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"No, it shouldn't be like this! Wrong, I was wrong! Talk to me! Why did it turn out like this?!"
This time, Aya Shameimaru was genuinely panicked. Unlike Yukari, she didn't understand the mechanics of this world. She simply thought the man in front of her had used some high-level reality-warping ability to banish her to a lower dimension.
She tried to grab Leo's arm to stop him, to make him acknowledge her.
It was useless.
Leo kept walking, and Aya, holding onto his sleeve, trailed behind him horizontally like a kite caught in a gale. She possessed no mass, no friction, no ability to impede his movement.
"No! If you don't talk to me, someone else will! I refuse to believe I can't do anything!"
Seeing that Leo was unyielding, Aya let go of his arm. She spread her black wings, took to the air, and after orienting herself, flew desperately toward the Kappa Heavy Industries office.
Watching the crow tengu disappear into the distance, Leo shook his head.
Silly child. You're up against Yakumo Yukari, the mastermind of Gensokyo. Do you really think she forgot about Nitori and Marisa? She's definitely sent them a "Ignore the Tengu" memo by now.
"That guy's gone~~ Leo, let's go back."
Chen emerged from the bushes, yawning. She climbed up Leo's leg and perched on his shoulder. She had played all day and was exhausted; the "Chen-Mobile" needed a mount to get home.
"Mhm, let's go. Let's see how long Aya can hold out before she surrenders completely."
They returned to the farm via the southern entrance.
The farm was starting to take shape. It no longer looked like a desolate wasteland. Leo had cleared most of the trees and weeds, leaving only the Hardwood stumps and large boulders that his current tools couldn't scratch.
He took out his phone, opened the Crafting menu, and selected a Preserves Jar.
Crafting Cost: Wood x50, Stone x40, Coal x8.
He made one. He couldn't afford more; wood was precious, and selling jam this early wasn't very profitable compared to the resource cost. But one jar was enough to improve his own dining table.
He placed the jar next to the cabin. He dumped the day's harvest of Salmonberries into a newly crafted Chest next to it.
He could skimp on other things, but not Chests. Leo had a mild case of OCD.
Fish Chest: Must be Blue. Only for fish.
Mineral Chest: Must be Brown. Only for ores and gems.
Forage Chest: Must be Green.
Each color corresponded to a category. They had to be organized. If he had to search through a "Miscellaneous Chest" to find a piece of copper, he would lose his mind.
"So tired today, meow... Leo, let's go to sleep."
Leo glanced at his phone. It was only a little past 5:00 PM. The sun was still up. But Chen had run a marathon today, and he had walked across the entire map. His energy bar was blinking red.
"Alright. Good night."
He entered the cabin and immediately drew the curtains tight. He didn't want Aya staring at him through the window while he slept. That was nightmare fuel.
Lying in bed, Leo took out his phone and posted a new commission.
Commission: Rice Threshing Content: Help husk 500 units of Unmilled Rice and process it into edible White Rice. Reward: 20 units of White Rice.
He uploaded the Unmilled Rice he had harvested yesterday.
He didn't have a Mill. He wasn't a DIY genius who could build a thresher out of cardboard and rubber bands. As an urbanite, he had barely seen a rice paddy in real life, let alone processed the grain. Honestly, he used to confuse rice plants with wheat.
Leo fell asleep instantly, completely unaware of the turmoil his commission was about to cause.
Gensokyo.
The notification pinged on several phones.
The idle youkai checked the screen. Their eyes widened.
"RICE."
It was a staple food. It was carbohydrates. It was something they hadn't seen in months.
The moment the commission went live, Yukari Yakumo immediately opened a Gap and fled to the Hakurei Shrine. She knew what was coming. In the face of a food crisis, even ancient beings like Yuuka Kazami and Eirin Yagokoro would lose their composure.
"All of you! Behave yourselves! Are you trying to rebel?!"
Reimu floated above the shrine, her gohei glowing with menacing spiritual power. An invisible pressure slammed down, suppressing the mob of youkai surrounding the shrine.
The scene fell eerily quiet.
(Mainly because Yukari had promised Reimu 10 lbs of rice as a bribe. Otherwise, the shrine maiden wouldn't have lifted a finger.)
"Ahem. Everyone gathered here must know about the commission," Yukari stepped out from behind Reimu. At this moment, only the Red-White Shrine Maiden could provide a sense of security.
"Speak directly," a calm, clinical voice cut through the crowd. "Our Princess is waiting for rice to cook. Isn't it just threshing? I'll take it."
Eirin Yagokoro, the Brain of the Moon, stepped forward. To ensure Kaguya could eat, she didn't hesitate to confront the Sage.
Her Princess (Kaguya Houraisan) and the "Little Girl" living nearby (Fujiwara no Mokou) had been surviving on "Miscellaneous Soup" for a long time.
Hint: They are both Hourai Immortals. If they run out of food... well, they regenerate. There's a dark joke in there about "meat," but let's not dwell on it.
Kaguya was a shut-in princess banished to Earth. Mokou was an immortal who hated her. They usually fought to the death daily. But hunger had created a strange truce. Even immortals hated the feeling of an empty stomach.
"Hehe," a terrifyingly gentle chuckle echoed. "That shut-in won't die from eating a little less. I want this. Does anyone have an objection?"
Yuuka Kazami, the Flower Master of the Four Seasons, twirled her parasol. She sneered at Eirin.
Yuuka didn't need to eat; she sustained herself on photosynthesis and sadism. But the fairies in her Garden of the Sun needed carbohydrates. They had been living on fruit, honey, and random beast meat. Their nutritional balance was off.
"Those fairies are already fat enough," Eirin shot back. "And you're fighting for scraps? Have some dignity."
"Mind your own business," Yuuka smiled, the air around her twisting. "I think they're hungry, so I'm getting them rice. I'm happy to do it."
The two powerhouses mocked each other openly. Interestingly, neither wanted the rice for themselves—they were fighting to feed their dependents.
"No... what are you two arguing about? I haven't finished speaking yet."
Yukari rubbed her temples, stepping in before Eirin and Yuuka turned the shrine into a crater.
"Think about it," Yukari sighed. "Little Brother Leo is just an ordinary human. Rice ripens quickly. He has 500 units. He can't possibly eat that much by himself."
She gestured to the commission details.
"The commission is just for the labor. Why are you fighting over the 20-unit reward?"
"We can just do the job, give him his share, and then buy the rest directly."
Silence.
Everyone looked at Eirin and Yuuka.
Before, the gaze of the crowd was fear and envy. Now, it was pity. They were looking at the two great sages like they were idiots who got caught up in the moment.
"..."
"..."
Eirin and Yuuka stiffened simultaneously.
Pop.
They vanished from the spot instantly. It was too embarrassing.
"Leave 10 units for me, please."
"Send 50 units to the Garden of the Sun, or I'll come to your house and blast it with a Master Spark every day."
As they disappeared, two threats—disguised as requests—drifted into Yukari's ears.
"Two tsunderes," Yukari smirked.