Stardew Valley of Gensokyo

"Thank you," Akina Sawa said with a smile as she accepted the blue drink offered by the laborer Kappa. She then turned to look at Kawashiro Nitori, who was still muttering to herself, and asked, "So what are you going to do next? Now that you know she's the one causing trouble."

"Of course!" Kawashiro Nitori's voice was initially loud, but then it deflated. "Let's go protest to Ms. Komeiji..."

Akina Ze also raised an eyebrow and asked, "So you're planning to protest yourself and let her manage Miss Lingwu Lukong?"

"You'll help me, right?!" As if seeing a lifeline, Kawashiro Nitori immediately sidled up to Akina Sawaya and asked pitifully.

However, Akina Sawa did not respond but instead picked up the blue drink in his hand and took a sip.

"Huh! How could it be cucumber juice!?"

But as soon as the liquid entered his mouth, Akina Sawa immediately realized what it was. After swallowing it with difficulty, he turned to Kawashiro Nitori, who was still eagerly waiting, and asked, "Miss Reiuji Sora came to see you before, but you made up an excuse and sent her away, right?"

"I'm just following orders from the Earth Spirit Palace," Kawashiro Naritori said, pursing his lips.

"But Ms. Lingwu Lukong came to you because she was bothered by the noise, and you not only didn't offer compensation but also kicked her out. Isn't that wrong?"

"I didn't rush you!" He Chenghe insisted.

"Alright, then you can ask for my help." Akina Ze shrugged, then stood up, cupped his hands, and prepared to leave.

To judge right and wrong, one should look at her actions rather than her words. Kawashiro Nitori said she didn't chase her away, but in reality, Reiuji Sora was just made up to leave.

"Waaah~ It was my fault, I repent!"

Seeing that Akina Sawa was also planning to run away, Kawashiro Nitori quickly got up and grabbed her clothes to stop her. If she was delayed for a few more days because of the search for people, she would suffer a huge loss. She knew that every day she delayed, the number of cucumbers she had would decrease by one day!

"It would be good if you really knew you were wrong." Akina Ze also stopped and replied. He knew in his heart that Kawashiro Nitori was just acting according to the wind. This is what happens when a kappa falls into a cucumber's eye.

However, things still had to continue, since she was the one who had to build the hot spring inn. Although she couldn't stand the way the kappa behaved, Akina Sawa still had to help them solve their problems.

“Let’s go talk to Miss Lingwu Lukong about this first.” Although he was pulled back to sit down, Qiuming Ze said, “After all, she really is causing trouble.”

“This…” Kawashiro Nitori, who was standing behind Akina Zeya and gently massaging his shoulders, looked hesitant.

She recalled the technology that the kappa possessed, saying, "It can completely isolate us from the outside world, but installing these devices requires a lot of money."

"I suggest you install it as soon as possible. Right now, it's just Lingwu Lukong causing you trouble, but you should know that there are more monsters than just her in the Old Hell." As he spoke, Akina Ze also glanced in the direction of the Old Capital.

"ghost!"

Once he was enlightened, Kawashiro Nitori's expression changed drastically.

......

Chapter 133 Empty

Vast hot springs emitted mist that filled the sky above the ruins of Hellfire.

The 'house' sitting on the steep cliff platform is above the mist, like a building in the clouds.

Calling it a house isn't quite accurate; a more precise description would be a large bird's nest. It's a huge clump of thin and thick branches, but miraculously, this large nest has a roof and hasn't collapsed. Compared to a swallow's nest, the location of the entrance and the size proportions are quite different, but otherwise, they are identical.

This is the residence of Lingwu Lukong, who is responsible for guarding the ruins of the Flaming Hell—a 'bird's nest'.

Akina Sawa, who brought Kawashiro Nitori here intending to explain and apologize, also looked surprised.

This wasn't the first time he'd seen this building. He'd seen it from the air when he and Marisa came to the base to pick cat mushrooms and then left on a broom.

I thought it was the habitat of some large bird, but I never expected it to be the habitat of the Lingwu Lukong.

With such a rugged 'bird's nest', could it be that the so-called spirit of Ulduar Sora is still maintaining the appearance of a spirit in its true form?

Akina Sawa suddenly remembered that although he had been in Gensokyo for a long time, he had never seen a youkai fully release its true form, such as a rabbit spirit transforming into a rabbit.

But even the rabbits seen in the Lost Bamboo Forest only had a pair of fluffy rabbit heads on their heads. Apart from that, they were no different from ordinary humans. Some of the rabbits were even wearing JK uniforms, which were cute, but strange.

According to Akina Sawaya's observation, there is no school similar to a high school in the Human Village. The only school that exists is the Terakoya, which is essentially a private school.

Therefore, in reality, there are no schools in the conventional sense in the human village.

Thinking of this, Akina Ze also recalled a detail from his life during this period: every time he saw Aya Shameimaru, he seemed not to see the pair of shiny black wings on her back, probably because she had hidden them herself.

"To go to such lengths for me, Miss Wenwen..."

Suddenly realizing something, Akina Sawa muttered to himself.

The little details in life are hard to notice. Only after being touched by certain scenes or words will we suddenly realize them, like an epiphany, but more often than not, they are completely ignored.

With his unfocused gaze returning to the present moment, Akina Ze hesitated as he looked at the dark entrance to the bird's nest, a hole large enough for three or four people to walk side by side.

Such a wide entrance indicated that its owner was enormous. Akina Sawa realized that he was likely to see the first monster to reveal its complete form, and his heart suddenly began to pound nervously.

This was a surge of excitement, the excitement of a first time, which made Akina Sawa turn around and say to Kawashiro Nitori without hesitation:

"Let us in."

Kawashiro Narito nodded in agreement and followed Akina Sawaya inside.

She was only afraid of mind-reading monsters who could read her thoughts, but in terms of strength, Kawashiro Nitori was confident she could escape, thanks to the capsule mecha she carried with her.

When it comes to escaping, Kawashiro Nitori is a master!

Stepping into the seemingly cluttered bird's nest, Akina Zeya's expression suddenly changed. The area was very spacious, with sunlight streaming down from the top of the nest as the only source of light.

The beam of light slanted down and shone directly on the only piece of furniture in the bird's nest—a bed made of straw.

Calling it a bed is a stretch of straw; this house on the edge of a cliff... is really just a bird's nest.

"Who? Who's here?!"

Following the sound, they saw the short fire cat Rin sitting in the corner between the pillar of light and shadow, staring in astonishment at the two people who had entered.

"Miss Arin? I was a little worried when you suddenly left last time." Seeing that it was an acquaintance, Akina Ze said with surprise.

"Oh, it's you!" Upon seeing that it was the human who had asked for directions earlier, Flame Cat Rin breathed a sigh of relief, patted his flat chest, and raised his head, saying, "What are you doing here, human? Don't you know how dangerous this is?"

She noticed that the mage with very strong magical power who had followed behind this man last time was not there.

"I didn't come alone."

As he spoke, Akina Sawa pointed to Kawashiro Nitori on the right.

"Oh~ so you brought a kappa too~" Flame Cat Rin said with a slightly arrogant tone. She would never admit that she didn't see Kawashiro Nitori because she raised her chin too high.

"Enough with the small talk, we're here to find Lingwu Lukong. Have you seen her?"

As a kappa who can bend and stretch, a little verbal provocation has no effect on her, Kawashiro Nitori said bluntly.

"It has nothing to do with Ah Kong!"

But as soon as Kawashiro Nitori finished speaking, Flame Cat Rin immediately retorted with a drastically changed expression.

Akina Sawa shrugged and said, "Are we just here to explain the situation to her, or can you do it too?"

"It's...it's none of my business!" Fire Cat Rin stammered at first, then became firm.

Seeing this, Akina Sawa and Kawashiro Nitori exchanged a helpless smile, just as he was about to continue speaking.

A strong gust of air blew in from outside the cave.

Akina Sawa also shielded his face with one hand, while Kawashiro Nitori grabbed his clothes and pulled his hat to prevent it from being blown away, and Flame Cat Rin's face clearly showed joy.

Click - click - click -

The branches made a rhythmic snapping sound.

Through the narrow space between her fingers, Akina Ze could also see a pair of black knee-high socks and black leather boots, with a green skirt on her fair, long legs.

A deep red, agate-like gemstone is set in the shirt's chest, while white and green hues extend outwards like thorns...

Akina Sawa's pupils contracted slightly, because in addition to the waist-length black hair, he also saw a pair of huge, dark wings... completely different from the small and cute Aya Shameimaru, they were like a fierce and powerful eagle.

"Akatsu! You're back!" The joyful voice of the Flame Cat Rin was completely oblivious to the thoughts of Akina Sawaya and Kawashiro Nitori.

"Tsk, kappa." A hint of disgust flashed across Reiuji Sora's face the moment he saw Kawashiro Nitori, who had been expressionless.

She hasn't been sleeping well these days. Every time the high-powered construction equipment starts, it's like having several loudspeakers blaring in her ears on Lingwu Road.

If it weren't for the fact that it was Komeiji Satori who made them do it, she would have driven all these kappa away on the first day.

After nodding to Rin the Flame Cat, Reiuji Sora ignored Kawashiro Nitori and looked at Akina Sawaya, asking:

"Human, why have you come here?"

Chapter 134 A Great Success?

Akina Ze also raised an eyebrow. "You were the one causing trouble at the Kappa construction site down below the cliff, weren't you?"

Upon hearing this, Kawashiro Narito suddenly looked up at Akina Sawaya, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes, but his face was more apprehensive.

There is actually an invisible dividing line in the world of youkai, including the oni, tengu and other races. However, since the formation of the Gensokyo barrier, most youkai have abandoned these ideas. But the traditionalists, such as the oni, cannot accept the new order and choose to retreat to the old capital.

Most of the monsters in the old hell are traditionalists and don't fit in with the monsters on earth. Kawashiro Nitori was well prepared for the construction period, so being ignored by powerful monsters is not something that is hard to accept.

Akina Ze's tough stance can be seen as a way of venting her anger, but what should she do next? She definitely can't win a fight.

The guy in front of me, who looks so cold, is actually a great monster who has mastered nuclear energy!

"So what if I am?" Lingwu Lukong nonchalantly shook the dust off his shoes. "I'm just doing what I want to do."

"What Ah Kong means by that is that she didn't do it!"

The fire cat Rin, who had been listening in, immediately jumped out and waved her hands repeatedly to defend Reiuji Sora.

"Rin, you don't need to say anything. They've already come knocking on our door. There's nothing to explain." Lingwu Lukong shook his head, personally interrupting the Flame Cat Rin's explanation.

"But this is Lord Jue's mission!" The Flame Cat Rin was almost in tears.

The actual master of the Old Hell is Komeiji Satori of the Earth Spirit Palace, and Flame Cat Rin and Reiuji Sora are her subordinates, but although they are called subordinates, they are actually pets.

As a pet, if it disobeys its owner's commands and ruins its owner's plans, it goes without saying that it will be punished.

“One person does the work, one person takes the responsibility. Rin, you don’t need to worry about me.” Reiu Lu Kong’s attitude was very firm. She lowered her head and comforted the fire cat Rin, who was a head shorter than her.

"Ahem, have you misunderstood something?" Akina Sawa coughed twice, interrupting the conversation between the two in front of him.

This makes us look like the bad guys, even though we're the weaker party...

Seeing that both of their eyes were focused on his face, Akina Ze also spoke up: "First of all, I want to apologize to you on behalf of Ms. Kawashiro Nitori, especially Ms. Reiuji Sora."

Why are you apologizing?

The sudden apology left Lingwu Lukong looking puzzled. "Didn't I break your things?"

In the world of monsters, fighting is the norm, and making peace is almost non-existent, because it is a world where the strong prey on the weak.

“Let’s keep things separate.” Akina Sawa replied, “If Kawashiro Nitori hadn’t been so greedy for convenience and hadn’t built soundproofing, causing you to be bothered by noise, you wouldn’t have done this, would you?”

"That's right..."

Seeing Akina Ze's sincere expression, Reiwu Lu Kong no longer maintained his tough stance. He crossed his left arm with one hand, seemingly wanting to hear what else this human had to say.

Since becoming aware of its own existence, no one has ever reasoned with it. Between demons, fists are the only way to communicate. It's quite strange that a human has come.

Seeing that Lingwu Road was showing signs of calming down, Akina Ze continued, "However, it's true that the noise is bothering you, but you've also sabotaged the construction."

"A-Kong didn't do it on purpose!" Fire Cat Rin defended herself, but then realized that her explanation was somewhat weak, so she added, "It was out of necessity."

Akina Ze also gestured with his hands as if pressing down and said:

"First of all, this project was carried out with the approval of Komeiji Satoru, and Ms. Koishi was also very supportive of it. However, Reiuji Sora did indeed take actions that delayed the progress of this project."

After glancing at them and seeing that the two had no objections, Akina Sawa continued, "Next, Kawashiro Nitori will build soundproofing facilities near the construction site, and the noise pollution problem will be solved."

“Okay.” Lingwu Lukong replied simply. Her pain point was indeed the noise pollution, and if it could be resolved, that would naturally be a good thing.

"At the same time, because the project has been delayed, I need Miss Lingwu Lukong to go to the construction site to help the kappa with their work during this period. You can leave after the delayed progress is made up."

After Akina Zeya finished speaking, the Bird's Nest fell silent, with only the sound of each person breathing.

Kawashiro Nitori was a little nervous, but under the current circumstances, she could only hope that Akina Sawaya's plan would be accepted by Reiuji Sora... Kappa are actually quite timid.

It wasn't that her mind was blank; after Lingwu Lukong and Flame Cat Rin quietly went to a corner to talk for a while, she stepped forward and said:

"I agree."

Upon hearing Lingwu Lukong say those words, Akina Zeya and Kawashiro Nitori immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

There is more than one solution, but the best solution is the one that solves the problem as quickly as possible.

......

On the way down the mountain, Kawashiro Nitori looked at Akina Zeya with admiration, "How do you manage to remain so calm? That guy is extremely dangerous."