July 27th Added:

I heard that itch's guidelines have been changed and the regulations regarding NSFW have become stricter. However, this is tantamount to book burning, and I am quite concerned. If NSFW is banned, the next target will be the newly defined `degenerate art`, and the LGBTQIA+ community will definitely be crushed, and I can only see a future where we move to Lebensunwertes Leben. That's not good.

These restrictions will not be limited to games and manga, but will soon spread to movies and dramas, and one day restrictions and fears may permeate our real lives. 

Certainly, crimes such as revenge porn and deep fakes involving real people, things that may justify pedophilia, and expressions that go too far should be strictly controlled, but isn't it going too far to ban things that are within the scope of freedom of expression? If it becomes unacceptable to even mention these things, then no one will be able to make even socially conscious documentaries anymore. 

Fisrt, NSFW is basically an age restriction, isn't it? As a creator, I can't help but question the current situation in which the rating has become empty and meaningless.
Personally, NSFW content, I am of the opinion that as long as it is age-restricted and `in a place where it can't be seen unless you take the proper steps,` then it shouldn't be a problem. I also believe that age verification should be a one-step process, as in the past, and that strict checks such as biometric authentication should not be implemented; biometric authentication is a dystopia!

And... most of the work I make could be banned if the new guidelines are interpreted too broadly.
In fact, WoY-R mentions non-consensual content, and there's vomiting. In one scene, there's even a detailed depiction of internal organs (although it's similar to the MSD manual).

Ugh... if depictions of vomiting are not allowed then I'll have to pull my non-NSFW work from itch. Sane?

Below is a progress report:

This month, I started with fixing a ton of bugs. There were so many things to fix, like the way the in-game season switches to winter, or mistakes in setting the conditions that trigger special events, and so on, that I was like, `Sorryyyy!` 
But anyway, I'd like to think that I've managed to fix all the winter-related bugs for now.

＊＊＊この投稿の日本語版はFanboxに掲載しています＊＊＊
(The Japanese version of the article contains images and doodle that are not included here.)

New characters have been added

In this update, `Homrhetjas`, who was mentioned several times in the main story, has finally been implemented.
The stories surrounding him are really unpleasant, and there are many opportunities for beeps to ring out.
Also, most of his words intentionally contain discriminatory terms (hidden by beeps) and such contexts.

But, they are `necessary to the story` — this does not mean that `discrimination is approved`.

I hope that players will correctly read the true meaning, but I am still a little scared. That is why I have not implemented `Homrhetjas` until now. I have finally made up my mind.

And. I plan to add about four more characters in the future: An Eastern elf warrior, Cait Sith (who is from Ritafilz and has misguided dreams of Dfaboorha), the black dragon `Camilla`, and `???` (a being mentioned in the scenario added in this update).

The story enters a new chapter!

The story moves to Chapter 10, Hisak' Hafla, and goes beyond the stagnant winter into the turbulent spring and summer. Starting with the mysterious fireworks from Ulughal, things move in an unexpected direction.

Furthermore, I would like the sub-events that occur during the progression of Chapter 10 to focus on Luhzelluand.

Although Luhzelluand was the one who invited Ranjarma to the Castle, she has always kept a step back and has not intervened much in the story. I am planning to delve a little deeper into what she is thinking when she does not intervene. I plan to touch on other supporting characters in the future.

Also, with this update, the original name of the elves race in the WoY-R world was finally revealed.

The name Elves is merely borrowed from the human language and is used for convenience, and the name they call themselves in their own language is `Relútay`. It has the connotation of noble children who emerged from the starlight in the night sky.
The related word `Relut` appears in one of the original BGM tracks, `Fageig Acuhe`. Pay attention to that when you listen to it!

(The word Relut comes from the Irish word [réalta: star]. At first I wanted to use the three sounds [r: shining], [l: noble and heroic], [t: dark night]. I was thinking about it, when I remembered that there was a word like that in Irish, so I used réalta as a reference to put together the sounds of the word.)

...So, the following is a bit about the future scenario. If you don't like spoilers, I would appreciate it if you could stop reading here.

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This is where I really start to show my skills! (literature-wise)

I love the concept of symbols that are linked to history, magic, and culture. So I'm thinking of gradually weaving this element into the story. *This is one of the techniques I often use when writing literature.

Like the shuttle in this scene, I will properly explain things that you can't find by just doing a quick search on the web, but I won't say much about things that you can find by searching, and I'm going to just pass them by.

So if you come across a word that makes you think `What is this?`, look it up, whether it's google, bing, or duck duck go.
I'll be waiting for you at the bottom of the swamp that should be there... haha!

The voice of `somebody` is internalised and repeated, but the familiar voices beside go unheard.

If you have triggered all the special events, you will notice that Laduiagoth's words are full of strange things.
Sometimes the protagonist Ranjarma will question, argue, or show disgust at what Laduiagoth says, and the others will advise Ranjarma to `don't take Laduiagoth's strange words seriously, just let them go.`

Ranjarma has a relatively high level of self-esteem, so she can't really understand what Laduiagoth says, who behaves arrogantly but has no self-esteem. Therefore, the contents of the options displayed as Ranjarma's answers also have a taste that doesn't seem to resonate with Laduiagoth very much.

Sometimes Ranjarma's words sting Laduiagoth. When Laduiagoth is shocked by Ranjarma's words, ze is often sleeping in the kitchen, so if you find zir, wake zir up by telling zir, `You'll catch a cold if you sleep in a place like this!` (*With this update, you will now receive a favourability bonus every time you wake up Laduiagoth.)

And in future scenarios, starting with the scene where Homrhetjas appears, I think there will probably be more opportunities for `lines filled with very unpleasant content` to appear. 
Well, Gathelzence has already been making remarks like that, but I want to dare to depict a horrifying malice that goes beyond that.

Because that's a reality right there in front of us.
I think that avoiding this would be a malicious hypocrisy.

Laduiagoth, who is unique and peculiar in every way, has been subjected to countless cruel words throughout zir long life. Before ze knew it, these became reality for Laduiagoth, and the negative words were completely internalised. 
The internalised malicious words sometimes come out of Laduiagoth's mouth. Laduiagoth utters the malicious words that were once said to zir, as if to suggest something to zirself.

On the other hand, Ranjarma tells Laduiagoth to zir face, `Don't belittle yourself!` and she means it from the bottom of her heart. The elves in the castle also look bitter when they see Laduiagoth in this state. At times, Seydhy questions, `Isn't something a bit strange?`

However, in the outside world across the sea, there are many elves who spout off the malicious words that Laduiagoth has completely internalised as if they were the natural thing to do.

Is Laduiagoth's fear excessive, or is it a correct understanding? — this is a difficult question because it's not an easy judgement to make.

...By the way, I'm also feeling pretty damaged right now. The results of the recent Japanese House of Councillors elections are a shock and I still haven't fully come to terms with it.
Just like Laduiagoth, I'm not sure whether the abuse flying around online spaces should be considered [the amplified voices of a very small minority] or whether it's [what the people around here are thinking, more or less].

It really has become a terrible world for everyone.

That's all for this month, see you!

The other day I found a blog post of myself in 2021 laughing at the topic of conspiracy theories! I had no idea back then that such a world would come.
Now, I'll put my sigh in the firebox of anger and get on with writing my scenario.