Strange Chameleon – The Disease Unto Illusion(Touhou Project

Strange Chameleon – The Disease Unto Illusion (Touhou Project)

Cover

p.3
This is the story of the two of us.

p.4
The Disease unto Illusion

p.5
Merryy! I found something interesting!
What’s the matter, Renko? All of a sudden.
Hehee~
Take a look at this!
Ta-Dah!

p.6
There’re so much descriptions about barrier in it.
Nom
The book is pretty old though. I’m surprised you managed to get your hands on one.
It’s not often you can find one even in old bookstores.
Never mind that, it’s time for the Sealing Club to take action, Merry.
I’m sure this book will be a big step forward for us.

p.7
My name is Maribel Hearn
And this energetic girl is Usami Renko, my partner.
We are doing quite a strange activity.
The Sealing Club
That’s the name we gave to our circle.
Our objective is only one.
To look into the “mysterious remains” that was “sealed”
That is the purpose of the “Sealing” Club.

p.8
That day, we did our usual circle activities as the Sealing Club…
…without realizing that the end of our circle, is drawing near.
For everything, the end always comes without a warning.

p.9
―ry….
Hey, Merry. Are you listening?
Eh? What is it, Renko?
I’m asking if you’ve read this book.
Geez!
Barrier Investigation
The one who need to have a good grasp of this book’s contents is you, Merry. Not me.
Hmm…

p.10
I’ve read it. A little.
I thought as much.
Seriously, come on.
Just a little won’t be any good, Merry. You have to read it thoroughly.
Here!
Rather than that, let’s go look for some barriers.
We might be able to simply dive into another world without having to rely on this book.

p.11
Hmmm~
If that’s the case, then I wouldn’t be having such a hard time.
Honestly, my partner always goes her own way. So troublesome.
I don’t remember raising her to be this kind of girl.
Oh, did you say something?
Yeah, yeah, I did.
Got it? We went together into your dream world, right?
As long as we have a lead, we don’t have to look for another options.
I get it, but…

p.12
That’s just you, you know. You can always go to that Dream World whenever you sleep.
Honestly, I’d like you to consider me who can only hear your stories about it.
Ah.
Look, Renko. There are beautiful flowers.

p.13
Haaah…
So beautiful~
Natural flowers really are better.
Lotus flower, huh. <”連の花”, ren no hana. The “ren”(lotus) is the same kanji with “ren” in Renko’s name.>
“Ren”? As in the one in your name?
Yeah, “ren” from “renka”. <”renka”, lotus flower”>
Also, the flower language of the lotus is…
“Eloquent”, right? <Or “expressive”, whichever suits better>
It’s a perfect name for you, Renko.
Well, thanks…

p.14
Such an old temple…

p.15
It seems to be abandoned for quite a long time.
It’s so deep within the mountain after all. No one was willing to take care of it and it’s neglected ever since.
Even though I’ve seen lot of similar things, this still makes me feel uneasy.
Let’s go. There should be a hole in the barrier around here.
Merry! I’ll go on ahead, you know?
It’s somewhat different from usual…?
But still…?

p.16
Without a doubt, this is the place.
Well, Merry?
What is it, something feels different than usual…
I’m worried…
Yeah… My intuition tells me that this is quite the big one.
We may even be able to go to that Dream World.

p.17
…eh, Merry?
Hey, are you alright? Is it that bad?
I’m alright, Renko.
I’m just not feeling too well … Let’s go on.
But, I can’t leave you be like that.
Let’s go back for today. It’s not like the shrine is going anywhere.
But the mountain road is quite a pain, I guess.
Oh well, it makes for a good exercise.
Renko…
It’s okay I tell you. Don’t worry about it. If my partner isn’t feeling well, then I also won’t get in the mood.

p.18
Come on, let’s go now!
Wa-wait a sec, Renko!
I’ll leave you behind if you don’t hurry.
I’ll go ahead, with a dash!
(66) <Dash input in fighting games.>
Merry~! Hurry up~!

p.19
Kept ya waiting~
Are you alright today? Do you feel sick?
I’m in tip-top shape, okay?
Hehe.
Something was definitely off before.
To be overwhelmed by such atmosphere is just isn’t like me.
Oh, you talk big, don’t you?
Well, yeah.
Now then, let’s go!
Time for the Sealing Club to start its activity!

p.20
Merry’s ability is to see the boundaries.

p.21
That is an ability limited to her vision, but lately her condition is strange.
The dream world we’re aiming to go to, the Land of Illusion.
As we try to go there, Merry’s ability gradually changed.
She doesn’t seem to realize this, but she brought the objects she sees in her dream world.
Is that possible for an ability that only uses the eyes?
She’s not just seeing them. She actually contro…
Renko?

p.22
What’s the matter?
N-
Nothing! I’m just worried about how carefree your train of thoughts are.
Oh, come on. That’s mean.
That aside, look.

p.23
We’re almost there.
The ability to freely manipulate boundaries.
I wonder if such thing is possible for a mere human.

p.24
Nothing wrong with the surroundings!
The time is just about right for the witching hour!
This is the perfect situation to peek into the other side of the world!
But do we have any clues?
Frankly, we don’t.
I’ve been here before at the same time and place shown in the photo after all.
So if Merry can’t see the cracks, then we have no choice but to look for it ourse-
Yeah, now that you mention it…

p.25
Ta-dah!
Now is the time we make good use of this book.
You see, it should be around this part…
Here it is! The way to see through hidden barriers!
Take a look, Merry.
This one.

p.27
Manipulating the barriers is a dangerous thing, you know.
It may even cause your own existence to fade from this world.

p.28
Aaa….
Uu..aaa…

p.29
What…is this…?
My head… my head is…
N….no…
…no…
NOOOOOOO!!

p.30
Merry?

p.31
Incredible, Merry!
I knew this would be a big one!
……Merry?

p.32
Merry!
Merry!?
MARIBEL HEARN!!
Help me, Renko…
I can’t…
…control my ability…

p.33
Where!
Do you think!
You’re taking away my precious Merry!

p.34
Ugh…
Renko……?

p.35
Renko!?
Augh!
Don’t come closer, Merry.
You’ll get caught too.
It’s too late for me to get away now.

p.36
I guess we failed, huh?
But it doesn’t matter, as long as you’re alright.
Don’t cry, Merry.
This is not a farewell.
With your ability, I’m sure we’ll meet again someday. I believe we can.
Goodbye, Merry.
Let’s meet again in the Dream.

p.37
RENKOOO!!

p.38
It’s not fair that only Merry can go!
Let’s go to that dream world together.
The two of us!
Alright, Merry?

p.39
I’m coming for you now, Renko…

p.40
Let’s go together, the two of us.
To that Illusion we saw in the dream.
The thing we need for our journey.
This power…
…is for that purpose!

p.41
Even if I have to abandon everything, I will…!

p.42
Barrier Investigation

p.43
Ngh…
This place is…
Renko!?

p.44
Even the shrine is not here…
Where in the world did I end up on?
Anyway, first I have to find out where exactly I am…
Ow ow ow
Though judging by the surroundings, I’m probably deep within the mountain.
Just where am…

p.45
No…way…

p.46
Ancient Japan…?
Did I travel through time?
But, where’s Renko….?
Did she end up in a different era?
Aaah, if that’s the case, then what should I do!?
Renko!!

p.47
We’ll meet again someday. I believe we can.
…someday.

p.48
We’ll surely…
meet again…
Then I’ll wait.
Until the time Renko appears.
Here, always…
someday…
without a doubt…
It’ll be a long time.
A long, long time.

p.49
No matter how long.
Until the day we meet again.
Until we finally reached it together.
I’ll wait for you here, forever.

p.50
……Even if, I have to give up my humanity.

p.51
Lady Yukari?
Please leave, Ran. I want to be alone for a while…
―Ever since then.
A long time has passed.

p.52
Renko still hasn’t shown up.
I even created the world we saw in the dream.
Our paradise, “Gensoukyo”.
The bamboo shoot from the forest, the palace near the lake, and the youkai. They’re all here.
I command a Shikigami. I’ve invaded the moon.
To those floating stars in the sky. The ones she always gazed upon to.
And yet, Renko is still not there.
Hey... Renko… Where are you?
…Where are you right now?

p.54
One day, we definitely will―

p.55
Greetings & Good day.
I’m Hisaka, the one in charge of this original work.
The 10th work from Strange Chameleon, “The Disease unto Illusion”. Well, how was it?
Regarding the connection between Merry and Yukari, I tried to put my own interpretation into this book.
I hope that this work can convey that idea, even if only a little.
I probably won’t make another work with the same setting, but if I have a chance to expand it and make a sequel or the like, then I want to dig even deeper.
From being the mastermind behind the First Lunar War, the reason she’s active at night, and the whole story behind the creation of the Great Hakurei Barrier. I think that those are all for the purpose of finding her.
This time, even after changing our name, the two of us continued to meet and make some corrections, and before we know it, it was so close to how we first started.
But still, we thought that it became better, so it was worth it, to be honest.
In exchange for taking a long time, we’ll amplify the relationship between Renko and Merry. Not in a serious way. We want to try making a story where they’re relaxing while searching for the strangeness together.
Also, while we were making this story, the song, “One more time, one more chance” from Mr. Yamazaki Masayoshi, kept ringing in our head.
And somehow I accidentally made it the theme of this work.
For those who are interested, if you tried listening to the song after reading this book, you may be able to immerse yourself even more into the world in this work.
Of course, the Girls Sealing Club is still the main theme.
And that, is the Sealing Club book from Strange Chameleon.
It would be nice if some of you enjoyed reading it.
Well then, let’s meet again in the next work!

Greetings, and perhaps, good day.
I’m Hiyori who is currently suffering from stomatitis.
This is the first time I have stomatitis… I didn’t think it’ll be this painful…
It’s kind of like when I pulled my wisdom tooth, but not being able to enjoy my food is truly painful.
Well then, this is the second serious book, and the first Sealing Club book from our circle.
And unlike the previous one, this one is fairly serious, so to say…
“It will be better that way, it will be better this way”, and through the process of trial and error, the pages kept adding up.
Weird, we intended it to be only about 40 pages.
And so, we gave our best so it would be great if you bought and enjoyed it.
When I returned home during my illness, I heard that there’s actually an ancient Lotus Pond nearby. Furthermore, it’s in full bloom. So I thought I’ll go there and take some photos to gather data.
I was truly surprised by this coincidence!
Sadly, it was noon when I went there, so the flower buds were closed.
To think that it bloomed since 2000 years ago. Lotus really is a strong plant.
When you think about it, Renko and Merry in this story will surely meet again, don’t you think?
Well then, thank you for reading until the end!
I’ll pray that we can meet again in the next book.
Next time I want to try making a story of their adventures, something like “The Great Adventure of Renko and Merry!”.
BGM ♪Girls Sealing Club

August 2009 Strange Chameleon

p.56
This is our story. The story woven by the two of us.