Chapter 38: Fake Goods Incident?! Luke: No, This is a 3D Printer!
Morichika Rinnosuke, he was the owner of the antique shop 'Kourindou', half-human, half-youkai.
Possessing the ability to know the name and use of tools, and cared about the world outside Gensokyo.
Therefore, Rinnosuke excelled at transforming useless items from the outside world into something magical, and this talent attracted the attention of many 'Gensokyo' residents.
When Luke first arrived in 'Gensokyo', as an 'outsider', he received help from Rinnosuke.
Rinnosuke's explanation for this was 'more for interest and having someone to communicate with'.
After all, Luke knew much about matters outside 'Gensokyo', which greatly interested Rinnosuke.
However, under normal circumstances, Luke rarely went to see Rinnosuke.
And Rinnosuke, with his quiet personality and reclusive nature, wouldn't come to Luke's restaurant to spend money either, at most asking Marisa to bring some takeout along the way.
In summary, on this night, in this forest, in front of this stall, Luke seeing Rinnosuke was inevitably somewhat surprising.
"Yah! It's, it's a youkai! A light youkai?!"
Mystia hid during the day and operated at night; how could she have seen a novel thing like a flashlight?
Just that her reaction made Luke really want to comment...
A youkai who confuses passersby at night is actually scared by a flashlight.
Perhaps this is the power of modern technology?!
The flashlight, at least at this moment, is greater than Gensokyo's night sparrow youkai.
"No need to panic, I'm not a youkai."
Hearing Mystia's scream, the approaching Rinnosuke turned off the flashlight, smiled wryly, and sat down at a stall seat.
"Phew... not a youkai?"
"Morichika Rinnosuke, that is my name; I run an antique shop, located between the Hakurei Shrine, the Human Village, and the Forest of Magic. However, Boss Night Sparrow probably wouldn't come to my shop."
"Seems... I've heard of it. Good that it's not a scary youkai."
"Well... operating in the deep forest, generally only youkai would come here, right? But today seems completely different."
Rinnosuke looked at Luke, then at Yagokoro Eirin.
"Morichika-san, we meet again."
The pharmacist from Eientei greeted first.
"Yes, Yagokoro-san. Didn't expect to run into you here."
The two greeted each other.
Luke couldn't help but ask,
"Rinnosuke, you know Yagokoro-san?"
"Can't say we're well acquainted. This morning, Yagokoro-san came to my shop asking about the 'tea set scam'. Coincidentally, I had also heard some rumors."
"What do you mean?"
"Not just the tea set Yagokoro-san mentioned. In 'Gensokyo', many people have been deceived, all buying seemingly exquisite fakes; for example, seemingly perfect stone statues. Because they were initially placed in packaging boxes, the buyers didn't notice, only discovering they were made of plastic after buying them back and opening them; there was no issue with weight, precisely because stones were placed in the packaging box."
Rinnosuke briefly explained.
There's a fellow selling high-quality fakes, cheating everywhere in 'Gensokyo'.
One of the victims was the master of Eientei, Houraisan Kaguya.
Getting the answer, Luke turned to ask another question.
"Then why did you suddenly come here? I was chasing the night sparrow owner, what about you?"
"This morning, I learned from Yagokoro-san that the materials of those counterfeit tea sets were cursed. And this forest is rumored to have ghosts wandering at night, randomly cursing passersby. So I prepared to investigate, what if it's related?"
"Quite bold..."
"I have 'light' in my hand, so it should be fine."
"A flashlight isn't an exorcism tool..."
"Indeed."
Rinnosuke chuckled softly.
Mystia inside the counter stared at the flashlight.
"Is this thing called a 'flashlight'?"
"That's right, press a switch and it emits light."
"So magical."
"In 'Gensokyo', just emitting light seems rather useless."
Rinnosuke finished speaking and took out two cups from his pocket.
They looked identical on the outside.
"Luke, can you help me take a look? These two are the fake tea set pieces, both made of plastic."
"Just taking a look."
Luke took the cups.
After examining them, he moved his chin.
"Rinnosuke, help me shine the light with the flashlight, illuminate here."
"No problem."
"Mm..."
After Rinnosuke shone the light, Luke saw the 'flaw' on the cup's surface.
"It's 'layer lines'."
Layer lines?
The night sparrow owner, Yagokoro Eirin, and Morichika Rinnosuke all looked at Luke.
He then explained,
"The so-called 'layer lines' are one of the most typical drawbacks of 3D printing. I used to play with this stuff, so I know a little bit."
"3D printer... something from the outside?"
"Yeah, it can copy some things you want. If you don't observe closely from a short distance, it's easy to be deceived."
Things from the outside occasionally appear in Gensokyo, but ordinary people generally can't use them.
Getting this answer, Rinnosuke seemed to have a certain guess in mind.
"I thought of someone... that young girl who occasionally comes to the shop, Usami Sumireko."
But...
Rinnosuke continued,
"I don't think she would deliberately create fakes to deceive people, there must be some reason."
"We can ask her then."
Luke suggested thus.
Yagokoro Eirin, having listened quietly on the side, had only one thought.
"Please be sure to catch the culprit."
The money scammed away was not a small amount for Eientei...
...
---
Read More With Pictures (30+ Chapters In Advance):
p@treon.com/U22
Replace '@' with 'a' on your web browser.
(NOTE: Apple charges 30% more if you buy a Patreon membership through the iOS app. So, I suggest using a web browser to buy the membership from Patreon. You can then use the app to read chapters. Of course, if you don't want to save money, then ignore my suggestion.)