Somewhat related

Readers of this tale may want to browse through "Kaleidoscope Midnight", since it happens in the same universe and timeline. Remilia and another friend make more than just a cameo in the end scenario.

Link: Kaleidoscope Midnight

System Hint:
Character status and abilities carry over across scenarios.

[X] Status
Koakuma - A
Sakuya - A
Patchouli - A
Remilia - C
Flandre - C
Meiling - D

Epilogue

THIS PLACE IS CURSED.

I am writing this in the hope that someone would uncover the truth. I don't have much time left. If you are reading this, I may have been killed. Who or what would do so, I am still unsure.

The inhabitants of this place may seem strange to Outsiders - they certainly have strange appearances, abilities, and seem to be non-human. But they allowed me to stay during the night. Gensokyo is lethal during the night.

If you can leave, get out. Don't stop at the nearby Human Village. Go on, as far as you can. Hope has no place in this Mansion, or anywhere near it.

I must stay and do what I can. Hopefully, I can delay the inevitable nightmare, at the very least. She saved my life. I must try to return the favor.

I have left some notes in this drawer as well. I hope they may be useful. I will write again if I have the chance.

~

After reading it a few more times, Remilia finally puts down the letter. She takes a sip of her tea as she gathers her thoughts. On the table are a few other items: a small black notebook, a small ballpoint pen, a digital watch, and several sheets of stationary paper. She quickly turns back to Patchouli.

"This is his writing," she says quietly. "And these things belong to him."

The magician takes a sip of tea before speaking.

"Koakuma surrendered these along with Grey's clothes from the Outside," says Patchouli.

"She had Grey's clothes?" asks Remilia.

Patchouli nods solemnly.

"Interesting," says Remilia. "That explains the connection between them."

"There is something else," says Patchouli. "Koakuma said that there was a third person in her dreams."

"A third person?" repeats Remilia.

The magician looks down upon the items on the table. Her eyes are focused on the watch.

"I understand," says Remilia. "He must still be alive."

"What do you want to do?" whispers the magician.

The vampire slowly puts down her teacup before looking up at the magician.

"I need some time to think," she says finally.

Patchouli gives a small nod before she heads for the door.

"..."

Remilia waits patiently until the magician leaves. Then, she takes something from inside her desk drawer. She examines the item for a few minutes before sighing to herself. The vampire stands up and looks out of her window. The lake seems so peaceful at this time of the day.

"He is still alive," whispers Remilia.

She holds the item close to her chest as a single tear rolls down her cheek. After a few moments of silence, she quickly wipes her face and returns to her desk. The vampire carefully puts down the item on the desk. She takes a few moments to stare at it thoughtfully.

Upon her table is a cracked pair of silver-rimmed glasses.

A familiar voice interrupts his reminscing.

"Have you decided?" asks Remilia.

Grey looks up at the vampire girl. The expression upon her face is completely neutral. However, she doesn't put down the teacup. She seems to be waiting for his answer.

"Yes," says Grey. "Yes, I believe I have."

He takes the pen and pulls the contract closer. Then, he begins reading through the terms of employment carefully. He says nothing as he examines it.

"Anything wrong?" says Remilia. "If you aren't sure, I can give you some more time to think. I understand that this is a difficult decision, so -"

"No need for that," interrupts Grey.

He looks up at the vampire girl and stares her straight in the eye. She gaps silently in surprise, and she almost spills her tea. This time, she fails to hide her anticipation.

"You should already know the answer, Lady Remilia," says Grey.

The vampire frowns at him, but she doesn't say a word. Honestly, he didn't really read through the contents of the contract. None of that really matters, anyway. He just wanted to watch Remilia like this a little longer. He smiles gently at the girl, carefully enjoying this rare and delicious moment. She looks pretty cute when she is confused.

"Like I said earlier," he says. "I already decided."

"..."

Without another word, he quickly signs his name on the contract.

"I'm staying," says Grey. "After all, I've still haven't earned the title of Earl."

Remilia sighs in relief at his decision. She smiles as she looks at him with her deep crimson eyes.

"Very good," says the vampire. "I hope that you won't regret this decision."

Remilia clears her throat before continuing.

"In any case, there is much work to do. I believe that Sakuya can give you further instructions. Go see her immediately."

"Yes, my Lady," he replies with a bow.

"I believe that she is waiting for you right outside," whispers Remilia mischievously.

At those words, someone gasps audibly from behind the door.

"W-w-what?" mumbles Grey.

"Don't think about it too much," says Remilia. "She isn't the only eavesdropper anyway."

Suddenly, Grey feels painfully aware of several hurried footsteps, creaks, and squeaks coming from several directions. He laughs weakly before giving the vampire a bow. Then, he makes for the door. He almost trips on his feet as he walks.

"Oh, and one last thing," whispers Remilia.

Grey turns around to see her smiling at him mysteriously.

"Welcome home," says Remilia.



TRUE END

---

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"From this point onward, you are free," says Remilia. "You are no longer my Servant, and you are no longer bound to this Mansion."

"I... don't understand," says Grey. "Are you kicking me out?"

The vampire shakes her head. She pulls out something from her dress and places it on the table together with a pen. It takes Grey a few moments to recognize the object.

"A contract?" he says.

"I won't deny that we could still use your help," says Remilia. "However, I can't force you to stay here. Not anymore. I owe you at least this much. That is why I am giving you this choice."

Grey looks at the contract thoughtfully.

"You can leave and find your own destiny," she says. "I'm sure that you can find a way to recover your memories and return home. I can even point you in the right direction."

Remilia pauses for a moment.

"Or, you can stay here and continue working with us," whispers Remilia. "I'm sure that I'm not the only one who is grateful for your help."

Grey pauses to think.

...

"- with me."

He scratches his head, puzzled.

"Excuse me?" says Grey.

"I asked if you would have a match with me," says the red-haired woman. "I am Hong Meiling, the gatekeeper of the Scarlet Devil Mansion, and I would like to see what you are capable of."

"Well, I dislike unnecessary violence..." mumbles Grey.

"It's just a friendly match," says Meiling as she approaches. "Since you're human, you can even use weapons if you like..."

...

"I like interesting things. Your stories are interesting. They make me laugh. Falling stars are interesting. I just go 'kyu' and they go boom! Danmaku is interesting. I like the bright colors and sounds. Let's see what else..."

Flandre pauses for a moment before continuing.

"Sweet things are interesting. I like strawberries, manju, and visitors. They make me feel warm inside. Except for ice cream; it's cold, but I like that too."

"I like ice cream too," says Grey, though he doesn't really follow.

"Two? I guess I can have two ice creams, but big sister says it isn't good to eat too much. I hear that you can die if you eat too much, but what does gambling or painting have to do with it? I tried painting before, but the brush broke and I was sad..."

"But you aren't sad now, are you?" he says.

"I'm kinda happy," says the girl with a smile. I like being with big sister. I also like playing with Sakuya and China. Patchy is fun too when she isn't giving a lecture. One time, Marisa came to visit and we played all over the house! She disappeared after a while, but she didn't die, so that makes me happy."

"Err... that's interesting," mumbles Grey nervously.

For a moment, Flandre stays silent as she looks at him closely. Then, she smiles brightly.

"I think I like you, too!"

...

"A hand mirror?"

"W-w-what the -" stammers Sakuya as she turns around.

The chief maid trips on her feet in confusion, but Grey manages to grab her hand before she falls.

"Careful!" says Grey.

For a moment, the two stare into each other's eyes. Then, Sakuya's eyes widen. She quickly pulls her hand away.

"I-I-I can take care of myself!" cries Sakuya.

She looks away from him quickly.

"B-but thanks, anyway," she whispers.

Sakuya slowly takes his hand and walks a few steps forward. Grey blinks stupidly as he lets her lead the way. Then, without warning, they find themselves standing in front of the entrance to the Scarlet Devil Mansion.

"I have a lot of work to finish, so I'll leave you here," whispers the chief maid.

"Eh?"

Before he can reply, she vanishes from sight.

...

After telling her everything, he lowers his head in shame. Is she going to torture him, or is she going to kill him where he stands?

Patchouli raises one hand over his head as she examines the book in her other hand. She starts chanting some words in an unintelligible language. Grey closes his eyes as he braces himself. Suddenly, a bright flash of light erupts from her hands.

"..."

A few moments later, Grey opens his eyes. After finding himself uninjured, he looks up at the magician, puzzled.

"This spell should protect you from most attacks," says Patchouli. "It isn't perfect, but it should last long enough."

"Wait... what? I-I don't understand," mutters Grey.

"I think I can believe Remilia now," whispers the magician. "If it's you, then maybe -"

Exhausted and drained, Patchouli suddenly falls forward into his arms.

...

"I-I won't let that happen again!" cries Koakuma. "I won't let it happen to you! Even if it means that I have to fight as well!"

"I don't understand," says Grey.

"They knew," whispers the bat-winged girl angrily. "All of them knew, but they did nothing to stop it. But I understand everything now."

Suddenly, Koakuma runs up and embraces him. Her delicate fingers shake nervously, but they hang on to him with determination. Her wings tremble slightly, and he can feel her tiny heartbeat as she pushes herself into his arms.

"I will protect you," she whispers.

A single tear drops down to the floor as she speaks.

...

"Have you decided?" asks Remilia.

Grey looks up at the vampire girl.

"Yes, I have."

"This tea is quite good," says Remilia. "Earl Grey, isn't it?"

"I thought you might like it," says Grey.

The vampire girl takes a sip from her tea cup before putting it down.

"Yes, it is quite good," says Remilia. "You have quite a few useful talents, dont you?"

The vampire takes a long look at him before speaking again.

"I have no doubts now," she says finally. "Your arrival here was not a coincidence."

"You know why I'm here?" asks Grey.

"Not exactly," says Remilia. "But I see that you have an important role. Perhaps even larger than I first thought."

The vampire girl takes a biscuit and nibbles on it for a bit.

"That power of yours," she says. "At the Outside, it's the sort of thing that could change history. Such a power could only be found in legends."

Grey nods slowly. He can become a whole other person, if he wanted to.

"Isn't it a strange fact that legends always have ways of finding themselves in Gensokyo?"

"Eh?"

Remilia takes another sip of her tea before looking back at him.

"Well, let's forget about that for now," says the vampire girl. "First, we must conclude our business before day's end."

"Our business?" repeats Grey.

Remilia gives him a small nod before continuing.

"I had you stay here for my own selfish reasons," says the vampire girl. "I needed a catalyst to spark change. You were that catalyst."

She closes her eyes solemnly.

"We were lucky that this ended well somehow," says Remilia. "You could have been killed several times during the past few days. And it would have been my fault."

Grey pauses for a moment before speaking.

"Everything went fine," he manages. "We're all still alive, aren't we?"

Remilia opens her eyes and stares at him carefully. Then, she nods to herself.

"Yes, we are," she says. "And that's why I'm going to do something against my own nature right now."

She looks at him straight in the eye before speaking.

"From this point onward, you are free," she says. "You are no longer my Servant, and you are no longer bound to this Mansion. You are free to leave this place and discover your own destiny."

"I... don't understand," he manages. "Are you kicking me out?"

Remilia shakes her head. She pulls out something from her dress and places it on the table together with a pen. It takes Grey a few moments to recognize the object.

It looks like a contract.

"I won't deny that this Mansion is still in danger," says Remilia. "But I can't force you to stay here. Not anymore. I owe you at least this much. That is why I am giving you a choice."

Grey picks up the piece of paper and begins studying it. It seems to be discuss terms of employment.

"You can leave and find your own destiny," says Remilia. "I'm sure that you can find a way to recover your memories and return home. I can even provide a few leads for you to start with."

The vampire girl pauses for a moment.

"Or, you can stay here and work with us," whispers Remilia. "I'm sure that I'm not the only one who appreciates your presence here."

"..."

Grey pauses to think.
[ ] "My Fate is here."
[ ] "I have my own destiny."
[ ] Custom

"What happened to the others?" asks Grey. "Is everyone alright?"

Sakuya nods as they walk along the hallways.

"The damage is significant, but nothing permanent," says Sakuya. "We lost several of the fairy maid staff, but they should reincarnate in a few days. The Mansion should be fully staffed again soon. You don't need to worry about it."

"How about that gate guard?" says Grey. "Meiling, was it?"

"Oh, that one?" says the chief maid. "She got a few scratches, but she'll be fine. That girl is lazy and careless, but when it comes to fighting, she is quite capable."

"I see," he says.

Sakuya frowns for a moment before continuing.

"Don't be fooled," she says. "Even I don't really understand what Meiling is capable of. She should be working inside the Mansion with Patchouli and I, but she insists on staying outside as a simple gate guard."

"..."

Grey never expected Sakuya to mention something like that. But then again, everyone in the Mansion seems to have their own secrets. He doesn't need to push the subject any further.

"How's the little sister Flandre?" he asks.

"She's resting in her room," replies Sakuya.

"Did something -" says Grey.

"Don't worry, she isn't hurt." says the chief maid. "The little sister is just tired from the ordeal. It isn't everyday that she is forced to fight seriously like that. Lady Remilia gave instructions to give her some time to take it all in."

"What happened down there anyway?" asks Grey.

"The sisters protected the Mansion from some type of undead," she says. "There was that strange man wrapped in bandages, too. There was probably another portal somewhere down there."

"I remember that," says Grey.

"Besides that, I don't know anything else," says Sakuya. "When I arrived, everything was already reduced to ashes. I couldn't even find any bodies."

"I see," says Grey. "How is Remilia anyway?"

"She is fine now," says Sakuya. "But..."

Suddenly, the chief maid stops walking. She doesn't turn around to face Grey.

"When I found her, she was wounded," whispers Sakuya. "Like she was cut with some strange weapon. It took over an hour before she healed completely."

"That's good to hear," says Grey.

"No, it isn't," continues Sakuya. "Even if Flandre attacks her, Lady Remilia can regenerate almost instantly. Normal weapons can't hurt her like that."

"What did she say when you found her?" he says.

Sakuya hesitates slightly before replying.

"Lady Remilia didn't tell me anything," she continues. "All she gave me were instructions to clean the mess up."

"M-Mistress?" whispers Koakuma.

"..."

Grey opens his eyes and watches with mouth agape. The magician is holding the familiar to her chest, embracing her. Patchouli says nothing, only holding Koakuma closer. Her eyes remain closed as she gently strokes Koakuma's hair. The frail wizard then takes one of the little devil's hands and holds it in hers. A single tear falls from her purple eyes.

Slowly, Koakuma returns her Master's embrace. She leans closer to Patchouli and begins crying into her arms. She mumbles almost incoherently as she continues apologizing. Then, Sakuya pats him on the shoulder, bringing him back to reality.

"We're done here," she says.

Grey only manages a nod as he lets the chief maid lead him out of the chamber. He glances once back at the portal, but the runes are no longer glowing. Reluctantly, he steps out of the room, closing the door behind him.

"That went better than I expected," says Sakuya suddenly.

He jumps in surprise when the chief maid turns back to face him. She has a modest, but dazzling smile on her face as he looks at him.

"I-I suppose," he manages, quickly looking away from her.

"They didn't even need words," whispers Sakuya. "You really are something special, Grey."

"I didn't really do anything, I think," replies Grey.

His eyes widen in surprise as he feels something soft press against his cheek. Then, as suddenly as he felt it, it vanishes. By the time he blinks, the chief maid is already walking away without him. Did she just -

"Hurry up or I'll leave you down here," says Sakuya sternly. "Lady Remilia wants to see you."

"W-w-what?" mumbles Grey. "Hey wait!"

Grey leans himself against the wall as he tries to catch his breath. He looks back at the bat-winged girl on the ground. She has managed to sit herself up, but she only stares blankly in front of her. Her eyes are still damp with tears.

What is he supposed to tell her? Don't worry? Everything's going to be alright?

Grey lowers his head and covers his face in his hands. Even if he says those words, he knows that they are nothing but sweet lies. This isn't some fairy tale. When the others discover what happened, they will know that she is a traitor.

Confused or not, this girl will be punished. At the very least, they will probably exile her from the Mansion. And then what? Where will she go? This place is her home. These people are her family. Sending her away would be as good as death for this girl. There must be another-

Suddenly, the door bursts open. A familiar figure steps into the room.

"Grey! Are you alright?" cries the chief maid. Before he can reply, Sakuya reappears right beside him and begins examining him for wounds.

"Sakuya?" says Grey. "What happened?"

"The control spell broke," she replies. "Patchouli explained everything. She is right behind me and -"

"You are a fool," whispers a second voice.

Grey turns to see the pink and purple magician standing over Koakuma. Her face is expressionless and cold as she speaks to the little devil.

"M-Mistress?" mumbles Koakuma. "I-I'm sorry! I didn't mean for it to end up like this! I only wanted to help..."

Her voice trails off as the magician steps closer to her.

Without warning, Patchouli raises both her hands over the familiar. Koakuma's eyes widen. Sakuya says nothing, but Grey can feel her tense up. This can't possibly end well. He curses himself silently as he closes his eyes. He can't bear to watch.

He can't save her this time.

Loading User Commands:
[X] Break the spell card trance.

---

Something at the back of his mind seems to be whispering something, but he can't understand. Grey is captivated and enthralled. All he can see now is this beautiful creature before him. Her long, crimson hair. Her innocent, kind face. Her deep, clear eyes. Her perfect smooth skin. Her deliciously soft lips. Her everything.

He must have her.

"N-No... T-This can't be!" cries the little devil. "Y-You can't be!"

Suddenly, Koakuma breaks down in tears and begins to weep. She seems to be repeating something as she crumples down on her knees before him. It takes several moments before Grey recognizes her desperate words.

"Don't touch me."

Grey's eyes widen in confusion. Immediately, he opens his mouth to argue, but he can't find any words to say. He looks to the side, and catches a glance of his reflection against an old mirror.

He is smiling. He is enjoying this. This power is wonderful, after all.

With this gift, even this world can fall into his hands.

But this person staring back at him.

His malevolent smile.

This is...

"Madness," whispers Grey.

This is not who he was. This is not who he is. And this is not who he chooses to become. Slowly he lowers his hands and closes his eyes. Calming himself, he forces the spell card trance to end. Only after making sure that the spell is over does he open his eyes again.

To see a strange red-haired little devil crying to herself on the ground. Still in shock, Koakuma only continues sobbing on the ground. She doesn't even have the strength to stand up.

Loading User Commands:
[X] Custom

---

"If I do it myself, I'll be leaving a terrible mess for the Mistress," whispers the familiar.

Grey's eyes widen as he realizes that Koakuma is holding something sharp against her neck. A thin trickle of blood is already flowing from a small wound. Is she really going to -

There is no need to think about it. He already knows what to do.

Before he even realizes it, the spell card is already in his hand.

This madness, he refuses to accept it!

"Command Sign, 「Master's Voice」" he says.

Upon declaring the card, his senses become focused and clear. With his own hands, he will change Fate.

"Stand up, Koakuma," he says sternly.

The little devil girl shudders for a few moments before standing herself up from the floor. Her eyes widen as she realizes that her body isn't listening to her. But that doesn't matter now.

In this place, he is the Master.

"W-what's happening?" cries Koakuma.

"Empty your hands," says Grey, ignoring her question.

Her hands shakily let go off the sharp object. It seems to be a broken piece of teacup.

"Now come to me," whispers Grey.

Koakuma takes a few clumsy steps forward, as if fighting against the spell, but even she can't deny this power. Grey smiles as he watches as the bat-winged girl looks up at him, her face full of confusion. The uncertainty in her eyes is delicious.

He must have her.

Suddenly, Koakuma's eyes widen in horror, as if recognizing Grey for the first time.

"N-No... T-This can't be!" cries the little devil. "Y-You can't be!"

Something at the corner of his mind seems to be whispering something, but he can't understand. All he can see now is this beautiful creature before him. Her long, crimson hair. Her innocent, kind face. Her deep, clear eyes. Her perfect smooth skin. Her wonderful soft lips. Her everything.

He must have her.

Suddenly, Koakuma breaks down in tears and begins weeping uncontrollably. She seems to be repeating something as she crumples down on her knees before him.

Grey's eyes widen when he recognizes her words.

"Don't touch me."

[ ] Break the spell card trance.
[ ] Complete the spell card trance.
[ ] Custom

Before Grey can reply, Koakuma flies into the back of the chamber and into a smaller room. She quickly shuts the door behind her. The clicking sound of the lock echoes into the lonely chamber.

His eyes widen in shock as he recognizes the last word she whispered.

"Koakuma!" cries Grey.

He quickly chases after the little devil. As he reaches the door, he grabs the handle. His hands shake the handle vigorously, but this only confirms that the door is locked. After a moment, he steps back and begins banging and kicking the door with his fists and legs.

"Koakuma! Are you alright?" cries Grey.

"..."

The silence only causes him to panic even more. He has a really bad feeling about this. It is as if he knows that something irreversible can happen if this continues. Grey quickly draws the gun from his holster and aims carefully at the lock.

"Hold on, Koakuma!" cries Grey. "Don't do anything stupid!"

He fires several times at the handle and almost empties his weapon before it falls off. After a few more good kicks, the door finally bursts open. Grey steps inside, but the room is pitch-black. It takes a few moments for his eyes to adjust to the darkness.

"Koakuma!" he cries out.

"You really are a kind person," replies the little devil. "But it's already too late. Too late for a horrible person like me."

He can't really see where she is standing yet.

"It'll be alright," cries Grey. "Just come back with us."

"No, not this time," whispers Koakuma. "I can't be forgiven for something like this."

Grey blinks as he begins to make out the little devil's silhouette. She seems to be holding something in her hand.

"Please," he says desperately. "Don't do this."

"Can I ask you one last favor?" asks the little devil. "If you don't mind, could you use that gun on me?"

"W-what? Are you crazy?"

"I-I don't mind if it's you," she whispers. "And if I do it myself, I'll be leaving a terrible mess for the Mistress."

His eyes widen as he realizes that Koakuma is holding something sharp against her neck. A thin trickle of blood is already flowing from a small wound. She wouldn't -

[ ] Don't do anything.
[ ] Use the gun on her.
[ ] Run away.
[ ] There must be another way! (Write-in only)

Loading User Commands:
[X] Go after Koakuma.

---

"W-why does it have to be this way?" cries Koakuma. "I only wanted to protect those I cared about. I-I never wanted to hurt anyone!"

"Koakuma," says Grey quietly.

"I only wanted a home," she whispers.

...

The little devil slowly looks up, finding a pair of purple eyes observing her closely. Standing in front of her with a book in her hands is a frail looking girl in a pink dress. Upon the stranger's head is a small cloth hat, and tied to her long lavender hair are several brightly colored ribbons.

"I shall be your Mistress from now on," says the girl. "You will be my familiar."

"M-Mistress?" repeats the little devil, still confused.

"Come and follow me," says the Mistress. "Nameless little devil."

...

"I only wanted to be useful," the little devil whispers.

...

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" cries the little devil.

Patchouli lies on the ground, still buried in a large pile of books. The little devil accidently knocked over a nearby bookcase and caused this little mishap. She quickly helps the anemic magician up to her feet.

"A-are you alright? Can I get you some medicine or bandages?" stammers the little devil.

The magician coughs violently before speaking.

"Third time this week," she says weakly. "Anyway, forget about it. Why don't you make yourself useful and get me a cup of tea?"

"O-of course, Mistress," whispers the little devil as she lowers her head in shame.

A few minutes later, the little devil returns to Patchouli's reading area with tea and biscuits. She carefully pours her Mistress a cup and places it beside her. For a few moments, Patchouli continues reading, completely ignoring her presence. Then, she takes the cup to her lips.

"Looks like you're only good for a cup of tea," says Patchouli.

The pink and purple magician carefully lowers the cup before turning to the little devil.

"It's delicious," she continues. "I'll leave this to you from now on, Koakuma."

"K-Koakuma?" repeats the little devil.

"That will be your name," says Patchouli. "The little devil of the library, Koakuma."

...

"I only wanted others to know my name," whispers Koakuma.

...

"Wait," says the stranger. "I believe that your Mistress is looking for a book. She seems to be searching the all over the library for it."

The little devil sighs deeply.

"I have been looking for that book for hours," says Koakuma. "It's really my fault. Mistress Patchouli's catalogue is flawless. I'm just no good at organizing things, since I'm clumsy and I often mix the books up."

She has been trying so hard, yet...

"I'm so useless..." whispers Koakuma to herself.

Suddenly, she begins to sob openly. The way she is acting is completely inappropriate, yet she can't stop weeping. No matter how much she tries, she is only a burden to Patchouli. A weak and useless burden.

"Excuse me, Miss," says the stranger.

He gives her a little smile before he continues.

"May I know your name?" he asks.

Koakuma stares at him disbelievingly. She opens her mouth to speak, but she can't find any words to say. Did she hear him correctly?

"E-er, you don't have to tell me if you don't want to," mutters the stranger sheepishly.

The little devil quickly wipes her last tears away.

"Y-you may call me Koakuma," she manages. She can't help but smile brightly as she says those words.

"Then, Miss Koakuma, why don't I help you look for that book?"

...

"I only wanted someone to hold me," whispers Koakuma.

...

"I-I'm sorry!" she stammers. "I-I didn't mean to startle you, I just -"

Without warning, Grey holds her close to his chest. Koakuma's eyes widen in surprise. She can feel the gentle warmth of his body. As he strokes her hair gently, she slowly closes her eyes. This feeling is familiar, somehow. She feels safe in his arms.

But this can't last. Not for a nameless little devil like her.

"You're alright!" he whispers. "I thought that -"

Without warning, she pushes him away from her. Grey slams the back of his head on a nearby bookcase.

"G-g-get away from me!" she shouts.

Because she doesn't deserve happiness.

...

"I've done terrible things," she says. "Unforgivable things..."

With the very cup of tea that she held, she had betrayed everyone. Even those she held closest to her heart.

"..."

After a few moments, the music stops. Koakuma stands herself up and dries her tears carefully before giving Grey one last smile.

"I'm sorry for everything," she says. "Please don't hate me."

"Eh? Koakuma?" mumbles Grey.

"Good bye." whispers the little devil.

Loading User Commands:
[X] Push her away.
[X] Custom

---

"I will protect you," whispers Koakuma. A single tear drops down to the floor as clings closer to him. This gesture is genuine, and the moment she says it, Grey realizes that her concern and kindness is honest.

But something is wrong.

Grey slowly pushes the little devil away and parts from her arms. He smiles at her puzzled expression, motioning for her to stay silent. Grey holsters his weapon and carefully takes the Stradivarius violin from its case. He cradles it gently in his hands and prepares to draw its bow.

[~Make this a good performance...]

He hesitates for a moment and glances around the room. While well-lighted, the chamber seems to lack life. The room seems out of theme compared to the rest of the Mansion. Something is missing. He almost gasps aloud when he realizes it.

There is not enough color.

Grey closes his eyes as he prepares to play. For some reason, the image of Remilia comes to mind. The vampire seems to be smiling at him. Though he hears it only in his mind, her words are clear.

"Let me tell you a secret, Grey," says Remilia. "Fate doesn't exist."

The chamber echoes with sweet music as he begins to play. He has never heard this piece before, but he continues playing as if it is the most natural thing to do.

[~Fighting against Fate, are we? How interesting...]

This music, too, is full of incredible power. He can feel a thick aura spread across the room. But it isn't coming from the spirit of the Stradivarius, nor is it coming only from himself. Somehow, he feels that his hands are being led by several others.

[~The servant of time...]

Sakuya. She must still be battling in the library above. Under that cold and hostile demeanor lies a genuine concern for the inhabitants of the Mansion. Up to now, he doesn't understand why the chief maid trusts him, even when he can't trust himself.

[~The guardian of knowledge...]

Patchouli. Even while she fights against them, he can't help but remember her kindness. She was patient with him, taking time to explain what he needed to know. The magician went out of her way to protect him, even if it risked her health.

[~The keeper of fate...]

Remilia. The Mistress of the Mansion doesn't hesitate to fight where the others cannot. Mysterious and powerful, she entrusted him with the task of investigating this incident. And while it sounds strange, he feels like she, too, has saved his life before.

[~The child of purity...]

Flandre. With her monstrous power, she keeps the intruders at bay in the basement below. The little sister's odd and unpredictable behaviour often discourages him from approaching her, but he can't help but think that she only means good when she acts.

[~The custodian of balance...]

Meiling. She leads the fairies as they defend the gate. He hasn't had much opportunity to speak with her, but she seems to be friendly enough. While a little bit too carefree, she seems to be quite reliable when she is needed.

[~The puppet of friendship...]

Koakuma. This little devil holds many pieces in this game, and she may very well be the main cause of this whole mess. She seems to believe that she is doing the right thing. And while confused, he can't help but feel that she truly cares for him.

He can feel them all. Their combined determination continues to guide his hand as he draws the bow to bring forth music and change into the world. But there seems to be something missing.

[~Your own hand...]

Grey understand now. He is part of this as well. Without hesitation, he puts his own heart into the music as he continues the composition. All together at once, the seven souls form a Septette.

He opens his eyes, and behold! The room is bathed in a multitude of different colors. The place ripples with their will as he continues to play. He can feel the music influence every corner. With this power, even Fate can be defied.

But there is still one thing that hasn't embraced this music of life.

Koakuma has crumpled down on her knees as she struggles against the music. Her face is full of confusion. She still doesn't understand. Tears begin to drip down to the floor as she weeps openly.

"W-why does it have to be this way?" cries the Koakuma. "I only wanted to protect those I cared about. I-I never wanted to hurt anyone!"

"Koakuma..." says Grey quietly.

"B-but I've done terrible things," she continues. "Unforgivable things..."

She continues weeping until the music stops. After a few minutes, the magician's familiar stands herself up. She dries her tears carefully before giving Grey one last smile.

"I'm sorry," she says. "Please don't hate me."

She whispers one last thing to Grey. Before he can reply, Koakuma flies into a smaller room of the chamber and shuts the door. The clicking sound of the lock echoes into the lonely chamber.

His eyes widen in shock as his brain recognizes the last word she whispered.

"Goodbye."

[ ] Go after Koakuma.
[ ] Don't go after Koakuma.

Loading User Commands:
[X] Don't trust Koakuma.

---

"You and Mistress," says Koakuma. "I'll save you both from this madness. This place shall be purified of sinners."

Grey slowly steps back, the gun still in his hand.

"But Koakuma, this is... why did... how..?" he mumbles in confusion.

The magician's familiar looks at him with gentle eyes.

"You must trust me," she whispers. "I've seen it all with my own eyes."

"But destroy the Mansion? Isn't that going too far?" replies Grey.

"It is difficult to explain," she says. "For now, just step through that portal and escape. Mistress and I will follow after we are finished here."

Grey shakes his head and frowns.

"I'm sorry, Koakuma," he says. "I can't just abandon everyone and walk away."

He looks straight into her eyes.

"I can't trust you," he continues. "Not like this."

Koakuma sighs deeply. For a few moments, she walks around the room thinking. She closes her eyes and shudders, as if remembering something painful.

"It had happened so quickly," mutters Koakuma. "I couldn't do anything to stop it. In the end, the other one was finally driven into madness. He lost his mind.. and his soul."

"The other one?" repeats Grey.

The little devil shakes her head quickly.

"I-I won't let that happen again!" cries Koakuma. "I won't let it happen to you! Even if it means that I have to fight as well!"

"I don't understand," he replies.

"They knew," whispers the bat-winged girl angrily. "All of them knew, but they did nothing to stop it. But I understand now. It was all part of their plan."

She looks at him with sadness and regret.

"They used the other one as a sacrifice," says Koakuma.

"A sacrifice?" repeats Grey. "Sorry, I still don't understand anything."

Suddenly, Koakuma runs up and embraces him tightly. Her delicate fingers shake nervously, but they hang on to him with determination. The little devil's wings tremble as he watches them. He can feel the little devil's tiny heartbeat as they stay together for a few moments longer.

"I will protect you," whispers Koakuma. A single tear drops down to the floor as she speaks.

The moment she says that, Grey realizes that she truly cares for him.

But something is wrong.

[ ] Return her embrace.
[ ] Push her away.
[ ] Use the portal.
[ ] Kill her now.
[ ] Talk to her. (Specify)
[ ] Use an item. (Specify)
[ ] Custom

Loading User Commands:
[X] Custom

---

"This place is cursed," whispers Koakuma gravely.

Grey takes a moment to recall the different youkai attacks, as well as his own dreams. Somehow, the idea of a curse doesn't seem so far-fetched. As he collects his thoughts, Koakuma steps toward a nearby reading desk. She picks up a thick book and shows it to him.

"But I found a way out," she says. "This book gave me the original idea."

Grey's eyes widen as he recognizes the book. "Theoretical Boundary Binding and Intervention," the title reads. Wasn't this something Patchouli was looking for the first time he arrived in the Mansion?

"I couldn't control such high-level magic myself, of course," continues Koakuma. "But I was able to convince Mistress Patchouli to help out. Surprising what a cup of tea can do to convince a person."

Koakuma looks at him seriously.

"But I can explain the details later," she says. "For now, you must escape this cursed place. The Mistress and I will follow after we are finished here."

The little devil points at the sealing circle at the back of the chamber. Grey nods to her slowly before walking closer toward it. He must destroy or ruin the arrangement somehow, just as he did with the one at the clock tower. After a moment of thought, he draws out his weapon to fire at the engravings.

"W-wait! W-what are you doing!" cries Koakuma suddenly. Before he can reply, the little devil pushes his arm away from the circle.

"Huh? But I thought -"

"If you ruin the arrangement, the portal won't function properly!" she continues. "That stupid chief maid already destroyed the portal at the clock tower. We can't afford any more setbacks!"

"Wait... what?" mutters Grey, still confused.

Before he can reply, the circle begins glowing ominously. Koakuma pulls him back to the side and holds on to his arm tightly. She motions for him to stay silent and watch. The circle begins changing color as he observes.

"Koakuma?" he mutters, still unsure of the circumstances.

"I almost gave up on you, that time," whispers Koakuma. "But after yesterday, I knew that you weren't one of them."

The little devil gently lays her head on his shoulder.

"The other one showed me everything," she continues. "He sent me visions and clues. It took some time, but now I understand the truth. The truth about this Mansion, and why it must be destroyed."

The circle flashes brightly, and in the next moment, something steps out of it. Grey watches open-mouthed as several youkai beasts begin pouring out of a shining portal. One of them stops and snarls at him before it heads out of the room. Seems like this is the entry point of the crocodile-hound hybrids.

"Destroyed?" says Grey carefully. He can hardly believe what is happening.

"Don't worry about it," replies Koakuma. "You and Mistress, I'll save you both from this madness. This place shall be purified of sinners."

Grey slowly steps away from the little devil, barely able to hold on to his weapon.

"But Koakuma, this is... why did... how..." he mumbles in confusion.

The little devil looks at him with gentle eyes.

"You must trust me," she whispers in desperation.

[ ] Trust Koakuma.
[ ] Don't trust Koakuma.

Loading User Commands:
[X] Follow Koakuma discreetly. You need her help.

---

Grey turns to face Koakuma. The little devil is only a few shelves away. Upon her face is an expression of genuine concern. She slowly beckons for him to follow her. He takes only a moment to think before giving her a quick nod. Perhaps the magician's familiar can explain the circumstances of this bloody mess.

He quickly sneaks toward her, carefully avoiding stray knives and other projectiles coming from the battle above. While he can't stop the battle between the chief maid and the pink and purple wizard, perhaps he can find another way to help. As he approaches the Koakuma, she gives him a weak smile.

"Any idea what's happening?" asks Grey. "Patchouli doesn't seem to be herself."

"I can explain it all later," replies Koakuma. "For now, you must trust me."

The little devil places one soft small hand over Grey's own. She shyly takes firm hold of his hand.

"Hold on to me," she says.

He gives the little devil a nod. Before he can say anything more, he finds himself soaring quickly between the shelves. He can feel the wind in his face as they go deeper into the Voile Library. They seem to be flying together, but he can't feel Koakuma dragging him along. It's almost as if she is sharing her own power with him as they flee from the battlefield behind them.

"W-where?" Grey manages. "Where are we going?"

"Somewhere safe," Koakuma says simply.

A moment later, Grey finds himself hovering over a familiar staircase heading down into the Lower Library. Koakuma quickly dives down with him all the way to the bottom floor. It is only after they reach the very bottom does the little devil finally let go of his hand.

"What is this place?" asks Grey. For some reason, he feels like he has been here before.

Koakuma gives him an encouraging smile.

"This place is safe," replies the little devil.

She quickly leads him across the floor toward a room at the back. After they go through a pair of large double doors, they find themselves within a large chamber brightly lit with candles and magical runes. Somehow, this place seems familiar.

"I'm really glad," whispers Koakuma suddenly. "That time, I almost gave up on you."

"Huh?" replies Grey blankly.

The little devil turns around to face him.

"Don't worry," she says. "I will protect you."

Koakuma pulls up one of her sleeves, revealing an odd item. It takes Grey a few minutes to recognize and recall what it is. She seems to be wearing a digital watch. The LCD display shows that it is mid-morning. Something in the back of his mind seems to tell him that this is important.

"I've been preparing," replies Koakuma. "I've made all the arrangements to give us the opportunity to escape, you and I."

"What are you talking about?" asks Grey.

The little devil smiles gently at him.

"Still so naive, but that's just like you," she says carefully. "You must understand. Hope has no place in this Mansion. Escape is the only answer."

Suddenly, Grey recognizes something from the side of his eye. At the very back of the chamber lies a glowing sealing circle engraved on the floor itself. The pattern is exactly the same as the ones in his dream and at the clock tower. A single character is formed by the light. He shudders as he recalls it's meaning.

"This place is cursed," whispers Koakuma gravely.

Grey can't think of any obvious choices right now, but he must do something.
[ ] Custom

Something is wrong here.

"Sakuya, maybe we should try to -"

"Get down!"

Suddenly, a bright flash of light blinds Grey temporarily. By the time his eyes recover, Sakuya is standing in a defensive stance in front of him. The shattered remains of her knife lie on the floor nearby. As he looks over her shoulder, a single humanoid figure comes into view.

"So it was you!" cries Sakuya angrily. "What the hell are you planning?"

"P-Patchouli?" mumbles Grey disbelievingly.

"..."

The pink and purple magician looks up from her book and stares at them with complete disinterest.

"...It appears that rats have snuck in again. I'm sure the rat poison was... behind the bookshelves." says Patchouli slowly.

"What are you talking about?" returns Sakuya.

"What's going on?" cries Grey.

"I'm already investigating." says Patchouli simply. "It's hopeless for the likes of you."

The magician begins chanting words he can't understand.

"Fire Metal Sign, 「Saint Elmo's Pillar」" she declares.

Before Grey can react, Sakuya grabs his arm and whispers something under her breath. In the next moment, he feels himself thrown across the room like some rag doll. Still in mid-air, he sees the chief maid throw something at Patchouli. He cringes as he lands hard against one of the bookcases. Something incredibly hot gusts around the air surrounding him. Then, silence.

By the time he opens his eyes, the shelves where he was standing have been reduced to blackened splinters and ash. Small fires burn here and there. A small crater on the floor itself serves as the center of the destruction. Somehow, the magician dealing such damage to the library seems extremely out of place.

It takes him a few moments to realize that the chief maid and the magician are no longer standing on the ground. They are hovering high above the shelves, facing each other.

"What are you doing!" cries Sakuya. "Are you seriously betraying Lady Remilia's trust?"

"...Rat poison, rat poison," mumbles Patchouli.

"Who cares about the damn rat poison!" the chief maid shouts. "Answer me!"

"People with bad manners have no sense of politeness, much less anything else," replies the magician dully.

As Grey looks closer, he notices something odd. The magician seems to be acting dazed, as if sleepwalking. She continues muttering strange things, ignoring Sakuya's questions and arguments. The chief maid only grows more furious at her ramblings.

"T-that's it! If you won't give yourself up, I'll have to take you down myself!" cries Sakuya. She pulls out something from her dress. Grey shudders as he realizes what it is. It looks like a spell card.

"Another trifle of time," mumbles Patchouli. She doesn't seem to be looking straight at Sakuya, but after coughing a few times, she also pulls out a spell card.

Grey stares with mouth agape as the two begin a spectacular danmaku battle. Knives, lasers, and all sorts of projectiles begin flying in all directions. He barely has time to duck behind the safety of one of the more sturdy bookshelves.

"D-damn it!" mutters Grey.

He can't possibly join that kind of fight. Spell card duels will only spell a quick death for him. First of all, he can't fly. Second, he can't survive getting hit by those spells. The only thing that he can tell is that the chief maid and the magician are a close match. Their duel looks like it will take some time to finish.

What the hell is he supposed to do now?

"Grey! I-is that you?" whispers a tiny voice toward the left.

He turns to see Koakuma looking at him with concern. She is only a few shelves away. The little devil beckons for him to follow her. Perhaps he can ask her to explain the circumstances of this bloody mess.

[ ] Follow Koakuma discreetly. You need her help.
[ ] Stay where you are. Spend a bit of time to figure things out.
[ ] Step out from behind the shelf. Maybe you can stop the battle somehow.
[ ] Try to flee from the library. Perhaps you can call for help.
[ ] Custom

Loading User Commands:
[X] Custom

---

"This is strange," Sakuya says. "It's almost as if the beast youkai are coming from inside the Voile Library, rather than breaking in from outside."

"That can't possibly mean anything good," replies Grey. "We better find the source before things get any worse."

The chief maid nods in agreement. She turns her head slightly in the direction of the fairy maids. They can't just leave the others like this. But they might be a hindrance if they come.

"Is there any place where the fairies can retreat to?" he asks quietly. "The injured need to recover, and most of the others don't look like good fighters."

Sakuya pauses for a moment before speaking.

"For some reason, there are hardly any attackers on the second floor," she says finally. "Perhaps they can stay in one of the larger rooms. I believe that they can defend themselves adequately upstairs."

Grey nods in agreement.

"The others should be able to move the wounded," he says. "They will also need an escort. The armed fairies should accompany them to minimize the risk."

Sakuya smiles at him thoughtfully.

"Strange that a normal human would be so concerned about fairies," she says. "Or anyone else but themselves, for that matter. You seem to be something else."

"Human or not, they are part of the staff too," he replies. "This is just part of my job here, after all."

"Or perhaps you have other reasons?" whispers Sakuya seductively. "Like making sure that we are alone together?"

The chief maid steps dangerously close to him. From this distance, he can feel the heat of her warm breath. Grey forces himself to maintain a poker face, though he is beginning to feel very nervous for some reason.

"E-er..."

Suddenly, Sakuya flicks him on the forehead. He gasps in surprise and irritation.

"D-damn it, Sakuya," he mutters. "That really isn't funny."

The chief maid laughs at him lightly. Several moments pass before the two of them realize that they aren't alone in the hallway. Some of the fairy maids are whispering animatedly to each other. A few of them glare at Grey angrily.

"Ahahaha.."

Sakuya clears her throat before giving out orders. After making sure that the fairy maids understand the instructions, she turns back to Grey.

"Let's go," she says.

...

The two of them encountered several more beast youkai on their way to the Voile Library, but for some reason, the number of enemies decreased as they approached. But nonetheless, they were most certainly coming from the direction of the library. Sakuya said nothing as they pushed forward and dispatched the youkai.

"Shouldn't there be more of them around?" asks Grey as he reloads his weapon.

"Perhaps Patchouli took care of them already," says Sakuya. "These youkai shouldn't pose much trouble for her."

Grey nods slowly as he follows. However, her words feel uncertain, as if she suspects something else.

When they arrive at the library, the shelves near the entrance are completely destroyed. Books and broken wood can be seen all over the area. However, there are no beast youkai to be seen. They continue forward, carefully examining the debris as they pass. While there are clear signs of battle, they find no corpses or dead bodies. The area looks as if something stampeded through, but the fighting didn't occur here.

After several minutes of walking, they find themselves at the undamaged portion of the Voile Library. For some reason, Grey feels more and more uneasy as they continue forward. He draws his weapon and checks the safety as they walk. Sakuya draws out a single knife in her hand as well. She must feel it too.

Something is wrong here.

"Sakuya, maybe we should try to -"

"Get down!"

Suddenly, a bright flash of light blinds him. By the time he is able to open his eyes, Sakuya is standing in a defensive stance in front of him. The shattered remains of her knife lie on the floor nearby.

He looks over the chief maid's shoulder to see a single humanoid figure walking toward them.

"So it was you!" cries Sakuya angrily. "What the hell are you planning?

Loading User Commands:
[X] Custom

---

"Help the others," says Remilia. "That's an order."

Before they can reply, the vampire strikes the walls with her fists. He can feel the ground rumble as the ceiling over the door begins to crash down. As the dust settles, Grey realizes that she effectively sealed the entrance to the basement chamber. They won't be able to enter the basement from this way anymore.

He struggles to his feet and takes a glance at Sakuya. She still seems to be in shock. He gently places a hand on the chief maid's shoulder to reassure her.

"I'm sure that Remilia knows what she is doing," he says. In any case, the elder Scarlet has Flandre with her. There are few forces in Gensokyo that can cause either of them permanent damage.

"..."

Sakuya stands herself up, but says nothing.

"You mentioned that beast youkai are coming into the mansion from somewhere?" he asks in an attempt to change the subject.

"Huh? O-oh, of course," mumbles the chief maid. "They seem to be coming from somewhere around the Voile Library area. The fairy maids formed a barricade at the library entrance."

Grey reloads his weapon as he begins walking back toward the staircase.

"I believe we should get going," he says. "Orders are orders."

Sakuya sighs heavily as she follows.

"The cleaning never ends..."

...

The rest of the walk was uneventful. They didn't meet any other beast youkai, though they could hear a loud racket coming from the direction of the library. As they approached, they could hear loud crashes, explosions, and an occasional high-pitched scream.

"I'm going ahead," says Sakuya. Grey turns to face her, but she had already vanished from sight. He blinks stupidly for a few seconds before running forward.

The sound of battle grows louder as he reaches the corner. Without warning, one of Sakuya's knives flies past him, missing his neck by only a few inches.

"W-what the?" cries Grey. "Be careful with those!"

"Sorry about that," returns Sakuya, not sounding sorry at all.

Strewn carelessly along the hallway are over a dozen dead youkai beasts. While most of them are impaled with the chief maid's knives, a few seem to be badly burnt or stabbed with other types of weapons. Grey pulls out the knife from the wall before running toward Sakuya.

"If I didn't know any better," says Grey as he hands Sakuya the knife back. "I'd say that you were trying to kill me by accident, Sakuya".

"Eh? Now why would I want to do that?" asks Sakuya. She fails to hide a tiny smile on her almost neutral face.

Suddenly, a door on their left opens. A single fairy maid peeks out of the crack.

"S-Sakuya?" she whispers uncertainly.

The chief maid gives the nervous figure a single nod.

"It's her! It's her!" cries the fairy as she runs out of the door. She rushes toward the chief maid teary-eyed, as if to hug her, but she manages to stop herself and settles for a simple curtsey. At that moment, Grey feels that Sakuya had glared at the fairy maid, but he couldn't bring himself to check.

Several other maids come out of the room, some of them carrying weapons. A few look injured, with make-shift bandages wrapped around their wounds.

"What happened to the barricade?" asks Sakuya sternly.

One of the taller maids steps forward. Carrying a heavy halberd in one hand, she salutes to the chief maid before speaking.

"We held the position as long as we could," the fairy says. "But in the end, we were forced to retreat. I'm s-sorry, chief."

The fairy maid lowers her head in shame. Grey notices that this one has the same insignia embroidered on her dress as the other maid he met outside. Unfortunately, he can't seem to recall her name. Did it start with an "E"?

Sakuya takes a glance at the remaining fairy maids. While there are over a dozen standing with them, several are badly injured. Most of the others look tired and scared, and only three or four seem to be experienced enough for combat.

The chief maid takes a few minutes to ask the fairies some questions. For the most part, she seems to be asking about the status of the battle. However, Grey catches a few strange terms that he doesn't recognize. They almost sound like magical terms. Is Sakuya a magician of some sort?

Sakuya nods at the fairies one more time before walking back to Grey.

"This is strange," Sakuya says. "It's almost as if the beast youkai are coming from inside the Voile Library itself."

"That can't mean anything good," replies Grey. "But I suppose that we better find the source of the youkai before things get any worse."

Sakuya nods in agreement. She turns her head slightly in the direction of the fairy maids.
[ ] Take them all with you. Deserters will be executed.
[ ] Take only the uninjured faires. The others should lick their wounds.
[ ] Take only the armed and experienced fairies. You only need soldiers.
[ ] Order them all to retreat. Sakuya and yourself will be enough.
[ ] Custom

"Lady Remilia! Are you alright?" cries Sakuya.

"Sakuya? Grey?" replies Remilia. "What are you two doing here?"

"We came to help," says Grey. "Where is -"

Without warning, a wave of fire comes upon them. The two humans crumple down on the ground. They can feel the searing heat approaching. This power will kill them for sure, Grey thinks.

But after a few moments, the heat subsides. Sakuya and Grey open their eyes to find Remilia standing in front of them, her wings and arms raised to shield them from the attack. The vampire's body seems to be badly burned. Both of her hands are little more than black charred stumps.

"Lady Remilia!" cries Sakuya in despair.

Grey watches open-mouthed as the vampire starts regenerating before his eyes. In mere seconds, her injuries are completely healed. The only sign of damage are the few burnt parts of her dress, which seem to be made of some damage-resistant material. But that isn't the reason he froze. Her eyes are filled with fury as she looks straight at him.

"You useless fools! You'll both be killed down here!" she shouts angrily.

Before he can reply, Remilia grabs him by the neck and throws him back into the hallway outside. He flinches in pain as his back hits the ground. Grey lies on the ground, unmoving, as he waits for his body to recover.

"But Lady Remilia, we just came to-"

Suddenly, Remilia slaps her on the face. The sound of the blow echoes along the hallways, somehow silencing the noisy battle inside. For a single moment, Grey watches Sakuya stand in shock in front of the vampire. Then in the next, Sakuya is kneeling over him, her long silver hair hiding her face.

"We should go," she whispers quietly.

Grey sits up and looks over her shoulders. From the air thick with ashes and fire comes a small figure. It flaps it's strange wings of gems and metal a few times to shake off some dust before speaking.

"Big sister! The smelly things stopped moving," says Flandre. "And there's a weird guy coming our way!"

Another humanoid figure walks from the shadows. Wrapped completely in bandages from head to toe, the shadowy man walks towards the vampires, carrying something long in his hand. Even the man's eyes are wrapped in bandages, as if he could see without using his eyes.

Remilia has a strange smile on her face, as if recognizing the person. She turns back at the humans for a moment.

"Help the others," she says sternly. "That's an order."

Before they can reply, Remilia strikes upon the walls with her fists. The ceiling begins to crash down, sealing the entrance to the basement chamber with rocks and debris. It will take them hours to dig their way through it.

Grey struggles to his feet and puts a hand on Sakuya's shoulder. She still seems to be in shock.

Where should they go next?
[ ] Custom

Loading User Commands:
[X] They should go help Remilia and Flandre at the basement.

---

"Get down!" cries Sakuya.

Grey narrowly avoids the teeth and talons of the beast youkai. Strange and deadly, the crocodile-hound hybrid lands hard on the floow behind him. He can smell its foul breath from this close. If he hadn't seen this type of thing before, he would have froze in shock. But, for good or bad, he has survived an encounter with these things just the other day.

He quickly raises his pistol and fires several times at the creature's head. From this distance, none of the shots miss, and the beast falls dead on the floor. Like he suspected, his weapon seems to be a bit more effective against youkai. He won't be completely useless, this time.

"Thanks a lot, Sakuya," he says, smiling. "What would I do without you?"

"Die slowly and painfully?" the chief maid suggests.

"Probably," replies Grey.

Behind him lie the corpses of half a dozen corpses of the beast youkai. They are all heavily impaled with several dozen knives. When Sakuya attacked, not a single of her weapons missed.

"We shouldn't waste time with these small fry," says Sakuya. "I have a bad feeling about this attack. It feels like it was well planned."

Grey nods in agreement.

"We should help the Scarlets first," he says. "Remilia is my master too, after all."

...

Sakuya leads him down a long, spiraling staircase. The sounds of battle echo along the walls as they run down. The chief maid explains that Remilia and her sister are the only ones fighting in this place. It would be useless to send the fairy maids down to assist, as they would easily be killed by Flandre's attacks.

"Wouldn't Flandre be enough against the enemies below?" he asks quickly. The younger Scarlet is pretty much capable of destroying anything, living or not.

"Perhaps if she used her full power," says Sakuya. "No, even with only a part of her true power, she would easily annihilate everything in the area."

"So why did Remilia come down?" Grey asks.

Sakuya sighs heavily.

"Someone has to keep the little sister calm and in control," she says. "If Flandre panics, the whole mansion and everyone in it could be killed."

At the bottom of the stairs, a huge pair of iron doors loom over them. The torches on the walls barely illuminate the darkness. Their shadows dance ominously as they walk forward. Sakuya slowly pushes the doors open.

Suddenly, a powerful hot gust pushes them both back. Grey barely manages to remain standing. Sakuya is kneeling on the ground to his left from the impact.

"Flandre! Don't be reckless!" cries a familiar voice from within. "Stay close, and don't rush forward like that!"

"B-but it hurts! It hurts when those things bite!" cries another voice, younger and higher-pitched. "What are those things anyway? They won't stop coming!"

Loading User Commands:
[X] Look out the window.
[X] Custom
[X] Take some items with you:
A Mauser C96. Early semi-automatic pistol. You have four unused magazines for reloading.
(3) Blank spell cards. You can inscribe spells on them.
A pair of sturdy workgloves. They won't be replaced.
A spell card. "Command Sign, 「Master's Voice」"
A Stradivarius violin. It seems to have a life of its own.
A violin case. Self explanatory.
A ribbon from Patchouli. She didn't leave instructions.
A small plain envelope. It is empty.
A small note reading, "Help me." You don't recognize the handwriting.
A pair of police handcuffs and keys. Heavy-duty.

---

Grey pockets the note hastily. Something must be happening outside. He has a really bad feeling about it. This can't possibly mean anything good.

After getting dressed, he takes a glance out of the window. He watches with mouth agape at the commotion outside. This can't be happening! Again.

"Too many... there are too many!"

"Stay focused! We can fight them off!"

"B-but I don't know how to fight!"

"What are you? Humans? Fire danmaku at the damn things!"

"I've been stung again! I've been stung again!"

"D-damn! Someone help Siesta!"

"I-I don't want to die... uwaaa!"

"Hand me another glaive. I'm gonna gut this piece of -"

"Start falling back to the front door! Cover the retreat of the others!"

Youkai hornets. Dozens of them. They seem to be coming from somewhere in the direction of the Forest of Magic. Like before, they are flying over the gate and swarming all over the grounds as they cause havoc. Roughly two feet in length, each of the creatures have mandibles and stingers that can pierce through bone. Small but deadly, the insect youkai continue attacking anyone in their path.

The fairy maids seem more organized this time around. He recognizes the one leading them as Elena from before. They seem to be using the same formation that he came up with last time. A few of the fairies got split from the group. Those unfortunate souls are being picked off, one by one. At this rate, they are going to lose over a dozen maids before they get to the front door.

Suddenly, a familiar voice cries out over the chaos.

"Illusion Sign, 「Flower Imaginary Dream Vine」"

A large pentagram forms around the gate guard. She pauses only for a moment before rushing forward into the center of the insect horde. The hornets in her path are crushed to pieces instantly as she passes. She fires hundreds of blue bullets in a scatter shot pattern around her, killing off most of the hornets as she weaves in and out of the insect swarm.

Grey sighs in relief before pulling his eyes away from the window. He can't just stay here and watch. Quickly, he rummages through his things for anything useful. He takes the Mauser C96 and replaces it in his holster. After pocketing four extra ammo clips, he grabs the violin and its case. He also ensures that he has all of the spell cards, blank or not.

He grabs the pair of workgloves and pockets them as well. He also takes the handcuffs and keys, just in case. After examining the note one more time, he replaces it in the envelope and pockets it. Before he closes the cabinet, he checks his coat for Patchouli's ribbon.

"Got everything you need?" asks a voice behind him.

Grey jumps slightly in surprise as he turns to face the chief maid. She seems to be waiting for him patiently. How long has she been standing behind him?

"I'm ready," he replies. "Any idea what's going on?"

"The mansion is under attack, as you can see," she says calmly. "I've instructed Meiling and half of the security force to guard the front door from the bugs. But we have trouble at other places too."

"Other places?" he says.

"I've heard reports of beast youkai flooding into the mansion from the direction of the Voile Library. Patchouli and Koakuma should be alright, but some of the beasts are breaking through into the rest of the mansion. Seems like they got through the barrier unharmed."

"Just like last time," he mutters.

"But that's not all. The maids working downstairs just told me that the Scarlet sisters are fighting off some strange creatures at the basement. I don't know the details, but they seem to be some type of undead. While Remilia and Flandre are powerful, their skills aren't especially effective against things that aren't properly alive."

"Now that one is new," says Grey. "What I don't get is why you are here at all. Shouldn't you be helping the others?"

Sakuya looks at him thoughtfully before speaking.

"Remilia ordered me to find you," she says, a hint of regret in her voice. "She said that you would know what to do."

"Wait, what?" he says.

Sakuya doesn't look like she is joking. Seems like she is going to follow his decision, so he better choose wisely.

[ ] They should go help Meiling fight off the youkai hornets outside.
[ ] They should go help Patchouli and Koakuma at the Voile Library.
[ ] They should go help Remilia and Flandre at the basement.
[ ] Custom

[X] Inventory
A Mauser C96. Early semi-automatic pistol. You have two unused magazines for reloading.
(3) Blank spell cards. You can inscribe spells on them.
A pair of sturdy workgloves. They won't be replaced.
A spell card. "Command Sign, 「Master's Voice」"
A Stradivarius violin. It seems to have a life of its own.
A violin case. Self explanatory.
A ribbon from Patchouli. She didn't leave instructions.
A small note. It reads "To use, aim and throw hard."
A few pieces of blank stationary. You'll need something to write with, first.
A map of the East Wing of the Voile library. Nothing special is marked on it.
A catalogue listing books in the East Wing. It isn't very thick, but the print is small and hard to read.
A broken door knob handle. It seems pretty useless.
A blindfold. It seems to be part of a magician's set.
A cloth gag. Not very funny, in your opinion.
A pair of police handcuffs and keys. Heavy-duty.
A bicycle chain. You can't remember what you were thinking when you took it.
Three small candles. You'll need some matches.
A length of silk rope. It probably won't leave marks.
A letter from Remilia. You already read it.
An ammo crate. Holds ammo clips for the Mauser C96.
A short pamphlet. "A Draft of Spell Card Rules"
A small pink envelope. It is empty.
A book from the Voile Library. It reads "Invoking Spirits for Beginners".
A small plain envelope. It is empty.
A small note reading, "Help me." You don't recognize the handwriting.

Loading User Commands:
[X] They are coming upon us.

---

After finishing his morning rituals, Grey returns to his room to think. He doesn't meet anyone in the hallways.

Like the ones before it, that dream was very vivid. But unlike the others, it wasn't especially disturbing. He didn't hurt anyone this time, and somehow he felt that he was more of himself in it. In fact, though he hates to admit it, the dream was quite pleasant. He can still recall the softness of Patchouli's skin and the sweet smell of her hair.

"..."

Grey quickly shakes away his own perverted thoughts. This isn't the time for this. He must stay focused this time. Especially on that second part.

That was the first time he can recall speaking to someone he didn't meet in the waking world. He can't remember the person's features very clearly, but he knows that the person was wearing a distinct pair of spectacles. And he was carrying a long and dangerous weapon.

That man said that he was going insane. But wasn't it himself that was often crazy in those nightmares?

Before he can ponder further, he notices something new on his desk. He examines it closely. It seems to be an envelope. Inside is a small note.

"Help me."

He can't recognize the cute, loopy handwriting.

Suddenly, the floor rumbles with some kind of impact. It feels like an earthquake of some sort, but it stops immediately. Maybe a truck smashed into the side of the mansion?

"..."

This can't be good. Grey quickly gets dressed as he thinks about what to do next. He can hear some commotion from outside the window. The racket seems to be getting louder. He can also hear some loud noises that must be echoing in the hallway outside of his room.

He pauses to think.
[ ] Look out the window.
[ ] Listen behind the room door.
[ ] Slowly peek out of the room.
[ ] Burst out of the room.
[ ] Take some items with you. You can't take everything. (Specify)
[ ] Custom

Loading User Commands:
[X] ... W-what the hell am I doing?

---

He licks his lips as he watches Patchouli sleeping. Her chest slowly moves up and down as she breathes. Her legs twitch involuntarily every few seconds. Her face and skin are a healthy pink color, though her hair is a bit of a mess. She can probably have it fixed up later.

"..."

After a few minutes, he realizes that he hasn't had his own fun yet. The pink and purple wizard might be unconscious, but he won't let that stop him. Perhaps he can "urge" her to wake up for another lesson. Or maybe she might wake up with a pleasant surprise already inside. He doesn't necessarily have to be too gentle with her, either. Doing something a little more.. "creative" is always a valid option.

Wait. Something is wrong here. Somehow, he feels like they are being watched. He quickly turns his head to see a female silhouette fleeing from the open door.

"Damn it!" he mutters.

He breaks out into a run as he chases the girl. Fucking good timing, isn't it? Just when he was about to have his merry way with the magician, something always has to come up. Shit really kills the mood.

Wait. Was he really going to violate her just now? His mind says, "Hell yes!", but that doesn't sound like something he would normally do. He hasn't even thought about his own feelings. Or hers...

"... W-what the hell am I doing?" he cries out loudly.

That person. She must have seen them. No, he can't let this situation go out of control. He needs to stop her and explain. She should be right behind this corner.

"Oh shit," he says as he slows down quickly. Thankfully, he manages to stop before slamming into someone.

"Careful now," says the person. "It's dangerous to run around the halls, you know? You aren't Flandre, so you should know better."

The first thing he notices are the man's glasses. Framed with silver, they glint brightly against the magical lights of the hallway. There isn't anything else that stands out about him. He is probably human, too. He seems to be holding something behind his back, but he can't see it clearly.

"W-who are you?" he asks. "I don't think that I've seen you here before."

"Of course not," the man replies. "That is because I'm not here. You can't meet someone 'here', if he isn't here. Simple logic, isn't it?"

".. What?" he replies blankly. That doesn't make the least bit of sense.

"In any case, I'm just another lost lamb in the wilds," the man says. "Though perhaps it is more accurate to say that I am a lost wolf in the forest."

"A wolf?" he mutters.

"Doesn't matter," the man replies. "I'm pretty certain that you are just another hallucination that my mind made up. It really is a difficult thing, going truly insane."

"I'm not a hallucination," he argues.

The man laughs heartily before swinging something at him. He can't see it clearly, but looks like a long weapon. The person misses, but the power of the attack could easily be felt. If that hit, he would be dead for sure.

"Yeah right," the man says. "And I'm not dreaming that I'm back at the Scarlet Devil Mansion. You hallucinations just keep getting dumber, don't you.."

Suddenly, the person's voice starts getting faint. His vision starts blurring once more.

Then, darkness.

...
[ ] There is still time to prepare.
[ ] They are coming upon us.
[ ] There is no hope.

The magician sits on her bed silently, a book still in her hands. She is practically hiding her face with it. While amusing, this will not make it any easier.

"Still reading?" he comments. "That must be a pretty good book."

"..."

Carefully, he sits beside her. But when he places his finger to touch the book, she suddenly backs away. She seems to be shielding herself with it.

"P-please don't," whispers Patchouli.

He nods slowly. Perhaps the book is helping her relax? In any case, he can't get it away from her without using his skills. And that would be boring.

"Alright, I won't," he says. "But only if I can touch something else."

He stands up and walks around for a bit, as if in deep thought. After carefully making sure that she can't see him from her position, he stealthily makes his way to the other side of the bed. The moment he leans on the sheets, she makes a tiny gasp in surprise. However, she seems too nervous to turn around. He pushes onward until he sits himself directly behind her.

"Just relax," he whispers soothingly. "Why so serious?"

He puts his hands on her back, feeling the heat through her clothes. She shivers slightly at his touch, but as soon as he begins to massage her, he feels her muscles steadily relax. Gently and professionally, he continues to rub her back until he can feel her breathing normally.

Then, he embraces her tightly from behind. She squeals in surprise, but she doesn't fight back. Somehow, she manages to hold on to her book. He takes a long, deep sniff of her beautiful lavender hair.

"You smell wonderful," he whispers.

They sit still together in silence. He patiently waits until the magician becomes accustomed to his touch before he gently loosens his grip. After all, it wouldn't be very interesting if she didn't enjoy it too.

Without warning, he slips a hand on her chest. She doesn't say anything as he lazily motions his fingers upon the thin fabric. He is pleasantly surprised to find that she isn't wearing anything under the dress. Steadily, he begins to build a rhythm as he rubs upon her breast. The magician continues to stay silent, but he can feel her breathing faster. He continues playing with her breast, gently pinching on her nipple as he proceeds.

She stays silent all through his motions. For a moment, he wonders if the girl isn't enjoying this. Slowly, he lowers his head right beside her ear. She doesn't seem to notice. He smiles as he blows into her ear.

"Aaahn~" squeals Patchouli. She closes her eyes and begins breathing heavily as he rubs her harder. Encouraged by the reaction, he slips his other hand under her dress and begins toying directly with her other breast. He calms himself, ignoring the enticing sensations on his fingertips, and casually compares the difference between touching her through the dress and under it. He varies his motions as he tries to get a better reaction from the girl.

She begins panting loudly as he gently nibbles on her neck. Her eyes remain closed, but her body seems to be accepting his attacks quite gratefully. He continues pleasuring her with his hands, occasionally slipping down to rub upon her thighs. Still both fully clothed, he smiles at the girl's reactions. While inexperienced, she is surprisingly sensitive.

Curious, he gently brushes his hand between her legs. Immediately, Patchouli pulls away from it. He smiles gently when he notices something. He stops touching her, and backs away. Patchouli opens her eyes and turns around to face him.

"E-eh?" she says.

"I'm not so sure if I should go on with the lesson," he says sternly. "You don't seem to be very enthusiastic about this."

"..."

"Maybe we should just call it a night and -"

"No!" interrupts the magician.

"Hmm?"

Patchouli covers her face with the book again. He waits patiently for her to calm down.

"Please," she whispers, barely audible. "Please continue.."

He smiles as he runs a hand between her legs. As he moves his fingers over her panty, he confirms the reason she pulled away earlier. She is pretty damp down there. He slowly slips a single finger to explore further. The moment she touches her clit, she jerks up and cries out. She shudders violently as she orgasms.

"Haa.. Haa.."

Gently, he lays the girl down on the bed. He fluffs up a pillow before putting it under her head. Patchouli gives him a grateful smile before her eyes shut in exhaustion and pleasure.

"..."

Then, he realizes that he hasn't had his own fun yet...

[ ] Next Lesson
[ ] Advanced Lesson
[ ] Hard Lesson
[ ] Extra Lesson
[ ] ... W-what the hell am I doing?

The magician's face is bright red. She seems to be struggling between her embarrassment and her true feelings. He waits patiently, savoring her confusion.

"I want you to.." whispers Patchouli. Her breathing becomes uneven as she mouths out the last words. She pulls her eyes away from the book and looks up at him desperately.

"Want me to... make you a cup of tea?" he suggests. "Or perhaps you want me to recommend a good paperback novel?"

She shakes her head so quickly that her hat threatens to fall off.

"Then what is it?" he returns.

".. must I say it aloud?" she whispers in the tiniest voice.

At this moment, he considers giving in to her. But immediately, he decides against it. The game has only started, after all. He takes a few steps closer and without warning, he puts a hand on her shoulder and moves his face close to her ear.

"You have to tell me exactly what it is," he whispers sternly.

Patchouli gasps in shock. Her eyes begin to water as she looks away from his gaze. However, she manages a weak reply with a voice no louder than a mouse.

"Teach me.." she whispers

"Teach you?" he repeats. "Well, I suppose that will have to do.."

He sighs as he looks at the newly colored magician. If Patchouli turns any redder, he would seriously consider taking her to a hospital. Perhaps he shouldn't push her any further. She might just faint, and that would mean much less fun for him.

In one swift motion, he sweeps Patchouli into his arms. She squeaks in surprise before giving him a puzzled and embarrassed look. He smiles gently at the magician.

"Perhaps you would prefer to have the lesson out here in the halls?" he says slyly. "I suppose that it is fine too."

"N-no!" she squeals as she struggles to get free. He tightens his grip and holds her close to his chest.

"Then where shall we play?" he whispers, letting his warm breath flow over her ear. She reddens furiously before replying.

"T-the bed," whispers Patchouli.