Chapter 40: Drained Dry.
.....
Yakumo Yukari saw the resistance on Kihara's face and didn't push further. She simply left behind one sentence.
"You'll end up going to Eientei sooner or later." before slipping back into a gap and disappearing.
Kihara snorted.
"Yeah right. Like I'm the type to say 'wow, this is actually great' after refusing."
He was still alive and kicking, which clearly meant Akane's "surgery" had worked perfectly. Yukari was obviously just trying to trick him into becoming Eirin Yagokoro's test subject.
No one gets to insult my wife.Though, thinking about it again, Yukari was technically one of his future wives. And since she was looking out for him, maybe he could let it slide.
"…Alright, enough wasting time. Let's roll for an ability!"
Originally, skill upgrades in Stardew Valley were simple, just pick between two passive bonuses.
But in Gensokyo? That kind of buff was way too weak. This new random ability system? Way better.
[Please select ability type.]
"Oh? What categories are there?"
[Attack, Defense, Healing.]
"Attack. A real man goes on the offensive!"
[Drawing ability…]
[Ability acquired: Phantom Blade (Royal Ability of Noctis).]
"…Oh damn. JACKPOT."
Even though Kihara had never played the game, he had seen clips of the ability, floating translucent weapons, switching styles mid-combat, flashy combos, devastating finishers…
And now it was his.
A sword-shaped sigil replaced the ring from the original ability, appearing on the back of his hand.
Blurry weapon silhouettes shimmered into existence behind him.
Unlike the original version where weapons had to be unlocked, Kihara's version was different.
Any weapon he had ever used could become part of his Phantom Blade arsenal.
He reached forward instinctively.
A ripple distorted the air and the crimson blade once belonging to Auto Vajin materialized in his hand.
"…This is insanely convenient."
He had been worried about losing the Faiz Gear, but now.
He still had a weapon.
"Speaking of that…"
Yukari had mentioned Kaguya Houraisan's momentary ability.
That probably meant the Faiz Belt had something to do with her.
"…Guess I'll have to ask her later if she can make me another one."
Suddenly, something hit him.
"The crops!"
He rushed outside toward his small farm plot.
He hadn't watered his parsnips in days if they'd died, his early income plan was ruined.
But when he got there.
"…Huh?"
The soil was still moist.
"Well… that's unexpected."
He crouched down.
A timer appeared in his vision.
[Time to maturity: 4 days]
"…Wait."
Parsnips normally took four days.
Which meant—
"Time barely passed here at all?"
That was actually great news.
At least his first batch of crops would still grow.
Still, without seeds, farming wasn't reliable.
So—
"Guess I'll try fishing tomorrow."
If rods worked here, he could earn money quickly.
"Kihara what are you looking at?"
A cheerful voice approached and suddenly, Akane jumped onto his back, hugging him tightly and rubbing her cheek against his.
"This town is so run-down… but don't worry! I'll fix everything for you!"
"Yeah, yeah. I'm counting on you and Rikka."
"Hehe~ then I want a reward!"
She puckered her lips.
Kihara smiled and kissed her lightly.
Rikka, who had just walked over, didn't escape either.
Since they had no ingredients, Akane had gone back to her original world and bought a mountain of groceries.
She and Rikka could freely travel between worlds now.
Meanwhile, the little monster girl maintained their original world.
"Ah! The food's all here—but the seeds you told me to buy are gone!"
"…Yeah. I figured that would happen."
Kihara sighed.
"Looks like only seeds from this region can be planted here."
That completely killed his early farming strategy.
Fishing it was.
After dinner, Kihara finished washing the dishes.
Then—
Click.
The door was locked.
Rikka tied her long hair into a ponytail.
Kihara froze.
"…Uh oh."
He slowly began backing toward the window.
"Akane… it's getting late. Shouldn't you two head home?"
"Home?"
Akane smiled seductively, eyes half-lidded.
"Isn't your home our home now?"
"…Well… I mean… yeah…"
"Come on," Rikka said gently, pulling him toward the bed.
"Akane promised she wouldn't go overboard this time."
Her soft hands began undoing his buttons.
A cold breeze brushed his waist.
Kihara's soul nearly left his body.
He had just had a large amount of blood drained earlier and now these two beauties were about to "collect taxes" again.
My life… ends here.
He took a deep breath.
"…Fine! Don't hold back just because I'm your boyfriend!"
Akane burst into laughter.
"Haha—your words, not mine!"
"WAIT WAIT WAIT—I TAKE IT BACK—!!"
Meanwhile—
Yukari Yakumo lay lazily on a tatami mat, munching sunflower seeds while watching through a gap like it was a movie.
"…Hmm~ this is getting interesting—"
Then suddenly—
Kihara's eyes rolled back.
He collapsed.
Yukari froze.
"…Oh."
She slapped her thigh.
"…Crap."
"I forgot—this idiot just lost a ton of blood today."
Without hesitation, she waved her hand and threw him straight into a gap leading to Eientei.
BOOM!
"WAAH!? WHAT IS THIS!?"
Kaguya Houraisan stared wide-eyed at the naked Kihara lying on the tatami.
She immediately dropped her game controller and ran outside.
"He looks like he got drained by a ghost! Eirin! EIRIN! GIVE HIM MEDICINE!"
A moment later—
Eirin Yagokoro arrived.
Her expression darkened instantly.
She raised her bow.
"Someone who dares defile the Lunar Princess—"
"I-It's a misunderstanding!!"
Kaguya threw herself in front of Kihara.
"Yukari sent him here! Just save him first—we'll talk later!"
"…Very well."
...
Thank you for reading