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Buzz, buzz, buzz, buzz...
A strange sound rang out.
It was a sound etched into the human psyche, coded into DNA. The high-pitched, erratic drone of a fly. Anyone who heard it felt an instinctive wave of irritability. If you were in bed, you'd pull the covers over your head, leaving only a nose exposed, praying for silence.
But it was futile. The buzzing would inevitably drift closer to your ear. The carbon dioxide would build up under the quilt. You'd sweat. Your heart rate would rise. And finally, when you reached your breaking point, you'd start violently flailing, trying to smother the invisible tormentor.
"AAAAAH!"
A scream echoed from the upper level of the Mine.
Leo looked up. That was Marisa.
Crash!
The sound of glass shattering was followed by a blinding flash of light that turned the dark tunnel as bright as noon.
"Don't worry, Boss!" Nitori shouted, deploying a high-tech umbrella. "With me here, not a single speck of dust will fall on your head!"
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Continuous explosions rocked the ceiling. Dust rained down, bouncing off Nitori's shield. She had already pulled a raincoat from her backpack and draped it over Leo.
After the tremors subsided, Marisa descended the ladder. She looked disheveled, her face a mask of pure, unadulterated horror.
"What happened up there?" Leo asked, genuinely curious. What could scare a magician who regularly fought gods?
"Flies," Marisa shuddered. "Palm-sized Cave Flies. They burst out of a pile of maggots right in front of my face. If I hadn't dodged, one would have flown into my mouth."
The magical energy surging around Marisa was unstable. She was glowing like a reactor on the verge of meltdown. She was extremely tense.
Squelch.
A slime lunged from the shadows behind her.
"DIE!"
Marisa didn't even turn around. She shoved her Mini-Hakkero backward.
BZZZ-CHOOM!
A beam of raw magic vaporized the slime instantly. Nothing remained but a scorch mark.
"..." Leo swallowed.
Marisa was in "Spinosaurus Mode." Anything that moved was getting nuked.
Under the cover of Marisa's artillery support, the team advanced rapidly.
"Boss, I've fixed the elevator!" Nitori called out from a service panel. "Just a wiring issue. I reconnected the circuit. No charge for this—just give me a 5-star review!"
Floor 5... Floor 10... Floor 15... Floor 20.
Leo reached the 20th floor in a single day. He even pushed to Floor 25 just for the loot.
By the time they took the repaired elevator back to the surface, the sun was still up.
"Job complete," Nitori declared, wiping grease from her cheek. "Boss, please confirm: You ordered Floor 20. We delivered Floor 25. Zero injuries. Zero trauma."
"Confirmed," Leo tapped his phone.
Commission Status: Complete. Payment: 3000 Gold transferred.
"3000 gold is in the bag!" Nitori cheered.
"Now that I've unlocked your invitation," Leo said, "do you want to open a branch in Stardew Valley? The Carpenter's Shop on the mountain seems perfect for you."
He extended the offer. This trip had been too comfortable. He had light, conversation, emotional support, and a backpack carrier. Leo realized he wanted to be pampered. He had money (sort of), and he wanted to spend it on quality of life.
"It is an honor for Kappa Heavy Industries!" Nitori bowed. "We will live wherever you say! If you have needs, contact us 24/7!"
Stardew Valley Resident No. 004 Name: Nitori Kawashiro Residence: Carpenter's Shop (Mountain)
After dropping Leo off at the farm, Nitori hiked up to her new property.
The Carpenter's Shop sat northeast of the farm, overlooking the valley.
"Location is a bit remote..." Nitori mused, scanning the horizon. "But the view is great. I just need to pave the roads."
"I'll develop the surrounding area. Build a resort. A hot spring. Maybe a casino. Turn this into a multi-functional leisure center."
She didn't worry about foot traffic. This was the smartphone era. Physical storefronts were just for flexing.
With her new Resident Pass, Nitori didn't need Yukari's gaps anymore. She pulled out a device, punched a coordinate, and teleported back to Gensokyo.
Gensokyo. Kappa Heavy Industries Vocational College.
"Attention all teachers and students. Attention all teachers and students."
The PA system crackled to life. Students who were preparing for their evening classes froze.
"This is Principal Nitori speaking."
"The four classes from 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM are canceled. Go home. Sleep."
The students gasped.
"Gather at the school gate tomorrow morning at 0600. We are beginning a One-Week Extracurricular Field Practice."
"Objective: Build Stardew Valley's Largest Holiday Resort."
"This project accounts for 100% of your final grade. All participants will be awarded 5 Academic Credits."
Silence.
Then, the campus erupted in cheers loud enough to shake the mountain. No night classes? Full credits? It was a miracle.
High above Youkai Mountain, a crow-tengu hovered in the wind.
"What's going on down there?"
Aya Shameimaru adjusted her camera lens. She saw the Kappa students pouring out of the school like ants, celebrating.
She flew lower, staying out of sight. She watched the warehouse doors of Kappa Heavy Industries roll open. Forklifts were moving crates of materials. Mechs were being prepped.
"There's no construction project in Gensokyo big enough for this," Aya muttered. "What are they mobilizing for?"
Crack!
A stray bolt of lightning struck her head.
Aya spiraled down, trailing black smoke, but her eyes were wide with clarity.
"The New World!"
It clicked. The rumor about Yukari's "Stardew Valley." The fish. The mushrooms.
"Something big is happening there," Aya grinned, wiping soot from her face. "If I can get the scoop, the Bunbunmaru Newspaper will sell out instantly!"
She decided then and there.
"Tomorrow morning, I'm tailing the Kappa convoy. I'll sneak through their portal."
The paparazzi was on the hunt.