Chapter 7: Iridescence Pt.1
A week had passed since Neolect returned from his journey to Former Hell. With the power of the sun fueling industry, the AI was easily able to create the drones requested by Satori, meaning that he had kept his end of the bargain. Now, it was time for a long-overdue explanation of this world's inner workings.
"So, Nitori, could I ask you to explain the Spell Card Rules before you forget again?"
"Yeah, that's a good idea…" Nitori still hadn't quite gotten over the fact that she forgot to talk about the key rule of this world. "You see, Gensokyo is a world full of people with wildly different amounts of power, so a system was needed to equalize things. Otherwise, weaker youkai would go extinct, and this land would be one of chaos."
"I see. I assume the Spell Card Rules are this equalizing system?"
"Precisely! Instead of strength, battles are decided based on creativity, beauty, and massive amounts of projectiles! Each person who wants to participate creates strong, named attacks called Spell Cards. They usually represent something significant to the caster, as past experiences fuel creativity."
Neolect was quite happy to be able to absorb new information like this. "Fascinating. From the battle I witnessed, both combatants used similar magic projectiles. Do all participants gain the ability to use these magic projections, or is it an inherent ability of stronger creatures here?"
"Unfortunately, the latter. If you want to participate in Spell Card duels, it would be best to find some way to project energy shots like that. The power of all attacks are equalized, so you could use physical projectiles as part of your Spell Cards, but it's best that they aren't all you have."
"Do you know any way to create energy projectiles like this artificially? I wish to be able to participate in these duels, as it seems like the most common way to resolve disagreements."
"Personally, no clue! Since I can use magic, I haven't had to consider something like this before." Nitori pondered what she could do to help Neolect. "Oh! I know! While I may have no idea how to help, I know someone who might!"
"This is good news." Neolect was interested in whoever this person may be.
"Her name's Reimu Hakurei. She resolves a lot of 'incidents' here, and she's seen a lot of things, so she might know something that could help! She's also helped some people get started with the Spell Card system."
"It sounds like she's the perfect person for this. Are there any catches?"
"As long as we catch her on a good day, we should be fine. I'm sure she'd be even more inclined to help if we donated to her shrine, too."
"She has a shrine? Is she some sort of god?" Neolect knew that this world had "gods" based on how he learned of Utsuho's existence.
Nitori chuckled. "Nah, she's a shrine maiden for a god. No one even knows what her god is like."
"I see. So, when should we go over?"
"Whenever you're ready! I don't really have anything planned today."
"Sounds good. I'll activate the Hellhound, and then I'll be ready to move out." Neolect willed the robotic wolf body to move and hoped that this journey would be slightly less arduous than the decent into Former Hell.
Nitori and Neolect set out for the Hakurei Shrine, moving along the ground quite quickly. It wasn't long before a group of fairies attacked the duo. Neolect had learned that these things would be a constant pest wherever he went, so he was ready. The robotic wolf body extended its mounted anti-materiel rifle and began making short work of the fairies. Nitori pulled out something resembling a water gun and fired. The water launched from the weapon travelled with the force of a bullet, easily dispatching the fairies it hit. The technologically advanced duo had no issue dealing with the swarm of nuisances.
After that, the trip was uneventful until Nitori and Neolect reached the Hakurei Shrine. Nitori flicked a coin into the donation box. After this, there was an audible racket from inside, as though the sound of the coin landing in the box had awakened some creature. A few seconds later, a girl clad in what Neolect could tell was some sort of religious outfit exited the shrine. She looked inside of the box, and was visibly overjoyed.
"YES! I didn't imagine the sound this time! Someone actually donated to the shrine…" Reimu was almost tearing up.
Neolect couldn't help but feel bad for the girl if she was this happy to get a single coin.
"Ahem." Nitori tried to get the shrine maiden's attention.
"Oh, right, I should probably help out whoever donated. Who do I need to kill?" Reimu looked up, and saw a most unusual duo. "Nitori? I thought you lived near the Moriya Shrine, what brings you here? Also, what kind of youkai is that next to you?"
Neolect was about to respond, but Nitori beat him to it. "Well, my friend here can't use magic at all, but wishes to participate in Spell Card Duels. I was wondering if there was any possible way for that to happen?"
Neolect decided to introduce himself. "I am Neolect, an artificial intelligence inhabiting a robotic body. I am not a youkai."
"Good, then I won't have to exterminate you."
Neolect was glad that he had cleared things up as soon as possible.
Reimu thought for a moment. "No magic, huh? Let's see, how could you participate…"
While Reimu was deep in thought, a familiar girl in a witch outfit riding a broom entered the scene. "Yo, Reimu, how're things going? Who are your guests?"
Neolect heard the familiar voice and was immediately ready to defend himself. The wolf body prepared every one of its weapons, including an anti-materiel rifle, a stun grenade launcher, and an electrolaser, and trained them on Marisa.
Nitori was quite nervous at the sudden development. "Wait! Neolect! Put away the weapons, we're not here to fight!"
"I do not intend to fire unless necessary, but this is Marisa Kirisame, and she's registered as 'hostile' based on prior experience."
Both Reimu and Marisa were quite stunned, but Reimu recovered quickly, turning to face Marisa. "…Marisa, what did you do?"
"I don't know! I've never seen this dog… before…" Marisa thought for a moment. "Wait, I recognize the name Neolect! That's what some weird bird I tried to catch a few weeks ago called itself! It wasn't a dog, though, so maybe it can shapeshift?"
Reimu groaned in annoyance. "Okay, whatever. Marisa, don't mess with our guest again, and Neolect, put away the weapons."
"Understood." The robotic wolf body retracted its weapons.
"That aside," Reimu moved on, "I can't really help you get started with Spell Card duels until you have the means to properly attack. However, I think it's possible to create danmaku bullets without magic."
Neolect was quite happy to learn of the possibility. "How so?"
"I'm not entirely sure myself, but I've seen someone do it. Some weirdo named Yumemi Okazaki."
Marisa joined in. "Oh yeah, I remember her! She said her power used 'photons' or something, it was weird. She called it scientific magic. which seems like an oxymoron to me. Man, how long ago was that?"
Neolect was struck with realization. "Yumemi Okazaki? That's the name of someone my creator talked about a lot! He said that they were great friends who bonded over 'shared experiences.' Please, tell me more about this person you met."
Reimu replied, "Well, she came in some big ship. Apparently she wanted to bring one of us back to the Outside World to prove that magic exists. She's got red hair, and is apparently a 'college professor,' whatever that means."
"There's no denying it." Neolect was still in shock, but this could only mean one thing. "This is the same person my creator talked about. She was laughed out of the scientific community for claiming that magic exists, something that we had no evidence for and that went completely against the established String Theory. However, now it seems she was onto something…"
Neolect sat completely silent for a few minutes.
"Oi, Neolect, you just gonna sit there, or…" Marisa poked the machine with her broom.
Neolect perked up. "Ah, sorry, I was just considering the ramifications of the fact that Yumemi has been to Gensokyo before. So, you said her power was based on photons?"
"That is correct," replied Reimu.
"Ah, it makes sense now! Since Spell Card Rules equalize the power of any attacks, even weak projectiles could work quite well! She must've used lumitechnics in place of magic."
"Lumitechnics?" Marisa asked, looking at Neolect with confusion. Nitori and Reimu were equally confused.
"Yeah, a form of entertainment invented a few decades ago. Explaining how it works would take a few hours, but essentially, it's a way to project light in very specific patterns. With it, you could make it look like you're holding a ball of fire, or practically anything else you can imagine. I would not have thought to use it for anything resembling combat, so I appreciate you bringing this to mind."
"Uh, sure, no problem." Reimu still wasn't sure about anything Neolect had just said, but she was glad to help her donators.
"I'll create a body capable of lumitechnics, and then return here tomorrow to get set up for Spell Card duels. Is that okay with you, Reimu?" Neolect asked.
"Yeah, fine with me."
"Excellent. I'll see you later, then." With that, Nitori and Neolect left the shrine. Neolect kept a cautious gaze on Marisa as he left, still careful about any further capture attempts.
Reimu sighed. "Marisa, you have GOT to stop making new enemies. My shrine could have very well been destroyed if you two ended up fighting!"
Marisa chuckled. "It would cost like, what, 100 yen to replace it? Besides, I thought the thing was just a helpless bird! How was I supposed to know it was some dog youkai with weapons in its body?"
Reimu was angry at Marisa's comment on her shrine's value, but she shrugged it off. "I guess you get a pass, but still, be careful about what you mess with!"
"Yeah, yeah. Anyways, I'm off to go borrow some books!" Marisa flew away at high speeds.
"Man, she really knows how to listen, doesn't she?" Reimu was prepared to get a request from Patchouli later.
Nitori and Neolect returned to the bunker without much incident. The robotic wolf body was taken to its charging port and deactivated while Nitori hopped into a chair and got comfortable.
"Well, that was certainly eventful, but I'm glad we could find a way for you to participate in duels!"
"Indeed, although the conversation has left me with a lot to think about."
Nitori had a general idea of what he was talking about, as he apparently had history with the "Yumemi" person that Reimu and Marisa mentioned. "So, Neolect, have you ever actually talked to Yumemi, or did you just hear about her from your creator?"
Neolect responded, "I have never actually spoken to her. In fact, before coming to Gensokyo, the only person I had ever talked to was my creator. Even though I was apparently the first successful human-level AI, I was never shown to anyone. To this day, I have no idea why that is."
"Strange." Nitori couldn't think of any reason for this, either. After all, new tech is always a great way to make money, so why would you hide it? "Well, I guess that gives you something to work towards figuring out! Anyways, for now, how about we work on your Spell Card body?"
"That sounds nice," replied Neolect.
000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
In the Outside World, a significant event began to unfold. A girl with red hair wearing a red and white dress approached a decrepit old shrine, followed by a younger, blond-haired girl wearing a completely white dress.
The red-haired girl spoke. "Well, Chiyuri, this shrine is the closest thing to Gensokyo we have access to. Let's see if it can help us."
000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
Author's Notes: Sorry about how long this chapter took to create! I was a little bit stumped about where to take the story next for a bit, and that combined with life stuff and the fact I've also been writing something else delayed this chapter a bit longer than I wanted. Either way, here's chapter 7!
…Completely unrelated to the other story I've been writing, here's my fictionpress account: u/1166970/thatwhichisdead
I will be changing the story of Yumemi slightly to fit better with the version of the Outside World I've created, so I hope you don't mind!
Speaking of Yumemi, the plot thickens! It seems like Neolect's creator was close friends with her.
Neolect's about to get his Spell Cards, too!
Anyways, I hope you had a good time reading this chapter, because I had fun writing it. Have or continue to have a great day!