Time passed quickly after Stardew Valley entered winter.
After losing the bustling atmosphere of spring, summer, and autumn, a vibe named 'laziness' permeated both the Farm and Pelican Town.
Since it was unknown when the girl named Seele Vollerei would wake up, Suke simply took everyone to the Calico Desert to properly escape the cold for a while.
In fact, the best place to escape the cold should have been Ginger Island, but unfortunately, that place cannot be unlocked before the Community Center is fully restored, and even the Iridium Key cannot achieve that.
Of course, the temperature in the Calico Desert was also quite comfortable, completely lacking the exaggerated temperature difference between day and night found in real-world deserts. Thinking about it, how bad could a desert climate be if it can grow high-moisture tropical plants like coconut trees?
"Woah, I've come back to life~!"
Underneath her black and red bat trench coat, BB, having changed back into her school swimsuit, sat on the sand, soaking her bare feet in the water of the oasis.
"Senpai, why didn't you say earlier that there was a shop here in the desert? If BB had known, I would have chosen this place when selecting my management area back then!"
Taking a bite of the ice cream cone taken from the chest, the sweet and icy sensation combined with the warmth of the warm sun shining on her skin made BB tremble slightly in comfort.
She suddenly didn't want to return to Pelican Town anymore. If not for the fact that she would be forcibly sent back to the ranch every day after 2:00 AM.
"How was I supposed to know you were so afraid of the cold?"
"You're afraid of the cold yet you're still eating ice cream; aren't you afraid of getting 'cold womb'?"
"Woah, Senpai, you speak so viciously to BB-chan!"
Ignoring BB's eye-roll, Suke pushed the small cart and looked at the ice cream inside, which had already been half-distributed among everyone. He couldn't help but think that he should have prepared more if he had known.
Mainly, this kind of specialty ice cream from Stardew Valley doesn't melt even without a refrigerator, and it's simple to make, requiring only a carton of milk and a cup of sugar. It is truly a must-have item for summer home travel—of course, eating it in winter also has a unique flavor.
If this ice cream were sold at the ice cream stand next to the Museum, one bar would cost several hundred gold. Suke suffered quite a few losses back in his newbie days. He was really living a life of spending money like dirt now, Suke couldn't help but sigh with emotion.
"Umm, Animus..."
In contrast to BB's casualness of soaking her feet and eating ice cream in the oasis, Tsukishiro Yuki, who had already started sweating from the heat under the sun, was somewhat hesitant.
Contrary to BB, Tsukishiro Yuki was rather afraid of the heat. Compared to this Calico Desert climate, which was probably around twenty-eight degrees Celsius, she suddenly felt that the snowy weather in Stardew Valley wasn't that unacceptable.
But everyone had come over; if she didn't, she would seem a bit out of place. Besides, she didn't want to leave Animus's side.
"Animus... I want to..."
Tsukishiro Yuki stood by the edge of the oasis, looking at the cool, clear pool water, stopping herself from speaking several times. However, Suke understood what she wanted to do at a glance.
"Little Yuki, if you want to soak, just go soak. No one is going to drink this oasis water anyway."
Suke thought about it; there shouldn't be anyone present perverted enough to drink someone else's foot bath water, not even the chaotic evil Gudako.
"No, Animus, I was wondering if it's appropriate..."
Tsukishiro Yuki took off the round-toed short boots she was wearing. When Suke saw her pinkish little feet wrapped in white silk stockings, he immediately understood Tsukishiro Yuki's dilemma.
Oh, it turned out Tsukishiro Yuki hadn't chosen her clothes well before going out, making her movements less convenient than BB's.
"Appropriate, why wouldn't it be appropriate?"
"We're all family here, what's inappropriate about it. It's fine, I think soaking directly in those white silks isn't a bad idea. I happened to bring your clothes, at worst you can just take them off and change into a new pair later!"
As for the wet pair after changing... what else could be done? They would definitely be thrown into the Iridium Trash Can in the backpack to be recycled into cloth! What else could be done?
Handing Tsukishiro Yuki a cone, he helped her take off her hat and put it away safely. Tsukishiro Yuki then simply lifted her skirt and soaked her feet in the oasis just like that.
"Phew~"
Tsukishiro Yuki brushed back her snow-colored long hair, letting her sweating neck and the back of her head breathe a little. She couldn't help but wonder what she would do if summer arrived in her Animus's farm.
If it were in the outside world, there would be absolutely no need to worry about this problem; after all, what couldn't be solved by magic? But if summer really came to Stardew Valley, should she cut her hair short?
Although that would indeed be much cooler, would it affect her image in Animus's heart? Would he think that she wasn't beautiful enough with short hair? Tsukishiro Yuki fell into a wondrous dilemma known to no one.
"Sir, I found a lot of coconuts and green fruits that look like cacti. Are all of these edible?"
"Of course they are, and they taste pretty good. But keep the coconuts, those are useful to take back."
"Okay!" Emma responded.
She was walking over holding three coconuts as big as her head, and the basket she carried on her arm, which never left her side, was also filled with quite a few cactus fruits that were green with a touch of red.
These cactus fruits were good stuff; they were free food with extremely high cost-performance for mining. One could pick up quite a few just by wandering around the desert; they were a favorite of hoarder farmers.
The taste was like a combination of kiwi and watermelon, sweet and sour—something one must taste. In fact, Suke had eaten this during his previous mining trips; after all, eating pizza all the time gets tiring.
"Here, everyone come and taste. Because I consume a large amount of this stuff, I haven't brought it for you to taste before."
"Abi, don't just drink cola every day, watch out or you'll get fat as a ball!"
"Woo~ Big Brother, people are afraid of sour things..."
Abigail, who had just finished a can of ice-cold cola, quietly came to Suke's side, seemingly wanting to sneak another can from the small cart filled with ice cubes, but her outstretched little hand was pinned down by Suke just in time.
So Abigail put on a miserable look, seemingly wanting to win Suke's sympathy by acting spoiled.
"Look at you, you've only been living here for two months, right? I can barely pick you up with one hand anymore."
"I have not! Big Brother is annoying~"
Picking Abigail up in a princess carry, allowing her pink fists to lightly hammer his chest, Suke weighed her in his hands. He felt that this child had really gotten heavier.
Although her figure hadn't changed much after taking off her clothes, the rib outlines that used to be visible on Abigail's chest had been covered by gradually growing fat.
This shouldn't be because he rubbed them big, right? It must be because this little glutton consumed too much sugar.
"Emma, please deliver the remaining fruits to Tripoka."
"Okay, Sir."
After distributing food to everyone, Suke naturally didn't forget Tripoka, who could only wait dryly on the bus unable to come out.
The desert sun was warm and comfortable, pity the air was still relatively dry; otherwise, Suke would really want to sunbathe.
Taking in the scene of Elysia teaching Stelle how to fish hand-in-hand in the distance, Suke couldn't help but start thinking about the matter Boss Mabel had discussed with him before taking Seele away to settle her in her shop.
Mabel might be hiding things from him, but there was one sentence she didn't get wrong. This is Stardew Valley, a land of rest for souls, and a place for the weary to return.
He didn't need to be so tired, didn't need to do anything, and had no obligation to save anyone. Now that Suke had rid himself of loneliness, strictly speaking, no matter what happened in the outside world, it couldn't affect Suke and the people in Stardew Valley.
As long as Suke was willing, he could simply close the door connecting Stardew Valley to the outside world after picking up the people he wanted to pick up. From now on, allowing entry but not exit, regardless of the monstrous floods outside.
That way, he could completely live the peaceful life he desired. After all, the realistic Stardew Valley was much larger than in the game; without exaggeration, living with several hundred people would be no problem, not to mention Ginger Island which was to be developed in the future.
But well... Would that be a bit too selfish?
Suke scanned over Tsukishiro Yuki and the others, a slightly frightening thought spontaneously arising in his heart.
"Boss!"
"What is it?"
Suke, who was thinking about things, came back to his senses due to Stelle's shout.
"I feel like living in this place of yours is really great, Boss. There are no messy monsters, and I can eat all kinds of gourmet food and delicious fruits made by you every day, Boss."
"If not for Kafka requiring me to go back regularly, I would want to live here forever."
Stelle, who was gnawing on a cactus fruit, muttered. Not caring about her eating manners in the slightest, her mouth was full of the fruit's purple-red juice.
Discovering that she couldn't catch anything after fishing for a long time, she gave up the struggle with the Sandfish and chose to come over to eat and bask in the sun instead, properly warming her palms that were nearly frostbitten from rummaging through the icy trash cans in Pelican Town during winter.
"...Ah-Star, you also think living here is pretty good, right?"
"Since you want to live here long-term, then just stay. You don't need to worry about Kafka, I'll solve it for you."
"Eek, why does it feel like what you said is so scary, Boss~"
For some reason, being stared at by Suke's unprecedentedly serious eyes, Stelle rubbed the goosebumps rising on her arms.
"It's not really that. I can understand the mission Kafka and the others say I possess, although she is always very much a Riddler about it."
"Whether it's Elio's script, or some future that must be crossed, whenever I think of these things, I feel my brain is empty."
"Clearly, the memories I possess in the world amount to less than three years, yet I have to shoulder the expectations of so many people. Only here with you, Boss, can I truly relax~"
Stelle spoke much more than usual, a far cry from her image as a cool, dense, natural airhead in the Star Rail universe most of the time.
"But well, I don't reject those expectations."
"I chatted with you before, Boss; I'm actually very amazing!"
"I am the Galactic Baseballer who has saved a space station, a frozen planet, and a Xianzhou ship!"
"As the Galactic Baseballer, how can I ignore those places in the universe that urgently need me to save them?"
"Well, although I myself feel that everything I've done seems like it was arranged by Kafka and the others, I don't reject it. After all, the script can be fake, can be arranged..."
"But the emotions revealed by those people saved by me are absolutely real!"
Perhaps her chuunibyou was acting up; Stelle raised a cactus fruit like she was raising a cup filled with wine. It was a pity she was underage and not allowed to drink, otherwise, Suke definitely would have taken out the Ancient Fruit Wine from his backpack to drink a cup with her.
Speaking of which, it's funny; everyone hates Nyar, yet everyone wants to become Nyar. How did he give birth to the same thoughts as that trashy BB's past actions? It must be that some wire in his brain got crossed.
"Boss, I don't know if it's my illusion."
Seeing Suke take out a napkin to wipe her mouth, Stelle, feeling some kind of gravity that pressed people to the point of breathlessness suddenly disappear, mumbled.
"What now?"
"I just feel that if I had answered that I wanted to stay long-term just now, you would have done something very terrible, Boss."
"I haven't taken you to visit the Xianzhou and Jarilo yet, Boss; don't do anything rash."
The gray-haired girl, who was 1.7 meters tall at the age of three, said seriously.
"How is that possible? What could I do?"
"Woo~!"
Responding to Stelle was a charged finger flick from Suke to her forehead.
"I'm just a simple farmer. I don't even know if I could dig away a small asteroid in your universe even if I swung my hoe until it smoked. You're overthinking it."
"You should worry more about those so-called Madmen Aeons and the Madmen Emanators blessed by them, blowing up planets today and destroying galaxies tomorrow at the drop of a hat."
"But you're right, I should find time to stroll around the Xianzhou. The Festival of Ice is in two days; before that, I need to purchase a batch of festive supplies."
Give Haji-Hiro and the others a little cosmic shock, Suke added in his heart.
"When the time comes and there are more people here, you'll know how lively it is. Maybe I can let you witness the scenery of other worlds."
"Scenery of other worlds?"
"Of course. Consider it broadening your horizons. Compared to that universe of yours full of madmen, other worlds are still much more normal."
Pushing the small cart to start collecting the trash generated by everyone's summer resort vacation, Suke planned to take it back and throw it into the Recycling Machine on the farm.
A grown man, yet enlightened by a three-year-old child; could this be what is called the heart of a pure child?
"The Heavens are far more wonderful than you imagine, Ah-Star!"
...
After awakening Tripoka who managed the bus, Suke could already order her to temporarily pick up people who hadn't obtained ticket recognition to come to Stardew Valley.
However, this kind of arrival had certain restrictions. For example, it only worked for worlds that had spread greenery, like the Deep Sea Cyber Paradise.
For instance, Passionlip and Kazuradrop; they could possess the opportunity to come to Stardew Valley via the bus once a week. Of course, there were also time requirements: fixed arrival at 9:00 AM, then staying until 00:00 AM, after which they would be teleported back to their own world once the time passed.
Similarly, it was different again for "Stardew Valley External Farmhands" like Meltryllis who were bound to external multiplayer cabins. She had one opportunity to come to Stardew Valley via the bus every day. Aside from the schedule being a bit rigid and requiring arrangements a day in advance, it was almost no different from being able to come anytime.
But the premise was that Tripoka was willing to go pick them up.
This was a bit like the setting of external Pelican Town residents added in the Stardew Valley SVE expansion, who also appeared in Pelican Town via the bus on a fixed schedule.
Overall, it was acceptable for Suke. At least if something really happened, his place could be considered to have the function of a sanctuary.
After successfully opening up greenery on the Island of Witches using the second Junimo, Chili, Suke gave the "External Farmhand" identity of Tsukishiro Yuki's world to Hikami Meruru.
He was Meruru's step-father after all; he still had to pull strings for her on this relationship.
It was just that Meruru acted a bit too excited. Upon learning that she could finally come to Stardew Valley every day to visit her Lord Great Witch, she directly turned into a weeping jellyfish head.
This was fine too; Suke also planned to formally hand over the tailoring work to her. He didn't believe anyone would say he had poor taste in clothes with Meruru as a safety net in the future.
[Farmhand Overview]
[Stardew Valley Farm: 3/7 (Expandable)]
[Deep Sea Cyber Paradise: 1/1 (Limit Reached)]
[Island of Witches: 1/1 (Limit Reached)]
Looking at the overview interface of the farm system panel, Suke rubbed his chin, having a rough plan for the future.
One Junimo could open up one patch of greenery, and one patch of greenery could bring him one External Farmhand. Forgot to mention, the Shepherd's Crook can also take effect on External Farmhands; Suke only just discovered this recently.
After all, Yuki's magic was simply too useful, making him too lazy to switch all this time. He didn't know when the next Junimo would appear, or where the third patch of greenery should be placed.
Never mind, let's focus on the matter at hand first.
Under Stelle's lead, this time Suke brought quite a few people to the Astral Express crew. Besides the core build Yuki, there were also his right-hand assistants Abigail and BB.
The road in the Star Rail universe is too slippery, and there are many madmen; he definitely had to play it safe. Let it be Pokémon Master then; if you have any objections, go talk to the Spokesperson of the Lord and two of the three Agnostic Tri-Pillar Gods!
Of course, forgot to mention, the most crucial person he brought on this trip was actually Hikami Meruru.
He needed to properly learn and improve his aesthetics, and of course, also satisfy this filial daughter's strong desire to practice filial piety by his and Yuki's side. Suke was experiencing the joy of family life in advance.
Xianzhou Alliance, Luofu Xianzhou. Suke and his party arrived smoothly aboard the Starskiff specially sent by the Xianzhou Alliance to pick them up.
"Senpai, this is the so-called cosmic human civilization?"
"It feels... so ordinary."
A figure in a black trench coat resembling a little devil walked down slowly from the Starskiff. She surveyed the surroundings with some disappointment.
It wasn't that she felt the Luofu Xianzhou's technology was backward or weak. One must know that as a Super AI preserving humanity, BB actually always had the wish to send humanity out of the cradle of their mother planet.
This was not only her wish but also one of the initial meanings of her design as an AI. BB even had a premonition that as long as she could take that step and send a planetary human civilization completely into the sky, her own essence could undergo another unimaginable transformation.
But now, seeing a human civilization that had already reached the universe in another world, such as the Xianzhou, BB doubted her AI life instead.
It was completely different from the cosmic human civilization she imagined! It felt like, how should she put it, like playing a certain strategy game and unlocking Information Age technology in the Medieval Era.
It was like a fantasy-magical worldview flying under the banner of sci-fi; every aspect was completely different from what BB envisioned, giving her a sense of not being acclaimed to the climate.
"Ordinary? Is it?"
"Senpai, you don't understand. Sigh, originally BB-chan thought I could find some inspiration here."
"Just like the BB of a certain world line; although everything she did was completely denied by an arrogant bad guy, she did indeed witness every step of humanity staggering out of the cradle."
"But never mind~ Stones from other hills may serve to polish the jade. BB-chan doesn't mind properly observing how human civilization develops within this universe."
BB raised the teaching pointer in her hand, pointing towards the sky beyond the Luofu Xianzhou. The moon, originally floating on the sky curtain of the Luofu Xianzhou and simulated as a virtual scene, suddenly transformed!
The round outline began to change towards a square shape, finally turning into a blue cube that made Suke's eye twitch!
MOONCELL? Wait, no—
MOON DUBAI?!
____
New Story: Danmachi: But I am a God, time to make a family!
🔥 25% off something at the funeral parlor... care to take a look? 🔥
✅ New releases are dropping, plus get exclusive content & updates.
✅ Help us unlock community rewards:
🎯 100 Powerstones = +1 Bonus Chapter for everyone
🚀 140 MEMBERS = +5 extra chapters of ALL STORIES!
👻 P - Walnutchan