Dragging his feet in the rocks of the large mountain, the tired librarian kept walking with an unwavering persistence that one would commend if it wasn't for the fact that it was going to cost him his life, even if no youkais attack him. Nonetheless, he continued with no hesitation and the cold wind accompanying him was granting the man a little bit of energy. Breathing the oxygen of the hill, Y/N looked to the top and frowned, still advancing.

Y/N's mind: They should really think of a better way for people who can't fly to reach the summit faster.

Not like he's going back there anyway. The plan is simple: he goes to the shrine, get his curse removed and then walk back to the library to prepare for his future encounter, simple as that. Of course, it would take a large part of the night to go down the mountain but there doesn't seem to have a place to rest at the top so he doesn't have a choice.

...The view down was magnificent though, a completely different feeling than looking at it through the pages of a book. The breeze helped making the experience much more enjoyable and Y/N felt like the path of his journey was right in front of his eyes, his goal could be reached with enough efforts.

Y/N: Must be nice to have a view like that whenever you need to think about something.

He looked down to his feet and saw the large fall that will welcome him if he decides to jump. With all the experiences he had, even he wouldn't survive a fall like that, only one that could fly would. It would be such a perfect place...

...A perfect place to finally jump, a place that will allow him to see his friends and join them forever.

???: Found you!

Y/N: !

The reaction was immediate, the blade pulled out of its sheath and aimed at the neck of the one who spoke up. He was greeted once more by the journalist from before, widely grinning at him with a happiness that was making him feel uncomfortable.

Aya: Still quick with that blade I see!

Y/N: ...

Aya: So, after you escaped and ruined my way to capture great photos, I was thinking about what happened.

Y/N: ...You want to kill me.

Aya: Why would I do that?! An outsider capable of doing a feat such as climbing the Youkai Mountain by themselves, how could I pass such an opportunity! So-

Y/N: Denied.

He ran away from the cliff and spun around to face his opponent, sword ready. Aya silently observed his reaction and prepared her fan, not imposing in the eyes of her opponent but knowing that Koishi said that almost everyone can easily kill him, he can't afford to drop his guard.

Y/N: Intending to fight me? I thought a journalist's duty was to stay in the back and collect information.

Aya: Even I know some techniques. Plus, You did break my camera, consider it payback.

Y/N: *Whistle*

The man imitated the sound of a bird and raised his hand in the air, waiting for something. The girl glanced at his open hand and decided to see what he was doing. Plus, she had the advantage when it comes to speed so she can avoid anything coming her way.

...Just like a bird hearing his call, a book flew through the air and landed perfectly against the librarian's head, bouncing off of it and land in his hand. Ignoring the obvious pain, he opened it with a serious look.

Aya: Where did that come from?

Y/N: God gave it to me, why else would it come from the sky?

He asked with an expression telling her that he wasn't planning to answer her seriously. She looked above her head and saw birds fleeing the scene, accomplices in this magic trick. The man watched her stare at the group escaping the mountain and focused back on the book given to him by them.

'The book of Aya Shameimaru, the tengu who distorts the truth for oneself'

Y/N's mind: I guess me saying that she was a fraud wasn't that off the mark.

All he needed from that book was the first page, her story had little interest to him and now wasn't the good time for something like that anyway. He turned the cover and hurriedly examined his opponent, keeping her in his field of vision while doing so.

...The library didn't warn him of this encounter, maybe that was because he was the one to cause it or that it cannot predict opponents who aren't aiming for it. Either way, at least his power to demand a specific book from the library can reach him even outside, though through some rather odd methods compared to when he was inside.

[Aya Shameimaru]

[Level 41]

[HP: 228]

[Stun Resist: 100]

[Passives]

-Speed VII: Can perform 7 additional attacks per turn.

-Tengu's Stamina: If more than 1 attack is performed during a turn, the energy needed will not increase past the first attack, nullifying the cost of energy needed to attack more than once.

-Saturation: When the person uses more than 3 attacks, all damage dealt during this turn is reduced by 40%.

-Journalist's intuition: The person has a 50% chance each turn to predict the first attack of a single opponent at the beginning of each turn.

-Impatience: Has a 20% chance to lose an additional attack at the beginning of each turn.

-Distorted Truth: Every 5 turns, the number of attacks that the person can perform is doubled if the person has the [Speed] passive, for a single turn.

-Magic: The person can use magic.

-Danmaku Fighter: Increase Evasion/Stun Resist by 20% during battle.

-Flight: The person is capable of flying.

Y/N: ...This is broken as well.

He glanced at the girl who began to spread her wings, ready to leap into the air for an attack. Forced to fight, he hid the book inside his outfit but instead of readying his blade, he placed it back in its sheath with his hand still placed around the handle.

Aya: If I win, I get to have an interview with you.

Y/N: So that's your goal.

Aya: Of course it is, a journalist in their right mind wouldn't skip an opportunity such as this!

She opened the act consisting of the both of them fighting with a quick movement of the hand and a gust of wind erupted from the fan, going straight for the man. His eyes widening, he rushed aside and turned, facing the girl who attacked a second time. Shoved away by the attack made of air, Y/N gritted his teeth and kept his hand on the handle of his weapon.

Y/N's mind: Judging by her abilities, she relies on speed and fast attacks..

There was only one way to deal with an opponent that likes to spam attacks constantly. He knew the answer to this fight and finally unsheathed his sword, ready to begin this confrontation for real. He charged ahead and the Tengu created yet another attack of wind in his direction and examined his reaction.

Aya's mind: Surely, an outsider capable of rivaling a Tengu will become a great interest amongst the residents of Gensokyo! This is my lucky day, even if I have to fight to prove it.

The librarian rushed to face the wind and swung down the blade of his sword, breaking the air used as a whip and allowing him to progress, casually parrying the air like it was nothing. The girl took off and avoided the attack directed at her. Y/N remained calm and ran for the side of the mountain.

Y/N's mind: Flight, probably one of the most powerful abilities against humans, at least those with no ranged weapons.

Unfortunately, he was one of those cases, only carrying a sword with him. He jumped against the steep side and bounced off of it to dodge another attack from the journalist. Her 4th attack dodged, he took some distance between the both of them, examining the situation. She was out of his range and he was not fast enough to reach her in time, leaving him on the defensive.

Not stopping, a newly born whirlwind formed and turned the battlefield into a mess, flying fragments of the mountain turning around them before aiming for the man. Holding his sword, he broke one of the fragments effortlessly and ran outside of the trap left by the girl, the sound of the rest falling down the large cliff on the side afterwards.

Aya: Oops, I shouldn't do that, we wouldn't want to attract unwanted attention.

Y/N: ...

He did not respond, focused on something else, something far in the distance. Squinting his eyes, he could see a dot in the distance becoming bigger, approaching the both of them at an alarming speed. The orange aura emanating from it almost made it look like a fireball...

...A... fireball-

Y/N: Aya, get down!

Aya: Huh?

Surprised by his sudden reaction, she turned around and saw a fireball aiming for her back at a speed that could even frighten her. She ducked under it and it landed right where Y/N was last standing, now at a healthy distance from it. The flames coming from it were making the air become blazing hot to the point of being unbearable.

Aya: That was close! Thanks!

Y/N: ...This is bad.

He whispered to himself and witnessed the worst, a woman with long white hair emerged from it. The ball of flames died down and the one who stepped out of it looked at the librarian with a fierce gaze, her fist combusting into a second fireball.

Mokou: You're the librarian, wasn't expecting you to hide here of all places.

Y/N: You got the wrong pers-

With her second hand, she tossed a piece of paper to him. He grabbed it in mid-air and looked at what was on it. There, a single picture of him wearing the black and red coat on him greeted his eyes, speechless.

Y/N: Where did you get that?

Mokou: It said to show it to you if you tried to sneak your way out of this fight.

Y/N: ...

Applying pressure to what he was holding, he gritted his teeth in silence and ripped the picture into small pieces. Fueled by anger, he glared at the woman in front of him and prepared himself for the fight that was about to begin. She grinned back and prepared her fist, not minding his emotions.

Mokou: All I have to do is beat you up to get what I need.

Y/N: ...

Mokou: Well, it did say that you'll die even if I don't try to so I have to get what I need before it happens.

Aya: Miss Mokou, what is going on?

Mokou: Get out of here Tengu, it's between us.

Aya: A new rival perhaps~ A nice change of scenery, I have to write this down too!

She scribbled down in her notepad with sparkles emanating from her while the girl and the librarian were facing each other in utter silence, both knowing that escaping was not an option. Even after being attacked by the Tengu, Y/N endured the pain and remembered how strong she truly was.

...He was going to turn into charcoal in front of her eyes. Either she would hit him or he would hit her and he will combust into flames, dying not from her hands but her flames. He was not fast enough to be cleansed of his curse, meaning that a single hit will result to his death.

Y/N: What do you suggest we do?

He asked, his eyes still keeping Mokou at a safe distance. The ones at the scene heard his words and looked at him, Aya with questions and Mokou with a lack of care. The person with the black and red coat was waiting for his answer. He suddenly nodded to himself and chuckled weakly, loosening up a little from all the tension.

Y/N: I guess you're right, not much we can do about that.

Aya: ...Am I going crazy because I didn't hear anyone else.

Mokou: ...

She finally charged ahead and swung her fist, the fire of her rotten heart used to power her punch. Unable to attack her, Y/N stepped backward and avoided the blow with an unnatural calmness. Unsatisfied, Mokou continued her attacks steadily, not allowing the man to fight back. Of course, it didn't do much since Y/N was not planning to attack her.

A swift fist ripped through the air, followed by yet another one and ended with a body slam, all avoided by the exhausted librarian. Forced to feel the extreme warmth of her punches, sweats began to drop down his face but they were also the product of his lack of energy. Consuming all the energy in his body, he kicked the ground away and jumped, twirling around in the air.

Y/N's mind: I would have a better chance inside the library, I should give up the plan of getting rid of the curse.

His body mysteriously tensed and shivers went through his spine. In addition of this, the air in the battlefield became colder. All of that did not bother him much, listening to the one speaking to him, the one that he should rely on in a time like this.

Y/N: ...Are you sure?

Mokou: Hey, focus here!

She threw a large barrage of flames in his direction, clearly attempting to murder him at this point. Maybe she did not realize it yet or maybe she didn't care but with an attack as strong as this, his body will be consumed by the fire and turned into ashes. He knew that and hid on the side of the mountain, seeing the moving light flickering in front of his eyes and vanishing.

Y/N: Hm... I guess I don't really have a choice, I could try.

Mumbling to himself, at least to someone else's point of view, he crouched a little and placed the sword back in its sheath. He took a new breath of air and observed the enemy in front of him, preparing himself for her next move. It was a hit that soon came surging at him, another maze of bullets that one that was not a Danmaku fighter would have a difficulty to parry.

Y/N: Oh, by the power of my wish, I ask you to give me your power for my task... You, from a past history, I beg you.

The hellish sight moved closer, not stopping at all. Ignoring it, he lightly pulled the blade out and a single rectangle of metal reflected the light of the Danmakus flying at him.

Y/N: ...We may not have the same goal, you may never understand but I ask you for your assistance.

He vacantly faced the bullets, a weak glow appearing in his eyes before vanishing. His eyes widened for a moment and a smile appeared. Still holding the sword in the same position, he whispered to himself.

Y/N: ...I understand. I will not disappoint you Director.

The Tengu witnessing the scene was forced to accept that the man had a few screws loose but it would not matter because his death would arrive if he didn't move. Knowing that he wasn't going to retreat, she decided to rush to him in an attempt to fly him out of danger.

Y/N: Skill activated: Boundary of death!

He rushed forward and disappeared like he was part of the wind around them. Left dumbfounded, the journalist looked around and saw the man standing right behind Mokou, his back facing hers while holding the scabbard his weapon in one of his hand and the handle with the other. He calmly lowered the blade and fully protected it with the sheath.

Y/N: May the wings of damnation condemn you to eternal suffering.

Upon finishing his speech aimed at nobody, a large wound formed on the immortal and blood was flowing out of it like a fountain, gushing everywhere and ruining the previous beauty of the mountain. The wound was making a full diagonal circle around her body, turning her clothes redder than they were.

Meanwhile, the one who performed that mysterious trick immediately began to catch fire, affected by Mokou's effect. The burns were minimal but they will persist for the rest of the battle, his body slowly rising its own temperature at an alarming rate.

Aya: What was that?

Mokou: Heh, you gonna need more than a flashy attack to take me down!

She did a full rotation and kicked him in the sides. With no way to respond, he flew away and landed near the cliff that would lead to his death. Y/N felt his ribs cracking and pain proved him that they were indeed broken. However, he stood up and positioned himself for another round, his body burning along with 80% of his left ribs broken.

???: Y/N!

Y/N: ...?

He glanced above their heads and a familiar figure flew in his direction. The youkai of unconsciousness arrived at the scene and rushed to place herself between him and his enemy, already forced to witness him getting kicked around like a puppet missing its strings.

Koishi: Please stop!

Mokou: Huh? Koishi, what are you doing here?

???: Mokou, what's going on?

Arriving soon after, a short lady with blong hair wearing a hat with eyes and another girl with green hair were witnessing the situation with surprised eyes. The woman of flames looked at everyone there in silence and glanced at the outsider.

Y/N: ...My goal wasn't to defeat you, just letting you know. In terms of power, I had no chance anyway.

Mokou: Heh, at least you ackowledged it. Although, I still am confused about something.

Y/N: ?

The man allowed her to elaborate and she did so.

Mokou: I was told that you wouldn't hesitate to try kill me so why did you not do that? Even I could tell that you weren't fighting to win.

Y/N: ...

Koishi: Y/N...

Y/N: *Sigh* That statement is true unfortunately, I would have tried to kill you but only to defend my safe haven. In my eyes, all of you are trying to kill me, that's all this world ever did to me.

???: Now isn't the time with that conversation, the both of you can talk later!

The one wearing a shrine maiden outfit quickly slammed the top of Y/N's head with her purification rod, not aggressively but forcing them to stop.

???: You're clearly wounded, we have to take care of that as soon as possible.

Y/N: ...You gonna shove some poison into my wounds, why should I trust you?

Koishi: She's one the people that I was talking about, the ones that can remove your curse.

Y/N: ...

He glared at the girl in front of him and took a look at the journalist and the one with a large wound on her body afterwards.

???: Hey Mokou, you too!

Mokou: No need Sanae, not like I'll die from it anyway.

Y/N: You could be surprised, I would accept her offer if I were you, human trapped by the forbidden elixir.

Mokou: Huh? How do you know that?

Y/N: While you were receiving informations about me, I received the same about you. I must say, you do know how to be a balanced inconvenience.

Koishi: Y/NNN! Stop talking, we need to go now!

Y/N: Right... brokens ribs don't repair themsel-

Sanae: Broken ribs too?!

???: Sanae, deep breathings, remember.

Sanae: Right... I just need to calm down a little.

Y/N: *Whisper* She's weird, why is she worried about a stranger?

Koishi: *Whisper* No idea, maybe it's her personality.

Y/N: *Whisper* Personality my ass, most people tried to kill me on sight, she's just waiting for the right opportunity.

Koishi: *Whisper* And me?

Y/N: ...You don't have the mind to do an elaborate plan.

Koishi: ...Should I be offended?