[X] Inventory
A Mauser C96. Early semi-automatic pistol. You have two unused magazines for reloading.

[X] Storage
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 Stradivarius violin. It seems to have a life of its own.
A violin case. Self explanatory.
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".

Extra: Handmade Buns

The gate guard sighs heavily.

"Another slow day, this is so boring," she mutters.

The Scarlet Devil Mansion rarely has visitors, so the past weeks have been pretty peaceful. Aside from the occasional delivery, she hardly has any work to do. Not that she is complaining, of course. Thanks to the idle times, she has time to practice her Tai Chi. When she has the chance, she even takes a short nap after lunch.

Suddenly, she hears some rustling from the bushes along the path. She confidently walks forward and prepares her combat stance.

"I knew it. Humans are useless," she says aloud.

A rabbit jumps out of the bushes. It looks at her for a few seconds before scurrying away.

"That line doesn't really fit you. Also, I don't think you should say that around Sakuya."

She turns around to look at the owner of the voice. She smiles when she recognizes him. He is one of Lady Remilia's guests in the mansion. He is a human, not unlike Sakuya. His silver-rimmed glasses glint brightly in the morning sun. He gives her a gentle smile.

"Just trying it out," she says as she folds her arms. "Stop following me already~"

"You wouldn't run to some place with nothing there, right?"

"Well, actually, I think I would..."

After a moment, they both burst out laughing.

"Y-you really should come up with better lines, Ms. Gate Guard," he says.

"And you should find something else to do besides bothering people at work," she retorts.

"I suppose I should," he replies.

She doesn't understand why, but she easily opens up to this person. She doesn't have to pretend to be hardworking or strong. She can just be herself and take it easy.

"Oh yeah, I brought something for you," he says. He gives her a small bag.

The gate guard opens the bag. A delicious aroma wafts into her nostrils. She recognizes it immediately.

"Sakuya said that you like sweet buns," he says.

She gives him a bow before taking one of the buns. She opens her mouth to take a large bite. The delicately kneaded dough of the bun rubs smoothly against her tongue. Her mouth is in ecstasy as she feels the soft, sweet bean paste slide down her throat. This must be a glimpse of heaven.

"How is it?" he asks.

The gate guard gives him a thumbs-up as she swallows.

"T-that's great!" he says in relief. "I wasn't sure if I baked them properly..."

"You baked these yourself?" she asks.

"Yep, I thought that I would try something new," he answers softly. "I'm glad you liked them."

She finds herself staring deep into his kind eyes. She can feel herself blushing, but she can't look away. She opens her mouth, but she can't find any word to express herself.

"A-anyway, I'll be heading back inside now," he says.

He gives her a thumbs-up.

"Keep up the good work, Ms. Gate Guard!"

"E-eh?" she manages.

He walks back inside before she can say anything else.

...

"Ms. Gate Guard, eh?" she mutters aloud.

She takes another bite of the sweet bun. They really were well-made.

Loading User Commands:
[X] Take a seat beside her and continue watching. You're worried, and she looks pretty cute like this.

---

"There isn't anything wrong with looking out for the girl," Grey tells himself.

He takes a seat beside Patchouli and continues watching over her. When she wakes up, she might need something. He needs to be nearby in case she needs some help. Her sleeping face is quite a pleasant sight. He silently wishes he had a camera to capture this moment.

Grey leans lightly on a few books as he watches.

...

"How is it?" she asks.

He just stares at her with mouth agape. She looks simply stunning.

The lavender dress that Koakuma picked out contours her luscious curves perfectly. The dress itself is full of frills and trimming, reflecting the detailed touch of the dollmaker. She wears a short pearl necklace around her neck, a present that a friend "borrowed" from a jewelry store. A small silver tiara and a single gold crescent ornament adorns her head, accentuating her lovely purple hair.

"C-could you stop staring for a moment?" she whispers. "It's embarrassing."

Patchouli blushes brightly, further emphasizing her flawless ivory skin. Her deep purple eyes look awkwardly down at the floor. She manages a tiny smile as he continues looking.

"..."

Suddenly, she looks up, worried.

"Are you alright?" she asks.

He mumbles something incoherently.

...

"Are you alright?"

"... wonderful," Grey mumbles.

He feels something poking his shoulder. He raises his head sleepily to see Koakuma nearby. She gives him a gentle smile.

"Maybe you should get some rest," she says.

Grey sits up and looks around. Patchouli still seems to be asleep in her own chair.

"Just a dream," he mutters.

Koakuma unexpectedly takes a step backward. She manages to maintain a weak smile. He looks at the bat-winged girl thoughtfully.

"Sorry about earlier," he says. "I didn't mean to frighten you or anything. I guess I was just confused."

"..."

"I don't really understand, but I think I crossed the line somehow and -"

Suddenly, Koakuma embraces him. This close, he can easily feel the warmth from her body. He can't see the expression on her face. They stay like that for a little while.

"It's alright," she whispers.

She pulls away, smiling at him brightly.

"I'll take care of Mistress Patchouli," she says. "I believe that you should find some time to look around the mansion. Lady Remilia did leave you with that duty, after all."

Grey nods slowly.

[ ] Return to your room. You can take/leave some items (Specify)
[ ] Head to the changing room.
[ ] Head to the kitchen.
[ ] Head to the dining room.
[ ] Head to the garden.
[ ] Head to the front gate.
[ ] Head to Sakuya's room.
[ ] Head to the Flandre's room in the basement.
[ ] See if you can find a way to the clock tower.
[ ] See if you can find the lower library chamber.
[ ] See if you can find another stairway down to the basement.
[ ] Custom

Loading User Commands:
[X] Carry her to the library. Maybe you can find Koakuma.

---

Grey pauses to think.

Patchouli isn't exactly the healthiest inhabitant of Gensokyo. Casting that spell might have been too much for her body to take. This probably happens often in the mansion, so Koakuma should know how to deal with it. She is Patchouli's familiar, after all.

"Here we go," he mutters.

He easily carries the pink and purple wizard princess-style. She is surprisingly light, perhaps even too light. It is no wonder that she is in such poor health. She must find it difficult to even step out of the library for extended periods of time. Maybe she stays indoors not because she wants to, but because she needs to.

"..."

Grey takes a glance at her face. She looks extraordinarily cute at this angle. He finds it hard to believe that this frail girl is actually protecting him, and not the other way around.

"Hmmggh," she mutters weakly.

He uses all his will to resist the urge to kiss her.

Grey deftly carries her out of the room. He walks quickly along the hallways until he reaches the library. He hastily surveys the area. He seems to be in luck. Koakuma is carrying a few books near one of the shelves on the right.

"Koakuma!" he shouts at the bat-winged girl. "Patchouli needs help!"

"E-eh?"

...

He gently lays the anemic magician on a cushy looking chair. She seems to be sleeping more peacefully now. Maybe she just needs more rest.

"Are you sure this is enough?" he asks Koakuma. "Shouldn't we bring her into her room?"

Koakuma shakes her head.

"Mistress Patchouli said that she would rather be brought to her reading area when she has an attack. She insists that her anemia isn't anything to worry about. She would rather continue reading right after she recovers."

She sighs heavily.

"Though I agree that she pushes herself too much sometimes," she adds. "I was surprised that she insisted on having breakfast at the dining room. She wasn't feeling very well earlier."

"I see," Grey manages. Patchouli accepted his invitation without mentioning anything about her health. What was she thinking?

"A-anyway, I'll go and get some tea," she says. "Mistress enjoys something warm after recovering."

Koakuma gives him a gentle smile before turning to leave. Perhaps she is feeling better now?

Grey takes a long thoughtful look at the sleeping wizard.

[ ] Take a seat beside her and continue watching. She looks pretty cute like this.
[ ] Take a seat nearby and read something. This is a library, after all.
[ ] Follow after Koakuma and help her out. Maybe you can talk to her now.
[ ] Leave the library. Koakuma can take care of Patchouli.
[ ] Custom

[X] Inventory
Mauser C96. Early semi-automatic pistol. You have two unused magazines for reloading.

[X] Effects
Protective Barrier: Provides temporary defense against most attacks.

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

Patchouli takes another book from inside her dress and quickly flips through it. She seems to be looking for something.

"Here it is," she mumbles.

"..."

She completely ignores him as she reads. She must be searching for something important. Perhaps she is looking for the best spell she can use to torture him. After everything he did, a swift death is far too merciful.

Maybe they are going to crucify him upside-down and leave him hanging outside of the mansion. Maybe they are going to slowly burn him alive inside a steel drum and leave him along some path in the mountains. Maybe they are going to disembowel him carefully and leave him impaled on a pike outside the village to be eaten by crows.

He shudders slightly as he continues picturing the different ways they can end him.

"Found it," she says.

Patchouli stands up and walks toward Grey. She raises one hand over his head as she holds the book up with the other hand. She starts chanting some words in an unintelligible language.

Grey closes his eyes as he braces himself.

A bright flash of light erupts from her hands.

...

A few moments later, Grey opens his eyes. He checks his body and finds himself uninjured. He looks up at Patchouli.

"This spell should protect you from most types of attacks," she says.

"W-what?"

"It isn't perfect, so don't expect it to last more than a few direct hits when in actual combat."

"I-I don't understand," he says.

"I think I can believe Remilia now," she says. "Maybe the tragedy can be averted after all."

"You lost me," Grey says as he shakes his head.

"If it's you, then maybe -"

Patchouli suddenly falls forward into his arms. Looks like she fell unconscious.

[ ] Stay in the room and wait for her to recover. Perhaps she just needs to rest.
[ ] Carry her to the library. Maybe you can find Koakuma.
[ ] Carry her to the kitchen. The fairy maids can help find Sakuya.
[ ] Carry her outside. Meiling might be able to help.
[ ] Carry her to your room. Maybe you can do something yourself.
[ ] Custom

Loading User Commands:
[X] Yourself.

---

"A traitor in the mansion," he repeats.

Patchouli watches him carefully.

"That would be me, wouldn't it?" Grey says slowly.

"..."

"The attacks on the mansion intensified only after I arrived. Sakuya said that up until two days ago, the incidents happened around the area of the mansion, but never inside its grounds."

She gives him a puzzled look.

"We don't have any evidence or any other clues. As a newcomer to the mansion, I must be the most likely suspect."

"I suppose that is all true," Patchouli says. "However, I can't see the person behind this admitting to the crime so easily."

She doesn't look convinced.

"While you may have some unusual ability, I fail to see you as being powerful enough to defeat any of us," she continues. "I doubt if you can even defeat Koakuma at your current level."

"..."

She narrows her eyes.

"Is there something you haven't told me?"

Grey pauses. He doesn't know why he is saying this. He may end up dead. But every time he looks back at those dreams, he can't help but feel like a monster.

"I've had some strange dreams the past two nights," he manages.

Patchouli's eyes glint with interest. She waits patiently for him to continue.

"They felt real," he says. "Like I was being another person, yet still myself."

"Another person?" she asks.

"I mean that I was sure that I was myself in the dreams. The sensations and thoughts racing through my mind were genuine. But I was doing things that I would never dream of doing."

"..."

Grey closes his eyes as he recalls his first dream. He shudders as he remembers how he enjoyed it with sadistic pleasure.

"In the first dream, I found myself walking around the mansion late at night," he says. "I entered Sakuya's room and used some sort of strange skill to overpower her. I did some..."

He cringes as he remembers.

"... horrible things."

Patchouli continues watching him, her expression unreadable.

"In the second dream, I found myself in the Voile Library with you," he says. "You led me to a chamber in the Lower Library where Koakuma was chained up. You assisted me as we conducted some kind of strange ritual..."

He feels a tear roll down his cheek.

"...Koakuma trusted us, but we betrayed her and did unforgivable things."

Grey wipes off the tear as he lowers his head.

"I'm a monster," he whispers.

For a few moments, Patchouli looks at him thoughtfully.

"Just as I suspected," she says.