Sanae: Now, care to explain why the hell you were consuming the hearts of youkais?!

She yelled to the man sitting on his knees in front of her, silently watching her pointing him with her weapon against youkais. He calmly remained still and watched her glare at him, trying her hardest to make him confess.

Y/N: ...Why not?

Mokou: I don't think you should be saying that.

His opponent from before was sitting in the same position as him right to his left, large bandages covering her wound circling her body. Like he told her, the wound still didn't recover, ignoring the immortal's ability to always recover from her wounds. Meanwhile, he was shoved pills inside his mouth and bandages were covering his broken ribs, starting to recover from the strange medecine.

Y/N: I learned from books that you can heal your body by devouring their insides.

Sanae: What kind of book were you reading?!

Y/N: Dunno, something about Sweepers of the Backstreets eating children and other people. It worked so I just continued.

Mokou: ...Sanae, are we sure that we want to send him back to the outside world? This guy looks like trouble.

Sanae: Whatever, you can't do that. I thought it was something everyone knew, I guess I was wrong.

Y/N: Tell that to all the ones who tried to kill me simply because I was human. From my point of view, you're all fucked up in the head.

Koishi: ?

The girl was sitting to his right and gave him a confused look. He ignored her and kept staring at the shrine maiden.

Y/N: But you took care of the curse, it's fine then.

Sanae: You can't pretend that it didn't happen! You, get closer!

She yelled to the Tengu hiding in the back, trying to sneak away from the lecture. Her icy eyes forced the journalist to drop to her knees, sitting next to the others. Y/N chuckled at her pathetic behaviour.

Y/N: Wimp.

Aya: You're not any better.

Y/N: Says the supposedly fastest person in this world.

Sanae: Shut it the both of you!

Mokou: *Sigh* She really is going all out, I wasn't expecting a lecture.

Y/N: I wasn't expecting her to slap you with one of her magic seals when you tried to escape.

Sanae: Now, all of you, explain yourselves! Mokou, you know better than to attack an outsider, what went through your head?

She was definitely pissed, that was clear as day. Everyone not involved kept their silence and observed the woman of flames looking down, trying to come up with an answer that will force the conversation to continue.

Mokou: I...

Sanae: Whatever it was, can you really consider yourself to be one that will help outsiders when you commit an action like that? Humans trust you for your calmness and also because of your lack of aggression towards them, then you go and simply decide to try to kill an outsider who clearly doesn't know where he is.

Koishi: I can confirm, he doesn't.

Y/N: Yep, I can confirm too.

Mokou: ...

Sanae: If you were able to kill him, then what? Would you have looked at his corpse and felt even a slight bit of remorse? I don't know what kind of idea went through your head but you will have to rethink your actions.

Mokou: Alright alright, I get it, I'm sorry.

Sanae: Not to me, to him.

Y/N: I ain't forgiving you. If you went to my hideout, I can bet you that you would have left it with a wide smile. My life don't mean anything to you.

Koishi: You're talking about the bo-

The man placed his hand on her mouth and stopped her from revealing the goal of her murder attempt.

Sanae: I may not be the best person to say this but I hope you learn from your lesson and try to make up for him.

Y/N: ...

Sanae: Moving on, mister Y/N.

She slammed the purification rod of top of his head. He ignored her movement and blankly stared at the shrine behind her.

Sanae: First of all, do you even know where you are in the first place? This is Gensokyo, people like you are killed left and right like nothing, why did you thought that hiding underground where many youkais reside was a good idea?!

Y/N: ...How was I supposed to know? Do you happen to carry a newspaper saying "Don't go underground humans, bad monsters there"? Do you really think I would know that?

Sanae: You would have realized it after the first encounter, are you suicidal?!

Y/N: No, self-sacrificial, it isn't the same thing.

Sanae: ...

She slammed once more her weapon on top of his head.

Sanae: No talk about that, I don't want to hear any of it!

Y/N: Did you forget to take your breathings again? You need to calm down for a moment.

Koishi: I didn't know she had asthma.

Sanae: I don't have asthma!

Y/N: Wouldn't be surprised if you end up developing it with how much you talk.

Sanae: ...

Suwako: *Sigh* I don't think it'll get better if you continue Sanae.

Sanae: I can see that. Fine, Y/N, you stay here until we're done. We'll soon escort you back to the human village.

Y/N: I'll be fine on my own-

Sanae: Fine to get yourself killed, I saw that, no need to show it twice.

Koishi: Y/N is strong on his own, he did take out many youkais before coming here.

Sanae: ...Lady Suwako, what should we do?

Suwako: The fact remains that he is an outsider, we should still treat him as such.

Y/N: Before we go, I've heard that you guys can give blessings, how much is it?

Suwako: Woah, already asking for business? That's a first for an outsider. I don't even think you-

Y/N: Don't worry about money for now. So, can I have a private conversation between us?

Suwako: ...Follow me.

The both of them left the entrance of the shrine and stepped inside while the others were left where they were. The shrine maiden looked back at the youkais in front of her and mumbled something under her breath.

Mokou: Can I go now? I suppose you're done lecturing me.

Sanae: Sure, I hope you understand why I did so.

Mokou: Yea, it's my fault mostly anyway, I'll leave before he gets back.

She walked away and went down the mountain, abandoning the Tengu that tried to use her and the outsider for her own benefit. That was the reason she was sweating bullets, feeling the sharp gaze of one that could exterminate her if she puts her mind to it.

Aya: I-I have to go now, important meeting and al-

Sanae: Says that lone journalist.

Aya: Ahhh...

She wanted to protest but with her cold eyes, it was a difficult task. She knew that she was going to pay a lot for her actions.

...

...

Y/N: Thank you for the assistance.

The man bowed to the small woman in front of him and turned to face Koishi still waiting in front of the shrine for him. She smiled back and walked closer.

Koishi: Did you get your blessing?

Y/N: In the end, yes.

Suwako: The both of you seem to get along really well.

Y/N: I still don't know why myself.

As far as he's aware, she just suddenly decided to join him on his journey to revive his fallen friends that perished by her kind. She had no reason to do so and maybe it was because of a partial lack of her mind that was causing her to act like this, acting out of curiosity.

Suwako: Still, it is quite surprising to see a sight such as this one.

Y/N: Doesn't help that you let the humans get killed here.

Suwako: ...It is true that many humans die to youkais, I can't refute that but we are trying our best.

Y/N: If you insist on believing that you're doing it for them then I won't stop you.

He turned around and left the shrine, carrying the sword that allowed him to do the impossible by his side. Koishi silently followed him with her usual demeanor and smile, a blank smile to cover a void.

Koishi: Where are you going now?

Y/N: I'll start my list I suppose.

Koishi: Do you know what you need?

Y/N: I engraved it in my mind, hard to forget after reading it for what feels like an eternity.

The both of them went down the mountain with the Moon rising above their heads. The wind was chilly but not unbearable, a fresh breeze to make them forget the previous events that unfolded on this mountain.

Koishi: Hey, why did you ask for a blessing?

The librarian glanced in her direction and refused to answer, at least not directly. Instead, he moved his right hand inside the outfit he was wearing and magically pulled out a book with his name on the cover. She knew that it was his and took a peek at the first page.

Koishi: Wow, they really did remove the curse.

She looked down and saw new lines added to replace the ones used for the curse.

Blessing: If the person is stunned, all damages received will deal 25% of their original value. While the person is not stunned, recovers 5-7 Stun Resist each turn.

Y/N: I asked for protection and protection I received, that's all.

She handed him back the book and he hid it in his suit once more, vanishing back to the library. The both of them exchanged a silent gaze and averted their eyes afterwards, not much left to say right now. They continued their walk down the mountain, the eyes of the observers overseeing their progress.

Koishi: Where should we start?

Y/N: ...

He looked down into the abyss of the night and searched for a light that will guide his path, only for hollow darkness to greet him. Being high up in the mountain was not making the task easier so they would need to get down a few levels before a real decision could be made.

Y/N: Say, do you feel something weird?

He suddenly asked the satori beside him. She quickly turned around herself but couldn't find anything so she shrugged back at him. Her reaction stiffened his body, pulling out his weapon out of paranoia. The song of the night was long gone and the silence of anxiety began to hover above their heads.

Y/N: Show yourself, don't make me drag you out of your place.

Koishi: Huh?

She blinked in confusion, not understanding why he was talking to nothing. Of course, she was completely oblivious of her surroundings and couldn't notice a presence. Silent, it was observing them. Feeling that it was losing its advantage, it emerged from the night and charged for the man.

Koishi: !

Out of instinct, she raised her arm and formed a shield of bullets made of hearts, transpiercing whatever tried to attack him. That movement was quicker than her understanding, staring blankly at the result of her action. Meanwhile, the librarian was unfazed and ran past the shield, going for a merciless slash that would leave one with a severe wound.

Y/N: Koishi, keep your distance, those things like to make their victims bleed out.

He snapped her out of her state, the blood on his blade turning the metal red... Well, it was already red to begin with but now the crimson color was becoming darker, mixed with the stains of the foe they were facing.

Gensokyo truly is a marvelous mirage, a fruit of many delusions taking physical appearance through simple rumors. Without humans, none of them would exist and those same humans were the cause of their fall. Now discarded in this piece of enclosed mystery, nothing can truly escape and so does the ones that perish. None can escape, forever trapped in this feverish world that many take for granted.

???: I hate you, your kind should have died a long time ago!

This permanent world left those trapped inside it to themselves, nobody to help them. Survival was hard to humans and the results were never pretty. The entity facing them was a result of that reality. It was a corpse covered by a black cloak, a dark body like the night with eyes devoid of pupils.

Koishi: What is that?

Y/N: No idea.

???: You selfish monsters, you think that humans are food and nothing else! You think that you're superior and that humans should die because they're weaker than you!

The cloak fluttered in the wind and sharp claws shone in the night. The monster closer to a wraith than an actual living corpse flung itself to the man. Seeing the incoming hit, he performed a maneuver to use its own momentum as an attack. Making a full 90 degree rotation around it, Y/N swiftly moved his blade in a horizontal motion.

Koishi: Step aside mister Y/N.

She warned the person fighting the enemy, who dashed away in response. She flew above the monster and swung her arms down, allowing a large amount of Danmakus to fall down like rain. Sensing the danger, the target of her attack crawled on all fours out of danger and stood up once safe.

???: Despicable, you wish death to humans just for your picky taste! Do you not understand how to show compassion to people weaker than you?!

Y/N: ...

That question was asked to the man facing the monster, a human now turned into what he hated the most. His body was now pulled by the strings of grudges, unable to die because of his hatred.

Koishi: You no longer belong here, whatever happens to them, it does not concern you.

She answered his question with soulless eyes, her smile gone as well. She stared at the spirit that could not pass away and raised her left hand at the height of her face, more projectiles forming around it.

Koishi: If you truly hated youkais then you wouldn't allow yourself to become one.

Her attacks went through the rotten body, doing close to no damage. Its glowing eyes pierced the girl who attacked him with his glare. He resumed his attacks and kept aiming for the librarian, who could only defend in response.

Y/N: ...

Not backing away from the spirit, he ran in its direction and formed a combo of slashes that left open wounds on the body that should normally not be able to be damaged. However, the wounds were not producing any blood, an invisible barrier stopping the flow of blood.

Y/N: This should be enough.

Koishi: Why is he not bleeding?

Y/N: Oh he is, you're just about to watch an assisted suicide.

He reassured her, preparing himself for the last round of this unpleasant encounter. Blinded with fury, the beast charged again, focused on killing the man for no apparent reason. Unlike its previous attempts, the wounds immediately opened when he tried to attack and blood surged out of it like fountains. Not minding what would be an instadeath, it kept attacking and Y/N kept deflecting the hits, watching his opponent literally killing itself by bleeding out.

Y/N: ...

With its final hit, the wraith dropped, a ghost that in the end was closer to a ghoul than an actual spirit. After confirming that it could bleed, Y/N knew instantly how to easily take care of the creature.

Koishi: Woah, what happened?

Y/N: Nothing much. With its madness, it was easy to dispose of it.

Stepping closer, he pulled the cloak off of the body and watched the abomination who perished by its own hands. The smell of blood was enough to turn the air metallic with its scent. Both of them didn't mind it and stared in silence.

Koishi: Shouldn't we hide it?

Y/N: I wasn't expecting you of all people to propose that.

Koishi: Isn't it bad to leave someone in the open? He surely is going to wake up after all.

Y/N: Koishi... You... nevermind.

He gave up before even starting, assuming that she wouldn't understand like many things he said to her. He crouched, grabbed the body and dragged it away from the main path, where only the rotten smell would lead it to its eventual demise.

Y/N: Not like it'll change anything, your kind seem to like eating people anyway.

Koishi: What are you talking about? They only eat humans.

Y/N: ...So that thing wasn't lying.

The man squinted his eyes and whispered to himself.

Y/N: Yet it is still a lie, or else I wouldn't be doing this.

Koishi: Hm? What did you say?

Y/N: Nothing important, we should keep moving.

He pointed the side they needed to take to go down the mountain, the path they would have taken if they weren't interrupted by the remnants of a spiteful human who once lived in this land of nightmares.

Koishi: What about the cloak?

Y/N: ...

Still holding onto it like a trophy, he stared at the piece of clothing. It was dark like the darkest night, a piece of a black hole turned into a simple accessory. Discarded and taken by the ghoul for its sake. Of course, being the one who killed it, he was now the owner of it.

Koishi: Mister Y/N?

Y/N: I'm sorry. You simply wished for humans to have a better end, only to be corrupted when you passed away.

Moving the cloak, he placed it around him, the hood covering his face with an even stronger shadow. His eyes were devoid of life and simply watched his opponent, carrying the only belonging it had.

Y/N: I wonder if they hate me for being a coward too... No, I'm sure they are, they simply don't know yet.

Koishi: ...

The youkai who closed her eye watched the scene, silently yawning due to her lack of sleep. She couldn't understand his emotions, she couldn't even understand hers so it was a lost cause but she still felt like a chord was being struck in her stomach.

Y/N: Heh, I bet they will all scream at me once they wake up. I really am a lost cause, I can't even do a purely good action, only mitigate the bad ones.

Koishi: Mister Y/N, we have to hurry!

Knowing that it would only get worse if they stayed here, she ran behind him and pushed the man away from the scene, urging him to continue walking. He snapped out of his state of mind and looked at the girl pushing him.

Y/N: Right... wait, wasn't the shrine maiden supposed to bring us to the human village?

Koishi: ...Oh right, maybe we should go back-

Y/N: No need, I'll gladly go down that mountain since I'll know where I am.

Koishi: If you say so.

She stopped pushing his body and walked forward, standing in front of the Moon. Her figure, albeit dark due to the lack of natural light, began to sparkle along with the stars above their heads. Like usual, she showed him her carefree smile with her hands hidden behind her back.

Koishi: We should hurry and bring your friends back, I'm sure that they will be glad to see you!

Y/N: Right, I should...

He stopped himself in his line and shook his head.

Y/N: No... we should hurry.

Koishi: Huh? Mister Y/N, does that mean...

The man offered the girl a hand, a weak sparkle in his eyes that reflected the sky filled with stars.

Y/N: Let's do our best to bring them back, miss Koishi.

Koishi: Even miss too? Of course I will, it sounds fun!

She ran to him and held his hand with hers before giving each other a handshake, forming a silent pact of cooperation. Of course, the journey was going to be tough but Y/N already placed his life on the line, he was not afraid of failure.

Koishi: We should get my sister to help-

Y/N: I think only you would accept such a stupid idea.

Koishi: She would understand... I think?

Y/N: I highly doubt it.

Both releasing each other's hand, they glanced at the path that will begin their ordeal. It was a quest of atonement for the librarian and a simple interest for the girl. She wanted to see if he was lying or not, it would be her first time seeing someone being brought back to life after all.

Koishi: What should we look for first?

Y/N: I'll tell you on the way down.

The duo casually went down the path of misery and persecution, they both stepped over an invisible line that should not have been crossed. For that rash action, many will fall and pay the price.