Part 11: Invasion! The Sacred Mountain of Autumn

Well that was one hell of a delay. What can I say, FMW3 came out and this chapter is crazy dense. vv
_{I may have also finally gotten to work on my massive backlog of model kits.}

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Music: Border of Regular and Irregular Days

Full Text




Cut to Minoriko roasting some sweet potatoes.

The autumn harvest is just like life. Only those who put in the effort will enjoy its richness.

The Akis can be really deep when they want to.

...Oho, these are starting to smell good. Mmm, make that really good. I'll have to be careful not to overeat.

...Sis told me to only eat one a day, but just one more can't hur-


Shizuha pops in.

Gah, s-sis?! Uh, how about a baked sweet potato!

Huh? Well alright, but I thought they were your favorite food.

Don't worry about it! Anyway, did you need something?

Yes, you should read what the tengu's newspaper said about you. "Crafty Humans Invade Youkai Mountain! The Tengu Alliance Handily Beats Them Back!" is today's headline.

What the, the next line is so cruel! We're introduced as "two gods victimized by the humans"! We're laughingstocks! We even look pathetic in the pictures.

Now that you mention it, even pictures of our smiling faces are a bit painful to look at... what do you want to do about it? It's finally our season, so if we use the power of autumn leaves we could reclaim our dignity.

No, no, we should use the power of sweet pota-

...!



The game always give me the option of setting where I want my characters to spawn. Usually I pair people by friendships.

We're finally here. And just two days after we got chased off.

For a place called Youkai Mountain, it's not quite what I expected. Are there no wild youkai living a carefree existence here?

Uh, you sound like you're talking about animals.

Sakuya's Safari. I'd play it.

Huh, there's somebody over there~.

...I see you all haven't learned your lesson yet.

Those are the god siblings we faced last time.

Let's see, they were... the Scarlet Sisters?

Oh, what a coincidence. They're just like our mistresses back home.

You two are like landmarks. Do you just not have anything to do?

Quiet! We are the Aki Sisters.

Grr... we're being treated like grass again. I've had it with this, sis!

I have as well. But getting frustrated won't help. Haven't the two of us been practicing a technique in case of a time like this?

...Oh! Yeah, let's do that, Shizuha!

Yes, let's show these fools who belittle autumn our might!

...Should we have let them get so fired up? Now they're blocking the way...

Everyone we'll face will be like that. Let's just beat them as fast as possible.

So the usual plan. Let's do it!


The bonus for this chapter is great.



Before I start, note that the sweet potato Minoriko was roasting counts as a special terrain.



Mokou kicks things off by getting "hit" by a 30%.



And then she does it again.

Since this is Marisa's route, Mokou starts with absolutely no upgrades or skills. Same goes with the SDM crew in Reimu's route. Needless to say this is kind of annoying!



On the other side, Sakuya's luck is just as bad.



Dai's heal gives her more experience the larger the level difference between her and her target.



This part of the chapter is just a warm-up, probably to get the player used to the new characters from the other route split.



Also great job missing a 91%, Meiling.



On her way to smashing the Akis' faces in, Reimu hit level 18 and learned Instinct. I'm not really a fan since I like my hit rates a solid A+.



On turn 3, stuff starts happening.

Hmm, perhaps their defeat the last time we came has brought them together. By nature they are very closely tied to humanity, so perhaps it'd be best not to battle them.

Huh, you're right. Hey, if you two are pals with humans, how about letting us through?

You have it backwards, we're stopping you because we're friendly to humans. Don't you all know how dangerous this mountain is?

I'm pleased you're so considerate, but there's a reason we came back. I'm sorry, but we'll be forcing our way throu-

Music: Price of Life


Look who's late.

!

Oh, that voice is...

Whew, just in time. Looks like things are getting intense.

...Who is that? I've never seen her before, so is she an acquaintance of Sakuya's group?

Yes, she's the friend of Sakuya's we were talking about earlier.

You're late. Were you stopped by some sort of whim?

Hey, I promised I'd come. I might have spent a little too much time chatting with the kid at the souvenir shop... but I made it on time, right?

...You'll have to explain to me where this is considered "on time".

Well anyways, I'm Komachi Onozuka. Nice meeting you all. Oh, I heard this generation's Hakurei shrine maiden was here too.

...What do you want with me?

Oho, so it's you. We've gotten a lot of rumors from the living world of the famous Hakurei shrine maiden.

Reimu's famous? W-wait, did you say from the living world...?

Didn't you hear? I'm a shinigami, straight out of hell.

Why would a shinigami want to help us?

Ah, don't be scared. I'm off today, nothing suspicious.

Aren't shinigami already suspicious as is?

Your background doesn't matter. You came, so lend us a hand.

Leave it to me. I'll ferry the Hakurei shrine maiden's group over to Whatever shrine safe and sound!



Rumia is way behind everyone else in levels, so I feed her a few kills. It'd be nice to at least get her to learn Daunt by PCB.



Three danmaku fields make it almost impossible for Komachi to do much of anything from where she starts (barring Way of Avici), so Mokou and Keine clean things up a bit.



Meanwhile Dai does her thing. Now that she's in Heal range, Keine and Komachi can focus their SP on themselves.

So if I heard you right, you're responsible for the falling leaves every year or something? It's nice that they're pretty, but cleaning up afterwards is a huge hassle.

There seems to be a slight misunderstanding. The lonely autumn leaves are an integral part of the autumn scenery.

Both Akis went for Reimu.

You still smell like sweet potatoes. Do you eat them everyday?

Didn't I tell you last time? Sweet potatoes are my perfume. Usually I just talk about them, but this time I'll make you eat them!

She just won't stop talking about sweet potatoes... if you ask me, anything's fine.

I think you can guess how well it went for them without pictures.



I had Komachi cast Strike earlier out of paranoia at her chances of hitting an 81%, and it ended up paying off when the last remaining enemy attacked her. Only the Akis are left now.



The only person in range to handle the bonus is Reimu, but I forgot grazing didn't count I'd rather not waste the SP on Sense.



So instead I just organize everyone.



Alert is the easiest way to get the bonus.

Now's our chance! Are you ready, sis?

Of course!

Woah, they sure got lively all of a sudden.

Be careful, they're up to something!

Hmph, take a good look. This is our sisterly combination!


Watch the video!

In case you haven't noticed yet, all of the videos of new content in this LP have subtitles. Be sure to turn on closed captions.





Kyaaah!?

S-siiis!

Wh-what was that? You two were so intense but then you just bounced away.

It was quite a shocking image. I don't think I'll be reporting this to the mistress.

U-uuugh... that was just a small mistake!

That's right, next time we'll definitely hit!



The real meat of the chapter starts after one of the Akis die. Shizuha drops a bomb and a Rat's Tail, but Minoriko drops a Sweet Potato (restores 10 SP) and I think more Points. I usually just weaken both then flip a coin to see who I beat.

Now I'll send you away with autumn's power! Take this, a sweet autumn aroma!

Hm? Well, this is certainly a very nice scent. Hmm, I wonder what I should make after bathtime. Maybe some chestnuts as appetizers, then pork and mushroom miso soup, with sweet potatoes in both...

Ooooh! I'm getting hungry...

Hmm, it seems you've enchanted me. Mountain vegetables, grilled fish, sweet potatoes...

Gyaaaaah! Hey, don't play around with a god!



It came up tails for Minoriko.

Y-you... We were doing this for your own good!

They won't listen to us at all. I'm not sure what we should do anymore.

I was expecting a little more when they challenged us.

At any rate, this battle has been decided. I'm sorry for the trouble, but we have to hurry onwards.

...Everyone, look over there!


And then Tengu B charged in with her squad from chapter 18M.

The patrol tengu? They must have noticed the invaders.

See, we warned you! Now you're really in for it!

Well, we should make ourselves scarce.

Exit Akis.

...I figured it would be you lot again. Standing guard so cautiously has paid off.

You're the tengu who invaded the Scarlet Devil Mansion yesterday!

Pretty brave of you to show your face again after losing to us!

I've learned from yesterday's small mistake. Reinforcements should be coming momentarily.



Cue Tengu A's group!

...! They're already here!

Gah, getting caught here wasn't in the plan!

Oh that's cute, Keine actually thought the plan would survive first contact.

It wasn't? There's less than I'd thought there'd be.

Okay, I smell some great photos. I knew it was a good idea to double back!

Wh- I was counting on you to contact the main troops, why did you come back?!

Well I thought I might have been running from a scoop. Reporting takes priority~!

This annoying feeling... that must be the crow tengu who attacked Mokou's house!

She's still pretty energetic, huh. I might have to do something about that.

...For crying out loud, this is why crows are unbearable. You'll only move for whatever catches your eye.

You wolves are just hard-headed. I'll get this report finished fast, and then I'll contact the main forces.

...With circumstances like these, we might be able to advance after all.

Mind filling the rest of us in, blondie?

What she means is that the mountain youkai at large still do not know we are here. So all we have to do is make sure this lot keeps their mouths shut.

Geh, curses! We'll just have to stop you here!


I think you can guess how well that's going to go for the tengu.

The beauty of the bamboo forest has shown her face!

...Saying something like that won't upset me anymore. I'll punish you now!



Keine's at full SP, so she has more than enough Strike to beat all of the birds.



But she doesn't have enough Support Defends to cover Dai, so the latter flees south. She can still heal though Trust, so it's all right.



Mokou must have the worst luck because she got hit by another sub-20%. But since it's enemy phase, HP Regenerate hasn't kicked in yet, so Instinct Dodge has inflated her dodge rates to hilarious levels.

Didn't stop Keine from having to bail her out of a 14% though.

Music: Greenwich in the Battlefield



On the other side, everyone groups up. Why rush the enemy when I can make them rush me?



Parry!

You again. I guess you didn't learn your lesson the first time.

If you want an apology, you won't get one. I'd go to the depths of the underworld in search of interesting articles!



Mokou and Keine double-team Tengu A,

This sticky feeling... you must be a slacker!

Oh, you're talking to me. But you know, there's difference between being a slacker and just slacking off.



and Komachi goes for the cherry tap kill. Gonna take a wild guess here and say that that is not the proper way to use a scythe.

Tengu A drops a Flight Charm (raises Sky rating of character/character's attacks to A, almost useless) and a bomb.



Keine takes out another tengu and levels up. Now she has Guard, and just in time.



The eastern tengu rush my formation.



It does not go well for them.



Keine's group is just picking off stragglers now. Mokou learned Strike, again just in time.



Meiling's group quickly handles the bulk of the eastern grunts, leaving only Tengu B.

Hakurei shrine maiden! If you know what's good for you, you'll withdra-

I'm not just going to head back after coming all this way. You're pretty desperate about this, do you want to protect Sanae or something?

As its defenders, Youkai Mountain's peace is our highest priority. That is why we are cooperating with that shrine!



Who gets the brilliant idea to charge at Reimu.



At this point I remembered Dai existed and blew the rest of her SP on Cheer.

I feel as if I've gotten used to fighting tengu.

How impertinent. Let's see if you've "gotten used" to our movements!

Research is essential no matter the enemy. Your confidence is admirable, but can't you see the difference in skill?



I'm pretty sure Reimu can kill Tengu B without anyone else's help, but might as well get Alice some minor battle experience.



I was tempted to do this for laughs, but nah.



That's a wrap. Tengu B drops another Five-colored Shell. It's almost as if these are going to be really important.

There's some extra dialogue if you beat Tengu B last on Marisa's route. Same goes for Tengu A on Reimu's.

Guh, how could I have reached my limit...

You lasted longer than yesterday. I have to praise such an impressive gatekeeper spirit!

Does such a thing exist?

Everyone has a spirit. I've never ferried over a gatekeeper myself, but I bet they'd be really stiff.

To fail in my duties twice, I'm so ashamed...

Alright, we're done here.

Since we've defeated these tengu, nobody will know what happened here!

Everybody has already forgotten the Akis.

Now then, from here on out we'll split into two groups. Everyone, let's have a quick meeting.

Everyone heads deeper in.


And now that the coast is clear, the Akis pop up.

Yup. They certainly are strong, they even beat the tengu.

Now I'm even more worried. With that much power, they'll be quite the threat. Still, it'd be best if they avoided meeting the bulk of the mountain's forces...

You're still worried about those humans? I guess you're just that much of a good person. Oh well, let's calm down and get back to work.

You're right. Our purpose is to govern autumn... with its greatest splendor, its leaves.

No, no, with sweet potatoes.

Roll laugh track, fade to credits.





You get the usual option to remove the other side's equipment at this point.

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Meiling, let's play today too!

Alright, alright. What do you want to play?

Hmm, this time we should play something I heard from Marisa. It's called Close Hands, Open Hands. But she didn't teach me how to play it, can you?

Okay, I know how to play that. First you squeeze your hands.

Like this?

!! E-excuse me, young mistress! I don't think we should play this game after all!

Eeeeh, you won't teach me either? Meanie.

Close Hands, Open Hands is an actual japanese nursery rhyme.