Stardew Valley of Gensokyo

Miyaguchi Zuirei, as a shrine maiden, chose to become a demon and attack humans. This undoubtedly tainted Reimu's purity of the identity of a shrine maiden and violated a major taboo for shrine maidens, especially since she was a shrine maiden who came from the Hakurei Shrine.

"Absolutely intolerable!"

An invisible wave suddenly rose, circled around Reimu Hakurei, and spread outwards, stirring up countless specks of dust. This was a sign that the surge of spiritual power was about to become uncontrollable.

"Reimu, wait a minute, I have a question."

Seeing Reimu Hakurei clenching her pink fists in fury, Akina Sawa asked, based on the information he had just received, "Since she is a fallen demon, why would she return as a vengeful spirit, and only attack demons?"

"I think I can answer part of this."

Recalling the horrifying scene, Komeiji Satoru described in her reply: "According to the parts of my memory that I read, Miyaguchi Zuirei was apparently beaten to death by a group of monsters before she died."

"Because he was killed by a monster in his previous life, he turned into a vengeful spirit and attacked the monster?"

Stroking his chin, Akina Sawa also asked a question thoughtfully.

"Definitely! That makes sense." Reimu Hakurei had already started packing her tools. Once she found Rui-ling, she would definitely give her a good beating.

"Since Ruiling has already become a demon, why are the demons still attacking her?"

Feeling that something was amiss, or rather, something he hadn't considered, Akina Sawa continued to raise his questions.

"Perhaps the monsters she attacked when she was still a shrine maiden have come seeking revenge?" Reimu Hakurei replied.

"Well, that should be it."

Akina Ze finally nodded. It is only natural that those who hurt others will be hurt in return.

Even so, Akina Ze still had a few doubts in his mind: Was Rui Ling really just seeking revenge against the monsters?

He recalled Rui Ling's expression and words when he first saw the possessed kappa, and felt that she was not simply seeking revenge against the monster, because even so, nothing happened except for her falling into a coma—if it was revenge, this retribution was too mild.

With a thousand thoughts swirling in his mind, Akina Sawa unknowingly got up and walked to the back hall of the shrine.

Would you like some drinks?

The gourd of wine, which had appeared in front of me without my noticing, was emitting a rich aroma of wine.

Akina Sawa also looked down and saw that the drunken loli with two big horns, Ibuki Suika, was lying there drunk, holding her sake gourd high in her hand.

She has a petite figure, but is an absolute alcoholic.

Akina Sawa was also very disappointed at the time, wondering how such a cute face could be on a drunkard.

But after getting to know them better, Akina Sawa came to terms with it. Whether they were alcoholics or lolis, as long as they were cute, that was fine.

Speaking of which, Suika seems to have lived in Gensokyo for a long time, right? She might know something.

Looking at the drunken loli in front of him, Akina Sawa, who had no expectations, also asked:

"Suika, do you know Miyaguchi Mizuki?"

“Hiccup~”

After letting out a burp, Ibuki Suika stood up, shaking her head and saying, "Ruiling? I know him, what a loser."

Overjoyed, a glint of light flashed in Akina Ze's eyes. "Could you explain in more detail?"

"How detailed do you need?" Suika Ibuki scoffed. "Do you know that knowing secrets comes at a price?"

"What price do I need to pay?" Akina Ze asked cautiously.

The prerequisite for helping others is learning to protect yourself. If you can't even protect yourself or those around you, and you still choose to help others, you're just a pushover. You can't do that; you can only do what you can.

As soon as he finished speaking, Akina Ze felt a tremendous force pull him down by the neck.

The immense force pulled several times, but Akina Ze remained completely unmoved; he still hadn't figured out what was happening.

"You come down and drink first!"

Unexpectedly, Suika Ibuki got anxious and jumped up from the floor, grabbing Akina Sawaya's neck with both hands and pulling him down forcefully.

But it not only failed to achieve the desired effect, but also left her legs dangling in the air, with only two feet covered in white folded socks dangling in the air.

So she wants me to sit down and drink with her?

Suddenly realizing what was happening, Akina Sawa quickly followed Suika's lead and sat down.

"I didn't expect you to be so strong..."

After sitting down, Ibuki Suika gave Akina Zeya a strange look, then stuffed the sake gourd into his arms, saying, "The price is that you drink with me first."

Looking at the aroma of alcohol emanating from the gourd in his arms, Akina Ze felt that he was already drunk.

But if this is the price...

Akina Sawa also sighed, patted his shoulder, and relaxed his tense body.

Now I'll have to risk my life to accompany you... no, to accompany Loli.

......

Chapter 148 But, it's me

Outside the shrine, a vast expanse of fiery clouds stretched endlessly, and the green tiles on the rooftops were covered with a layer of orange-red veil.

After removing the original spout from the gourd, Akina Ze closed his eyes and felt the spicy, pungent liquid enter his stomach through his esophagus.

A fierce fire was burning in my stomach.

The oni clan's sake was still too strong for humans. Swallowing the remaining liquid on his lips, Akina Ze frowned and returned the gourd to Suika, wiping his lips.

"Tell me, what exactly is this so-called secret?"

"Actually, it's not much of a secret. Many people know about it, but they all choose to tacitly stop talking about it."

Taking back the sake gourd, Ibuki Suika showed no intention of avoiding suspicion, tilting her head back and touching the rim of the gourd with her lips, letting the clear liquid flow down.

"Ah! I never get tired of drinking sake!" With a broad smile, Suika Ibuki's cheeks flushed.

"Interesting, is it a truth that everyone chose to conceal without prior agreement?"

As the alcohol took effect, a drunken look appeared on Akina Zeya's face. He looked at the little demon girl beside him and asked:

"Then why are you saying it now, Suika?"

"Hmm? Why do you think I should tell you?"

Suika Ibuki beckoned mysteriously to Sawa Akina to come closer.

Does this mean that walls have ears?

Akina looked around in confusion, but finding no one eavesdropping, he could only lean closer, his ear pressed against the wall, completely bewildered.

Swish!

Just like a kitten biting a finger and refusing to let go, Ibuki Suika's two fair fingers pinched Akina Sawaya's left ear as he leaned in.

The scorching heat immediately rushed in, mixed with the strong smell of alcohol and even a faint, almost imperceptible milky aroma, jolting Akina Ze's muddled mind awake.

"Suika?"

"Hehe, have you forgotten? I'm a drunkard, and drunkards don't need logic to do things."

After saying that, Ibuki Suika released her ear and gently poked her cheek, which was very close to hers, with her index finger.

What an arrogant brat!

Akina Sawa touched his cheek with disgust; some liquid remained on it, left by Suika's fingertips.

There was no way he would smell her. If he didn't think he might not be able to beat Suika Ibuki, the king of the demon clan, Akina Sawa would have really grabbed her like a fairy and spanked her.

"You've had your drinks and joked around with me, so tell me what's going on," Akina Ze said, wiping away the liquid.

"Why are you in such a hurry? Have a few more sips!" Suika Ibuki replied with a disgruntled expression.

"Say it."

"Well, you're really impatient; you don't even want to drink a few more sips."

Ibuki Suika rolled her eyes at Akina Zeya, but still put down her sake gourd, stood up, and said with her back turned, "Do you know how youkai and humans lived on this land before the Great Barrier was built?"

"A relationship of mutual antagonism?" Akina Sawa replied, recalling the information he had read before.

"Yes and no."

She leaped onto the railing, her arms outstretched as if she were walking on a balance beam.

"Monsters are hunting humans, and humans are fighting back against monsters, but I don't think it's a fight."

"Then what do you think it is?" Akina Sawa asked as well.

"In your human language, it should be called a food chain, right?" Suika Ibuki turned around and smiled.

A set of bright white teeth.

At this moment, Akina Ze felt a chill run down his spine; it was the response from the ancient genes remaining in his body.

Before Akina Ze could respond, a dark figure descended from the sky, and he instinctively reached out to catch it.

It turned out to be the little brat Suika Ibuki lying in Akina Sawaya's arms, her smile unchanged. "But these are all things done by low-level monsters. They can't escape their beastly bodies, and their animalistic nature far outweighs their human nature."

Do you think I would eat you?

As she spoke, Ibuki Suika stuck out her pink tongue and licked Akina Zeya's arm, her canine teeth gleaming with sharpness.

"I don't think so."

Without giving any response, Akina Sawa calmly put Ibuki Suika down on the spot.

He believes in seeing is believing.

In the nearly one year he lived there, Akina Sawa had never heard of any monsters eating people. On the contrary, he only saw the harmonious coexistence of the human village and even had a tengu living in his own home.

Thinking of the reporter who was staying at his home, Akina Ze's face showed a few more smiles.

“The past is the past, and the present is the present. The situation back then was exactly as I described~” Suika Ibuki said with a smile.

So, what exactly happened?

Akina Sawa didn't want to continue arguing with Suika, so she asked the question directly.

"Don't treat me like I'm being slapped, it hurts me too~" Suika Ibuki said, pretending to cry.

"This is boring." Seeing that Akina Sawa remained unmoved, Ibuki Suika picked up her sake gourd again, took a few sips, smacked her lips twice, and said:

"At that time, the main force on the human side that fought back against the monsters were Onmyoji and priestesses."

"The monsters' hands are stained with human blood, and the priestesses have also killed many monsters."

“Miyakechi Ruirei was such a shrine maiden who slayed demons.”

The important information finally appeared, and Akina Sawa pricked up his ears, eager to hear more useful information.

"And what happened next was nothing more than the birds being used and the bow being put away. I did think about saving her life, but it was too late. She was destined to die."

"Discard the bow after the birds are all gone? Save her life? Can you explain that more clearly?"

Sensing that the truth was about to be revealed, Akina Sawa asked urgently.

"That's why I'm telling you these things."

Suika Ibuki picked up her sake gourd again and took a few sips. She grinned, revealing her canine teeth, looked up at the sky, and then looked down at Sawaya Akina with her orange-brown eyes.

"All the brainless monsters are dead, under someone's leadership."

"Logically, this matter should have been put behind us, but I didn't expect her to reappear. And I was also at fault in the matter, so I wanted to tell you."

"It's very simple. Someone wanted to create a Gensokyo where there is eternal peace, and as you can see, she succeeded in the end."

"And Miyakojiru, this former human hero, who hindered the progress of the torrent, was crushed like an ant."

Suika Ibuki's words carried a chilling calmness, as if she were an observer recounting a history unrelated to her.

"Wouldn't it be better to have peace forever? Why is Ms. Miyaguchi trying to stop it?" Having extracted important information from it, Akina Sawa also asked.

But this was followed by a long silence. After a few sips of sake, Ibuki Suika finally spoke, but her tone was full of sarcasm.

"What opinions could she possibly have? She's just a pawn; even in death, she'll still be used."

Upon hearing this, Akina Sawa was startled and stared intently at Ibuki Suika. Was the truth finally about to be revealed?

"The book in Reimu's hand is true; Miyaguchi Zuirei did indeed attack humans and become a demon."

After a pause of one second, Ibuki Suika looked at Akina Sawa with her orange eyes and said, "But, it was I who suggested that she attack humans."