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The Fifth Day.
Today was a momentous occasion.
The Parsnips (or Windbreak Grass, as the seeds were labeled) that Leo planted on day one were finally ready for harvest.
At 6:00 AM, after watching the daily dose of Sanae Kochiya's cheerfulness, Leo pushed open his front door. The plot of land, once barren dirt, was now a lush carpet of green leaves swaying in the breeze.
"Finally. Something to eat that isn't an apple."
Having never eaten a Parsnip before, Leo wasn't sure what to expect. He approached the field and pulled one out of the soil.
He stared at it.
He fell silent.
How should he put this? If the game hadn't explicitly told him this was food, he would have assumed it was a biological weapon.
It looked vaguely like a carrot—thick at the top, tapering to a thin root. But instead of a vibrant orange, it was the color of pale, sickly dirt. The surface was pitted, bumpy, and uninviting.
"Are you sure this is edible?"
Leo walked through the field, harvesting the crop. Fortunately, gathering crops cost zero stamina. A simple touch was all it took for the vegetable to pop out of the ground.
The harvest was divided into three quality grades: Normal, Silver Star, and Gold Star.
Due to his low Farming skill, the yield was mediocre. Out of the 15 plots, he got mostly Normal and Silver, with only a handful of Gold Stars.
"Should I... take a bite?"
He selected a Gold Star Parsnip and washed it in the pond. Even clean, it looked like a prehistoric root.
Whatever. Just a taste. If it sucks, I'll sell the whole lot and stick to fish.
He took a tentative bite from the tip.
Crunch.
"..."
How to describe it? Imagine an apple that tastes entirely of wet soil. The texture was crisp, similar to a radish or jicama, but the flavor profile was earthy, slightly bitter, and aggressively bland.
"Nope."
Leo decisively dumped the entire harvest into the Shipping Bin.
240 units. (In this world, one unit occupied one inventory slot, roughly equivalent to a 'catty' or half a kilo).
He even threw in the one he had bitten. Waste not, want not.
Leo pulled out his phone and messaged his primary buyer.
Leo: Are you there?
Forever 19-Year-Old Beautiful Girl: Here! What's up? Wait, why has my username age increased by another year? Did you do this?! (Furious Emoji)
Leo: Nothing to do with me. System glitch. Anyway, the first batch is ready. 360 catties of Parsnips. Leo: Prices: Normal 35g, Silver 43g, Gold 52g. Leo: Full disclosure: The taste is... an acquired taste.
Forever 20-Year-Old Beautiful Girl: Wait for me! I'm coming now! (Also, how did I age another year?!)
Leo: Okay, see you at the farm.
A few minutes later, a gap unzipped in the air.
Out hopped a youthful, vibrant Yakumo Yukari. She held the hem of her frilly dress, twirled her parasol, and radiated the aura of an innocent young maiden.
"Where are the goods?"
She was impatient. She planned to buy everything and host a grand banquet in Gensokyo immediately. Of course, she would 'accidentally' forget to invite a certain Tengu Chief named Megumu.
"In the bin," Leo gestured. "I tasted one. The flavor is... full of the taste of nature. Pure. Organic. Refreshing and juicy."
Leo lied through his teeth with a straight face.
Yukari wasn't a fool. She peered into the bin at the pile of pale, bumpy roots. Her "Anti-Scam Radar," honed over centuries of dealing with kappas and tanukis, started pinging wildly.
"Wait a moment," Yukari said, narrowing her eyes. "I'm going to call an expert."
She vanished into a gap.
Five minutes later, Yukari returned with a guest.
The woman wore a strange outfit—half red, half blue, resembling a nurse's uniform adorned with constellations. Her silver hair was tied in a long braid draped over her shoulder. The 'Dead Anime Mom' hairstyle.
Yagokoro Eirin Race: Lunarian (Sage of the Moon) Ability: Making any drug imaginable Residence: Eientei Occupation: Doctor / Pharmacist Unlock Condition: Plant a Rare Seed (Sweet Gem Berry) or Ancient Seed.
"Hello," Eirin nodded to Leo. Despite being a god-like entity from the moon, she had the approachable vibe of a neighborhood doctor. "Yukari asked me to appraise your produce."
She peered into the bin.
"Let me see... Isn't this Saposhnikovia divaricata? Commonly known as Parsnip or Windbreak Root."
Eirin picked one up, sniffing it.
"It's primarily a medicinal herb. Edible, yes, but I can guarantee it won't taste good."
Leo winced. Busted.
"Flavor profile: Light, slightly bitter, earthy," Eirin recited like a textbook. "Functionally, it dispels wind, removes dampness, and detoxifies the liver. If steeped in wine, it can treat kidney deficiency. It's a common, cheap herb."
She turned to Yukari. "The price of 35 gold is fair. I suggest buying it all. We need medicine more than we need gourmet food right now."
"As long as it's edible," Yukari shrugged. "Whether it tastes good or not is irrelevant. I'm not the one eating it."
They shared a look of mutual understanding. This banquet was happening. The youkai of Gensokyo would feast on medicine roots, while Yukari would sneak back here to eat Leo's fish.
"Deal," Yukari said.
She did the math quickly. "150 Normal, 140 Silver, 60 Gold... Total is 15,890. Let's round it up to 16,000 Gold."
She handed Leo a heavy pouch of coins.
"Also," Yukari added, "if you need farm buildings constructed, tell me. I can arrange a construction team. I suggest you provide your own materials, though. The Kappa Heavy Industries profiteers will rip you off if you let them source the wood."
"I'm not in a rush for buildings," Leo said, pocketing the money. "This cash is going straight back into seeds. I can't keep relying on your charity. It's not easy for you either."
Leo looked at Yukari with genuine pity.
Last night, Ran had spilled the tea. The Great Sage of Youkai was apparently so broke and hungry she was following her cat around, begging for fish broth scraps.
"Wait."
Yagokoro Eirin, who had been observing quietly, narrowed her eyes.
She saw the pity in Leo's eyes. She saw the 'touched' expression on Yukari's face.
Something is fishy.
Eirin hadn't lived for millions of years without learning to spot a hustle. There was a big problem here.
Her gaze swept across the farm and locked onto the woodshed.
There, sitting innocently on a pile of logs, was a large iron cauldron.
That's the Yakumo family's cooking pot.
Why was it here?
The realization hit Eirin like a meteor.
This old hag is secretly having private meals here!
PLS SUPPORT ME AND THROW POWERSTONES .