Earlier in Tengu settlement, Youkai Mountain.

…

"Any news about the foreigner, Aya?"

"Yes, General Megumu, it appears that he has also settled on a snowy area in the mountain not too far from the Moriya shrine, I've already told Momiji to investigate."

"Excellent… nothing that the fastest of all Gensokyo can't uncover." The general said. "I am curious however, how'd you reckon he knew about Gensokyo's existence?"

"Well, the first rumor I heard is that the dreamer girl from the outside had to do something with him, but that was almost 3 months ago, I could not follow any leads." Aya said

"I see… In that case, I don't think paying a visit would be wrong." The general expresses her idea to her confidant.

"Should I go personally or should a letter suffice Megumu-sama?" Her confidant, a Foxgirl in white clothing beside the general asked. "I should remind you, Yukari warned us about messing with humans"

"Let's not get hasty Tsukasa, I think of it as a casual 'conversation'. we are not harming anyone unless this info Aya provided is of utmost priority." She calmed her confidant's concern.

"You both are dismissed"

Sakuya and I arrive at the Mansion, we are a few meters away from the gates, the rest of the walk we spent in silence, as I was more preoccupied carrying the bags that Sakuya handed me, how many weeks worth of groceries did she buy anyway? These bags are killing me. Both of us are now at the gates, as I hear a loud snoring to my front left.

"Meiling!"

I startled in place as Sakuya loudly exclaimed, for a lady of her caliber, I was surprised how serious she sounded compared to her looks, but being chief maid of course, meant that she had to rectify authority around. As I thought that, a loud exclamation of surprise was heard, I turned my head to where that came from.

My eyes are met to a tall red haired girl dressed in a green vest over a white puffed sleeved shirt, with a green dress that was separate from her shirt, and a green beret cap with a golden star in the front. I could tell this girl is Chinese of sorts, her choice of uniform is very reminiscent of the ones the former Chinese red guard used to wear, although her uniform is more traditional than military.

"M-Miss Sakuya, y-you are earlier than i anticipated! I was just umm… I was… m-mentally reviewing my moves and techniques in my head, yes! In case uh… an agile enemy came across!" She scrambles her words in an attempt to bullshit her way.

"And I suppose that the SNORING is your way to demonstrate how dedicated you are to your 'reviewing' instead of watching the gate." Sakuya responds in annoyance rather than anger.

"Well, you've told me of this new foreigner that has the ability to shift into smoke. I thought it would be great to review my techniques and adapt them to what his fighting style could be!" the guard said in a confident tone while closing her eyes and making a face that said "I am sure of it!"

"Well in that case, you might wanna introduce yourself to him at this very moment" the maid said as she waved her hand pointing to my direction.

The guard then opened her eyes and was surprised to see me, and then took on a fighting stance. But me… I was mostly giggling slightly at the goofiness of this guard, this made my day! She definitely sleeps on the job constantly. I responded to the guard's fight stance by extending my hand to her.

"Plyush Canmoore, pleasure to meet you." I said in a content tone.

"Oh, Sorry!" she says as she breaks her fight stance into a straight formal one. "Hong Meiling, Gate Guard of the Scarlet Devil Mansion!" She says as she shakes my hand.

"Now that we took care of that, Meiling, if you please…" Sakuya said, now in a more calmer tone.

"Right!" Meiling says and proceeds to open the gate doors.

Sakuya enters first and I follow behind, but not before teasing Meiling.

"Oh and by the way, if I were to fight you… I would've boiled your insides out. But where's the fun in that?" I said with a mischievous smile.

Meiling's face turned from a cheery one, to a pale one, mouth semi open and eyes wide as plates.

I hear Sakuya faintly giggle before straightening her behavior and responding to me.

"Please refrain from threatening the staff, may I remind you to not keep the mistress waiting?"

"My apologies" I say as I follow Sakuya inside the mansion, all while Meiling keeps looking at me in bewilderment.

Sakuya told me to wait in a guest room for the time being as she stocked up on the groceries that we brought. I gave her the bags and sat down on a sofa while I waited for her to come back. The room was well decorated, baroque decoration just like in the Berlin cathedral, but more dedicated to a gothic and elegant aesthetic.

The room dimly lit, the 2 windows facing the front of the sofa where covered by deep scarlet red blinds, the only light coming into the room came from either light bleeding off the small gaps the blinds could not completely cover and the candles that were mounted upon the wall on metal contraptions, forgot how those were called. but I began to wonder, why is this place so dark, I am in a vampire's lair or what?

but my mind began to wander somewhere else…

Where do I even start? I have no lead whatsoever… nothing. Sure, I just got here again a week ago, but I have no lead whatsoever on how to open up a realm, I know nothing on how links are formed to form realms, and I am not sure if the cube is capable of creating links, but there has to be a way. Realm could not exist outta nowhere, there must be ways they are formed, I mean, how the hell did a link form in the bathroom of that McDonalds, that shit for sure what's not there from the beginning of time. I gotta find out more about the cube, but my time is wasted on Mansion belonging to this posh woman. I should be looking for every crook and cranny of this place, any lead would work.

BUT PLEASE, YOU, WHEREVER YOU ARE! GIVE ME A LEAD!

All my thoughts are stopped when I hear a faint scratch on the window in front of me, my mind is brought to reality, or whatever this reality is, and find myself looking at the window. An uneasy feeling is taking over me, you know, that feeling of being watched. I got so uneasy that I wanted to quench that uneasiness, so for my own sake, I slowly approached the window. I tip toe my way into the window at a steady pace, so that I hopefully don't scare whoever was peaking the window. I'm right next to the window, slowly reach my hand towards it, and with a quick movement, I move the blind to the side… Nothing, no one on the other side, only the light of the sun floods into the room, maybe I am being too paranoid.

I stare a while outside to make sure I am not going crazy, and then I hear a wooden creak behind me. Sakuya enters the room, this time dressed in a more professional outfit.

"Miss Remilia is now awaiting your presence"

"oh! sure, just… looking at the view out here"

I get away from the window and proceed to follow Sakuya. with a mix of nervousness and uneasiness, from both meeting this Remilia and my own thoughts.