Stardew Valley of Gensokyo

"?"

After a long while, Komeiji Satoru's expression gradually turned to astonishment; her eyes, suspended in mid-air, were wide open to their maximum extent, but...

She couldn't read a single thought from him!

"Are you real?" Komeiji Satoru subconsciously reached out to touch the man in front of her, but the warmth at her fingertips reminded her—

This is real.

Chapter 128 All 'Affirmations'

The main hall of the Temple of the Underworld was filled with dark corners, with only a few three-pronged candlesticks hanging on the walls emitting eerie blue flames.

There is no trace of modern equipment here; everything remains in its original state, like an old-fashioned castle, exuding an ancient and mysterious atmosphere.

Akina Ze didn't react much to the hall shrouded in a layer of eerie blue light; the only thing that made him uncomfortable was the pure stone-carved chair beneath him.

Although the patterns on the stone seat are gorgeous and beautiful, to the point that even a layman like Akina Zeya can see them, the cold chill emanating from the bare stone surface is unbearable.

Without any preparation, Akina Ze sat down on it with his buttocks. The chill rose from his bottom up, which was not something an ordinary person could withstand. He shifted his buttocks uneasily.

So why can't we just put a soft cloth over these stone chairs? If it's because we don't have the money, I can sponsor them for free.

A moderately cool touch can create a sensitive mental response.

Akina Sawa suddenly noticed a gaze fixed on him. He looked up in confusion and saw that it was the girl with short pink hair, Komeiji Satoru.

When Akina Sawaya entered just now, this Miss Komeiji Satoru inexplicably reached out and touched him. Although she quickly withdrew her hand, it left a deep impression on Akina Sawaya.

After all, with an eyeball the size of a fist floating in the air staring at you, it's impossible not to remember it.

Koishi Komeiji's eyes are closed, so they're not too scary. But Koishi Komeiji Satoru's eyes are wide open, to the point that they can give you nightmares, even though she looks cute on the outside.

So, what's the best course of action when you notice someone staring at you?

Akina Ze also chose to show a slight smile and nod gently in acknowledgment.

Don't forget, although Miss Satoru is very cute, she is a real monster inside. If you anger her, you will be fine, but Miss Kawashiro Nitori who came with you will be in trouble.

One second, two seconds, three seconds.

Huh? Something's not right?

Time slowly passed, and Akina Zeya's smile froze on his face. He realized that although he had nodded to her, Komeiji Satoru still refused to look away. Not only that, but her terrifying red eyes also floated out and stared at him.

Despite having nothing, I'm paying close attention.

What is this doing?

Akina Ze was also puzzled, but since the other party did not react, he could not make a decision on his own, and the scene became deadlocked.

Occasionally, one could hear the voice of Ms. Nitori from the side hall explaining the plan to Komeiji Komeiji.

I wonder if Miss Lianlian understood...

Stare~

Akina Sawa also came to his senses and found that Komeiji Satoru was still looking at him, his three big eyes full of life.

No, do I have flowers on my face? Or is this some kind of ritual?

Feeling uneasy under his gaze, Akina Ze steeled himself and looked back.

In the soft, dim light, his long, delicate eyelashes were clearly defined, and his face was clearly reflected in his purple pupils. His fair and delicate face even had a touch of baby fat; it would probably feel wonderful to pinch it. There were a few fine downy hairs at his temples, and looking down, a blush gradually crept onto his snow-white neck...

Ok?

Why did she turn her head away?

Just as Akina Sawa was engrossed in watching, he noticed that Ms. Komeiji Satoru across from him suddenly turned her head away and stopped looking at him. Just as he felt a pang of regret, the voice from across the way rang out.

"who are you?"

“My name is Akina Zeya,” Akina Zeya replied immediately.

“No.” Komeiji Satoru shook his head, the blush on his face fading. He stared intently at Akina Zeya with his three eyes and said, “I can’t see through you, so, who are you?”

Can't see through?

Akina Sawa also noticed a key point in Komeiji Satoru's words: "If I can't see through it, it means she can't read my heart."

So that staring intently just now was actually mind reading?

Once he understood this point, Akina Ze's doubts were dispelled, and his shackles disappeared.

“Just an ordinary farmer,” Akina Ze replied, scratching the back of his head.

"A peasant?"

Without the aid of mind-reading abilities, Komeiji Satoru was completely unable to discern whether the person in front of her was lying or not. A sense of helplessness she had never experienced before welled up in her heart, making her—unable to stop.

There are no lies in front of a mind-reading youkai. She knows exactly what everyone is thinking right now when they stand in front of Komeiji Satori. No one can deceive her, except for one exception: Ren, who is also a Satori youkai. But Ren doesn't lie.

And now a second person has appeared... Akina Zeya, who looks quite ordinary.

Komeiji Satoru felt a strange desire to talk to him, a hidden longing that led her to throw out a series of questions.

Akina Sawa, the person being questioned, was also puzzled but still answered her questions one by one.

After all, they were asking some simple questions, like what the weather was like today, and what I liked to eat...

Simple questions and answers filled this dark and mysterious hall.

......

After ending his simple, childlike conversation with Komeiji Satoru, Akina Sawa met up with Ms. Kawashiro Nitori, who came out from the side hall.

"So, which option did Ms. Komeiji Koishi ultimately choose?" Akina Sawa also asked.

“She said anything was fine…” Kawashiro Nitori recalled what had just happened in the side hall.

She didn't want to have that kind of conversation again...

Because he didn't want to stay near Komeiji Satoru, who could read minds, and because Komeiji Koi happened to appear, Kawashiro Nitori naturally took the non-mind-reading Koi to the side hall.

At first, everything went smoothly. Although the eyeball floating in the air made Kawashiro Nitori feel a little uneasy, the closed eyelids calmed her down a bit.

With trembling hands, Kawashiro Narito laid the detailed plan he was carrying on the table, and then stood on his chair to explain it to Komeiji Komeiji, who was smiling slightly beside him.

But soon, Kawashiro Nitori discovered a problem: no matter what she said, Komeiji Komeiji would only nod, and if you accidentally glanced at her eyes, they would reveal an emptiness.

It gives me the creeps.

However, Kawashiro Natsumi had already prepared herself mentally before coming. Not having to face Komeiji Satoru, who could read minds, was already the best outcome. Now, she had to grit her teeth and continue talking.

As fate would have it, before the plan written on the paper was even half-spoken, Kawashiro Naritori faintly heard a rhythmic murmur coming from nearby.

It was as if some unknown terror lurked in the shadows, pointing and gesturing at its prey under the dim light.

The situation is even worse when the person next to her, Ms. Komeiji, is a 'doll' who only knows how to smile.

The longer she stayed, the more pressure Kawashiro Natsumi felt. In the end, she read the words written on it as quickly as possible, her lips almost blistered...

Now that they had left the Earth Spirit Palace, Kawashiro Nitori glanced at the composed Akina Zeya beside him, feeling relieved but still slightly uneasy.

From the meticulous perspective of a kappa engineer, Kawashiro Nitori seriously suspected that Koishi Komeiji hadn't actually understood a word of what Nitori was saying given her incredibly fast speaking speed, yet she still insisted everything was fine. This made Kawashiro Nitori somewhat uneasy; what if the final product was completely different from what the client wanted?

......

Chapter 129 Egg-born

"Doesn't the book say that a kappa has a bald head under its hat?"

Returning to the main hall from the side hall and taking her seat, Komeiji Ren tilted her head slightly, the yellow silk ribbon bow on her dome hat swaying gently.

"..."

Komeiji Satoru didn't know how to respond, after all, this was a story written in human books, and perhaps bald kappa really did exist.

Why isn't she bald under her hat?

When Kawashiro Nitori and Komeiji were talking alone just now, Komeiji noticed that under the Kappa-san's green sun hat was a thick head of light blue hair.

"..."

When her question went unanswered, Komeiji Ren suddenly laughed and said, "The book won't be a problem, sister. I just need to cut Kappa-san's hair, okay?"

Suddenly, a sharp kitchen knife appeared in her hand, its gleaming blade reflecting Komeiji Koko's faint smile.

"Love is not allowed."

Komeiji Satoru, who was watching all this, shook his head and stopped him.

Children who cut other people's hair don't understand right or wrong. The sad expressions of the person whose hair was cut are just a performance to them. Only after being punished will the child realize whether what they did was right or wrong.

Koishi Komeiji, as a Yokai who has awakened, lacks this feedback loop since she closed her third eye and shut down the window to her soul.

For her, cutting off the kappa girl's hair was just a common occurrence, a mere prank, and all the forest fairies were playing pranks...

Komeiji Komeiji was unaware of the problem; her cute little face, framed by her light green, shoulder-length hair, radiated an unconscious joy.

But this is where Komeiji Satori steps in, acting as Kokoro's older sister and judging whether an action is feasible.

No matter what, shaving off a kappa's hair is such a heinous act that it deserves to make headlines.

Without the slightest hesitation, Komeiji Satoru made the decision that it was not allowed.

Even after being rejected, Komeiji Komeiji still had a cheerful expression on her face.

Looking at her face, even the mind-reading monster, Komeiji Satoru, had no idea what Renren was thinking.

Awakened and unawakened.

The two sisters of the Earth Spirit Palace have lived here for countless years, yet they still look so young.

Komeiji Satoru and Komeiji Komeiji Komeiji are both Satoru youkai, but Komeiji ...

In other words, if Koishin is a 'child,' then Komeiji Satoru is a mature 'adult.'

This is not a physiological judgment, but a psychological one.

As the head of the Earth Spirit Palace and Koishi's older sister, Komeiji Satoru has the right to make Komeiji act according to her orders. Whether or not Komeiji listens is up to her to decide, but usually, Koishi will listen to her sister.

The younger sister comes up with a brilliant idea, and then the older sister stops her; this kind of exchange and feedback has happened countless times between the two sisters.

Komeiji Komeiji has not caused any major trouble so far, which is thanks to Komeiji Satoru's restraint. Otherwise, things like arson would be commonplace.

Don't try to figure out what Komeiji Koishi would do logically without thinking; she's chaotic.

However, this does not mean that Komeiji Satoru's mind is only focused on her sister. At this moment, she is thinking about Akina Zeya, who just walked out of the Earth Spirit Hall—a person who cannot read minds.

Komeiji Satoru stared blankly at the spot where Akina Sawaya had just been sitting, where some residual warmth still lingered.

A touch of gray appeared in the transparent and boring world. It was impossible not to pay attention to it. Every word exchanged with it was a pleasant game.

Komeiji even complained that Kawashiro Nitori's explanation of the plan was too short, forcing her to stop her conversation with Akina Sawaya.

Although it was just a series of simple questions and answers that sounded incredibly boring to outsiders, it was an interesting game for her, who lived in a transparent world.

"Sister? Why is your face red?" Komeiji Ren curiously leaned closer and pointed her finger at her flushed cheeks.

"Am I blushing?"

Komeiji, belatedly realizing what was happening, reached out and touched her burning cheeks.

In a world full of NPCs, a lonely player is greeted by another player. Is this a blush?

No, this is a long-lost excitement.

......

click-

As the courtyard gate closed, it was now time for the sunset to begin.

At the crossroads between the Human Village and the Monster Mountain, Akina Sawa and Kawashiro Nitori parted ways.

Kawashiro Nitori is going to the Youkai Mountain to recruit her construction team. Although she is currently in debt, she is confident that her silver tongue will attract enough kappa to participate.

"Hehe, welcome home~"

Akina Sawa had just returned to the courtyard when Shameimaru Aya, as if sensing his presence, came out from the inner room to greet him.

"Well, I'm back."