Buzz, buzz, buzz, buzz…
A strange sound rang out—a sound etched into people’s bones, into their very DNA.
Anyone who heard this sound would subconsciously feel irritable.
If they were lying in bed, they would immediately retract their hands and feet into the quilt, then cover their heads, leaving only their noses exposed to breathe.
But it was all in vain.
You would still hear the sound right by your ear.
As carbon dioxide built up under the covers, you’d gradually start feeling hot and sweating.
When you finally reached your breaking point, you’d hear the buzzing and then start violently flailing the quilt, trying to smother the creature making the noise to death inside.
Aaaaah!
Shiki looked up.
Marisa’s scream echoed from the Mines level above, followed by the sound of a bottle smashing on the ground, and then…
it became as bright as day.
“Don’t worry, Boss.
With me here, not a single speck of dust will fall on your head.” Continuous explosions sounded from above, shaking the dust off the rocks above Shiki’s head.
The moment the explosions started, Kawashiro Nitori had already pulled a raincoat out of her backpack and put it on Shiki.
After waiting a while, Shiki saw Marisa descend the stairs looking disheveled, her face terrifyingly dark.
“What happened to you?” Shiki was very curious about what could have happened up there to make Marisa feel afraid.
“Flies.
Palm-sized flies.
They burst out of maggots right in front of my face.
If I hadn’t reacted quickly, one would have flown right into my mouth.” The magic currently surging through Marisa made her whole body glow.
She looked extremely tense.
If anything…
Squelch, BOOM!
Shiki watched with his own eyes as a Slime jumped out from the darkness behind Marisa.
Just as it jumped, it was met head-on by the glowing eight trigrams furnace in Marisa’s hand.
After a blast of Master Spark, nothing remained.
Marisa seemed to be huffing, entering Spinosaurus mode.
Next, under the bombardment of Marisa’s occasional Magic Cannons, Shiki quickly advanced toward the lower levels of the Mines.
“Boss, I’ve fixed the elevator for you.
There was just a small issue with the wiring; I just had to reconnect it.
It’s a minor thing, so I won’t charge you for it.
Just give me a good review when this job is over.” Level five, level ten, level fifteen, level twenty.
Shiki reached the twentieth level of the Mines in just one day.
He had even dug five extra levels.
By the time the three of them took the repaired elevator out, it wasn’t even dark yet.
“Then this job ends here.
Boss, please confirm: you ordered a trip to the twentieth level of the Mines, and we dug a total of twenty-five levels today without hitting any pity caps.
If you have no questions, we’ll close the order.
If there are any follow-up issues or discoveries for collection, you can contact us at any time.” Upon receiving Shiki’s confirmation, Kawashiro Nitori took out her phone and tapped ‘Complete Commission.’ Three thousand yuan was in the bag.
“Now that I’ve unlocked your invitation, do you want to come to Stardew Valley and open a shop?
The Carpenters Shop should suit you quite well.” Shiki extended an invitation to Kawashiro Nitori.
This trip had been far too comfortable.
Throughout the whole day in the Mines, someone had been there to chat with him and provide emotional support.
Any problems were solved for him, and someone even helped carry things when his backpack was full.
Shiki wanted to be pampered too.
It was just a bit of money, wasn’t it?
Stardew Valley didn’t have much, but it didn’t lack money either, and he just wanted to spend it!
“It is an honor for Kappa Heavy Industries.
We will live wherever you say.
If you have any needs, feel free to contact us at any time.” Kawashiro Nitori accepted the residency permit issued by Shiki, becoming Stardew Valley Resident No.
004.
After sending Shiki back to the farm, Kawashiro Nitori finally left.
She intended to inspect the property Shiki had given her.
This was a brand-new world, which meant massive business opportunities that needed careful planning.
The Carpenters Shop was right on the path home from the Mines.
Its location was essentially to the northeast of the farm’s back mountain.
Standing at the edge and looking down, one could even see Shiki’s farm.
“The location is a bit remote…
but then again, you can get anywhere from here.
I just need to fix the roads.” Standing in front of the Carpenters Shop, Kawashiro Nitori rubbed her chin.
Although it was on a mountain and she was the only resident nearby, she planned to develop the surrounding area, build some supporting facilities, and turn this place into a multi-functional leisure center.
That way, she wouldn’t have to worry about popularity.
As for customer traffic—please, this was the age of smartphones.
Any commissions could be ordered and accepted directly on a phone.
A physical storefront was just for showing off one’s strength.
With the pass issued by Shiki, she no longer needed to rely on Yukari’s Gaps.
Kawashiro Nitori returned to Gensokyo and went straight to the school’s broadcasting room.
“Attention all teachers and students.
Attention all teachers and students.
We are now announcing an important piece of news.” The students of the Kappa Heavy Industries Vocational and Technical College, who had just finished dinner and were preparing for class, stopped what they were doing upon hearing the broadcast.
They prepared to hear what speech their great principal was about to deliver.
“The four classes from 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM tonight are temporarily canceled.
All teachers and students are to go home and rest.
Gather at the school tomorrow morning to begin a week-long extracurricular practice.
The content is to build Stardew Valley’s largest holiday resort.
This extracurricular practice accounts for 100% of the final exam grade.
Completion progress will be considered this year’s final assessment result.
All students participating in the extracurricular practice will be awarded 5 credits.” Silence, followed by earth-shattering cheers.
No matter what they had to do, as long as they didn’t have to attend those classes from 5:30 AM to 11:00 PM, it was fine.
Plus, there were credits to be earned.
This was the best news they had heard recently.
“What’s going on down there?
It’s so lively.
Has that Kawashiro Nitori fellow been kicked out of office?” On Youkai Mountain, a young girl looked down curiously.
Seeing the crowd from the Kappa Heavy Industries school running home, she curiously spread the wings on her back and flew down.
Because she had a clear understanding of her own reputation, the girl did not appear directly before the Kappas.
Instead, she watched from afar in the sky, occasionally taking a photo with the camera in her hand.
Observing the warehouse doors of Kappa Heavy Industries opening and countless materials being moved out, the girl fell into deep thought.
“There shouldn’t be any place needing major construction lately.
What are these Kappas going crazy for?” Suddenly, the girl’s head was struck by lightning, and everything clicked.
Shameimaru Aya, covered in black smoke, spiraled down from the sky.
Although she had been hit in the head by lightning, it was a minor issue.
Her mind was very clear now.
Something must have happened in that new world Yukari mentioned to make the Kappas take such drastic action.
If she could get first-hand information, then the new issue of the Bunbun News would be set.
It was decided.
She would follow these Kappas tomorrow morning to take a look.
With her speed, stealing a Gap from the Kappas would definitely be no problem.
It might not seem tempting right nobut who knows what the future holds?
“And If you’re enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!”