Stardew Valley of Gensokyo

After all, Akina Ze wasn't some monkey that sprang from a rock, so he subconsciously spoke up for Zi.

"Tsk!" Reimu Hakurei clicked her tongue. "I said, that's enough!"

-----------

After leaving the shrine, night had already fallen. Looking up, the moon appeared somewhat dim. Whether it was due to thin clouds or something else, the moon at that moment was simply no match for Princess Kaguya.

When you drink alcohol, you tend to overthink, and Akina Ze used one hand to wipe his cheek to clear his mind a little.

Country lanes are always narrow, surrounded by waist-high weeds. If Cirno were to hide in them and launch a sneak attack, she would be impossible to spot.

Akina Ze hurried on his way, not forgetting to take care of Nikua, who was fast asleep behind him.

Although they are of the same species, although they are not biological father and daughter, and although it is possible that Nikua is older than him.

But Akina Sawa already considered her his daughter in his heart.

"I never thought that someone like me, who's a bit of an otaku, would have this day..." Akina Ze smiled bitterly.

Feelings are unpredictable and can be quite unpredictable.

Putting aside miscellaneous issues like lifespan, Akina Ze didn't think too much about them; all he wanted to do now was take good care of his little darling.

"Hey! You over there, put down the vixen you're coercing!"

Suddenly, a strong voice interrupted Akina Zeya's thoughts.

Akina Sawa also looked up blankly.

The night was very dark, and even though Akina Zeya had excellent eyesight, he could only see two blurry figures in the distance.

"Oh no! Could we have encountered a monster?" Akina Ze immediately realized something was wrong.

Completely forgetting that he had just been drinking with the great demon Yakumo Yukari.

"Hey, I'm talking to you, let her go!"

As if teleported, the two figures, who were still far away, walked over in just one step.

By the moonlight, Akina Sawa finally saw who was speaking.

A huge bust...

Ahem, it's a busty woman wearing a somewhat vintage-style outfit, and she's holding a large scythe, as if she just came back from harvesting wheat.

“Lord Enma, this man is taking advantage of the darkness to abduct innocent fairies; he's clearly not a good person,” said Onozuka Komachi.

Although it was dark, Akina Sawa could still clearly see the somewhat disdainful look on the busty woman's face.

Oops!

Akina Ze also sensed something was wrong; it seemed like he had been misunderstood.

But before he could even explain...

The woman next to the busty Komachi, dressed in an official robe from some unknown dynasty, was flat-chested to the point of despair, but thankfully had long legs. She said, "White, innocent; Onozuka Komachi, framed; Black, guilty, punished!"

Immediately, a board that gleamed coldly even in the darkness slammed down on Onozuka Komachi.

"Eh!? Lord Shiki, please spare me!"

After a surprised exclamation, Onozuka Komachi ran away with her head in her hands.

What are these two people here for?

Akina Ze was also somewhat puzzled, but his unease had dissipated considerably.

After all, someone so stupid probably doesn't inspire any sense of danger...

Chapter 43

Unseen dark clouds shrouded the night sky, and the moon shone faintly, but despite its efforts, the ground remained pitch black, and nothing could be seen.

"Um? May I go now?"

Akina Sawa scratched his nose and prepared to leave.

Although watching the two of them goofing around was quite amusing (mainly Komachi's one-sided humor).

But now, with the autumn wind blowing and the moon hanging low, going home and lying down is what he wants to do most right now.

Especially now that Akina Ze had rubbed Nikua's thighs on his back to make sure she was asleep, he felt even more determined to go home sooner.

Otherwise, what if you catch a cold?

There are no clinics in the human village that can treat fairies; you might have to go to the Lost Bamboo Forest to see Doctor Yagokoro for treatment.

"Wait a moment," Shiki Eiki wiped the dust from her sleeves, which she had accidentally gotten on her during Komachi's trial, and straightened the sign, saying seriously, "Humans are not allowed to wander into the wilderness at night. I'll have Komachi take you back."

"Hey! What about you, Lord Enma?"

"I'm just getting up from the ground," Onozuka Komachi said in surprise.

"Stop pretending, I knew all along you didn't want to stay by my side."

"Hehe, that's not true at all. I love being by Shiki-sama's side the most~" Onozuka Komachi said with a chuckle.

However, his body obediently walked to Akina Sawaya's side.

"Um..." Akina Ze, who seemed like a stranger to his colleague, weakly raised one hand and said, "I think I can go back by myself, I don't need this... sir's... escort."

Akina Sawa also very, very accidentally glanced at the unremarkable mountain peak.

"No, the night is extremely dangerous; humans must be protected."

Shiki Eiki said calmly, "Or do you think Komachi's strength is insufficient and you need me to send you back?"

"No! No!" Akina Ze waved his hands repeatedly.

How did things get so complicated... I just wanted to go home...

"Well then, Komachi, you shall escort him there."

Lord Enma waved his sleeve, thus bringing this matter to a close.

.....................

Despite carrying Niqua on his back, Akina Zeya's speed was not slow at all, perhaps because the guy following behind him was also not slowing down at all.

Akina Ze felt that he had already exerted his maximum speed, but the woman behind him named Onozuka Komachi still looked like she was strolling leisurely, and even yawned, without even the slightest tremor.

Akina Sawa also began to suspect that she was actually flying!

However, even if she really was flying, Akina Ze felt that it wasn't impossible.

After all, there are plenty of flying creatures out there, so one more won't make a difference.

"If only I could fly," Akina Sawa fantasized about learning to fly, spending his mornings at Youkai Mountain looking for Shameimaru to play with, his afternoons playing games with Kaguya-hime, and then...

Sigh... There are so many fun things to do, it's a pity I can't fly yet, and if I just walk, I'm afraid I won't have enough time...

Akina Sawa also looked somewhat dejected.

"Well, am I really that unhappy to be following along?" Komachi Onozuka said, having just witnessed this scene.

“No,” Akina Sawa calmly shook her head. “I just feel there are so many interesting things in the world, but I feel trapped…”

"You're married?" Onozuka Komachi leaned closer and asked curiously.

"Pfft!" Akina Ze also suddenly felt a breath stuck in his throat.

"How could you think I'm married? Do I look like a married person? Besides, why would you think marriage is a form of constraint?" Akina Ze's face also turned red.

As if he had been hit where it hurt, a string of words came out. If he hadn't been mindful that Nikua was still sleeping, he could have kept complaining.

"Huh? You really do look like a married person."

Onozuka Komachi circled around Akina Sawaya once, lingering briefly at Nikua before speaking.

"Don't talk nonsense! I'm not like that!" Akina Ze also denied it.

"Oh~" Onozuka Komachi gave Akina Sawaya a meaningful look and said, "So this type of man does exist, huh?"

"..." Akina Ze was also speechless.

Once the established image is confirmed, there's no point in explaining further. Having figured this out, Akina Ze stopped talking and just kept walking forward with his head down, though his heart was filled with turbulent emotions.

I'm still a virgin, so why am I being treated like a married man? I've never even held a girl's hand! ...Wait? I think I did hold one, but who was it again? ...Whatever! Damn it!

Onozuka Komachi seemed to have seen through Akina Sawaya's current thoughts, and followed behind without making a sound, but she couldn't help but smile.

Having been ferrying people across the Sanzu River for so long, Onozuka Komachi is practically a veteran ferrywoman. However, all of her experience came from books while slacking off. Now that she's put it into practice, she feels incredibly happy...

The lights at the gate of the Human Village were very soft, but they were still a bit dazzling to Akina Sawa, who had just experienced a long journey through darkness.

But... at least I'm back!

--------------

"A-Qiu, what kind of things do you consider interesting?"

A light drizzle fell, and Reimu Hakurei lay sprawled on the table, her eyes gazing blankly at the raindrops falling from the sky.

Hieda Akyuu, who was being questioned, knelt properly on the soft cushion he had brought with him.

Today was the day she planned to visit the Hakurei Shrine.

Akyuu's visit here is for one of a few reasons: first, to visit the shrine maiden and ask her what she has discovered recently; second, to relax, as writing the origin story of Gensokyo is a very mentally taxing task that cannot be completed without sufficient information and time.

Of course, understanding and alleviating the shrine maiden's psychological state was also part of her purpose in coming.

This is what outsiders seem to refer to as a psychologist?

As Hieda Akyuu listened to Reimu Hakurei's questions, she thought about interesting things, and a serene smile involuntarily appeared on her face.

Or rather, she always had this expression, and it never changed.

"I think the most interesting thing is to write the past into a book."

"As expected... Akyuu, this is your standard formula answer, isn't it?"

Having heard those words again without a doubt, Reimu Hakurei stretched out her arms, rested her head on them, and stared intently at Akyuu with her head tilted to the side.

"Is writing really fun? I don't find it fun at all. I'd rather borrow a celestial dog's printing press to print things like talismans."

"I love writing. Watching each word fall from my pen, I always feel like they're watching me and smiling."

“Hey… I feel like it’s because they’ve become sentient…” Reimu Hakurei retorted.

"Perhaps."

Hieda Akyuu said ambiguously.

Although they do stand up and circle around the pen.

However, Akyuu doesn't dislike these things.

Chapter 44

Akina Ze also felt very heavy and couldn't help but sigh.

The source of the pressure was obvious: it was none other than Marisa, who was sitting there watching him intently.

"Let me make this clear first, giving up halfway is not an option!" Marisa stood up and said aggressively.

Faced with such a tough Marisa, Akina Sawa felt completely overwhelmed.

This is how it all started.

Due to various factors, Akina Sawa no longer intends to join Marisa's manzai team.

However, Akina Sawa felt he wouldn't be able to say it directly to Marisa, so he specially asked Aya Shameimaru to deliver a letter to him expressing his apology and his determination to refuse.

The letter read like this.

Dear Marisa, please forgive me for not being able to join your manzai group. Making this decision is extremely painful for me, but after considering various factors, I feel I must decline. I'm very sorry, please find someone else. By the way, I think Motoori Kosuzu is an excellent candidate; she would definitely be much better than me...

The letter essentially says, "I'm going to be a noob. Sorry, please go find Miss Xiaoling."

Akina Sawa also thought that after sending such a letter, Marisa would definitely be angry and wouldn't want to see him.

But unexpectedly...

Marisa is not such an indecisive and sensitive person.