Part 16: Chapter 20R: Calamity of the Misfortune God

I'm sure you're all wondering why this update took so long.



This shrine in the corner of my room may be related to the answer.

The update actually isn't done yet, but I figure I've kept you all waiting long enough. Sorry for being such an easily distracted lazy ass.

---

20R also starts with Sanae in denial. Let me skip to the part after it.


Music: Secret Mission!

Full Text


Music: Border of Regular and Irregular Days

Full Text


Music: I'm Pretty Sure This Song Doesn't Have A Name

Full Text

------

Huh, you stopped playing. Thanks for the hard work. Anyway while you're taking a break, I'll try playing.

Eh, what about my job?

How about you do me a favor and sub for me? Heh.



This was originally "Calamity of the Curse God", but then I checked the wiki. A shame, I liked the alliteration.

Whew, those ghosts shouldn't catch us here.

Well that's good but... aren't we in an even creepier place now? At this point, I'm starting to wish we stayed inside today...

Me too, but even if you say that we don't know how to go back...

...Wait, there's someone over there.



Whoever she is, she's pretty...

This is great, we can ask her for directions.

Hey, calm down. She could be dangerou-

Cirno moves forward.

Hey you, tell us how to get to the shrine!

? Who are you people? Have you fairies lost your way?

Y-yes, that's right. Actually, we were on our way to the shrine at the top of the mountain.

The mountain's shrine? What business would fairies have there? ...Well in any case, the path ahead is far too dangerous for you. Please leave at once.

No way! If you think we're too weak, then we'll beat the info out of you!

Hey, don't be like that. We don't want a fi-

You should listen to a person's warnings. This may be a little violent, but you've left me with no choice but to forcefully expel you.

Woah, she looks like she's ready to go too!

If it's come to this, let's just leave Cirno behind and ru- huh?



Enemies spawn in.



Huh, the miasma here is thick enough that even non-spiritually sensitive people can see it.

That's... Cirno!?

Dai!? Why are you on Youkai Mountain?

That's our line. What were you and those three pranksters thinking?

...So even humans have come here. Are you friends of these fairies?

Not even close. Anyway, is this curse your doing?

Yes, I am Hina Kagiyama, a misfortune god. I'm gathering up the misfortune flowing here from upstream.

So this weird mist is bad luck?

Don't treat it lightly. If you get too close, you'll meet a terrible fate.

A misfortune god, huh? I'd like to hear my fortune~.

...As the one minding humanity's misfortunes, it's my duty to send away humans who have gone astray. If your goal is the shrine, then I will have to send you all away.

How did you know where we're going?

I asked her how to get there. Isn't it fine as long as we make it?

This is supposed to be covert, don't just spill your guts like that! ...At this point we should just break away and leave the fairies as decoys. We don't have time to play around.

N-no, please don't...!

We already took the trouble of coming here, don't you think we should help 'em? Leaving them out to dry would kill the mood.

True enough. Okay, let's beat up this creepy god and keep on going!


This is a total filler chapter.



The missing fairies are unceremoniously dumped into my lap, and they all kind of suck. You can get some mileage out of the Three Fairies with their combination attack and their default PS (accuracy/evasion buffs to surrounding units), but that's overkill for this chapter.



I usually just have them all cast defensive spirits and hide in the corner until they're needed.



Nobody is in range to do anything on turn 1. Well except Komachi, but Avici is useless on Lunatic because enemies will always defend.

These evil eyes and ghosts... I don't think Gensokyo has any youkai like them. Why are they here?

I do not know either. I assume someone brought them along for companionship, but lost control.

Maybe~. It's nice they can call them, but it's no good if they're not strong enough to control them.

Huh, I get the feeling I've heard this before...

Kurumi you fuckup.

Music: Careless though it's Spring



Doofy Ghosts hit pretty hard, and Luna is the only fairy without a way to nullify damage. I could have had her cast Guard, but eh.



Incidentally, Doofy Ghosts aren't actually classified as ghosts for some reason.



They and Evil Eyes are listed under Youkai, so Reimu tears through them.



Down below, the fairies attempt to take out a Doofy Ghost with a barrage of attacks. It spams Defend, so they fail.

Music: Reinforcements - Theme of the Detestable Youkai



Some spirits spawn in on the enemy phase of turn 2.

It's those creepy spirits from early!

Uagh, do you think they're following us?!

Sheesh, are there still vengeful spirits hanging around here?

Vengeful...? Wait, are these spirits different from normal ones?

Definitely. These guys weren't ferried across the Sanzu River, so they've just been walking around building up a grudge. You'll get caught in it too if you aren't careful, so stay on your toes.

They're also hot to the touch, so the Three Fairies' plan was even more boneheaded.

If they're still angry even after dying, they must have had some really strong feelings.

...Even death won't wipe away a real grudge.

...



For this chapter, I like to have Reimu handle the northern enemies while Mokou, Keine, and Komachi draw the attention of the rest.



Probably should have had Keine cast Strike though.



Lunatic makes 20R's enemies a huge SP sink. It'll make Hina more annoying,



because she has Sense. I'm glad she went for Mokou, Reimu would have been screwed.

I don't know that much about bad luck, but I'll burn it up anyways.

...So humans still resort to fire. I suppose it is a power that can reduce all to nothingness.

What, you have a problem with what I can do?

You misunderstand. Your sins and misfortune are a burning hellfire of their own... If you intend to wield fire, you must keep that knowledge in mind.

...

Music: Misery Go Round



Hina is all about the spinning.



Spirit AI is smart enough not to attack enemies they can't hit, so Reimu has to kill them one at a time.

Even if it's for your duty, it's quite tragic that you stay alone in a place like this.

Your sympathy is appreciated. But as a misfortune god, I must fulfill my duty.



A lot of Hina's attacks look like they should inflict debuffs, but nope.



Up north, I got annoyed and had Reimu drop two Fantasy Seals to insta-gib some Kedamas. And since she's out of SP, the spirits got a non-zero hit rate and mobbed her. It didn't work out well for them.

Maybe I shouldn't have blown all of Reimu's SP, but after last update consecutive 9%'s don't look safe anymore.



Now that Hina's on the move, it's best to group up again.



The fairies also get in position. They have the important job of popping Hina's Alerts.



I had to stall for a few turns to take out the remaining grunts. Much to my surprise, Reimu didn't run into any RNG bullshit.



Hina is kind enough to fall for my bait.

You keep spinning around, don't you get dizzy?

Dizzy? I'm not sure what you mean, but I never stagger.

Oh, is that so? I guess you've practiced a lot, you're like a bat. You don't run into anything.

On the next turn I start attacking Hina in earnest.

Are you the shinigami I've heard about? The one who occasionally comes here to help vengeful spirits move on?

Oh, uh, well it's not like I plan on finding them... they kind of rampage all over the place.

While I'm grateful for your help, I'm afraid I can't show you any lenience.



I was really not expecting Komachi to hit a 51%.

If you're sucking up bad luck, does that mean something good will happen to me?

I suppose. Without misfortune, your luck can only improve.

Really?! So I'm going to find a four-leaf clover, or a wishbone, or-

...I'm sorry, but cleansing misfortune and granting good luck are two entirely different things.



Cirno even hit a 66% Support Attack! Twice!



Hina's HP gets so low she starts defending, which makes it safe for Reimu to come up and smack her.

I don't often give warnings, and yet a human plunged into this spring of misfortune anyways.

What a shame. But as a shrine maiden, a curse as piddly as this isn't a problem!

...I see. You lack self-awareness, but it seems you're strong enough it doesn't matter.



And yes, she hit. I guess it's fitting that Hina has the worst luck.

How's that? We're winning!

I guess gods aren't that big of a deal after all. Though maybe I should wash my hands later.

But it's because I gather what you'd wash off that humans can live in peace...

A god that collects dirt? This mountain has all kinds of people on it.

That was my best attempt at translating a japanese joke.

Well they're called the eight million gods after all. You got to expect a few weird ones.

Oh that's right, you're also a god. That means you can tell us more about the mountain's situation. If it's no trouble, could you give us any information you have about the Moriya shrine?

It would very much be trouble. Ahead of you is the world of the gods, a place far too dangerous for humans. As an ally of humanity, I'm trying to chase you away for your own go-

Shut it already. You're a youkai, so you're my enemy! If you don't cut it with the complaints, I'll just exterminate you!

I suppose you're right! I have no choice then. Take the misfortune I've absorbed so far!




Pain Flow maxes Hina's critical rate.

If you give up and quietly let us through, I'll be nice enough to forgive you!

...If you give up and quietly leave, I'll be kind enough to forgive you.

Grrr... you're a tough one.



Didn't do a thing for her luck though, Cirno landed yet another 66%. And this time I used Freeze.



Mokou drops a bomb,

Music: Punishing Love Theme



which clears the way for Keine.



On the next turn, Hina finally dodges an attack.



Cirno ended up missing both of her Support Attacks, so I had to land Freeze with a Tackle.



I had Keine trigger Mokou's Support Attack so the latter could build up her power to use her finisher, but they ended up leaving Hina near death.



And Reimu has dibs on killing blows.





Alright, we turned the tables!

Even though I was kindly doing this for your own good...

Trying to force us out isn't very kind.

Well there wasn't any ill will behind it, so I guess we may as well thank her anyways.

*sigh* I suppose you're all heading to the mountain's shrine now.

That's the plan. Will you answer our questions now?

For heaven's sake, you can't do whatever you want and expect everyone to follow your lead... is what I'd like to say, at least. If you tell me why you want to go to the shrine, I'll tell you what I know.

Huh, so she was a good person.

I'm not sure who was the villain here...



Hina drops a Draft Beer. It fully restores MP.



------

Whew, that's the end of today's work. Now then, Lady Patchouli, how about we take a bath together?

What...? I bathe alone, don't just suddenly spew nonsense like that.

I see, what a shame. And after all that work I put into getting these cosmetics... look, hasn't that human been coming to the library a lot recently? It's important that you take care of your hair.

...Are you implying something? I'm fine, just go take a bath already.

Oookay. Well then, I'll just head off on my own.

...Now that she mentions it, I have been finding more split ends lately...