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Boss, please take a look. We've finished the order. Do you need to renew?"
Mines, Floor 90.
Leo pulled the Obsidian Edge (a level 9 sword) from the chest.
His order was supposed to end at Floor 80. Takane was ready to clock out, but Nitori slapped her on the back and forced her to continue.
The first rule of the service industry: Exceed Expectations!
"This silly kid," Nitori muttered. "If the boss says 80, she stops at 80. How can she be so blunt? You have to let the boss enjoy himself!"
So Nitori gave Leo 10 extra floors for free.
With Marisa (the gluttonous mouse) stuffing every monster into her bag, the stroll was effortless.
"Did you see that?" Nitori lectured Takane as they walked back. "Don't do the bare minimum. Keeping the Boss happy is the most important thing."
Takane nodded, taking notes. Mental re-education required.
The Farm.
Leo returned, glowing faintly (from the mine cart ride).
Cirno, Chen, and Flandre (x4) were playing hide-and-seek. Daiyousei sat by the door, reading a book by the light of the window.
"I'm back," Leo called out. "Is anyone available for an all-nighter?"
The game stopped.
Cirno crawled out of the refrigerator.
Chen jumped onto his shoulder.
Flandre emerged from the woodpile.
"Ta-da! Seed Makers!"
Leo placed ten machines on the porch.
Recipe: 25 Wood, 10 Coal, 1 Gold Bar.
Effect: Insert mature crop. Wait 20 minutes. Receive 1-3 seeds (97.5% chance), Mixed Seeds (2%), or Ancient Seeds (0.5%).
This was the Holy Grail of farming.
"Put the fruit in. Wait. Take seeds out. Repeat. Whether we achieve Strawberry Freedom depends on tonight."
Leo demonstrated. He had a chest full of strawberries ready to be cloned.
He couldn't stay up. At 2:00 AM, he would pass out instantly.
"Brave Cirno!"
"Present!"
Daiyousei stood up, looking serious. Cirno snapped to attention, her red scarf fluttering.
"New Mission: Turn everything in this chest into seeds! Time Limit: One Night! Reward: A delicious Rice Ball! Does the Brave accept?"
"Accepted!" Cirno saluted.
Leo blinked. What is this RPG dialogue?
He glanced at the book Daiyousei had left on the ground.
[The Adventures of the Ice Brave]
Author: Just a Passing Master Hong.
It was a hand-drawn manga about Cirno saving Gensokyo and beating up Reimu.
"Who wrote this?" Leo flipped through it. "Hong Meiling? She must have been dreaming."
"Ah! Big Brother! Don't look!"
Daiyousei rushed over, face bright red. She pulled at his sleeve. It was her secret prop for playing house with Cirno.
Leo returned the book, respecting her hobby. (He didn't want to get frozen by a Brave Cirno Chop).
He went inside. He tidied the bed Flandre had messed up, folded the quilt, and lay down.
Outside, the machines whirred. The little ones chattered.
It was noisy, but comforting. At 2:00 AM, he would sleep like the dead.
Leo checked his phone.
His shop was exploding. Pre-orders for 1,000 catties of rice. Strawberries were sold out.
"I want meat," Leo groaned, rubbing his stomach. "Charred BBQ... Braised Pork... Lamb Skewers..."
He had been eating vegetarian for weeks. Gensokyo had no animals (they ate them all).
"I have to find livestock. Or I'll die of malnutrition."
His craving for meat spiked.
The red thread of Fate (Remilia's gift) reacted to his desire. It pierced the void, searching for a connection.
Leo fell asleep.
Somewhere in another world.
Tracen Academy. Student Dormitory.
A girl was buried under her covers, scrolling through her phone.
"I'm so hungry," she rubbed her stomach. "I finished all the carrots mom sent. I can't ask for more."
She sighed.
"I don't eat that much, okay? Oguri Cap eats way more than me!"
She opened a shopping app, looking for cheap vegetables.
Suddenly, a new store popped up.
[Stardew Valley Farm Shop]
Listing: High-Quality Carrots (Parsnips).
Description: Sweet, crunchy, and packed with energy. Perfect for active girls.
"Oh?"
Her ears twitched.