end even before they were afflicted by the Lost Word Incident?
Wordsmith
The only way to know for sure is to stop the incident from spreading and trace it back to its source.
Wordsmith
Next, let's talk about the girls who hop from world to world. Specifically, the blue Reimu and her allies.
Wordsmith
Before they met you, they had concluded that resolving the Lost Words was impossible.
Wordsmith
So, they decided to conform affected worlds to their Lost Words to prevent the incident from spreading.
Wordsmith
Their methods were different, but you both shared and continue to share the same goal.
Wordsmith
But where did those girls come from? What caused them to leave their home world?
Wordsmith
How did they acquire the ability to travel to other worlds? And was it merely a coincidence that they met you?
Wordsmith
Many constructs connect parallel worlds. The Probability Space Hypervessel forms bonds between overlapping beings.
Wordsmith
The multidimensional neural network allows interworld travel, and the Ruins of Memory records repeating journeys.
Wordsmith
The retirees who speak to you from a world that has ended were brimming with hope when everything began.
Wordsmith
No, calling that moment the "beginning" is a bit misleading, as the beginning is also the end.
Wordsmith
Either way, they have almost given up hope now.
Wordsmith
That's because of all the repeated failures.
Wordsmith
And it is not they who have failed. It's you...
Wordsmith
We have failed.
Wordsmith
Now, we get to the heart of the matter...
Wordsmith
What is the True Lost Word? What word is missing from every world?
Miss Wordsmith, how much do you...
No, that's not the right question...
How much do WE know?
Wordsmith
You're going to have to face the truth soon.
Wordsmith
You must face the "why."
Wordsmith
The "how."
Wordsmith
And the "who" that caused the Lost Word Incident.
...!
Wordsmith
The answers lie in the―
Wordsmith
SUIMOCHINIMIISHI SESUCHINNISU NIMI KIIMITORANONNRA
What...?
Wordsmith
―■■■ ■■■■■■ ■■■ ■■ ■■■■.
420F - Interworld Festivals
(It's like my dreams and reality are blending together...)
(I hope this doesn't get any worse!)
(Wait... where is everyone? Did they leave me behind?!)
(Uh oh... I think I'm gonna faint again...)
???
Then it's a good thing you've got me!
Huh?!
I know that voice!
Is that you, Miss Wordsmith?!
Wordsmith
That's me. I'm the wife of your heart, your fearless big sis, and your older little sister all in one.
Wordsmith
I'm your Wordsmith Mobile!
M-M-Mobile?!
It's like you're speaking directly into my mind...
It's kinda scary.
Wordsmith
What do you mean "scary"?! I just saved you from fainting. Is that the thanks I get?
Wordsmith
I'm sure I raised you to be better than that! Don't you remember the magic words?!
S-Sorry. Thank you. You're the best.
Wordsmith
SO CUTE! I forgive you!
Thanks!
Phew...
Wordsmith
More possibilities will converge as you climb the tower. But if you don't keep your wits about you, they might split again.
Wordsmith
Fortunately, this convergence of possibilities grants beings like me the power to indirectly influence some events.
Wordsmith
That said, the best I can do at the moment is project myself as a voice that only you can hear.
Oh, so I'm the only one who can hear you, huh?
Wordsmith
That's right!
Sumireko
Who are you talking to?! She sounds like a really nice lady!
Huh?
Wordsmith
How can you hear me?!
Sumireko
Sup, PLAYER-o! It's been a while, huh?
Sumireko
Or maybe not. I've been sleeping all this time, so it can't have been that long since we last met.
Sumireko
It's probably only been a few hours. I'm not waking up anytime soon!
Yeah, it is kinda hard to keep track of time here...
Sumireko
Oh, speaking of time... I realized something recently.
Sumireko
You know how Reimers and Rissa have resolved a bunch of incidents in the past, yeah?
Sumireko
Well, don't you think they've resolved way too many?
Sumireko
Like, if they resolved around one incident per year, as they claim, they must've been doing it from before they were born.
Sumireko
Either that, or they're much older than they look. But there's no way that's true, right? At least... I hope not.
Sumireko
There's gotta be some other explanation...
Sumireko
Well, whatever! I doubt I'll figure it out just by thinking about it.
So, um, what brings you to the Scarlet Devil Tower?
Sumireko
That's a good question...
Sumireko
It was probably the call of adventure!
Sumireko
We live in an age where the only place you can really go adventuring is in games.
Sumireko
So, I thought it might be a nice change of pace to go on a big and fantastical adventure beyond Gensokyo.
Sumireko
Hahaha.
(It sounds like she forgot the real reason...)
Wordsmith
(So it would seem.)
Wordsmith
Oh, sorry, I haven't introduced myself yet, have I? Call me Wordsmith.
Wordsmith
You can't see me... but I suppose you could think of me like a voice that only you and PLAYER can hear.
Sumireko
Oh, so you're like the voice that plays during a game's tutorial. I didn't know things like that could actually exist.
Sumireko
Nice to meet you, Wordy!
Wordsmith
No, um, it's Word―
Sumireko
So, Wordy, what brings you to the Scarlet Devil Tower?
Sumireko
I overheard you talking about converging possibilities or something...
Sumireko
But I got no idea what that means!
Wordsmith
Yes, I suppose I could explain that.
Wordsmith
This isn't limited to just the tower, but when parallel worlds converge, people can randomly cross between worlds.
Wordsmith
Well, I say randomly, but there is some logic to it. It tends to happen more frequently when certain conditions are met.
Sumireko
Yikes! Isn't that, like, really bad?!
Wordsmith
Kind of. Different universes are beginning to link with each other, and that can never be a good thing.
Wordsmith
However, it's not like they'll actually merge anytime soon.
Wordsmith
We'll reach the top of the tower long before that happens, so there's nothing to worry about.
Sumireko
I still don't really get it, but I guess I was overreacting, huh?
Wordsmith
Also, there's no danger of different universes becoming so interconnected that anyone can just hop between them at will.
Wordsmith
There's merely the possibility that someone might suddenly find themselves in another world.
Sumireko
Oh, that's OK then!
Sumireko
Actually... that's not OK at all!
That sounds pretty scary!
Sumireko
Honestly, I still don't really understand, so can you please explain everything again but slower and in more detail?!
Sumireko
I also wanna know more about the Lost Word Incident! It'll probably take a while, so it doesn't have to be now.
Um, so about the parallel worlds connecting...
I get that people randomly appear in different worlds...
But is that happening in every universe?
Wordsmith
You've already witnessed the partial merging of worlds and random interworld travelers on your adventures.
Wordsmith
I'm talking about the Capital's vassal worlds and the Divergent Spirits.
Wordsmith
If there's a world where these things haven't yet occurred, they will occur there soon.
Sumireko
Which worlds are we talking about here? Can't you be more specific?
Wordsmith
I'm almost certain that your Gensokyo will be next.
Oh, is that right?
Sumireko
Hmm, I see.
Sumireko
Wait, what?!
Uh-oh!
Wordsmith
Then again, it could also be a different world that neighbors your Gensokyo.
Wordsmith
There are as many parallel worlds as branching possibilities, so telling them apart isn't easy.
Wordsmith
It's like if you lived in a city full of identical houses. If you leave home, you might never find your way back.
Sumireko
But wasn't our Gensokyo connected to the bottom of the tower? So how come worlds converge more toward the top?
Sumireko
Is it because time advances with altitude? No, but it takes time just to climb the tower...
Sumireko
Argh, I don't get it. I should've paid more attention in physics class.
Wordsmith
Don't worry about it. The Yukari Yakumos have already planned for just such an occurrence.
Sumireko
Really?
Are you talking about the festivals?!
Wordsmith
Indeed. For some reason, incidents have stopped occurring, so they decided to hold festivals instead.
Wordsmith
If people from other worlds start appearing in your Gensokyo, that will only add to the festivities.
Wordsmith
It's like how the Spell Card Rules are adapted to suit each new incident.
Isn't that dangerous?
Wordsmith
A little. Just as accidents can happen in duels conducted under the Spell Card Rules, interworld festivals aren't exactly safe.
Wordsmith
However, the visitors will appear without any memories, and they'll forget everything that happened when they leave.
Wordsmith
As long as you keep dodging any accidental mishaps, everything will turn out OK.
Sumireko
I see. So it's kinda like a battle of bullets.
??? A
That sounds really fun.
??? B
But we only heard bits and pieces, so I still don't really understand what they're talking about.
??? A
I was getting to that, Princess.
Seija
So there's gonna be interworld festivals, huh? Tell us all about 'em.
Shinmyoumaru
If your info can aid us in our fight to protect the weak, we'll let you become our allies!
Sumireko
WOW!
Sumireko
It's that pretty girl and the inchling I wanted to keep as a pet! But one's upside down, and the other's a little bit bigger!
Sumireko
They both look kinda different, but I can immediately tell who they are!
Sumireko
They might be the best parallel versions yet!
Seija
Me?! Pretty?!
Shinmyoumaru
Who are you calling a PET?!
Shinmyoumaru
Hey, Seija... doesn't that human kinda remind you of that girl who showed up shortly after our incident got prolonged?
Seija
Yeah, there was a girl who called you a pet, huh? I think her name was Sumireko! She also wore the same kinda cape!
Shinmyoumaru
Uh-oh! I have really bad memories of her!
Seija
But this one called me pretty. Let's travel with them up to the next break spot, Princess!
Shinmyoumaru
What?! No way! That's too dangerous! Humans from the outside world don't treat tools with the respect they deserve!
Sumireko
...
Sumireko
Haha, maybe you should've talked about that before you showed yourselves.
It looks like they'll be climbing with us for a while!
430F - Wicked Debate
Sumireko
So, was it worth climbing the tower with us? Did you figure anything out?
Seija
You betcha. I discovered something pretty amazing.
Shinmyoumaru
Me too! Can I share what I discovered first?
Seija
Oh, sure. Go ahead, Princess.
Shinmyoumaru
It's actually pretty simple, but I think it's important.
Shinmyoumaru
Sumireko is kinda crazy!
Shinmyoumaru
But in a good way!
Sumireko
Ummm, is that it?
Shinmyoumaru
What do you mean, "Is that it"? This is a crazy discovery.
Seija
I'm with Sumireko on this one. All you've really said is that it's crazy.
Shinmyoumaru
Quiet, Seija! It's still my turn!
Seija
Haha, sorry.
Shinmyoumaru
I thought for sure you were a scary giant, like the kind that pulls legs off bugs just to sate their curiosity.
Sumireko
(Some humans are kinda like that...)
Shinmyoumaru
But now, after seeing you battle, I know how amazing you are! Your psychic powers are so COOL!
Shinmyoumaru
They're not quite as powerful as my Miracle Mallet, but they're really close!
Shinmyoumaru
And you do all that without using any tools. It's crazy! I don't know how else to describe it!
Shinmyoumaru
Maybe you're like some kind of magic item yourself, powered by your own ambitions...?
Sumireko
(What does she mean by that? The more I think about it, the worse it sounds...)
Shinmyoumaru
That's why I wanna ask you something, Sumireko...
Sumireko
What is it?
Shinmyoumaru
Wanna be my underling?!
Sumireko
...!
Sumireko
(Wow, I never thought I'd receive such a heartfelt proposal from an inchling! Should I accept? ...No, what am I thinking?!)
Shinmyoumaru
I believe we can truly turn our world on its head if we can find a replacement for the oni magic. We need your help.
Shinmyoumaru
You're our only hope, Sumireko. Please say yes...
Sumireko
(How can I refuse when she looks at me like that?!)
Sumireko
B-But I can't just...! There are so many things I have to consider...!
Seija
She's right, Princess. You're coming on a bit too strong.
Seija
She'll have to talk with her parents first before making a big decision like that.
Seija
Isn't that right, Sumireko?
Sumireko
Y-Yeah, what she said!
Shinmyoumaru
Fine...
Shinmyoumaru
By the way, Seija, what was the thing you discovered?
Seija
Oh, that. Umm...
(Why is she looking at me?)
Seija
...Nah, don't worry about it. It was nothing important.
Shinmyoumaru
What?! Don't give me that! C'mon, tell me!
??? A
Um, excuse me.
??? B
Urggghhhh!
Seiga
I'm Seiga Nyan Nyan. A hermit.
Seiga
And this is my jiang shi, Yoshika.
Yoshika
I'm a ZOMBIE!
Seiga
Sorry, I know this is sudden, but please let me perform a hermit scan on you all.
Seiga
*stare*
Seiga
Hmm, I didn't expect to find an inchling here. I thought they went extinct.
Seiga
Unfortunately, you don't seem to have what it takes to become a hermit.
Seiga
Some people might want to keep you as a curiosity, but you don't interest me at all. Next.
Seiga
Oh, how funny. You're upside down. Hmm, you remind me of something...
Seiga
Ah, I see. You're a river youkai. I hate youkai.
Seiga
Not to mention, you seem a bit too much like myself. You're no good at all. Next.
Seiga
...
Seiga
Wow!
Seiga
Our search might be over. I think I've finally found a potential hermit servant for our brave sage leader.
Yoshika
Who knew it'd be that easy?
Seiga
I've been watching your battles of bullets for a while now, so I had high hopes.
Seiga
...
Seiga
All right, I've decided.
Seiga
Do you mind if we join you for a bit? I'd like to see you battle up close.
Yoshika
Please!
(We're quite a big group now.)
(I wonder where Reimu and the others went...)
440F - I'm Her Mother
...
...Huh? Did I fall asleep again?
Where's Sumireko...? And the others?!
M-Miss Wordsmith?!
Am I all alone?!
??? A
...
??? B
...
It's the twins from before...
But they look kinda sad...
D-Did something happen?
Is there anything I can do to help?
??? A
...
??? B
...
??? A
You...
??? B
We'll never forgive you...
What?!
??? A & ??? B
WE'LL NEVER FORGIVE YOU!
...?!
??? A
Why did you abandon us?
??? B
Why did you ignore us?
??? A
Again and again, we asked for your help.
??? B
We swallowed our pride and asked you, an ordinary human, to save us.
??? A
We desperately reached out to you.
??? B
We begged you.
??? A & ??? B
WHY DID YOU ABANDON US?!
??? A
I've never felt more betrayed than the moment I realized you weren't going to save us.
??? A
I felt like an utter fool. By the time we knew you had deceived us, it was already too late.
??? A
You tricked us! You! A lowly human!
??? B
When I was there, crawling on the ground, looking up at you... do you know what went through my mind?
??? B
Questions. What are you really after? What could justify betraying us? What could you possibly have to gain?
??? B
Pathetic, isn't it? I'm supposed to be the demon, but you're way more evil and manipulative than me.
...
??? A
Why did you betray us? Asking you this now is pointless, but I still want to know.
??? B
It's too late to change anything, but you must've had a reason, right?
??? A & ??? B
Maybe there was something we could've done...
??? C
There's no point asking her. How many times do you think you've tried?
??? D
Exactly... I've lost count of how many times we've repeated this.
Who are you...?
??? C
Don't get me wrong. It's not that we wanted to give up. In fact, we were brimming with hope at the beginning.
??? C
We thought we'd succeed.
??? C
And it was you, PLAYER, who made us think that.
Me...?
??? D
It's not right for us to blame you, though.
??? D
We chose to put our faith in you. And inevitably, that's what led to our defeat.
??? D
The end of all things was determined the moment we mistakenly chose to rely on you.
...
??? C
Yes, it was a mistake. A mistake we can never put right. There's no denying that.
??? D
We've accepted that. Many times. And we'll have to keep accepting it with each new repetition.
??? C & ??? D
That is our punishment.
??? E
Everything we tried was pointless. I'm tired of saying that, but there's not much else to say.
??? F
All my emotions are spent. I no longer feel angry, appalled, or even sad.
??? G
But we still have regrets. We can never stop regretting what happened.
...
??? E
What makes this worse is that PLAYER is right here in front of us, but we're powerless to do anything.
??? F
There's no way for us to exact our revenge. If there was, we would already be doing it.
??? G
Despite all that, she still appears before us. As if to rub salt in the wound.
??? E
Are you still not satisfied?
??? E
What more can you hope to take from us?!
??? E
Haven't you done enough harm already?
??? E
...
??? E
It's no good. I tried to remain calm, but I can't contain this burning resentment.
??? F
It's too late for us to change anything. So, all we can do is pray.
??? F
Pray over and over toward a single purpose.
??? F
From the bottom of our hearts, we pray about you, PLAYER.
??? F
We pray that you will falter and that your ambitions are never realized.
??? F
We pray that your fate is cursed.
??? F
Curse you, PLAYER.
??? G
There's nothing we can do to stop you, PLAYER.
??? G
We were all dancing to your tune from the start. No one has orchestrated such a monstrous plot before. Not even in Makai.
??? G
Who, or better yet, what are you? I can't believe that a mere human was capable of all this...
??? G
Not to mention that you've continued to keep your motives hidden all this time. No one ever knows what you're after.
??? G
I can't begin to imagine what kind of being could do this. It goes against everything I know.
??? E
You're right. We underestimated her.
??? E
Even now, after looking back on everything she's done to us... we still don't know what she's fully capable of.
??? E
We never should've trusted her. Though, it's too late for that now.
??? F
Everything's too late. We've already failed at everything we tried to accomplish.
??? G
All that's left for us is to wallow in regret until the end of time...
...
I...
??? A
Oh, have you got something to say?
??? B
What could you possibly have to say to us now?
??? C
Give it a rest, PLAYER. You've done enough already.
??? D
Doing or saying anything more will only add fuel to the fire.
??? C
Though, that's probably what you're after, isn't it? You're happy to sacrifice everyone else to achieve your own ends.
??? D
That's what you've always done, and what you'll continue to do. You want to bring about the worst possible end.
??? C
...
??? D
...
??? C
Please. Don't cause any more trouble.
??? C
Don't cause any more chaos.
??? D
All we ask is that you leave us and our world to fade away in peace.
??? D
Please.
...
(Is this all my doing...?)
(I can't know for sure because I've lost my memory.)
(Isn't there something I can do to help them?)
(Or is it because I'm PLAYER that I can't?)
...
B-But...
Since you've all appeared before me...
...that means there must be something I can do...
I don't know what that might be, but...
???
Don't say anything, PLAYER!
??? C
Who's there?!
??? D
Show yourself!
???
Unfortunately, I cannot reveal myself. But I can tell you my name!
??? C & ??? D
Let's hear it then.
Wordsmith
I'm Wordsmith! I'm sure you've heard of me!
Wordsmith
And I'll have you know that I'm also PLAYER's mother!
N-No, um, that's not―
450F - Turning Point
??? A
Wordsmith...?
??? B
A smither of words?
??? C
Who's that?
??? D
Don't look at me.
??? E
(I've never heard that name before.)
??? F
(Me neither.)
??? G
(Who is she...?)
It doesn't look like anyone knows you, Miss Wordsmith.
I'm guessing this isn't the reaction you expected.
Wordsmith
Oh? That's awfully strange.
Wordsmith
...Actually, maybe not.
Wordsmith
My level of understanding transcends that of the people here... Right, so that means... *mumble*
Wordsmith
I underestimated the discrepancies in information between us... A foolish mistake... *incoherent postulations*
Wordsmith
They're simply recalling what they already understand... The feeling that we're conversing is a delusion... *ramble*
Wordsmith
I get it now. It all makes sense!
That was quick!
Wordsmith
Hello, everyone. You appear to have forgotten my name and what I look like.
Wordsmith
And I know why. It's because you're retirees.
Wordsmith
But I'm sure you can't have forgotten everything.
Wordsmith
Think about what my presence here could mean.
Wordsmith
You should be able to figure it out through a process of elimination.
??? C
Ah! ...I'm so angry.
??? D
Me too. I don't know why, but she irritates me.
??? A
I don't get it. When I think of you, Wordsmith, it triggers emotions inside me.
??? B
Yeah, and not in a good way. On the other hand... What do you feel about PLAYER?
??? A
Strangely, I think I feel less resentful.
??? B
Same. That feeling's still there, but it's not nearly as strong as before.
What's going on?
Wordsmith
It seems I've managed to stop everyone from hating you, PLAYER. Now we can all be happy again!
??? E
DO WE―
??? F
LOOK HAPPY―
??? G
TO YOU?!
??? E
You're the new target of our ire! Don't think you can trick us just because we're confused!
??? F
In fact, not knowing what's going on is making me even more angry! And it's all your fault!
??? G
There's no way of knowing for sure... but I get the feeling that she might've tricked us just like this in previous repetitions.
Wordsmith
Uh-oh. Did I make things worse?
Looks like it!
Wordsmith
However, this is much better than them hating you, PLAYER.
Wordsmith
This is a weight that beings like me should bear. It's too heavy for a human.
Wordsmith
That said, I'd still like to try and resolve this somehow...
??? H
Settle down, everyone. Yelling at her won't solve anything.
??? I
Listen to the captain!
??? H
Complaining is about as useful as giving up. And scientists never give up when there are still more answers to find.
??? H
We never give up, even if it seems like we've reached a dead end after exhausting every option.
??? C
But we're not scientists.
??? I
Silence! The captain's speaking!
??? H
Haha, settle down.
??? H
Scientists aren't the only ones who perform science, just like how magicians aren't the only ones who cast magic.
??? H
My solitary journey began when I realized the scientific community's oversight. But I was right, and they were wrong.
??? H
The truth may seem strange or unreasonable, but if it's right before your eyes, you can't just ignore it.
??? H
That's what it means to be a scientist. If you can't explain and analyze the truth, you're turning your back on science.
??? H
No, that's not quite right. It's more about trying to understand the truth than explaining it. To do anything else is a mistake.
??? I
Exactly!
??? H
I know it's tough, but we have to keep trying.
??? H
We must experiment, analyze the results, and reproduce them. All while recognizing our mistakes and correcting them.
??? H
That's our only path to survival.
??? H
Wordsmith.
Wordsmith
...Yes?
??? H
I've never heard of you before. There must be a reason for that.
??? H
Did you just appear now after all this time? No, that can't be right. I'm sure this has happened countless times before.
??? H
The conditions were met, and you appeared before us... only we weren't able to perceive you.
??? H
That's how most scientific discoveries were made. And it's also how I discovered magic.
??? H
That's why...
??? H
...we'll surely meet again.
??? C
No matter how deep she falls into the pit of despair, she can't stop searching for the light...
??? C
It's like a curse that all scientists must bear.
??? I
...
??? I
Don't get the wrong idea, Wordsmith, PLAYER.
??? I
The captain is just as angry and frustrated as the others. She didn't say those things out of sympathy for you.
??? I
Comparative physicists are compelled to seek new possibilities. And that has already burned the captain in the past...
??? I
No, that doesn't concern you. Forget I said that.
...
Wordsmith
...
Huh?!
Marisa?
Sorry for the sudden connection. We need some data.
Marisa?
Hm? Is there someone there with you?
Marisa?
No, I must be imagining things.
Marisa?
Anyway, I'm gonna forcefully bring you to us now. Brace yourself.
Marisa?
Again, sorry for calling you here so suddenly. There was no other choice.
...Umm, Marisa? Is that you?
Marisa?
Hm?
Yukari?
It seems her sense of chronology has been messed up. But we can't blame her for that.
Marisa?
Right. Individual humans inevitably delude themselves into thinking of time as a linear sequence of events...
Marisa?
...even though such sequences are irrelevant to beings who simultaneously exist in multiple parallel worlds.
Yukari?
Not to mention that we forcefully made contact with her. We should've expected some confusion.
Marisa?
Yeah.
I don't really get it, but I'm glad you seem nice.
Marisa?
Haha.
Marisa?
Oops, I forgot we were on the clock. Making interworld calls doesn't come cheap.
Marisa?
I'll try to explain what I can as we extract the information we need from you.
Marisa?
...
Marisa?
You've managed to prove multiple theories by climbing the Scarlet Devil Tower.
Marisa?
One of them is that climbing the tower is equivalent to traveling back in time.
Marisa?
It's basically the same as going on an interstellar trip to see the stars that have long since died out.
Marisa?
As I'm sure you're aware, stars far away from Earth are also far back in the past.
Marisa?
You could also say that the more distant a star is, the more of the past it has recorded.
Marisa?
Sorry, I'm rambling. I was meaning to tell you what we've learned from this.
Marisa?
You will soon face an event of similar, if not equal, proportions to cosmic inflation.
Marisa?
Cosmic inflation is the period of time when the universe expanded at an exponential rate.
Marisa?
Similarly, the event you will face will involve an explosive expansion of possibilities that will suddenly become reality.
Marisa?
And as per your role, you will vicariously experience them all.
Th-That doesn't sound good!
Yukari?
Don't worry. Another me has already taken precautions against this.
Yukari?
Yes, I'm talking about the festivals. The flame of festivities has been kept alight all this time.
Yukari?
Thanks to this, the brunt of the possibility explosion will be taken and absorbed by a new type of festival.
Yukari?
And that's where you come in... Or rather, the yous who participate in festivals.
Yukari?
By observing and experiencing these new festivals, you will provide us with more data to analyze.
Yukari?
We're counting on you, PLAYER.
O-OK!
(But this still doesn't sound very good!)
460F - Beyond the Event Horizon
Lady of Shooting Stars
What are you doing here?
Lady of Shooting Stars
You coming here defeats the whole purpose of me acting independently. Or what? Have you had a change of heart?
???
...
Lady of Shooting Stars
...
Lady of Shooting Stars
No response, huh? Fine. Be that way.
Lady of Shooting Stars
It's always the same with you. You refuse to speak unless it's absolutely necessary.
Lady of Shooting Stars
But since you're here, that must mean Lady of Fantasy is in Gensokyo.
Lady of Shooting Stars
Protecting Gensokyo is what she does, after all. That's what allows me to safely travel to other worlds.
???
...
Lady of Shooting Stars
I was worried you'd left Gensokyo unprotected, but there's no way that's true, right?
Lady of Shooting Stars
It's just that I couldn't imagine you two acting independently since you always tend to stick together.
Lady of Shooting Stars
Yeah, I really didn't expect this...
???
...
Lady of Shooting Stars
Fine. Whatever. You don't have to answer.
Lady of Shooting Stars
Due to differences in opinion, we have different approaches to saving Gensokyo. We also have different opinions about you.
Lady of Shooting Stars
In fact, the desire to save Gensokyo is about the only thing we all share.
Lady of Shooting Stars
Nevertheless... I trust you.
Lady Scarlet Devil
You're the one who gave us our titles, and I respect that.
Lady Scarlet Devil
I doubt the others are as adverse to conflict as myself...
Lady Scarlet Devil
But since you gave everyone their title, they can't just ignore you.
Lady Scarlet Devil
No... Perhaps I'm overthinking it.
Lady Scarlet Devil
You're obviously here for a reason.
Lady Scarlet Devil
And that in itself is cause for concern.
Lady of Spacetime
Hello, milady.
Lady of Spacetime
It's been a while, hasn't it? Actually, no, perhaps it hasn't been that long for you.
Lady Scarlet Devil
Lady of Spacetime.
Lady of Spacetime
I was acting as a chaperone since I was told combining our abilities would bring her here quicker.
Lady of Spacetime
Although "quicker" probably isn't the correct word since time doesn't directly affect interworld travel.
Lady Scarlet Devil
You may be my servant, but you also have a title of your own. Do as you wish.
Lady of Spacetime
Thank you.
Lady of Spacetime
But to tell you the truth, I'm also here to collect someone. If handled correctly, she should prove to be a valuable asset.
Lady Scarlet Devil
...Who?
Lady of Spacetime
The ultimate force of destruction...
Lady of Spacetime
The young mistress―Lady Peacock.
Lady Scarlet Devil
...
Lady Scarlet Devil
W-Well, I said you're free to do as you please. So, as long Lady Peacock is fine with it, I don't have any objections.
Lady Scarlet Devil
If you fail to control her, it is no concern of mine.
Lady of Spacetime
What do you say, young mistress?
Lady Peacock
...
Lady of Spacetime
I wonder if she'll respond.
Lady Peacock
...Huh? It's you.
???
...
Lady Peacock
Are you here to play with me?!
Lady Peacock
Didn't we play enough last time? No, I get it. You want to play with your big sister, don't you?
Lady Peacock
You want me to spoil you. You want me to listen to all your demands. You're so greedy!
Lady Peacock
But too bad!
Lady Peacock
It's past your bedtime. And kids who stay up past their bedtime get destroyed.
Lady Peacock
You're a good kid, so you'll go to sleep, won't you? I'll even let you sleep on my lap.
???
...
Lady of Spacetime
It's strange how she only seems to talk normally to you. I'm a little jealous.
Lady Scarlet Devil
...What part of that sounded normal?
Lady of Shooting Stars
I'm not trying to interfere or anything... but what do you need her for?
???
...
Lady of Shooting Stars
The Lost Words Lady Peacock creates are a completely different beast from the ones I've worked so hard to perfect.
Lady of Shooting Stars
I've performed countless tests, covering broad concepts like "Hakurei" to proper nouns that only affect specific individuals.
Lady of Shooting Stars
I've even created multiple Lost Words at once.
Lady of Shooting Stars
But I finally perfected it so the target that loses its name and the target that loses its existence are one and the same.
Lady of Shooting Stars
It wasn't easy. I never would've accomplished this by simply being more powerful.
Lady of Shooting Stars
To have any semblance of control over the Lost Words, you have to understand the complex emotions of those who pray.
Lady of Shooting Stars
I sincerely doubt Lady Peacock is capable of that. Not in the state she's in right now.
Lady of Shooting Stars
Not to mention that I still haven't shared the results of my experiments with you all.
Lady of Shooting Stars
I put in all that work, so I'd rather you put it to good use.
Lady of Shooting Stars
Everyone tends to forget this, but the nature of our beloved Gensokyo causes lost things to gather.
Lady of Shooting Stars
And I'm not just talking about intangible things like barriers and fate. It's like no one truly understands what this means...!
???
...
Lady of Shooting Stars
Sorry. I didn't mean to get so heated. I'm not trying to coerce you into doing something you don't want to do.
Lady of Shooting Stars
Forget I said anything.
Lady of Shooting Stars
But just let me make one thing crystal clear. I'll do whatever I think is best to protect Gensokyo, and if you get in my way...
Lady of Shooting Stars
I'll make sure you regret it.
???
...
Lady of Shooting Stars
...
Lady of Shooting Stars
Haha, I think I said something similar back when this all began.
Lady of Shooting Stars
It was back when we first met, wasn't it? It feels so long―
Mysterious Shadow
Heh, I knew my patience would pay off. Now, I've got you right where I want you.
Mysterious Shadow
You're going down, Lady of Fantasy!
???
...
Mysterious Shadow
Huh?
Mysterious Shadow
Where is she?
Mysterious Shadow
Where's the Lady of Fantasy?!
Mysterious Shadow
Perhaps it was a mistake to follow you here. I should've just dealt with you when I had the chance.
???
...
Mysterious Shadow
And that's not the half of it.
Mysterious Shadow
I've been facing an uphill battle ever since I lost sight of that Wordsmith person.
Mysterious Shadow
I won't let it end like this.
Mysterious Shadow
Umm, what am I meant to do now? Oh, right. I have to stay calm and list your titles in order.
Mysterious Shadow
What kind of order is this, anyway? It doesn't seem to be in order of authority.
Mysterious Shadow
Well, whatever. I'm sure you have your reasons.
Mysterious Shadow
Lady of Fantasy.
Mysterious Shadow
Lady of Shooting Stars. Lady Darkness, Lady Nature, Lady Frost...
Mysterious Shadow
Lady Taiji, Lady Librarian, Lady of Wisdom, Lady of Spacetime, Lady Scarlet Devil, and Lady Peacock...
Mysterious Shadow
Oh, so you must be Lady Genso.
Mysterious Shadow
You're going down, Lady Genso! And I'll disappear along with you!
???
...
Lady of Shooting Stars
Hold up.
Lady of Shooting Stars
Who the heck are you?!
470F - Before the Event Horizon
Mysterious Shadow
All right, I'm gonna list your titles in order again.
Lady of Shooting Stars
Cut that out. I don't know what you're playing at, but it stops now.
Mysterious Shadow
One. Lady of Fantasy. It always starts with the shrine maiden.
Mysterious Shadow
Two. Lady of Shooting Stars. It makes sense that a magician brings about the end.
Lady of Shooting Stars
You think you can just ignore me? You haven't even told us your name... or shown yourself.
Mysterious Shadow
Three. Lady Darkness. The darkest night that devours moonlight.
Mysterious Shadow
Four. Lady Nature. All things in their natural state.
Mysterious Shadow
Five. Lady Frost. What a simplistic name.
Lady Peacock
What's going on? Is she a teddy bear? Can I destroy her?
Lady Scarlet Devil
She's impossible to see. It's like she's covered in a film of black ink that hides more than just visual information...
Lady Scarlet Devil
I can't see her on the physical or mental level, and there's even a film or barrier that prevents me from seeing her fate.
Mysterious Shadow
Six. Lady Taiji. The source of all temperament. The center of Heaven.
Mysterious Shadow
Seven. Lady Librarian. A bookcase devil born from books, living for books, sacrificing herself for books.
Mysterious Shadow
Eight. Lady of Wisdom. Complete knowledge is attained through the Philosopher's Stone.
Lady of Shooting Stars
You mean she's completely unobservable? That's just like... a Lost Word.
Lady of Shooting Stars
You can't be serious, Lady Scarlet Devil.
Lady of Shooting Stars
...Right?
???
...
Mysterious Shadow
Nine. Lady of Spacetime. Manipulating time is equivocal to manipulating space.
Mysterious Shadow
Ten. Lady Scarlet Devil. Descendent, bonded by blood, to one who failed to attain immortality.
Mysterious Shadow
Eleven. Lady Peacock. The fallen Morning Star, trapped beneath the earth never to rise again.
Lady of Shooting Stars
Since she's like a Lost Word, does that make her our ally? She certainly isn't acting like it.
Lady of Shooting Stars
...I've seen plenty of unbelievable people, but she seems different from all of them in a way I can't describe.
Lady Scarlet Devil
I'd like to ask what you're basing that assumption on, but that can wait.
Lady Scarlet Devil
I agree with you. She's different. She's not like us or the others affected by the Lost Words.
Lady Peacock
Yeah, she's a teddy-not bear. A completely different teddy.
Lady Scarlet Devil
...
Lady Scarlet Devil
Right...
Mysterious Shadow
Twelve. Lady Black Winter. Pulling strings from behind a dark blanket of snow.
Mysterious Shadow
Thirteen. Lady Cat Apparition. Shiki, kishin, and shiki no ouji―all names for shikigami.
Mysterious Shadow
Fourteen. Lady of Magical Hues. The Seven-Colored Magician isn't human. That's why she obsesses over the human form.
Lady of Shooting Stars
Tch! She's really starting to annoy me.
Lady Scarlet Devil
Wow, it's not like you to lose your cool. I thought nothing fazed you.
Lady of Shooting Stars
Really? Then you don't know me very well. I am and always have been all about firepower.
Lady of Shooting Stars
If I see something or someone I don't like...
Lady of Shooting Stars
I blast 'em away!
Mysterious Shadow
...
Mysterious Shadow
Fifteen. Lady Spring Herald. When the season of sleep ends, someone has to wake everyone up.
Mysterious Shadow
Sixteen. Lady of Melancholic Notes. Crazed minds have short wavelengths.
Mysterious Shadow
Seventeen. Lady of Manic Notes. Carefree minds have long wavelengths.
Mysterious Shadow
Eighteen. Lady of Illusionary Notes. Fantastical minds have constantly changing wavelengths.
Lady of Shooting Stars
I can't believe this...!
Lady of Shooting Stars
She's still ignoring me. Is she trying to make me mad?
Lady of Shooting Stars
Well, I'm not having it. Not from you! YOU don't get to ignore me!
Mysterious Shadow
...
Mysterious Shadow
Nineteen. Lady Mortal Phantasm. She is neither fully human nor a phantom but something in between.
Mysterious Shadow
Twenty. Lady of Rapturous Death. A seed cannot sprout without dying.
Mysterious Shadow
Twenty-one. Lady Fox Spirit. As a high-spec youkai, she is given complex tasks.
Mysterious Shadow
Twenty-two. Lady Genso...
Mysterious Shadow
...?
Lady of Shooting Stars
Huh? Why'd you stop?
Mysterious Shadow
...
Mysterious Shadow
...
Mysterious Shadow
Twenty-three. Lady Drunken Dream. If she keeps acting like that, she can't complain if she gets exterminated.
Lady of Shooting Stars
I thought you'd finally finished!
Mysterious Shadow
...
Mysterious Shadow
Twenty-four. Lady Starry Land. The tiny sparks dancing in the air form a starry sky you can touch.
Mysterious Shadow
Twenty-five. Lady Blind Ballad. A song sung in the dark of night, unable to see.
Mysterious Shadow
Twenty-six. Lady Reminiscence. Memories edited each time they're recalled.
Lady of Shooting Stars
Enough...! I'm not gonna hold back anymore!
Mysterious Shadow
...
Mysterious Shadow
Twenty-seven. Lady White Rabbit. Dot DAT.
Mysterious Shadow
Twenty-eight. Lady Waves. Fallen, cast out, her trespass broke the barrier. It's the ripple effect.
Mysterious Shadow
Twenty-nine. Lady Millennia. Hidden. Waiting. Her focus has remained unbroken for an impossibly long time.
Mysterious Shadow
Thirty. Lady Dream Colors. Colorless. Those who are truly noble do not work. They are served.
Lady of Shooting Stars
Fine... You asked for this.
Lady of Shooting Stars
I hoped you could give us some new info, but it's not worth the risk. Not with her here.
Lady of Shooting Stars
Sorry, but this is the end for you.
Mysterious Shadow
Thirty-one. Lady of Perpetual Smoke. The eternally cruel and unjust smoke―the smoke from Mount Fuji.
Lady of Shooting Stars
Didn't you hear me?! I'm gonna kill you!
???
...
???
■■. (Rough Translation: "Wait.")
Lady of Shooting Stars
What?!
Lady Scarlet Devil
No way...
Lady Peacock
Teddy talked!
???
■■■■■■, ■■■■. (Rough Translation: "I know who you are now.")
Mysterious Shadow
...
???
■■■■■■■■■. (Rough Translation: "You're Reimu Hakurei.")
Mysterious Shadow
...!
Reimu?
...
Lady Scarlet Devil
I don't believe it.
Lady of Shooting Stars
Reimu!
Lady of Shooting Stars
...Are you Reimu? You look kinda different.
Lady Scarlet Devil
You're one to talk. Have you seen the other Marisas?
Reimu?
...
Reimu?
I've learned something, too.
Reimu?
You're...
Reimu?
Not Lady Genso.
480F - Beyond an Event Horizon
Reimu?
...
Reimu?
Well, whatever. It doesn't really matter if you're Lady Genso or not.
Reimu?
I'm gonna exterminate you either way!
Reimu?
...
Reimu?
Lady of Rumors.
Reimu?
Lady Convallaria, Lady Anthophile, Lady Guide, Lady Yama―
Lady Peacock
She's doing it again. So boring.
Lady Scarlet Devil
...
Lady Scarlet Devil
Stop her.
Lady Scarlet Devil
Quickly.
Lady of Spacetime
Why? She doesn't seem to be doing much.
Lady Scarlet Devil
No, she doesn't. It's not like she's preparing for an attack or anything.
Lady Scarlet Devil
But doesn't this feel off to you? She can't be listing our titles for no reason.
Lady Scarlet Devil
She wouldn't have gotten so confused if it was simply a mantra or something she's reciting to calm down.
Lady Peacock
She's up to something.
Lady Peacock
It's like a knotted rope, a quipu, prayer beads, or a rosary... But vampires aren't weak to them, and I think she knows that.
Lady Scarlet Devil
...
Lady Scarlet Devil
Identifiers specify data, but they don't grant access to it. They don't even have to tell you anything about the data.
Lady Scarlet Devil
But when she lists them, I can clearly feel the threads of fate being severed. It's... dangerous.
Lady Scarlet Devil
Think back on what we know about Gensokyo and the people who live there.
Lady Scarlet Devil
Gensokyo is a place of absurdity where all things fantastical gather, but how can it function if that's all it is?
Lady Scarlet Devil
The simple answer is that it can't. Nothing can.
Lady Scarlet Devil
If you know anything about Gensokyo, you should know that it wouldn't work if only youkai lived there.
Lady Scarlet Devil
The youkai take the form of humans, learn their language and culture, and live alongside them.
Lady Scarlet Devil
They do this by using common sense, not absurdity. Gensokyo is predominantly a world of human logic and materialism.
Lady of Spacetime
What are you trying to say?
Lady Scarlet Devil
Humans are a food source tainted with a poison called humanity, which the youkai of Gensokyo cannot live without.
Lady Scarlet Devil
The more poison they consume, the more they need. They're basically addicts.
Lady of Spacetime
Wow, that's harsh.
Lady Scarlet Devil
No, it's the truth. As an endangered species, they must prioritize their survival above all else.
Lady Scarlet Devil
Their only other option was to become like domesticated beasts, subservient to humans.
Lady Scarlet Devil
Gensokyo is the last ward for youkai, the last youkai conservation... and Reimu Hakurei is the park ranger.
Lady Scarlet Devil
This seems absurd, but it's not. And while Reimu doesn't seem to follow rules or act logically, she does.
Lady Scarlet Devil
Reimu is the tether binding youkai and humans together. No matter what world she's in.
Lady of Spacetime
You sound like one of the sages.
Lady Scarlet Devil
Of course I do. I'm the smartest one here.
Lady of Spacetime
Let me get this straight. You're saying that, no matter what, Reimu Hakurei poses the biggest threat to us, correct?
Lady of Spacetime
That's... not really a surprise. It's always been like that.
Reimu?
Lady Tranquility, Lady of Abundance, Lady of Misfortune, Lady Shell, Lady Red Leaf, Lady of Revelations, Lady Divine Power...
Lady of Spacetime
So what should we do? I could send her somewhere with my ability...
Lady of Shooting Stars
That could work, but we shouldn't leave anything to chance. I'll get rid of her.
Lady of Spacetime
You? Everything you've tried so far has failed.
Lady of Shooting Stars
What are you talking about? I was obviously holding back.
Lady of Shooting Stars
I still haven't been given permission to go all out. Also, let me remind you, just in case you've forgotten...
Lady of Shooting Stars
I can do whatever you can, Lady of Spacetime. But better. And with more flair.
Lady of Spacetime
...
???
■■■■. (Rough Translation: You have my permission.)
Lady of Shooting Stars
Hehe, that's what I like to hear. Thanks.
Lady of Shooting Stars
Reimu, you remind me of my friend. In fact, you look almost identical.
Lady of Shooting Stars
That's why I'm gonna give you one last warning. I don't wanna lose any sleep over this, you see.
Lady of Shooting Stars
Shut up right now, or disappear!
Reimu?
Lady of Divine Curses, Lady Lightning, Lady of Non-Perception―
Lady of Shooting Stars
Fine. You asked for this!
Lady of Shooting Stars
Phew...
Lady Peacock
The teddy's gone!
Lady of Spacetime
Incredible. It's like you blasted her away along with the spacetime she inhabited.
Lady of Shooting Stars
I sent her to a parallel world by unlocking the full potential of Enoko's magic item―the jewel she got from Zanmu.
Lady of Shooting Stars
I bet she's pretty confused right about now.
Lady of Spacetime
A magic item, huh? Like that sword you're carrying...
Lady of Shooting Stars
Yeah, my Master Blade. It's fitted with a mini hakkero that I combined with all kinds of magic items.
Lady of Shooting Stars
It's super useful. I can replicate the effects of over 40,000 different items just by switching around the trigram panels.
Lady of Shooting Stars
When I see a new item, I borrow it and store it in here. I can also combine their effects. The possibilities are endless.
Lady of Shooting Stars
Pretty cool, huh? I bet you want one. Well, too bad. It's mine.
Lady of Spacetime
You just openly admitted to stealing...
Lady of Shooting Stars
I didn't steal nothing. I said I'm just borrowing them, and I'll die on that hill.
Lady Scarlet Devil
That's all well and good, but what are you going to do when that shiny gold shrine maiden inevitably finds us again?
Lady of Shooting Stars
I'll send her to a different parallel world. But I guess if she really gets annoying, I'll have to make her disappear for good.
Lady of Shooting Stars
(This only worked because she hasn't fought me before.)
Lady of Shooting Stars
(I doubt she'll fall for the same trick twice. She's Reimu... and if anyone can read me, it's her.)
Lady of Shooting Stars
(I've got 40,000 other tricks, but that might not be enough...)
Lady of Shooting Stars
(Hehe, this is starting to get interesting.)
490F - Which Event Horizon?
...
......
.........
............Speech output enabled.
Wordsmith will now handle all communications. Testing... Yes, I'm your mother.
This isn't going well. I'll have to try to fix things and start over.
I'll give it a shot. No, don't worry. This will probably take a while, so why don't you make yourself a cup of tea and wait?
Wordsmith is praying, Ruins of Memory. Wordsmith is praying, L1 Subject.
Hmm, it's broken. I'm not sure if I can fix it.
Wordsmith is praying, Self-Similar Demon Realm. Wordsmith is praying, L1 Subject.
...I can't fix it. Uh-oh. Do I have a piece of fabric that matches the torn clothes?
Wordsmith is praying, multi-dimensional neural network. Wordsmith is praying, con■■■■■■■ to ■■■■■■■.
Couldn't ■■■■■■■ to ■■■■■■■. It seems I'll have to figure this out myself.
Wordsmith is praying, Paradox Garden. A new ■■■■■ ■■■■■■■.
There are not enough ■■■■■■■■■. ■■■■■ failed.
■■t■■ f■■■■d. P■■■■ ■■il■d.
■■■■h ■■■l■■. ■a■■■ ■a■■■■.
■■■c■ ■■■■e■. ■■■■■ ■■■■■■.
■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■
Re■■■■■?
Y.
YES.
YES. YES. YES.
???
...
???
...
???
Hey, wake up.
???
Hm?
???
Are you OK?
???
Can you hear me? Wake up.
???
PLAYER.
...
Ah!
Marisa
Are you OK?
Marisa
Hasn't anyone told you that sitting too close to the screen is bad for you?
...R-Right. I'll try to be more careful.
Marisa
Good idea.
But something feels off.
Marisa
What do you mean?
My memories have been hazy since I got to the Capital.
I can't really remember you, either, Marisa.
Marisa
...
Marisa
That's around the time you started existing in multiple parallel worlds. It kinda makes sense... But then again... Hmm...
Marisa
So you appeared before me, not knowing who I am, huh?
Marisa
That must've given you quite a fright. I'm glad you agreed to help me anyway.
Actually, I didn't feel scared... I felt relieved.
Marisa
...
Marisa
Right. In a way, that's kinda more worrying. I hope some bad guy doesn't try to snatch you away.
Hm?
Marisa
No, but you're already lost, aren't you? Speaking of which...
Marisa
We still need more evidence, but I've learned a bit more about you thanks to all our investigations.
Really?!
Marisa
Yep. All your efforts have paid off.
Th-Thank you!
Marisa
...I wasn't expecting that.
I'm just so happy! Everyone's trying so hard to help me.
Marisa
Yeah, I guess helping you is a big part of it.
Marisa
Resolving the Lost Word Incident is for everyone's benefit, but we can't fully resolve it unless we find your home.
Marisa
Also, I said this before, but it's primarily your own efforts that led to this. You've worked hard, too.
Marisa
While I get that you're grateful, you don't owe me anything. We did this together, and we should celebrate it together.
Yeah... You're right.
Marisa
Good, now get off me. It's kinda embarrassing.
Marisa
Phew...
Marisa
All right, let's go to the bridge. Everyone's waiting.
Reimu
Oh, look who finally showed up. Took you long enough.
Yukari
Good, now that PLAYER's here, we won't have to explain anything twice. Let's begin, shall we?
Are you the one who found the info about me, Reimu?
Reimu
Huh?
Reimu
No, it wasn't me. Didn't Marisa tell you?
Marisa
Why would I? That's what this meeting is for.
Reimu
Well, if you told her, she wouldn't have to ask me, would she? You really need to learn how to communicate better.
Marisa
Seriously? That's rich coming from you.
Reimu
*mumbled frustration*
Marisa
Let's get back on topic.
Marisa
Our latest investigation revealed a clue that might help us map out and understand PLAYER's roots.
Roots?
Marisa
Yep, roots. Everything has roots. They show where you came from and how you got to where you are now.
Marisa
The fastest way to find your home is to trace your roots back to their source.
Marisa
They include your possessions, habits, appearance, how you talk, and the general knowledge you haven't forgotten.
Marisa
There's also your DNA, but let's not get into that.
Marisa
Anyway, everything that makes you you has been passed down to you from someone else, and they're all clues.
Marisa
To analyze your roots, we must collect, deconstruct, and compare these clues to other samples.
Reimu
Yeah, yeah. It's super complicated. Why don't you skip to the part where you tell her about the new info we found?
Marisa
Good idea. But I better leave that to the person who found it.
Who's that? If it wasn't Reimu or Marisa, then...
Koishi
It was me.
Whoa! Where'd you come from?!
Koishi
It wasn't easy, but I found that info for you.
Koishi
...
Koishi
...
Koishi
I found it. For you.
Th-Thanks! Umm, uhh...
Marisa
Oh, PLAYER's memories are a bit messed up at the moment. She couldn't even remember meeting me.
Marisa
She probably doesn't fully remember meeting you, either.
Marisa
So, go easy on her, would you?
Koishi
...
Koishi
You're joking. That's... That's really annoying.
Reimu
Why don't you introduce yourself again?
Koishi
You mean tell her my name and stuff?
Koishi
No. I really can't be bothered.
Koishi
I'll just tell you what I found.
(Wow...)
500F - Before or Beyond?
Koishi
All right, can I start explaining what I found now? I don't want any interruptions.
Yukari
Please do.
Reimu
Get on with it already.
Marisa
Agreed. We can't afford to waste time.
Koishi
...
Koishi
On second thought, maybe I won't explain anything.
Oh no...!
Yukari
Come on, you two. At least try to play nice.
Yukari
Koishi went out of her way to find this information for us. The least you could do is thank her.
Reimu
*mumbled apology*
Marisa
Sorry. Force of habit.
I-I really wanna hear what you found!
I'd love to learn about where I came from!
Please tell me all about your big adventure!
Koishi
...!
Koishi
OK, I'll tell you. You're just as I remember you, PLAYER.
Koishi
Even if you don't remember me, you're still you.
Koishi
I'm so happy. I love you.
Reimu
Yikes. Isn't "love" going a bit far?
Marisa
Gross.
Koishi
Hey, they're MY feelings. You don't get a say in them.
Reimu
Do you even have feelings?
Marisa
Yeah, aren't you supposed to be an unconscious youkai or something? You're like a philosophical zombie.
Koishi
Fine, then they're MY words. You don't get a say in them.
Reimu
Then we'd never get to say anything.
Marisa
That's no fun at all.
Yukari
Give it a rest, you two.
Koishi
All right, I'm gonna explain what I found now. But don't interrupt me, OK? Or you'll regret it.
Thank you.
Koishi
It all started when―
Sanae
Sorry I'm late!
S-Sanae?!
Sanae
It seems I'm the last one here! Haven't you started yet?
Sanae
Oh, don't tell me...
Sanae
Was it...
Sanae
Me you were waiting for?!
Koishi
Stop yelling.
Koishi
Also, read the room. If you're late, you should come in quietly and not draw attention to yourself.
Koishi
I really shouldn't be the one teaching you this.
Sanae
Eep!
Sanae
I think I'm gonna cry...
Sanae
No! I can't let this get to me! My smile's a gift to the world!
Sanae
And it's a gift that keeps on giving!
Reimu
If I got that as a gift, I'd send it straight back.
Marisa
Aren't you going to apologize, Sanae? That was actually pretty rude.
Sanae
Nope!
Koishi
Apologize.
Sanae
Oh, um... sowwy...
Sanae
But don't you wanna hear about the super special info I found?
Reimu
Huh? Are you telling me you've actually done something for once?!
Sanae
Awwww, that's so mean! I actually work pretty hard, you know! Much more than the rest of us!
Marisa
She's got a point. Who knows what the others are up to.
Marisa
But what was that about special info?
Sanae
You mean my super mysterious, super exciting info? Well, you guys want me to be quiet... so I guess you'll never know.
Reimu
Wow... I've suddenly lost all interest.
Koishi
I found the same info, so who cares?
Sanae
How can you be so sure?! I haven't told you anything about my super big news yet!
Sanae
I bet you don't know that Miss PLAYER doesn't have any roots outside Gensokyo!
Sanae
Oops.
Sanae
I guess you know everything now.
Huh? You mean...
I don't have any roots... in the outside world...?
But then... where did I... come from?
Marisa
Sanae. Is that true?
Reimu
You better not be joking around! PLAYER's standing right here, you know!
Do I even have a home...?
Sanae
Oh no! I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to confuse you, Miss PLAYER.
Reimu
Outside Gensokyo includes more than just the outside world. Does that mean she doesn't have roots anywhere?
Marisa
From what I hear, the outside world is supposed to be really big. Are you sure you looked everywhere...?
Reimu
Well, Yukari? Can we trust Sanae's info?
Yukari
...
Yukari
You should know better than to ask me that, Reimu. Why do you think we've been investigating, if not to verify things?
Yukari
There's no such thing as a definitive truth. There are merely shades of truth that can be discerned with more knowledge.
Yukari
But in this case, you're in luck. We already have some evidence that supports Sanae's findings.
Marisa
Huh?
Reimu
What do you mean?
Koishi
Oh, you're talking about me.
Koishi
Yeah, I found the same thing as Sanae.
Koishi
Now I get why you sent me to investigate. You needed me to verify Sanae's story, huh?
Yukari
Of course. Having multiple investigators helps prevent subjective opinions from influencing the results.
Koishi
Sure, if you say so. I don't act consciously, so I think I'm objective enough already.
Koishi
But, whatever.
Koishi
First, I should explain how I looked for PLAYER's roots. It wasn't that difficult.
Koishi
'Cause no matter how you cut it, she's an ordinary human. There were plenty of leads.
Koishi
I just had to search for info about humans her age who've gone missing in the last dozen years or so.
Koishi
And I didn't even have to search every world―just the places where people who share stuff in common with her live.
Marisa
Yeah, I guess that does narrow it down a fair bit. But that's still a crazy amount of data to try and sift through, no?
Reimu
What's the next step? Don't tell me you visited an almost infinite number of worlds, asking whoever you found there.
Koishi
Not all of them. If you think of all the other worlds as an ocean, I didn't have to leave the shallows.
Koishi
The multi-dimensional neural network has already ventured into the depths. It knows what I know before I know it.
Marisa
Oh, right. I forgot about that weird plant thing you found.
Koishi
Cool, isn't it? It's a plant, but it's also my pet.
Reimu
I don't get it. What's so special about your silly tangle of vines?
Koishi
It's not silly.
Koishi
By connecting my plant with the multi-dimensional neural network, I can analyze vast amounts of data.
Marisa
You're joking, right? The multi-dimensional neural network is a lunatic realm of demons and magic.
Reimu
That's simply not possible. You better not be lying to us.
Koishi
If you'd just let me finish.
Koishi
Remember my ocean analogy? I was lucky this time 'cause I didn't have to explore the depths or waters far from land.
Koishi
I basically just stuck to the shallows, picking up whatever washed up there. Like shells. And trash.
Koishi
The multi-dimensional neural network left all data concerning ordinary humans in the shallows, judging it as irrelevant.
Koishi
Every efficient system has a selection process and priorities.
Marisa
That's insane. With all that knowledge, you could become a professor in whatever field you wanted.
Koishi
I don't think I have to explain this to you, Marisa, but everything has a cost. It's a give-and-take.
Koishi
My magic power is finite, so I can only gather so much data at once. The shallows may be vast, but my net is small.
Reimu
Right, that checks out.
Koishi
Anyway, after sifting through all the outside world data, I didn't find any info about PLAYER's roots.
Koishi
I think we can take this as definitive proof that PLAYER is not a human from the outside world.
Koishi
She's not from another realm like Hell or Heaven, either. And she's not from Gensokyo.
Koishi
If she was from any of them, someone would've noticed. There would've been no way or reason to hide it.
Reimu
But she could still be from the outside world of a super distant parallel universe―so distant you couldn't investigate it.
Koishi
If that were the case, then she wouldn't have been able to travel to this universe.
Koishi
Also, it's not like we're capable of sending her to such a faraway place. She should be from a place she can return to.
Koishi
Since she's not from any outside world within possible travel distance, she's not from any outside world, period.
Marisa
Hmm, I see.
Marisa
So she's not from Gensokyo, yet she's not from outside Gensokyo... It's like a riddle.
Reimu
More like a headache. Then again... I feel like I've heard something similar before.
Marisa
Hakurei Shrine? That might be what you're thinking of.
Reimu
Oh!
Reimu
The shrine is the boundary between Gensokyo and the outside world. It exists in both, yet neither...
Reimu
But... what does that tell us?
Marisa
...Not much.
Where did I come from...?
Marisa
Hmmm. Sanae, does all this match with the info you found?
Sanae
Oh, um, yes!
Sanae
Miss Koishi said everything I was going to say already, so I don't really have anything else to add...
Reimu
Wow. How'd you manage to sift through all that data?
Reimu
You can't have used the same method as Koishi. Even if you could, that wouldn't help with verifying the results.
Reimu
So, how'd you do it? I really wanna know.
Sanae
Are you seriously asking me that, Miss Reimu? It should be obvious!
Sanae
I used the power of miracles!
Reimu
Right, so it was a coincidence.
Marisa
Your ability's so OP. Next time, you should show us these "miracles" in action.
Reimu & Marisa
All right, meeting adjourned.
Sanae
Why's everyone so mean to me?!
Thanks, Sanae. I really am grateful!
Sanae
Miss PLAYER!
Sanae
Your kind words give me the strength to keep going.
(Hang in there, Sanae...!)
Reimu
But what are we gonna do now? If she's not from Gensokyo or outside it, we've got nowhere left to look.
Marisa
It's a paradox. Did we mess up somewhere?
Koishi
There's no paradox.
Sanae
It's elementary, my dear Marisa!
Marisa
What do you mean? Also, Sanae, don't call me dear.
Koishi
She doesn't have any roots in Gensokyo or outside it.
Koishi
But this is only limited to the data we searched based on PLAYER's age.
Sanae
Yeah, we only searched the present. So, naturally, it's still possible that her roots exist in...
Koishi
The distant past.
Sanae
The far future!
Sanae & Koishi
...
What?
Reimu & Marisa
...Come again?
Koishi
We gotta go back to the past.
Sanae
It's time travel time!
Everyone just kept arguing after that...
Yukari
Yes. We've entered uncertain territory again. Koishi and Sanae have arrived at different conclusions.
Yukari
Also, when you think about it, it doesn't really add up. You shouldn't be from a different time period.
Why's that?
Yukari
It's the way you speak. You speak like a modern-day human.
Oh, right. Marisa said the way I talk was a clue.
Yukari
Exactly. The way people talked a mere hundred years ago was quite different from how people talk now.
Yukari
The fact you speak the modern tongue indicates that you're from a place where everyone spoke that way.
Yukari
People are like living lexicons. They always take their language with them.
I see... Wait, no. That can't be right...
Yukari
Ah, I see you've noticed the problem.
Yukari
Despite being from an earlier age, when Toyosatomimi no Miko came back to life, she spoke the modern tongue.
Yukari
Same with Byakuren. You weren't there at the time, but I'm sure Reimu and the others told you what happened.
Yukari
One of them would've mentioned it if they struggled to communicate.
Yukari
Isn't that right?
Y-Yeah...
Yukari
It's all very strange, isn't it?
Yukari
Now, please return to your station. We've got work to do.
OK!
Yukari
Teehee, don't worry.
Yukari
Our other allies will return soon. The investigation will progress much faster with their support.
Yukari
And more doors will open for us and this ship... the Probability Space Hypervessel.
Yukari
Once we get it fully operational, there won't be anything we cannot do.
Yukari
The possibilities will quite literally be endless.
