Chapter 2: The Flower of the Other Shore Born on This Shore

The wind flows and brings a wet and refreshing scent. This is the other side of the Santu River, and there are patches of flowers growing at your feet. As I expected, Komachi didn't bring those "spirits" over, so like the underworld, the flowers didn't bloom. Ah, except for the god of death, there is absolutely no reason for those who have crossed the river to return.

It was almost noon, and the fog was still very thick. The Santu River doesn't know the depth, and the water in the river doesn't know the direction, but it flows quietly. It's natural not to see the other side, I thought. On the other side of the river is the boat where the ferryman forgot there, and on the other side is the way of rethinking the flowers blooming on the other side, and along the past you will reach the undestined mound on the edge of the realm. I don't know what new discoveries Rinnosuke will make there.

"What? Have you figured out that you are planning to commit suicide? ”

Suddenly, I heard a nice voice. It imitates a tone that is quite similar to that of Komachi.

"If you want to enjoy the flowers, go to the other side. Purple. - Did you come to me? No way? ”

"Oh, I'm here to observe the unstable factors."

It seems to be very bad to be mouthy. I stopped my habitual attempt to scratch my head, and unreservedly ignored the meaning of the purple words. Although it is rude to use this metaphor, when facing Purple, it is like facing a wild woolly bear. - If you act like your prey, you'll be treated as real prey. Purple's character is like this, but unfortunately, I do still have a request for her now. I looked up at Purple's figure, then adjusted the focus of my gaze slightly before my heart thumped. If you don't, you won't be able to bear the eye with Purple.

"That's just right. Please.,Feel free to do it.,Take me to the shrine.。 ”

Purple's chin rested on her folded arms, with a smile on her face, she lazily lay on the lower edge of the gap.

"Uh-no. It's the same even on the other side of the river. ”

Hey, the plan was completely seen through. I grinned inwardly, and I didn't even think about the last bit of luck. The sincerity of using the action of eye contact to catch up, and the negotiation chips fabricated with a high-starting point request, such skills to achieve the goal in communication are not useful at all. Moreover, such a request is more difficult to refuse than an inquiry. can simply refuse neatly, lock the door and close the window, it is really worthy of Zi's character.

I have a rough idea of what Murasaki wants to know from me, but even if I know the purpose, it would be unwise to speculate on actions based on my personality. Personality is the reaction to events in both intellectual and emotional aspects, and then thinking and judging from such reactions. In short, it is not wrong to say that it is the inertia or stereotype of thinking. It is not clear whether this is a form of inertia or progress based on experience. However, it is certain that with the recognition of this, it is easy to change the mindset when needed. Limit your own knowledge as a credential.,Raise your breath to stimulate deliberate but real emotions.,Although it's already a level that can call a multi-scheming and almost demon.,But what stands here is a real monster.。

"Leave you in a daze. I'm leaving. ”

Purple this guy took the initiative. I quickly came back to my senses, and the purple had already begun to slide down—

"What's going on with ——, Blue?"

I changed my tune for the time being. In a panic, it was originally intended, based on the principle that if you attract attention, you will have a chance. It's okay to say anything, as long as you can continue the conversation, you can plan, and suddenly I thought of a remedy.

"'Oranges are meant to grow as oranges.'" That's what Blue told me later. However, if you want to apologize, I will accept it with great mercy.

- However, such a dangerous thing, don't do it a second time. ”

"Rest assured. I still want to enjoy life. ”

In the end, Zi rarely said a word in a serious tone. So, I answered frankly.

I was relieved that I had almost made a mistake in opening an unpleasant topic, and that it ended like this. I don't know if there is a god who manipulates fate in this world, but even the director who manages everything occasionally has unexpected sparks. What Purple and I said was what she said in order to disturb Blue's position when she impulsively showed her the power of imitation after the change of spring snow.

INTERVIEWER What will be the end of the road?

For Blue, the end of the road on one side is the desire to be the next Purple, and on the other side, the desire to make Orange the next Self. This is to say, too much longing for that figure that is like life. And after I said that, Purple foresaw the danger and intervened to stop it.

The essence of Shikigami is a fantasy that can be used as a prop. - Fantasy is a thing that has no resistance to the infestation of foreign objects. And the reason why such a fantasy can become a shikigami is [Nian]. On the one hand, the formula arises because of the thought of being believed, and on the other hand, it is solidified by the thought of believing in oneself. Therefore, thinking too much about oneself is a considerable degree of risk for Shikikami. Like Blue, the thought of "I am based on absolute loyalty" is shaken by the sudden realization of another factor that drives me......

"So, are you going to swim in the Santu River?"

Purple tapped her chin, as if she was a little complacent because of such a proposal. I smiled wryly.

"I'm begging for mercy. Think of it as accumulating good deeds in life. Just passing by, please. ”

"Oops, haven't you ever plagiarized? At that time, I was amazed. ”

Purple still doesn't give up. I had no choice but to calm down and think about countermeasures. Reminded by Purple, his thoughts went back to the past slightly. The ability I usually demonstrate, to put it bluntly, is plagiarism. Watch the spell cards used by the other Gensokyo, and then recreate them with secondary effects. But in fact, this is not the case.

Like Rinnosuke, I can't get information by watching it. I can't see and experience the gods to the extent that Reimu did. Like Purple, I operate the realm at the top of the mystery, so I can't understand everything to the same extent. There's only one thing I can do. The level of ability is on a par with the concept of ability itself, with myself, and with the way of existence of the Great Barrier of Hirori. That is, let the [fantasy] that is believed in become [fantasy]. Whether it is the embodiment of the object or the basis of the concept, the ones I borrowed and used were all carried to Gensokyo by the power of the Hakurei Great Enchantment after they had been reduced to the level of forgotten utopian fantasies in other fantasy realms. No, even such abilities, in the final analysis, were only borrowed from that person.

…… In other words, when I saw the miracles of the girls in Gensokyo, all I did was make myself believe. Even if the principle is completely understood, there is still a long way to go before you can understand it. That's what I don't want to say lightly. I came to Gensokyo for exactly that. Purple probably hasn't fully understood what it means to be like me. Even if you knew, you probably wouldn't care. After all, she had given such a warning at the beginning, telling me plainly that that kind of ability was nothing in the face of the absolute disparity in [degree]. - It can be used as a reference that goblins, who are natural fantasies, often possess a considerable degree of mystery but are vulnerable. For example, (9) and (10).

"Well, I was reckless. But I also have to think about myself. Apologize to Blue and Orange, that's it. ”

I'm not sure if Purple knows my selfishness, but Purple once told Blue that this is a selfish guy, and I've heard such rumors. But it can't be helped.

Inquiries such as "the origin of character is the inertia of the mind" stop at the point where the way of existence of living beings is the pursuit of homeostasis. The [thoughts] that you believe in yourself are not only unique to Shikigami. Those who can grow like this, whether it is a monster or a human, peel back the cocoon layer by layer of what they say and do, and all actions must have a purpose that cannot be further analyzed. Such an end has nothing to do with personality, sometimes it is a physical or psychological instinct, and sometimes it leads to a deeper mind. Just as the particles in the material world must have micro-elements that cannot be further divided to end the never-ending exploration, such an origin also exists in the realm of thinking. For individuals, there may be more than one such origin, and there are also people who contradict the truth of existence. It just so happened that all I wanted was my desire to survive, to have so much room to spare.

"Purple, then what are you guarding Gensokyo for?"

Casually. When I asked this question, I was taken aback myself. Such words are undoubtedly a violation of taboo territory, but they are indeed doubts that have been lingering in my mind for a long time.

Everything that exists in Gensokyo, whether it's a god or a youkai, is a fantasy creature. Because of the legends that have been passed down in the world, with the power of [believing], they appear as some kind of rule or the manifestation of a phenomenon. Therefore, it is not too difficult to guess the origin of their thinking. However, like Yakumo Purple, although it is a monster in the realm, it is only shown with the concept of divine concealment, what kind of incarnation is this? Or to put it bluntly, what kind of fantasy does Yakumo Purple represent? After all, even the various abilities of the girls in Gensokyo are mostly not far from the concept of the realm. That's because the realm of reality and fantasy blocks the human mind, so human fantasy often crosses the realm of [everyday] and does not want to forge ahead. And purple is a monster that operates all realms.

However, although I had a guess, for now, I just suddenly realized that my previous understanding was not realistic. I'm just thinking that it's impossible for a big youkai of Purple's level to use Gensokyo, the race of other youkai, as the origin of his own thinking. Fang Cai's gaffe will probably lead to some trouble, and even if it is impossible to get a reply, it is also a relief.

“…… Purple? ”

The flash of thought passed through my mind, and I looked up, and there was no one around me. There was the sound of water waves crashing on the shore of the Santu River.

Ahh Or is it that I've been thinking about it for a long time and I'm getting impatient.

Sure enough, I still don't have the protagonist's life. I'm pretty lucky to be able to survive as an ordinary member of Gensokyo. Don't expect to be a mutation or a dazzling corner of daily life, as long as you leave your own traces, you are quite satisfied.

I looked in the direction I came. Over there is the path of the underworld, along which the spirits transported by the Grim Reaper go to be judged. I don't know how the little Enma will preach if he happens to see me. I think I'll probably have a similar attitude towards the poisonous puppet of Lily of the Valley Hill, and reprimand me for losing my duty. However, it is not her turn to appear this year, although I said something to Zi to apologize for her sins with death, and that is also the worst development. So, for the time being, you don't have to worry about meeting with Lord Enma.

…… Now I have a headache about how to return to Gensokyo from this river. Purple is gone, and I have to hope for the ferryman who doesn't know when he started working. It's true that as Purple said, I can do it myself with a method similar to transfer, but I try my best to avoid contact with that feeling. If you use it casually, you are overestimating your resilience.

I banished the bad memories and nameless shadows from my mind, and suddenly, like a thunderbolt, I realized that something was wrong in my mind. The thoughts that had accidentally delayed my time, which were supposed to operate on a subconscious level, now exposed the meshing of the gears like a broken shell. I seem to be really getting weird. Is it the cause of last night's storm?

The reason I think this way is that thinking is something that cannot be described in words. If anything, it is because the process of thinking itself is a kind of mystery. This mystery is more than language, so it cannot be covered by the mystery of the first order. No, it is not an exaggeration to say that it is the most fundamental mystery. Whether it is a language or an imaginary image, it is just a degradation of thinking.

What we get from our brains on a daily basis is not the process of thinking, but the result of thinking. Then, the [consciousness] will coordinate and make a projection that can be understood by humans. The human senses are responsible for extracting concepts from external entities as materials for thinking. When the spring snow changed, I thought about such a question. In that case......

"Look, there's a sight on the other side, guest. Being able to pay so much salary, you were a bourgeoisie during your lifetime, right? ”

This leisurely and kind voice came from the river, and I knew why Purple didn't say goodbye.

"Yo~Don't come unharmed~~"

I said hello first. The real ghost floated by, and with it, the ghost was transported, and the Grim Reaper replied.

"Ahh This is not possible, and the spirit that does not pay cannot cross the river. Mistakes~"

"It's really rare to see a lazy master at work. Then please send me back along the way~ If you don't want Lord Enma to preach. ”

"Seeing the mountain of workload, even if I hate it, I don't dare to slack off. - to discern the true spirit. If you're like you, Eihime-sama will scold me to death......"

"Yes."

I said a word noncommittally, just listened to Komachi pretend to vomit bitterness, and stopped talking.

Ever since I came to Gensokyo, I've been entangled with ghosts. Ghosts are the embodiment of one's pre-mortem temperament, so it's understandable that the little ones who are now permeating Gensokyo are mistaken for ghosts. However, they don't have the same good karma as ghosts, so if they want to cross the river, they will never be paid. If Komachi still sails like that, the Santo River will become infinitely wide.

I leaned sideways on the boat, and the boat swayed slightly. The loach-like spirit leaped out of the water, slapped me and sank with a grunt. Such a dangerous behavior suddenly made the Komachi Enma possessed like a chatter.

In Gensokyo, strange beings like spirits are allowed to stay. Ghosts, the undead, evil spirits, gods, etc. But there is no such thing as a soul. Even though the human beings inside and outside the Great Enchantment believed in the existence of souls, they could not find a trace of them. Here's why.

I don't know if something like the soul is the same as intelligence, but it's true that both have to be attached to consciousness in order to control the body. Consciousness, however, is based on physiology. The concept of sensory intake cannot be conveyed without going through the nerves. Without the brain, the consciousness cannot respond. However, for soulless objects, the transmission of electrical signals can be imitated, conditioned reflexes, memory storage can be inscribed, and even all neural activity in the brain can be recorded, but [consciousness] cannot be born from this. We might as well assume, then, whether consciousness exists in a realm that is free from reality.

Let's assume so. The physical body is alive, receives information, and conducts the movement of the mind in it, and the results are coordinated, woven into a perceptible consciousness, and then projected onto the realm where the soul is located. The relationship between this is like the host and the display screen in the outside world. Without such a colorful display, no matter how much computing is performed in the host, it is only [instinctive], and it will never go beyond the range of zero and one. And with the world of projecting the results of calculations out of machines and electricity, and after entering the display screen in the three-dimensional realm, it has been sublimated enough to rule the times.

- That's right, that's what it's called, the truth of the soul. Although I already knew it, I couldn't help but feel excited. However, I still realized that these [concepts], which should have been hidden in the mind, were still revealed to the next level of mystery as before. Therefore, I will put my final conclusions into words.

"[Consciousness] is [fantasy]."

"What?"

Komachi was taken aback by my sudden opening. I smiled and apologized.

- Thinking is the highest level of mystery. And what is the consciousness that thus enters the higher realms?

- Speaking of mystery, what else can have more possibilities than [fantasy], can be more colorful than [fantasy], more colorful, more deceitful.

I let out a long breath, and then I smelled the flowers.

That's the flower that grows on this shore.

The flowers and leaves, which are separated from the body like a fantasy, and the gentleness of the demons who seek to go to hell but cannot do so, also bloom in places that should not grow, when they should not bloom.

That's not because the separation between flowers and leaves has been broken. It's just that the flower passed through that realm and was left behind by the leaves. That's it, that's it.

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———————— P.S

This time it is the first perspective of Youning, who has not been seen for a long time. I don't know if it can be considered a chapter of story after mixing with such a large number of boring expository essays, but it is certain that the most verbose chapter in the history of Oriental Youningtang is it.

There are a lot of settings explained in this chapter, and even if they are inserted in the story, it is inevitable that they will be drowsy to watch, which I have already experienced first. However, some of the most important words, my understanding and attitude towards fantasy, can be regarded as a quick spit out. I don't know if you've noticed.

At this point, I can say with a clear conscience that this is my Youningtang, and this is the East I wrote. Ah, if the little Enma had been around, I would probably be ready to punish my pride with a sermon that I would never have been able to listen to for the rest of my life.

In the next chapter, I'm probably going to be a little more self-conscious. Maybe you will fall on an ugly heel, but as Youning said, fantasy and body are forever separated by that layer of realm, if you don't work hard to break through, how can you get closer.

So, with a clear conscience, stay tuned.

NextDream