Part 9: Chapter 18R: Don't Lay a Hand on That Human

Whoops, fixed. I've finally gotten around to putting up 18M's postlogue too, so you can check those out if you want.

Somehow I made it through this chapter despite playing like shit. May miracles never cease.

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Music: Border of Regular and Irregular Days

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Music: Secret Mission

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...

I'm sorry, Reimu. If it helps, I don't think Mokou had any ill intent.

I get that. I don't even think she's wrong. It's a little pathetic, but that goddess does have a lot more faith than me. Maybe I should surrender the shrine after all.



That's why we're gathering help, so you don't have to. Keep your spirits up.

...Reimu, don't feel sad.

Yeah~. Though maybe this is my chance for revenge?

Absolutely not! You have to be more gentle at times like this, Rumia.

Is that so? But wouldn't turning the tables be mo- huh?

Wh-what is it?

I think something's flying over there.

Enemies spawn in. including two crow tengu.

The shrine maiden's out at last. This is my chance!



One of whom immediately rushes to grab a picture. Hmm, taking a picture of someone taking a picture. How meta.

Eek?!

Hey, what was that?!

A crow tengu? This must be an ambush!

It's nothing like that, we were just ordered to monitor you.

Yeah. Though our duty ended up being a scoop our boss is going to love!

A scoop? Does that mean that everything we just said...

Ugh, they're such a pain. Go on, shoo!

I'll take a shot of that angry face too!

She takes more photos.

Y-you...!

Calm down, Reimu. It's pointless trying to talk to people like that.

Wise words internet browsers everywhere ignore.

Well, I guess it's the time for the usual danmaku battle. Let's beat them up~.

Well, you seem confident. I'd rather not start anything but...

It's fine, beating them at their own game will help fill out the article. "The Shrine Maiden Who Ran Away from the Mountain's Crushing Defeat to this Reporter!" This is going to be tomorrow's front page!

If you want a fight, then bring it on!





On Normal this chapter's pretty much of an interactive cutscene, but on Lunatic it's out to kill.

Music: Stalking the Night with a Cross



Rumia and Dai are dead weight without upgrades, and it's in my interest to keep Keine's health up so I land all three of them onto Mokou's house.



Reimu can handle things on her own anyways.



Though she needs to cast Focus on the first turn so the enemy danmaku fields don't cripple her.


Mokou takes a look out her window. Let's just ignore how my units are currently blocking them.

That's a tengu! Are they looking for Keine and the others?

...Well, it's none of my business. I'll let them handle it.



The Reimu show continues.


The plot kicks into motion at the start of turn 4.

Tch, looks like the usual strategy won't work on them.

You're not even hurt.

This is so boring. It won't make a good article at all.

...Hey, while we're chatting, what's with that dirty house over there? The humans came out of it, do you think someone lives there?

! They've noticed Mokou's house!

Now that you mention it, yeah. I haven't heard of anyone living in a place like this. So with that said... time to get my money shot!

That tengu's getting closer!


Keine moves to block Tengu A's path.

This house has nothing to do with us. Don't get it involved!

...What's with you? Don't get in the way of my scoop!

Tengu A slams Keine.

Music: Girls, Surpass the Carnage!

Guh!

K-Keine!

Hey, you can't take them on by yourself! Hold on a second, I'm heading ove-

No you don't!



The other tengu summons more crows.

Wow~, there's a lot more now.

I think we should teach you all a lesson. Don't get in the way of journalism!

Let me show you what happens when you do! Here we go!

Got it!



Then she flies across the screen,



and the two tengu slam Keine with a combination attack.

Uwaah!

Keine!

Please, run away! If this keeps up, you'll...

...No, I won't let them pass. No matter what, I won't let that human...

I won't let you lay even a finger on that human!

...You really do like people too much. You're protecting me even after I said all of those harsh words. Well, I guess it's because you're like that that I...

Alright then, this should be the final blow!


How is she hiding her face?

Don't lay a hand on that human!

Music: Eternally Blazing Heart



In an amazing display of cutscene power,



Mokou cripples Tengu A. If you're curious, if you try and kill the tengu before this event starts, they'll just heal and start this event early.

She's so strong!

Y-you hit me... who are you?!

A health-crazed yakitori vendor.

Huh?

...Keine, stand aside. I'll handle the rest.

Mokou, why did you come out?! If these people write an article about you, yo-

I don't really care. They're picking a fight, so I'm going to wipe the floor with them.

Hey you, you hurt Keine. I'm going to make you regret that!

Woah, did she just say what I think she did?

Huh, she's straight to the point. Well, let me tell you this: the secret to a long life is to keep your head down!



Sorry, but I don't need any secrets for a long life.

What?

Listen up, Hakurei shrine maiden. I'm going to help you, so get Keine out of here.

Don't joke around. I'm fighting too!

...Me too. You may not want the help, but I wouldn't be able to rest if I left you here alone.

Fine. Don't do anything reckless then.

Okay, let's start our counter attack!



Not that it matters since Tengu A just heals it all back.


Mokou is almost as useless as Dai and Rumia, so she joins the group camping out on her house. I was hoping I was far enough away to draw Tengu A to come closer, but no dice.

Ehe~, I've really wanted to show up on a newspaper.

Well, I guess I can forge a joke story about a youkai as weak as you... How does "The Mysterious Darkness in Broad Daylight! Once It Swallows You, Where Do You Go?!" sound?



I'm surprised Keine even got into battle, because



here's the reason everyone crowded on the house: both tengus can cast Fury. This bypasses most defensive skills, particularly Support Defense.



Oh yeah, Rumia got a new finisher between games.

Music: Fluttering Food in the Night Sky

The name of the song is actually Dancing Food, but I like alliteration.



Somehow really easy to dodge bullets translates into taking a bite out of crime. Okay.

Music: Best Friends Atop the Silent Lake



It's a close call, but the turn ends with no casualties.



Blood is in the water now though, so even with Reimu here I'm probably going to lose Dai and Rumia.



Right now there are tons of enemies, but Keine only has two shots of Support Defend. So it's in my interest to get rid of as many enemies as possible to reduce the number of incoming attacks. But as Mokou will demonstrate,



characters without Strike have a really hard time hitting crows.



Reimu's hit OHKO territory.









Ci-Cirno... Eeeek!

Well there goes my main healer.



In hindsight, I should have had Reimu rush the other tengu earlier.



Crow tengus have a fairly high skill stat, so I don't get a single critical.



Also, in hindsight I totally forgot about Keine's Support Attack. I could have been getting off two extra Strike'd attacks a turn, the hell am I doing?



Rumia dodges a fatal attack, but dies from the graze damage anyways.

This is it for me. I'll head back and get something to eat~.



Reimu misses the other tengu. That pretty much seals Mokou's fate right there.

What's the matter with you? You're getting in the way of journalism!

Oh, so you're a reporter? Well whatever you are, bring it on.



Yep, she dies from graze damage. But guess what?



Mokou has an extra life! Only one, but that's still way more than anyone else.



The other tengu suicides on Keine, freeing Reimu up to do something else.


Mokou was about to die from graze damage again, but miraculously this crow "hit" on a 18% and triggered Support Defend.



It's a "smooth" path to victory from here. Mokou unfocuses and takes out this crow, and Reimu goes after the last generic enemy.



Mokou's unfocused now, so she can't die as long as Keine's next to her.



And Keine's not going to die any time soon.



Reimu somehow got hit by a 19%, so she chugs her bottle of Ginju Sake. Items in FMW2 can be used without sacrificing a turn, and are restocked between chapters. It's a much welcome change from FMW1.

Now then, how can I put you on the front page... how does "A Beautiful Maiden's Romantic Tryst in the Bamboo Forest of the Lost" sound?

Beautiful maiden? Ro-romantic tryst!?

H-hey! Don't say something so inappropriate!



Mokou's regenerated most of her HP, so Keine is the favored target now.



Just one more turn of positioning and I can end this.



Mokou and Keine drop both of my bombs,

Now then, how can I put you on the front page... how does "24 Hour Coverage of the Shrine Maiden! Can She Live Off Bamboo Shoots?!" sound?

Bamboo shoots aren't even in season!



and Reimu misses a Fantasy Seal.



Second time wasn't the charm either.



Tengu A didn't even try to evade Keine's Headbutt, so I already knew it wouldn't kill her.







Keine saves the day at long last. I guess the AI isn't adjusted to account for absurdly high defenses.







Keine levels up too. She gets Guard, which will be really handy later.

Tengu A drops another N-Shooter, which is way more useful than the Oni's Nail Marisa gets.

Guh, it hurts... shoot, my camera broke too! Sheesh, how did that happen?! Now I don't have any film to go with my scoop!

So your camera's broken, or something? I don't really get what you're saying, but you should be able to understand this: scram.

Grrr, I'll remember this!



Tengu A ditches.

...I didn't expect you to help us. I guess I'll thank you just this once.

Well I wasn't helping you. No thanks needed.

Sorry, Mokou. I ended up dragging you into this battle.

Don't worry about it. More importantly, let's get back to my house so I can fix you up.



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I wonder why I was called here all of a sudden...

Oh! You're one of the people who came to beat me up last time!

Eh!? Cirno and I did come before but...

Hey girls, thanks for coming.

Marisa!

Oh, Marisa. Did you call us?

Why was my face even hidden? Well whatever. I called you two here to form a new combination, pronto.

Huh?

It's the great era of idols. So from now on this is a Mamco idol-raising game.

Mamco?

See, there's a contest to see who's the best idol in Gensokyo going on now. And if I'm producing you two, there's no way you'll lose.

I don't know what an idol is, but this sounds fun!

I guess I'm fine with it too...

(Now there's no way I'll lose to Merlin. That championship prize is mine! Only problem now is that there's no material left to continue this joke...)