The morning breeze always brings a refreshing sense of purification, washing away the fatigue of the previous night.
The familiar scent of cooking fires gradually rises from each household, bringing a hint of vitality to the tranquil streets while also dissipating the lingering stench of a corpse hanging from the flagpole of a general store.
The body, gruesomely slain, is suspended in a crucifixion pose at the top of the pole. Its head droops lifelessly as if in a deep confession.
A large sign hangs from her chest, the three blood-red words spelling out "I AM GUILTY" in a chilling display.
Tied around her bound ankles is another sign, densely covered in crimson writing that reads like a final testament:
「 I have committed an unforgivable sin, spreading false rumors and slandering the reputation of the general store. I now realize my mistakes and sincerely repent. 」
「 As atonement, I offer my life here, slashing the prices of the store's goods—everything is now 20% off. Hurry while stocks last. 」
「 Your patronage is a testament to my repentance. If I can cleanse my sins and reach the afterlife, I shall bestow my blessings upon you in the name of the Tengu」
"..."
"…Isn't this sign a bit too messed up?"
Standing beneath the flagpole, Marisa twitched at the corners of her eyes.
For some reason, she had the eerie sensation of someone dumping a bucket of black dog's blood at her doorstep while leaving behind a blessing charm.
But at least she wasn't the one hanging up there!
Meanwhile, Rin looked at his handiwork with satisfaction. Though it was a bit rushed, the intended effect had been achieved.
『 Daily Mission Completed! 』
『 Special Reward ─ A hot spring room has been added to your residence. However, the hot spring must be excavated by the host personally 』
Ignoring the unsettling sight at the top of the flagpole, he patted Marisa's head and called out, "Alright, go change your clothes. The ones you washed before should be dry by now."
"Once you're dressed, we'll head over to your place for renovations. The sooner we finish, the sooner we can get back."
"Got it~"
Marisa cheerfully responded before casting a somewhat sympathetic glance at the hanging corpse. She then followed Rin back into the store.
Patchouli, who remained at the scene, gazed thoughtfully at the punished Aya Shameimaru.
When they catch Sakuya, this method would be perfect for punishing her too!
Oh, and Rin has to help! They should add that painful branding mark as well!
As she indulged in vivid fantasies of Sakuya's impending punishment, a twisted, gleeful expression surfaced on her face.
However, when the chain markings on her hand began to glow again, she jolted in fear and hurriedly retreated into the store.
Not long after, Marisa, now dressed in her usual clothes, happily bounced out, full of energy and darting around like an excited child.
As Rin emerged with a toolbox in hand, Yukari, lounging on a rocking chair, narrowed her eyes as if realizing something.
"Boss, what about lunch while you're gone?"
"That's your responsibility."
"…Me?!" Yukari pointed at herself in disbelief.
"Yep. You'll take care of lunch for Chen and Patchy. One's a kid, and the other's not in great health—don't just feed them snacks."
Rin warned her before she could argue, grabbing Marisa and quickly leaving the store.
Feeling the gazes of two expectant individuals upon her, Yukari's eyelid twitched.
After a brief silence, she decisively scribbled a note and tossed it into the gap leading to Ran:
『 Emergency! The General Store in the Human Village! Get here immediately! 』
—
Meanwhile, Rin and Marisa made their way to the village entrance, slowing their pace as they arrived.
"Where's your house again? Lead the way."
"It's near the Forest of Magic—not too far. But, uh, the environment might not be the best."
Marisa grinned. She was in high spirits at the thought of returning home.
After being away for a few days, she already missed the mushrooms in the forest. They made for an excellent stew!
The Forest of Magic was a humid, ancient woodland in Gensokyo. Its scenery was beautiful, but its conditions were harsh for ordinary people.
Spores and miasma from the local monster mushrooms filled the air, making the area inhospitable even for many youkai.
The moment they stepped into the forest, the surrounding light visibly dimmed, casting an eerie, unsettling shadow.
Mushrooms of all shapes and sizes dotted every corner of the woods, their vibrant and sometimes sinister colors causing momentary disorientation.
Most of these fungi were hallucinogenic, though they significantly boosted magical power. Rin noticed traces of previous harvesting.
As Marisa bounded ahead, she eagerly plucked a few mushrooms along the way. Her bright, carefree smile was like a beacon of light in the darkened forest, radiating warmth and cheerfulness.
By the time her witch's hat was stuffed full of mushrooms, the two finally arrived at a relatively open clearing in the woods—where a demolished structure lay in ruins.
Thud.
The sound of her witch's hat and its mushroom contents dropping echoed faintly.
Marisa's smile vanished instantly, her pupils trembling violently.
Where was her house?!
She had only been gone for two days—how was her house completely gone?!
"My house… My house that I worked so hard to build!!!"
"Whoever did this, I swear I'll blast their entire bloodline into oblivion!!!"
Rin watched her collapse to her knees, clutching her head in despair. After a moment of hesitation, he quietly walked over to the wreckage.
A quick search through the debris revealed gnawed furniture, shattered belongings, and a pile of half-eaten hallucinogenic mushrooms.
It seemed some unfortunate youkai had tripped too hard on the mushrooms and gone on a rampage, reducing Marisa's unattended house to rubble in the process.
Seeing that Marisa was still wailing, Rin called out, "Enough crying. The day's still young. I'll help you rebuild, but we need to clear out this mess first."
Marisa's sobbing immediately paused before she grumbled and stomped over.
If she ever caught the culprit, she'd hang their entire bloodline at the village gate to dry before obliterating them with her magic!
However, as they began clearing the wreckage, Rin's expression darkened.
"…Why does it feel like your house was already a dump before it got wrecked?"
"I just moved in! I hadn't had time to tidy up yet."
"…This one room barely got damaged, but it's even messier than the others."
"…Boss, I think you're too close to the hallucinogenic mushrooms. You're already seeing things."
"Do you think I'm an idiot?"
As they bickered, their hands never stopped moving.
Meanwhile, hidden in the shadows of the nearby trees, several small figures silently observed them…