As a collector of curiosities, antiques-dealer Rinnosuke Morichika is more than accustomed to handling rare treasures. The oddities and merchandise he encounters daily are highly desirable items with unusual and exotic stories to tell. But when a dangerous new visitor comes to the store to pay back a debt, will Rinnosuke discover a desirable treasure has been hiding in his store from the very beginning? A new chapter begins in the fan-made story based on the popular Touhou series!

I'm certain that I've previously written about the value of treasure; how a treasure can be worthless to someone who doesn't know its value or has no use for it, whereas a piece of junk can be exactly what they are looking for and therefore, to that individual, worth a great deal more. As a shopkeeper, I can only price things based on their objective value. If someone offers a price for something that is a fair amount according to the value I myself have placed on it, it would be poor business to refuse the sale just in case someone else may come along who would be willing to pay a far greater price.

Because of this, one of the most vital aspects of being a shopkeeper is knowing what your treasure is worth and then setting your price just a little higher than that. People who aren't really interested would rather pay a lower price and will therefore walk away, but at the same time the price isn't so high that you must wait for a miracle customer to come by. It ensures a quick sale for a good price... but it's a tricky balance to achieve.

Speaking of miracles, I've been more successful achieving this balance than ever since Sanae started helping me with my collection. I have to admit, Marisa was absolutely right. Her knowledge of the use of these objects in the modern world is a great boon to my ability to price things well.

She's good for business in another sense, too. She is popular with humans and youkai both, and since rumour spread about 'that little shop that the mountain shrine maiden visits a lot', I've had far more visitors than usual.

I hear the shop door open, but I no longer rush to meet my customers. I let Sanae work her charm for a moment first, before making my grand entrance. Once the customer knows for sure that this place really is blessed by a god, I seem to command a fair amount of reverence as its owner.

"Good evening, Sanae. Could I please speak with Mr. Kourin?"

Since I'm being asked for by name, I can hardly ignore it. It's a voice I don't recognise, but when I see its owner I have no doubts about who she is.

A short while ago, a new temple suddenly appeared in the Human Village. Sanae was apparently directly involved with its appearance, although some of the details of her story seemed suspect... She told me the temple belonged to a monk, Byakuren Hijiri, who had been sealed away in the kind of place a simple shopkeeper like myself prefers not to think about.

Even when I asked, Sanae didn't really seem to know why she had been in that place when Hijiri was unsealed, but luckily the monk was thankful enough to bring Sanae back with her. She then settled in the Human Village and started her temple.

Reimu had plenty of complaints when I next saw her, of course. I can understand- shrines and shops have their similarities. Shops deal out goods to people in exchange for money, and shrines deal out religious services in exchange for faith. A rival temple, just like a rival shop, is naturally bad for business.

I am lucky enough that my shop has no rivals, and my business does well enough that it could survive the threat of any rival that appeared. Reimu, however, was struggling to earn enough faith even before Byakuren started her temple. And before that, there was the Moriya Shrine. Of course, Reimu complains about the Moriya Shrine even when Sanae is here... which can make things quite tense.

The most interesting thing about this temple, however, is that its doors are open to both humans and youkai. People believe the same is true of the Hakurei Shrine, but that's not quite the case. Youkai go there but are not wanted, and humans are invited there but don't go. For a rival temple to openly invite youkai and still receive a human patronage is baffling even to someone like myself, half youkai and half human. But if Reimu's complaints are accurate, it somehow seems to work.

There's something strange about this monk, for sure. I realise I must have been staring as Sanae walks up to me.

"Mister Kourin- ah, no, I mean-"
"Thank you Sanae, I heard. Welcome to my little store. I am Rinnosuke Morichika, the owner. Is there anything I can help you with?"

She makes her greetings to me also, and I'm ashamed to say I find myself somewhat awestruck. She certainly has a commanding presence, at once perfectly serene and yet hugely powerful. I worry that someone terrifying has entered my shop.

Sanae doesn't seem to feel the same way, as she's alarmingly casual around the monk. Sanae is a human, but she is also a god, so perhaps she doesn't feel Hijiri's presence in the same way.

"I'm afraid I haven't come here to buy anything."

That's something I hear all the time. 'I'm just browsing,' 'I don't have anything in mind,' and other such phrases. But I suppose a Buddhist monk likely has little use for anything in my stock, so I'm inclined to believe her.

"I am actually here to extend my thanks. I'm told you played a pivotal role in my resurrection."

This is something I'm not at all used to hearing. Nor do I have any clue what she's talking about. I would certainly remember participating in such an event.

"Oh, Mr Morichika! You went to Makai as well?"
"I'm quite certain I didn't. My apologies- do you perhaps mean someone else?"

Sanae was involved in that incident directly, so I ask if she can think of anyone who was present at the time. But Hijiri speaks for her.

"One of my companions tells me she found one of the treasures necessary to break the seal from- ...a shop just like this one."

Her moment of hesitation is almost undetectable, but it's clear that those aren't quite the words her companion used. She doesn't dwell on it.

"Do you remember serving a mouse youkai?"

Normally, when I see a mouse in the store, I exterminate them. Then again, if a mouse youkai approached my store as a customer... I must admit, serving them anyway does seem like something I would do.

I serve many customers in my day-to-day life, so it would be difficult to remember a specific one.

A mouse youkai...

I serve many youkai daily as well, so even that is not something unusual enough to remember.

A mouse youkai...

...Ah.

"Oh, I think I do, actually."

Very faintly, I remember a mouse visiting my store. In and of herself, she was unremarkable. The reason I remember her is because of what she bought.

I had, for the longest time, an ugly old lamp that didn't even deserve a place in my collection of curiosities. I kept it in the store every day in hopes someone- anyone- would take it from my hands. I would have even been willing to give it away at no cost just to see the back of it.

But I remember now, the mouse youkai that day- she told me she was looking for a lamp exactly like that, and offered to pay me handsomely for it. I don't think I would have much use for what a mouse would consider a fortune... I'm not a particular fan of cheese. So I gave it to her with my compliments, and assured her she was doing me the greatest of favours.

It appears that the lamp, however ugly, was worth a great deal more than I'd expected. The thought of what kind of price I could have asked for had I known this stings me, but as that transaction led directly to Hijiri's release, it would be rude of me if I was to appear too disheartened.

"I'm very happy to have been of service to you all."

I seem to have done a good job hiding my disappointment. It's not really a lie, as despite what Reimu might say of her, Hijiri seems a pleasant person. Helping someone out, even if unintentionally, is something I'm always glad to be able to do. She smiles at my answer.

"And to have let her take it free of charge... your generosity is surely inspiring."
"Oh, he lets people have things without paying for them all the time. Reimu and Marisa are always here taking his stuff."

Sanae is not always helpful. Thankfully the monk doesn't seem too offended that her companion wasn't subject to any special treatment.

"Well, regardless, I appreciate your help in my time of need. Is there anything I can do for you to repay your kindness?"

There are many things I could ask for, of course. But I am, first and foremost, a collector of curiosities. Curiosities often take the form of unusual objects, but that's not always the case. Sometimes they take the form of unusual people, with unusual stories to tell. My collection of unusual stories is one of my most prized curiosities.

Hijiri is quite clearly a remarkable person with a remarkable story. My request is a very simple one.

"If ever you have the time, would you tell me your story?"

To my surprise, she agrees, and immediately sits down. The story she tells me is exactly as remarkable as I had assumed. I will document it elsewhere- this article is not the best place for a story like this. But the frankness and honesty with which she tells it is worth mentioning by itself.

Most people change their stories in subtle ways to make themselves appear to have been in the right, and this is especially true when they are decidedly in the wrong. I've discussed this very topic in a previous article. But Hijiri tells her story in a stark honesty that leaves me quite in awe.

She is profoundly terrifying. But I can't help be caught in her allure. She is terrifying, but I don't think she's a bad person. Certainly, other youkai who visit me regularly worry me more than Hijiri does.

At the end of her story- after Sanae has helped her to tell the parts she was involved with- she invites me to her temple for a visit any time I care to. Well, although that sounds-

"Oh, but wouldn't that be interesting? A half-human, half-youkai visiting a half-human, half-youkai temple. I should tell the tengu..."

Sanae is quite often unhelpful.

"You are half human?"
"Yes, he is! That's what Marisa says, anyway."

Although I'm left with regret that I didn't instead ask Hijiri to induct Marisa as a monk so that she would never be able to annoy me again, I answer in the affirmative.

"I see... Forgive me if I'm asking too much, but I'm sure you can understand why such a story would be of interest to me. Would you tell me?"

It's a staggeringly bold question to ask, but I somehow expect nothing less from this monk now. I have never before felt any real need to discuss my heritage... To my mind, I am Rinnosuke Morichika, antiques dealer and collector of curiosities. Anything else is incidental. And yet... she answered my same query with such startling honesty...

I ask Sanae to make us some tea, and I tell Hijiri my own story. Ordinarily I document every word spoken in this book, but for this I will make an exception. A gentleman must keep some secrets of his own.

Hijiri gasps, and laughs, and smiles in all the right places. Her interest in my story is clearly genuine. As I finish, she thanks me most politely, but the glint of excitement in her eyes is clear.

"But how wonderful!"

I have the awful feeling I'm about to be dragged into something I'd rather avoid.

"I've long believed humans and youkai can co-exist, but I've had difficulty convincing those outside of my temple. But here you are, proof that this is true! Youkai and human co-exist within you! You simply must visit the temple!"

A temple full of youkai is not top of the list of places I would like to visit, especially not to be made a spectacle of. The idea seems to thrill her, though, and it would be very rude to simply turn down a direct invitation.

"I often find myself in the Human Village. I suppose I can put my head in next time I'm at the market."

She clasps my hands and thanks me, again most politely, but at that moment Sanae returns. I don't think she heard my story, but she definitely heard me agree to visit the temple. Oh, dear...

"Actually, Mister Morichika, I don't think you've visited my shrine yet, have you? We don't have many human visitors up there."

Climbing a mountain full of youkai somehow appeals to me even less. But, I can't accept one invitation and then refuse another without seeming tremendously rude. Not to mention Sanae has been a friend for some time now.

"I'm not much of a climber... and I can't fly like you all can. But if you can find a way to get me up there, I certainly would enjoy the visit."

Everyone seems satisfied, and I haven't exactly agreed to anything. It couldn't have worked out much better. But alas, things can never end so well, can they? The bell over the door rings.

"...Huh. So what exactly does a Buddhist monk want with an old junk shop?"
"Good evening Reimu. I was just leaving, actually."

Reimu is here, and already in a bad mood for seeing Hijiri. I could do without the tension, and if she's only here to argue...

"More to the point, Reimu, what are you doing here?"
"Hey, that's rude, Kourin! I'm always here! I'm a regular and loyal customer. Loyalty is very important, don't you agree?"

She's certainly regular. 'Loyal' and 'customer' I have to disagree with.

"I'm sorry Reimu, but now isn't a good time-"
"Yes, we're busy at the moment deciding when Mr Morichika can visit our Shrine."

Sanae is quite a liability at times.

"What? You're going to visit the Moriya Shrine?"
"Actually... this started as an invite to my Myouren Temple."

This will get worse before it gets better.

"Eh!? You're going to that temple? How come you've never been to my shrine!?"
"Of course he'd rather come to my shrine. Yours has no gods, while mine has two."
"It does too have gods!"
"And there are too many youkai there."
"We would welcome them at the Temple, if you send them our way."

"Hey Koruin, y'ever been to the Forest Of Magic? I could show you around some time."

Marisa is leaning through the window. The grin on her face plainly shows that she's been listening in for some time. I haven't time to rebuke her. The argument before me is already impossible to follow and escalating rapidly.

"That's why Kourin-"
"-has to come and-"
"-visit us first!"

In the midst of their arguing, it seems I myself have become quite a desirable treasure.

Byakuren is one of my favourite characters ever, and naturally she'd be very interested in Rinnosuke both as a half-human half-youkai oddity, and the shopkeeper from whom Nazrin bought the pagoda... so it's pretty disappointing to say that I didn't even think of such a connection until a commenter on a previous chapter suggested it. Oops!

I had a lot of fun with this one, though. Rinnosuke often seems to win the upper hand, even against an opponent like Marisa, so it was fun to have things just get worse and worse for him in this chapter. It was also nice to bring Sanae back- I guess that means my series of fan chapters has its own continuity now, huh?

To my knowledge, it's not mentioned anywhere how exactly a half-human half-youkai can exist... although it's still not as weird as the existence of half-ghosts. Still, I didn't want to canonise a backstory for Rinnosuke, hence his secrecy. It won't be secret for long, though. Sanae heard every word, and Kanako will be treated to the highly exaggerated tabloid retelling once she gets home.