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Len'en Project
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Len'en Project is a Japanese doujin game series specializing in shoot 'em ups, developed by Trick Nostalgie, whose sole member is game developer JynX. The series is known for drawing heavy inspiration from the Touhou Project. As such, it consists of 2D vertically scrolling shoot 'em ups with 3D backgrounds. The series is set in a separate world featuring a large cast of characters.
| Len'en Project | |
|---|---|
      | |
| General Information | |
| Official Date | September 12, 2013 (Evanescent Existence trial version), November 18, 2013 (Evanescent Existence full version) |
| Company | Trick Nostalgie |
| Creator/Developers | JynX |
| Genre | Bullet Hell Shooter, Action, Adventure |
| Cosmology | Multiverse |
| Number of Series | 1 |
| Status | Ongoing |
| Reception | Well Received |
Background
Len'en Project takes place in the land of Mugenri, a realm inhabited by both humans and youkai. It is sealed off from the Outside World by a mysterious spiritual barrier known as the Mugenri Barrier. The main protagonists are Yabusame Houlen and Tsubakura Enraku, who work together as youkai exterminators solving incidents. They were employed by Tsurubami Senri, the Shinto priest of the Senri Shrine. Tsurubami spirited away humans from outside Mugenri in order to force them to take over the job, allowing Tsurubami to go on a holiday to the Outside World.
A lot of story beat inspirations can be seen to be based off Touhou Project. However, Len'en's stories connect the plot of each game together normally, while Touhou deals moreso with a monster of the week like plot or will only follow connecting plots during a specific arc.
In Mugenri, incidents occur from time to time, they vary from someone's whim or curiosity to someone planning to revive something or someone. The protagonists are normally reluctant heroes going to prevent an incident, and they can be joined by side characters trying to solve the incidents themselves for their own motivations. Incidents so far have been heavy clouds in the sky to an outright war between two major factions.
The story has many comedic beats to it, though it can also get more in-depth. While Touhou doesn't take itself too seriously, Len'en will add dialogue and foreshadowing that hints at future events in a series.
JynX themself has described Len'en as "similar to a certain shrine maiden danmaku shooting game, but if you try it you may think it's pretty different".
General Information
Official Date: September, 12 2013 (For Evanescent Existence's trial version), November 18, 2013 (For Evanescent Existence's full version)
Company: Trick Nostalgie
Creator: JyNX
Genre: Bullet Hell Shooter, Action, Adventure
Cosmology: Multiverse (Mugenri is a realm that is born from beyond people's memories, cast out alongside the flow of time and is a world apart from reality[1], with there existing multiple other worlds[2])
Number of Series: 1
Number of Games: 5 Released (Evanescent Existence, Earthen Miraculous Sword, Reactivate Majestical Imperial, Brilliant Pagoda or Haze Castle, Book of the Cafe)
Status: Ongoing (Len'en has several games in development, one of the more important ones being Len'en Project - Monochrome World)
Sales: Unknown
Reception: Well Received (Len'en Project is well received by fans and it attracts many Touhou fans due to its inspiration while being different enough to stand as its own series)
List of Misconceptions
Len'en Was Created by JynX
While it is natural to assume as JynX is the only member of Trick Nostalgie, JynX actually got this series from asking his seniors if he could get the rights to a game they worked on, one of the primary ones being Dajin.
However, Dajin's version of Len'En is barely known, as there version had different characters, a different storym and different gameplay[3]. Dajin's Evanescent Existence is largely unknown to what it was going to be about.
JynX still regularly asks Dajin to playtest the game and bounces ideas off of them.
Power of the Verse
The verse contains superhumans with characters capable of blowing up entire mountains when unsealed and having a top speed of mach 2. In terms of abilities there are quite a few including, Dimension Manipulation, Probability Manipulation, Space-Time Manipulation, Dimensional Travel, Memory Manipulation, Soul Manipulation, etcetera.
Explanations
Mugenri
Mugenri is a realm that is born from beyond people's memories, cast out alongside the flow of time and is a world apart from reality[1]. Existing as a place where both humans and non-huamns live togehter and things disappearing from sight are never seen again[1]. It is described as a land that does not exist within reality[4]. It is described as a land that does not exist within reality[4]. When defining Mugenri in Brilliant Pagoda or Haze Castle, it's called a world separated from reality[5]. Tsubakura notes that Mugenri is separated from everything else, though Tenkai notes that Mugenri doesn't have an "inside" or "outside" and once Tsubakura has seen the full picture of Mugenri they will understand[6].
Many are either swept away to Mugenri or captured[1], being described as a land where limitless relations and illusionary laws are linked together[1]. Mugenri cannot be directly reached from most other places, it has its own Netherworld, Makai, and so on separate from those of the outside world, Mugenri can only be accessed from most places if one goes through the outside world along the way[2].
Mugenri's true size has never been revealed, and very few places are mora advanced then the capital of Mugenri[7].
Despite being cut off from the outside world, seasons such as winter still persists in Mugenri[8].
Mugenri's capital is rougly 10 million of a population, but the population for all of it is a secret[9]. Half-Human, Half-Youkai entities exist in Mugenri but they haven't been shown yet[10].
There are a variety of ways to obtain powers in Mugenri, one could be born with an ability, obtain it through practice or a contract, but a vast majority of people in Mugenri are ordinary and have no powers at all[11].
If one dies in Mugenri, their soul is led to the Netherworld where it will be judged within 49 days and after receiving its due punishment, proceeds to its next life via reincarnation[12].
Mugenri uses a calendar system called "Ruri" based on the current era starts from Mugenri's birth, like the Japan's old lunisolar calendar, the actual year wasn't given by JynX[13].
Spell Card System
In Spell Card dues, the winner can issue an order that the loser must obey, there are fundamentally no limitations to this order to where they can even order the opponent to kill themself, with failure to follow the order resulting in Mugenri completely erasing one's existence, though an order can be withdrawn and the loser doesn't have to listen to the order if they can escape from the winner's sight before they make the order[14].
Unlike Touhou Project, Spell Card System does not restrict killing or disallow it, instead the people of the world feel ashamed of killing their opponent in battle and consider it more advantageous to force the loser to follow their orders[15].
Knowledgeable Members
Characters
| Honorary Shrine Priests | ||
|---|---|---|
| ||
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Len'en Project Evanescent Existence Prologue "Prologue
This is a story of both the present and long ago.
This is a place born from beyond people's memories, now a forgotten frontier.
Its form, cast out alongside the flow of time, was somehow nostalgic, yet novel as well.
This is a story of a world apart from reality.
This country is a place where both humans and non-humans live together.
Things which have disappeared from sight can surely be seen once again here.
This is a story of humans and non-humans.
There are also people who were swept away here, or who were captured.
At this time, many new people are stepping foot into this country.
This is a story about those people.
This is a land where limitless relations and illusionary laws are linked together.
People call the land "Mugenri".
This is a story that was lost.
Thanks to the intentionally-discarded past, present, and future as well, the little birds flew out of the birdcage long ago.
This is merely a fairy tale.
Len'en Mugenri ~ Evanescent Existence ~
~ [Prologue] ~
After coming to their senses, the foolish Yabusame Houlen and their friends have found themselves in a strange airspace. (End of prologue)" - ↑ 2.0 2.1 Interview with JynX (2015) "Q8. Are there any other worlds connected to Mugenri aside from the outside world? Mostly like how Gensokyo is also connected to Makai or the netherworld.
There are no other places from which you can directly reach Mugenri.
It has its own Netherworld, Makai, and so on separate from those of the outside world, too.
However, you can access Mugenri from most places if you go through the outside world along the way." - ↑ I Tried a Touhou-Style Bullet Hell Shmup Made by My Wife
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Len'en Project Earthen Miraculous Sword Prologue "~At the Senri Shrine~
Mugenri.
Even in this land that doesn't exist within reality, time simply flows downriver as always, and the seasons and landscape change accordingly.
The morning sunlight poured down from the calm clear skies some hours ago, unobscured and proclaiming the arrival of mid-day.
Now, though, as the snakes crawled into their dens, the beautiful scenery became tired of sporting so many hues. It changed into a dull inky color, as if preparing for the snowfall that would blanket the land and welcome the coming season.
Yes, it was that time of year.
That is to say, the end of Autumn.
The new inhabitants of Mugenri's Senri Shrine had finally started to get used to their new lives, different as they were from the ones they led outside.
Yet the "ordinary lifestyle" that they had constructed in this strange land was fragile; so fragile, in fact, that it would inevitably be overturned by an Autumn wind too weak to even whirl some leaves about.
In the shrine's kitchen, Yabusame Houlen, who was appointed as a substitute priest, poured an inky black broth into two teacups.
The cups made a pleasant sound as they finished pouring.
Yabusame hummed a nonchalant tune as they picked up the tray and cups both, and headed towards the place where the cups' contents would meet their ends "as coffee".
Yabusame searched for the one they were bringing coffee to: Tsubakura Enraku, the shrine's other substitute priest.
If one were looking for them, it'd be best to check the research lab (that is, their room,) or to take a quick walk around the shrine's veranda while enjoying the scenery.
They'd usually be performing strange experiments in those places, or yawning and stretching just to put on the air of someone slacking off.
As evidence of that, Yabusame easily found them sitting on the veranda that day, yawning and fiddling with a thick book.
Yabusame: "Huh? You're still not done studying?"
Yabusame gave a look of surprise as they reached Tsubakura, while holding out one of the teacups from the tray for them.
Tsubakura: "Nnh... I finished 'studying' a long time ago, but I still haven't fulfilled my quota. 16 readings to go."
Tsubakura flipped through the book with one hand as they took the teacup with the other, closed their eyes, frowned, drew back their shoulders, tilted their head to the side, and let out a huge yawn with their tongue hanging out.
This exaggerated display served to make their boredom easy for Yabusame to pick up on, which said a lot about how thick-headed Yabusame was.
Yabusame Houlen and Tsubakura Enraku... as these two were sealed up in this world of Mugenri, they were also entrusted with an extremely important role (that of priests).
Yabusame complained that they'd rather just be a shrine maiden, and Tsubakura complained that they'd rather just be a stockholder, but after having discussed matters (played rock-paper-scissors), they divided the priests' responsibilities between them.
As a result, the boring and tiresome work became Tsubakura's job, as well as having a certain individual drill the shrine's everyday rituals and traditions, Mugenri's history and so on into their head every day.
On the other hand, all the cooking, cleaning and general housework were contracted out to Yabusame, and so they successfully avoided having to deal with the shrine's stiff rituals.
Having taken the cup from Yabusame, Tsubakura was aware that the substance contained within was definitely not something that belonged there under normal circumstances, but they drank it anyways.
They swished the black fluid around on their tongue, savored the taste well, and swallowed it.
After taking a breath, they looked at Yabusame and grinned widely.
Tsubakura: "Even since we came to this world, your skills in the kitchen haven't dulled a bit."
Yabusame: "You're probably the only person alive who would say so after drinking that."
While saying that, Yabusame leaned their head back and gave a strained smile.
? ? ? "Hm? What's that?"
Yabusame turned around in response to the innocent voice they heard.
Behind them, there stood a child with long, fluttering black hair.
The child wore a short, sleeveless haori all year round, and as such, those around them called them...
Yabusame: "Oh, it's you, Jinbei-kun."
..."Jinbei". Nobody seems to know their real name, however.
Even in this season, where Autumn gales blow as if chasing the migrating birds, and where one reunites after a whole year with dry winds harsh enough to make one shiver, Jinbei was perfectly comfortable in their single-layer haori.
Incidentally, this very person is Tsubakura's teacher, and so Tsubakura sometimes calls them "Sensei".
Yabusame: "It's coffee! Don't you know?"
Jinbei: "Hmm. Of course I have heard of it, but I don't drink much more than what I prepare with tea leaves, so..."
Tsubakura: "...! Ah, Sensei, would you like a cup as well? You say that you should try everything at least once, after all."
Perhaps having thought of an ingenious prank, Tsubakura held back a mischievous smile.
They offered Jinbei the contents of the remaining cup, while sipping on their own as if to show that it was fine.
Jinbei: "Are you sure? What about Yabusame-san's coffee?"
Yabusame: "Ehh? Uh, umm... no, I think I'm fine, really~?"
Yabusame was obviously very flustered, but Jinbei thought they were simply being polite about giving up their own drink.
They would only realize the horrible mistake they had made several seconds later...
Jinbei: "Well then, I think I'll take you up on that offer."
Yabusame crouched down to meet Jinbei's childlike stature, and handed them the cup.
Jinbei took it, wetting their nose with the vapor rising from the cup.
Jinbei: "My, what a mysterious smell... It makes the back of my head tingle... Is this what they call bean milk...?"
Tsubakura chuckled to themself at the sight of Jinbei drinking the black liquid.
It took no time at all for Jinbei's calm face to undergo a dramatic transformation.
Yabusame: "Uh, hey... Are you okay? Jinbei-kun?"
Jinbei valiantly struggled to swallow the substance in their mouth even as their eyes watered.
They cast a glare up at Tsubakura while breathing heavily.
Jinbei: "I see you tricked me..."
Tsubakura: "My, I have not the slightest idea what you mean."
Tsubakura made zero effort to hide their mischievous intent.
Despite Jinbei's disgusted glare, they calmly sipped at their own compound liquid.
"Ah, yep," they thought to themself. "Even the people of this world think the taste is awful..."
"Even though it was pretty light stuff," they also thought. "Since there was nothing poisonous in it today..."
Aside from 'Tsubakura's two cups', Yabusame had prepared coffee for themself as well, which they had left in the kitchen.
They glanced sympathetically at Jinbei's agony, while yearning for that non-"specially made" brew.
But then they remembered that they were more of a tea person to begin with, and thought "maybe I should go out and buy some tea leaves tomorrow..." and so on, putting their mind towards making plans ahead of time.
Of course, the chance that Yabusame themself would actually remember those plans by tomorrow was astronomically small...
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Jinbei: "W... well, anyway. You can make this up to me later. For now, let's talk about repayment for some previous things."
Recognizing defeat, Jinbei gradually regained their composure.
They shoved the cup back onto Yabusame's tray and changed the subject.
Tsubakura: "If you're wondering about that, I just finished the 101st reading."
Jinbei: "Eh? Wow, you only have a little bit left. That's awfully fast."
Tsubakura: "Making me read the rituals and history as many times as there are worldly afflictions, though? Really? Real stuffy way to learn, if you ask me. 102nd."
Jinbei: "And here I thought it'd take you at least a month, no matter how hard you tried~."
Tsubakura: "If it were just memorization, I would have been fine after the first reading. 103rd."
Jinbei: "It doesn't matter if you had it down the first time. This is how it's traditionally done!"
Yabusame: "Tsubakura's hardly playing fair either, what with how they're actually reading it properly~."
Without responding to the other two at all, Tsubakura continued reading, flipping the book's pages like wind blowing through one's hair.
Several seconds later, they closed it with a thud.
Tsubakura: "So. Did you come to see the result of your prank, having made this whole elaborate 'fake'?"
Jinbei: "Ohh, so I've been found out."
Yabusame: "Huh? What do you mean?"
Jinbei: "That book is actually my own original work. So, how was it?"
Tsubakura: "The setup where the mystery is solved once you read it 108 times while keeping the worldly afflictions in mind was interesting. Subject matter was awful, though."
Jinbei: "How harsh... But, to tell you the truth, I honestly don't care about that now."
Yabusame: "...? So, is there something else you want us to do?"
Jinbei: "Hmm, how should I say this...? Watch my right hand."
As they said so, Jinbei pointed at the landscape visible from the veranda.
Yabusame and Tsubakura's lines of sight followed the hand from Jinbei's face to their shoulder, then their arm, their palm, their fingertips, and the scenery beyond.
Then finally, at last, they arrived at the sky above.
Mugenri's weather was that of a beautiful, clear late Autumn day.
All except for one point in the sky that the three were looking towards...
Yabusame: "Woah, it's super cloudy over there~!"
Yabusame gazed at the point Jinbei had indicated, eyes opened wide.
There was a single massive, thick cloud floating in the otherwise clear sky.
It was truly a spectacular sight. One would be tempted to call it outright vainglorious.
The one strangely-cloudy spot was a wondrous sight, starkly contrasted against the clear blue surrounding it. It was as if the cloud had hardened in that spot and wouldn't move, even as the wind blew against it.
Owing to this, the land below must have seemed like a world of eternal darkness...
Tsubakura: "Yeah, that thing. 'S been like that for days. If it was like that here, then I could sleep all I wanted. I'm jealous."
Yabusame: "Oh, are you?"
Even as Yabusame's foolish voice echoed through the shrine garden, their eyes remained glued to the enormous cloud.
Tsubakura: "So, what the heck is this huge cloud we're gawking at?[1] There a floating castle in there or something?"
Tsubakura asked their teacher, Jinbei, in a tone that made no attempt to hide their annoyance.
Jinbei, in response, looked agog at Tsubakura and Yabusame.
Jinbei: "How should I know? It isn't as if I did it."
Yabusame: "Huh? What do you mean?"
Yabusame moved their gaze from the cloud back to Jinbei, and responded to them in place of the listless Tsubakura.
Jinbei: "Who knows? It's just a regular old abnormal situation. 'Incidents', they're called. They're quite famous in the village streets."
Tsubakura: "People call things 'abnormal' or 'incidents' because they're not regular, you know? Haa~augh."
Perhaps Tsubakura could tell what was coming, because they were already bored of it.
While releasing a superb blend of yawning, sighing, and talking all at once, they stretched out, laid down on the veranda in that same posture, and finally closed their eyes.
Yabusame: "An incident? What's that?"
Jinbei: "Well, it means that someone came up with some sort of sinister plot and made the clouds that way, I suppose?"
Jinbei kindly answered Yabusame's foolish question.
All else aside, it was important for Yabusame to understand at least that much.
Yabusame: "Sinister plot!? Wha- what'll we do, Tsubakura?!"
Tsubakura: "Well... I guess someone will have to do something about it, or whatever?"
Tsubakura, already checking out of the conversation, gave a lukewarm reply to Yabusame's idiotic question.
Yabusame: "Huh-whaa...! So, which someone is gonna do what thing, exactly?"
Yabusame, completely unaware that Tsubakura didn't want to hear the answer to that, kept innocently asking questions one after another.
Jinbei: "Why, you two will take care of it, of course."
Yabusame: "Huh?"
Ignoring Yabusame's shock, Tsubakura finally accepted their lot and got up, with their regular expressionless look having returned.
Tsubakura: "Well, if I'm getting overtime pay for it... what do you want us to go and do?"
Jinbei: "Oh, don't you worry about any trifling details like that. Just go where you can, become a human sacrifice or what have you, and I'll leave it up to you to figure things out."
Not quite sure whether Jinbei was being serious or not, Tsubakura stuck their tongue out at them.
Tsubakura: "And why's a supremely high-ranking priest such as m'self hafta go get human-sacrificed or whatever...?"
Yabusame: "Hu-man sa-cri-ficed...?"
Jinbei: "'Those who have no intention of dying should verily die by all means.' ...That's the way things go in this world."
Tsubakura: "I get this weird feeling that this is a big departure from the job description? Buuut that might just be me."
Yabusame: "Job-des-crip-tion...?"
Jinbei: "It seems you've forgotten which of us is holding the shrine's purse strings. Perhaps I should give you a little reminder when dinner comes around?"
Ignoring the fact that Yabusame didn't even understand 2% of what they were talking about, Jinbei pointed the muzzle of their proverbial gun at the two of them.
Tsubakura: "Oh, so we're having lotus roots again?"
Yabusame: "...! Nooo~! I'm sick of lotus roots~!"
At the very least, Yabusame could understand that part of the conversation.
From that, they more or less worked out what Jinbei was getting at, and began kicking their legs back and forth and throwing a tantrum.
Jinbei: "Really, I'll be fine even without any dinner. Hardly my problem."
The Senri Shrine's generations-old shikigami smiled brightly.
To Yabusame, their grin was adorable, and to Tsubakura, it was just creepy.
Yabusame: "Well, if dinner's on the line, there's only one thing to do!"
Tsubakura: "Let's head out there and prove that no reign of terror like this ever lasts long."
Jinbei: "Yes, yes. You can give that eloquent tongue of yours a rest now."
Jinbei continued the conversation while ignoring Tsubakura's muttering and glowering.
Jinbei: "Ah, yes, and... it'd be good if one of you stayed here at the shrine, if only to keep up appearances. So decide which one of you will head out to the incident location, if you please."
Yabusame: "Yeppers!"
Tsubakura: "Yessers."
The two of them responded cheerfully(?), but neither had even the faintest intention of actually volunteering for such a nuisance of a task.
Just answering the question of "what should we do to decide who goes?" took them a great deal of time by itself,
but for now, let's leave that as it is.
※----------------------------------------------------------------※
~In a forest near the Human Village~
Some ways past the forest beside the road coming from the village, there was a clearing. A log cabin stood in the middle.
The ramshackle cabin, roughly and crudely built, served well enough as shelter from the rain, but it didn't look very reliable.
If it were to collapse with a satisfying "kerplonk!" on a stormy day, hardly anyone would be surprised.
There were three people, similar both in presence and in attire, who lived there.
Hooaka: "Looks like it's gonna rain today."
One of the three figures, their hair as red as fire, muttered gloomily as they looked out the window at the sky.
There wasn't really anything to do in the dim room, lit by nothing more than a candle and what little light came in from outside.
Whenever it rained, the inhabitants of the cabin became unbearably bored.
Aoji: "You've been saying that every day we spend here, Aka."
The blue-clothed, green-haired figure replied in a frail, muttering voice, as they plopped down at the hand-crafted chair and table (which were more like logs cut in half, really).
This similar-looking pair had been living in the cabin for a while.
They had suddenly been whisked away into this land they'd never heard of, without any assets, food or even a place to live, and had spent about a month with little hope of surviving.
Recently, though, they'd finally been given a stable lifestyle.
A consistent supply of food and water, a cabin that served as a makeshift residence...
With those things taken care of, what they needed now was "funds".
The cabin's third resident, not currently present, was out looking for a job to earn those "funds", and the two in the cabin were waiting for their return.
Or, rather, they had nothing else to do but wait.
Hooaka: "Yeah, 'cause the weather's been like this the whole time! What else is there to say?"
Aoji: "It hasn't rained even once, though."
Hooaka: "They say if you tell people about the predictions in your dreams, they won't come true. So basically it's your fault."
Aoji: "Eh..."
Judging by the pointless conversations they kept having, they were both extremely bored.
※----------------------------------------------------------------※
Kuroji: "I'll ask one more time, and only once... Why, exactly, do you have so much free time on your hands?"
After time had passed, the black-haired mass-production model returned home.
Furrowing their eyebrows, they had the other two sit on the ground, took the chair and sat cross-legged on it, and prepared for a good old-fashioned lecture.
Aoji: "Well, um... There's not really anything to do, and..."
The youngest child Aoji avoided their older sibling Kuroji's glare, as they replied to them with a small voice.
Kuroji: "You remember what I said before I left, right? I said, 'If I make some money, then we can build a better house, so you two should go collect lumber in advance...' Some time has passed since then, so why haven't you collected any wood? Do you think the trees are going to chop themselves down?"
Aoji: "Sorry..."
Kuroji: "Listen up, you two. Our living conditions may have become slightly more comfortable, but the fact remains that we can't afford to be careless! We must break through this sorry state of affairs as soon as possible! You need live while treating every minute and every second as precious, so what excuse do you have for this idleness?!"
Hooaka: "If every minute and every second is precious, why are you wastin' everyone's time with this dumb lecture?"
Hooaka retorted while staring at the ceiling, not even pretending to reflect on what Kuroji told them.
Kuroji: "If I hear any more cheek from you, you'll be the only one not enjoying dinner tonight."
Hooaka gave a sigh and then fell silent, as they made an expression that screamed "gimme a break already".
Kuroji: "Now, that aside. I've decided on a job."
Aoji: "Huh!? You actually found one?"
Kuroji: "Well, no, it's not as if I've found an employer. But the elders in the nearby village are complaining that the younger generations, from children to adults, are all terribly uneducated."
Aoji: "Oh, so that means...!"
Possibly having grasped where the conversation was going, Aoji spoke with a delighted voice.
Kuroji: "I'm going to establish a schoolhouse, and we'll be rich!"
Aoji: "It's the debut of the Shitodo, the family of scholars!"
Seeing Aoji in high spirits made Kuroji smile, before they glanced over at Hooaka.
Hooaka, who had been listening carefully, silently raised a question by pointing at themselves with a quizzical look.
Kuroji: "You... Maybe you could be an elementary or middle school teacher... No, maybe just a guard..."
Hooaka, who had just been blatantly told that they weren't smart enough to teach, stubbornly mouthed the word "a'ight" without making a sound.
Kuroji: "On that note, I have one proposal. In order to get the schoolhouse built, we need to establish a trusting relationship with the village's residents."
Aoji: "Oh... But how could they trust us if we just got here?"
Kuroji: "Yes. So don't you think we may need to do some... self-advertising?"
Aoji: "Mm, I guess so, but how are you going to advertise?"
Hooaka silently mimed various performing arts.
Kuroji gave them a pointed stare, then continued talking.
Kuroji: "If you're confident in your skills as a clown or kagura dancer, I'm not going to stop you, but I have a much better idea."
Aoji: "Which is?"
Kuroji: "Recently, the sky has remained cloudy for quite some time, right?"
Aoji: "Yeah, it's been like this every day."
Kuroji: "The people of the village are making quite a fuss about it, saying it's an 'incident' caused by some god or youkai."
Aoji: "Hmm. You sure that's true?"
Kuroji: "In fact, it's apparently quite common in this land for individuals to cause abnormal phenomena like this as part of some plot. Originally, every incident was resolved by those working at the shrine, but..."
Aoji: "The shrine... you mean where Yabusame and Tsubakura are?"
Kuroji: "Yeah. Regardless of the phenomenon's origin, something like this would be easy for them to resolve by force, once they put their minds to it."
Kuroji's words reminded Aoji of various past events, and they nodded in agreement with Kuroji's observation.
At the same time, this led to another question, which they asked Kuroji about.
Aoji: "But it's... still cloudy, though?"
Kuroji: "Mm-hm. It's most likely that they still haven't noticed the 'incident', or that they've noticed it, but haven't recognized it for what it is."
Aoji: "Yeah. The shrine is pretty far away from here, after all."
Kuroji: "Right. So, this is our chance."
Aoji: "Huh?"
Kuroji: "If we solve this incident ourselves, our names will go down in history! We'll swim farther than eels! Fly farther than carp! Even ascend into the sky as dragons!"
Aoji: "You sure it's really gonna go that well~?"
Aoji squeaked out a complaint as they made a bitter face.
Kuroji: "We have nothing else to do anyway, so we may as well try it and see!"
Completely ignoring what they themself had been saying earlier, Kuroji began coaxing Aoji into helping them.
Aoji: "Umm... What should we do, Aka?"
Hooaka grinned ear to ear and gave a thumbs-up in response.
Kuroji looked back and forth between Aoji (uncomfortable) and Hooaka (pretending to be excited), then nodded and leapt up from their chair.
They gazed out the window, towards the cloudy sky.
Kuroji: "It's decided, then. ...To begin, we'll split up and each do reconnaissance work."
Thus, though they each had differing opinions, they all agreed on the surface.
The poorly-made wooden door squeaked as they left the cabin on their mission, giving a send-off to the three little birds." - ↑ Len'en Project Brilliant Pagoda or Haze Castle Prologue "~---At the Senri Shrine---~
Tsubakura: "...So the gist of it, from what I'm getting, is that our New Emperor over here is a total screw-up."
---"Mugenri", a world separated from reality.
The "Senri Shrine", said to have this world completely under its thumb.
Tsubakura Enraku, having originally come from the world outside Mugenri, works at the shrine as its new head priest.
They currently appeared to be quite fed up with the person they were talking to.
Iyozane: "Yes. Yes, that is entirely the case."
The frozen land had thawed, and while the cherry blossoms still had yet to bloom, the Senri Shrine grounds were beginning to feel the reality of winter's end.
Two visitors were currently standing there.
Fumikado: "Iyozaneee, can't you try a bit harder to save my face?"
Iyozane: "Just how am I supposed to save face when you never had any?"
Taira no Fumikado and Fujiwara no Iyozane.
These two had previously caused an incident in Mugenri.
At present, they were respectively declaring themselves to be the New Emperor and the chief adviser thereof.
Yabusame: "So the soldiers out there aren't listening to what Fumikado-san is telling them?"
---The Senri Shrine also had another resident, bearing the title of "Honorary Priest".
This priest, Yabusame Houlen, apparently took care of all the housework such as cooking and cleaning, rather than any actual religious duties.
And so it was that the novice priest and the household-chores priest were begrudgingly listening to their guests' concerns.
Fumikado: "They're not exactly my minions, after all."
Tsubakura: "What exactly is this... organization? Union? Coalition? Of yours."
Iyozane: "We don't exactly have a name pinned down for it, but others call it the 'Youkai Coalition', for what it's worth."
Fumikado: "Sometimes it's called the 'Alliance' too, though."
Tsubakura: "Great, okay. The fact that it's a real shoddy organization has been noted."
Tsubakura, now even more annoyed, seemed to already completely not care about Fumikado and Iyozane's concerns.
Fumikado: "Anyway! Worst-case scenario, we might even have to ask for help from the Senri Shrine."
Iyozane: "That's how tense things are getting, is what we're saying."
Yabusame: "Huhhh."
Tsubakura: "Guess you'd better take care, then. Lock your doors nice and tight, an' all."
Fumikado: "You're not taking this seriously at all, are you...?"
Jinbei: "That said, though... You say you're part of the same league, but you don't know anything about the exact situation?"
---The Senri Shrine had also employed a shikigami for several generations.
No matter whether it was a cold, snowy winter night or a sweltering midsummer day, this shikigami always wore a short, sleeveless, single-layer jinbei-haori, so those around them called them "Jinbei".
Neither of the head priests knew their true name.
Fumikado: "You see, there's been... uh, stuff, I guess."
Iyozane: "All the troops do seem to avoid you recently, Fumikado-san."
Tsubakura: "...Even though you're the New Emperor?"
Fumikado: "W-Well... I'm sure they're just keeping their distance out of respect for their emperor! Very understandable."
Yabusame: "Doesn't it just sound like you're getting bullied...?"
Fumikado: "Urgh..."
Iyozane: "You know, you're unexpectedly frank when it comes to making difficult comments like that."
Yabusame: "Eheheh~! ♪"
Tsubakura: "...Somewhat unsure as to whether they're actually complementing you or not."
Most conversations at the Senri Shrine, even ones meant to just convey a short and simple fact, tended to veer far away from the main topic, and at times took much longer than they ought to have.
Fumikado: "ANYWAY!"
And at times, one could be seen thus dragging the conversation back to its original purpose.
Fumikado: "Don't say we didn't warn you! If you value your safety too, you shouldn't dawdle around outside too much."
Tsubakura: "I mean, I'd hardly want to go outside anyway, but okay."
Yabusame: "Yeah~! ♪"
Iyozane: "...Is this shrine really going to be okay like this?"
Fumikado: "Well, we ought to get going... got the pumpkin waitin' outside and all."
Tsubakura: "What are you, Cinderella?"
After the two parties traded a handful of parting insults with each other, the self-proclaimed emperor and chief adviser finally left the shrine.
----------------------------------------------------------------
However, their departure was punctuated by yet another guest.
Kuroji: "What's wrong? Pretty long faces you've got there."
This new visitor sitting out on the veranda was a whole size shorter than Tsubakura, who was already shorter than average, but Tsubakura knew that they boasted a bigger attitude than anyone else.
Tsubakura: "........"
Yabusame: "Tsubakura's always got a long face!"
Kuroji: "Yes, that's why I'm asking. You sitting around bored with no trouble or anything?"
Jinbei: "We've had quite a few guests today."
Kuroji: "Ah, I see. I'm not the first arrival, then."
Kuroji Shitodo was an acquaintance that Yabusame and Tsubakura knew from the outside world, and had been dragged along with the two of them when they came to Mugenri.
It seemed that Kuroji was saving up funds to open a school in Mugenri's human village.
Described as such, they may have seemed like an outstanding person, but their fundraising methods appeared to be rather controversial on several fronts.
Tsubakura: "This reminds me of that one saying. How'd it go again?"
Jinbei: "'Bamboo shoots after rain'?"
Yabusame: "Ugohgohgoh..."
Kuroji: "'The more things change, the more they stay the same'?"
Tsubakura: "'Out of the frying pan and into the fire.'"
Kuroji: "Harsh, aren't you? And after I came all this way to see you."
Tsubakura: "Whenever you come calling, you bring some nuisance or another with you."
Kuroji: "...Well, I'm not sure whether it'll be a nuisance, but I have something to ask of you."
Tsubakura: "Ah. Got anything to do with your charges over there?"
Tsubakura's line of sight pointed towards a smirking, red-haired figure holding one arm, and a green-haired figure in a blue hood who was watching the other with concern.
Kuroji: "Yeah. Hooaka got roughed up a bit. You can patch them up, right? I mean, you're bound to have a research facility set up already."
Hooaka: "Ehh, yeah, I'm not doin' great... Took a real beating out there."
Aoji: "All three of us would've been taken out if we didn't get away when we did..."
Hooaka Shitodo and Aoji Shitodo were Kuroji's blood relatives.
Since they were in an unknown land without much means of self-sufficiency, Kuroji was taking care of the two of them.
Described as such, Kuroji may have seemed like an outstanding person, but their methods of earning living expenditures were rather controversial on several fronts.
Tsubakura took a glance at Hooaka's injuries. Their expression turned serious for just an instant, but their usual bored look immediately returned.
Tsubakura: "...You're just missing your right arm from the elbow down? I can fix that in no time. C'mon over this way."
Perhaps having gotten used to the pain, Hooaka's expression was still soft despite their cold sweat.
They followed Tsubakura into the shrine.
While watching the two of them disappear into the shrine, Yabusame turned to the remaining two Shitodos with a look of astonishment.
Yabusame: "If Hooaka got hurt that bad, whoever it was must've been SUPER strong, right?!"
Kuroji: "Mm... well, let's leave it at that. It was a pretty hard fight we had."
Aoji: "......"
Kuroji was obviously hiding something, but "Yabusame was a moron," so they didn't even notice that fact.
As they continued talking, partly asking about each other's recent situations and partly just making small talk, Tsubakura and Hooaka quickly returned.
Kuroji: "You work as fast as ever."
Tsubakura: "Just so you know, this is gonna cost you a whole lot."
Kuroji: "If you healed them properly, yes."
Aoji: "Aka? Are you okay?"
As Aoji asked them about their condition, Hooaka answered while moving around awkwardly.
Hooaka: "ME. HOOAKA. ME. ALL. BETTER. NOW."
Yabusame: "Woah! Hooaka's turned all robot-like!"
Kuroji: "...You just switched them with a cyborg or a clone or something, didn't you?"
Tsubakura: "I just exchanged their arm for one I grew artificially. That's all."
Hooaka: "DON'T. WORRY. EVERYTHING'S. A-OKAY."
Kuroji: "...So Hooaka's just messing around, then."
Tsubakura: "Yes. ...Your household is such a pain, honestly."
Hooaka: "MANY. THANKS. TSUBAKURA."
'It's Tsubakura we're dealing with, so it's equally plausible that this Hooaka could be real or a fake.'
...So Kuroji thought, but they soon realized that thinking the matter over wouldn't get them an answer any time soon, and thus they quickly gave up on speculating.
Kuroji: "Well, I ought to at least thank you. It'd be pretty inconvenient for us if Hooaka wasn't of any use."
Tsubakura: "I'd appreciate you paying your bill more than thanks... Well, about 500 sake casks ought to do it."
The crooked priest flippantly said something absolutely absurd, but master scoundrel Kuroji responded with hardly any surprise.
Kuroji: "In place of the medical fee, I'll give you some equivalent information."
Tsubakura: "Eh? It better be just as valuable as the actual payment, you got that?"
Kuroji: "Naturally."
Tsubakura hardly believed them.
However, they already understood that Kuroji would never honestly pay money, so they chose to let it slide and hear about the info.
"When sake is poured into the vessel of the skies, and cheap ideas and pride are blended in, Heaven shall surely split the mirror."
Yabusame: "What the heck's that?"
Kuroji: "A rumor I heard down on the street. Sounds like a golden opportunity for an alcohol lover like you, right?"
Tsubakura: "Hmph. Kagami-wari, huh... That does sound good, I'll admit..."
Yabusame: "What do you mean?"
Tsubakura: "I mean it's a rumor that could be related to sake."
Yabusame: "Whaa?! Then that's great, right?!"
Kuroji: "Yeah, right?"
Tsubakura: "But isn't this a little strange, hm? Why aren't you going out there to investigate? Isn't this one of your beloved get-rich-quick schemes?"
Kuroji: "I can't say I appreciate your strange presumptions about me, but I suppose I'll let it slide."
Aoji: "We've got a bit of other business to take care of, so we don't have time to investigate whether the rumor's true."
Tsubakura: "Ahh, so you figured this info would come in handy to pay your medical bill? Nice way to repurpose unneeded waste."
Kuroji: "We did go to some lengths to get this information. It's only wise to make the best use of it we can, right?"
Tsubakura: "Well, whatever. I gotcha. This time's on the house."
As they finished this negotiation-- though whether one could even call it that was up in the air-- Kuroji glanced over at Jinbei.
Kuroji: "So, by the way, you're the Senri Shrine's shikigami...? First time we've met."
Jinbei: "Oh, this is most certainly not our first meeting, dear persimmon bandit."
A thin smile drifted across Jinbei's face, but their eyes showed absolute fury.
Even Kuroji found themselves having to glance away.
Kuroji: "...What ever could you mean?"
Jinbei: "It's not that big of a deal, really? I've kept a very thorough count, you see, so I'll just have you pay for them eventually, one way or another. FOR. SURE."
Kuroji: "This shikigami of yours is quite stingy, Tsubakura."
Kuroji hurriedly passed the ball to Tsubakura, probably wanting to change the topic.
Tsubakura: "They're not stingy. They're super hyper dreadnought-class stingy."
Kuroji: "Must be a lot of trouble, that. I can't help but sympathize."
Jinbei: "If you're saying that loud enough for me to hear it, I assume you're prepared for any consequences?"
"Well then," Kuroji said as they stood up, paying little heed to Jinbei's words.
Kuroji: "I suppose there's not much reason for us to hang around any longer, so why don't we take our leave?"
Tsubakura: "An' don't come back!"
Kuroji: "Assuming none of us gets injured again, sure."
"Oh yes, that's right," Kuroji said as they took out some change from their pocket and tossed it toward the veranda.
Kuroji: "I'd hardly be able to sleep soundly if I didn't pay anything, so help yourself to this much."
Tsubakura: "I'll just say 'that's rare coming from you' and leave it at that."
Even without looking at the coins, one could tell from the sound of them clattering on the wood that they wouldn't buy even a single dango.
Kuroji: "And with that, we'll call it even."
Tsubakura: "Pft, like hell."
Ignoring Tsubakura's retort, Kuroji turned with a brief "well, see you," and left with Hooaka and Aoji in tow.
---Yabusame was the first to notice the anomaly.
Yabusame: "Hey, hey, Tsuba~! Come look, this is so cool!"
It seemed that Yabusame had discovered something.
As Tsubakura followed their gaze, they briefly showed a look of surprise.
...Then they just looked vaguely annoyed.
The change that Kuroji had tossed a second ago... every single coin was standing on its edge, not landing on either heads nor tails.
As they watched the coins slowly continue rolling without falling over, Tsubakura thought:
Wow, they sure picked up some lame party trick...
...half-heartedly praising Kuroji.
---However, the one who was most surprised by this sight was Jinbei.
And Jinbei was surprised for a far different reason than the other two.
Jinbei: "I see... I did think it'd be about time..."
As Jinbei muttered to themself, they disappeared into the depths of the shrine without a sound.
----------------------------------------------------------------
~---At the Senri Shrine Road---~
On their way back from the shrine, the Shitodo family discussed what to do next.
Hooaka: "So, where are we goin' now? Kuro-jii."
Kuroji: "We're heading out to collect that rumored treasure, of course. And quit calling me 'Kuro-jii'."
Aoji seemed somewhat surprised at Kuroji's words.
Aoji: "Huh? But I thought we weren't gonna go out very far because it's dangerous today?"
Hooaka: "Looks like some kind of mock war is startin' up around here, yeah."
Kuroji: "The war games are nothing to worry about. The real problem is elsewhere."
Aoji: "So they must be targeting..."
Kuroji and Hooaka's expressions both clouded, for they knew exactly who Aoji was referring to.
Kuroji: "Well, if Tsubakura makes any move, they'll be lured over that way."
Hooaka: "Which is why you went and goaded Tsubakura, right?"
Kuroji: "Those two are about the only ones who can stand up to them, after all."
Aoji: "Hrrm, I wonder... Are you sure it'll be okay...?"
Kuroji continued their own line of conversation, regardless of Aoji's unease.
Kuroji: "Regardless, we'll just head out to get that treasure while making sure not to run into them again."
Hooaka: "So we'll be committing our usual villainy, then!"
Aoji: "Welp, time to pile on yet more crimes..."
Kuroji: "The true value of which is demonstrated through repetition, much the same as history."
While they understood that Kuroji wasn't honestly trying to justify their actions, Aoji couldn't help but comment.
Aoji: "You've definitely got that wrong."
----------------------------------------------------------------
~---Back at the Senri Shrine grounds---~
Tsubakura: "They say 'no bird fouls a nest it soon leaves'... but that's totally bogus, right."
Yabusame: "They fouled this place right up~!"
Tsubakura: "Isn't it because of people like them that it's been so uneasy around here lately?"
Yabusame: "You mean it's all Kuroji-san's fault?!"
Tsubakura: "Might be good to assume they've got at least some hand in it, yeah."
While one couldn't tell if they were being serious, Tsubakura's expression was as bored as usual.
Shion: "SHION-CHAN APPEEEARS!"
Tsubakura: "Oof!"
Tsubakura was nearly sent flying as something heavy slammed into the back of their head, but they just barely managed to keep their footing without falling off the porch.
Tsubakura: "...Why'd you come flying out from the back the shrine?"
Shion: "I came here to see you, Tsubakura! ♪"
Yabusame: "Shion-cha~n, how did you get out?"
The child that the two called "Shion" was a conglomerate of souls created in a previous incident.
They ate people's souls for food, so they were kept under control in the shrine to prevent an outbreak of victims.
Normally, they were sealed so that they couldn't move away from the depths of the shrine, and should've been unable to come to the veranda.
Jinbei: "I loosened their seal."
Tsubakura: "...And why would you do something so troublesome?"
While using their head to support the entire weight of Shion, who was clinging to their hat, Tsubakura somehow managed to straighten back up.
Jinbei: "Right now, it'd be best to travel in large groups if possible, so please take Shion-san along if you please."
Tsubakura: "And may I inquire as to when we said we'd be heading outside today?"
Jinbei: "Going outside and fighting in a war or something once in a while would be good for your health. Right, Tsubakura-san?"
Shion: "Tsubakura's a shut-iiin!"
Tsubakura: "I'd really rather not hear that from someone under house arrest."
Tsubakura argued back, waving their head back and forth in time with Shion floating overhead.
Yabusame: "Shion-chan must want to go outside too, right~?"
Shion: "Yeah! Unlike Tsubakura over here!"
Tsubakura: "My, my, is that so."
As they cast an aside glance at the sulking Tsubakura, Jinbei looked up at the sky over the grounds and murmured something.
Jinbei: "In addition... it seems that something rather dangerous is going on, so I'd like you to do something about it."
Tsubakura: "Hmmm? And may I ask as to whatever this dangerous thing could be?"
Jinbei: "Well, if you walk around over there, you'll probably see it."
Ugh, god, can this kid's directions get any more vague...?
---So thought Tsubakura as they glowered at the shikigami (who was probably many years their senior).
Tsubakura: "And may I be so bold as to presume that since Shion's coming with us, whatever's happening is important enough to justify leaving the shrine empty?"
Jinbei: "At the very least, you shouldn't let your guard down this time."
Yabusame: "I'm so excited~!"
Shion: "This is the first time we've gone for a walk in a while!"
Tsubakura: "...I've got nothing but bad feelings about this."
And so the priests of the Senri Shrine finally depart for the battlefield.
----------------------------------------------------------------
~---A particular spot at the Senri Shrine---~
Sukune: "But jusht how should we get back at them, nyah? We've already failed at 21 surprise attacks just today."
Sese: "Trying to ambush them from the front won't work, huh..."
Sukune Katano and Sese Kitsugai. This pair of youkai was currently hiding somewhere around the Senri Shrine, plotting revenge on the shrine's head priests.
Sukune: "Yeah, but tryin' to ambush'em from the back didn't work either!"
Sese: "No, not that-- tryin' to beat them with sheer strength won't work. For now, at least."
Sukune tilted their head at Sese's remark.
Sukune: "Ooh, then how's about we challenge 'em to a cook-off~? I'm real proud of my skills, gyah!"
Sese: "Or, even better! We could find the treasure before they do... that'd really make 'em mad, right?"
Sukune: "That's perfect! You've got a real good brain in that skull, Sese."
Sese: "But with just you and Sese, it'd be pretty scary out there..."
Sukune: "Mmm... that's true, nyah."
The two youkai continued fuming in hiding, unable to find a solution for the time being.
----------------------------------------------------------------
~---At the Senri Shrine veranda---~
Some time passed... and a new visitor again came to the shrine.
Tenkai: "Mm~? What's this? Those two are out right now? And here I was going to share some manju buns with them. They've got a nice thin skin and everything..."
Tenkai Zuifeng was the right-hand man of the previous head priest, Tsurubami Senri.
They were a barrier builder currently working for a barrier-building company, and were acquainted with both Yabusame and Tsubakura.
Tenkai had some business with the two priests, but they had both been chased out by Jinbei already.
Jinbei: "...Oh my, if it isn't that brat Tenkai! It's been a while. I hear that you've been handling the barriers as crappily as ever~."
Jinbei, sitting on the veranda, grinned mischievously as they registered Tenkai's presence.
Tenkai: "Venom right off the bat! As charming as ever, I must say. That's Senri for you."
Jinbei: "I thought you wouldn't have any business here, now that Tsurubami-sama is no longer with us?"
Tenkai: "Well, it seems like that hasn't been the case as of late."
Jinbei: "Ah."
Tenkai: "I wanted to talk and share souvenirs with those two... but if they're out, oh well."
Jinbei: "...Have you, by any chance, taken an interest in the two of them?"
Tenkai: "It's not anything like that... wait, huh?"
---Tenkai broke off their sentence, as they had noticed something strange in their field of view.
Beneath the veranda where Jinbei sat, right around Jinbei's feet, there were four points of light wriggling in the darkness.
They realized that those lights were somebody's eyes right as they made eye contact.
At that exact moment, two figures shot out from between Jinbei's legs and flew straight at Tenkai.
Sese: "IT'S TENKAAAI!!"
Sukune: "It's Tenkai, nyo!!"
The two of them clung to Tenkai's arms, not slowing down in the slightest.
Tenkai: "WAUGH!"
Obeying Newton's equation of motion, the surprised barrier builder flew backwards with the two youkai.
Thanks to their center of gravity being suddenly pulled backwards, they lost their footing, but instead of slamming to the ground, they were dragged through the air by the two stragglers on their arms, flying far away from the veranda... and eventually the shrine as a whole.
Tenkai: "Hey, HEY, WOAH, WHY ARE YOOOOU---?!?"
Tenkai's desperately shouting was only answered with nonsensical cries of "You're strong! Help us!" and "You're gonna help us, nyah!".
---Thus did Jinbei watch from the shrine as Tenkai was dragged far away.
They had a sip of tea, and sighed.
They then glanced at the ground right in front of them, where a single paper-wrapped box was sitting.
It appeared to be the souvenir that Tenkai had brought over.
Most likely the manju buns they mentioned, with the thin skins.
Jinbei stared at the box, and muttered:
"Just when, exactly, did this shrine turn into a nursery school?"
---under their breath.
Then they grinned, audaciously.
As if they were thinking, "Well, if this is a nursery school, we'd better give them a proper education..."
----------------------------------------------------------------
---So. I guess that about wraps up the prologue to all the stuff that happened then?
They said, "Looks like I've got another opportunity to record Tsubakura-sama's exploits! ♪"...
...But I figure that's just to make it more fun when they get around to killing 'em.
...They have really got a stellar personality, don't they." - ↑ Len'en Project Reactivate Majestical Imperial Tenkai Zuifeng Boss
- ↑ Interview with JynX (2015) "Q10. We've finally seen just how big Mugenri actually is, especially Devanagara, but how advanced is it? It seems to have technology from at least the 1930s. Furthermore, how far behind are the villages around it?
I can't go into too much detail.
However, there are few places more advanced than the capital.
Also, you have so not seen just how big Mugenri actually is.♪" - ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedLen'en Project Reactivate Majestical Imperial Prologue - ↑ Interview with JynX (2015) "Q1. Do you have an estimate of the population of humans and youkai currently in Mugenri?
The population for all of Mugenri is a secret! But the population of the capital is roughly 10 million." - ↑ Interview with JynX (2015) "Q2. Are there any half-human half-youkai in Mugenri?
There are, but I haven't decided on whether to show any yet." - ↑ Interview with JynX (2015) "Q3. Are humans in Mugenri born with powers or do they have to acquire them through some method? Are there people in Mugenri who just don't have any powers at all?
There's a variety of ways. You could be born with an ability, obtain one through practice or a contract, etc.
However, the vast majority of people are ordinary and have no powers at all." - ↑ Interview with JynX (2015) "Q5. What happens if someone dies in Mugenri? Is there any sort of afterlife?
Save for a few exceptions, your soul is being led to the Netherworld where it will be judged within 49 days and, after receiving its due punishment, proceeds to its next life via reincarnation.
The Netherworld's whereabouts will be shown in the distant future." - ↑ Interview with JynX (2015) "Q7. Does Mugenri have a unique calendar system? If not, which one does it use?
Mugenri uses a calendar system called "Ruri" where the current era starts from Mugenri's birth.
It's kind of similar to Japan's old lunisolar calendar.
What year it currently is is a secret, though." - ↑ Interview with JynX (2017) "Q12. It has been established that the winner of a spell card duel may issue an order to the loser that they must obey. Is there a limit to that or would it be acceptable if, say, Mitori won a duel and ordered their opponent to build a palace made entirely out of chocolate? On that note, what are the consequences of not obeying an order issued this way?
Fundamentally speaking, there are no limitations. You could even tell your opponent to kill themself.
Not following an order would result in Mugenri completely erasing your existence. (Any further details are up to your imagination.)
However, an order can be withdrawn, and you don't have to listen to the order if you escape from the winner's sight." - ↑ Interview with JynX (2015) "Q12. How is the violence in Mugenri?
Is it restrained by the spell card system or could youkai kill humans without any restraint?
If you feel like attacking, you attack. However, the people of this world feel ashamed when they end up killing their opponent in battle.
Furthermore, since the loser must follow just one command by the one they were defeated by with cards, many citizens make use of that.
By the way, it's forbidden in Mugenri to disobey a command issued after a battle.
However, there are some guys among the youkai that attack people just for the hell of it."
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