3 Chapter 3
Gensokyo - Bamboo Forest of the Lost
-= Fujiwara no Mokou's Point of View =-
"And that's what an Outsider means."
I said as I finished my explanation about what an Outsider means.
"Okay, allow me to put everything together."
I nodded for him to continue.
"So basically Gensokyo was originally a desolate, haunted region of Japan ages ago. The Youkai that lived there began to terrorize the surrounding lands, and thus powerful, heroic humans were sent to exorcise and exterminate them. The off and on battle between humans and Youkai continued on until 1885 A.D, when Gensokyo was sealed off from this increasingly scientific and skeptical world with the creation of the Great Hakurei Barrier. Thus there has been little contact between those societies ever since. Today, the only known gateway between Gensokyo and the Outside world is the Hakurei Shrine, which stands in isolation along the border on the distant mountains of the far east from here. It's also known that the local language spoken in Gensokyo is modern Japanese."
'Oh? Not bad, he quickly managed to put everything together.'
"Yes, and don't forget that Gensokyo is populated mainly by youkai, but a decent human and rabbit population lives here as well. Some of its inhabitants went here to hide, to escape, to find shelter when no-one and nowhere else would accept them. Many of them just like the natural darkness."
"Alright, i'll remember that, and an Outsider is simply someone who came from the Outside world right?"
"Umu, however the term Outsider usually refers to Humans that suddenly managed to get across the Hakurei Border and enter Gensokyo."
"And those Outsiders appear randomly across the entire Gensokyo?"
"Exactly, in fact you're lucky you appeared above my house, otherwise you'll get mistaken as a Human and get eaten by some man-eating Youkai, but if you've trespassed their territory you'll get killed anyway, even as a Youkai."
'I informed him of the horrifying fate of the Outsiders and expected him to be frightened...'
I peeked at his face from the corner of my eyes.
'What? He's unfazed?'
I was surprised, I heard that every Outsider, Human or not, would at least be anxious about his situation, however as I watched his stoic expression, he was acting as if Youkai are worth shit in his eyes.
So I asked him.
"You don't look surprised at all."
But he also didn't know that Youkai existed until a moment ago, so maybe he thinks I'm exaggerating or something?
"Eh? Ah, that..."
He was startled for a moment but immediately regained his composure.
"Well, let's just say that I saw something way way more serious than a human gets killed by some monster."
"Hoo?"
Well, that was unexpected, is he capable more than he looks?
"You see, even though I look like this, I'm more than confident that I can take care of myself."
He confidently exclaimed as he gave me a cheeky smile.
"Really now?"
I asked as I raised a brow.
"Yeah, I don't think I'll lose that easily to some Youkai over here, in fact I might even be more powerful than those Gods of yours."
He said with a cocky expression.
I don't know why, but i somehow want to break that cocky expression of his, it's fucking annoying, does he think now that he became a Youkai, he's some almighty being or something?
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Gensokyo - Bamboo Forest of the Lost
-= MC's Point of View =-
I'm currently walking through the strange forest together with the girl.
She kindly explained everything about what an Outsider is and that this place is called Gensokyo and why it was created, although i planned to ask her more about it, she suddenly informed me that i was lucky that i encountered her and warned me about what would happen otherwise.
However, I don't think that I, someone who can destroy the entire planet with a finger would lose to some Youkai or whatever they are called.
"Then why don't you show me what you can do?"
She suddenly stopped as she said that.
"Eh?"
As I was startled with the sudden development, she put her hands in her pockets again and leaned forward to my face.
"If you're so confident that you can defeat even the Gods, then how about you show me what you're capable of, right here, right now."
She said with a smirk as she mocked me.
Fuck, don't look down on me little chick, i don't like it when someone so beautiful saying i'm weak.
"Fine! what do you want me to do?"
I replied annoyed with her mocking expression.
"Oh? You're pumped up, aren't you? I like that."
She said with an approving smile.
"Hmph!"
I avoided her gaze as I got embarrassed.
'Why is she so beautiful?! That's unfair!'
"Hmm, let's see..."
She said as she looked around.
"Alright, follow me."
"Okay."
She took me to a clearing in the forest, where some big and thick Bamboo trees can be seen around us.
"What now?"
I asked her.
"We do this."
As she said that, she smirked and pointed one hand towards a thick Bamboo tree while the other hand stayed in her pocket.
"?"
And as i gave her a questioning gaze...
*Crackle* *Hiss*
"?!"
She suddenly flicked her fingers and from that a Fire Ball appeared in her hand.
'Woah, that's magic right? I can't sense any Ki energie from that Fire-Ball-like thingy, so it's definitely magic or some cool shit.'
*Wooosh* *Boom*
She then shot the Fire Ball towards the tree, the moment it connected, it exploded as the fire engulfed the tree and got burned to ashes.
"..."
She then silently returned her hand back to her pocket and turned to me.
"If you can't even do this, then i don't think you'll survive a single day in Gensokyo." *Smirk*
She said again with that mocking expression of hers.
"Hmph!, You underestimate me too much."
I was immediately annoyed and faced another Bamboo Tree.
'Let's see, 0.0001% firepower should be enough right?'
I thought as I immediately raised one hand and directed my finger towards the thickest Bamboo Tree in the area.
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Gensokyo - Hakurei Shrine
-= Marisa Kirisame's Point of View =-
"Hey Reimu, i came for a visit-ze"
I informed the Shrine Maiden that was lazily brushing the leaves around her Shrine.
"..."
Sha gave me a side glance and then returned to her duty.
'Haha very Reimu like-ze.'
"C'mon, don't ignore me-ze"
I said as I approached her while flying with my broom.
"..."
She's still ignoring me-ze.
"Hey hey, aren't we friends?, what's with the grumpy mode?"
"Then why don't you help me out."
She said as she pointed at my broom.
"No way-ze! That's not for cleaning-ze!"
I said hurriedly as I descended from my broom and hid it behind my back.
"You always say that, then why are you even bringing it with you every single time? It's not like you need it to fly, right?"
Damn-ze.
"W-Well, aren't you going to treat your guest-ze?"
"...There, you are avoiding my question again..."
"Ahaha, did you say something-ze?"
I laughed awkwardly to escape the situation.
She glared at me for a couple seconds before she sighed and turned around.
"I don't care anymore, follow me."
"That's my Reimu-ze!"
"Sigh"
She sighed again and led me to her Shrine.
"Just sit anywhere you want like always."
"Alrighty-ze"
After we went in, I sat in my usual spot in the middle side of the table as Reimu went to prepare tea for us.
"Lala-ze! is there anything for me to steal-ze! Lala-ze!"
"..."
As I was singing something, Reumi came back with a tray in her hand.
She, like always, sat on the other side of the table facing me and proceed to pour the tea for us.
"Are you still doing that stupid habit of yours?"
She asked as she handed me a cup of tea.
"I can't help it-ze, I'm a Magician after all, we'll take any means necessary to raise our funds, besides, that's how Marisa passes her free time-ze!"
And I answered with a grin as I took it.
"Sigh, what are you even doing besides stealing someone's stuff?"
*Nip* *Sip*
We took a sip from our cups before I answered her.
"Well, of course i'm doing Youkai Extermination-ze!"
"Haah, well since you're decreasing my work I won't say anything about it, but, if you cause any Incident, I won't ignore it at that time, UNDERSTOOD?"
Gehh, I don't want a serious Reimu after me-ze, so I won't cause any incident-ze... probably.
*Sip* *Sip* *Sip*.
"O-Of course Reimu, i promise-ze, Ahaha"
I answered nervously as I sipped my tea hastily.
"Sigh, anyway, what other things do you do besides Youkai Extermination? There is no way you're stealing all the time when there is no Incident occurring right? "
"Ah, well it's obviously magical research and alchemical experiments, those are the things that I spend most of my time on-ze."
"Hmm, is that so?"
She suddenly turned grumpy again.
"What?"
"Well, it's unfair."
What? Why would she say that-ze?
"What do you mean Reimu?"
"I mean you always do interesting experiments and all, while here I am cleaning my rundown Shrine and I do the same thing every single day."
"Eh? What's wrong Reimu, isn't that what a Shrine Maiden normally does-ze?"
"It's BORING, at first it was good as i was doing Youkai Extermination, but i've got tired of that already and don't have anything else to do."
I sweat dropped at that, if someone from the Human Village heard that, she would lose even more of her almost non-existence believers-ze,
'as expected of Reimu-ze.'
"Why don't you retire from it then? You can try to be Magician like me or some other interesting lifestyle-ze."
*Clatter*
When she heard me say that, she placed her cup forcefully on the table, and said while glaring at me.
"I would already do it if I could, but I can't. I'm the Shrine Maiden of the Hakurei Shrine, the one responsible for the Great Hakurei Barrier that surrounds Gensokyo, I need to maintain it every single day and make sure it operates properly."
"Why don't you leave it to someone else-ze?"
"Stupid Marisa, did you seriously think anyone can take the job?"
"Eh? Why not-ze?"
"Sigh, to be a Shrine Maiden of the Hakurei Shrine, there are enormous and strict conditions that should be met that I can't even list all of them, moreover even if those are met, the chances that a Shrine Maiden Apprentice of the Hakurei Shrine can be trained since Birth and survive the impossible trials and training is close to impossible."
"That sounds troublesome-ze."
I said nonchalantly.
"Why you-"
*Boom*
Just when she was about to retort, we heard a loud explosion in the distance.
*Tremble* *Tremble*
*Clatter* *Clatter*
Then followed by a violent earthquake that rumbled the tableware on the table.
"What was that-ze? Is someone fighting nearby-ze?"
"..."
I asked as I looked towards the closed door, but Reimu remained silent.
"Reimu? Why are you silent-ze?"
I turned back to Reimu since she was strangely silent for a while.
"Rei-"
Her expression was one of shock.
"..."
"...what's wrong-ze?"
I don't know what happened but it seems that the explosion from earlier was a serious business from the way her mode turned from shock to serious.
"The barrier..."
She said solemnly.
"Barrier-ze?"
"The Great Hakurei Barrier!"
She shouted as she stood up hastily.
"Yeah, what about it-ze?"
"There is hole! Someone made a hole in The Great Hakurei Barrier!"
"WHAT?! YOUR KIDDING-ZE!"
Now it's my turn to get surprised as i stood up too.
"No it's not! I'm linked to The Barrier so there is no mistake about it!"
"No way-ze! I thought the Barrier was indestructible that even the Gods couldn't even budge it-ze?!"
"Of course! The Great Hakurei Barrier is the Ultimate and the Strongest Barrier that was created in all history of the world, it's a result of the correlation effort of all the Legendary Youkai, all the gods, the strongest humans and even the Dragon Gods, it defied even the rules of the world to hide Gensokyo from the Outside World, if it isn't somehow weakened, then any and all things can't pass through it forcefully, even if the Outside World faced a calamity, the Barrier wouldn't break, and right now the barrier was in it's peak state! it wasn't weakened in any damn way!"
"S-So you mean, someone now managed to make a hole in it-ze?"
"..."
She nodded with a dead serious expression.
"W-What are you going to do now-ze?"
"...Fortunately that someone didn't plan to break the Barrier and only made a small hole in it, that wasn't enough to break it's Balance and the hole is already closed automatically by the Barrier."
"Sigh, so what now-ze? Should we investigate it-ze?"
"Are you kidding?! Of course! I'm going to get to the bottom of this!, someone that managed to puncture The Great Hakurei Barrier is no longer at the level of an Incident, it's a threat to the entire Gensokyo and it's residents, i don't even know if i can do this alone."
"I-I understand-ze, i'll go investigate with you-ze."
She gave me a weak smile when she heard me.
"This once, I appreciate it."
Wait, did Reimu just thank me? No, it must be my imagination, there is no way that Reimu would say something like 'thank you' to me.
"Let's go! Marisa!"
"W-Wait for me-ze!"
She suddenly bolted through the window and flew away, I was startled and picked my broom before following after her.
