Hello, ITalkToSky here.

As a thank for a lot of reviews last chapter, I will be giving you this chapter early.

Hey guys I will be addressing some discrepancy in this chapter in term of chronology. First, event of Touhou game were a little bit later than original. This was because I don't want Marisa to already be too old as Mahouka was a little less than a century faster than the original Touhou time, so please allow me to take creative liberty.

Also, unlike in Touhou, to become a magician as a race, you require more than just abandon food spell and learning other magic.

Also, if you want to see Alice convincing Kirin of the cause, can it because I am not writing the same thing the third time in different way.

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"It all began in Meiji 18 or in Gregorian Calendar, CE 1885. The world became so scientific that normal Youkai would have trouble existing, so the Great Hakurei Barrier was constructed. It was first started by human, but was reinforced further by Youkai, notably Yakumo Yukari. The barrier has been overseen by member of Hakurei family ever since. The barrier functions as a barrier of common sense, isolating a portion of Japanese land from the outside world, with the tendency to accept something that common sense dictates to be non-existence or unaccepted. This marked the birth of Gensokyo, a wonderland that defies almost every common sense of the modern world, and the first season in Youkai Lunisolar Calendar."

At this point found it unbearably hard to not grin at Mizuki whose eyes widen in wonder. Ever since they had met, Mizuki was curious. While the era she was born in did not shy away from the concept of magic, the existence of Youkai was still considered unscientific. Finding a few members still alive was something very improbable, especially to survive from such encounter. Therefore, Mizuki was taken to learning magic and the supernatural like fish in the water.

"To answer your long overdue question, Mizuki, we are all from this close of fantasy world of Gensokyo. It was there that the fantasy thrives and where we were from. Marisa and I were born there, while the rest was originally form this side."

Mizuki was on the edge of her seat, while Kirin's eyes were unreadable. The impact for her was either too huge or she began to think that Alice was the type to ignore reality. Apparently, Chuunibyou was still a thing in Japan 2095.

"That was it really. I didn't really care much about the history of Gensokyo. I have read the Gensokyo chronicles, but didn't pay attention to it."

"What? That's it." The word disappointed would be enough to describe Mizuki as she slumped in her seat.

"That is pretty much it. Gensokyo is a land closed off by barrier. Inaccessible to the outside, except for one location that for some reason did not work anymore. Do you want to take a guess, Mizuki? You have seen it once." Alice pat herself in the back for failing to make the existence of Gensokyo interesting, but still managed to direct the attention away.

"I have seen…Hakurei Shrine?"

"Indeed, it is the place existing on both sides of the barrier simultaneously. However, it didn't function anymore. We tried it back three years earlier, before we met you."

"So, you came in through the shrine? Then what about the mansion." Mizuki questioned.

"That is the problem. We didn't come here to this side intentionally. I believe Lunaire was saying that the people in this mansion were minding their businesses. On that day, Marisa and I came here to pick up something I asked for Lunaire. Then out of blue, we were here without knowing why."

"That's it? Is there anything more, like how you were living in Gensokyo?"

"That is the story for another time. If you want to know more about the history, I suggest you ask Patchouli. We should have a copy of Gensokyo chronicle. This library should have a copy of any literature in Gensokyo minus our newspaper."

"Aww." Mizuki groaned. She almost forgot that this story was taking in the time for the lesson.

"Oh, my bad. I forgot what I was telling this story for. In short, there is another branch of magic and even another side of the world that you didn't know exist. Any question?"

"I…wow…I just didn't know what to say." Kirin was unresponsive.

"Take you time to digest it. Patchouli wouldn't mind if it was even a few minutes later." Alice said offhandedly. The bookworm responded with only a silent snort.

"Assume that what you said is true…"

"It is the truth." Alice interjected cheekily.

"…what you said it true, then what is it that you want? Do not play dumb. If you just want to research, then you won't start to make a move around like this."

"Hmm, it is not like we are trying to do too much though. Since we are trapped here, our only choice is to live here and keep researching, right?"

"Still, that still can't be all. Call it just gut feeling."

"Even between women, our intuition is still quite dreadful. Fine, you win. We try not to keep anything away from our organization anyway. Having secret leaked and the organization self-destructing on us are probably the last things I want happening."

"…"

"Mizuki had already heard this, so you should ask her. We are deferring our lesson for a little bit too long. I will let you have taste of the benefit before letting you decide. See you later." The blond girl sprung to her feet and made a tactical retreat. While Alice definitely saw that Kirin was trying to say something, she just left.

The stone was rather good at bouncing the sound around, so he could hear a visitor from miles away. To expedite the process, Lunaire just waved his hand and the door flung open. Glancing through the door way, he caught a flash of blond locks of hair.

"Alice, how did it go?"

"I don't know, but I somehow stunned her."

"With the story or with magic?"

"A little bit of both, but if you ask my intuition, then I think she is bough."

"Great news then?" Lunaire closed his eyes and squeezed his temple.

"I believe so." Alice took a seat next to him. "What are you working on."

"Oh, I am just drafting the rules. Since there are more people coming in, we need some ground rules for the organization. When our circle is small, we don't really need it." Lunaire paused, slightly hesitating. "Still wording is a little bit hard. Sometimes it came out to hard or just down right tyrannical. At other times, it just sound so childish and too simple. I am not sure what would work. It didn't help that I have never lead a large group of people before."

"I am still waiting."

"Ahh, fine. Please help me, Alice-sama."

"That's more like it. Still, it is not like I am good with leading, you know?"

"Better than nothing. You who know how to put on a good show will do. I can't exactly ask Remi and Sakuya or I will end up with an overlord code after all." Lunaire laughed self-depreciatingly.

"I guess that they will make it that way." Alice glanced down at the paper filled with scribble and then at Lunaire's face. "On the side note, you don't look to good. What happened?"

The silver-haired magician paused a little. He looked up and smile ruefully. "Oh, it was that obvious. I just feel a little dirty."

"In what sense?" The blond asked neutrally without a shred of mockery.

"I mean I just return from concluding a deal in black market, not just any deal, but for military grade weapons and ordinances. I feel like terrorists that I despise."

Hearing that, Alice seemed to want to say something, but was stopped by simple gesture from Lunaire. Perhaps stunned would be more appropriate, because that simple gesture was a flick to her forehead.

"Fool, do you think that this is enough to faze me. I live for a long time. So, don't worry. I know who I am and I don't stray. Both of us are magicians, so you should know." Lunaire leaned back on his seat.

"Yes, I know." She smiled knowingly, reaching for a spare quill in the drawer.

"Ah…Sometimes, I feel that you are trying to lead me in circle." Lunaire only chuckled. There are times when he felt that Alice seemed to know everything. Like this time, despite knowing, she made him say it out anyway.

"We are both magicians, so we both know. You know, I know."

It should be obvious that certain mentality was require for one to rise to the rank of magician race. That was the reason that there was more than enough common ground for them to understand each other in most case. Therefore, Lunaire's complaint was rather bias.

The next few hours were spent fruitfully. They took turn reading the rules out loud as per Alice suggestion. Before long, the code of conduct for the organization was up. They disagreed quite a bit on the punishment section, however, Lunaire let her remained as she was still another member of the executive.

Formally, the members of the Scarlet Devil Mansion are part of the executive body of the organization and wielded equal power. There was no threat of being backstabbed and a Danmaku match sufficed to settle any dispute. Therefore, most should be present, but it seemed that no one really cared. Patchouli handed him only the bottom line, the right to expulse them from the area if they somehow disturbed her. Lunaire could only laugh at that. As I member of highest executive member, she could do that anyway. However, restricted areas should be defined beforehand.

While Alice and Lunaire we at it, they also laid the groundwork for the organization. The sage council is the top, followed by the Department. The department will be divided into section. While there were not enough bodies to fill the position yet, four department existed. Research & Development and Education & Liaison Departments both had some members. Logistic department had Sakuya as the head. Operative department was created on standby. While Alice was apprehensive about creating a department specially for armed force, Alice had to concede the Lunaire vehement argument. Armed force was required, especially to contain the after effect of their plan to elevate mana level.

They also got the ranks worked out. While position should correspond to the level of authority, it would be best to subdivide it better. While using military ranks for private armed force is a little bit pretentious, but it might be for the best. At first, they wanted to use color scale, but calling their commanding officer Orange might be rather counterproductive, but humorous. The color system was instead used for their more civil position from low red to violet, divided into 10 levels each. The sage will technically be iridescent rank and excluded from the system.

Over the span of few hours, Alice get a cram of many fine prints in running an organization. She even had to grudgingly learn about the darker side of the organization, because she once proclaimed that she wanted learn about reality. Lunaire gave it to her as she wished without hiding anything. He knew better than to conceal anything as deceit is the best seat for broken friendship. As a side note, they intend to move to the cleaner side of the society as soon as they could find a firmer ground to stand on.

Kirin was torn inside. She was thankful for Alice to let her get a taste of the benefit before giving her an idea about their plan. It certainly gave her a full picture of the situation, but it made it harder for her to choose.

While Kirin certainly wouldn't join any terrorist, but the fact that their cause wasn't completely evil weighted on her mind. Their offer was very tempting, perhaps too tempting. She didn't earn her degree to be CAD technician just because the pay was good, but because she was very interested in them.

All the magic materials and their probably opened a new realm in front of her. Although she still didn't have complete idea of how magic in their sense work, with many new materials that never were produced outside this organization before in the play, the possibility was limitless.

The decision was made still that she would remain in the organization. Kirin acknowledged that people could die from her hand. No, she knew that someone would die for certain as they executed their plan. However, they did promise that they will do their best to contain the fall out. As a CAD expert, she had a chance to make a difference. Although it was not a definite, she still intended to cling to that as her solace. Perhaps, she will get used to that in time.

On the side note, Kirin thought that Patchouli was either a block of ice or an unreadable book. As apprehensive as Kirin was, she couldn't help but label her that way. It was rude to her teacher, but that was just pure impression talking.

"Captain Tsukasa…I am out." One girl who was sprawled out on the ground groaned. While it wasn't in school, Mibu couldn't help but still address him as the captain of the club she joined.

"Urg…me too, but we somehow made it. Also, my surname changed to Kamono."

"…"

"I even wonder how they did it, but my mother divorced my step-father so quickly." His voice was disconnected, but the point he tried to convey was still valid.

For some reason, their conversation continued in the mist of heap of corpses. They weren't exactly dead, but close. Meiling was, in contrast to her rather cute appearance, a perfect drill sergeant. Perhaps, she was even a better sergeant than the ones in the movies.

The running was horrible. The drills were horrible. While they though that learning, techniques should be a little lighter, that was horrible too. They had to pull everything they had from their reserve energy for the next week perhaps. Still, they had to do this daily from now on, so their suffering was just beginning.

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And there you go. I think that the reveal for Gensokyo was a little bit lackluster, but what can I do. I don't really want to exaggerate that too much to be melodramatic.

Oh by the way, the scene with Alice was just a taste of what I could do (which is not very good), but still did not confirm that there would be romance. For sure that even if there is romance, it won't be the stupid one like hormones driven couple.

What do you think about this chapter? I don't know if it is good. Please leave a review.