Stardew Valley of Gensokyo

A flash of light, and the local climate changed.

Akina Ze remained calm and composed, sitting upright on a small stool.

The milky-white mochi, carrying the stunned fish, floated leisurely to the shore.

The fish was wrapped inside, making it look like a pot of fish soup that had been simmering for a long time...

Thank you, that's enough.

Youmu Konpaku was carrying a red bucket that already contained three silver carp.

The three silver carp, which are common in the outside world, were enough to fill the red bucket that could be used to carry the bucket away.

It must be said that Gensokyo's environment is truly exceptional, as is the restraint of the fishermen.

"This is the money I'm using to buy the fish, please accept it."

To express her gratitude, Youmu bowed and presented a wallet embroidered with cherry blossoms with both hands.

This scene looks rather strange no matter how you look at it.

The way the girl handed over her wallet, which barely reached Akina Zeya's neck, made it look like she was being coerced by evil forces.

Although this seemingly frail girl is actually several times stronger than this so-called evil force.

However, now is not the time to dwell on these things, as Akina Sawa has fallen into an even bigger problem.

The girl's fair and delicate nape was exposed to Akina Zeya's eyes due to the curvature of her waist.

Very white, very tender, I want... um...

In short, Akina Sawa, whose thoughts had been touched on something unspeakable, swallowed hard, his eyes fixed on the scene, unable to look away.

"Is this not enough money...? Then I'll just take two. Please accept them if you can!"

"Ahhh, no!" Akina Ze also escaped from the snow-white vortex, turned his head, and looked at the grass not far away, not daring to look directly at it.

"I have enough money, but I can only take half; the other half belongs to you."

The conversation continued when a white figure flashed past in the grass not far away.

"Why? Just because I picked the fish up from the stream?"

Youmu Konpaku is not someone who would take advantage of others; she is upright and keeps her word, a result of her grandfather's teachings since childhood.

She wouldn't take advantage of others just to save money, even if it was someone she knew intentionally.

If you don't give a good explanation, Youmu Konpaku will get angry.

"No, I did this to thank you for spending so much time fishing with me."

"Eh!?"

"No, no, no, it's because I wanted to buy fish, it's what I should do..."

Youmu Konpaku, who had never heard such words before, was somewhat incoherent, her eyes darting around.

"Stop saying so much, you should just take your other half back."

He picked up the wallet, took half of it, and then put it back.

"This, this, how can this be allowed..."

A soft, lamb-like whimper escaped her lips; the spirit demon hung her head, and no one could see her face clearly.

A cool breeze carrying the scent of early autumn blew along the riverbank.

The wild grass along the riverbank bowed down, and even the soaked clothes of the ghost demon felt a chill.

She mustered her courage and raised her head.

But they found that the person who was sitting on the bench fishing had already disappeared.

With my arms folded together, my wallet felt half the weight.

Plop, plop~

The fish in the red bucket interrupted Youmu's thoughts.

It seems eager to become Yuyuko's stomach filling.

Since the fish are being so enthusiastic, Youmu Konpaku naturally has to do something in return.

"Very good, today's dishes will be braised silver carp, deep-fried silver carp, and steamed silver carp!"

Youmu Konpaku smiled as she chose the route for the fish in the bucket to meet Lady Yuyuko.

"Lady Yuyuko will definitely like it."

Carrying the red bucket, Youmu left the deserted riverbank.

Some of the damp grass indicated that someone had once walked here.

The stream flows quietly.

Under the shade of the tree, some water has already gathered in the dent left by the bench leg. Perhaps after a day, it will return to its original state...

The underworld is always overcast.

The empty red bucket seemed to foreshadow the fate of the silver carp.

Steam rising from the steamer filled the entire kitchen space.

"Huh? Why is it so heavy? Does that mean there's no dinner tonight?!"

Saigyouji Yuyuko picked up the wallet on the table, and after feeling its weight, a look of surprise appeared on her face.

The finances of Hakugyokurou are managed by Youmu Konpaku, and Yuyuko Saigyouji doesn't concern herself with mundane matters like purchasing ingredients.

So she doesn't actually know what ingredients Youmu Konpaku buys every day, but Yuyuko has a special way of knowing how plentiful the meal is that day.

As you all probably know, that's determined by the weight of the wallet.

Although it's not entirely accurate, it's still Yuyuko's regular source of entertainment every day.

She measured her wallet today and found it was half the size of the one she had when she left.

This made Yuyuko suspect that Youmu had bought half the amount of ingredients she usually did.

That means there's no dinner.

At Hakugyokuro, food is of utmost importance, and dinner, which is only slightly less important than lunch, is of paramount importance.

Saigyouji Yuyuko's gentle expression gradually turned serious.

"It's impossible that it's not there, Lady Yuyuko, what are you thinking!"

Having changed her clothes, Youmu Konpaku came out of the room and rolled her eyes at Yuyuko, who was lost in thought.

"Then why is my wallet so heavy? It was completely empty when I came back yesterday."

Yuyuko's eyes were slightly red, as if she was about to cry at any moment.

"Just because of today..."

Youmu, who couldn't bear to see Yuyuko cry, quickly told everyone what had happened that afternoon...

"Hmm, I see, I understand."

Yuyuko nodded blankly.

"Lady Yuyuko, do you really understand...?" Youmu Konpaku said with a hint of helplessness.

"Of course I understand. Youmu spent the whole afternoon playing with Akina-san, while I sat alone in the Hakugyokurou..."

"Hey! Lady Yuyuko, that's not how it is! I was just fishing with Mr. Akina!"

"Haha, I was just kidding you, Youmu-chan is just too cute."

Saigyouji Yuyuko reached out and pulled Youmu, who had just finished taking a bath, into her arms, taking a deep breath close to her ear.

"Youmu smells so good, I wish I could smell it forever..."

Holding Yuyuko in her arms, Youmu felt Yuyuko's warm breath on her earlobe, and her face immediately turned red. She nestled in Yuyuko's arms, not daring to move...

Chapter Sixty-Two: If you can't hear it, you can't hear it.

"Hey~"

Fujiwara no Mokou let out a long sigh, leaned back in her chair in a relaxed, reclining posture, and clutched a document covered in writing in her hand.

Recently, something seems to have happened at the Lake of Mist, with a large number of fairies running towards the vicinity of the Human Village.

This has led to a sharp decline in public security, and the security team has received numerous reports from the public.

After all, fairies don't follow the rules, especially those fairies who haven't been educated by Kamishirasawa Keine.

They committed crimes all over the streets of the human village, either stealing small pieces of eel bones from the grill or taking the last copper coin from the broken bowl of a beggar on the roadside.

That's how fairies are—they do whatever they want and are unrestrained.

This gave Mokou a real headache, but she couldn't do anything about it.

"Ugh, another cold takeout lunch today."

In the office of the Human Guardians.

A wooden box sits on the mahogany table.

Inside the wooden box was Mokou's lunch for today.

Red dates, a few pieces of red apple with the skin on, and a few red bean rice garnished with grass.

This is a bento box that Huiyin made herself this morning.

But it seems like she's getting revenge for me standing her up that day.

Fujiwara no Mokou opened the box with a worried expression.

A cold bento box doesn't taste very good to begin with, let alone one that's essentially a form of punishment.

But wasting food is shameful, and even with a lunch like this, Mokou would finish every single grain.

Mokou would rather drink three bowls of offal soup than touch this bento.

"If only it were a metal box, but unfortunately Huiyin only wants a wooden box..."

As for the metal box, Mokou could heat it up, which was better than nothing.

"Captain! The fairies outside are causing trouble again!"

"Who is the leader of the fairies?"

"It's Cirno, the ice spirit of the Lake of Mist!"

The guard was bent over, panting heavily.

"Looks like Cirno wants to turn into steam again."

Mokou sneered and casually put the lid back on.

It's probably best not to let your subordinates know how badly you've been treated...

"Hand over the great demon at once!"

"Hand it over!"

"Hand it over!"

The fairies' innocent shouts rose and fell, though they might not know who the great fairy was, but what did it matter? As long as it was fun.

Cirno somehow found a paper megaphone, the kind that looks like a trumpet flower, and she held it in her hand and shouted in a very professional manner.

"The missing fairy isn't with us."

The guards maintaining order tried their best to persuade the fairies, but clearly not many fairies listened to them.

"The great demon must be here with you!"

Cirno seems convinced that the Great Fairy is among humans, and her attitude is very firm.

"Our security team says no, and that's final."

A cold voice came from the corridor.

"It's Captain Mokou!"