Prologue
Index
Prologue
Sanae
I still can't fully believe what I saw.
Sanae
I was in a tunnel, but it seemed as wide and as open as the surface.
Sanae
I'll never forget the feeling of descending deeper and deeper down into the earth.
Sanae
But that place was forbidden. I may have wandered down there once, but I wouldn't be allowed to go there again.
Sanae
No matter how many times I asked Lady Suwako and Lady Kanako about it, they said I wasn't to go there alone.
Sanae
But, if possible...
Sanae
...I'd really like to go to the Rainbow Dragon Cave again.
Sanae
Then descend further, beyond the mine and off the beaten path.
Sanae
I'm sure there's something down there waiting to be found.
One bright sunny day at the aerial tramway...
Sanae
Hmmm, let's see here.
Sanae
The tram is operating on schedule, and there's been a steady increase in visitors.
Sanae
I feel like I say this every time, but you kappa really know your stuff.
Sanae
Thanks again for your help. Your boss ordered you to put this report together for her, right? It can't have been easy.
Diligent Kappa
No, we were happy to do it!
Competitive Kappa
You can't produce true innovations without paperwork!
Sleepy Kappa
It might be a boring step, but it's a crucial one.
Sanae
That's so inspirational! And you're right, hard work―day in, day out―is how technology improves!
Sanae
That's why I'm here making the rounds just like Lady Kanako and Lady Suwako asked me to.
Sanae
*sigh* They always make me do all the boring stuff. I bet they're having fun somewhere without me again...
Sanae
Oops, you weren't meant to hear that.
Sanae
Ahem. So, where can I find your boss?
Sanae
I might as well say hello while I'm here.
Diligent Kappa
Nitori? Umm, she's in the new shop testing out―
Competitive Kappa
Shhhh! We were told not to tell Sanae about that, remember?!
Sanae
Not tell me what?
Competitive Kappa
Eeep! P-P-Please don't smile at me like that! It's terrifying!
Sleepy Kappa
I guess there's no keeping secrets from you, Sanae.
Nitori
The weather's great, the boxes are full, and all the goods are sorted!
Nitori
There'll never be a better opportunity than this!
Nitori
Luckily, I got someone else to deal with the shrine maiden, so now all I gotta do is wait for the customers to come rolling in!
???
Which shrine maiden?
Nitori
You know, the one who comes for the regular reports. Like, I'm way too busy to be dealing with that―huh?
Sanae
I see... So that's what you truly think, is it?
Sanae
I'm sad to hear that. I had hoped that we and the kappa would have a long and fruitful partnership with each other...
Nitori
Eeep! S-S-Sanae?!
Sanae
Jokes aside, what are you up to?
Sanae
It's not like we've forbidden you from branching out and selling new things, so why are you acting so sneaky?
Sanae
Sure, we've always looked over your products first... but that's just a necessary precaution.
Sanae
The partnership between Moriya Shrine and the kappa has been good for everyone involved.
Sanae
I trust you, you know?
Nitori
That's nice and all, but...
Sanae
So, what are you selling?
Nitori
Come again?
Sanae
What. Are. You. Selling?
Sanae
Even after I said all that...
Sanae
I was a fool to trust you!
Nitori
Sorry!
Sanae
*sigh* Did you really have to make me battle you?
Sanae
So, are you going to tell me what you're up to now?
Nitori
...Can you keep it a secret?
Sanae
That depends. Either way, you're in no position to be making demands.
Nitori
Fine.
Nitori
I'll show you, but this is only 'cause I trust you too.
Nitori
That said, they're still in the prototype phase, so please don't tell anyone else!
Sanae
You're really adamant about that, huh? I'm starting to get worried...
Sanae
Wait, these look familiar...
Sanae
M-Miss Nitori! Don't tell me you made Ability Cards?!
Nitori
No, of course not! Well, they are kinda based on them... but they're different! Anyway, stop shouting!
Nitori
You'll draw unwanted attention!
Sanae
You're the one who's shouting...
Sanae
And what do you mean by different? What exactly are they then?
Nitori
Hm, that's kinda hard to explain. Where to start...?
Nitori
Actually, I can explain it in detail later.
Nitori
To put it simply, they're a product of erosion.
Sanae
Erosion?
Nitori
That's right. Have you heard about gold panning before?
Sanae
Isn't that the thing where you sift through wet sand to find little bits of gold?
Nitori
Uh-huh. Those bits come from bigger gold deposits eroded by rain and rivers, and a similar thing happens with gem mines.
Nitori
The runoff forms placer deposits nearby, and while the gems you find there are practically dust, they're the same material.
Nitori
You see what I'm getting at?
Sanae
...You made them out of gem dust?
Nitori
Bingo! I knew if I made actual Ability Cards out of proper dragon gems, I'd just be asking for trouble.
Nitori
Us kappa aren't that careless. Still, I had to make SOMETHING...
Nitori
And after thinking long and hard, this is what I came up with!
Sanae
So you're planning to test them out here, are you?
Nitori
Well, there are big crowds, and on the off chance something goes wrong, they'll chalk it up to some kinda new attraction.
Sanae
Right...
Nitori
Wh-Why are you looking at me like that?! I said on the off chance! They aren't really that dangerous―
Sanae
I'm telling Lady Kanako and Lady Suwako.
Nitori
P-Please! Anything but that!
Nitori
They'll confiscate 'em for sure!
Sanae
And rightly so! What makes you think it's OK to test out your inventions on visitors to our shrine?!
Nitori
No, no, no! You're overreacting! I told you, didn't I? They're not actual Ability Cards. They're completely safe.
Nitori
They barely use any dragon gems, either―only the gem dust I was able to find in the rivers.
Nitori
And it's not like I can enter the Rainbow Dragon Cave, so if they take these away from me, I'll―
Sanae
The Rainbow Dragon Cave?
Sanae
(I suddenly recalled my last visit there.)
Sanae
(I remembered the tunnels and the vast open space that seemed to defy all logic.)
Nitori
Yeah, the cave. Sure, me and the other kappa wanna go inside, but it's way too dangerous.
Nitori
That's why I gathered up all the tiny gems from the rivers... Weren't you listening?
Sanae
Hmm...
Sanae
(I know I shouldn't let my curiosity get the better of me, but I can't help it.)
Sanae
(How can you live in Gensokyo and not be curious?)
Sanae
Oh, but I can't lie to Lady Kanako and Lady Suwako... Then again, I really wanna go there and explore...
Sanae
This might be my only chance...
Nitori
Something wrong? What're you mumbling about?
Sanae
Miss Nitori! You can keep a secret, can't you?
Nitori
Huh? Umm, I guess. Though it kinda depends.
Nitori
Sanae, don't tell me...
Sanae
You CAN keep a secret, can't you?
Nitori
Hahaha... So this is what it's like to be on the receiving end...
Nitori
So, let me get this straight. You're not only gonna keep quiet about my new products...
Nitori
But you're also gonna gather gem dust for me from the Rainbow Dragon Cave?
Sanae
That's right. Even if someone sees me go into the cave, they'll probably just assume I'm on shrine maiden business.
Nitori
But it'd be a problem if those two gods of Moriya Shrine found out, so, in return, you want me to cover for you.
Nitori
You and I both want the same thing―for you to explore the Rainbow Dragon Cave.
Nitori
I'm happy to keep it a secret if you will.
Sanae
Great! Then it's a deal?!
Nitori
Uh-huh! Pleasure doing business with you!
Sanae
I'm so excited.
Sanae
I can't wait to go there again.
Sanae
But that's when it hit me...
Sanae
Maybe I should get her to come, too.
Sanae
My new friend.
Sanae
That little girl who, somehow, already feels like a part of Gensokyo.
Sanae
I bet she'll be surprised. I bet she'll love it.
Sanae
Hmm, when should we leave...?
Sanae
I headed home, talking to myself all the while.
Sanae
Now that I've got a secret, I can't help but want to share it.
Sanae
And with that childish thought, our great adventure began.
