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"The sentencing for the prisoner, Aya Shameimaru, will now be read."
Yukari and Leo sat solemnly on a park bench. To the side, Ran stood tall, mimicking the pose of the Yama, Eiki Shiki, and began to formally read the verdict delivered by the Sage of Youkai.
"The convict, Aya Shameimaru, for the intent of surreptitiously taking photos to fabricate rumors, spreading harmful ideas, and attempting to subvert the stability of Gensokyo..."
"The final sentence is as follows:"
"Deprivation of political rights for one month, and Exile to Stardew Valley!"
Aya, who was squatting on the ground with her head in her hands, froze. She looked up curiously.
That's it?
In Gensokyo, punishment usually involved physical trauma.
Scarlet Devil Mansion: Scrubbing the entire mansion with a toothbrush.
Eientei: Testing Eirin's experimental laxatives.
Oni: Drinking until liver failure.
Palace of Earth Spirits: Satori reading your mind and broadcasting your childhood bed-wetting memories.
Compared to that, a one-month vacation in a peaceful farming dimension was a reward.
"Too light?" Yukari saw Aya's hopeful expression. "Fine. Let's make it Three Months."
Aya's face crumpled in agony.
"During this time, the Kappa Portal will be strictly monitored. Don't even think about escaping."
Yukari smiled mysteriously. "Just live your three months here honestly... as an Outsider."
It looks peaceful here, doesn't it? But you'll find that no matter what you do, you cannot influence this world. You won't even be able to pull up a single blade of grass.
You will be a ghost. Forgotten by history. Vanished from the face of the earth.
"We're leaving now," Yukari stood up. "I need to tell Megumu so she doesn't think you were murdered."
Zip.
The Gap closed, taking Yukari and Ran with it.
"Finally gone! Freedom!"
Aya jumped up and stretched. Her camera and notebook had been confiscated, but she was free!
"Hey, young man!" she chirped, chasing after Leo and Chen. "Don't be in such a hurry! Since we're stuck together, let me interview you! Do you have any improper thoughts about the Sage?"
"..."
"And about the 'Parsnip Poisoning Incident'... was it premeditated?"
"..."
"Say something!"
On the path to the Cindersap Forest, Aya was like a crow, chattering incessantly, circling Leo to get his attention.
But Leo adhered strictly to the "Ignore Aya Protocol." No eye contact. No verbal response. He held Chen's hand and chatted with the cat as if the reporter didn't exist.
"Ignoring me? Fine. I'm getting angry!"
Aya stopped. She raised her hand, summoning her wind magic.
"O Gale... Huh?"
She posed dramatically.
Nothing happened. The leaves didn't even rustle.
"Where's my wind?!"
Realizing her magic was sealed, Aya ran in front of Chen and squatted down, blocking the path. She stared intensely into the cat's eyes.
"Meow... Leo, I'm going to play in the woods. Good luck!"
Chen turned her head stiffly, avoiding eye contact, transformed into a cat, and bolted. She couldn't handle the staring contest without breaking character.
"Young man~~ Now it's just the two of us~~"
Aya smirked. If she couldn't use magic, she would use Psychological Warfare. She would be so annoying that he had to kick her out.
"Young man, why is your name Leo? Are you related to a lion?" "Young man, are you really a man? Prove it!" "Young man, what's for dinner? I want sushi!"
She transformed into a Questioning Machine.
However... was that it?
Leo was a customer service veteran. He had survived "Double 11" sales events. He had handled twelve chat windows simultaneously, dealing with Karens, trolls, and people who didn't know how to plug in a router.
Aya's annoyance level was child's play compared to a middle-aged woman demanding a refund for a product she bought three years ago.
They reached the southern cliffs. The ocean stretched out endlessly.
"Young man, are you really comfortable standing on the edge? Aren't you afraid I'll push you?"
Aya leaned over the edge. It was the first time she had seen the ocean. A pity I don't have my camera.
She tried to shove Leo.
He didn't budge. It was like pushing a mountain. He was on a different layer of reality.
Leo ignored her and walked toward the sewer grate area. In the game, this was where Spring Onions grew.
Sure enough, the patch was full of them.
Leo bent down and started pulling them up.
Aya followed, intending to help (or at least annoy him by stealing his harvest). She reached for a green stalk.
"Wait! What's going on?!"
Her hand passed right through the onion.
She tried again. She grabbed the stalk. Her fingers closed around it, but it felt like air. The onion remained firmly planted in the ground, completely unaffected by her touch.
"What did you guys do to me?!"
She was a ghost. An observer.
In Stardew Valley, "Uninvited Guests cannot influence the world."
She couldn't gather. She couldn't break twigs. She couldn't even leave footprints in the mud.
Aya stared at her transparent hands in horror.
This wasn't exile. This was purgatory.