A Stardew Valley farmer came to Gensokyo.

"But next time at the festival, big brother, you must take a memorable photo of Xiaoling too." Motoori Xiaoling looked at Xia Xun earnestly with envy on her face.

"Absolutely no problem."

After feeding Xiaoling another strawberry, Xia Xun looked up at Hieda Akyuu and asked curiously, "Akyuu, what did you and Xiaoling do together today?"

Upon hearing this, Hieda Akyuu's expression turned serious, and he said, "Actually, we went to Hakurei Shrine early this morning to look for Reimu."

"Recently, more and more unknown monsters have been attacking the village at night. I suspect this may be a sign of an impending change, so I want to ask Reimu to investigate."

Her tone was slightly somber, tinged with worry: "But we haven't found Reimu."

"Xia Xun, did you see her today?"

Chapter 111 So, the oddball is me?

babble~

Taking a sip of the warm tea in her cup, Xia Xun turned her gaze to Hieda Akyuu, whose expression was slightly anxious, and casually waved her hand.

“Lingmeng? I haven’t seen her these past few days. She’s been busy building her new house.” Xia Xun said in a relaxed tone, then smiled and invited, “Aqiu, Xiaoling, once my new house is finished, I’ll definitely invite you to the banquet.”

Upon hearing this, Motoori Suzume looked up in surprise, almost bumping into Natsumi's chin: "Big brother has already started building a new house? That's amazing!"

"On the day the house is finished, big brother must come to see Xiaoling. Xiaoling will help big brother tidy up and clean the house!" Her eyes sparkled, and then she raised her little hand seriously, sticking out her little finger, "Let's make a promise, big brother, you absolutely can't break your promise this time!"

“Otherwise,” Motoori Kosuka puffed out her cheeks and declared in a serious tone, “Xiaoling will not speak to her brother for a whole month!”

Hieda Akyuu watched the two people in front of him discussing animatedly without saying a word. He couldn't help but move closer and spoke again, emphasizing his words: "Natsumi, I'm talking about Reimu who's gone missing!"

Xia Xun couldn't help but chuckle as she looked at Hieda Akyuu's serious expression.

"Akyuu, you're too nervous. That's Reimu." He said cheerfully, then thought for a moment and said, "Today, she was probably called away by Suika."

“I roughly know where they are.”

Upon hearing this, Hieda Akyuu's tense little face immediately relaxed, and he hurriedly said, "Then let's hurry and find Reimu! Many of the village's guards were injured in the monster attack."

"Many villagers have heard about the monster, and they are starting to feel uneasy."

Upon hearing Hieda Akyuu reiterate the threat of the monsters, Natsumi realized the seriousness of the situation.

He nodded, and subconsciously picked up Motoori Kosuke from his arms, held her up to his face and kissed her cheek, before suddenly realizing that this action seemed inappropriate.

Xia Xun quickly looked at the girl in his arms and saw that Motoori Kosuzu's face was flushed, her eyes were glazed, and she looked dizzy.

However, seeing her giggling happily, Xia Xun secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, Xiao Ling wasn't angry.

As for an explanation, Xia Xun couldn't very well say that he had subconsciously mistaken Motoori Kosuzu, who was of a similar build, for Ibuki Suika, could he?

That could really lead to someone's death.

Okay, let's leave it at that.

Xia Xun smiled helplessly. Anyway, he had already told Xiao Ling's grandfather that he would marry her in the future if Xiao Ling was willing.

He gently placed Motoori Kosuzu back on the ground and said to Hieda Akyuu with a calm expression, "Let's go to Minato-tei."

“…Oh, okay.” Hieda Akyuu nodded blankly, but his gaze couldn’t help but drift to Motoori Suzu, whose cheeks were flushed and who was holding Natsumi’s hand, looking completely dizzy. He felt that something was not quite right.

Is her best friend really getting married?

Leading the two distracted girls, Xia Xun and his group arrived at the Ni Tun Pavilion.

As an izakaya that usually opens for business in the evening, Minatotei doesn't look too different from the outside at this moment, except for the faint noise coming from inside.

However, the moment Xia Xun pushed open the shop door, a cacophony of joyful noises rushed in like a tidal wave.

"Haha! Reimu, you'll never catch my DA☆ZE!" Marisa Kirisame was seen holding a rag in her hand, crouching low as she quickly fled down the corridor.

Behind her, Reimu Hakurei, with a water stain clearly visible on her face, was relentlessly pursuing her with a murderous look on her face.

At a table not far away, Suika Ibuki was drinking with Yukari Yakumo, Yuyuko Saigyouji, and Mamizo Niiwa, taking a break from their usual activities.

It seems that only Yakumo Ran, Okunoda Miyo, and Konpaku Youmu are actually busy working inside the store.

This scene, which resembled a chaotic dance of demons, gave Motoori Kosuzu and Hieda Akyuu, who had followed Natsumi in, a real fright.

"Yo-yo-yo—!" Motoori Suzu exclaimed in surprise, her initial delight at being kissed by her brother instantly replaced by terror.

She huddled up in a ball, trembling, and hid behind Xia Xun, only daring to peek out half of her head, nervously and secretly looking around the store.

Why are there so many monsters in the human world when it's broad daylight?

Furthermore, why are Reimu, Marisa, and that girl Futani also hanging out with youkai?

In an instant, Motoori Suzuki suddenly remembered the long-standing rumor about Hakurei Reimu in the human world: the yokai priestess.

Could it be that I have stumbled upon some incredible secret by accident?

This thought terrified her even more. She hid behind Xia Xun, not daring to even breathe, and completely forgot that it was her own brother who had brought her into this monster's den.

On the contrary, Hieda Akyuu, who had previously shown a strong aversion to yokai, simply sighed softly after seeing this scene, and then his expression returned to calm, as if he was already used to it.

"Oh dear, we have a new guest." Yukari Yakumo turned her gaze toward the doorway, glancing over Natsumi and Hieda Akyuu, before finally settling on Kosuzu Motoori with a look of great interest.

Recently, she has been quite drawn to this little girl.

"Xiaoling? Aqiu?"

Marisa Kirisame and Reimu Hakurei, who were chasing and playing around, also noticed the person at the door and showed surprised expressions.

Marisa Kirisame quickly stopped in her tracks. She remembered that Suzume Motoori was actually very afraid of yokai, and the current situation in the shop was practically a miniature parade of a hundred demons.

Although Xiaoling likes to read books about demons, she's mostly just paying lip service to it. She needs to hurry over and take care of her.

However, Reimu Hakurei, who followed closely behind, didn't give her that chance. She mercilessly lashed out with a feather duster, making Marisa Kirisame scream in pain.

Then, Reimu Hakurei threw away the weapon in her hand, put her hands on her hips and walked towards Xia Xun, her tone slightly reproachful: "Xia Xun, why did you bring Xiao Ling and the others here?"

"Because they're looking for you." Xia Xun shrugged and glanced at Motoori Kosuzu, who was hiding behind him, with amusement.

He reached out and ruffled the little girl's slightly timid head, and chuckled, "Didn't Xiaoling love reading books about demons the most? Last time, she was quite brave enough to go and approach that little fox demon all by herself. Why is she hiding behind me now and too scared to come out?"

"But...but...this is different." Motoori Korin clutched Xia Xun's clothes tightly, her whole body trembling slightly, her voice filled with barely suppressed fear, "The little fox demon is a little fox demon, but these...these are other monsters."

"Xiaoling?" Xia Xun then noticed that something was wrong with the girl and quickly squatted down.

When he supported Motoori Kosuzu's arm, he was surprised to find that her body was somewhat weak. Looking at her face, his once rosy complexion was now pale.

Xia Xun's heart sank suddenly; this was the first time he had so clearly realized his own arrogance.

But he never expected that Motoori Kosuzu, who loved books about demons and monsters so much that she even dared to go out alone at night to communicate with a fox spirit, would be so afraid when she actually faced a group of monsters.

Xia Xun even naively believed that since Xiao Ling was kind-hearted and liked monster stories, she should naturally be able to accept other monsters as well.

He also took this opportunity to introduce Suika Ibuki and Miyo Okunoda to her, since they were both family members.

Ignoring everything else, Xia Xun immediately picked up the limp Motoori Korin and quickly led her to the entrance of the Nitun Pavilion.

The open environment and circulating air gradually calmed the overly frightened girl, and a trace of color returned to her pale face.

Seeing this, Xia Xun finally relaxed.

"Xia Xun, you underestimate the gap between humans and yokai." Hakurei Reimu's calm voice came from behind.

Xia Xun turned around and saw Hakurei Reimu, whose expression was calm and even somewhat indifferent: "Since ancient times, youkai have attacked humans, and humans have fought back against youkai. This is the most important rule of Gensokyo."

“You’ve also been attacked by monsters, so you should be able to understand this kind of instinctive fear,” Reimu Hakurei said slowly, gazing at him. “Not everyone has such an extraordinary capacity for acceptance as you.”

"For ordinary humans, fear and running away are the normal reactions when they see monsters."

"And Xiaoling, in the end, is just an ordinary girl in the human world."

Hieda Akyuu also stood silently to the side, her expression revealing a faint sadness for some reason.

Looking at Motoori Suzu, who was still trembling slightly in Xia Xun's arms, Hieda Akyuu spoke softly, his words seeming to be addressed to Xia Xun, yet also reiterating to himself: "That's why I've always said that humans should not associate with yokai."

"This is the best way to protect yourself when facing monsters."

Xia Xun listened quietly to their conversation, then looked down at the still-shaken Motoori Korin in her arms, and finally let out a helpless sigh.

Hakurei Reimu's words jolted him awake, realizing that he had unknowingly become one of the outcasts.

How could ordinary humans living in the human world possibly be willing to live with those man-eating and incredibly powerful monsters?

Even if only some monsters have this habit now, that is enough to make it a reason for humans to stay away.

His past romanticized view of Gensokyo, and the special powers bestowed upon him by Stardew Valley, led Xia Xun to disregard this difference and danger.

It is probably precisely because of this extraordinary quality that has long since transcended that of ordinary people.

Xia Xun looked up at the calm-looking Reimu Hakurei and suddenly understood the meaning behind her invitation to the Hakurei Shrine banquet that night.

Having gained the recognition and recognition of this shrine maiden who safeguards the balance of Gensokyo, he has become an outcast, detached from the ordinary people of the human world, and wandering on the fringes of society.

They are no longer ordinary humans in the human realm, and therefore can also participate in the monsters' banquets.

But at this moment, Xia Xun understood the meaning of Hieda Akyuu's words: humans in the human realm cannot associate with yokai.

Humans among humans are protected.

This was a setting of Gensokyo that Xia Xun had known for a long time, but she had never thought about the true meaning of this setting in detail.

Since humans in the Human Realm are protected, does that mean humans who do not belong to the Human Realm are not protected and can be attacked by monsters at will?

Therefore, only powerful humans can be entitled to live alone.

Reimu Hakurei invited him to the banquet, which was also a way of telling the youkai that she had his back.

Chapter 112 The source of this anomaly—it's you!

In front of the Huntun Pavilion.

Natsumi gently cradled the trembling, frightened Motoori Suzume in her arms and said to Hieda Akyuu and Hakurei Reimu standing before her:

"A-Qiu, explain the anomaly to Reimu first."

He gently patted Xiaoling's back and whispered soothingly, "Xiaoling, don't worry, I'll take her home."

Hieda Akyuu nodded in agreement, "Well then, I'll leave Xiaoling in your care, Natsumi."

Her gaze fell on Motoori Kozuki in Xia Xun's arms. In fact, she had already anticipated this scene on the way here.

As one of the major clans that manages the human village, the Hieda family has its own intelligence network, and she already knew about the fact that the samurai-tei was receiving yokai late at night.

Therefore, when Natsumi brought them to look for Reimu Hakurei, she guessed that there must be monsters gathered in the shop.

When Motoori Kosuzu, nestled in Natsumi's arms, heard that Hieda Akyuu was going to stay in the monster-filled Minato-tei, she was trembling with fear, but still reached out her little hand to grab her sleeve.

"No, Ah Qiu..."

Motoori Kozuka's faint voice was filled with worry.

Hieda Akyuu reached out and gently stroked Motoori Kosuki's cold cheek, comforting her with a smile: "It's okay, Kosuki, nothing will happen."

In this way, Xiaoling will probably no longer come into contact with monsters easily in the future, and she will also lose interest in those books of demons that seal away monsters.

Having witnessed the horror of monsters firsthand, how could one continue to harbor longing and curiosity?

However, there will likely be many obstacles between Xia Xun and Xiao Ling, making it difficult for them to be together.

After the two finished speaking, Xia Xun picked up Motoori Kosuzu and turned to walk towards Suzunaan.

"Is this a good idea?" Reimu Hakurei asked suddenly, watching the two figures disappear into the distance.

“It’s a good thing for Reimu that Xiaoling is no longer collecting demon books, right?” Hieda Akyuu didn’t answer directly, but just sighed softly, “At least, it will make Xiaoling less fond of adventure in the future.”

"The monsters won't gather around Xiaoling so often because of the Demon Book anymore."

She then changed the subject: "Reimu, you should have noticed the anomaly in Gensokyo by now, right? Have you found the source of this anomaly? When will it be eliminated?"

The indifferent-looking shrine maiden froze, staring blankly at Hieda Akyuu's expectant face: "An incident? What incident?"

"Isn't this all just an excuse for Marisa to slack off and wander around?"

"Reimu, you bastard!"

Suddenly, Marisa Kirisame's angry shouts rang out from inside the store: "I challenge you to a duel! I'm going to beat you back to a pulp!"

*smack*

Reimu Hakurei raised her hand to stop the charging Marisa Kirisame, then turned to stare at her best friend whose face was contorted from being squeezed under her palm, and asked sharply, "Marisa, haven't you been investigating the mutation lately? Have you found the source yet?"

"Here!"