How big is Gensokyo?

The mountains here are all called Yokai Mountain, not because there are Yokai on the mountain, but because there are only these mountains, and it just so happens that there are Yokai living on the mountain. The forests here are all called enchanted forests, not because there are magicians in the forest, but because there is only this one forest, and it just so happens that there are magicians living in the forest. The human villages here are called human villages - because human villages are human beings, nothing more.

Gensokyo is Gensokyo. Mountains, rivers, lakes, plains, and forests are not much of a worldly place. It's just that no one can say the conclusion precisely.

The edge of Gensokyo is a mystery. The west, the north, and the south, knowing it, but not being able to reach it. Of course, you can't get there, because what envelops Gensokyo is the Great Barrier of Borei.

Enchantment is not a division of space, but a barrier of thought. If you don't go to the outside world, you won't know the common sense of the outside world, and you can't cross the Boli barrier without the thoughts of the outside world. Sounds unfair, right? However, this is the Great Enchantment of Hakurei, this is Gensokyo.

Only, there is one exception.

The well-known eastern border of Gensokyo, on that mountain.

There is a shrine on that mountain, and there are shrine maidens in the shrine.

The shrine is inside and outside the barrier, so the shrine's shrine maidens have the ability and power to open the Hakurei Great Barrier.

There's the edge of the definite Great Barrier, but it's not like a threshold. Rather, if you have common sense from the outside world, then when you walk to the shrine, you will see a dilapidated old house, and when you turn around, there is no way out.

However, for ordinary humans and youkai, such a realm is absolute. Even if you are a real visitor from the outside world, you will not be able to return the same way after being infected by the fantasies of Gensokyo. The so-called ideological barrier is like this.

-- Here, there is also a person who crosses the border of common sense on both sides.

He was, of course, no ordinary person. However, it has nothing to do with his common sense inside and outside Gensokyo, his chaotic style of clothing, or even his ability to make things out of nothing, or even his ability to negotiate with youkai as a human.

For shrine maidens, the presence or absence of these things does not mean anything. She didn't care, and she didn't need to.

It's just that the monster that is now related to Youning is called Yakumo Purple.

――The long ancient Shinto Path walked up the stairs, walked past the torii gate covered in snow and red and white, and walked to the door of Hakurei Shrine.

No one. Youning listened attentively, and a smile appeared on his face. He looked around the shrine.

The shrine is not big. A vestibule, a few living rooms, and behind it is an old warehouse. The shrine is surrounded by trees. Cherry blossoms, fruit trees, and sometimes very old trees, but now they have shrunk their branches and are waiting for the arrival of spring.

Yuning walked back to the shrine door. There's only one cash box there, not even a hand water house. Youning smiled slightly, looked up at the shrine again, nodded with satisfaction, and then clenched his palms into a fist and gently hung over the cash box.

――"Dangchang~"

When the sliding door of Hakurei Shrine opened, Yuning was clasping his palms together in prayer. Hearing the voice, he bowed slightly, then turned his head.

There is the shrine maiden of Hakurei.

What does it look like to be a shrine maiden?

Flowing clouds? Willow-like posture? Autumn eyes? A water lily-like face?

Neither. The Witch of the Porray is the Witch of the Goddess, and she cannot be made of things.

You quietly watched the shrine maiden.

The witch is extremely good-looking, this is not glamorous, not delicate, not delicate or cute. It's just very pleasant to look at, without any additives, "good-looking".

Yoning says:

"Is this Hakurei Shrine?"

Youning spoke flatly, speaking at a steady pace and in a calm tone.

However, the shrine maiden looked at him and said, "You are afraid. ”

-- This is the third time today. In the same way, Rinnosuke said it lightly, wanting to dispel his concerns, and Yakumo Purple said it for sure, wanting to impose suspicions. Only the witch said it lightly, but only the witch's words, Youning did not refute.

Youning, he just looked at the shrine maiden like that, not knowing what he was thinking.

――――――――――――==――――――――――――

What is the inside of the gap?

What is in the gap between the realms?

It's Yakumo's territory, it's her home - does Yakumo have a home? Does she look like she needs to have a home?

Some.

In the antique old house, there is a nine-tailed fox demon standing by the window. She held her hands lightly, her cheeks pressed together, and her beautiful face was as tense as her ears hardened with force.

She is Shikijin of Yakumo Murasaki - she is Yakumo Murasaki's family.

Yakumo Lan suddenly felt something, she stood sideways and solemnly, and the gap that had nothing to rely on parted there, and the youkai of the realm came from there with a leisurely smile.

"Blue~~~"

Yakumo Lan seemed to be a little uncomfortable with such intimacy, she hesitated for a moment and replied, "Yes, Purple-sama." ”

"Hum ~~"

They are family, but also partners.

Something like a conversation doesn't need meaning to make sense.

"Lord Purple, the movement of the Great Enchantment has calmed down on its own......"

"What's wrong, Blue. Is there anything over there? ”

She reports to her master. Of course, a little distraction can't hide the purple eyes.

"Oh, it's an orange."

"Ah, Lady Purple, please...... I'm sorry. Orange seems to be afraid of the stray cat. I'm a little worried. ”

"Oops, oops~~~"

Yakumo Purple took Blue's arm and bent it together, and they gathered together in front of the window.

Outside, on the hillside, there are two cats.

The orange-blue Shikigami was there, cautiously and lightly crawling towards the balls of hair.

The kitten looked up at Orange, who quickly shrank back. Is that a scary?

"Blue~"

"Purple-sama...... Purple-sama! ”

But it was Zi who gently turned sideways and scratched the roots of Lan's ears with his hand. Blue's ears couldn't help but twitch, and it looked funny.

"You say...... Are you scared of me? ”

"No, it's not! I'm just—"

"You say...... Is that person afraid of Reimu? ”

At the hands of Zi, cutting through the boundless chaos, the lost home in the depths of the mountains came the scene and breath of the edge of the realm of Gensokyo.

- How long has it been, and Yunei is still looking at Reimu. Maybe a few seconds, that is, a few seconds.

However, he seemed to have figured it out. He asked:

"Is this Hakurei Shrine?"

It's still bland, it's still calm, it's peaceful. It's just a little more calm.

This time, the red and white shrine maiden nodded.

Youning looked at her again. There is a faint light blooming in Youning's eyes, as if he has tasted it for a long time, and through the snow-bearing racing money box, it seems to be looking across time and the world.

Youning smiled slightly and spoke softly. His voice was very emotional, as if this atmosphere was not a meeting but a reunion; Not looking at each other, but hugging each other.

He said, "Hello, Reimu. ”

He's saying hello, he's saying it's so good, like he's finally seeing you, and he's saying it's been a long time. Long time no see-

- Theplaceofhopeandsilence