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Carrying a basket of fruit and a slab of jerky that was hard enough to double as a murder weapon, Leo returned to the farm.
His conversation with the insidious and cunning Sage of Youkai—a being who was eternally "17 years old" and whose hands were undoubtedly stained with centuries of blood—hadn't instilled any fear in him.
If the first person he saw upon opening his eyes had been Yukari Yakumo looming over him, he might have wet his pants. But now, knowing this world belonged to him—knowing that even a goddess couldn't catch a fish here without his permission—the fear evaporated.
It was like a college student bumping into a foreign Prime Minister at a grocery store. Sure, that person runs a country and has nukes, but right now, they're just buying milk. There's no conflict of interest.
So Leo wasn't scared. He chatted and laughed with Yukari as if they were old colleagues. Years of working in customer service and e-commerce had hardened him. He had dealt with Karens, scammers, and corporate sociopaths. A gap witch was just another client.
"If I ration these fruits, they should last until the first Parsnips mature," Leo muttered, doing the mental math. "Now I need a protein source."
He stashed the fruit in a chest to keep it fresh and headed to the small pond on his property.
Unlike the game, where the farm ponds were mostly trash, this one seemed connected to an underground spring. He could see ripples.
He bit into a raw Leek. The pungent, spicy onion flavor made his face scrunch up. He quickly chased it with a bite of apple to cleanse his palate.
"Note to self: Build a Well," he thought. In the game, Wells were purely aesthetic until late game. Here, having fresh water nearby was a survival necessity.
Recovering a bit of stamina from the snack, Leo picked up his axe.
This morning, he had noticed something interesting about the physics of this world. When he chopped a tree, it shattered into logs. But what if he wanted planks?
He placed a log on the ground and swung the axe, visualizing a smaller shape.
Crack.
The log didn't just split; it practically unraveled into smooth, perfectly shaped wooden sticks. No splinters, no sanding required.
"Video game logic for the win."
Next came the fishing line.
He didn't want to resort to rock-throwing again. The pond wasn't as stocked as the mountain lake. If he missed, the fish would scatter, and he'd starve.
He grabbed a handful of fiber weeds, twisted them into a crude rope, and tied it to the stick. It was a primitive setup. No hook. No bait. Just a stick and a string.
"Maybe the fish here are stupid," Leo shrugged. "Or maybe they're hungry enough to bite a rope."
He cast his line—or rather, flopped it into the water—and lay back on the soft grass.
The spring breeze was gentle, carrying the scent of damp earth and flowers. He closed his eyes.
For a moment, he simply listened. The wind rustling through the pines. The distant murmur of the river flowing toward the ocean. The splash of fish jumping. The cry of a hawk circling overhead.
When he first arrived, the silence had terrified him. He thought this world was dead, a static painting. But now, lying here, he realized it was teeming with life. It was just... peaceful.
The afternoon drifted by. Lulled by the sun and the breeze, Leo fell asleep.
When he opened his eyes again, the sky was bruising purple.
"Well," he reeled in his empty line. "Turns out the fish aren't that stupid."
He tossed the crude fishing rod on the ground and retreated into his cabin. Although he was the God of this world, he still refused to step outside after dark until he had lit up the valley with enough torches to rival the sun.
And it definitely wasn't because he was afraid of the dark. Definitely not.
2:00 AM.
A gap opened in the silence of the night.
Yakumo Ran stepped out, her nine tails swaying softly. She approached the Shipping Bin and lifted the lid.
Empty.
Her fox ears drooped. Although her face remained impassive, disappointment radiated from her.
Yesterday's fish, despite being dirty and slimy, had been delicious. She had made a rich soup. Chen got the meat, Yukari got the broth, and Ran had happily sucked on the bones. It was the best meal they'd had in weeks.
Ran stood there, thinking. Her gaze drifted to the ground, landing on the crude object Leo had left behind.
A stick. A rope made of weeds.
Ran's sharp mind put the pieces together instantly.
The Human doesn't have tools.
He was trying to fish with garbage. No wonder the bin was empty.
Ran turned on her heel and vanished back into the gap.
Gensokyo. Below the Youkai Mountain Waterfall.
Wakasagihime sat on a large, mossy rock, her tail idly slapping the water. She looked bored and hungry. Since the food crisis began, the fish in the river were protected. As the mermaid guardian, she had to watch the fry swim by, her stomach rumbling, forbidden from eating them to ensure sustainable stocks.
"Excuse me."
Ran appeared on the riverbank, her hands tucked politely into her sleeves. "I need something."
"Miss Ran?" Wakasagihime looked up, sounding pitiful. "What is it? I don't have any dried fish left. I only have pretty stones. I'm practically drinking water to survive here."
"Not fish," Ran said. "Fishing rods."
"Lady Yukari has contacted a Supplier. If we can provide him with tools, we can get fish immediately while waiting for the crops to mature."
Wakasagihime's eyes lit up. "Fishing rods? Oh, I have tons!"
She splashed her tail excitedly. "When the humans lived here, they lost so many rods in the river. I collected them all so they wouldn't clog the waterways. If you want them, take them! They're just taking up space!"
The mermaid dove into the water with a splash. Moments later, she resurfaced, dragging a massive bundle of scavenged gear.
"Here! Take these! I have more if you need them!"
Ran looked at the pile of dozens of rods—some bamboo, some fiberglass, some professional-grade carbon fiber.
She stared at them, bewildered. As a fox youkai who preferred to solve problems with magical artillery, she never understood the appeal of fishing. Why sit there for hours when you could just blast the water?
"No need, these are enough," Ran said, using her tails to lift the bundle effortlessly. "Once we secure the fish, I will make sure you receive a share equal to the value of these tools."
"Thank you, Miss Ran!" Wakasagihime waved happily as the fox flew back toward the Lost Village. "Bring me a big one!"
PLS SUPPORT ME AND THROW POWERSTONES .