But considering Reimu's lack of integrity, it probably wasn't impossible that the moment she heard the word "money," she had instinctively thrown the other party's name out of her mind. Was she really such a shameless shrine maiden?
"Then, Hakurei Reimu, did you arrange a time to meet with them?"
If Reimu had let the other party slip away without even setting up a meeting, Koizumi felt he could have Yakumo Yukari record the scene and preserve it as a dark chapter in Reimu's history.
If she messed up something like this, it would no longer be a matter of integrity—it would be a matter of intelligence!
The dignified Hakurei Shrine Maiden came to another world, heard about money, and immediately sold herself off while ignoring everything else! She threw the employer's name, the agreed time, and the place completely out of her mind, with nothing in her eyes except money! Just how greedy were you?!
Come to think of it, if I paid Reimu one hundred thousand, would she offer herself to me?
Koizumi suddenly felt that this was a very serious question.
Conversation
At night, Reimu suddenly opened her eyes and stared at Koizumi, who was already sleeping soundly before her.
As though she had confirmed that Koizumi was asleep, Reimu finally swept her gaze around the area before speaking after a while.
"Yukari, you're here, aren't you...?"
"As expected of you. You noticed right away that I had been watching you all this time."
Slowly, a gap emerged and opened in the empty air. It was a rift filled with horrifying eyes, with a bow hanging above it—perhaps one of Yakumo Yukari's personal preferences.
The next moment, Yakumo Yukari poked her head out from it. The sight of a head floating in midair was truly chilling. After all, it was nighttime; anyone unaware of the situation might have thought it was a paranormal incident.
"It was nothing. I simply kept being unable to fall asleep while resting, so I roughly guessed that you were peeping on us."
At that, Reimu turned back and shot Yakumo Yukari a glare, as though she had long since grown used to her behavior.
"If you're worried about Master, just stay with us. Why are you spying from the side? This isn't one of those old banquets, and Satori from the Palace of the Earth Spirits isn't here, so you don't need to worry about anyone peering into your heart."
Yakumo Yukari chuckled softly. After glancing at Koizumi, she turned her gaze to Reimu.
"Actually, you're just planning to use that excuse to make me act while you leisurely watch from the sidelines, aren't you?"
At those words, Reimu's expression stiffened. That was indeed true. If Yakumo Yukari were around, she could relax properly. No matter what, Yakumo Yukari's combat ability was extremely reliable, especially as an ally.
Reimu had fought Yakumo Yukari before. Although one of them was Gensokyo's creator and the other its administrator, the former was far too scheming and had also been the mastermind behind many incidents, so Reimu had picked fights with her before. Judging by how effortlessly Yakumo Yukari dealt with her, her strength was terrifying. Moreover, Reimu had received the boost of the Great Hakurei Barrier while inside it, making her much stronger than she was now. That made Yakumo Yukari's strength all the clearer.
And Reimu hoped Yakumo Yukari could lend a hand, so she herself could take things easier.
"Shut up! And! You clearly possess strength among the very strongest of top-tier Servants, so why are you leisurely watching from here?! Are all other Servants like you this laid-back?!"
Reimu was close to exploding. If top-tier Servants all had this kind of attitude in the future, wouldn't she be exhausted to death? If top-tier Servants refused to act, wouldn't it fall to her? Tch... they really were all troublesome!
"I am not merely watching leisurely. At the very least, I still have to deal with someone else who is resting just like me."
As she spoke, another gap opened beside Yakumo Yukari. The image within showed Remilia resting in a room. It seemed that after watching Koizumi's training, Remilia had gone off to rest.
When Reimu saw Remilia, the corner of her mouth twitched violently. So it was that vampire. But then again, since this vampire had also formed a contract with Koizumi, why wasn't she coming over to help? What an irritating woman.
Then again, that vampire was unsuitable for fighting during the day. Usually, Sakuya helped hold an umbrella for her, but Sakuya was not here now. She probably could not fight during the daytime either. Vampires truly were troublesome.
"Hey! When did this vampire manifest? Why didn't I know? Koizumi isn't even in Chaldea—don't tell me you summoned her?" Reimu gave Yakumo Yukari a suspicious look, her brows drawing together slightly.
"It has nothing to do with me. She was the first one summoned by Koizumi. When she was on the verge of death, I placed her, who was about to disappear, inside a gap. Then I delivered the necessary power into her hands. Vampires themselves possess extremely strong vitality, and even after becoming a Servant, she retained that power. Even if her heart were crushed, she could revive as long as she had enough magical energy. Naturally, I gave her a hand. Perhaps she may come in useful when necessary."
Yakumo Yukari closed the gap and spoke slowly.
"Tch... so it really was your doing..." Reimu snorted coldly, but did not pursue the matter any further.
More precisely, Reimu had already grown accustomed to Yakumo Yukari's ways. She had no idea how many times the woman had set her up in the past. Reimu had long since become used to it, though being accustomed to getting tricked was truly depressing.
"By the way, since you've been observing in secret this whole time, did you find any problems regarding that Imperial Capital...?"
As she spoke, Reimu's eyes swept toward the Imperial Capital, and her heart grew slightly heavy.
She seemed to recall her earlier battle with that person who controlled lightning. There had been something wrong with that person's power.
Hearing that, Yakumo Yukari fell silent for a moment before speaking beneath Reimu's increasingly impatient gaze.
"That Imperial Capital indeed has a problem, and your intuition was correct. However, the source of the distortion is not here. Unfortunately, my gaps cannot observe that world. As for matters concerning that world, we can only wait for its ruler to think of a solution. Until then, you should continue acting according to your original plan."
After saying that, Yakumo Yukari gave Koizumi a deep look before retreating into her gap, completely ignoring Reimu's darkened expression. However, one thing was clear: Yakumo Yukari understood the situation very well. She simply had no intention of helping Reimu resolve this Singularity.
To her, apart from the other possibilities extending from Gensokyo, possibilities extending from other planes were merely opportunities to help Koizumi train.
That woman said a bunch of incomprehensible things and then ran off. That was seriously annoying.
But then again, she could not observe that world. Was this Singularity something like a parallel world?
That would make things troublesome. Even Yakumo Yukari could not observe it... then this whole matter would not be easy to resolve. A parallel world... and the very first Singularity was already this troublesome. What would the later Singularities be like?
"What is it?" Hata no Kokoro suddenly opened her eyes and focused her gaze on Reimu.
If she had not sensed wrongly just now, that should have been Yakumo Yukari's youkai aura.
"I contacted Yakumo Yukari just now and asked her about this Singularity, but I did not get anything important out of her." If she had, Reimu would have dragged Koizumi off to solve it already.
The sooner troublesome matters like this were resolved, the better. Then she could rest.
Unfortunately, things like parallel worlds were far too troublesome.
Since that was the case, they could only follow their original plan and make contact with Night Raid first.
Amnesia? (Part One)
"Ugh..." Koizumi suddenly felt a sharp pain in his head, as though something had been pulled out of his mind.
The next moment, Koizumi opened his eyes with a twisted expression, clutching his head with his right hand as he slowly sat up.
"Reimu, Hata no Kokoro..."
He softly called out Reimu and the others' names, but Koizumi received no response whatsoever.
Koizumi could not help feeling puzzled. Hadn't everyone slept together last night? Where were they?
Or were they still resting? No... after carefully looking around, Koizumi realized that he seemed to be inside a noble's mansion. How strange. Hadn't he rested in the wilderness last night? Why was he in a noble's mansion?
"Where is this? Why am I here? My head hurts... Hisss—"
The moment he mentioned his headache, Koizumi could not help clutching his head, a pained expression appearing on his face.
It felt as though something had been pulled out of his mind, and the pain was suffocating.
For the moment, Koizumi could not even get out of bed. He still could not fully adapt to this pain.
If he had to compare it to some other kind of suffering, it was probably only comparable to when a vampire's consciousness had eroded him.
"What exactly... is going on?" Koizumi muttered inwardly as he held his head.
Knock, knock, knock... At that moment, a series of knocks sounded. Koizumi could not help turning his gaze toward the door.
"Excuse me, is Mr. Koizumi awake?"
It was a very pleasant voice. Without thinking, he knew it had to belong to a woman. However, Koizumi was certain it was neither Reimu's nor Hata no Kokoro's voice. He had spent enough time with the two of them that he would not mistake their voices. There was only one thing Koizumi was curious about: when had Reimu gotten acquainted with such a wealthy household?
Or was this actually Night Raid's base?
That was impossible, right? There was no need to say it; this was clearly inside the Imperial Capital. A noble place like this should only exist in the Imperial Capital. But the strange part was that he should have been wanted by the Imperial Capital already. How had they brought him in?
Unable to make sense of it, Koizumi could only scratch his head. The twisted expression on his face had eased somewhat.
—The pain in Koizumi's head had already subsided considerably. At least, it was no longer as intense as it had been at first.
"Please come in..." Koizumi took a deep breath. If this truly was a noble's home, he had to be at least somewhat respectful.
Click!
With the sound of the door opening, a blonde girl with a noble air slowly entered the room, wearing a gentle smile. She gave Koizumi a very familiar feeling, but he had no memory of her.
I probably haven't met her before... Koizumi thought to himself, considering the inexplicable familiarity he felt toward her.
Of course, it was precisely because of that familiarity that he felt so uncertain.
"Mr. Koizumi, it is already quite late. I never expected you to sleep in as well... By the way, Miss Sayo and Mr. Ieyasu have already begun eating. Once we finish the meal, I will have my subordinates investigate your friends. You told me that they were two strikingly beautiful girls: one woman wore shrine maiden attire, while the other liked to wear a mask on her face and used masks to express her feelings. Did I get that right?"
Aerya spoke in an upbeat tone, but her words left Koizumi deeply confused.
Investigate my friends? Did I ask her to do that? Also, who were Sayo and Ieyasu?
Strange. Hadn't I been resting in the wilderness with Reimu and Hata no Kokoro? Why was I suddenly here? Where were Reimu and Hata no Kokoro? Had they disappeared? At this moment, question after question filled Koizumi's mind.
Even while maintaining his confusion, Koizumi remained vigilant.
This was unfamiliar territory to him. No matter what, he had to stay alert.
"Excuse me, where is this? And who are you? Why am I here? I don't seem to remember what happened before I appeared here. Can you tell me?" Koizumi fired off many questions in one breath. At the same time, a faint pink glow flickered over his right hand. If she made a move against him, he would attack immediately.
Without a doubt, Koizumi could now use a vampire's power even during the day.
"Eh?!!!!!" Aerya immediately showed a stunned expression. She seemed shocked that Koizumi had forgotten so many things after only one night, and she also felt a wave of disappointment.
Yes, Aerya truly was disappointed, because the emotion was written plainly across her face.
It was practically as if the words "disappointed" had been written on her face.
"How could Mr. Koizumi suddenly lose his memory? No! I need to quickly get a doctor to take a look!"
Aerya suddenly became extremely flustered. Her concern overflowed from her expression, and it was clearly not an act.
If it truly were an act, Koizumi would not know what to say. Should he say this girl was very skilled at acting?
Still, perhaps Koizumi himself had not experienced enough to see through her disguise.
Yet Koizumi's subconscious felt that this girl's concern for him was not an act.
"Um... I think it would be better not to call a doctor. Maybe it's only temporary."
Koizumi was genuinely afraid that this was the Imperial Capital, and that the people she summoned would not be doctors, but members of the Imperial Guard.
Without Reimu and Hata no Kokoro around, if—
Wait! Didn't I have Command Seals? Maybe I can use them to summon Reimu and Hata no Kokoro here!
At that thought, Koizumi looked toward the Command Seals on the back of his hand, the corners of his lips lifting slightly.
Aerya did not notice anything unusual. She was only deeply puzzled by Koizumi's reluctance to let her call a doctor.
But after the confusion came anxiety, as though Aerya herself, rather than Koizumi, had lost her memory.
That instead made Koizumi very curious. Was she worrying about him too much?
Back in the Imperial Capital, had its citizens been this exaggerated?
When they bought talismans from Reimu's shop, they had been very enthusiastic. However, Koizumi could tell that their enthusiasm came only because he and the others possessed talismans capable of protecting their lives.
But Aerya's concern for him felt as though it had no reason behind it. No, could it be because she was simply warmhearted? Were nobles in the Imperial Capital really this kind?
There was nothing he could do about it. Whenever Koizumi thought of the ugly face of the Imperial Guard captain, he truly had no favorable impression of the people of the Imperial Capital.
Even Seryu, who had a fairly good relationship with him, had a deeply twisted heart.
The twisted justice within her made her reveal an exceptionally terrifying side whenever she faced criminals.
Of course, through her interactions with Koizumi and the others, they had realized that this girl had not sunk quite so deeply yet. At the very least, Koizumi and the others did not think she had fallen that far.
Amnesia? (Part Two)
"Mr. Koizumi lost his memories?!" Sayo and Ieyasu stared at Koizumi in shock.
Meanwhile, Koizumi was looking at Sayo and Ieyasu before him with a puzzled expression.
Just like with Aerya earlier, although Koizumi felt an inexplicable familiarity toward them, he did not remember them.
Though the concern on their faces sent waves of warmth through Koizumi's heart, he truly did not know them.
Moreover, based on Aerya's account of how she and Koizumi had met, Koizumi discovered a very serious problem.
That was, he might have lost all his memories from the previous day. He knew nothing about any of the things Aerya described.
For example, Aerya said that he had told her he saved a girl named Kurome. However, because everyone living in her home was female, he had felt too embarrassed to stay there. On top of that, he had been unable to find Reimu and Hata no Kokoro. Just as he had fallen into difficulty, he encountered Aerya passing by, and she brought him back to her home.
Mm... right, it felt like an extremely clichéd plot. Someone who had just arrived in the capital to train got separated from his friends on the road, saved an ordinary girl in the capital, met even more girls, then felt too embarrassed to stay at the girl's home because everyone there was female, so he had to leave. He should have ended up sleeping miserably on the streets, but a kind wealthy young lady brought him home... What kind of melodramatic plot was this?! Why was his luck with women so absurdly good?!
Had all the men in this Imperial Capital died out? He ran into a kind wealthy young lady, but not a kind wealthy young master!
Koizumi glanced at Ieyasu and silently complained that he probably did not count as someone from the Imperial Capital...
Still... for a man, running into a wealthy young lady should be much better than running into a wealthy young master.
At least, meeting a wealthy young master would at most make them friends. But if he met a kind wealthy young lady, he might eventually marry into her family and enter politics. Then he would suddenly discover that he had run into the group of girls he had met before, earned enough affection from them, and decided to take them as concubines. Although the wealthy young lady would be unwilling, she would ultimately agree because she loved the protagonist. Then the protagonist would reach the pinnacle of life...
Mm... that plot was even more melodramatic. Reality would not head in such an absurd direction, right?
If it were reality, it should be the more cruel kind...
Before you continue