Stardew Valley of Gensokyo

I got up early and prepared breakfast for Niqua, who was still fast asleep in bed, and Aya Shameimaru, who might not even come.

Akina Ze then shouldered his bag and set off before the sun had fully risen and the coolness of the night still lingered on the ground.

Although I have a backpack provided by the system, I don't need to carry an extra backpack to carry things.

But using this bag as a disguise for one's backpack is perfect.

However, Akina Zeya is not the only one who thinks that the cool mornings are perfect for going out.

Youmu Konpaku also carried a bag and walked along both sides of the road.

Looking at the large but shriveled bag on her back, Akina Ze knew that Miss Youmu had a tough time.

Good morning, Mr. Akina.

Noticing the gaze from Akina Zeya, Youmu Konpaku spotted the man standing on the other side of the road and bowed politely to greet him.

Good morning, Miss Soul.

Akina Ze also withdrew his gaze from the shriveled bag behind her and turned it to Youmu Konpaku, nodding slightly in response.

"Mr. Akina, are you here to resupply as well?"

"Well, how should I put it, I'm here to buy hop seeds."

The two chatted idly across the wide street.

Although the word "supply" from Youmu Konpaku gave him a strange feeling.

But when you think about how the beautiful Yuyuko could eat a whole warehouse of food without batting an eye, the word "supply" seems quite appropriate.

"By the way, Mr. Akina, don't you think the temperature this summer is a bit unusual?"

"Hmm? How should I put it?"

To be honest, ever since we got air conditioning J-kun at home, Akina Sawa has never been bothered by the high temperatures again, even though the bills from the Kappa are getting higher and higher.

But we have plenty of money, so we don't care.

Moreover, this was Akina Sawa's first time experiencing summer in Gensokyo, and he thought the high temperatures were normal.

"Mr. Akina, listen to me!" Youmu Konpaku glanced around warily, then called out softly across the wide street, "Yuyuko and I were also feeling the heat at Hakugyokurou!"

"I see, I see," Akina Ze nodded, indicating that he understood.

Although he didn't know where the Hakugyokurou that Youmu Konpaku had mentioned was, Akina Sawa thought that if he didn't feel the heat, then there was a big problem.

This must be a joke, right? Look at Youmu's serious expression.

Akina Sawa wanted to laugh and join in, but he just couldn't get the joke. How could there be a place where you don't feel hot in the summer? And judging from the name of the White Jade Pavilion, it doesn't seem like it's built in a cave.

However, I didn't expect that Miss Youmu would like to tell such lame jokes. Akina Sawa also said that he understood.

But since Youmu-san told a joke, shouldn't I do one too?

"cough cough"

Akina Sawa coughed twice and said, "I've heard a story about Miss Mystia. I heard that one day, when Miss Mystia was preparing a dish as a chef, she was seen by a passerby, and then she, the chef, actually became the dish herself, hahaha!"

After finishing the story, Akina Ze couldn't help but burst into laughter. This story perfectly matched his peculiar sense of humor; when he first heard it, he laughed so hard he rolled on the floor several times. He also knew the story by heart.

"Hahaha..." Youmu's face turned pale instantly. "This story is hilarious. I have to go now."

Youmu then greeted them and hurriedly left, seemingly trying to escape something.

This story is true, but she really doesn't want to relive that day.

"Huh? Isn't my joke funny? No way! It's so funny..."

Akina Sawa scratched his head, looking at Youmu Konpaku's hurried departure with a puzzled expression.

Never mind, I should go buy some seeds.

Time passed quietly, and the temperature on the ground gradually rose.

Akina Sawa hadn't forgotten why he was there; if he didn't hurry up and finish, he'd be stuck under the sun.

Thinking of the sun radiating endless heat, Akina Ze quickened his pace.

Hop seeds are not a rare thing in the world.

Or rather, in this relatively traditional human village that blends various elements, it would be strange if there were no hop seeds.

Upon arriving at the seed shop, Akina Sawa was surprised to find a notice posted on the door.

"Due to the recent high temperatures, and concerns about seed damage, our store has stored all seeds in a cellar. Therefore, we will only be open in the evenings. Thank you for your support."

"No way? Did I come all this way for nothing?" Akina Ze muttered to himself as he looked at the notice.

Although it doesn't take long to get here, Akina Ze hates doing useless work.

Akina Ze also looked at the other stores, and saw that they all had a similar notice posted in front of them, indicating that they were open in the evening.

"This summer is really something else," Akina Sawa lamented, at a loss for what to do...

It is located in a magnificent building in the heart of the old hell.

A girl with short purple hair was frowning, deep in thought. Anyone who saw her open left eye, which had a deep red iris, could tell that she was troubled by something.

The Old Hell was originally an environment permeated with high temperatures, but in the past few days, the temperature has exceeded the limit, and all kinds of monsters living in the Old Hell are suffering terribly.

But since they were all monsters living in the old hell, no one died from the heat.

It's a good thing that no monsters are dying from the heat, but recently even vengeful spirits have been complaining that the temperature is just too hot.

This forced her to take it seriously.

Actually, she always left the temperature adjustment to her pets.

But what's causing this temperature imbalance? Is there something wrong on their end?

She frowned as she thought, but no reports had been received on the cutting board.

Hearing the wails of the vengeful spirits, she still got up, intending to go and see for herself what the problem was...

Chapter Ten: Entrance to the Old Hell

"Hmm~"

Inside the Hakurei Shrine, Reimu Hakurei lay paralyzed on the tatami mats, staring blankly at the wooden ceiling.

The summer sun shines down on every corner of the shrine, heating the air and creating a warm atmosphere.

Reimu Hakurei was trapped in the heat, and even her thin shrine maiden outfit was completely soaked with sweat, revealing her breast wrap barely visible at her chest.

This is the hottest summer that Reimu Hakurei has ever experienced in all the time she has lived in Gensokyo.

There is no doubt that the heat of this summer has transcended normal limits and risen to a level that can be described as an anomaly.

Under such high temperatures, Reimu Hakurei had lost the will to move and only wanted to feel the slight coolness coming from the bamboo mat on her back.

She was still able to endure it.

But one guy couldn't take it anymore.

—A gap appeared in the shrine.

A blonde beauty holding a parasol emerged from the gap; Yakumo Yukari had arrived.

"Hey, how have you been lately?" Yukari Yakumo greeted Reimu in a comical yet affected tone.

Reimu Hakurei ignored her and silently turned her back to her.

"Waaaaah~, Reimu, I came to visit you, how could you do this, waaaaah~"

Yakumo Yukari stretched out her two smooth, pearly hands, half-covering her lips, and began to cry in a completely undisguised manner.

"..."

Although out of sight, out of mind, Yakumo Yukari's undisguised affectation really disgusted her.

Reimu Hakurei silently took out her Yin-Yang Jewel and threw it towards Yukari Yakumo.

Pong!

It was obvious that Yukari Yakumo dodged the Yin-Yang Orb with a nimble movement, causing it to smash into the wall.

"Waaaaah~ Reimu, you've changed. You're not as cute as you used to be."

It was still that affected voice, but Reimu Hakurei was already tired of it.

"Tsk," Reimu Hakurei frowned. "Just tell me, what brings you here?"

"It's definitely going to be another troublesome thing anyway."

From the past until now, every time Yukari Yakumo suddenly comes to see her, there is always trouble involved.

"You've probably guessed it already, right? It's about the temperature."

Yukari Yakumo suddenly became serious, as if her previous comical and funny demeanor was just a mask that she could take off at will.

"...I have no idea"

Reimu Hakurei remained silent for a while, but then chose to struggle a little longer.

No, you know that.

With her serious eyes, Yukari Yakumo stared intently at the shrine maiden, Reimu Hakurei.

"The current temperature may still be tolerable, but its rise is far from over."

"Do you want to live in a sea of ​​fire, Reimu?"

"Okay, okay, I understand," Reimu Hakurei said, rubbing her temples as if she had breathed a sigh of relief.

Even without Yukari Yakumo's urging, Reimu Hakurei would have dealt with the incident sooner or later, but when exactly would that be?

"So, where did things go wrong this time?" Reimu Hakurei calmed herself down and took a sip of tea from the table.

Yes, it's hot.

“It seems there’s a problem with the old hell,” Yukari Yakumo replied.

"The Old Hell?" Reimu Hakurei frowned slightly.

The term "Old Hell" sounds unfamiliar, but Reimu Hakurei seems to have seen it somewhere before.

"How could the problems of the Old Hell affect our Gensokyo?" Reimu Hakurei asked Yukari Yakumo.

Yukari Yakumo's gaze shifted, and after a few seconds she said, "We are not completely separated from the Old Hell, or rather, there are some areas that overlap between us."

"I understand. So how do we get to the Old Hell?"

Isn't there a geyser nearby?

"You mean you can reach the Old Hell by going in through the Geyser?" Reimu Hakurei asked thoughtfully.

So this old hell is so close to Hakurei Shrine.

"No," Yukari Yakumo said with a smile, shaking her head.

"I mean there's a cave near the geyser that leads to the Old Hell."

Feeling insulted, Reimu Hakurei remained silent for a moment, then raised an eyebrow and said, "Since you know everything, why don't you go yourself? Wouldn't that be faster?"

Hearing Reimu Hakurei's words, which carried a hint of dissatisfaction, Yukari Yakumo did not answer her immediately. Instead, she slowly sat down, opened a small opening beside her, took out a cup of tea, and took a few sips.

The moment Reimu saw the cup of tea, her brows twitched involuntarily. This was one of the three cups of tea she planned to drink each day, and she remembered that it was kept in the kitchen.

Yukari Yakumo is touching other people's things without permission again.

"I cannot go to the old hell," Yakumo Yukari said calmly, taking a sip of tea.

"why?"

“Because…” Yakumo Yukari’s tone became heavy, and she said with a serious expression, “The Old Hell is full of harmful gases, and my delicate skin can’t withstand it!”

"You bastard!" Reimu Hakurei gritted her teeth and glared at the shameless guy in front of her.

"Isn't my skin delicate too?!" Reimu Hakurei blushed slightly, but still managed to say those words.

"Forget it!" Reimu Hakurei glared at her fiercely.

It seems we can't find out why Yukari Yakumo can't go to the Old Hell.

Reimu Hakurei finished the tea in her cup in one gulp and stood up from the tatami mat.