You see, isn't Hanxue picking up the festival exercises? Hanxue is still quite disciplined, right?

……

……

……

……

Next to the world is the Lost Bamboo Forest. The Enchanted Forest, on the other hand, is close to both. At the outermost edge of the Enchanted Forest, between the Inside of the World and the Lost Bamboo Forest, there is a strange grocery store called Xianglintang. The owner of the shop is a daughter, Uncle Kong, ah, it's wrong, it's an approachable and good person, called Mori Jinrinnosuke. It's not human, it's half-human, half-demon, and it's the one who took care of Marisa from childhood to adulthood. By the way, is Gensokyo's only known male creature right now.

At this time, many rabbit monsters came out of the Lost Bamboo Forest, and one of the rabbits walked to Rinnosuke's Korindo and knocked on the door.

"Please come in." Rin no Suke said in the house.

"Excuse me." The rabbit youkai pushed open the door and came in, and saw Rinnosuke sitting under the window in the house looking at a book.

"Huh? It's a rabbit from the bamboo forest," Rinnosuke said, putting down the book in his hand, "Come buy something?" ”

"No," said the rabbit, shaking his head, "this ......"

As he spoke, the rabbit stepped forward and handed Rin no suke a flyer, and seeing that the flyer had been given to Lin no suke, the rabbit said, "So, excuse me!" Then he turned and left.

"Huh? This is ......" Rinnosuke looked at the flyer, "It's the 'Moon Capital Vientiane Exhibition' again......"

……

"Anyway, the current situation is still very optimistic~" Marisa said as optimistically as she could, "At least, what we know hasn't affected humans or youkai yet, has it?" ”

"No...... Maybe it's already affected ......," Pache said, "Although creatures that have completely lost their vitality will become such powder, do you know what happens to people and plants if they only absorb a part of their vitality?" ”

"What kind?"

"If the person who is close to death is absorbed into the life, the rest of his life is over. Moreover, because it is not yet time to die, the god of death does not take over the soul of that person, which is equivalent to ...... A time to allow ghosts to roam freely in the human world. People with strong vitality will feel very tired when they are absorbed into a little anger. ”

"So what?" Marisa doesn't know what Patchouli is trying to say.

"What Patchy means is that even if it affects humans now, it won't be known to humans." Remy said, "However, there aren't many humans in Gensokyo. ”

"Wow! Then Reimu was also affected! Marisa jumped up and said, "No wonder I can't get motivated all day!" It turned out to be a mutant ghost! ”

"No...... If it's Reimu...... I think it's her own fault......" Pache said, glancing at Reimu next to her.

"But you can't just let it go!" Reimu immediately said, "Even if this situation affects youkai, you can't feel it, right?" ”

"Ahem...... Paciuli coughed again, then nodded, "Youkai have a much longer lifespan than humans, and even if they really affect it, they shouldn't be felt by youkai." ”

"......" Remy was stunned, but didn't say anything.

Jokes, do you have to admit that you seem to feel a little tired at night? Even Hakurei's shrine maidens and black and white rats are unaffected, and she is the Lord of the Night, the vampire Remilia Scarlett! Affected by this small mutation, say that you don't want to be majestic!

"Well, Reimu, do you have any clues?" Remy asked Reimu.

"Not at all," Reimu said, "I'm going to investigate." I also read from the "Bunbun Shimbun" that plants have turned into powder in various places, but the newspaper does not mention humans and monsters, so it seems that we need to investigate in the world. ”

"That...... Pache and Marisa, what about you and Marisa? Doesn't seem to be affected? Remy suddenly realized that Pache and Marisa didn't seem to be affected.

"I can't feel it myself." "I'm a natural magician, and I live a long life, not to mention ...... I wasn't in good health, so I didn't feel it even if it was affected. As for Marisa...... I think maybe it's Marisa's personality that makes Marisa feel nothing at all...... Of course, it could also be that eating too many mushrooms has developed resistance......"

"Huh? So I'm also affected? Marisa said strangely.

"Anyway, let's hurry up and solve the mutation now!" Reimu stood up and said, "After listening to Pache Li's words, I suddenly had a bad feeling. Marisa, let's hurry up and go to the earth! ”

"Okay! Let's go! Marisa was immediately energized and stood up to go out with Reimu.

"Wait!" Patchouli shouted before the two left.

"What's wrong?" Marisa turned her head, "Ah! By the way, I haven't asked Pache to borrow a book yet! But it seems that Reimu is in such a hurry, I think it's better next time. ”

"Borrow a book or something...... Paciouli blushed suddenly, but disappeared immediately, and then said to the little devil, "Little devil, go and get out that magic necklace I made." ”

"Yes, Lord Patchouli." The little devil who had been beside him and had no sense of presence gave Marisa a very unhappy look, then said yes and turned to leave.

"Because I felt like you were going to solve this mutation, I made a magic necklace," Patchouli said, "and wearing a necklace will save you from the effects of this magic......"

"Oh! That's amazing! Sure enough, it's Pache Li! Marisa was amazed.

"Uh-huh......" But Pache turned her head and blushed......

"Huh? Pache are alright? Marisa asked.

"Hey, hey! Did you only make one? Reimu interjected, "We're two people, right?" ”

"Do you think magic necklaces are easy to make?" "And, as a Sakauri shrine maiden, do you still need the help of these foreign objects?" ”

"Well, Reimu, if you're angry and absorbed too much, I'll lend it to you~~" Marisa patted Reimu on the shoulder.

"Cut." Reimu casually pulled Marisa's hand off and turned to walk outside.

"Hey!" Marisa was about to say something, but the little demon had returned, still looking at Marisa with an unhappy look and a necklace containing a small stone in her hand. Pache took the necklace and put it on Marisa. By the way, Marisa's hat and clothes were tidied up, and she looked like a little bride who was sending her husband on a trip......

Ignoring the little demon who was gritting his teeth and looking at him, Marisa looked happy and touched the necklace, feeling the powerful magic contained in the small stone, probably the Philosopher's Stone, Marisa said happily, "Thank you, Pache Li!" Just know you're the best! With that, Marisa hurried to the door to chase Reimu.

"Uh......" Pache was left there steaming alone......

……

Air.

Marisa and Reimu fly together towards the earth.

In fact, on the way to the Red Devil Pavilion at the Hakurei Shrine, I passed through the Human Circle, but when I first went to the Red Devil Pavilion, Reimu and Marisa didn't know that even humans would be affected by this mutation, so the two passed directly above the Human Realm and went directly to the Red Devil Pavilion.

In the world.

Falling into the human world, Reimu and Marisa fall to the ground and walk towards the village.

"That...... Reimu," Marisa said, "Do you feel a little lonely in the world today?" ”

"There are fewer people out there." Reimu said, "There are fewer people setting up stalls, so it can't be because of the mutation that a lot of people died, right?" ”

The two were walking down the street, and they wanted to ask someone, but they soon saw a familiar person.

A white, long-haired girl with a white red headband on her head, white clothes and red fluffy overalls, Fujiwara girl red into Reimu and Marisa's field of vision.

"Hey! Sister Red! Marisa quickly called her sister Hong.

"Huh?" Mei Hong turned around and noticed Reimu and Marisa, "It's you?" ”

Reimu and Marisa walk up to Mei Hong. Reimu noticed that Mei Hong's face didn't seem to be good, and asked, "What's wrong?" Don't look good? ”

"Hmm......" Mei Hong didn't evade, she seemed to be entangled in something, and then said, "You also saw it, right?" Here, the current state of affairs in the world. ”

"Hmm." Reimu nodded, "We're here to solve this anomaly. ”

"Sure enough, is it a mutation......" Mei Hong seemed to have thought of something and fell into thought.

"Hey, hey! Sister red? Marisa waved her hand in front of her eyes.

"Ah," Mei Hong reacted, "Speaking of which, I'm in a hurry!" Sorry for going first. ”

"Huh?" Marisa quickly asked, "What the hell is going on?" ”

"It's Teacher Huiyin's business......" Mei Hong said, "uh...... It's not too early, and if you don't go, you'll be scolded by Teacher Huiyin! If you want to know, it's okay to come along. ”

After speaking, Mei Hong hurriedly ran to the side. Reimu and Marisa looked at each other, nodded together, and ran with Meihong.

In front of a house that looked relatively large, but was still as dilapidated as the others, Mei Hong ran in, and not long after, another girl's scolding was heard.

Kami-Shirasawa Huiyin, a half-orc girl (Imperial Sister?) Or...... Aunt? He wears a blue hat with red leaf decorations, a blue skirt, and long silver hair. He is the only teacher in the only school in the world. At the same time, he is also the only person who can restrain his sister red......

"Sister Hong! You're late again! Huiyin said, "Are you going to skip school?!" ”

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry! Teacher, I know it's wrong! Meihong kept apologizing like a child who made a mistake, and after Huiyin scolded a few words, she looked at Meihong, sighed helplessly, and said, "Hurry up and go in." ”

"Yes! Thank you, teacher! After receiving Huiyin's forgiveness, Meihong hurriedly walked into the classroom.

"Huh?" Huiyin turned to see Reimu and Marisa.

At this time, Reimu and Marisa were standing at the door, wanting to come forward and ask what happened to Huiyin, but they were afraid that they would be scolded like Meihong......

"We're not here for class!" Marisa hurriedly shouted.

"......" (Huiyin)

Girl, everyone knows you're not here for class...... But saying it out so loudly at this time, you also hurt Teacher Huiyin's heart too much, right?

"We're here to investigate something related to the mutation," or Reimu has a temperate (fog...... The purpose of the two was stated.

"That's right...... Huiyin nodded, "But, I'm sorry, school is already in session." If you can, you can wait until after school. I'll be sure to tell all the things I know. ”

"Uh......" Reimu and Marisa looked at each other and nodded. Reimu said, "Hmm. Then we'll look elsewhere first, and we'll be back after school. ”

"Hmm." Huiyin nodded, said no more, and turned back to the classroom.

When Huiyin returns, Marisa and Reimu leave the school.

"Reimu, do you think Huiyin is a little strange?" Marisa asked.

"Hmm." Reimu nodded, "It doesn't look good, as if I'm sick." ”

"Sick? What's that...... Isn't Bai Ze a divine beast? Can you get sick too? Marisa asked curiously.

"There are many reasons...... Reimu said, "leave it alone, let's go and investigate the mutation elsewhere." ”

"Ahh I know! Huiyin must have been affected by the mutation! Marisa seemed to think of something, jumped up for joy and said, "That's right! It must be so! ”

"Even if it is, you don't have to be so happy...... Reimu said as she looked at Marisa helplessly.

"Of course I'm glad! If even Huiyin has been affected by the mutation, doesn't that mean that even the youkai have been affected? Belch...... By the way, Huiyin is a monster, right? ”

"Huiyin is a half-beast ......"

"What...... It's not youkai or humans. Marisa was immediately discouraged.

"Alright, leave this alone." Reimu said, "Now that we're all in the world, let's investigate." Split up, you go over there, I'll go here, and when it's over...... Let's go to Xianglin Hall and meet up. ”

"Xianglintang?" Marisa remembered the little grocery store, "Speaking of which...... It's been a long time since I've been to Xianglin. ”

"Because he's so close to here, maybe he knows something." Reimu said the reason for meeting at Xianglin Hall, "Alright, hurry up!" If only the mutation could be solved today! ”

"Hmm!" Marisa nodded, walking in the direction Reimu pointed out.

"Alas......" Reimu sighed helplessly as Marisa walked away, and then looked at the school in the world.

Has even Huiyin been affected......

Turning around, Reimu also went to investigate.

……

The Maiden is in prayer......

……

Xianglin Hall.

Although Marisa is more energetic than Reimu, it is a pity that Reimu is an expert in solving mutations, so Reimu's speed is also much faster than Marisa's. It didn't take long to come to the door of Xianglin Hall.

Thinking about the situation he saw along the way and the conversations with the people in the human world, Reimu had already walked in front of Xianglin Hall. I walked in without knocking.

"Rin no Suke!" Reimu shouted after pushing the door open.

"You just came in without knocking......" Seeing the red and white witch in front of him, Rinnosuke, who was sitting next to the stove, said helplessly.

It's still summer, and it feels abrupt to see a stove like that. But this is Gensokyo—there aren't many people who know about stoves—and that's nothing. Moreover, there is no fire in the current stove. It's just that Rinnosuke didn't move the location of the stove for convenience - Rinnosuke rarely moves away from the stove in winter.

"Well, don't worry about that kind of trivial matter," Reimu said, looking left and right, but not seeing Marisa, "So, Marisa hasn't come over yet." ”

"Will Marisa come over too?" Rinnosuke's eyes suddenly showed a gleam, but thinking of another person in front of him, Rinnosuke immediately recovered.

"Hmm." However, Reimu, who kept looking left and right, didn't notice Rinnosuke's abnormality, and casually asked, "Are you so surprised?" ”

"Because it's been a long time since I've seen Marisa come." Seeing that Reimu didn't pay attention, Rinnosuke returned to his usual scholarly appearance, picked up the book on the table and continued to read.

Reimu saw that there were a few more things in the Korindo that he didn't recognize, and noticed that Rinnosuke picked up the book again and read it, so he went to the store and made himself a cup of tea and sat down to drink it.

"Speaking of which, Rinnosuke, have you felt something strange lately?" Reimu asked after taking a few sips of tea.

"Huh? Strange things? ”

"For example, sometimes I feel tired or something." Reimu said.

"You ......" Looking at the shrine maiden in front of him in disbelief, Rinnosuke showed a strange expression, "You don't have a fever, do you?" ”

"Huh?"

"Hakurei's red and white shrine maiden is even concerned about whether I'm tired...... Rinnosuke said, "or I'm feverish." ”

"Ha ......" I didn't expect Rinnosuke to misunderstand so much, Reimu waved his hand and said, "You think too much." I'm just here to fix the anomaly. I asked you this question to see if you had been affected by the mutation. ”

"I see......" Rinnosuke was a little relieved when he got Reimu's answer, "Speaking of which...... Marisa came here because of the mutation...... Huh?! Wait, is there a mutation?! ”

"Hmm." Reimu took another sip of tea, "You won't have been out for a few days, will you?" ”

"I just went to the Missing Tomb a few days ago...... Rinnosuke said.

"A few days ago?"

"yes." Rinnosuke said, "I wanted to go again today...... But I don't know why I can't always lift my energy, so I just read the book as usual. ”

"Wait, you can't lift up?" Reimu gets to the point.

"Hmm." Rinnosuke nodded, "Well, maybe it's because I usually eat bad things...... Because the food I usually eat is ......."

"That's a mutation!" Reimu interrupted Rinnosuke and said.

"Huh?" Rinnosuke looked at Reimu strangely, "You mean, this is a mutation?" ”

"Hmm." Reimu nodded, "Recently, a lot of the plants in Gensokyo have turned into something that seems to have completely lost their moisture, and it crumbles into powder when touched. Marisa and I went to the Red Devil Pavilion to ask, and Pache said it might be the necromancer absorbing the anger. So, we're here to investigate. ”

"Angry?"

"It's the 'breath of life.'" Reimu said.

"Uh...... That is, even humans have been affected? Rinnosuke immediately understood.

"Well...... "The spirit dreamed of the human beings in the human world he had asked on the road, "and from the information he has received so far, it seems ......"

Before Reimu finished speaking, another girl's voice came from outside the door:

"Xianglin! Are you there? ”

Although he asked, Marisa had already walked into the Shorindo.

"Ah, Marisa!" Seeing Marisa, Xianglin immediately stood up, "Welcome, welcome, do you want tea?" I'll pour it for you right away...... By the way, are you going to change some props today? ”

"Hey, hey, hey! What's the deal with such a stark difference! Reimu immediately slapped the table and stood up dissatisfied.

"An undisciplined witch who only knows that she has never paid on credit is not qualified to say such a thing!"

"Marisa has never paid for it, okay?" Reimu immediately retorted.

"But Marisa doesn't have any credit." Rin no Suke said.

"Nani?! Marisa doesn't have any credit?! Reimu looked at Marisa incredulously, "Impossible! I've never seen Marisa pay! ”

"It's true that I didn't pay for it," Rinnosuke said, "Marisa traded it for props." ”

"Uh......" was refuted like this, Reimu had nothing to say, anyway, he didn't plan to give Linnosuke money, and he could still drink tea for free in the store, no matter what.

Thinking like this, Reimu calmed down again, sat down and continued to drink tea.

"Ah, Reimu, you're already here." Marisa said, "It's faster than me!" ”

"Of course." Reimu said, "Isn't that a matter of course? Because I'm a Hakurei shrine maiden. ”

"You!" Marisa immediately showed a disapprehensive expression, but when she thought of her achievements, she added, "Well, even then, you may not have collected as much information as I did!" ”

"Really?" Reimu said, "Have you gathered any information that is immediately useful?" ”

"Of course!" Marisa immediately looked proud.

"What is it, Marisa?" Seeing Marisa's expression, Rinnosuke also asked with some curiosity.

"Hehe, I'll show you!" Marisa said, reaching for her pocket.

"Dangdang, dang!" Marisa pulls out a piece of paper and shows it to Reimu and Rinnosuke.

Looking at the paper, Reimu read it out: "The Moon Capital Vientiane Exhibition ......"

"How! I'm amazing! Marisa nodded with her eyes closed.

"This ......," Reimu Khan, "has something to do with the mutation......"

"Huh?" Marisa's expression froze instantly......

……

Lost in the Bamboo Forest.

Kanna stood in the hallway outside the room, the mirror in his hand glowing slightly. Faint white soul-like things flying in from all directions converged in the mirror of Kanna. And these soul-like things, the closer they get to the mirror, the thicker they gather, and the farther away, they can't even be seen at all.

"How's it going?" A girl's voice came from the house.

"Not enough...... "God said lightly, "not enough...... Not ...... enough."

"Yes......" the girl in the room said again, then fell silent, and then added, "Take your time...... I've warned those around me not to come closer. ”

"......" Kamino was silent for a moment and said, "You...... Restrain the emotions you exude. ”

"......" The girl in the room was silent for a while, then came out of the room, "I'll do my best." ”

Shen Wu didn't answer again, and the girl sat down on the ground and looked at the sky of the Lost Bamboo Forest.

Of course, if it weren't for the fog that never dissipated and the dense bamboo, you might have been able to see the sky.

After a few moments, Kanna said, "Alright." ”

"Hmm." The girl nodded.

Holding the mirror, Kanna walked into the room, "I'll leave the matter of protecting the Dharma to you, Reimu." ”

"Don't worry." Reimu, who was sitting in the hallway, replied.