I loaded the geek game

In this world, in spring.

Kanoya Yukino sat in the living room on the first floor of her house.

The glass sliding doors facing the courtyard were wide open, and the spring breeze, carrying the scent of damp earth and new growth, flowed into the room without hindrance, gently stirring the wind chimes hanging under the eaves, producing scattered, discordant yet melodious sounds.

You can smell a sweet, faint scent of pollen mixed in with the wind.

The deer's gaze naturally drifted past the porch and into the courtyard.

There, the cherry blossom trees that had almost withered and died now stand gracefully in the spring sunshine. The scars left by the devastating "catastrophe" that swept everything two years ago seem to have been healed by time.

Thanks to the healing of the eight-foot woman and the god of poverty, as well as the nourishment of the pure "blessing" from the Zashiki-warashi, the cherry tree planted by the master's own hands not only survived but also radiated a vitality far greater than before.

At this moment, the cherry blossoms, like pink clouds, are in full bloom, with layers upon layers of petals forming clusters of flowers that weigh down the slender branches.

Whenever the spring breeze blows, delicate petals quietly detach from the branches, twirling gracefully as they flutter down, weaving a luxurious and gentle pink snowflake in the golden afternoon sunlight, silently covering the newly sprouting grass beneath the trees.

"What perfect weather for being lazy."

Kanoya thought to himself.

She turned her gaze away from the courtyard and onto the low table in front of her, where her personal sketchbook was spread out.

After Master ascended to the throne of the gods in the heavens and fell into a deep sleep alongside his wives—

As one of the two designated "successors," her schedule, along with that of her junior sister Tsurumi Aoi, is packed with training, experience, studies, and assisting with the increasingly frequent exchanges between the mortal world and the present world.

And this is already under the premise that the new regime in Takamagahara, relying on the cabinet and parliamentary system left by his master, can operate on its own with extremely high efficiency.

"What kind of hardship did Master endure in the past?"

The feeling of observing is ultimately different from experiencing it firsthand, which is why Xiaolu often sighs like this.

It is also rare to have a warm afternoon like today, completely to myself, with nothing to do.

Since it's so rare, we certainly can't waste it.

The little deer took a deep breath of the air, which was filled with the sweet scent of cherry blossoms, and adjusted her posture so that the sunlight could shine better on the drawing paper.

Then, she picked up the mechanical pencil, hovered the tip over the paper for a moment, and then dropped it, making a reassuring soft rustling sound.

Draw comics.

This is one of the few personal hobbies that Xiaolu has maintained despite her busy spiritual practice and duties.

The lines drawn by the little deer gradually sketched out an image of someone wearing a jinbaori and holding a long katana. The corners of her mouth unconsciously turned up as she immersed herself in her own little world.

And at this moment——

"Whoa! — Grab it!"

"They ran that way! Watch out...!"

"Squeak!"

A series of noises, interspersed with exclamations, running sounds, and a strange "click-clack" sound, suddenly burst forth from somewhere in the house.

"Well……?"

The pen paused, and the smooth lines on the paper innocently veered to one side.

"Mimiko..."

Kanoya sighed, but there was no impatience or anger on his face. Instead, as if he had expected this to happen, he stood up helplessly, slipped on his indoor slippers, and quickly walked out of the living room.

……

In the basement.

Five oddly shaped beetles are scurrying around in panic.

They are about the size of a fist, and their shells are not made of biological material, but rather carved from gemstones such as clear citrine, green malachite, and crimson agate.

As they ran and dodged, the beetles' jewel-like carapaces reflected the basement lights, casting mesmerizing, shimmering, colorful spots of light on the walls and floor. The peculiar "click-clack" sounds were simply the crisp tinkling of the beetles' hard legs against the floor.

"Don't, don't run away! Stand still!"

Mimiko was at the forefront, frantically trying to control the chaotic situation. She clenched her fist, conjuring a round, transparent ball of water, and hurled it forcefully at the citrine beetle that was running the fastest, leaving a trail of golden light behind it—

puff!
The water ball hit its mark precisely, creating a rapidly spreading puddle on the dry floor. Then, with a "glug" sound, the center of the puddle transformed into a small fountain that continuously spewed upwards, trapping the beetle firmly in the center of the water column.

"Catch one!"

Inside, the yellow crystal beetle stretched out its tiny legs in vain, unable to break free from the supple water prison.

"Caizhi, please help me!"

Perhaps inspired by Mimiko's performance, Ayako, who had initially just been watching the spectacle, also excitedly joined the hunt. Red crayon lines moved nimbly across the floor and walls, attempting to build walls.

However, the remaining beetles seemed wary of the colorful "paint." Instead of being forced to stop, they were even more frightened and frantically tried to break through into unexpected corners and crevices. The gemstones flashed wildly, and the clicking sounds became increasingly rapid.

"Hey--!"

Hiyoribou, who was trying to help block them, let out a short exclamation.

A panicked malachite beetle crashed into her small body with a loud thud.

"Woo..."

Kojima was dazed by the impact and instinctively activated his defense mechanisms—

In an instant, it transformed into a round, chubby "snowman," standing like a small white ball of fluff. It then flung harmless snowballs outwards, attempting to ward off any approaching "danger."

"Squeak! Squeak!"

Finally, there was poor Dirty, following at the very back, circling anxiously. It wasn't trying to catch the beetle, but rather it was distressed by the wet and dirty floor and walls.

"Everyone—hold on!"

A clear and powerful voice finally came from the direction of the stairs, like a gentle yet unquestionable command, cutting into the chaotic symphony of the basement.

Kanoya appeared at the corner of the stairs, carrying the incense burner of Shotoku. She stood there, her posture upright, her voice slightly louder than usual, carrying her usual cheerfulness and vigor, yet possessing a penetrating power that made people unconsciously obey.

The moment the words fell—

The strange tales in the basement—running around, throwing water balloons, drawing lines, tossing snowballs, wiping the floor—all suddenly paused.

Even the few gem crystal beetles that were darting around were frozen in place, their slender legs still in a running posture, but unable to move an inch.

The basement fell silent abruptly, save for the lingering moisture in the air, the faint smell of paint, and…

A delicate fragrance, carrying the scent of dried leaves and autumn earth.

The peculiar fragrance emanated silently from the incense burner in the deer's hand.

"Fallen Leaves" Fragrance Recipe.

It is not an attack, but a gentle "soothing" and "weakening". The unique fragrance of this incense can calm the restless spirit, causing these gem beetles, which are agitated by their active spiritual energy, to fall into a brief state of calm and powerlessness.

The little farce came to an abrupt end.

Kanoya, carrying the incense burner, slowly descended the last few steps. His gaze swept over the crowd, who had suddenly become "well-behaved," and a helpless yet amused expression appeared on his face: "Really... can you all explain this?"

……

"I'm sorry, Yukino..."

Mimiko, her face crestfallen, apologized and hurriedly explained the origin of these strange gem-like crystal beetles—

Recently, the industrial manager of Takamagahara discovered an unprecedented and peculiar mineral vein deep within the earth's veins in a certain secluded place in the world. At its core is a highly condensed gem crystal.

These gem beetles are "mimicry living beings" naturally conceived from the high concentration of spiritual vein crystals under special conditions, absorbing the residual concept of "life" and faint earth spirit consciousness from the earth veins. They have considerable research value and can inspire craftsmen to understand the essence of spiritual veins and even create new spiritual energy materials or magical artifacts.

Moreover... it is said that these shiny, moving little things are unexpectedly popular among merchants and collectors in the amusement park market.

“I had a day off this afternoon, so I thought I’d go visit Paper Dance… I heard she’s been working really hard lately,” Mimiko continued, her voice growing softer. “And then, Paper Dance… she knew I recently succeeded in building my shrine and ascended to the rank of Aragami, and she was especially happy. These shiny little bugs were a gift from her…”

"I'm so sorry... I really just wanted to show everyone. Who knew that as soon as I opened the box a crack, these bugs... they all 'whoosh'ed out!"

After explaining, Mimiko glanced at the beetles, now back in their boxes and shimmering with a captivating luster, then at the somewhat messy basement, before finally casting a pleading and apologetic look at Kanoya, obediently awaiting her "punishment."

"Alright, alright." Kanoya stopped scolding the aggrieved Mimiko, and the helpless seriousness on his face had long since melted away. "It's good that nothing was damaged. Next time you bring back a 'living gift' like this, be sure to tell me in advance."

She guessed that the reason these gem crystal beetles were so restless and running around like that was probably because they were unintentionally stimulated by the fresh and powerful aura of the Aragami on Mimiko's body.

"Okay! I'll remember! I'll definitely do it next time!"

Hearing the deer's forgiveness, Mimiko's mood immediately brightened, and she regained her spirits.

Her eyes sparkled, and she even began to have new, eager ideas, her tone becoming excited as well:
"Yukino, listen to me—I'm thinking of sending all the shirikodama I've collected to Kamimai! Then I'll ask Kamimai to contact the best craftsman in the market and have them made into shiny insect shapes, and then give them to you as a gift! Oh, and I'll also keep a few of the prettiest ones to give to Lord Kamiya when he wakes up!"

The kappa will give the shirikodama to the person it admires most.

Xiaolu remembered that a long time ago, Mimiko had given her master the "Kawajujiriko Jewel" that she had obtained for the first time with all her heart.

Now, Miyako has grown into a powerful Aragami capable of standing on her own, and has her own shrine. Her experiences with the Kanoya over the past two years have also led to a gradual increase in the number of Shiriko-dama she has collected.

But this pure sentiment seems to have never changed.

"Pfft..." Kanoya couldn't help but chuckle, not commenting on the little kappa's peculiar taste, but simply saying, "I think Master will definitely like it."

She paused, looked at the box containing the gem beetle, then at the gleaming eyes in front of her, carefully considering whether the "Shiriko Jewel Beetle" should have six or eight legs, and whether its wings should also be made of transparent crystal. A wave of tenderness washed over her.

"However, there's no rush about the gift. We can think about it and make it slowly." Xiaolu's tone shifted, still light but with a hint of uncompromising authority. She pointed to the messy basement, "Right now... we should clean this up together first. And, Mimi—"

"Ok!"

Mimiko, whose name was called, immediately sat up a little straighter.

"The fact that you've made such a mess of this place shows that you've just become a Wild God and your control over your abilities isn't yet proficient or stable enough... So, starting tomorrow, we'll go to the Flower Bell Ghost School, and I'm going to give you some special training."

"I...I understand..." Mimiko wilted a little, but still nodded obediently.

She knew that Yukino was doing it for her own good, and that the little commotion earlier was indeed caused by her.

"Then it's settled."

The little deer clapped its hands, bringing this brief "post-battle debriefing" to a swift and decisive end.

However, the moment she finished speaking, she was slightly dazed.

She suddenly realized that her tone of voice, the way she arranged things, and even her style of "inappropriately" interrupting important matters during cozy moments... all seemed somewhat familiar.

once……

After they went out to train and successfully defeated the troublesome Wet Woman Ushioni, their master took her and her junior sister Aoi on a rare "vacation" to the seaside.

A gentle sea breeze, soft sand, and the setting sun painting the sky a magnificent orange-red. Little Deer handed her master the sweetest piece of watermelon she had just smashed, excitedly proclaiming that they absolutely had to have a beach barbecue that evening…

The master was the same, with a leisurely smile, yet in an irrefutable, seemingly matter-of-fact "adult tone," he casually instructed them: "After you go back, you must write a good report on the expedition. Also, you need to strengthen your training in a targeted manner to address the weaknesses exposed in this battle."

At that moment, Xiao Lu and her junior sister secretly exchanged a helpless look that said, "Master is such a spoilsport," before their attention was drawn to the waves and the delicious food that was about to arrive.

But now...

"I think..." Kanoya lowered his eyes, looking at his own hands that had just clapped, a trace of the force from planning things still lingering on his fair palms. "I'm starting to resemble Master a bit." (End of Chapter)