Heroic New Era: Flawed Diamonds

by Xovercreator

Trapped in an unfamiliar Gensokyo, Richard is left trying to survive in a land so familiar to him, yet oh so different, as schemes began to run behind the scenes. In a world where outsiders are treated like monsters, can he be able to find peace with the residents, and be able to uphold the land of fantasy's fragile balance and order, with the odds against him?

5. Chapter 5

Chapter 5: Quiet Life

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Several days later…

"Is it really possible to bolster my own power production by your form of meditation?" Richard remarked, as he and Reimu were floating in the air, as white wisps of energy were forming around them. "I can feel the change… but it's negligible to me…"

"It's a process of continuous reinforcement." Reimu responded back. "It'll feel slow to you, but as long as you keep practicing it, you'll feel the change soon enough."

"If you say so." Richard responded back. "...Say, why are you teaching me all of this? I thought that you wouldn't be teaching me anything that the Gappies won't learn."

"The Gappies, with their myriad of unconventional powers, have no means to be able to harness the magical energy as you and I do." Reimu responded back. "It's still surprising to me actually, that you're drawing from the surroundings, rather than building energy within, and that you're compatible with the ambient energy of this realm. So I decided, after seeing you train for several days so well, that this might help you."

"Thanks for it, in case I don't get the chance to thank you for it." Richard responded back.

"You're welcome." Reimu declared.

After a while, they ceased their meditation, as they both moved into the air.

"Alright, you know the drill." Reimu declared. "I want you to dodge everything that I'm going to throw at you."

"As usual." Richard answered back. "...Actually, mind if you spice things up? You tossed several Spell-Cards at me, but I can handle them fine. So how about we take this up a notch?"

"How so?" Reimu asked.

"Give me Fantasy He-" Richard said.

"No. And don't ask again." Reimu flatly declined. "That spell-card is on a whole different level compared to any other spell-card you might face. You will not enjoy what comes next if you try it."

"Well… as long it doesn't kill me-" Richard started.

"It'll make you wish that it can." Reimu answered back seriously.

"...Point. Well, anything that you think will be nearly an unfair challenge for me?" Richard suggested.

"I have one. Divine Arts 'Omnidirectional Dragon Slaying Circle'." Reimu declared, before then firing a massive formation of ofuda bullets, as they swayed in various directions, boxing Richard in, as he was forced to dodge side to side, as well as dodging the ring of red spiked bullets that were coming his way. "Now then, let's see how you'll apply the lessons here. No attacking, just survival."

Richard flinched, as he began to hug the streams, to help give him a clear guide on where his boundaries were, as he weaved through the incoming spiked bullets, as he was forced to graze him with how closely packed they were, as the very act was taxing on him.

As the time went on, Richard became more and more fatigued, trying to avoid colliding with the wall of ofudas, as he began to be more and more erratic with his moments, getting closer and closer to hitting a bullet, until he was able to right himself, as the last wave of bullets passed by him.

"Now then, still think you're up for Fantasy Heaven?" Reimu quipped.

"Hah… Hah… Yeah, I take back my former statement." Richard panted. "...Cocky son of a bitch I was… Thinking that I would be able to handle something like that if one of your Lunatic-grades could have me winded like this just to time-out."

"At least you're learning." Reimu smiled back. "Now then, how will you handle the rest while you're fatigued?"

"Ah shiIIIIIIII-" Richard started, before he then screeched, as he dodged the multitude of purification needles, ofudas and yin-yang orbs coming his way, until one of the latter hit him in the face, while another hit him right in his own hit-box, as he crashed into the ground.

"You okay?" Reimu asked, before Richard scrambled for a pink box, as the life item brought Richard back to his feet.

"Yeah. Let's retry that, shall we?" Richard stated, as the barrage continued again, but this time, Richard was much more prepared, as he was able to weave through the barrage.

The live training continued for an hour or so, until the both of them finished up, as they took a moment to have tea together, partaking in it, as Marisa came by to check up on Richard.

"So, Reimu, how do you think Richard's coming along?" Marisa asked Reimu with a big smile.

"He's coming along well. But I think that it is less training in the sense of learning, but in the sense of reacquainting him." Reimu stated. "He has natural reflexes that make him able to dodge most of what's coming his way. I've been slowly acclimating him to my spell-cards, and he's learning quickly against them. I think that using the various types of spell-cards has proven to me that he is experienced with our ways. It irks me that Yukari knows that I need to be the one training you to recover your skills, and I don't know why that is."

"Mm." Richard stated, before sipping his warm green tea.

"You know, you do know that if you weren't forcing him to not attack, he'd beat you quite hard with his magic." Marisa teased. "I know because I had him run a few tests for me on his powers… and believe me, you'll be surprised that he's ranking pretty high in terms of fire-power."

"Don't go around fitting those ideas in Richard's head." Reimu growled. "He needs to keep his head low, lest he attracts attention that he doesn't need."

"Like you're one to talk, Miss 'I'm going to sit out each incident until every single gappy's gone'." Marisa remarked, before Richard choked on his tea hearing those words.

"I'm sorry?" Richard asked, before looking at Reimu and Marisa both with pointed stares.

"It's…" Reimu stated, before she then sighed. "It's complicated. Believe me on this: There is a reason that I'm sitting these incidents out. But rest assured, I am not being idle here."

"And don't look at me like I'm wrong!" Marisa complained. "I'm just saying that Reimu should really be more active. I mean… you would feel the same way after what happened in the Human Village, right?"

"Right…" Richard remarked, looking down at his tea.

"Look, Marisa. I want you to promise me one thing." Reimu declared seriously. "I want to make sure that he doesn't get into trouble. From what I can tell, he hasn't got many friends here. Promise me you will not let him go to Makai, or put him in any danger."

"You got the Yama's word on it, just as long as he doesn't snap like the rest of the Gappies." Marisa stated.

"I sincerely hope it doesn't come to that…" Reimu frowned. "...He's head-strong when it comes to morals, and that could be used against him in many ways."

"I won't let it come to that." Richard declared. "...I promise that I will not act unless there is serious danger for everyone else."

"Deal." Marisa answered back. "Now then, how about you treat me to something?"

"Why is that?" Richard asked.

"Come on~" Marisa teased. "Surely you could afford to give the person who helped you with your powers a meal or two?"

"So long as you don't eat my wallet dry." Richard countered back. "I ain't made of cash you know, Marisa."

"Sure." Marisa responded back.

The two of them then said their farewells to Reimu, before they took a trip to the Human Village, as Richard gave his money pouch a few shakes, as it gave a few hollow ringing sounds as a result.

"Wow, that sounds like a fair bit of money there." Marisa whistled. "What job did you take to get that much?"

"Exterminating youkai." Richard answered back, as Marisa turned suspicious on hearing those words. "Don't worry, it's nothing serious. Just some feral youkai who decided that the agreement is not for them. They've… done a few things that I rather not repeat."

"Oh?" Marisa asked.

"I'll give you a hint. How do you prepare a turkey?" Richard remarked darkly, as he had a glare in his eyes.

Marisa opened her mouth, before she then realized what Richard meant, before closing it, as there was a disgusted expression on her face.

"Oh." Marisa stated.

"It's community service, plain and simple. I don't enjoy murdering for cash…" Richard answered back. "But it's a win-win situation. They have a bounty on them, and I have come to collect them. Gensokyo's a better place without such filth committing such heinous acts on it."

"But still…" Marisa frowned. "Don't talk casually about killing people. It's not something that you should be getting used to."

"...You have no idea." Richard muttered under his breath, before they reached the ramen stand. "Oh look, we're here already!"

The two of them took their seats, taking their orders, as they waited silently for a few minutes, before they then proceeded to receive their order, as Richard took first bite, being the more hungry of the two.

"Wow, all of this training has been getting you quite hungry, hasn't it?" Marisa joked.

"Well, I burned my calories in the morning just doing dodge training with Hakurei of all people." Richard answered back.

"You want to know what I think?" Marisa said. "After seeing how your life right now is usually eating, train, walk, do jobs, and sleep, I think that you really need some socializing in your life."

"Why that in particular?" Richard asked back.

"Because you're being a damn square, that's what!" Marisa declared firmly, before taking a gulp of the soup broth of her own bowl of ramen. "I know that you're not good at talking to any of us. But you gotta start somewhere."

Richard was about to retort, before acknowledging the fact that he does know how to speak well with the others, although he did not want to risk building relations with the wrong people, who could seek to use him for their own benefit to his loss.

"I can try." Richard simply stated.

"Excellent!" Marisa remarked, before they then both saw Reisen come towards them, as she was peddling medicine wares from Eientei. "Hey, I think that she might be a good starter for growing your friend group."

"Of course." Richard answered back. "But don't try to get in my way. I rather not have you stick a foot in my mouth while I try to build a connection with her. You don't exactly know social-fu."

"Bah!" Marisa scoffed. "She's so simple! Just compliment her and she'll fall head over heels for you. Her self-esteem is so horribly low that anyone can hook up with her if they at least make a try for it."

"You know that's a dick move to say that." Richard shook his head, before seeing that she was by the ramen stand.

"Buy the latest medicines from the House of Eternity! Run faster! Jump higher!" Reisen bellowed, waving a white medicinal bottle around. "Medicine for sale!"

"Hey!" Richard exclaimed, as Reisen turned around, before he then placed both hands under his chin as an inviting gesture. "So you say that the medicine that you're peddling for will help make me faster? I could very well have used that before. What's the price?"

"About 5000 ryo a bottle." Reisen remarked, before she then recognised Richard. "Wait, you're the one who fought in the Human Village against Rumia when her limiter amulet was off, and the one that collapsed after the fight."

"Ahahaha…" Richard awkwardly chuckled. "I overestimated my capabilities back there, and might have lost some face crumpling down like that. And I'm still sore from my own injuries, so having some medicine to help bolster my natural recovery, as well give me a bit of a kick would be nice… so two bottles, please?"

"R-Right away!" Reisen declared, as Richard tipped out the exact amount of ryo for his purchase, before placing it into the money box strapped to Reisen's waist, while Reisen passed two bottles of the Eientei medicine, as Richard stored it in his pocket. "I see that you're having lunch with Miss Kirisame."

"It's my treat for a deal we made before." Richard responded back, as Marisa waved back with a cheeky grin. "In fact, why don't you come along and eat with us? I could use someone as cute as you to help make my day a lot more brighter."

"C-C-Cute!?" Reisen exclaimed, flustered by Richard's compliment, before regaining her composure. "N-No thanks, I'm not really the relationship type. I-I'm too busy working, and I really-"

"How long have you been working for?" Richard curiously asked.

"Around about the break of dawn…?" Reisen remarked.

"Good grief, then you really need a hard drink." Richard winced. "Look, I get your devotion to work, and I'm proud of the fact that you're so committed to it. But one of these days, you're going to work yourself into a tizzy, no matter how used to these shifts you get. I'm begging you, please take a break with me, Eirin shouldn't have problems for you taking a break to drink and eat. After all, you must have peddled to some customers other than me, and that should be satisfactory work already."

"Well…" Reisen remarked, as she pressed her fingers nervously.

"Besides, I don't want to see your gorgeous face besieged with wrinkles born from work stress." Richard teased. "And I think that making friends with each other will be great for both of our lives. We don't need to rush it along, we can take all the time we need to get to know each other and become friends. So what time do you think that you can find a time to have a break at?"

"I suppose an hour will do. That local izakaya over there will do." Reisen remarked, as she gestured at the izakaya. "I'm sure that my boss doesn't even pay much attention to me anyway. And please, take this herbal cream solution, for your injuries. They should do the trick nicely."

"You're far too kind." Richard declared, as he tried to decline the cream solution. "I can't possibly let you gift it to me for free like that. That would be most unfair of me."

"I insist, for taking your time to talk with me, and being so nice." Reisen smiled back.

"In that case, see you in an hour. And I hope that your trip is safe and sound, and that you make a lot more sales with your medicine. I say that it's fairly priced for what it's worth." Richard declared.

"Thanks, Richard." Reisen nodded, before she then left to continue peddling her medicine, repeating the same announcement over and over.

"Well, well… Look who's Mr Smooth Operator here…" Marisa smugly declared. "And you were cool as ice."

"I ain't some socially awkward brat, Marisa." Richard remarked, before waving his glass of water around. "You should really stop associating me with Gappies, even though we do share some similarities in terms of power and some minor parts of the mentality."

"Ah, you're alright in my books." Marisa smirked.

The two of them went back to finishing their bowl of ramen, before they then parted ways after Richard paid for the both of them, as he encountered Keine along the way.

"Richard." Keine declared firmly.

"Kamishirasawa-sensei." Richard bowed gently. "How goes the fundraiser to mourn those who have lost their lives in Rumia's attacks?"

"Quite well. It seems that this incident has stirred people up." Keine answered back. "...If only I could say that all of it was good…"

"I understand how you feel, knowing that people blame the youkai in general for what happened." Richard assured Keine. "But you're doing the right thing, choosing to turn the other cheek. You are better than misguided hate, and you are effective as a major leading figure of this village. You're doing more than I ever could as a temporary resident who still hasn't earned the trust of a single townsfolk here."

"You mustn't depreciate yourself like that." Keine scolded Richard. "The children actually wanted to see you visit the class again as a educational guest sone time soon."

"They… they do?" Richard asked back with surprise.

"Yes. They seem to like how you taught them with a more vivid nature. They seem to like your stories." Keine smiled.

"Tell them that I'm so happy to hear that from them, won't you, sensei?" Richard smiled brightly. "It's so nice to hear that there are some people who like me for what I am."

Keine nodded, as Richard continued along, as they waved goodbye to each other, as Richard began to go for a full tour of the village to spend time, as he kept his eyes and ears open for anything interesting.

When the hour was up, Richard was right by the izakaya, as Reisen was waiting for him by the door.

"Hi." Reisen stated, as Richard walked over to her.

"So, I suppose that you managed to find some time." Richard responded back. "That's great for us."

The two of them immediately found a free table, as they sat down, before they then ordered some beer, as well as a freshly made nabe, as they took their time slowly eating through it, as Reisen seemed to be overjoyed at the meal, while Richard smiled at Reisen's barely-hidden joy.

"Tell me about yourself." Richard started. "I want to know a bit more about the woman behind the medicine."

"Well, if you read the guides, you know that I'm Reisen Udongein Inaba, a moon rabbit from the moon itself." Reisen admitted. "What the guide didn't tell you is that I'm actually ex-military."

"Oh?" Richard remarked back. "An expatriate. And ex-military? Funny, I got the same thing going for me."

"Really?" Reisen asked back. "I suppose that from the shots you dealt Rumia with, using the sidearm of one of my fallen brethren back then… and the fact that you favor throwing knives seem to betray that fact."

"Well, throwing knives was a part of my kit back then." Richard shrugged, before taking a deep gulp of his mug of beer. "It's funny really, two ex-military people, meeting each other, on differing ends of society. I'm a freelancer, you're an assistant to Eirin Yagakoro. Wouldn't you say that this is a turn of fortune for both of us?"

"Mm." Reisen remarked, as she took her own sip, before using her provided napkin to clean her mouth. "So I guess you were in the army before you got gapped here by Yukari, huh?"

"Well… about the latter part… yeah, let's just say it is like that to simplify matters." Richard hesitated for a moment. "But yeah, I was technically still in the army, but I sort of transferred positions, if you get what I mean."

"Do tell." Reisen stated.

"I sort of have been transferred into a spec-ops team." Richard explained, trying to parse his experiences in a manner that Reisen could believe in. "We are basically global in scale, and we deal with a lot of dangerous threats. The supernatural and godly kind."

"Wow." Reisen remarked. "No wonder you were able to run circles around Rumia even with her limiter off. You must have fought such beings before."

"Yeah. But I had the support of my team back then. Here, I had to rely on local aid…" Richard answered back, before he then frowned. "...Sorry, that might sound scummy coming from me."

"No, it's alright. It shows that you trust in our capabilities as we do yours." Reisen smiled back. "But back then, tell me, what were you before you were spec-ops?"

"I was a major. Complete with the official duties of delegating my duties to my men, and ensuring that the warfront isn't a clusterfuck, or as little as I can make it." Richard simply responded. "As for which division I was in… well, I don't think that any of you would know it, but I was in the 45th Infantry Battalion of my army, the Freeplains Alliance. I was one of the high ranking officers serving to manage half of the companies under it. It was a hard task, I assure you, in my war-time tenure. "

"How did it go?" Reisen asked, before Richard turned solemn.

"...It was a major victory, and many lives were saved…" Richard muttered. "But there are many more lives that I have sent to die. Men that died on the fault of my own command. I remember the dead everyday, Reisen. Reminders that I cannot fail in my duties, lest more join them in the mass graves."

"Oh." Reisen remarked, as she turned sad as well, as both of them were silent for a moment. "Richard… Can I ask a question?"

"Go ahead. It's fine to ask for it." Richard nodded.

"I want to ask you something that might seem personal." Reisen stated. "What were you before you were in the army? What kind of person would you be without your powers?"

"Why do you ask those questions?" Richard asked, trying to not sound accusing in his response.

"I wish to know you a bit better. I… I feel like you're in need of someone who can understand you. So please, I want you to try and let me get through to you." Reisen responded with genuine concern for Richard.

Richard looked down at his beer mug, before he then exhaled slowly, and then looked back at Reisen.

"If you tell me first what kind of person you feel like you are… I will give you my answer." Richard stated, as Reisen was about to say something. "Please… I would feel more comfortable if you took initiative over me, because I don't feel so good telling you firsthand."

"Okay." Reisen nodded. "I tend to get stuck in work mode a lot, and it does get lonely out here in Gensokyo. But as I always say, looking back on all the good times I had in Gensokyo and the people I've met… I realized leaving the Outside World was a good idea. Would you not agree?"

"Those are great words to live by." Richard complimented Reisen. "Especially when they are from you and you alone. Perhaps you are something more than just some simple worker. I can see the meek but passionate woman underneath your exterior."

"So then, what about you?" Reisen asked.

"Me? Well…" Richard stated, before he closed his eyes for a moment to compose himself. "I would say that I wouldn't have been much different than what I am now… but I wouldn't be as forthcoming and confident as I am. In fact… I would be a lot more of a mess as I am right now. I… The journey that got me my powers is what made me a better person than what I was before. And what I was before… wasn't something anyone could be proud of."

"You feel like you're worthless without them?" Reisen prodded.

"Far, far worse than that." Richard shook his head. "I'm instead detrimental to other people, and that's something far more sinful than anything else."

"Could you-" Reisen suggested.

"No." Richard harshly stated, as Reisen jolted slightly at the urgency of his own reply, before he then lowered his voice. "Please, no. Not now. Maybe when we get to know each other better, and that I can feel that I can trust you with that dark secret."

"Okay." Reisen nodded back, before she was about to rise up. "Well, I wish I had more time to figure you out, Richard, you seem to be a fairly nice guy who does his best to care for others. I wish that one day I can find out what ails you, and help you get through it. Maybe some more time could have helped, but if the other rabbits found out I was out with a guy, I'd be the laughing-stock of Eientei."

"And we'd tell the doc you were wasting her money to go drinking!" Tewi exclaimed, as she was leaning out of one of the windows, with several Earth rabbit girls by her sides, all smugly watching the scene, shocking Reisen. "Now get your butt back this instant. You're here to sell medicines, not your body."

"I'm so sorry, Richard. You know where-" Reisen stated.

"It's fine." Richard remarked gently, before turning to Tewi. "As for you, this break is on me, so you'd be telling a lie about that. But then again, who can stop the White Hare of Inaba spreading lies? Either way, she deserved this break, and I won't have you saying otherwise."

Reisen was shocked hearing those words, while Tewi merely scoffed.

"Yeah sure, like you could-" Tewi remarked, before Richard slammed his bag of ryo, as the weighty sound ceased all refutations from the Earth Rabbit.

"You're not the only one who gets lucky streaks here and there, white rabbit." Richard stated back, with a smug smile of his own.

"Thank you, Richard. I'm glad that you're willing to stand up for me." Reisen gratefully declared, before she then turned to leave.

"Daaaw, isn't that cute?" Tewi quipped, with both hands on her face.

"Shut up, Tewi!/ Piss off, Tewi!" Reisen and Richard declared, with Richard being more aggressive, as Tewi and her posse of Earth Rabbits left the window-side.

Richard then looked at what remained of the nabe, before he then decided to finish it off, at the risk of stuffing himself a bit beyond being full, in order to avoid wasting the food, while he used the rest of his mug of beer to help wash it down.

He then walked over to the izakaya owner by the counter, before placing down the ryo bag.

"Here's the money for the meal." Richard declared. "My friend had urgent matters to get to, so I'll be paying for the entire bill myself. Is that fine?"

"No, that's fine." The owner answered back, as she gave a quick count of the money, before confirming that the right payment was given. "See you again soon."

"Thank you." Richard nodded, before he then left the izakaya.

He then decided to take a trip to a nearby sweet stand, buying a pair of candied fruit sticks, as a gift for someone, before he then immediately left the Human Village, heading towards the Misty Lake, in order to give his gift to a certain ice fairy.

However, along the way, he was suddenly ambushed by a streak of red fanged danmaku, which caused him to side-step, before he then looked down, as he saw that there was a small gathering of feral youkai, that was being led by a brown-haired male wolf youkai, who had a bloodied bandage over one of his eyes.

Richard merely sighed, before he then slowly floated down, before stopping in front of the feral youkai gathering.

"You again." Richard declared. "...You really think that you'll be able to get revenge on me like this?"

"Shut up! I'm going to kill you for taking my left eye, and killing several of my bitches and best men!" The leader growled back, as he was filled with feral rage.

"You really have no idea when to quit, don't you?" Richard declared. "You must have a death wish if you're picking a fight with me when I was so nice to let you go… after all of the shit your little band has got up to. My mistake was letting you live as a warning. And if you don't want me to carry through on it, scatter immediately, and fuck right back off to whatever damp cave you crawled out of today. I have little patience for repeat offenders, especially those who rape both adults and children, and feed on their flesh."

"Hah! You think we don't know that you haven't fully recovered from Rumia's attack!?" The leader declared arrogantly. "We know that you're still hurting from the injuries she gave you. I bet that a few good hits will do you in. And once we do… I'll make you suffer before I end your wretched life by bleeding every single drop of blood from you."

"So that's how it is." Richard declared, before summoning a metal blade to fight with. "Fine then, so be it. You know, you're gutless for trying to pick a fight with me right here and now with the rest of your gang. You want to know why?"

"The fuck are you on about? I ain't gutless!" The leader growled. "Then tell me, wise-ass, how am I gutless?"

"Because sending your entire gang to commit mass-suicide with you via me is such a pathetic move." Richard declared, with a cruel smile. "But hey, here's the solace in it all: You get to die knowing that you die in the only fair fight you get. So there's some honor in that twisted head of yours. Shame that I'm going to turn it into the village chief, so that he knows that his daughter has been avenged."

"GET HIM!" The leader declared with frothing rage, as the feral youkai began to rush Richard down, as they began to lunge and shoot at Richard.

Due to lacking experience, the youkai could only fire simple patterns at Richard, which he was able to easily predict and dodge, before he then dispensed several knives, and throw three of them in rapid succession, killing the first three that were about to lay upon him, before he then cut down a fourth with a slash through the neck mid-pounce while he was sidestepping it.

Richard then dodged under a fire-ball, before doing a under-hand flick of a knife, as it managed to dig right into the heart of the attacker, causing her to drop dead on the spot, and catch a bakeneko youkai by the face, before he then plunged his blade right through his heart, causing the cat youkai to slump across the length of the blade.

"Damn you!" One of the wolf youkai growled, as he wielded a massive spear, as he tried to thrust through Richard with it, only for him to leap over it, and land right on the spear itself, before then shattering it with the application of force on his feet, before he picked up the bladed end of the broken spear, and slamming it hard right through the head of his attacker, causing him to fall backwards dead.

"Attack him everywhere, he can't get all of us!" One of the youkai declared, as they began to rush him down en-masse, not caring about the concept of friendly fire.

"Cute." Richard sneered, before he timed his own launch so that the youkai would crash into each other, as the lucky ones ended up not being impaled by the attacks of the others, which would leave them in excruciating agony.

Richard then immediately tossed up a storm of knives, before he then immediately used his magic to manipulate half of them, as the other half rained down on the youkai, driving themselves through whatever flesh was in their path, before his directed knives began to carve the youkai apart, cutting and piercing wherever Richard directed them.

Eventually, when Richard floated back down, all that was alive in the fight was the leader himself, who was terrified at the slaughter that happened before his eyes, and Richard, who seemed to be unfazed.

"No.. No way…" The leader remarked.

"Now then, and there was only one." Richard remarked, dusting his hands off. "Let's finish this."

"DAMN YOU!" The leader roared, before a red aura began to form around him, as he began to fire a massive barrage of beastly projectiles, made from wolf heads and sharpened claws, as they launched towards Richard, who slowly advanced towards them, dodging them with slight movements. "I'm supposed to be feared by humans! I'm one of the strongest free youkai here! I refuse to be killed by some human with magical powers!"

Richard didn't even deign to respond to that, before he then managed to reach the leader, and interrupt his attack, with a powerful slash diagonally across his body, as it was enough to carve right through his body, as massive amounts of blood spewed forth from the wound, as the leader collapsed.

As the leader tried to back away, Richard smashed a foot onto his chest to stop him, as the leader looked up to Richard, as the sunlight shone on the back of his head.

"You're… you're a damn monster!" The leader exclaimed. "You think that those residents will let you do this to us!? You're going to die like I did for what you have done!"

"And why is that?" Richard asked back. "All I did was finish a simple bounty. I merely used my knives and swords to deal with you. Very little magic usage at all. Tactical and swift, my battle has not affected the balance of Gensokyo at all."

Richard then grinded his foot deeper into the leader's chest, as he began to hurl blood from the force.

"And who gives a shit about the word of a feral rapist like you?" Richard remarked coldly. "The rules never applied to you. You kill and rape as you please, and you seek refuge in it now? Sorry, but that's not how the world works. You reap what you sow, shit-stain. And if you think that Kamishirasawa will be any more merciful than me, you're dead wrong. The results will be the same as they are now. But at least I can say that I finished what I have started with you."

Richard then raised his blade, as the leader began to panic, trying to get out of his hold.

"Next time around, bastard… don't be such an ass." Richard declared. "Because there's always someone like me who won't give a shit about anything but killing you."

Richard then beheaded the leader with a swift slash, as his head rolled across the ground for a moment, before coming to a stop, as his eyes were still frozen with fear. The magician then surveyed the area, seeing the countless dead bodies, before then at himself, who was covered with blood.

"...I guess ferals are the same everywhere." Richard remarked casually, before he then cleansed the evidence of his fight, with the blood and viscera being washed off by cleansing water, as he then continued his trip.

It didn't take long, as he managed to find the island in the middle of the lake, as both Daiyousei and Cirno seemed to be having their usual fun looking for someone to pester, seeing Richard coming towards them.

"Huh? Oh, it's you." Cirno remarked. "What's up? Have you decided to come for revenge on us for what happened last time?"

"Not really. I have come to apologize for what happened back there." Richard remarked softly.

"Wait, you're serious?" Daiyousei remarked with surprise.

"As serious as I can be." Richard responded back. "Look, it wasn't like your prank was going to harm me. It's just a few bugs, what's wrong with that?"

"Well, everyone seems like they don't enjoy this!" Cirno complained, before pouting harshly. "Every time, they tattle on me towards either Keine-sensei or Reimu, so that they would scold or beat me up. It's not like I hurt them badly or something, like those other youkai."

"Sometimes, pranks can go a bit too far for some people." Richard admitted. "Some people might actually have a traumatic experience with bugs, which means that this kind of prank would actually scar them mentally. Would you want that on anyone?"

"Well, I…!" Cirno exclaimed, before shaking her head badly. "Of course I wouldn't go that far! I'm not that cruel to people! Sure, I may have freezed a person here and there… but they deserved it for being absolute jerks! And they thawed out eventually with only a few sniffles!"

"I'm not calling you anything bad." Richard tried to placate the situation before it could ruin both Cirno's and Daiyousei's mood. "Besides, I think that I should get to the point of it all. I brought something nice for the both of you."

Richard then pulled out the two sticks of candied fruit, as Cirno and Daiyousei were shocked for a moment.

"How did you know that we would like this…!?" Daiyousei exclaimed.

"I took a guess. And judging by your excited expressions, I think I did a good job." Richard smiled. "So, let's have this as proof that we got off on the wrong foot. I don't think you're that annoying. You're just like Tewi in a way, you tend to stir up trouble, but it's people like you who make life here fun for most people. And I want to make friends during my time here. So, how about it, Cirno, the strongest of the fairies. Would you not accept this humble man's request to be friends?"

"Hrmm…" Cirno muttered, before she then took a bite of the candied fruit stick, crunching it several times, before she then nodded. "Okay. I guess that's fine. So long as you give me gifts like these, or spend some time having fun with me, I don't mind calling you friend."

"Excellent." Richard grinned, before turning to Daiyousei. "And you?"

"Sure. If you're Cirno's friend, you're my friend as well." Daiyousei stated. "...And honestly, I think that you're a better person than most of the people here, to actually bother to give us a gift just to make us feel better."

"Well, I just can't help it." Richard chuckled gently. "I should be off. Enjoy the fruit candy as much as you like. I might actually come back to give you some more, as Cirno suggested."

Both fairies nodded, as Richard took to the skies, as he went for Heaven, to check on the Celestials, as he saw that Momoi and Tenshi were fishing by one of the freshwater streams that was among the clouds of Heaven.

"Oh, it's you again!" Tenshi greeted Richard nicely. "So, how are you doing? Found something interesting today?"

"Well, it's a day of ups and downs, both interesting." Richard admitted. "I had to deal with being ambushed by the yokai who I basically gutted the band of, and so I finished the job. More food for the rest of the ferals, I suppose."

"Wow, no guilt and remorse about it?" Tenshi asked.

"Would you forgive a murdering rapist?" Richard retorted back.

"Touche." Tenshi answered back. "What else?"

"Well, I did get to meet a certain bunny from Eientei." Richard smiled back. "She's quite the woman. Humble, gentle, friendly. But when the chips are down, she won't hesitate to perform her duties. I think that we would make for some great friends, if I hadn't already got a partner in romantics."

"Oho, be careful that you don't earn the ire of the princess and her servant." Tenshi teased.

"I'm sure that I won't earn their scorn, if I can prove to them that I am genuinely trying to find a companion in her, rather than seeing her as some sort of toy for my desires." Richard answered back, before he then sat down between the two Celestials. "Room for one more? I would love to fish with you, but I didn't come prepared for that, unfortunately."

"Oh, no worries. That's fine." Tenshi stated, as she and Momoi continued to fish.

"So, how about you, Hinanawi?" Richard answered back. "You don't sound like you're unhappy with your life up here. I mean, you can get bored sometimes, but that's what the world below is for, right?"

"You know, Richard… you might be the kind of material to be a Celestial." Tenshi admitted, as she cast her line out, after failing to get a bite after a while. "The kind of guy who would be willing to help others with only little recompense, and trying to see the good in people."

"I'm flattered, but it takes more than just an exterior like that to be able to reach ascension." Richard answered back. "And well, not everyone has that much fortune, Tenshi, to be born in your place. Be careful that you don't let your title go to your head. Trouble here and there is fine, but when Gensokyo is put to danger because of it… that's the line that shouldn't be crossed."

"Oh?" Tenshi remarked. "Why so?"

"Because an incident ceases to be a common occurrence when it actually becomes something of consequence. Think back to the other incidents that happened here." Richard remarked. "Remilia released her scarlet mist, but she was defeated before anything bad could happen. Same goes for Yuyuko's race for the spring. Most incidents are just serious enough to force action, but never severe enough that it permanently scars the daily lives of the residents here. I shudder for the day when such an incident happens here. If it's for the better, that's fine… but if it's for the worse…"

"Relax, won't you." Tenshi chuckled lightly. "I'm sure that they'll never get that far. I mean, even the Gappies tried to cause a real mess. But you know what happens with most of them. They either die stupidly, or they cause an incident that ends with the residents kicking the stuffing out of them, most likely until they die. But Gensokyo never suffered a bit for it."

"You seem to be supportive of incidents." Richard deduced.

"Why not? I can tell that you know why they exist." Tenshi admitted.

"Incidents bring the good and bad in people, and they serve as a means to help break the monotony of daily life." Richard stated. "One could say that incidents are a part of Gensokyo's life-cycle as any resident, godly, youkai, or human are. Conflict is human nature, but that doesn't mean that it should be allowed to escalate badly. Incidents are the perfect bottleneck for it. Too little to cause severe consequences, too big to be simply brushed off."

"Now you're talking my language!" Tenshi laughed. "Anyways, I should also tell you something. I'm the only person who never legitimately lost a fight within Gensokyo. I might have purposefully lost fights to distract people, but in the end, I've beaten everyone in Gensokyo. And yes, that also includes the shrine maiden. She'd just never admit to getting beaten in a fair fight."

"Ah, but you seem to forget something." Richard stated, before a cheeky smile appeared on his face.

"And what's that?' Tenshi asked, curious about Richard's question.

"Which rules did you fight by?" Richard asked.

"What are you, daft? I was fighting by the Spell… Card… Rules…" Tenshi bragged, before she then realized what Richard meant, the realization caused her demeanor to slightly shift to being shocked.

"Well now, that puts things into a different perspective, doesn't it?" Richard chuckled, as Momoi continued to fish beside him, as she was listening to the conversation with some interest, due to the fact that Richard was actually being philosophical to the bratty Celestial, and Tenshi was actually listening to it, rather than ignoring it.

"Well, that doesn't matter! The Spell Card Rules are meant to be fair, and I won against everyone under them, so it's still a fair victory against everyone!" Tenshi exclaimed back with a cross expression.

"And I don't take that away from you. Sorry, if I worded it so accusingly." Richard responded back. "Yes, you beat everyone on a fair level, and that is a feat that only you can rightfully brag about. But what I'm trying to say is that: What if those rules were gone? What if it was a no-holds-barred fight to an inch of your life, or even death? Would that claim hold strong?"

"Well…" Tenshi remarked. "I mean… I literally have the heavens and earth to my beck and call. I'm sure that I can take out everyone, save for a few that I definitely know are going to be real tough fights."

"That's a mature way of putting it." Richard answered back. "But I wouldn't be so sure about it. Remember, the Spell Card Rules exist as an equalizer so that everyone actually stands a chance against each other, regardless of foe and enemy, as long as they put the proper effort into it. It basically does away with crushing natural talent that could render all efforts moot, and abilities that are meant to not have any conceivable way of beating without an equally devastating ability. And also, don't think that you're the only one who might hold their punches."

"Why not?" Tenshi declared, as her tone indicated that she was desperate to know.

"There's a difference between fighting for the sake of settling conflicts, and fighting for the sake of protecting people, and fighting for the sake of dealing with threats that cannot be underestimated." Richard declared, numbering off with his fingers. "Reimu usually sticks to the first. But if she's really pressed, she'll go for the second, and even to the third. And when it comes to those… she won't be so kind to let the rules bind her. She too has a powerful ability, you know: The ability to float, in whatever concept it can be placed in. If she truly wanted someone dead or down for the count, there is very little that anyone could do against her ability that basically can counter most known abilities of the residents here. So she may not be the strongest here, but she ranks among the podium. That, I can say for certainty."

"My, you seem to be quite knowledgeable." Tenshi smirked, as if amused by Richard's deductions. "It's as if you've been to this kind of place… and met these kinds of people before."

"I simply do what I can to learn." Richard deflected.

Tenshi looked at Richard for a moment, before shaking her head. "Nah, must be overthinking things. I really should stop doing that. I should just enjoy things as they are." She declared. "You must really be strong, both in combat, and in character. I can't wait to have a chance to fight you myself."

"Oh? Under what context?" Richard asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Ah, you know what I mean." Tenshi chuckled. "Just you wait, I'll find your weaknesses, and then I'll challenge you to a fight and beat you so that I can keep my claim going."

"I won't doubt that you can win against me. But just to forewarn you…" Richard stated, before grinning. "I don't intend to make it easy for you to win. Slack off on it, and you'll be eating mortal dirt for the first time in your life."

"BAHAHAHAHA! We shall see about that!" Tenshi laughed uproariously.

After a while, with Tenshi managing to catch a bountiful harvest of various fish, with Momoi even catching a certain type of catfish, Richard got up to leave.

"Well, I guess I should be off." Richard declared. "See you around some other time?"

"Yeah." Tenshi declared. "See you again soon."

"Please come again soon." Momoi stated. "As much as she doesn't admit it to you… she seems to enjoy your presence."

"Hey!" Tenshi growled, as Richard lightly chuckled, before he then descended down to the Human Village.

When he landed down, he landed right before the Akyuu residence, before he then knocked on the door, waiting for a response.

After a minute, the purple-haired chronicler, Akyuu no Hieda, opened the door, to see that Richard was standing before her door.

"You." Akyuu remarked. "What brings you here? Knocking at my door like that without invitation… You must seek something desperately from me."

"I do." Richard answered back. "I have come to consult you about something that has been withheld within the guides."

"You must be mistaken. The guides are complete." Akyuu declared, as her tone did not shift the slightest.

Richard looked around, before he then craned his head forward, before whispering into her ear.

"Complete, except for one resident." Richard whispered, as Akyuu froze for a moment, before she then closed her eyes for a moment, as if contemplating something.

"...Come inside." Akyuu declared. "If anyone asks, I will tell them that it was I who invited you in. And you will stick to that truth, understand?"

"Crystal." Richard nodded back.

The two of them headed inside, as they seated themselves in one of the rooms in the mansion, that was filled with shelves of books, and cushions for someone to sit in. Richard suspected that the room was Akyuu's personal study, but he didn't wish to presume.

"Who are you saying is the resident that was being withheld from the guide?" Akyuu asked, before seeing Richard examine his surroundings. "If you're worried about Yukari, she won't be sniffing around here. She has been fairly hands-off with you lately… and I do wonder why that is."

"That is something that won't be relevant in all of this." Richard responded back, before focusing on Akyuu. "There is one resident who isn't properly acknowledged in the guide. Her retainer, Iku Nagae, mentions her by reference, but no records of her own entry exist. Why is that? If Yukari Yakumo has her own entry, and so do the powerhouses, why not Tenshi, who is among said powerhouses?"

"Tenshi is a failsafe against existential threats, such as Gappies like you. Beating her would put Gensokyo at risk." Akyuu declared, as if she rehearsed the response.

"Beating her couldn't possibly mean that the rest of Gensokyo has no answer." Richard shook his head. "Tenshi isn't among the strongest. She may have several abilities that are capable of handling such threats, but the likes of Reimu, Remilia, Yuyuko and even Yukari are capable of handling such threats."

"All Gappies gain power to be able to counter said abilities." Akyuu declared. "Tenshi's ability to discern weaknesses and capitalize on them is the reason why no Gappy have gone too far… because she is their countermeasure, and no amount of ill-gotten power will allow them to prevail against her."

"But she could potentially be a threat herself." Richard answered back.

Akyuu looked at Richard for a moment, before she then leaned forward.

"...Richard Liu, considering your current situation…" Akyuu declared. "I think that a deal would be the best way to go about this. I do have a hidden record on Tenshi herself, due to the fact that I think the same: The lack of knowledge in her capabilities and weaknesses could render her a threat should she turn rogue."

"And what do you ask in exchange?" Richard responded back.

"Tell me the truth, Richard." Akyuu declared, before her eyes hardened. "You've been to Gensokyo before, haven't you?"

Richard noticed the fact that each of Akyuu's words were dripping with intent to discern Richard's true character, as he looked at Akyuu, and sighed.

"Yes. Yes, it's true." Richard responded back. "...You're the first one to actually be able to ask this, Akyuu no Hieda. But considering that you're a chronicler, and that I intentionally withheld information from the one other person who could learn this naturally… It's no surprise."

"So that is why you were able to navigate through Gensokyo by avoiding the mishaps that Gappies tend to cause." Akyuu declared. "Because you have learned the norms of Gensokyo, and were able to meld with them with little issue. And that explains how you know fairly well things that aren't meant to be known through the guide."

"That's right." Richard nodded back. "But I must correct you: The reason I was able to navigate through this Gensokyo smoothly by the last several days… was due to the fact that I actually consulted the guides, all of them, so that I can learn the differences between my Gensokyo and this one. And believe me, the differences are subtle, but I still consider them noteworthy."

"And I presume that this relates to your distrust of our Yukari?" Akyuu declared.

"Naturally." Richard frowned.

"So, this gives me a fairly clear image of what you're doing: You fear that the lack of knowledge about one of the incident instigators could end up being damning information that could have prevented, if not mitigate a potential incident in the future." Akyuu summarized. "...And you believe that Tenshi would be at the crux of the hypothetical incident, don't you?"

"I wish I didn't." Richard responded back, with genuine conflict in his voice. "She may be arrogant, and she may be callous, but in heart, she's just a spoiled girl behind her own feats. She doesn't genuinely want to visit suffering on others. But I've been getting a feeling that Gensokyo will change drastically in the future of my stay here… and if there is one other instigator that I possibly fear… it's Tenshi herself, for she is capable of doing great harm to the land, should she have a drive towards it."

"A reasonable doubt." Akyuu nodded. "But you should worry more about Yukari. If she pulled you in here with sinister intentions… I'm afraid that you'll be fighting an uphill battle. She has led many people to their demise with the right words in the right ears, and the right people at the right time. She is a mastermind, Richard. And I know that she has something planned. My own intuition tells me it."

"Then I'm glad that at least you agree." Richard stated with genuine respect. "Is that enough for me to earn the entry on Tenshi? Or do you need to know more?"

"That is enough. I think that this conversation has run for long enough." Akyuu stated, before she walked up to a shelf, before shuffling several books around, before pulling out a paper entry, that seemed to have information on Tenshi. "Here you go. One of the two personal copies of her own entry in the guide, should the time come. Whatever you do with your copy, it doesn't concern me. But if Yukari sees you with it… she'll know that you're on to her."

"I'm aware." Richard declared, as he took it, and began to memorize the details, burning them into his head, as she noticed that his Tenshi and this one had little differences in ability, much to his own advantage, although her personality seemed to be a lot more callous than Richard initially believed in her. "But I think that it would also be suspicious if you're missing one document should Yukari actually look within your mansion."

Richard then handed back the entry to Akyuu, who was surprised. "You… you read it through already? Are you sure that you do not need to-" She stated.

"No, I read through it enough." Richard answered back. "The details are memorized through my head. Short of Satori herself prying this information from my mind, no-one will know the change."

"Hm. Very well, then our deal has been completed." Akyuu nodded back. "...For both of our sakes, I hope that you'll be able to leave this place peacefully. I know that you have grown attached to our Gensokyo… but this isn't your home… and our troubles should not concern you."

"Hopefully, I won't have to act." Richard sighed. "I promised many people here that I would not intervene in the matters of the realm. But as long as Yukari acts in her own schemes… I doubt that I will be able to hold true to that, with the chances getting slimmer and slimmer each passing day that I cannot return to my own realm."

Akyuu did not respond to that, as Richard left the mansion, before walking through the Human Village for a moment, before bumping into a familiar figure in the form of Sanae herself.

"Huh, eventful day." Richard remarked. "How are you doing on this fine day, Sanae?"

"I'm good as always." Sanae bowed back. "I've been hearing that you've been seen in the Underground, trying to mine for something."

"Well, I do have a deal with the Kappa Valley." Richard remarked, rubbing the back of his head. "They provide me with specially-crafted knives, and I help them find some metal to compensate for the scrap metal that they've lost, trying to make my knives. I figured that the Underground, with its network of tunnels, would be great for finding stuff for that purpose."

"Really? Wouldn't the onis, or any of the Underground youkai take offense to that?" Sanae asked curiously.

"I got my permission from Yuugi." Richard responded back. "Funny, you would expect the greatest oni of the Underground to be more anal about this matter… but she does owe me a favor for losing that drinking contest against me. And I cashed in on it wisely."

"So… you weren't the one who was responsible for them scrapping some of their tanks?" Sanae asked.

"Excuse me WHAT." Richard remarked, as his expression turned shell-shocked for a moment.

"Well, it's nothing serious-" Sanae tried to understate the situation.

"Those tanks are meant for defense." Richard responded back seriously. "And they're meant to be able to handle anything but the notably powerful residents here. Losing 'two' tanks is not 'nothing serious'."

"Well, nobody would have any reason to attack the Kappa Valley…" Sanae remarked, only to wilter in Richard's glare. "...right?"

"You really need to understand quickly that some people don't need reasons to do such things." Richard shook his head. "...I will need to bring this up with Nitori once I finish gathering enough raw metal for her to use."

"Please don't, she might lose confidence if you chastise her too much about it." Sanae stated.

"...I'll take your advice in heart." Richard sighed. "...But for the sake of Kappa Valley and everyone in it, I hope that you can respond quickly to it… as I do with any yokai who have a particular grudge towards me."

"Ah yeah, that's right." Sanae noted. "Someone also found that there were a mass of youkai bodies outside. Did you…"

"Yes, Yes I did." Richard bluntly admitted. "They're my mark, for extermination due to crimes against the village populace. I left the job half-done, since the rest were cowed in submission, and weren't part of the atrocities. But it turns out that their leader was still alive, despite me leaving him for dead, hoping that his death would be as agonizing as his crimes were… So I finished the job, much more permanently."

"Oh." Sanae deflated, as Richard noted the drop in mood.

"Look, I understand that you might be a bit averse to murder… but don't forget, death is a part of Gensokyo's life-cycle, especially feral murders." Richard declared firmly. "There's a reason why incident resolves and youkai hunters exist, so that the people can actually have some remote sense of peace, despite the lingering threat of ferals like the ones I got rid of. The ferals crossed a line a long time ago when they refused to pay tribute to the Spell Card rules, or hell, any rules that defines Gensokyian society. Sympathizing for them is left for when they actually have some reason to it, not for unrepentant murderers like most ferals I have seen. Look on the bright side, more for me, means less for people like you. Better my hands, than yours."

"You… you have a morose sense of how you see the world, despite how friendly and sweet you are." Sanae frowned.

Richard's eyes widened for a moment, as the words did strike deep in his heart, although he quickly regained his composure before he could lose any more face before Sanae.

"I can't help it. Seeing Gensokyo's ugly side, especially after Rumia's incident, doesn't do me any favors from being able to just ignore the wrongs of this paradise. After all… you do remember that Gensokyo is meant for a paradise for the fantastic, not for merely humans." Richard declared. "But that doesn't mean that you should disregard everything good about this place. In fact, it's the good that prevents me from thinking that this is some special kind of hell."

"I guess. Just… Please try to change your way of thinking." Sanae asked with a pleading expression.

"I can promise that. I hope that all of this won't hurt any chances of being friends." Richard stated.

"Never. You're a good person, Richard. And trust me, I can tell." Sanae smiled back.

Richard smiled, as he let Sanae walk past him, before he then frowned.

"If only you were smarter… If only." Richard shook his head, before continuing along his path.

---

A few more days later…

"...After the Lunarians repelled Yukari's invasions, she's been mad at us ever since, and given how ruthless the Lunarians are. I don't blame her." Reisen declared, as she was swabbing the injection site on Richard's back, as he exposed his entire upper body to her.

"Pft." Richard scoffed. "The Watatsuki sisters may be powerful, but they aren't bloodthirsty people, nor are they as invincible as the common folk may tout. After all, power doesn't make one truly formidable. But enough about that. So you left Gensokyo, because you deserted?"

"During the Apollo Invasion, yes." Reisen declared, before she then plunged a syringe of green solution in Richard's body, causing him to wince slightly, as the solution was manipulating his entire skeletal structure to reinforce it slightly. "So I hid out here."

"And then came the Imperishable Night incident?" Richard asked back, as he gently prodded his own body, to check the results for himself.

"Well, that was a fair while ahead." Reisen admitted. "I still owe Master for the work she had done in taking care of me."

"I'm glad that you're in good relations with her." Richard answered back. "...You know, I'm tempted to learn medicine from you all."

"Are you sure? It's not easy." Reisen answered back.

"I've done harder studies before. I even had to learn quantum physics in order to be able to properly apply some of my powers to reality." Richard bragged. "And besides, I do have some foundation in medicine, with my knowledge on anatomy and common afflictions. You have no idea that I actually had basic medic training, so that I could at least stop my men from bleeding out. And believe me, it was a life-saver for me and my men many times over."

"Ahaha.. I think that you should be convincing Master with all of that." Reisen chuckled. "Anyways, how's your body? Sore from the expansion of skeletal mass?"

"Expansion is an apt word for it." Richard answered back. "But yes, a bit sore, but nothing serious. I never thought that this would have been a mainstay drug for your own defense force. Being able to strengthen your body is something that people like me need."

"Really? I don't think that you're that frail." Reisen asked, tilting her head slightly.

"Not to normal humans, yes, but compared to the average resident here… I'm afraid so." Richard sighed. "But enough worrying about my health. I trust in you and Eirin's work to keep me tip-top shape. I'm surprised that you are actually giving me discounts on these services. Does Eirin fancy me staying by your side that much?"

"Hwah!?" Reisen exclaimed, as she blushed slightly. "Well…"

"Whatever is the case, I'm glad that you're taking the chance to meet with me here and then." Richard smiled back. "You actually are one of the people that I can trust in this place with my own personal life. The other being Alice and Marisa of course. Reimu's… more of a work in progress. We could really use each other-"

"Oh no, I ain't letting one of Yukari's pawns have their hands on Reisen." Kaguya growled, before she stomped into the room, as Tewi followed inside.

"The princess doesn't like you. Don't think that currying favor with Eirin is going to help with that." Tewi declared. "Better watch yourself, Romeo, we're wanted women."

"And is that supposed to faze me?" Richard retorted back, before turning to Kaguya. "Look, Kaguya. I think that it's clear as day that I have, and want, nothing to do with Yukari."

"Yeah, that's what a good part of them says, only to play into her hands." Kaguya declared. "And believe me, you'll be no different. So don't you call me 'Kaguya'."

"Look, Princess Houraisen." Richard apologized. "Maybe we got on the wrong foot. I shouldn't have snubbed you back then, because of my own insecurities. I think that Reisen isn't being stringed along her. You can ask her, and she'll tell you that all I did was meet with her in her own breaks. We shared some banter, had drinks together, and that's it. We haven't progressed to anything serious towards a committed relationship."

"And if I had my way, you won't have that chance." Kaguya growled.

"Princess, please calm down! Richard's being genuine in trying to find a friend in me." Reisen declared. "...And besides, I think that he needs me as much as I need him."

"Come… again?" Kaguya asked, looking at Reisen with a raised eye-brow.

"I think that he has some sort of inner trauma that makes him unable to truly trust people to become friends." Reisen stated. "I… I've been trying to find a way to crack through that shell, and understand what's wrong, and help him break through that."

"You, trying to get him to consult about his own inner demons?" Kaguya asked, before she then thought for a moment, and then nodded. "...You know what, fine. I guess that if you already managed to get his ear, then you might be able to make him someone with benefits to Eientei. I heard from you that he's got some clout in the Human Village. And that can pay dividends in the future."

"As long as we are friends with him, you won't have to worry about that. I'm sure that Richard will naturally aid us in whatever way possible, other than just monetary compensation." Reisen assured Kaguya.

"Then I'll drop this issue. But just so you know, Richard…" Kaguya declared, as she walked to the doorway, and then did the 'I'm watching you' gesture with her right hand. "I have my eyes on you. Betray Reisen's trust, and I'll see to it that your suffering will last for ages."

"I wouldn't dare think about it, Princess." Richard bowed, as Kaguya left.

"Boo. I guess that you made up with her so easily." Tewi pouted.

"Just leave, Tewi. I need to finish my check-up on Richard, so that I can be sure that the concoction works without any lingering side-effects." Reisen sighed strongly.

Tewi merely scoffed, before she left the room, leaving Reisen to do her check-ups on Richard.

After the check-up turned up clean for Richard, he immediately went to his house, in order to collect a certain pallet, before he then used his magic to create some wheels to help move the pallet towards Youkai Mountain, as he would be greeted by a wolf tengu patrol, led by a young male wolf tengu with fairly droopy wolf ears, and matted side-locks, as well as a curved ahoge on the top of his head, with the root of it covered by his red tokin.

"Halt!" The tengu leader declared. "Who are you, and why are you using the passages of Youkai Mountain?"

"I come on official business." Richard declared, before he then fumbled in one of his pockets, before pulling out a golden token that had the kanji for 'Tengu' engraved on it. "This token is offered by someone who has the ear of Lord Tenma. She has given it to me as reward for my deeds. Examine it how you will, I will not advance further until the authenticity of it is proven."

The tengu leader gestured for his subordinates to watch Richard closely, before taking the token from his hands, and then checking it for a moment.

"Hm…" The leader remarked, before he then nodded. "...It seems that it is truly authentic. A token given to certain outsiders who have the blessing of the tengu for free passage here. A rare privilege.. But you are in possession of it."

"So, does that mean that I can travel through Youkai Mountain then?" Richard asked back.

"You can. But after you are done, you are to follow us to the Tengu village. You must consult Lord Tenma regarding this matter." The tengu leader declared. "That token being in your hands is something that they must be made aware of."

"I understand. My destination is the Kappa Valley." Richard stated. "Will you escort me there, wait for me to finish my business, and then take me to the Tengu Village?"

"Yes." The leader responded back.

"What is your name?" Richard asked.

"Why do you ask?" The leader responded back, narrowing his eyes slightly.

"I just want to know who is the one to take me before Lord Tenma." Richard responded back. "I actually met Momiji."

"You met with Momiji!?" The leader remarked, shocked for a moment, before coughing and returning back to normal. "Hiraku Okami. That is my name."

"That's a beautiful name." Richard answered back. "I'm sure that you must have a bright future ahead of you, with such a prominent name."

Hiraku merely snorted gently, before the tengu group scattered to allow Richard passage, although they followed him close from the skies, until he managed to reach Kappa Valley, as he entered Nitori's workshop to find that Nitori was toiling hard inside.

"Oh, it's you. What's that pallet for?" Nitori asked. "Is it filled with something to help me?"

"Well, I've heard that you've been lacking something. Two 'somethings' in fact." Richard stated, before he then pulled out almost all of his own earnings, which was a sack full of ryo. "Here's the money for all of the commissions that you have done for me, including your small loan to me."

"Wow, never thought that you have made that much cash so quickly." Nitori remarked with awe.

"And the second thing is that I gathered a lot of raw metal ore from the Underground." Richard answered back. "I managed to pull some strings with one of the leading onis to mine a fair share of it without harming the underground habitat. You're welcome, by the way."

"Oh, this is going to be something good, alright!" Nitori remarked, as she rubbed her hands together in glee, as Richard could have sworn that he saw a glint of greed in her eyes, as she was about to rush over.

"Not so fast." Richard remarked, before grabbing her by the backpack before she could take off towards the pallet of metal. "Before you collect, I have something to ask you."

"Oh sure, what's up?" Nitori asked.

"...Nitori, what the hell is up with me hearing that you've been scrapping your own tanks?" Richard asked firmly, as Nitori blanched.

"W-Well, I was thinking that maybe we should downsize our military a little, since we managed to get some powerful allies in the form of you." Nitori remarked, as she pressed her fingers together in an awkward gesture. "...And I didn't want all of the scrap metal to go to waste… so I used them to make the alloy that your knives were made of. I mean, it works out, right?"

"Nitori, if I may be free to speak my mind. Is that fine with you?" Richard asked.

"Go right ahead."

"Nitori, that is a very stupid way of going about things." Richard declared harshly, as Nitori froze. "You literally have independent firepower that you can always rely on. Why the hell would you detract from that just to fulfill some demand from me? If you don't have the metal to make my knives in time, just tell me! I was lucky that Sanae was forthright on that matter, or else I would have not realized that."

"But you're worth more than some tanks!" Nitori argued. "You're literally shaping up to be someone who can take on a good part of the resident roster and come out winning!"

"Even if that's true, that's no excuse." Richard shook his head. "I know how you feel, thinking how shameful it is to admit that you don't have the stuff I need, with the fact that you of all kappas have a liking towards us humans. But to me, you just need to be honest. That's all I ask. Even if you mess up, I won't be angry, because I know that genuinely doing your best is enough for me. It's alright to say that you can't fulfill everything you get ordered with. You're not perfect, but it's the fact that you strive for it that matters."

"I… I'll think about it." Nitori remarked, looking away with a worried expression.

"Good. Use this pallet to rebuild some tanks for yourself. And even create some new weapons for your kind." Richard nodded. "I have enough knives as is. You don't need to worry on my behalf. If I come to you, it might be for some simple day-by-day tech, nothing serious."

"Well, I come in here, and I see that a rare scene is happening." Momiji's voice remarked, before she then came in, as she was holding a poster under her arm, with a fairly amused expression on her face. "Nitori getting scolded by a human for being obsessive about his demands. I never thought I'd see the day."

"Oh shut up, Momiji." Nitori scowled. "First of all, Richard paid me back for everything, with extra. And second of all, why are you carrying a canvas?"

"Well, first of all, I have to ask a question to our dear friend." Momiji declared, before turning to Richard. "Why the hell is the kid and his squad hovering over Kappa Valley? They say that they're waiting for you, so explain what the hell is going on."

"They're here to escort me to Lord Tenma, regarding my presence with that token." Richard remarked, before brandishing the gold token. "It's real, as Officer Okami has determined. If you don't believe me, you would be a far more solid source on proving its authenticity when you see it closely for yourself."

"I don't need to be convinced. I can tell just by a simple glance." Momiji stated. "...You either are really lucky, or you're about to be meeting the end of a tengu scimitar. A little advice, since I think that even if you don't deserve such a fate, don't go pissing Lord Tenma off. I don't know who gave you that token in the first place… but it won't matter compared to Lord Tenma's words. Make a fool out of her, and you'll be sleeping with one eye open, wary of any tengu who are ordered to lop your head off for whatever insults you said to her."

"Yikes." Richard cringed visibly. "Well, I thank you for your warning then. Now, back to the topic in question. What's that canvas?"

"It's a gift. A little something I sketched in about two hours, since I have heard a little about you, and how you frequent this place to replenish your stock of knives." Momiji declared, before she then flipped the canvas around, to reveal a fairly comedic rendition of Richard, in a fairly rough cartoonish style, striking a fairly arrogant pose. "Ta-da!"

"That… THAT'S OFFENSIVE!" Nitori snapped. "Besides, it looks nothing like him!"

"Oh, doesn't it?" Momiji teased with a smirk. "I think I captured his fairly reckless attitude on paper. Besides, you wouldn't throw away a gift from your friend, would you?"

"Richard, do something!" Nitori harshly whispered to Richard.

"Why? I fail to see what's wrong with it." Richard answered back. "I mean, it's fairly comedic, but it's not that depreciating. It's actually funny in a way, and I think that it's an honor to actually have something drawn of me by another resident, even in this context."

Nitori could only face-palm, dragging her hand down her face with a long-drawn groan, while Momiji chuckled.

"Glad someone appreciates humor." Momiji stated. "...You know what, Richard? I might be wrong about you after all. You definitely aren't like the rest of the human scum that Gappies tend to be. I can actually like you, rather than pretend to be, unlike a certain-"

"Woah there, let's not insult the inventor a bit too far there, alright?" Richard quickly stopped Momiji before she could finish her statement. "Look, Nitori. I think that this picture will help to make people see me in a far better light, to be more comfortable with my presence. And if you don't like it by my next visit, I can take it from your hands."

"I… alright…" Nitori gently muttered.

"Right, off to the Tengu Village I go then." Richard stated, before turning to Momiji. "You coming along?"

"Pft, like I have time, with the rest of my daily patrol route to go to." Momiji remarked. "And besides, trying to join whatever is going to happen is definitely going to cost me my position. And I very much like being where I am, thank you very much."

"Noted." Richard stated, before he then left the Kappa Valley, as the tengu squad under Hiraku, guided him to the mansion in the village, where Lord Tenma is.

Richard was then escorted before the doors into Lord Tenma's personal office, as there were several crow tengu that were wearing black masks on their faces.

"Halt, what is the purpose of your visit to Lord Tenma?" One of them spoke.

"Hiraku Okami, sir. Officer of the 4th patrol route." Hiraku sounded off immediately with a respectful tone. "We have been brought here due to a clause indicating that anyone possessing Lord Tenma's personal brand without her fore-knowledge, must be brought before her to be questioned on their procurement on it."

"Very well." Another one remarked, before opening the doors. "You may enter."

Hiraku and Richard stepped inside, as they saw that Lord Tenma was sitting in her chair, as she had the red hanadeka tengu mask on her face, while she had long lavender hair, and a red kimono, and tokin atop her head. She was also escorted by a wolf tengu with several scars on his face, and a critical expression on his face, with gray hair, and a crow tengu who had a fairly meek appearance, holding a record in her hands.

"Lord Tenma." Hiraku declared, as he bowed, while Richard did the same, in respect, before then looking towards her escorts. "Master Shirogane. Miss Fuka."

"Hmph, I'm surprised that you managed to be the one to end up in these affairs." The scarred wolf tengu remarked. "I never took you as someone who would end up stumbling on this and following proper procedure on it."

"It's good to see you, Hiraku." Fuka smiled back warmly, before looking at Richard. "...Isn't that the human who was part of the incident at the Human Village?"

"Richard Liu, ma'am." Richard respectfully declared. "That's my name."

Shirogane glared at Richard for a moment, before he then scoffed, as Lord Tenma placed both hands on her table.

"Well, I never thought that I would find myself looking at a Gappy." Lord Tenma remarked, as Shirogane stiffened up, while Fuka turned concerned, while Hiraku looked at Richard incredulously. "So, I heard that you were in possession of a copy of my personal brand, that is meant for people that are given my trust to traverse the Youkai Mountain. Who is it that gave you this?"

"The Moriya Shrine, Lord Tenma." Richard admitted firmly. "It was something that Sanae provided with me, as her own thanks for my contribution to the incident in the Human Village. I confess that I do not know why she would trust me with that responsibility, but I may have an idea… and I think that it's not relevant to the current matter. All I can say is that she trusted me with that brand, as you trusted her with it. And I would like to seek your approval to continue possession of it."

"Lord Tenma, if I may be-" Shirogane scowled.

"Denied, Shirogane." Lord Tenma shot down her subordinate, before turning back to Richard. "Forgive him, he's not too fond of your kind. He had lost a son to an errant Gappy who had caused chaos that caused many casualties among our kind. It's the reason why we as a society do not look well upon Gappies."

"Is that so…" Richard stated, before turning to Shirogane. "...Then, Lord Shirogane…. I cannot apologize for the actions of the Gappies, nor can I hope to placate you with some sweet apologies, but I can make an oath under the gods of the Moriya, even under Ryujin himself, that I will not tread the same path as they have. I seek coexistence, not dominion."

"Spare me your oaths. You outsiders have no understanding of the weight of such things." Shirogane scowled.

"Shirogane!" Fuka exclaimed with an appalled tone. "The fact that the boy is swearing an oath under Ryujin, means that he is serious on the matter! He is literally risking divine retribution upon himself for breaking those words."

"And where was divine retribution when my son was killed?" Shirogane snarled at Fuka. "If the gods have justice, then may they smite every Gappy from exist-"

"Enough." Lord Tenma declared with a booming voice, as Shirogane recoiled from his stance. "Shirogane, you forget yourself. We are all understanding of your grief and anger at your loss, but that's no excuse to let it blind you. I ask that you curb your vitriol for Richard. That is an order from me."

Shirogane looked at Lord Tenma, before taking a long deep sigh. "By your command, Lord Tenma." He declared, trying to not sound like he was reluctant to admit that.

"Now, Richard." Lord Tenma remarked. "Tell me, Richard, what do you seek with what you are doing here? My spies have reported that you've been in an arrangement with the kappas: They provide armaments for you, and you repay them with metal. What do you seek to gain from this, Richard?"

"Exactly as worded." Richard simply answered back. "Do you suspect a motive behind this?"

"Oh, Richard. I know from how you speak and stand, that you are more than just some simple-minded deal-maker." Lord Tenma chuckled. "I know that there is more. And if you want my trust, you're going to need to be upfront with me."

Richard looked at Lord Tenma for a moment, before he then nodded.

"I suppose. Sorry if I sound like I'm insulting your perception." Richard stated with a sincere tone. "The deal is meant to give me material benefits for both sides, but it is also a means to help… fix the reputation of Gappies a little."

"Oho? You're taking on quite the impossible task there." Lord Tenma remarked. "You know how blackened their reputation is around here."

"I'm aware. But I believe that if opinions can get worse, they can get better." Richard answered back. "I'm no fool though, that is still a pipe dream considering the extremely low bar they set, with wanton murder and rape, and disregard of life. But if I can show them that there is one outsider who is beneficial to Gensokyo's well-being and balance, then I can show them that there might be a way for both sides to exist peacefully."

"Truly idealistic." Shirogane scoffed. "Do you think that you alone are enough to handle that?"

"Of course not. But I can set the seeds." Richard admitted freely.

"I wish that we could believe that." Fuka sighed. "But Gensokyo isn't just some place that will fix itself naturally, even if you set the start of a new movement. If no-one upholds it, it will die out, snuffed by natural competition. Gensokyo works on a fragile balance, Richard. People here will backstab each other over very petty reasons."

"What!?" Richard exclaimed, shocked at the revelation. "But that's impossible! A well-knit society like this-"

"...can still have people back-stabbing each other." Lord Tenma finished, before examining Richard's expression. "...Ah, I can see it in your eyes. You have seen such a society before. Just because a society functions well, doesn't mean that all of the people are working well together. They merely put up a facade of working well together. And that's more horrid than an apparent dystopia… because no will to ever change it can form, with how toxic the people have become under a more toxic influence. Ironic, we Tengus detest such a society… yet, we too are part of such a society in Gensokyo. It's ironic, Richard, isn't it?"

Richard was silent, before he then sucked in a deep breath, trying to calm himself down.

"...Yes. Yes it is." Richard answered back. "...But even so, I will not change my course. Just because society hates me… that doesn't give me an excuse to give up trying. It's better to try my best, than to give up and rot away."

"A determined mind-set." Lord Tenma stated. "I think that's enough for me to know that Miss Kochiya did not give you that brand under any mis-conception. She sees a proper hero in you, Richard. And she is quite a fan of such people, as much as she tries to hide it. You may leave."

"I have one request for you." Richard said. "I hope that it won't be anything serious."

"And what would you request from Lord Tenma?" Shirogane growled.

"I want to see your face, Lord Tenma." Richard declared, as the tengus were shocked. "You wanted me to be upfront, and I have. But you have seen my eyes, and seen my expression, which gave you much about my true character. But your mask hides your face. I do not know you well enough to truly trust you in return."

"Oh? You do know that I wear this mask for a reason, don't you?" Lord Tenma declared. "...Are you prepared for the consequences of it, should I take it off and reveal my face before you?"

Richard went silent for a moment, as Shirogane was halfway towards howling murder on Richard, with one hand on his sheathed blade, while Fuka was frozen with her mouth open, as Hiraku was frantically trying to gesture for Richard to not say yes, shaking his head frantically. However, despite all of this, Richard's eyes never left Lord Tenma's face.

"Yes, whatever consequences may come to me… It does not weigh more against the fact that knowing you truly would help build a foundation of trust." Richard answered back.

Lord Tenma was silent, before she then began to chuckle, as it evolved into laughter, which stunned the tengus in the office.

"Never before has a human declared for me to show my face before them." Lord Tenma declared. "The last time I ever did that was for the shrine maiden five years ago. And she was far more callous about it, not caring about the countless tengu. I respected her courage to be so shameless in asking that of me. And I can see that you're also daring enough to try the same thing."

Lord Tenma then took off her mask, revealing her orange eyes, as well as the amused smile on her face.

"So, there you have it, Richard? My own face, revealed before you. Is it worth it?" Lord Tenma asked, smirking widely.

"...Of course. You may have a fairly clever expression on your face, but I can tell that you are indeed a truthful person, if only towards me at this very moment." Richard answered back. "You are truly a fitting leader for the tengu, Lord Tenma, with that sharp mind of yours, and that charming personality of yours."

"If you were a tengu, I'd be blushing at that." Lord Tenma lightly chuckled. "Alas, you would have made for a great tengu candidate yourself. But you know how it is-"

"Gensokyo doesn't welcome Gappies much, and inviting me in your society is basically social suicide." Richard declared. "That's fine. I just wanted your approval, and I've got it. I dare not ask for me from someone great as you. If I may take my leave from your office. I'm certain that you have many more duties far more important than entertaining this idealistic fool."

Lord Tenma nodded, before he then gestured for Hiraku to escort Richard out of her office, and outside of the Tengu Village, before she then placed her mask back over her face.

"Lord Tenma…" Shirogane said.

"Tell me, Shirogane." Lord Tenma stated. "What do you see in that boy? Tell me truthfully. I can tell that you have changed your opinion quite drastically compared to the start of this conversation."

"...I hate to admit it, but I believe in that boy." Shirogane stated. "I have a gut feeling that he is not saying things, just because he wants to placate us. He believes in his own ideals, and that's what surprises me."

"It's funny, isn't it. In a time where all but a few of us have lost faith in Gappies, a Gappy who is basically what we expected them to be, rather than what they failed to be, is dropped into our laps." Lord Tenma declared, before she then snapped her fingers, as Fuka took off to get something for her. "I wonder, how will Gensokyo react to such an existence, pure enough to be able to show that Gensokyo isn't the only world where such great beings could exist. He is not so weak that he could be picked off by the youkai, like the naive fools, but nor is he power-hungry or clouded by desire to commit sins against the populace. He is the 'perfect' Gappy, Shirogane. And had he existed long before… you would have still had your son."

Shirogane's expression turned solemn on the mention of his own son. "And what shall we do about him?" He asked.

"We watch." Lord Tenma answered back, as Fuka returned, with a cup of fresh tea, as she adjusted her mask to expose her mouth, as she took a gentle blow to cool some of it, and then took a sip from it. "We let him to his own devices, and see how he'll change the world. He won't ask for our help."

"And why is that?" Shirogane asked.

"Because you see, Shirogane… the poor boy's scared of letting others into his heart." Lord Tenma smiled. "I kept that withheld from him, because he's not going to react well to learning that I know that from him. He doesn't want to burden others with his problems… but when the time comes… he would even die for his loved ones if it comes down to that cruel choice."