For 30 + advance chapter: patreon.com/Snowing_Melody
"While the fish is smoking, let me help you till the land," Kagerou offered, rolling up her sleeves. "Don't look down on me just because I'm a vegetarian werewolf. I've slaughtered pigs, farmed bamboo, and even served as Marisa's test subject."
(That one time she drank "Hair Growth Tonic" that was actually "Depilatory Cream"... she didn't leave the bamboo forest for six months. But the settlement money kept her and Waka fed for a year.)
"Then I'll leave it to you," Leo nodded. He wasn't going to refuse free labor.
He turned to the culprit.
"Miss Aya. You follow behind. One bag of seeds per plot. Don't miss any spots. Keep the lines straight."
"I..."
"Objection?"
"No! Mission accepted!"
Kagerou took the hoe. She transformed into a Human Tractor.
THUD. THUD. THUD.
She didn't use technique. She used brute force. She plunged the hoe into the earth and sprinted. The soil turned over in perfect rows behind her.
Aya, on the other hand, was miserable.
She carried the watering can and seed bag. She watered. She sowed. She refilled the can.
She looked like a tragic heroine from a soap opera, weeping while building the Great Wall.
"Oh my God~~" Aya groaned.
"Move faster!" Leo barked. "If you dawdle, I'll tell Marisa—the Second Tightest Mouth in Gensokyo—what you did!"
(Aya shivered. If Marisa knew, the whole world would know.)
"Miss Kagerou, take your time! When we finish, I'll treat you to Smoked Fish and Strawberries!"
Seeing Kagerou finish the second plot while Aya was still on the first, Leo pulled out a Broken Fishing Rod.
CRACK.
He whipped the air. The sound was sharp and terrifying.
"Eep!" Aya jumped.
"Can't you have a better attitude?" Aya pouted, tears in her eyes. "I'm a girl! I'm a Great Tengu! Give me some face!"
CRACK.
"Playing the Victim Card? Denied!" Leo laughed like a villain. "Work faster! No dinner if you don't finish!"
(Leo had been hardened by Bilibili comment sections. He was immune to "Pitiful Waifu" tactics.)
Fifty minutes later.
Ding.
The Smokers stopped.
"Break time!" Leo called out.
He handed out the snacks.
Kagerou: 2 Fish.
Waka: 1 Fish.
Aya: 1 Fish.
Leo: 1 Fish.
The Smoked Fish was firm, chewy, and had a rich, smoky flavor. It restored a massive amount of stamina.
"Delicious!" Kagerou's ears perked up. "Way better than Waka's dried fish!"
"Indeed," Waka nodded. "I feel energized!"
"Wuwuwu... I'm so pitiful," Aya chewed her fish while trying to look tragic. (It didn't work. She looked like a happy chipmunk).
Leo took photos of Waka holding the Smoked Fish in a "Hainan Coconut Juice" pose.
He listed them on the Universal Market.
Ping. Ping. Ping.
Sold out instantly.
Zip.
A Gap opened in front of Leo's face. Ran stumbled out, looking embarrassed.
"Ahem. Greetings, Lord Leo. Lady Yukari... missed the sale. She wants to use the 'Back Door' to buy some. Is it convenient?"
Ran looked away, cheeks flushing. Her master was shameless.
"Oh, that's easy," Leo waved his hand. "I listed stock based on my crate. If you need more, I'll ask Chen. She's been fishing every day. She has a stockpile."
"I'm sorry for the trouble," Ran whispered. Even Chen was working hard, while the Sage of Youkai was scalping fish.
"What's the situation with Aya?" Ran noticed the miserable reporter in the field.
"caught stealing strawberries," Leo said flatly. "Punishment: Forced Labor. If she slacks off, she gets banned from the shop."
CRACK.
He whipped the air. Aya yelped and sped up.
"Strawberries, huh?" Ran nodded sagely. "That explains it. The Tengu would sell their souls for strawberries. Megumu is the same. Carry on."