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"Oh great Food Fairy, these are the ingredients we found for you! Please prepare a meal that can fill our stomachs!"
Cirno had already spread the news: Leo had officially joined the Fairy Tribe.
Not a single Little Fairy thought it was weird that a 1.75-meter-tall adult man was mixing in with a group where the average height was 1.2 meters. They lined up, placing their "treasures" into the newly crafted box Leo had prepared.
Leo had even dyed the chest Ice Blue to honor Cirno.
"Oh Food Fairy~~"
Yuuka Kazami watched from the sidelines, wearing a benevolent "Auntie Smile." If Leo could truly integrate with the chaotic energy of the fairies, she didn't mind adopting him as an honorary nephew.
"Oh Great Food Fairy, here is the Big Salmonberry I found." "Oh Great Food Fairy, here is the Big Leek I found." "Oh Great Food Fairy, here is the Big Dried Fish I found."
???
"Let me go! The fairies here are so impolite!"
Thwack!
A massive fish tail slapped the ground.
Lying on top of the pile of spring onions was Wakasagihime.
"The Southern Village fairies bully me because I am old and weak," Waka recited dramatically, looking at the sky. "How can I endure facing thieves? They openly carry fish into the bamboo grove... My lips are scorched, my mouth is dry... returning, I lean on my cane and sigh..."
(She was quoting poetry to hide the fact that she had been carried like a sack of potatoes.)
These foolish fairies had mistaken her for a large fish stranded by the tide. Poor Waka. On land, she couldn't even defeat a single fairy. She only wanted to inspect the water quality of the new world!
She was tired of the small, stagnant ditches in Gensokyo. She wanted the vast ocean!
(Well, the main reason was safety. She was at the bottom of the power structure and the top of the food chain. She needed a safe harbor.)
Waka hugged her arms, pretending to be angry, her tail slapping the dirt to attract the Master's attention. She needed him to feel guilty enough to invite her to stay.
Leo stared at her.
That smooth, iridescent tail was captivating. As a fisherman, the urge to take a trophy photo next to this "Big Catch" was overwhelming.
Wakasagihime Race: Mermaid Ability: Increased Strength Underwater Occupation: Bait Appraiser / Dried Fish Manager Residence: Misty Lake Unlock Condition: Create a Smoked Fish using the Fish Smoker.
Waka is one of Gensokyo's famous weaklings. Known alongside Mystia, Tokiko, and Reisen as "Gensokyo's Top Ingredients." (This is a joke. Probably.)
Waka waited. Leo didn't speak.
For the sake of her freedom, she had to make the first move.
Flop. Flop. Flop.
She inched her way over to Leo's feet.
"Hello," she looked up with watery eyes. "Can you let me and Sayaka stay here? In return, we will help you work!"
She looked pitiful. This place was perfect. She wanted to bring her best friend, Imai no Sayaka (an electric ray), to live here too.
Leo wanted to nod immediately. No fisherman refuses a Mermaid. Especially a beautiful one.
However...
"To invite you formally," Leo scratched his head. "I need to craft a Fish Smoker."
Recipe: Hardwood x10, Sea Jelly x1, River Jelly x1, Cave Jelly x1.
He had the wood. He had Sea and River Jelly from fishing. But Cave Jelly? That required fishing on Floors 20, 60, or 100 of the Mines. He had been mining for ore, not fishing in the lava lakes.
"I can give you a Temporary ID for now," Leo said. "For a formal invitation, I need time to gather materials. If Miss Sayaka wants to come, she can visit too. We'll figure out her conditions later."
It was embarrassing to admit, but Leo's strike zone was wide. Gentle, tsundere, lively, innocent—as long as they weren't evil, he welcomed them all.
Every man dreams of a harem, right?
"Thank you!"
Waka took the Temporary ID and carefully tucked it into her fish-skin pouch. She bowed to Leo, then activated the card to return to Gensokyo. She had to tell Sayaka the good news!
With the mermaid situation settled, Leo had to fulfill his duty as the Food Fairy.
He had to feed the swarm.
Given the farm's current state, he couldn't offer a banquet. The only thing he had in unlimited supply was Rice.
"I'll go steam the rice. Today, we eat Strawberry Jam Rice Balls!"
"Yay!"
Leo led Daiyousei (Great Fairy) into the kitchen.
The division of labor was simple: Leo handled the steaming and seasoning. Daiyousei washed the strawberries.
Steam rose from the electric cooker, filling the kitchen with the sweet scent of starch.
"Big Brother seems to really like us," Daiyousei said softly, rinsing berries in the sink.
The Little Fairies had a bad reputation in Gensokyo. They were pranksters. Pests. Except for Yuuka, most youkai found them annoying. She hadn't expected the Master of this world to embrace their chaos so willingly.
"Yes," Leo closed the lid of the cooker. "After living alone for a long time... one always wants younger siblings to play with."
He looked at Daiyousei.
"Cirno, you, and everyone else... you are good children. I like you very much."
"I see~~"
Daiyousei dried her hands and patted Leo's arm.
A powerful, warm Maternal Aura radiated from her.
"Then we will come visit Big Brother often."
Leo froze. For a second, he felt like he was being comforted by his mother.
She really is the Great Fairy.