Stardew Valley of Gensokyo

At this moment, Mystia was no longer alone standing beside the long grill.

Beside her, Youmu Konpaku, a master of dual-wielding swords, also wore an apron and held two iron skewers in her hands, looking quite imposing.

However, this should be overlooked in terms of the cute cat paw pattern embroidered on the edge of Mystia's spare brown apron, and the bow tied at the back of her neck, which appeared somewhat fair and pinkish under the light of Youmu Konpaku's lamp.

This outfit is an extremely cute maid costume, and it's very eye-catching.

Even Akina Sawa, who was sitting next to Shameimaru Aya, kept glancing at her, not for any other reason than that she was just too cute.

I wish I had such a cute maid...

While reflecting on this, Akina Ze also thought of his own Niqua. It seemed like it would look pretty good if she dressed her up in a maid outfit like this.

However, the attention of the crowd did not disturb Youmu Konpaku.

At that moment, all she could see were the eight-eyed eels.

Because Mystia had overused her stamina, the baking speed had slowed down considerably. In order to help the Night Sparrow Boss and also to help Lady Yuyuko get rid of her hunger as soon as possible.

Therefore, Youmu Konpaku took it upon herself to assist Mystia.

"cut!"

With a soft shout, two incredibly fast flashes of light streaked across the sky, sending fish scales flying. The row of eight-eyed eels laid out before them had completed their pre-arranged preparations.

Not only that, but Youmu Konpaku, holding an iron skewer in each hand, swiftly and cleanly pierced the fish meat in front of her.

Even Mystia, who was watching from the side, couldn't help but feel a pang of pain. However, she still forced herself to brush the still sharp-looking halberd eel with the secret sauce and place it on the grill burning red charcoal.

Thanks to Youmu's efficient processing methods, the number of empty plates in front of Yuyuko began to increase rapidly.

The empty plate rate and the serving rate reached an astonishing 1:1 ratio!

I don’t know how much time has passed.

"Hiccup~"

It was a soft burp, but it made Mystia sit down on the ground with a thud, gasping for breath.

She... was full.

This is no less shocking than Reimu Hakurei discovering her money box is full one morning, or Patchouli finding that the books that had disappeared from the library have returned.

Aya Shameimaru, who had been waiting all this time, recorded the number of jars of yakiniku that Yuyuko had eaten, which could be published in the newspaper as a gimmick.

I think some people will be interested, right?

Taking off her apron, Youmu Konpaku strolled over and sat down in the empty seat to Yuyuko's right.

Although this wasn't the first time she, as the gardener in charge of the kitchen, had cooked for Yuyuko, Youmu Konpaku still felt somewhat tired, and a fine layer of sweat was visibly appearing on her fair forehead.

After all, this is working overtime at night, and the physical exertion is quite significant.

Seeing that things seemed to be over, Akina Sawa patted Shameimaru Aya's hand and prepared to leave, although he was a little disappointed that Yuyuko's belly wasn't very big.

Before Akina Sawa could get up, Youmu Konpaku, who was sitting to the side, suddenly asked, "Mr. Akina, I passed by your house earlier and noticed that your yard was gone. What happened?"

This is a lie.

In fact, Youmu Konpaku did not just happen to be passing by Sawaya Akina's house; she went there intentionally.

As everyone knows, Yuyuko Saigyouji has a huge appetite, so in order to find enough food to feed her, Youmu Konpaku always visits the places where the ingredients are produced in order to obtain food at a lower cost.

Moreover, face-to-face communication has the highest success rate.

"If it's because of a monster, Mr. Akina, how about cutting it into ten pieces?"

Wiping the Louguan Sword in his hand, Soul Dream calmly uttered chilling words.

Anyone who causes Yuyuko-sama's eating problems must be severely punished!

Akina Sawa wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and comforted him, "It's not a monster's fault. My house disappeared for another reason, and cutting it into ten pieces isn't a good idea..."

"What's the reason?" Youmu Konpaku asked directly and decisively.

"You want to know? Well, that's a long story." Akina Sawa sighed, and briefly explained the ins and outs of the matter to Youmu Konpaku...

Licking his lips, Akina Sawa continued, "As long as spring comes, my house will be back."

"Do we have to wait until spring?" Youmu Konpaku asked curiously.

"Because they are fairies who do not belong to winter."

"I see... So, Mr. Akina won't have a house to live in every winter from now on?" Youmu Konpaku said, somewhat incredulously.

If someone told Youmu that there was a season each year when she and Lady Yuyuko could not stay at Hakugyokurou, she would choose to cut it into ten pieces with the Loukan Hakugyoku swords in her hands.

Knowing that the price to pay was quite high, Akina Sawa laughed and said, "Probably, but it's nothing."

Suddenly, Saigyouji Yuyuko, who had been quiet since finishing her meal, interjected, "So, Akina-kun is homeless now, right?"

"That's not the case," Akina Sawa said with a helpless smile. "I'll stay at the Hakurei Shrine for now."

However, Saigyouji Yuyuko seemed not to have heard Akina Sawaya's explanation and continued:

"Would you like to come to my Hakugyokurou? Akina-kun, you can stay as long as you like~"

And then, after cooking every day, he eventually died of exhaustion at Baiyulou?

Before Akina Sawa could also refuse, Shameimaru Aya retorted, "I think you just want to find another cook, and Youmu might not even agree to that, right?"

"I?"

Seeing that the topic had been turned to her, Youmu Konpaku said with some confusion, "I agree to anything that Lady Yuyuko agrees to, and I would also welcome Akina-kun to join Hakugyokurou."

"Youmu, are you really not bothered? That's a man! Living in Hakugyokurou like this!"

Youmu's response caught Aya Shameimaru off guard; she could hardly believe it.

"Miss Wenwen, what are you saying! Akina-kun is just here to cook!" Instantly, Youmu's cheeks flushed red.

"What is our reporter thinking~" Yuyuko said with a hint of teasing, "Besides, aren't you also taking Akina-kun around everywhere, and at night, don't you find it strange?"

"This! How can this be the same!? I have nothing with him!" Aya Shameimaru blurted out.

As soon as she finished speaking, Aya Shameimaru regretted it and secretly glanced at Sawaya Akina.

Akina Ze also looked up at the sky, pausing intermittently.

"Hmm, there seem to be a lot of stars tonight."

Chapter Forty-Three: Good News

The grilled skewers were delicious, and the eel was very tender.

After having kebabs at the Beast Path last night, Akiaki said goodbye to Aya Shameimaru.

As Akira walked back to the shrine along the road, large snowflakes began to fall, and it started snowing.

By the next morning, the rooftops, courtyards, and even the bare trees were covered in a blanket of white.

It was colder than usual this morning.

Qiu Mingze quickly tidied himself up with the cold spring water and then walked alone into the corridor connecting the courtyard.

As the night passed, layers upon layers of icicles appeared on the eaves of the corridor.

Qiu Mingze also looked up.

The icicle's head is quite sharp, which is a bit startling. However, the part of the icicle that touches the tile is quite thick, so there's probably no need to worry about it falling down until spring.

It was still early, and the Hakurei Shrine was deserted. After Reimu got up and opened the shrine gate in the morning, she went back to her room for a nap.

This left Qiu Mingze with a difficult question. She could have easily stayed in bed, but she was still worried about worshippers coming to pay their respects and missing out on the donation box's earnings. It was hard to tell if she was being dedicated or not...

But in this kind of weather, probably no one will come, right? After all, nobody usually comes unless it snows.

Qiu Mingze leaned against the railing of the corridor, gazing at the torii gate at the end of the imperial road in the distance, then shook his head and decided to go back to his room to rest.

In such cold weather, a warm bed is still the best place for human survival.

Just as Qiu Mingze turned around, a white figure seemed to appear at the end of the imperial road.

Qiu Mingze rubbed his eyes and stared over. A mochi appeared under the torii gate, and below the mochi was Youmu Konpaku.

It has to be said that Youmu Konpaku isn't actually very tall; I just don't know if she's even 1.5 meters tall.

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

Your gaze is rather rude!

Qiu Mingze's glance also made Youmu Konpaku somewhat displeased.

"Sorry, I was just thinking about something else," Qiu Mingze explained with a laugh.

After Mimichi's spirit youmu appeared, Akihiro invited her into his room.

Since the Hakurei Shrine Maiden is still sleeping, talking in the main hall might wake her up.

Qiu Mingze also sat cross-legged on the tatami, opposite the seated Youmu Konpaku.

It must be said that Youmu sat very upright, like a straight sword, exuding an aura of seriousness and conservatism.

Perhaps because of the snow, Qiu Mingze also noticed that Youmu Konpaku was wearing a scarf today. Could a half-human, half-spirit also be afraid of the cold?

Qiu Mingze was unaware of this, but if someone gave him a scarf, even though he wasn't afraid of the cold, he would still tie it on every day.

Sometimes warmth is not just about heat.

The tatami mat had warmed up a bit, and Qiu Mingze spoke up, "Miss Youmu, are you here to see the shrine maiden? She's still sleeping, so you might have to wait a while."

"I'm not looking for her." Youmu Konpaku shook her head and looked at Akira, saying, "I'm here to see you today."

"Looking for me? Why?" Qiu Mingze was also somewhat taken aback.

He felt that he had nothing left now, and all his belongings were in the yard. If they asked him for food, he probably wouldn't be able to help.

Youmu Konpaku continued, "Yesterday, Lady Yuyuko heard about your situation, so she wants to help you."

"Help me? I don't need any help, do I?" Qiu Mingze said with a puzzled look. "I'm quite comfortable living with Lingmeng right now."

"Where is your yard? Are you really not going to be able to come home every winter?"

Youmu Konpaku looked directly into Akira's eyes and said bluntly.

"There's no other way..." Qiu Mingze said hesitantly, "I have no choice but to do this if I want to save the great demon."

"It's not that there's no way. Lady Yuyuko has a way to make the great fairy survive the winter."

"Youmu the Soul Eater said something that would never be outrageous," she said.

"Really?!" Qiu Mingze was still a little skeptical.

After all, in his view, even Reimu Hakurei and Yukari Yakumo couldn't do this, so why could Yuyuko do it?

"Believe it or not, I'm telling you, Lady Yuyuko can do it."

"...Then why didn't she do that before?" Qiu Mingze still didn't understand.

"Because no fool would care about fairies! That's the nature of the fairy ecosystem!"

Youmu Konpaku retorted sharply, "Of course you're an exception, after all, you're just a stupid loli-con."

"Hey, hey, hey! Don't talk nonsense! I'm not a loli fetishist!" Qiu Mingze quickly retorted.

I'm a perfectly respectable person; the term "luoli fetish" has absolutely nothing to do with me.

"Heh, you still have the nerve to say that? Who was it that lifted me up the moment we met!"

As she said this, Youmu's face turned slightly red, probably because she felt a little embarrassed when she thought about it now.

On the other end, Qiu Mingze also looked out the window and said in a serious tone:

"It's a beautiful day today."

"Hey...where is the weather nice today?"

Seeing that Qiu Mingze was also clumsy at changing the subject, Youmu Konpaku said helplessly, "Then do you agree?"

"If it's true, I have no reason to disagree."

At this moment, Qiu Mingze was also feeling a mix of emotions. His words were actually just stalling for time to allow him to compose himself.

Qiu Mingze had thought he wouldn't be able to spend the New Year in his own yard this winter, and he had already prepared himself mentally, but he didn't expect the turn of events to come so quickly.

"Thank you, Miss Youmu!" Qiu Mingze said sincerely.