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"What are you two doing here?"
The location of the Secret Forest was right behind the Wizard's Tower (where Leo had met Yukari). It was a secluded woodland, its entrance blocked by a fallen, ancient Hardwood log.
Leo hefted his new Steel Axe.
THWACK.
The steel bit deep into the petrified wood. With a few heavy swings, the log shattered into valuable Hardwood.
Leo wiped sweat from his brow and looked inside.
It should have been a small clearing with a pond and some statues.
Instead... he saw a roof.
Deep in the lush, overgrown woods, a dilapidated house peeked out from the vines.
"What the heck?!"
Leo froze. The original Secret Forest didn't have a house!
Oh no.
Leo knew Stardew Valley had mods. Some expanded maps, some added cheats. But he was a purist (mostly). He was an old man who didn't understand how to install complex mods.
He had only ever used two:
Portrait Beautification Mod: Because the original villagers looked a bit... rough. He installed a Chinese Aesthetic pack.
All Characters Marriage Mod: Specifically for Jas. He refused the "Childlike Aesthetic." He wanted to marry the cute teacher/tutor version.
Thinking back, he realized he had seen paths in the woods that shouldn't exist. He had ignored them, sticking to his muscle memory of the vanilla map.
"Cirno said she felt an aura here!"
Daiyousei (Great Fairy) smiled gently, holding a handful of Salmonberries. Her pockets were stuffed with snacks Cirno had partially eaten.
"She kept wanting to go in, but the big tree blocked her. When she tried to climb it... well, Big Brother, you fell on her."
"An aura of interest?"
Leo pulled out his phone.
The map updated.
Originally, it only showed the vanilla valley. Then Nitori blasted the rocks, revealing the Spa and Railroad.
Now...
A massive new region lit up. It was larger than the Farm and Town combined.
"I'm doomed," Leo massaged his temples. "SVE (Stardew Valley Expanded). I haven't played that!"
Every Stardew player knew the legend of SVE. It was basically Stardew Valley 2.0. New NPCs. New storylines. Massive map expansions.
The good news: There were no NPCs here (yet). Just empty land. The bad news: Leo was now a noob in his own game.
"Human!"
Cirno stood on a mossy rock, hands on her hips.
"Do you want to join the Great Cirno Expedition Team? Brave Cirno can protect you!"
She extended a small hand toward Leo.
Although Cirno usually acted like a "Baka," her instincts were sharp. She recognized the look on Leo's face. It was the same look the Little Fairies had when they first explored the Scarlet Devil Mansion basement: Clueless Terror.
At this moment, in Leo's eyes, Cirno looked ten feet tall.
Her blue dress fluttered in the forest breeze. Her ice wings sparkled. Her smile was brighter than the sun. She offered unparalleled security in this unknown modded map.
"Please," Leo said solemnly. "Let me join the Expedition Team, Brave One."
Assimilation Successful.
Leo grasped Cirno's cold little hand.
Fairy Leo has logged in.
"Great Fairy! Fairy Leo! Let's go!"
Cirno waved her hand. Ice mana condensed into a massive Ice Crystal Greatsword. She shouldered the weapon like a shonen protagonist and marched into the deep woods.
Behind her followed her two accessories/pack mules.
Because this area was untouched, forage was everywhere. Mushrooms, wild fruit, fiddlehead ferns.
Fairy Leo consciously picked them up. He wasn't greedy. This was Cirno's harvest; he was just the inventory system.
Squelch.
A Green Slime lunged from a bush.
"Eat my sword!"
Cirno charged.
Freeze. Shatter.
The ice sword possessed a freezing attribute perfect for liquid-based enemies. The slime turned into a popsicle and then disintegrated into sap.
"Hmph hmph! Lady Cirno is the Strongest!"
(She practiced this daily on frogs. Slimes were basically just bouncy frogs.)
After thirty minutes of hiking and monster slaying, the Three Little Fairies reached the clearing.
It was an abandoned farm. A small vineyard, overgrown with weeds. Trellises for hops or grapes stood rotting in the sun. And in the center, a large, two-story shed.
Bang!
Cirno kicked the door open. Dust motes danced in the light beams.
"Waaaaah~~~!"
Leo caught up, panting. His stamina bar was blinking red. He couldn't keep up with fairies who had infinite energy.
The interior was empty. Just a table, chairs, and a dusty bed.
Leo was confused. Why the 'Wah'? Did she find a chest?
"This place is perfect for exploring!" Cirno declared, jumping on the dusty bed. "Lady Cirno has decided to requisition it! Fairy Leo, do you have any objections?"
"None at all," Leo bowed. "Please accept this card, Lady Cirno. This place belongs to you."
He presented two ID Cards with both hands.
009: Cirno
006: Daiyousei
(Leo had specifically reserved 009 for the "9-ball." He left 007 and 008 open. Flandre had already claimed 007, and Remilia wanted 008 to "suppress her sister.")
"Very good, Fairy Leo!"
Cirno flew up and patted Leo's shoulder like a mafia don.
"Lady Cirno officially recognizes your status. From now on, you are the Cooking Fairy, responsible for feeding everyone. If anyone bullies you, tell the Boss. I'll freeze them!"
"This Lord declares: This place is now Fairy Home!"
Evening. The Farm.
The expedition took all afternoon.
By the time Leo, Cirno, and Daiyousei returned, the sun was setting.
The rest of the Little Fairies (and Flandre) had returned from their "Treasure Hunt."
The loot was piled high in the center of the farmyard.
Wild Wasabi
Leeks
Dandelions
Clams
Scallops
Spring Onions
Wakasagihime (The Mermaid)
Waka lay on top of the pile of onions, looking dead inside. She had been carried all the way from the beach like a sack of potatoes.
"We found a big fish!" a fairy cheered.
Leo stared at the pile.
Well... at least they're thorough.