Time slowly marches foward, moving its mighty power onto the universe it controls inside its hands. With the hands measuring such time, the one trapped inside an eternal agony was forced to watch a small pocket watch laying on a desk, not much to do except wait for the library to warn him of future guests.

...Everything was more than quiet, it was close to a morgue, where nothing is allowed to move anymore. Sitting inside this horrible place, the man was doing calculations to keep himself busy. He did say that his goal was approaching but waiting for people to carelessly enter this place was a long process.

Y/N's mind: Maybe they started to realize that nobody emerged out of here, that would explain.

People would be afraid to try to break inside if they knew that nobody ever came out of it alive to tell the tale. This place was gaining infamy and fear from the residents of Gensokyo, just when he needed them the most. With this twist, they could wait for weeks for only a single person to come, weeks that he didn't have. His enervation growing stronger made him hard to stay focused outside of battles and he would sometimes lose attention when nothing was happening.

Koishi: Are we really going to wait here?

Y/N: Not much of a choice, we'll get stopped immediately if we go on a killing spree outside of this place.

Nobody in their right mind would let someone freely kill people and that was probably the reason why Koishi was allowing him to do so, she was not someone with a right mind. He could justify most of the deaths he caused as self-defense but he was now actively searching for people to fight just to collect their souls.

Y/N: Say, do you know someone named Reimu Hakurei?

Koishi: Hm, why the sudden question?

He might as well cut straight to the point, to know how deep he was. Without directly telling her that he ended her life, he could get some information out of it. Plus, it helps that she can't read his mind unlike her sister, lying would be much more easier.

Koishi: Well, she did beat me up once or twice but I don't know much about her.

Y/N: Know anyone that hangs around with her?

Koishi: That witch and I think I've seen her with a woman carrying an umbrella, she's very scary.

Y/N: ...That's all?

Koishi: Why do you want to know?

Y/N: At the shrine near the top of the mountain, I've heard of them talking about her and I was curious, that's all.

That was a lie of course, he simply asked them for a blessing then went back outside but he couldn't tell her what really happened, she could tell her sister and he would be in an even bigger mess.

Koishi: I don't remember anything else...

Y/N: It's fine, I was just curious.

Averting his attention away, he held his mouth closed and clenched his teeth, knowing that they won't take kindly his action. If he had to take a guess, that woman along with the witch would be the future guests and they won't go easy on him for a moment.

'I guess that's what I get for existing.'

...

'Was your life worth more than someone with real people caring for them?'

Y/N: I'm sure that person had their own reason to beat you, just like me.

Koishi: Well, she was mean about it, brutal!

Y/N: Isn't that everyone though? Everyone here seems to hide their brutal side.

Koishi: ...Are you alright?

She answered back with a question, doubting his words unlike many times before. Even with her decision of sealing her third eye, she could tell that the man sitting at the desk was haunted by something.

'You probably enjoyed watching them die anyway, that's why you accepted her.'

Y/N: Just tired, that's all.

Koishi: You should rest, you're going to pass out.

Y/N: I can't, I have to keep going, not when I'm so close to the end.

Holding his head, he took a moment to calm himself and stood up, leaving the pocket watch on the desk. Not minding it, it gave the small girl the chance to take a peek at it and she did so. Grabbing it, she could feel his warmth on the object.

Koishi: How many souls do we need?

She asked and opened the lid. There, a single picture was behind the hands of the watch. There was no joy or happiness in it and there was nobody except a single person. The one in it had its face scratched out. Confused, she looked around but couldn't find a way to pull said picture out of the device.

Koishi: Who's that?

Y/N: ...I don't know, it wasn't mine.

Koishi: Where did you get it?

'From a body, just like the coward you are.'

Y/N: One of my friends had it, the only thing remaining.

Stepping closer, he took it from her and placed it in his pocket, keeping it close to him. The hollow gaze given to her while doing so felt more than familiar, she was looking into a mirror, able to see the soulless eyes that she made many times to other people. Thus, she knew that there was a problem.

Koishi: Mister Y/N, something is on your mind.

'I wish I was never born. That way, nobody would be unhappy.'

Y/N: Like anyone, everyone has something on their mind. I'm no different, you should know by now.

Completely dodging the question with a rather effective answer, he spun around and walked away from her, glancing at the myriad of books beside them. One would need to be immortal to read all of them but even if one were, who would have the motivation to read books until the end of time?

Koishi: ...

Y/N: I know that I'm not the healthiest person around but I won't make a decision to compromise my goal, I can assure you that.

Koishi: If you say so.

Y/N: Speaking of goal, there we go.

He pointed above their heads and a book landed like a bird into his hands. Not minding the way of transportation, he slid his hand across the cover and read it silently to himself.

'The book of Clownpiece, the trickster carrying the flame of insanity'

Y/N: Got a guest coming our way.

Koishi: I think I remember seeing her once or twice.

Y/N: We should start counting the people that you don't know about instead of the opposite.

Koishi: ...Why would she look for books though? I don't think she would be the type to look for something like that.

Y/N: Who knows.

Opening the book of the one that would soon arrive, the usual letter of confirmation slid out and he caught it in mid-air. Raising it high enough so that the youkai currently flying beside him could see, he began to read.

'Y/N, the librarian running out of time, heed those words. A guest is coming your way, learn and understand or you will taste the final release of defeat and eternal grief. This shall required none, face the danger on your own or face the consequences.'

Koishi: On your own?

Y/N: Must be because the library knows that I can deal with it with my own abilities.

Koishi: But... she's still strong compared to other people in Gensokyo.

Y/N: Not like I have a choice.

Koishi: ...Couldn't you just refuse? I could h-

Y/N: Definitely not!

Loudly stopping her in her track, he raised his index to make her stop talking while giving her a stern glare. For a reason unknown to her, the man was refusing to disobey the order given on the paper.

Y/N: If it says a solo fight then a solo fight it will be.

He tried to sound as collected as possible but in that short moment, the girl witnessed true horror on his face when she suggested to help him, almost like he saw someone get murdered in front of his eyes.

Koishi: ...

Y/N: Anyway, I should prepare a strategy as soon as possible.

Attempting to move on, he flipped the page and stopped at what the both of them are used to now. It was, of course, the short version of their current self, what they needed the most right now to understand the opponent.

[Clownpiece]

[Level 0]

[HP: 271]

[Stun Resist: 88]

[Passives]

-Insanity: At the start of each turns, each enemies has a 50% chance to receive the 'Insanity' status for 1 turn.

-I Yearn that Madness: This character prioritizes enemies with the 'Insanity' status, also inflicts 3-5 additional damage for each successful hits if the target has the previously mentioned status.

-Lifeforce Manipulation: Every odd turns, all enemies lose 4-7 HP and the lost amount is converted to Stun Resist. Every 2 turns, all enemies lose 3-7 Stun Resist and the lost amount is converted into HP.

-Playful Desire: At the beginning of each turn, gains Strength equals to "Amount of people with Insanity status" * 10% for 1 turn.

-Undying Lunacy: If HP reaches 50% or lower...

Y/N: So she revolves around her "Insanity" ability. I should try to find a way to cancel it and then it would become a flawless victory.

Koishi: ...Humans can't resist the fire of her torch, you'll go insane if you look at it.

Y/N: Her torch? How do you know that?

Koishi: I saw her use it to prank humans before, she doesn't mind the consequences.

Y/N: In a way, having no allies to help becomes a bonus. That way, she can only get a maximum of 10% boost, not even worth taking into account. I think I have a good strategy already.

Koishi: That fast?!

Shocked to hear that, she looked at the man and he responded with a rather gloomy look. Looking at his outfit, he frowned slightly and averted his gaze into the distance.

Y/N: I'm gonna need better gears though.

Koishi: ...Gears?

Y/N: Give me a moment.

He left her on her own and walked behind a bookshelf, the sounds of many books being shuffled around weakly reaching her ears. Unable to follow his trail of thought, she glanced a second time at the book that he left in her hands, trying to comprehend what he was going for.

Koishi: Did he fight her before?

That was her only idea so far, maybe a quick encounter with her a long time ago, who knows. Of course, she had doubts that the librarian would easily take on someone like her, a person capable of making humans insane in a matter of seconds. The fight was extremely one-sided and he was expecting himself to win it on his own, that was close to suicide.

...She remembered the time he had to face Mokou, he had not a single bit of confidence in himself and he had to take her on by himself, would it be different from last time?

Koishi: What is your strategy?

She asked to the one that will do the fighting and heard him take a deep breath from the other side of the bookshelf.

Y/N: Since that person seems to rely on her abilities to cause as much damage as possible while inverting the lifeforce of the opponents then the most appropriate response would be to finish the fight as fast as possible.

Finally showing himself to the girl, his appearance changed drastically. His dark outfit was gone and replaced by a suit made of bright colors. The last thing he was previously wearing was more akin to a serious fighter but now, he was wearing a jester outfit with white, purple and red stripes, sleeves long enough to cover the entirety of his arms. All around his arms, many small dolls were hung up by strings, all smiling with happiness.

Koishi: ...

Y/N: ...

Koishi: What is that?

Y/N: My strategy.

He honestly answered, not joking around with what he was wearing. For a suit made for laughs, he was showing none. Sensing that it was no joking matter either, she refrained herself from dropping a chuckle and observed the man with a new eye. Raising one of his lengthy sleeves, he gave her a better and she focused her attention on the puppets around him.

Koishi: Why are you carrying these?

Y/N: ...Guilt, not much else.

Koishi: Guilt?

He pointed at one specific doll, a girl with gray hair wearing a black outfit and a spear attached to one of its hands. The girl that had never smiled was forced to do so after her death through the body of that insignificant plushie.

Y/N: I guess you could call it a memorial of some kind, a way to forever make their lives known, even if nobody knows who they were.

Koishi: So they are your friends. I think I remember that one.

Y/N: That's Lulu, sharp like always.

Confirming her what she saw when she witnessed him fighting a guest for the first time after she won, she also recognized the second one that assisted him. However, one thing bothered her with that new outfit.

Koishi: Why did you change to this?

Y/N: It's more suited than the previous one for offensive battles, especially with a little trick of mine.

Koishi: A trick?

Now she was curious to find out what it was. Knowing him, it could be anything, just like how he used the books in this endless library as platforms to reach her when they fought. Noticing her interest, he pulled out of one of his sleeves a small pipe and showed it to her.

Koishi: ...What is that?

Y/N: My trick.

As a demonstration, he inhaled the content of the narrow tube and exhaled everything into the air around them, forming a large cloud of smoke that was strong enough to block light from passing through it. It was the very manifestation of the abyss, formed with the help of a single smoking pipe.

Koishi: *Cough* It smells so bad.

Y/N: Does it? I don't smell anything.

He took a sniff but could sense nothing. Not knowing what she was talking about, he simply assumed that he was too used to the smell and glossed over the information. The cloud still remaining in the air, he gave it a good swing with one of his sleeves and it began to produce smoke like it was on fire, consuming the whole cloud.

Koishi: Woah, how can you do that?

Y/N: Smoke? I thought it was obvious.

Just like an artist, he took a second puff and created a second cloud of smoke, cleaning it with his second arm. Both of them fuming, he elegantly moved them around and swung them in different directions, carefully molding what seemed like a giant rapier with gray fumes. Completed, he clapped his hands together and got rid of the rest that way, vanishing into the air.

Y/N: Not only it's useful in combat, it allows things like that. Unfortunately, I can only utilize it at its fullest with this suit.

Koishi: You never said how it was supposed to help.

Y/N: You'll see soon enough.

That was all he could mutter to her. At first, one would completely underestimate the power that the smoke created by him had but it was also the opponent's downfall if they did so. Relying on their overconfidence, he could easily wipe out a group of unexpected guests.

Y/N: I just have to land my hits properly and I should emerge from this battle with less wounds than if I tried to face her head-on.

He was speaking like it was something he had done before, like he was already aware of what was coming. Of course, he shouldn't be able to, he said that he didn't seem to recognize any of the people so that theory was not possible, meaning that he was simply relying on faith to get him through the future ordeal.

Koishi: ...Can I ask something?

Y/N: Hm?

She pulled the sleeve of his silly outfit and caught the man's attention. Lowering his gaze, he observed the small youkai standing by his side.

Koishi: Could you... be careful?

Y/N: Careful?

Koishi: You're my friend... and I don't want to see my friends in pain.

Y/N: Oh, sorry, I thought you meant something else.

He was assuming that she would tell him to not kill the enemy that he was facing, unlike the previous encounters he had inside this place. The only exception to that was the witch but she ran away on her own so he couldn't count it as valid. Unlike all the the ones who tried to peek at what they shouldn't be looking at, she was the only one to escape.

Y/N: I'll try my best, so just sit tight and wait for me.

He finally reassured her and the tension in the air diminished by a little. However, it still remained around the duo, both fearing the worst outcome imaginable. The man was ready to accept his own demise but the girl was afraid to witness the man perish in front of her after they officially became friends.

'You never learn, that's why you're like this.'

She was hearing a voice speaking to her inside her head. She felt nauseous, not knowing if she could do something to help. She wanted to be useful but she was once more pushed to the side while he was exposing his frail body to his imminent demise. No, she wanted to believe that it wasn't his demise, he was her friends and friends don't give up on each other.

Koishi: I will.

She nodded while experiencing something that she hasn't felt in a long time, anxiety. The concern of losing something could not reach her if she simply remained distant from everything, rule that she has broken by her own accord by helping the walking body carrying the emotions of self-destruction.

...Soon, it will begin, the battle for the sake of survival. One pushed by greed while another one will be forced to play for their own life, for he knows that retreating was not an option given to him.

Y/N's mind: I should be fine without that Master Spark. No, I have to do this duel without it.

Since the one on his side knew of the witch, deploying that girl's special attack would be a fatal error, she would know instantly that it wasn't his. One day, the truth will emerge by itself but he would rather not have it come from his mouth but from his wish to repair what he has done.

*Dong* *Dong* *Dong*