Keine Quest (Part 4): Broken History

[DracoOmega]

>"Gensokyo. Are you saying that the oni would not be happy to have Blazing Hell stoked and lively again? Because they are most certainly not happy with the underground being cold as it is. Are you saying the people up here wouldn't be happy with power you could provide? I assure you that they would be."

>"Just because I'm useful to someone doesn't mean they care about me," she says. "If they could rip the power out of my chest and run their machines on it, I'm sure they'd have done it. If they didn't need me, they'd have let me die."

[Hello Purvis]

>"I doubt it. It's pretty obvious the monster thrives upon this. But if she didn't, she'd probably rip it out and give it to another. I can say this, much, though. I doubt many of the people here would want you to be killed if you could be depowered."

[DracoOmega]

>"I doubt it. It's pretty obvious the monster thrives upon this. But if she didn't, she'd probably rip it out and give it to another. I can say this, much, though. I doubt many of the people here would want you to be killed if you could be depowered."

>"And despite what you think," Kanako says, breaking her silence at last, "I would number among them. If I could have, it would have been done long ago. And even so, she would have long since been free to go, did she not demonstrate her violent nature time and time again."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Transparent liars aside, you'll find the people here are willing to forgive and forget a lot of things. Especially when you didn't succeed to begin with. Look at the Scarlet Devil, for instance. No one really remembers or cares when she tried to block out the sun and trap the world in eternal night."

[DracoOmega]

>"Transparent liars aside, you'll find the people here are willing to forgive and forget a lot of things. Especially when you didn't succeed to begin with. Look at the Scarlet Devil, for instance. No one really remembers or cares when she tried to block out the sun and trap the world in eternal night."

>"I don't want their forgiveness," Utsuho says. "And I might just do it again, anyway."

[Hello Purvis]

>"And how would you face Satori, afterward?"

[DracoOmega]

>"And how would you face Satori, afterward?"

>Utsuho does not respond.

[Hello Purvis]

>"You can't say that then run from this question, Utsuho. What would Satori say if you did that? What would Orin say?"

[DracoOmega]

>"You can't say that then run from this question, Utsuho. What would Satori say if you did that? What would Orin say?"

>Utsuho remains silent for a while. "...what do you think they'd say," she eventually speaks, so quiet as to be almost inaudible.

[Hello Purvis]

>"I don't know if they'd be able to say anything to you, Utsuho. But I know they'd be heartbroken. Orin, especially, had faith in you. She never gave up on you."

[DracoOmega]

>"I don't know if they'd be able to say anything to you, Utsuho. But I know they'd be heartbroken. Orin, especially, had faith in you. She never gave up on you."

>Utsuho shakes her head slowly. "Don't know why..." she says. Is that... a tear you see, forming in her eye?

[Hello Purvis]

>"It's because they love you. Even now. That's how it works."

[DracoOmega]

>"It's because they love you. Even now. That's how it works."

>"Don't think I deserve it anymore," she says. "But... tell them I love them. Ok?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Everyone deserves it for being there. And, I will. Don't forget what I've told you. This will be resolved, one way or another. You will not be buried down here forever."

[DracoOmega]

>"Everyone deserves it for being there. And, I will. Don't forget what I've told you. This will be resolved, one way or another. You will not be buried down here forever."

>Utsuho snorts derisively. "Not holding my breath. But do what you want."

[Hello Purvis]

>"I would prefer that you just keep breathing. I have a few ideas I can employ."

[DracoOmega]

>"I would prefer that you just keep breathing. I have a few ideas I can employ."

>"Have you forgotten I'm even here?" Kanako says. "Or do you hold me in such utter contempt that it is not worth even veiling your intentions?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"The only one of my plans you factor into is the one where you realize the concept of remorse, understand what a monster you've been, and work to undo the harm you've done. Have you?"

[DracoOmega]

>"The only one of my plans you factor into is the one where you realize the concept of remorse, understand what a monster you've been, and work to undo the harm you've done. Have you?"

>"Did she not say herself," Kanako says, "no more than a few moments ago that she would turn this whole facility and everyone in it to slag were I to let her go?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Is selective hearing a divine trait? I wonder if the Aki Sisters are nearly this bad. I can't imagine it."
>Shrug.
>"Utsuho, I'll have to take a more drastic route, it seems. I hope to see you soon. Remember everything I said. You are better than her, and hopefully you will be able to prove it soon. And, you'll be able to tell Satori and Orin everything yourself."
>Stand up.

[DracoOmega]

>"Is selective hearing a divine trait? I wonder if the Aki Sisters are nearly this bad. I can't imagine it."
>Shrug.
>"Utsuho, I'll have to take a more drastic route, it seems. I hope to see you soon. Remember everything I said. You are better than her, and hopefully you will be able to prove it soon. And, you'll be able to tell Satori and Orin everything yourself."
>Stand up.

>Kanako stares at you, but says nothing.
>"Just get back to your life, while you have one," Utsuho says, and puts her head back on the ground
>You stand up.
>"I do not believe I have ever dealt with someone as flagrant as you," Kanako says. "Conspiring with a prisoner about forcing her release while her jailer stands next to you. No matter. Despite a staggering  number of reasons not to, I have kept my end of the bargain. Now you will leave, and if you attempt to return here on some fool's endeavor to release her, know that I will not be so lenient. The full consequence of your actions will be upon your own head. This is the only warning I will give you."

[Hello Purvis]

>Oh this will be sweet.
>"It's hilarious you call me flagrant, when I all do is tell you the undisguised truth. Then again, I suppose I can't be expected to understand someone with a torture fetish. And frankly, foreigner, I will go wherever the hell I like in my land. If I decide to come back and visit your victim, you will damn well sit there and like it while thanking your lucky stars I don't burn you damn shrine down for polluting my home with your warmonging "us or them", self-serving, self-deceiving idiocy. Simply put, the Scarlet Devil is more worthy of the mantle of divinity than you. At least she has genuine class. You may lead me out."

[DracoOmega]

>Oh this will be sweet.
>"It's hilarious you call me flagrant, when I all do is tell you the undisguised truth. Then again, I suppose I can't be expected to understand someone with a torture fetish. And frankly, foreigner, I will go wherever the hell I like in my land. If I decide to come back and visit your victim, you will damn well sit there and like it while thanking your lucky stars I don't burn you damn shrine down for polluting my home with your warmonging "us or them", self-serving, self-deceiving idiocy. Simply put, the Scarlet Devil is more worthy of the mantle of divinity than you. At least she has genuine class. You may lead me out."

>You decide you just can't pass down another good opportunity for cutting remarks
>"I think now," Kanako says, "that you may harbor even more hate than this one. She at least had no pretense of acting in the name of righteousness. Your threats are unbecoming and futile, and if you think that anyone here would allow you to burn my shrine, then you truly understand nothing about this community and what we have built here, together." She looks to the door. "I believe you know the way out."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Threats? These are warnings, monster. Hate? It is only disgust at you two-faced pretenses of goodness. It would be hilarious tragic, really, it wasn't for the fact you're torturing actual people to fuel you perversions. I wish I knew what happened to the real Kanako, because you are most certainly not her. I will weep for Sanae when she learns what you really are."
>Exit.

[DracoOmega]

>"Threats? These are warnings, monster. Hate? It is only disgust at you two-faced pretenses of goodness. It would be hilarious tragic, really, it wasn't for the fact you're torturing actual people to fuel you perversions. I wish I knew what happened to the real Kanako, because you are most certainly not her. I will weep for Sanae when she learns what you really are."
>Exit.

>Kanako maintains her stare on you as you leave the room, and then follows behind you. You circle through the inner layers of the reactor core and emerge in the main reactor room.
>"You may resume operations," Kanako says to the kappa in charge. "We are done, here."
>"You heard her," the kappa calls out. "Get it running!" Several of the kappa get to work, presumably undoing whatever they did to allow you entrance in the first place.

[Hello Purvis]

>"Don't make too many plans, I'll be back in a few hours, maybe by nightfall."
>Exit.

[DracoOmega]

>"Don't make too many plans, I'll be back in a few hours, maybe by nightfall."
>Exit.

>The head kappa gives you a strange look, then turns to Kanako. You stride out of the room before you can see her reaction, moving past the large double-doors and their guards. Kanako soon falls in next to you again, however. You travel the rest of the way out of the facility in silence until you reach the elevator. When you step onboard, Kanako turns to you.
>"So, you are absolutely intent on breeching this facility to perform your idea of a heroic rescue?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"When did I say that? Not everyone is a monster. But, for the sake of argument, let's assume I have no other options. Then yes, I would. Fortunately, I shouldn't have to. You really need to reconsider this, right now."

[DracoOmega]

>"When did I say that? Not everyone is a monster. But, for the sake of argument, let's assume I have no other options. Then yes, I would. Fortunately, I shouldn't have to. You really need to reconsider this, right now."

>"The line of reasoning supporting my actions has not changed," Kanako says. "Utsuho is a grave danger to everyone around us. She has said as much, even today, and has proven it with her actions. The only way to ensure the safety of everyone else is to keep her imprisoned. You say that I torture her with neglect, but she has rejected every comfort we sought to offer her. If she would choose isolation over everything but freedom, I cannot force her to change. Thus, my only choices are to leave her as she is, or to sign the deaths of who knows how many innocent people just so that she might be happier. Among these, the choice is clear."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Selective hearing and selective vision..."
>Shake head.
>"I would feel very bad for you, were you truly Kanako. But you are not. Your unwillingness to even begin to doubt your own righteousness is sickening. It makes me wish I were a shrine maiden, so I could exorcise you. But, I'll just have to use other avenues to humiliate you into self reflection and expose you to all the monster that you are."