A gap appeared in the air in front of the Scarlet Devil Mansion.
The inside was filled with eerie, gloomy eyes, making it look terrifying and ominous.
Yet several figures emerged from it.
They were Yuto and the others, who had crossed through.
Using the gap to travel from the shrine took an instant.
It was efficient.
Yuto had a look of amazement on his face. What amazed him was not the ability itself, but the scene inside.
Although the time was brief, Yuto remembered what he saw.
A gap was the crevice between one space and another.
Strictly speaking, it was a special kind of space. However, compared to the normal outside world, the inside of a gap was chaotic and bizarre.
It was filled with purple-red colors, had no sense of direction, and was covered in eyeballs that stared like demons from hell.
If an ordinary person stayed in there too long, their mind would break.
"Kamisaka-kun, what's wrong?" Seeing Yuto fall silent, Yukari asked.
Only then did Yuto come back to himself.
"It's nothing." He waved his hand.
Then he turned his gaze forward.
Before him stood a luxurious medieval-style building in the middle of the lake.
Rather than a villa, it was accurate to call it a castle. Its classical Gothic style was pronounced, and its main color was a vivid crimson.
It looked beautiful, almost dazzling. Yet beneath that beauty, there was a faint sense of danger and ill omen.
That suited a vampire's residence perfectly.
In front of the exquisite gate stood a tall red-haired girl wearing a cap. Her qipao fit her figure, and her face was exceptionally beautiful.
It seemed that in Gensokyo, there were no ordinary girls.
However, the red-haired girl's eyes were closed. Judging from the rise and fall of her lips, nose, and body, she was asleep.
Sleeping while standing with her arms crossed was a kind of talent.
Just as Yuto was about to ask about her, a sharp flash of silver cut through the air. It was a dinner knife.
Under the sunlight, the blade reflected a dazzling cold gleam.
Whoosh!
The knife shot straight toward the red-haired girl's forehead.
Yuto's heart jumped in shock, but the red-haired girl opened her eyes.
"Hah!"
With an angry shout, an invisible burst of force erupted from her body and knocked the dinner knife away.
At the same time, a graceful figure appeared.
A cool expression, short silver hair like frost, and a blue-and-white maid uniform.
It was Sakuya Izayoi.
"China, you were sleeping again." Sakuya's voice was cold.
The woman called China panicked. "Izayoi-sama! I wasn't! I wasn't sleeping!"
"There's no need to explain. Your salary for the 593rd month is gone too." Sakuya gave a cold snort and turned around.
Behind her, the woman was crying as she knelt on the ground.
That scene looked like a landlord oppressing a hired worker.
"Izayoi-san." Yuto greeted Sakuya.
The elegant maid bowed. "Boss, please just call me Sakuya. I instructed the gatekeeper about your arrival, so I apologize for her behavior."
Sakuya spoke to Yuto with sincerity.
Yuto looked at the red-haired woman crying behind the head maid.
'So she was the gatekeeper.'
He understood now.
"Nothing happened, so there's no need to apologize."
"No. The gatekeeper failed to notice your arrival because of her own drowsiness. That is a grave failure in the Scarlet Devil Mansion's hospitality."
As the head maid responsible for the mansion, Sakuya took every aspect seriously. Being perfect to the point of strictness described her well.
Aside from a few minor flaws, she was the embodiment of perfection.
"All right, then." Faced with such a persistent head maid, Yuto smiled helplessly.
"Please follow me. The banquet prepared for you will begin shortly." Sakuya stepped to the side, inviting Yuto forward.
Yuto nodded and followed her toward the mansion.
Yuuka and the others followed beside him. Aside from Yukari, whose smile seemed as though it would never disappear, Yuuka, Reimu, and the others looked calm.
As they passed by the gatekeeper, the red-haired woman clung to Sakuya's leg.
Her eyes were full of tears as she looked up at Sakuya. "Izayoi-sama, no! You can't deduct any more! It's already been 593 months! This is too hard~"
Faced with the sobbing gatekeeper, a silver light flashed in Sakuya's hand.
She gripped a dinner knife and stabbed it directly into the girl's forehead.
Thud.
The girl collapsed.
The corner of Yuto's mouth twitched.
"Don't worry. She's used to it." Sakuya said this calmly.
Yuto broke out in a cold sweat.
'She could get used to this??? Uh...'
He forced himself to ignore the girl and followed Sakuya into the mansion.
The moment he entered, Yuto felt an overwhelming nouveau riche aura strike him.
Brilliant chandeliers hung one after another. Expensive oil paintings and decorations covered the walls.
A luxurious carpet spread across the floor. Two neat rows of fairy maids bowed in unison toward Yuto.
Looking ahead, there was a raised platform. Atop it stood a throne, the throne was covered in jewels and precious stones.
A little girl wearing an exquisite Western dress sat on it, forcing herself to look proud and aloof.
When Yuto saw her, he chuckled softly.
If he had not seen her true side, he might have been fooled!
"Tch, nouveau riche. Does being rich make you amazing? A mere vampire... Why am I the one without money...?" Beside Yuto, Reimu muttered under her breath.
Her murmurs sounded like a sneaky little mouse.
Listening to the girl complain, Yuto found it amusing.
One of them was so poor she could only eat plain rice, while the other was so rich she could hardly be richer.
What a sharp contrast.
"This is Remi's style." Yukari covered her mouth and laughed softly.
Yuuka's expression remained calm.
At that moment, the little girl sitting on the throne spoke. "O friend of mine! I have prepared a grand banquet for thee. Rejoice, for such treatment may be enjoyed only by one who is counted among my friends!"
It was a speech brimming with chuunibyou energy.
She had deliberately lowered her voice too.
Still, Yuto found it impressive, she was sitting far away, yet her voice could be heard clearly.
Did she have a built-in speaker?
At that moment, Remi coughed twice. That speech had been rough on her throat!
"Remi!" Yuto called out.
Remilia's face turned red.
Such an intimate form of address damaged her dignity!
There were so many fairies present!
"Even if thou art my friend, thou must address me as the Lord of the Blood Moon!"
Remilia's words made Yuto and the others laugh.
"Please go along with Remi-sama, Boss." Sakuya transmitted her voice to Yuto.
Yuto felt helpless inside, but he smiled and nodded. "Lord of the Blood Moon, thank you for your invitation. I am honored to attend your banquet."
He would treat it as acting.
At this moment, Yuto played the role of a gentleman.
A satisfied look appeared on Remi's face. "There is no need for thanks. Come with me to the banquet hall. My servants will guide you."
After speaking in a deep tone, Remi pressed an unknown button. The throne rotated around with her sitting on it.
Yuto was impressed.
There was high-tech equipment here!
"Boss, everyone, please follow me." Sakuya took the initiative to speak.
She led from the front while the others followed behind. Under the gazes of countless fairy maids, everyone entered a large hall.
This place was spacious and bright. Several large tables had been arranged inside. Remi stood there, waiting for everyone.
Here, there were no outsiders.
"Boss! Everyone! Welcome to the Scarlet Devil Mansion!" At this moment, Remi was the real Remi.
"Can't you change that habit of always trying to act cool?" Since they were all among themselves, Reimu started attacking.
Remi's face filled with anger. "You poor shrine maiden! Aren't you jealous that I'm rich?!"
Reimu was furious.
She had to hit where it hurt! How dare this vampire expose her sore spot!
"Reimu, behave." Just as Reimu was about to beat Remi up, Yukari held her back.
Although Reimu liked to mock Yukari, she listened when Yukari spoke.
"Hmph!" Reimu gave a cold snort and said nothing more.
Remi snorted as well. The two of them were sulking at each other.
"Speaking of which, where is everyone else?" Yuto took the initiative to change the subject.
"People have been sent to deliver the invitations. They should arrive soon." Sakuya bowed slightly as she answered.
"Are there many people?" Yuto asked curiously.
"Of course! Since it is a banquet, it must be lively!" Remi spoke with expectation and pride on her face.
No matter how much she tried to act deep or dignified, Remi was not much different from a little girl.
She was just as curious and just as fond of fun.
Yuto nodded.
He had met around ten people from Gensokyo by now. However, there were dozens of seats and tables arranged here.
He felt anticipation and curiosity toward the other residents of Gensokyo.
There was another question in his mind.
Surely Gensokyo could not be entirely made up of women, right?
There had to be at least one or two men...
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