Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

How to describe Calico Desert? It’s hot as hell, sandy, very sandy, with skeletons of creatures you wouldn’t want to meet alive. There’s only a straight road that runs through it, and basically, the entire landscape looks the same. There isn’t much to do, maybe fish or visit Sandy and her shop, which no one knows how it stays open in the middle of nowhere, or the mysterious merchant who refuses to accept gold, only trades.

It doesn’t sound like a place you’d want to visit often, right? But right in the middle of that hellscape, where the scenery seems lifeless, is the most exclusive and secret club in Stardew Valley. A place where entry isn’t gained through money or influence but through astounding merits, proving that you are extraordinary.

That casino was an otherworldly experience. From the moment you stepped inside, all your senses were altered. The first thing you’d notice was that the place seemed unusually spacious compared to the floor below. The carpet had a very soft texture and a pattern that made it look like you were walking on space. The ceiling was a dome with a geometric interplay of purple neon lights and mirrors. The CalicoJack tables were occupied by famous characters you wouldn’t even imagine knew each other. At the reception, a group of musicians played, illuminated by a spotlight that made the smoke from the fragrant cigars visible.

The spaces not filled with slot machines, plants, or exotic vases were huge windows giving the impression of looking out into space. And if all that wasn’t enough to make you feel like the place wasn’t of this world, none of the employees seemed entirely human.

A woman with brown hair, greenish skin, and an expressionless face walked unhurriedly, accompanied by a bald, fat man in a suit, among the slot machines until they reached a discreet door almost hidden between them and the high-stakes CalicoJack table.

“Mr. Qi, a man wants to see you,” the woman’s outfit was completely dark, and her posture very rigid. She showed no emotion until the bald man intervened.
“Colonel Mustard, your friend, Colonel Mustard,” the woman made a slight grimace of disgust, and before she could correct him, a deep voice from inside answered,
“Come in, Colonel, I’ve been expecting you.”

Like the casino, the office was also larger than it appeared from the outside. The floor was marble, with walls decorated with evidently expensive paintings and bookshelves filled from floor to ceiling. An enormous bear-shaped machine stood out, but there were also some strange statues, exotic stones, and in the middle, a large desk with only an ashtray on it. Behind that, sitting in a leather chair, facing away from the door, looking at the universe through a large window, was Mr. Qi, who turned his chair around nonchalantly, revealing he wasn’t alone, as a large dark snake with bright eyes stretched from his shoulders to his right hand.

“You have a great office,” said the man, fascinated, before stopping to look at the enormous reptile.
“It’s nothing special, it has just what’s necessary. Tell me, what brings you here?”
“Well, for starters, I wanted to know how you were and if you received my gifts.”
“Fine, and as my assistants have informed you, gifts are not necessary,” Qi replied indifferently.
“It’s because you haven’t seen what I’ve been bringing you,” the man said as he took out a gold box and opened it towards him, revealing a collection of evidently expensive cigars resting on red silk. “What do you think? It takes ten years to make each one.”
Qi, without much enthusiasm, took one and smelled it.
“What favor are we talking about?” he replied as he returned the cigar to the box.
“Well, you and I are great businessmen. What you’ve achieved with this casino is simply marvelous, but I think you could make even more money.”

Qi remained unmoved and continued listening.

“I know you always talk about keeping the club exclusive and that money isn’t a problem, but what do you think about making an exception for some good friends…”

The man started talking about some wealthy acquaintances who apparently were perfect to be club members. Qi was more interested in peeling off some of his snake’s shedding skin and was casually tossing it onto the desk, letting pieces fall on the valuable “business offering.”

“It’s worth 200,000 g,”

Qi looked at the box with indifference and then at the man. “So, you want me to give a membership to some of your friends?”

“Believe me, you won’t regret it! They are very wealthy, they’ll buy a lot of chips, I told them about what you offer and…” Qi raised his hand to stop him.

“You told them about the casino?” Qi’s tone shifted from his characteristic calm to a more severe one.

“I understand you don’t want just anyone to know about your casino, but these men are different, their families have been rich for generations! You could become even richer than you already are and gain important contacts!” Upon hearing this last part, Qi couldn’t help but laugh.

“I’m really surprised, Colonel, I thought you were a much smarter man, but I guess your problems with your wife drove you to seek new ways to earn the respect of wealthy families. It’s a pity that in trying to do so, you lost your most important contact.”

The man was unsure whether to be more shocked that Qi knew his marriage was failing or that he was basically being thrown out of the casino.

“You can’t throw me out of the casino, I always bring you gifts! I’ve invested a lot of money in this place! Do you even know who I am?!” he said, standing up and slamming his fist on the desk, causing the snake to coil defensively.

The atmosphere suddenly grew cold, Qi’s blue face remained expressionless as he stood and walked toward the man, who noticed that the machines outside had stopped making noise. He thought about doing something else; he wasn’t the type to easily back down, but at that moment, he felt an indescribable fear.

Before he could process what was happening, Qi had grabbed him by the shirt and lifted him so that their eyes were level. The man was tall, but he wasn’t even touching the ground anymore.

“I know exactly who you are,” Qi responded slowly, “And you’re in my damn casino. Now get out before I throw you out myself,” he said, dropping him like a rag doll.

Once the man got up and walked out the door, one of the assistants stepped aside and looked inside with a worried expression.

“I told you not to accept gifts from anyone!” Qi growled in a severe tone.

“I’m sorry, sir, it’s just that he insisted so much and then left the gifts…” Qi simply motioned for her to be quiet.

“It’s fine, just make sure it doesn’t happen again and bring me a whiskey. Don’t bother me anymore.” The woman nodded and immediately followed his orders.

Once he had his drink, he continued looking out the window. Life had been somewhat boring for a while. He began to wonder if his judgment had been altered and he had lowered his standards by allowing such simple people into his club. It was always the same: they arrived, tried to win him over with gifts, money, absurd promises, all in hopes of getting a favor, as if he could be easily corrupted.

In the reflection of the window glass, he could see an old bear-shaped machine in the corner of his office. He had considered getting rid of it on various occasions, but something always stopped him. After all, he was quite sentimental.

He was taking a sip of his drink while looking at the machine when suddenly its screen lit up accompanied by cheerful music. His first reaction was to check what the hell he was drinking, as if suspecting someone had spiked it with a powerful sedative to calm him, but he quickly dismissed the idea and stood up to examine the machine.

He felt a knot in his stomach as he approached, placing a hand on the screen that only said “Loading data.” It was impossible, right?

“Y/N’s game”

“Y/N?!” It didn’t take long to remember who that name belonged to; it hadn’t been mentioned in years.

This brought back memories of a sunny day at the summit. Qi approached the old man who was looking at the landscape. He said nothing, simply sat beside him, observing with him, and searched for his characteristic black leather cigar case in his coat.

“My legs aren’t what they used to be; I think this will be the last time I see this view…” the old man broke the silence.

“What are you talking about? You must have some years left, you have the vitality of…” Qi paused to look at him for a moment, realizing how weak he seemed compared to before, “A fawn.”

The old man laughed, and Qi simply offered him a cigar, which he declined.

“You're missing out,” said, pulling one out for himself and putting the case back. He was slightly defensive, fearing the direction the conversation might take.

“Thank you for so many years of friendship, Qi. I feel you and Y/N will miss me the most.”

“Shut up,” Qi replied curtly.

“You're too sentimental, even though you try to hide it. Just promise you won't cry too much.” The old man gave Qi's back a weak pat, and Qi just made a sound of annoyance.

“You know I can extend your lifespan, right?” Qi tried to hide it, but the old man could hear the sadness in his voice.

“Of course I know. You’re the amazing Qi; you can do anything. But this is the natural course of life. I can feel it, and it’s okay. I've had a long life, one I can't regret.”

Qi couldn't argue with that. As much as he would miss his friend, he found his decision poetic and absolutely admirable.

“Do you remember when I tricked you with that blue slime and you chased me with your pickaxe?” Qi said teasingly.

“Of course. Back then, you looked like a human.”

“Good times.”

“The black hair suited you better, though the purple goes with your current style.”

“Not sure if I want you to become more honest now that you’re about to die.”

They both laughed and then fell silent.

“Will you leave the farm to your granddaughter?”

“Yes, I'm sure she'll love this place.”

“If she’s as much like you as you say, she surely will.”

“I'm sure you two will get along well. She’s a very special girl.”

It had happened. After so many years, Y/N, the granddaughter of that old man, had arrived at the farm, and it was her first day. The counter moved according to the number of steps she was taking; Qi could even notice when she stopped or walked faster by the way the number changed.

Like a child who had just received a Christmas toy, he teleported to his walnut room, eager to see what the new farmer looked like. She had two large suitcases by her sides and was saying goodbye to Robin and Lewis. It seemed she had only brought the essentials from the city.

“I always thought she’d look like the old man without the beard, but she’s actually quite cute,” thought as he watched, not missing a single detail of how the girl surveyed the state of the cabin and the farm. Clearly, she hadn’t realized how bad it would look after so many years of abandonment. “They have the same eyes,” he thought, zooming in on her face.

Instead of getting discouraged at the sight of the farm’s overall state, Y/N just sighed, grabbed the handle of one of her suitcases, and started pulling it inside the house. Seeing how much she struggled with a simple suitcase on the stairs, Qi couldn’t help but think about the long road ahead of her.

The following days were somewhat... disappointing. The young woman evidently came from a sedentary lifestyle, so she had very little energy when it came to physical work. Moreover, she had no idea how to take care of a farm. She spent a good amount of time watching the "Living Off the Land" program and taking notes in a notebook. To top it off, her money was so scarce that she was basically living off the foraged products she found, selling what she could, and buying the cheapest necessities from Pierre’s store.

“At this rate, she won’t last more than three weeks,” thought as he watched, semi-reclined from a chair in front of the screens, as the girl shooed crows away from her parsnip crops with her hands.

The first rain of the spring came, and he got to watch as the farmer ran frantically from one side to the other, placing all the dishes, bowls, cups, and jars from the house under the most prominent leaks. It made him feel quite bad, knowing she was still far from having the money to upgrade her house and didn’t have the materials or means to fix it.

“Alright, I’ll help you, but just this once, because you amuse me a lot,” said out loud. Y/N didn’t know what had happened, she just saw how suddenly the leaks stopped dripping one by one as if by some kind of magic.

“It was like a miracle!” Y/N said, talking with Leah days later.

To her surprise, more than three weeks had quickly passed. Y/N’s progress was slow, but now that she had gotten the fishing rod and was earning more money, she seemed much more motivated. Qi concluded that maybe he had underestimated her and decided to give her another little help, leaving some books here and there to help her learn how to improve the farm. Y/N indirectly accepted them gratefully and managed to make good use of them.

Time passed, and Y/N’s adventures in the valley didn’t stop. Directly or indirectly, everyone’s life seemed to be improving with her presence, not just on the farm but also in the casino, where the atmosphere was more relaxed than before because of the boss’s good mood.

“Isn’t it funny how we’re good friends, but she doesn’t know it?” Qi asked one of his assistants who had come to bring him a drink. The woman hesitated a bit but answered,

“Will you ever let her know you?”

“Eventually, when she earns the club membership.”

Chapter Text

It was a rainy day in Pelican Town. For some, that might mean sadness, as they wouldn’t be able to go outside to play and do the outdoor activities they loved so much. Others might find it relaxing—a perfect excuse to read a good book and sip on some hot chocolate! Perhaps it could even be the ideal atmosphere for a stroll, to have deep thoughts, to get inspired. But for our farmer...

“Thank Yoba for this miracle!” she exclaimed, dropping to her knees as she opened the door and discovered the rain watering her enormous fields of strawberries and coffee beans.

Y/N had escaped the big city for the countryside to avoid being a slave to a greedy corporation, but now she was a slave to her own greed after planting an absurdly large field of coffee and strawberries. Her life had basically become seeing her animals in the morning and then spending the entire day watering that monstrosity.

Some of her friends became worried when they hadn’t seen her since the Egg Festival. Abigail, Emily, and Harvey went to visit the farm, hoping not to find the worst, but upon understanding the situation, they tried to help her. Unfortunately, it was a titanic task, impossible for any sane person, especially with only a regular watering can.

After confirming that the farmer was still alive, they informed the rest of the town about the situation. Thanks to Emily and Evelyn, they organized a collection and managed to gather the generous amount of seven basic sprinklers, which was a blessing since it helped her go to bed before midnight. After that, someone would occasionally check in on the farm to make sure she was okay.

Y/N was overjoyed—it was the first time in weeks that she had the chance to leave the farm. How would she take advantage of this day? She hadn’t seen her friends in a while, but there was something she had been missing—going to the mines. The last time she had gone was when she reached level 120 and obtained a strange key. After that, the Junimos repaired the path to the quarry, where she found a hole from which she unearthed a statue of the Grim Reaper and kept its golden scythe, which was quite useful. Of course! She would go to see Rasmodius to check if he knew anything about the key.

She tended to her animals, as usual, and headed to the forest, happy to finally see a landscape that wasn’t just an enormous field of strawberries and coffee plants. The feeling of entering the forest was wonderful—she had never enjoyed the rain falling on her body so much, inhaling the scent of wet plants and damp earth. It all felt like a true blessing. She almost regretted how quickly she arrived at Rasmodius's house, but soon enough, she opened the door as if it were her own home.

“Good morning!” Rasmodius was preparing a potion, and his indifferent reaction made it seem like he already knew this was going to happen.

“Long time no see, farmer,” he said while weighing some mysterious herbs.

“Didn’t you miss seeing me?” she asked, tossing him a void essence, which he caught, nearly dropping his herbs in the process.

“A little, yes. I did miss your gifts overflowing with arcane powers,” he said, glancing away from his book to see what she had brought. “What brings you out of your self-imposed retreat to visit me so early?”

“Oh, right,” said the farmer, pulling out the key with a skull to show the wizard. Rasmodius couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow slightly when he noticed the puddle of water she was leaving on his wooden floor, but he didn’t mention it.

The farmer handed him the mysterious white key, which had a skull engraved on it and appeared to be made of some sort of incredibly resistant bone. “I found this at the bottom of the mines. I was wondering if you knew what it might be for.”

“I have an idea of what it could be, yes, but I think it’s best for you to figure it out on your own,” he said, admiring the details before handing it back to her.

“How about a hint?” she insisted with a smile, moving closer to the wizard.

“You don’t need hints, farmer. You’ll know when the time comes. Now, if you’ll excuse me…”

Y/N realized that she wouldn’t get any information out of Rasmodius that easily, so she decided to change her approach. “Oh, fine. I just thought you might know more. Who would’ve thought? In the end, maybe there are things in the valley that slip past even you,” she said with a shrug, turning as if she were about to leave.

Rasmodius couldn’t contain his indignation at her comment and immediately refuted it.
“It’s the Skull Cavern Key!”

The farmer turned to Rasmodius with a smug, victorious smile, making him realize he’d fallen for her trick.

“You…!” The farmer let out a small laugh, and Rasmodius only showed his resignation with a growl. “Just promise me that when the time comes, you won’t let greed blind you, and you’ll know your limits. Even for me, it’s very difficult to perform a rescue down there. I’d need special permits to enter. You’ll be entirely at the mercy of whoever gave you the key.”

The farmer looked at the key in awe. Whatever it was protecting seemed to be something big. “Alright, I’ll follow your advice. Thanks,” she said as she headed toward the door.

“Before you go off to seduce the town’s bachelors, I have a deal you might be interested in,” the wizard said, making the farmer stop in her tracks as he summoned a piece of paper into his hand. “Would you like to learn how to make rain totems?”

“Of course I want to learn how to make rain totems!” she said, turning back and eagerly approaching the wizard.

“Good. I can trade you this recipe for all the void essences you have,” he said, extending the paper toward her.

“Deal!” It wasn’t like the monster-slaying addict would miss a few void essences, though as soon as she took the paper, she noticed something. “Oh… I don’t have any truffle oil…”

The wizard sighed and conjured a rain totem. “Alright, hand that over,” he said, snatching the paper back. “I’ll trade you this totem for 50 void essences.”

“10,” the farmer responded, crossing her arms. She rarely used them for anything, but the offer was still offensive.

“45.”

“15.”

“40 is my final offer.”

“10 void essences, 5 solar essences, a fire quartz, and a bottle of wine.”

“What’s the wine’s quality?”

“It’s a regular bottle.”

“Add 5 more solar essences, and we’ve got a deal.”

“Deal!” Y/N said, shaking the wizard’s hand.

Y/N rushed back to the farm to gather what she had promised the wizard when her pet crossed her path, almost knocking her over.

“What’s up, buddy? We can play in a bit,” she said as her pet flopped onto the ground, demanding belly rubs. The farmer couldn’t resist giving in. “I really want to play with you, but I’m in a hurry.”

Suddenly, the animal tossed a rabbit’s foot toward Y/N and then got up to go play with a chicken.
“Where did you get this?” she asked as she picked it up. “Poor rabbit… But thanks for the gift! Maybe it’ll bring me some luck,” she said, tucking it into her backpack.

Soon, she returned to Rasmodius to deliver what she had promised him. The wizard counted and inspected the goods, then handed her the rain totem.

“There’s something else I want to give you…”

Rasmodius took out a small green vial tied with a string and extended it toward the farmer, who tilted her head so he could put it on her like a necklace.

"Is it something like the drink you gave me to talk to the junimos?" the girl asked, examining the small vial.

"Not exactly," he said as he adjusted the strap around her neck. "It's something I created as a protection. If you were to enter the Skull Cavern, for example, and your life was in serious danger of imminent death, the vial will break and transport you here, safe and sound."

The farmer smiled, touched by his gesture, and threw herself at the wizard to give him a hug. "Thank you, Rasmodius!"

"You have nothing to thank me for, little one," he said, absorbing the affectionate gesture and patting her head.

After that, she began her journey to the mines. Surprisingly, she was having a lot of luck, collecting plenty of gold ore. She had missed the feeling of fighting monsters, although she hadn’t encountered too many so far. She guessed her good luck was scaring them off, until she descended some stairs and found herself on a completely dark floor, illuminated only by her ring.

The air felt heavy; she could sense the vibrations of the ground from what seemed to be several monsters approaching. She couldn’t determine how many there were, but it was definitely more than usual. Three slimes started to approach her with small hops, and behind them, in the darkness beyond her light’s reach, she could hear several skeletons walking slowly in her direction. The air was growing colder, to the point where she could see her breath; that could only mean ghosts were nearby. The farmer, who was already gripping her sword in her right hand and her pickaxe in the other, charged at the monsters without hesitation.

Indeed, luck was on her side. The monsters came at her in a group, allowing her to take down more than one with a single swing. She had noticed that if she kept a certain rhythm in her attacks and movements, the monsters couldn’t react quickly enough to strike, or she could sync with their movements to dodge. Many weren’t very smart, so their movement patterns were predictable.

Maybe it was luck, or how much the farmer missed visiting the mines, but soon it was just her left standing, with her face splattered with monster blood, a ghost, and an unusually large skeleton. The skeleton and the ghost charged at her simultaneously from opposite directions; it was impossible to hit both at the same time, at least not with the sword. This wasn’t a problem for the farmer, who, fueled by adrenaline and with the sole thought of getting out of there unscathed, managed to strike the ghost while simultaneously shattering the skeleton's head with her pickaxe.

It was a quick movement, but at the same time, it felt as if it happened in slow motion. The skeleton's skull shattered upon impact with the pickaxe, and the ghost was violently thrown back by the blow from her sword. With the skeleton out of the scene, it was just her and the ghost left. The poor monster seemed to want to escape from the farmer, who was in a state of absolute euphoria, but it was too late. She chased it down with her sword, gaining momentum and making it disappear with a single blow, leaving behind a small seed and a solar essence.

"That was awesome!" she shouted victoriously, looking around as if searching for someone to applaud her epic feat, but she was alone. No one had seen the fierce battle she had just fought on that monster-filled floor, and probably not even the adventurers' guild would believe she had taken down a skeleton with just her pickaxe.

She had defeated all the monsters on that floor and, in return, had obtained a great amount of loot. She victoriously collected ore, diamonds, some solar essences, surprisingly a ghost fish, the small strange round seed, a note dropped by a slime, and when she approached the remains of the giant skeleton whose skull she had smashed, she found another note among the bones. She decided to read both notes later at home and stored them in her backpack, discovering that it was now completely full.

"Oh, and it's only 7 p.m.," she said after checking her watch.

She decided she was done and set out on her way to the Stardrop Saloon to show the world that she was still alive. She left the mine and walked calmly towards the bar, deciding not to take the minecart since she wanted to enjoy the scenery and perhaps run into friends along the way.

The first to see her was Linus, who greeted her happily, and they chatted for a bit. He had been one of those who donated a sprinkler to her and had also sent her sashimi from time to time because he knew she would be so interested in her plants that she probably hadn’t been eating well.

"Food is essential for having a good day; don't forget that," Linus said before they said goodbye.

She arrived at the Stardrop Saloon, seeing the lights from outside, hearing the familiar voices chatting inside, accompanied by the usual music. She opened the door, and everyone fell silent upon seeing her, leaving only the background music playing. She hadn't cleaned off the blood, and with the rain, it had smeared even more, so she was covered in red from head to toe.

"I told you it wasn’t healthy to leave her alone for so long!" Harvey said with a look of horror.

"I just went for a stroll in the mines!" Y/N explained, raising her hands to show her innocence.

A collective “Oooh” echoed throughout the tavern from everyone present. Before Y/N could say anything else, Emily rushed over to hug her so tightly that it knocked the wind out of her. She then spent some time chatting with most of the people there (except for Clint, who didn’t seem interested in joining the conversation) about what had happened in town during her seclusion.

Once it got late and everyone had gone home, she decided to take the path that led by the bus stop and paused to look at it for a moment.

"Now that I think about it, I haven't left town in a year..." she thought, reconsidering how much it was worth getting rich at the cost of spending all day watering plants. "It’ll just be for one season. After this, I’ll be able to live more comfortably." After spending so much time alone on the farm, only talking to the animals, she had gotten into the habit of talking to herself for encouragement, seeing it as a way to keep from going crazy—or at least not too crazy.

Once home, she finished emptying her backpack and stored the items in their respective chests, leaving only the two notes she had picked up. "The perfect date for Leah, interesting..." she thought excitedly after reading the first note. Leah seemed like a pretty cool girl. She usually gave her seasonal flowers whenever she ran into her, and now she knew exactly what kind of things liked.

The second note looked just as old and worn as the first, but from the very first line, it sent a chill down her spine:

Greetings, Y/N... Have you found my "secret" in the dark tunnel?

I’m looking forward to meeting you!

- Qi

"But how...?!" she remembered the talking bear in the Secret Woods who had looked at her in a strangely suggestive way while explaining how to sell blackberries for a better price, and she accepted that more than one odd person in the valley probably knew about her. "Well, it doesn't matter," she concluded with a shrug.

In the end, she left the notes with the rest, took a good bath, and put on her pajamas. She fluffed her pillow and went to bed without giving the matter much thought, at least until 3 a.m.

"Of course! The dark tunnel is the one on the highway!" she said, suddenly sitting up in bed, startling her pet. "...On second thought, I’m already in my pajamas. I’ll check it out tomorrow," she concluded, lying back down.

Honestly, the farmer wasn't looking forward to the next day very much, knowing she’d have to return to the routine of watering her enormous field of crops. She could have used the totem Rasmodius had sold her, but she knew it was better to save it for an important occasion.

Her surprise was immense when she discovered that it was raining again the next day. "Rasmodius probably took pity on my soul," she thought with a smile. "I'll give him a bottle of strawberry wine when all this is over." This time, she went back inside to grab her raincoat and then went out again to fulfill her duties as a farmer.

After everything was in order on the farm, she took the mysterious note and headed to the dark tunnel by the bus stop. Indeed, it was quite dark, but fortunately, that wasn't a problem thanks to her glow ring. She simply walked in, extending her hand slightly, hoping to find something or someone. To her surprise, there was nothing interesting.

"The road is blocked," she thought, wondering if she was missing something when she saw what seemed to be a fuse box on the wall. "Could it be that?" She carefully approached the box to illuminate it and noticed that it was actually a lockbox that only needed a battery. She quickly returned home and grabbed a battery she had recently obtained after the previous day's storm. She returned to the tunnel and inserted it. Immediately, a bolt clicked, opening the box and revealing a note inside.

"Your first task: Bring a rainbow shell to the train platform.

Leave it in the box.

- Mr. Qi"

"Mr. Qi has very neat handwriting and spelling," she thought, before glancing around to see if there was anything else of interest. But noticing there was nothing else, she returned home to check if she hadn’t already given all her shells to Haley.

"Looks like today is Mr. Qi's lucky day," she said, pulling out a beautiful blue shell from one of her chests and hurrying to leave it at the train platform. The walk felt longer than usual, not only because she was technically climbing the mountain while running and trying not to slip in the mud, but because the more she thought about it, the more this strange treasure hunt felt increasingly intriguing. What kind of person would be capable of leaving a note in a skeleton's skull?

She arrived at the train platform, and once she was sheltered from the rain by the roof, she pulled back her hood to see better and searched for the box. She quickly spotted it. It was large and deep, so she had to lean part of her body inside to carefully place the shell at the bottom. As soon as the shell touched the bottom, something fell onto Y/N's head. She immediately looked up and grabbed what turned out to be a piece of paper caught between her neck and her raincoat.

"Good job. Your next task: Place 10 beets in the mayor’s fridge.

Mr. Qi"

After reading the note, she started looking around for any mechanism or person who might have dropped it, but there was nothing—she was completely alone. Considering the specific detail of delivering beets to Lewis's house, she began to wonder if this was just a prank by the villagers to get her to do some free chores. Well, it didn’t really matter; it was too early to tell if this mystery would be a waste of time or not.

After waving her hand in front of the box one last time, hoping to feel some thin string, and nearly falling inside while testing if there was any mechanism triggered by weight, she checked her watch—it was 10:34 AM. That meant Pierre’s store was open, and she could ask about the seeds she needed.

She descended the mountain with a bit more caution than when she had climbed up. Her boots were sturdy, but she still couldn’t avoid slipping a bit in the muddy, steeper areas. Once she reached town, she entered Pierre’s shop, which looked slightly different from the last time she visited.

“Farmer! Long time no see,” Pierre said from behind the counter.
“How’s it going, Pierre? I’m here to do some business,” Y/N replied, wiping her boots on the entrance mat.
“It’s always a pleasure doing business with you. Looking for something specific?”
“I’m looking for beet seeds,” she explained as she approached the counter.
“Oh, well, you’re looking for more seeds…” Pierre slid out from behind the counter, approaching the farmer and placing his hands on her shoulders. “Listen, your purchase of strawberry seeds was the best thing that’s happened to us in years—you saved my family’s finances. My marriage! We were even able to remodel some things in the house and the store.”
“You’re… welcome?” Y/N responded, not quite understanding where the conversation was going.
“But I can’t sell you any more seeds,” Pierre explained. “Don’t take it the wrong way; it’s just for this season. The residents of Pelican Town decided to intervene after seeing what happened with the strawberries—they’re afraid that the overload of work might wear you out.”
“Well, I get that I might have gone a little overboard with the strawberries and coffee plants. But I’m fine! I can handle about 30 more beets,” the farmer explained, lifting her raincoat slightly to show off her arm muscles.
“I’m sure you can... but it wasn’t my decision. They won by a majority vote! And, to be honest, I don’t have beet seeds—they’re really hard to come by, and I don’t think they’re even in season…”
“Oh… I see. In that case, I guess I’ll just take the monthly All About Your Farm magazine.”

With that, the farmer left Pierre’s store, feeling a bit disheartened. She looked again at the note she had found at the train platform and headed to the Community Center in search of other things to do.

“Well, it’s not like I was promised any money,” Y/N whispered, shrugging her shoulders as she tried to cheer herself up to avoid feeling too disappointed. “Sorry, Mr. Qi, looks like we won’t be meeting anytime soon,” she concluded, speaking into the air, not knowing that, in fact, she was being listened to...

Chapter Text

“Well, it’s not like I was promised any money,” the farmer said, shrugging, unaware that Qi was watching her from his walnut room, feeling somewhat indignant at how quickly she had given up on the treasure hunt. He probably would have found some way to annoy her for being so greedy, which wouldn’t have been the first time he’d done it. But before he could decide on which minor inconvenience would irritate her the most, she added, “Sorry, Mr. Qi, looks like we won’t be meeting anytime soon.”

That last phrase, though he knew it was said offhandedly and in a playful manner, felt oddly direct. It stirred something in him. It was too surprising to hear her speak to him so familiarly. It wasn’t an uncomfortable sensation; in fact, it was pleasant, even comforting.

Being at the top could be very lonely. Everyone treated him with immense respect, and probably the last time someone spoke to him so casually, as if they genuinely saw him as a friend, was over ten years ago—and that person was Y/N’s grandfather. Yet, even so, this felt different.

“I really have been alone for a long time,” he thought for a moment as he rewound the recording and listened to Y/N calling him by name once more.

“Sorry, Mr. Qi, looks like we won’t be meeting anytime soon…”

The blue-skinned man couldn’t help but smile as he heard it again. “Brazen, greedy little brat…” he muttered before letting out a chuckle. “You always manage to surprise me.”

No one knew better than Qi why Y/N was always seeking to get rich. After all, he was the one who “accompanied” her during her most precarious times, back when she was a complete stranger.

“I suppose I can think of something fun to give you a proper reward,” he mused as he returned to the live feed of what the farmer was doing.

She arrived at the community center and took off her raincoat, greeting the Junimos.

“Hey guys! Long time no see,” she said as the little forest spirits emerged from their hiding spots to greet her one by one.

“I didn’t bring much for you…” she added while placing a melon in the summer crops box.

Suddenly, a light shone, and several Junimos danced happily around the farmer, presenting her with a quality sprinkler.

“Really, guys? Thanks!” she exclaimed as she took the sprinkler and stowed it in her backpack.

Then she pulled out a notebook and began walking through the rooms, followed by a group of Junimos. She checked the requests and noted down what she knew she could easily get or already had at home. Sometimes, she felt a bit guilty knowing that some of the missing items were things she had sold long ago. When she reached the vault room and saw all the money the Junimos were asking for, her eyes widened in astonishment.

“Seriously?! What do you even need that much money for?!” she exclaimed in surprise, causing more than one Junimo to jump a little in shock. “I thought you guys didn’t believe in money and were like Smurfs or something.”

Several Junimos began pointing at the severely damaged items in the room, and one even pulled out an old picture of the broken-down bus.

“Oh, so you’re not really that magical and you just buy your stuff at the hardware store.”

The Junimos nodded, slightly offended.

“Alright, when I get rich at the end of the season, I’ll give you the money,” she said, making the Junimos dance happily at her words. “I might even buy you some hats.”

The Junimos laughed along with her as they wandered through the community center to a corner where the farmer took out a "Everything for Your Farm" magazine that she had bought from Pierre. She sat down, and the Junimos did the same, some climbing onto her lap and others taking a seat as if expecting her to read them a story.

“I like this magazine; it has lots of interesting stuff,” she said as she flipped through the pages and showed it to the Junimos. “For example, this article about the Rarecrow Association—my favorite is this one. What about yours?”

The farmer pointed at the picture of her favorite Rarecrow, and each Junimo did the same with their little arms.

“I’ve almost collected them all; the only one I’m missing is the Alien Rarecrow,” she said, pointing it out. “Actually, there’s something about it here.”

Some Junimos scooted closer to hear her read.

“Rarecrow number 3, also known as the Alien Rarecrow, is the most expensive and hardest to obtain. According to the most dedicated collectors, only 100 of these Rarecrows have ever been made, with the Rarecrow Association owning three of them. Occasionally, owners of these exotic items put them up for auction, with prices ranging from…” the farmer paused to confirm the number, “150,000 to 300,000g! And it’s believed the value will continue to increase! What makes this Rarecrow so exclusive is that you can put any hat on it. Well, that explains the price,” she said, nodding along with the Junimos. “I wish I could have one… but it’s worth more than my house.”

Mr. Qi, who had been sitting in his leather chair the whole time, sipping whiskey while observing attentively, pulled a cell phone from his coat, flipping it open with his thumb. With an expressionless face, he dialed a number.

After a few seconds, someone answered on the other end.

“Yes, hello?” “I need an Alien Rarecrow.” “Oh, good day, Mr. Qi. Of course, I can get you one, although I must warn you that after it appeared in Everything for Your Farm, the price has skyrocketed quite a bit.” “How much are we talking about?” “Well, considering there are only 100 in existence and one was reported sold for 300,000g, people have gone crazy over them. I’m not sure how much you’d be willing to pay…” “The price isn’t an issue. The only thing that matters is that it looks brand new.” “If that’s the case, I’ll investigate all the current owners to get the best one. I’ll keep you updated as soon as I find it.”

Qi hung up and took another sip of his whiskey, smiling.

“I wonder what face she’ll make when she sees it at the casino,” he thought.

The rest of the day was pretty relaxed for the farmer. She visited Evelyn and George to check if they were doing well, flirted with a few of the town’s bachelors, and then went to hang out at her friend Haley’s house.

“I want a boyfriend,” the farmer said, lying on Haley’s bed and staring up at the ceiling.

“Then why don’t you get one? You’re a bit odd, but more than one guy in town likes you! Even some of the girls!” Haley’s straightforwardness was something the farmer found both amusing and appreciated.

“I know, it’s just that… I don’t know, I could say that no one really convinces me completely, I guess.”

“You don’t feel in love.”

“Exactly!” the farmer nodded. “It’s not like I believe you can look at someone and fall in love right away; I suppose you have to get to know them first, but come on! It feels like something’s missing.”

“You’re quite the romantic, Y/N, but I don’t blame you. I like that kind of stuff too!” Haley tilted her head a bit and then thought for a moment. “What would your ideal type be like?”

Y/N pondered for a moment before answering.

“I’m not sure. I think it would be someone smart, who likes helping out on the farm. It’d be great if they were tall, and… I don’t know, I guess we’d need to have chemistry.”

Qi was left thinking about who might best match the characteristics the farmer was looking for. “The athlete and the blacksmith are officially out,” he thought as he stopped observing the farmer and shifted his focus to the town’s bachelors.

“I don’t think she has chemistry with the drunkard either. The blond guy doesn’t seem like a good match for her. I think she’s also into girls; in that case, the purple-haired one wouldn’t be so bad…” At that moment, Qi searched for Abigail, finding her spending time with Sebastian. “Well, maybe we can rule those two out.”

Qi continued wandering around town with the camera, checking if he was overlooking anyone, until he came across Elliott. “Not my favorite, but he could be an option.”

After that, he let out a sigh of resignation and returned to where the farmer was, gazing at her while reflecting on how similar they could be. “Oh, dear farmer, people as brilliant as us often lead lonely lives. It will be hard to find someone who truly deserves you.”

After a pause, his phone rang, and he answered immediately.

“I have what you asked for, though the price might be a bit steep…” The man on the other end sounded somewhat nervous, worried that Qi might change his mind about the purchase.

“How much?” Qi asked, making his indifference clear.

“Well, the owner wasn’t interested in selling, and I don’t like to bring it up, but considering the speed and my fees…”

“How much?” Qi repeated, this time in a more impatient tone.

“650,000g,” the man replied bluntly.

“Fine, someone will pick it up and leave you the money shortly,” Qi replied before hanging up.

“I honestly thought it would be more expensive,” he whispered as he settled back into his chair, pulling out his cigar case and glancing at the screen, where he saw Y/N’s face and smiled.

Days went by, then weeks, months, and gradually Y/N began to forget about the matter of the mysterious Mr. Qi. It wasn’t until late summer that the name became relevant to her once more…

Chapter Text

"125,000g?!" Y/N shouted upon seeing the money Lewis had left her for her products. She had never seen so much money before. While she had been confident her goods could bring in 100,000g, she hadn’t done the math and had simply stuffed everything into the shipping bin without a second thought.

Her hands and feet trembled as she sat down to double-check the amount she had received. Her hard work had truly paid off!

It was the last few days of summer, and Y/N realized that the moment she had been waiting for had finally arrived. She could now sell all the coffee and strawberry wine she had been stockpiling over the past two seasons. Deciding not to sell everything at once, she had spent the previous day brewing a large batch of coffee and filling the shipping bin to the brim, piling containers on top until it was surrounded.

"I guess this money is enough to do everything I’ve been planning," she said, already mapping out her errands: upgrading the barn with Robin, visiting the Junimos, improving her axe, and catching up with her friends.

Still struggling to process the fact that she now had both free time and financial stability, Y/N tended to her animals, gathered what she needed, and set off. First, she visited Robin to request the barn upgrade. Then, she stopped by Clint’s to improve her axe. Finally, she strolled casually toward the Community Center. There was still plenty of money left, though she knew a good portion of it would soon be spent.

"Alright, folks, let’s fix that cursed vault," she declared as she entered, showing the money to the Junimos.

The Junimos clapped and bounced around in excitement while Y/N placed the money in front of them. In return, they gave her several gifts, ranging from chocolate cakes to a crystallarium. Once all the funds had been deposited, she watched in awe as the vault magically reconstructed itself, jumping back in surprise at the transformation.

"I guess all that effort was worth it," she said, admiring the work of the forest creatures.

When she left the Community Center, she realized it was still only midday.

"Maybe I can take a walk through the forest. It’s been ages since I last visited," she thought as she headed toward the town. Along the way, something shiny on the ground caught her eye. Acting almost instinctively, she grabbed her hoe and dug up whatever it was. To her surprise, she unearthed a doll that gave off an unsettling vibe.

"...This looks like something Gunther would like," she mused, holding the doll by its arm. The discovery reminded her of a strange seed she had found in the mines months ago. She rushed home to retrieve it, eager to bring both items to the museum.

It had been so long that she had to rummage through several chests before finally remembering she had tucked the seed away in the drawer of her bedside table. There it was, still wrapped in that note from someone named Mr. Qi.

"And I still have no idea where I’m supposed to find beets," the farmer grumbled as she left the note behind and pocketed the seed.

She used the minecart at the bus stop to quickly reach the museum. The moment she walked in with the doll, Gunther adjusted his glasses excitedly.

"I see you’ve brought something interesting to donate," he said with enthusiasm.
"Actually, I have two things," Y/N replied, pulling the seed from her pocket and placing it on the counter alongside the doll.
"My goodness! Is this what I think it is?" Gunther exclaimed, carefully picking up the seed and examining it. "It certainly is!"
"It is?!" Y/N asked, still clueless about what was happening.
"What we have here is a petrified specimen. Based on its shape and origin, it might be an ancient seed. And it’s in remarkably good condition! I could send it to Zuzu City for study. They might even be able to bring it back to life."
"Is that really possible?" Y/N asked, astonished.
"I can’t guarantee it, but there’s a chance," Gunther replied enthusiastically. "If it works, I’ll let you know and see about giving you some seeds."
"That’s great!" Y/N said excitedly. "And what about the doll?" she asked, pointing at it.
"Oh, that. An interesting find. I think it might be haunted."
"...What?"
"Just kidding!" Gunther laughed. "But it’s quite valuable. You know, this is the 60th donation you’ve made to the museum. I think you deserve a reward."

Y/N’s eyes lit up at the mention of a reward.

"I have just the thing," Gunther said, rummaging through one of his drawers. "Here it is!"

Gunther pulled out an old, rusty key that didn’t seem particularly special. Y/N’s excitement immediately deflated as she accepted the key with both hands. She thanked him politely, though the disappointment was hard to hide.

As night fell, the crickets began to chirp, and Y/N could hear Robin hammering in the distance. She put on her pajamas and collapsed onto her bed, followed by her pet.

"I think today was productive," she mused. "I’m making a lot of money, I have time for myself, and I’ve been able to improve so many things. I even got another mysterious key."

She rolled over to her bedside table, where she had left the key, and picked it up to examine it more closely. Based on its size, she had a vague idea of where it might belong, but she was far too tired to confirm her theory that night.

"Tomorrow’s another day," she thought, placing the key back in the drawer and letting out a yawn. "It’s not like anyone’s pressuring me."

The next morning, Y/N opened her mailbox as usual and found a letter announcing that the bus had been repaired overnight. She immediately recalled the little Junimo who had pointed to a picture of the bus when she was complaining about paying them so much money.

"They really do work fast," Y/N said in amazement.

After tending to her animals, she headed to the bus stop, where she found Pam with a big smile on her face.

"Can you believe it? I got my job back!" Pam exclaimed.

Y/N didn’t know what surprised her more: the fact that she could now travel to a new place or the realization that one of the town’s heaviest drinkers would be driving the bus. Without overthinking, she decided to trust her adventurous instincts, bought a ticket—though she found it a bit pricey—and boarded the bus.

The ride wasn’t too bad, though it felt a little long. The road stretched straight ahead, and the scenery gradually changed into a monotonous desert. While the landscape wasn’t much to look at, Y/N felt excited to see something new. Suddenly, the bus stopped in what seemed like the middle of nowhere.

"We’ve arrived at Calico Desert," Pam announced.

As soon as Y/N stepped off the bus, a wave of scorching heat hit her, making her understand why Pam preferred to stay inside, reading a magazine. Trying not to focus too much on the blistering heat and the sun burning her skin, she scanned her surroundings for something to do.

The first thing that caught her attention was a merchant's stall next to a camel. After all, she finally had some money to spend.

When she approached the stall, she noticed many exotic items she would never have been able to find in Pelican Town. The merchant, dressed in attire that suggested he was from a faraway land, showed her his catalog. Many products piqued Y/N’s interest, but to her surprise, none of them could be bought with money—they were all available only through trade.

In the distance, she spotted what looked like a pink-roofed castle. Intrigued, she decided to investigate. She arrived at a large sign that read "Oasis." Without hesitation, she pushed the door open and entered, feeling immediate relief from the air conditioning.

"Oh! A customer!" exclaimed an excited woman with pink hair standing behind the counter. She approached Y/N cheerfully. "Welcome to Sandy’s Oasis! I’m Sandy!"

Y/N spent some time chatting with Sandy, who was thrilled to hear news from Pelican Town, meet the farmer Emily often talked about, and make a new friend. Sandy gave Y/N a tour of the small shop, explaining the products she carried while both women acted as if they didn’t notice the burly man in a suit lurking in the back of the store.

"Sorry, I’m not allowed to talk about that," Sandy said, her expression briefly serious before brightening up again. "Want to see my exotic seeds? They’re my specialty!"
"Of course I do!" Y/N’s eyes lit up instantly.

Sandy proceeded to show her the seeds, and Y/N carefully examined each packet until one, in particular, caught her attention.
"Beets! You have beets?! You have no idea how long I’ve been looking for these!" she exclaimed, unable to hide her excitement as she grabbed a generous handful of beet seeds, along with a few other packets that looked interesting.

"Whenever you need exotic seeds, just call me!" Sandy said, interpreting Y/N’s enthusiasm as a compliment. It was, after all. "If I don’t have it, I can get it for you," she added with a wink.

Y/N left the shop delighted with her new seeds. The urge to plant them immediately was strong, but she realized it was still early, and she hadn’t explored the area much.

Across the street, she noticed what appeared to be a lake surrounded by palm trees and decided to check it out. Although there didn’t seem to be any traffic, she still looked both ways before crossing the road. She wasn’t expecting to see much life, but to her surprise, she spotted some fish swimming in the water.

"Bingo," she muttered to herself, thinking about how well rare fish would sell back in the town. "I guess I’ll just need to grab a few coconuts and..." She paused, trying to recall the name of the other fruit nearby but came up empty.

In a corner on the far side of the lake, behind some palm trees, she spotted what looked like the entrance to a cave. Her first thought was that it was probably nothing, but her curiosity got the better of her. To her surprise, it wasn’t just an ordinary cave. Inside, a lamp illuminated a door she immediately recognized.

"This is the Skull Cavern!" she exclaimed with excitement, pulling out the key she had been keeping safe.

Noticing a darker section of the cave, she approached it to take a closer look, just in case. There, she found a massive skull with a button inviting her to press it. Though Y/N could be clumsy, she had enough common sense to shake her head and turn her attention back to the door.

The key fit perfectly, clicking softly as the door opened to reveal a staircase.

Cautiously, she descended the stairs and found herself in a well-lit room with an Egyptian-style décor. The first thing she noticed were some rocks containing precious materials. But before she could step forward, a strange green, flying creature lunged at her aggressively. Thankfully, she managed to block the attack with her sword out of sheer reflex, forcing the creature to retreat.

“Whoa!” Y/N exclaimed as she adjusted her stance, watching the creature come at her again. Her sword trembled slightly in her grip as it clashed with the creature, but she managed to hold her ground and win the fight.

When the serpent finally fell, it dropped a generous reward that made Y/N smile and exclaim, "I really need to get a better sword." With that thought in mind, she mined a few rocks, gathered the creature’s spoils, and headed back to the surface.

As she emerged, something massive caught her eye: a giant fossil resting on a hill.

“Holy crap…” she muttered, wondering if creatures that size still roamed the depths of that cavern.

Her curiosity got the better of her, and she climbed up to examine the mysterious remains, which were undeniably enormous.

"Its skull is almost as big as I am," she said, marveling at the creature’s remains. She then noticed an inscription carved nearby:

"‘Its jaws point to the desert sun. Even in death, it hungers for a bite.’"

"Morbidly poetic," she remarked, her fascination growing.

Satisfied with the discoveries from her adventure, she boarded the bus with Pam and returned to the town. She was brimming with excitement over the new adventures that awaited her and couldn’t stop thinking about upgrading her sword. Perhaps she should sell more products to afford Marlon’s finest weapon.

Before heading to bed, she made sure to refill her shipping box with freshly brewed coffee, plant and fertilize her beet seeds, and, of course, brush her teeth.

The next morning, Y/N woke up eager to check how much money she had earned and already excited at the thought of visiting the desert again. That’s when she noticed a letter in her mailbox.

"I see you’ve entered Skull Cavern. Well done.

That said, I’ve got an even better challenge for you: make it to level 25 or deeper.

I’ve got a hefty sum of money waiting for you if you can pull it off.

Your friend, Mr. Qi."

“Perfect spelling, as always,” Y/N said with a grin after reading the letter. Then, her smile widened. “Mr. Qi, you and I are definitely on the same page,” she said with a grin, though a question lingered in her mind: Why is he so invested in my progress?

The thought only made her more eager to take on the challenge, her heart pounding with a mix of curiosity and anticipation.

Chapter Text

Y/N felt highly motivated. Now that she was financially free, her only concerns were petting her animals and placing strawberries and coffee in the kegs, which left her with plenty of free time for new projects. She decided that once she was done with her morning routine, she would test her theory about where the Rusty Key Gunther had given her might be used. After that, she planned to buy a new sword at the Adventurer's Guild.

Before leaving the farm, she suddenly stopped in her tracks, returned to one of her chests, and took out a bottle of wine, which she carefully placed in her backpack. Then, she headed toward the forest. The autumn wind rustled the leaves, painting the landscape in soft reddish hues befitting the season. The view fascinated Y/N, who made her first stop at Rasmodius’ house.

"Good morning!" she called out as she barged in, startling Rasmodius, who had been asleep at his desk.

"What are you doing here so early?!"

"It’s not that early; it’s around 9 AM..." Y/N replied nonchalantly, checking her watch. "Anyway, I was just passing by and thought you might like this."

She pulled out the bottle of Strawberry Wine and handed it to Rasmodius, who gladly accepted the gift.

"Hehe, looks like things are going well on the farm," Rasmodius said, inspecting the bottle with delight.

"Yeah! I thought I’d go insane with all those crops, but in the end, everything turned out fine," she said proudly. "Oh, right! I also wanted to ask you something. I found the Skull Cavern and had a few questions."

"I refuse to confirm or deny whether I am the wizard who condemned those souls to that underground limbo."

"...Souls?"

Rasmodius realized his ego had once again gotten the best of him, making him reveal more than he intended. "What exactly did you want to ask?"

"Oh, I just wanted to know if you’re familiar with Mr. Qi."

"I have no idea who you're talking about," Rasmodius replied dismissively.

Y/N narrowed her eyes at him, while Rasmodius pretended to examine the bottle again.

"I have a good place to store this bottle. Care to join me?" he offered, changing the subject.

"Sure!" Y/N responded, intrigued by whatever new place the wizard was about to show her.

They walked toward the back of the house, where Rasmodius moved a book from a shelf, revealing a hidden passage. He gestured for Y/N to enter first, and they stepped inside. Rasmodius remained silent as they made their way through the passage until they reached another room filled with books. A large armchair and a coffee table cluttered with strange objects occupied the space. While Y/N took in her surroundings with fascination, Rasmodius securely shut the door, which was actually another bookshelf.

"I’d prefer we discuss Mr. Qi only in this room."

Y/N was taken aback by the secrecy but nodded in agreement.

"Is he another wizard?" she asked curiously. "Like, your rival?"

"Honestly, even I don’t fully understand what he is. I wouldn’t call him a rival since our interests are different, though I’ve never quite grasped what his truly are." Rasmodius carefully placed the bottle among other bottles. "The origins and intentions of that man are a mystery. I wouldn’t even say he’s a protector of the valley..."

"He sounds pretty interesting."

"He is. Just be careful. Never take off the pendant I gave you, and above all, never make him angry. He’s not someone to be taken lightly..."

"Thanks for the warning. I’ll keep that in mind when I meet him..."

After their conversation, Y/N had many things to think about. What kind of person was Mr. Qi? Why was there so much secrecy, even in Rasmodius’ home? The way Rasmodius spoke about him made Mr. Qi sound like a dangerous individual. Yet, based on the letters he had sent her, Y/N had pictured him as more eccentric and even amusing.

Before she knew it, she was standing at the entrance to the sewers.

"Well, the only way to know for sure is to try it myself," she thought, pulling out the Rusty Key and inserting it into the large lock. Sure enough, the key worked, and the sewer grate creaked open.

"I better keep my sword at hand in case that thing I heard with the kids turns out to be dangerous..."

Y/N cautiously walked down the long passage, careful not to step on anything she might regret later.

"I’m definitely taking a shower after this."

At the end of the path, she found an entrance but quickly realized a force field prevented her from entering. She didn’t dwell on it too much and turned her attention to a statue beside some mysterious jars.

"Statue of Uncertainty. This statue can help you change professions," she read from a plaque below it. "Not interested right now."

She continued walking, attentively scanning her surroundings for anything interesting, until she came across a small shadowy creature. They stared at each other, both momentarily perplexed, but upon realizing neither had hostile intentions, Y/N raised her hand slightly and greeted it with a timid, "Hello."

"...Hello. A human visitor? How unusual. I am Krobus, a merchant of rare and exotic goods."

Hearing the words "rare and exotic goods," Y/N’s eyes lit up. In the end, she bought a Stardrop, which she ate right there despite the sewer’s stench, and a Void Egg to incubate on her farm later.

Finally, she made a stop at the Adventurer's Guild to greet Marlon and Gil.

"What brings you here, farmer? Got any good monster loot to sell us?" Marlon asked, clearly interested.

"Actually, this time I'm the one looking to buy a weapon," the farmer said, leaning on the counter. "My sword is starting to feel too small for me," she added, pulling out an impressive black steel sword.

"A Steel Falchion," Marlon commented, while Gil let out a small chuckle upon seeing how the farmer handled the weapon as if it were nothing special. "Mind if I inspect it?"

"Of course!" the farmer said, handing it over.

"It's slightly bent. Did you use this to smash rocks or what?"

"It was some kind of serpent or dragon."

"I see... I think I know what that was," Marlon replied, handing the sword back. "I believe I have only one kind of sword that could help you with that."

Marlon slowly walked to the other side of the counter and pulled out a katana from a black sheath with fine metallic orange engravings resembling waves. The hilt was also black, decorated with orange gemstones. A design clearly made to command respect.

"This is the best weapon I have," he said as he handed it to the farmer.

Amazed by the elegant design, the farmer unsheathed it to take a better look. The metal was orange and heavier than her current sword.

"It was forged in a lake of agitated lava. It's very powerful. No monster will be able to bend it," Marlon assured.

"How much are we talking?" She knew it wouldn't be cheap, but she also knew she'd need it for the Skull Cavern.

"25,000. It's expensive, but keep in mind that—"

"Deal," the farmer said, nodding with determination.

She mentally calculated all the money she'd spent that day. It was quite a lot, but she still had many goods left to sell. When she returned to the farm, she saw that her beets were already starting to sprout. Now she felt even more eager to meet the mysterious Mr. Qi.

She spent the next few days exploring the Skull Cavern, completing bundles for the Junimos, and visiting her friends. On the third day, excited that her beets were about to be ready for harvest, she decided to head to the cavern to pass the time.

"Food, weapon, pickaxe, a warp totem in case things get ugly, and lots of bombs. I think this should be enough," she thought, making one last check of her backpack.

The oracle had said today would be a lucky day, and it was. Slowly, she descended through the cavern floors until she found a hole. She had seen them before but never really considered how safe it was to jump in. Noticing there was light at the bottom, she assumed it would take her several levels down. Feeling a little uncertain, she jumped in, using her feet to slow the fall a bit.

When she landed, mostly unscathed, she realized she had descended two floors.

"That wasn't too bad," she murmured, dusting herself off and pulling out a mega bomb to throw at a large pile of rocks.

Bit by bit, she continued descending, taking advantage of the holes until she reached floor 25. But once there, she found no chest or sign of her reward. She felt quite cheated, but since she was already in the cavern, she decided to keep going as long as possible. Eventually, she made it to floor 30.

That night, she returned home, but not before stopping by the desert trader to exchange some omni geodes for desert warp totems and artifact troves. Back at home, she sorted her loot into the appropriate chests and went to take a shower. As the hot water relaxed her muscles, she reflected on everything that had happened over the past few days. Would her prize arrive by mail tomorrow? It would arrive just as the beets were ready to be delivered. Was she getting closer to meeting Mr. Qi?

The next day, she found a package in her mailbox. Seeing the handwriting, she immediately knew who it was from and felt a wave of excitement. It was a letter from Mr. Qi, and yes, it came with quite a bit of money, 10,000g to be exact. But what caught her attention the most was the note.

"You did it.
You have impressed me.
Enjoy your reward.
Mr. Qi."

She had managed to impress the mysterious Mr. Qi. She couldn’t stop reading the letter over and over. What kind of person was he, to be held in such high regard by Rasmodius and able to casually give away 10,000g?

In a surprising twist that would shock anyone who knew her, the money didn’t seem to matter that much. She simply stored the package inside her house, had a double espresso, and ran outside to harvest the beets that were finally ready.

With her backpack full of beets, she rushed toward town at full speed. Lewis, who was just stepping out of his house adjusting his bowtie to head to Pierre's shop, saw the farmer approaching at high speed.

"Y/N, good mor—" Before he could finish his sentence, the farmer dashed past him, leaving a gust of wind in her wake. She only slowed down a bit when she reached the corner to turn toward the mayor's house, flashing him a quick smile before disappearing through the entrance.

"Good morning, Lewis," she said casually before going inside.

Lewis sighed in amusement. He wasn’t surprised. He knew how odd the farmer could be, so he simply continued on his way.

Inside the house, she opened the fridge, stored the beets inside, and quickly left, making sure to close the door behind her. She had no idea why they needed to be in the mayor’s fridge, but at this point, she didn’t question it.

When she left, she found another letter in her mailbox. She picked it up and read it as she walked back to the farm.

"Your next task…

give the sand dragon his final meal.

Mr. Qi."

The farmer's heart started racing as she realized she was only one mission away from finishing the entire treasure hunt, and in fact, this one was simple. She recalled the giant skeleton in the desert with the mysterious plaque and the solar essences that the monsters dropped, and it all made perfect sense.

She returned to the farm and, with trembling hands, took a solar essence along with one of the teleportation totems to the desert she had bought the day before. She held the totem above her head, and after a curious sound, when she opened her eyes, she was already standing in the desert. Already feeling some fatigue from all the running, she approached the dragon, admired the imposing skeleton, and wiped a bead of sweat off her face before placing the essence inside the creature’s mouth.

Suddenly, she noticed the creature's eye and found the last note.

“You have proven your worth, young one.

Look in the pile of wood next to your house.

Mr. Qi.”

Y/N couldn’t help but groan at the thought of the long trip back to the farm, but she knew there weren’t many options, so she resigned herself and climbed into the truck, which for some reason was stranded there alone.

“If Pam were here, this would be faster. She always drives way too fast,” she thought.

Once in town, she went straight to her house and eagerly searched through the wood pile, finding a green membership card with her photo, full name, and the inscription “Club Member.”

“I have at least three questions about this,” she said, observing the unsettling photo of herself on the card.

A bit tired from all the back and forth, she checked the time—it was still early—and decided to visit the place where she was sure she'd find the club, not without first fixing herself up a bit.

She rummaged through her work clothes for her best outfit. She wanted to make a good first impression without looking too formal.

“I don’t think I’ve worn this since the Egg Festival,” she thought as she changed.

She grabbed a totem for the trip, one for the return, and decided to bring some extra money in case the club had something that piqued her interest. Again, she held the desert totem above her head and, in a blink, she was back. Her footprints, though not very fresh, were still visible in the sand from when she had placed the solar essence, making her wonder if she was rushing things by visiting the club that very day. Well, her curiosity was well-justified, and besides, it wasn’t like it had taken her just a few days to complete those missions; it was natural to be dying to know what it was all about.

Y/N headed to the Oasis and entered, causing the bell to ring and catching Sandy’s attention.

“Darling! You came to see me,” she said playfully.

“Hi, Sandy!” Y/N blushed, not because of what Sandy said, but because she had forgotten that she’d be meeting her and hadn’t brought anything.

“What brings you here today, sweetie? Did you come to buy more exotic seeds?”

“Actually, I came to check out some things over there…” she said, pointing toward the mysterious entrance where a giant bouncer stood.

“Oh! Good luck with that,” Sandy said, surprised.

Y/N shyly approached the huge man and showed him her membership card.

“!!Is that a club card?” the man said, visibly impressed, stepping aside to let her pass. “Go ahead, welcome.”

Y/N thanked him and nervously walked toward the stairs. As she climbed, she began to notice the walls changing color, as well as the style of the stairs. A surprisingly loud noise—so loud it was hard to believe she hadn’t noticed it earlier in the shop with Sandy—became apparent. The farmer, used to the calm life of the farm, was now overwhelmed by the deafening sound slot machines, people gambling, chips moving, waiters running back and forth, a small orchestra no one seemed to be paying attention to, and the strong smell of tobacco mixed with other unknown things.

The club turned out to be nothing less than an extravagant casino. The darkness of the place, combined with the neon lights and the surreal nature of it all, made Y/N feel so disoriented she began to suspect she might be dreaming. Amid all the chaos, where she could make out some familiar faces she’d seen on TV, a figure at the far end of the room caught her attention.

It was a tall man whose skin seemed to be blue and his hair purple. Y/N couldn’t be sure, as the lighting might have been playing tricks on her, but he was staring out through a large window.

And as if he knew he was being watched, he slightly turned toward her direction, revealing a brief flash of purple that was reminiscent of iridescence—difficult to say if it came from his eyes or the reflection in his dark glasses.

The mysterious man turned toward her as if inviting her to come closer, and she, fearing her legs would fail her from the nerves, responded by approaching slowly, causing him to smile. As she got closer, she could make out more details of his appearance—his clothes were pristine, a long coat covering him to the neck, made of a material that seemed to reflect the stars, matching his hat which she could tell was a fine piece, despite his loose clothing, which didn’t reveal much about his physique. His posture and size made it clear that he was someone with a very strong build, and the aura he exuded commanded respect, so much so that even though Y/N approached, she felt as though she couldn’t get too close.

"I'm glad to finally meet you. Welcome to my exclusive club," the man said with a smile, taking two large steps toward Y/N. That was enough for her to swallow, realizing that only those two steps had made her look up to meet his eyes.

"Oh, Yoba, what a manly voice," the farmer thought, trying to stay composed.

Mr. Qi, unaware that Y/N was paralyzed by the surprise, leaned slightly toward her to get a better look at her face, after all, this was the first time he had seen her up close. "You have the right spark... that’s why I chose you."

"What spark?" she asked, feeling like she was missing something due to the nerves, but that question seemed to excite Qi.

"What spark?" He seemed to have been waiting for that question for a long time. "Ah, the driver of mystery, of art..."

He stepped back a bit, extending his hands, using them to support his explanation, which had the opposite effect on the farmer, who found herself distracted by how large and strong his hands looked.

"I’m sure this man could snap logs in half with just his hands," she thought while watching him explain and nodding slightly.

"People like you and me have the responsibility to keep the world alive, to let people taste the extraordinary."

Although it was the first time Y/N had met Mr. Qi, she could feel the mutual admiration between them. The farmer could see a bit of why Rasmodius respected him so much just by looking at him. However, any warnings to be cautious with him faded into the background as she saw his smile and the enthusiastic way he spoke to her. It truly seemed like the first time in a long while he had met someone with common interests, someone who could be his friend.

"You know?" he asked, pulling her back to the moment. "The world is like a bowl of rice; it has substance, but it's nothing without a good, strong sauce. That’s where we come in."

Could that sentence be an invitation to take on more challenges together? With that thought in mind, Y/N nodded, her face timidly excited, and in a hesitant tone, she finally spoke. "The Skull Cavern challenge was exciting."

Mr. Qi let out a quiet laugh, which got lost in the noise of the slot machines, and with an even bigger smile, he replied, "I knew you'd like it. Actually..." He suddenly leaned toward her ear as if about to whisper a secret, causing Y/N to feel his breath on her cheek and her heart nearly leaping out of her chest. "Have you ever wondered who put those treasure chests in the mines?"

"Were you the one?!" Her nerves made her raise her voice, causing some people to turn around. But once they saw it was Qi, they quickly pretended they hadn’t heard anything.

"I like to surprise people," he bragged. "One day, you'll understand. Keep working hard, and never give up," he said before delivering his final blow by placing a hand on Y/N's shoulder.

"I will, sir," she said, her face so red it felt like it might burst into flames.

"I won’t take up more of your time. Enjoy my casino, and feel free to visit me whenever you want. I’m sure you’ll find plenty of interesting things here." Y/N nodded shyly as Qi slowly removed his hand from her shoulder, signaling that she was free to go.

Disoriented and walking almost like a robot, the farmer was heading toward the coin machine when Qi stopped her one last time.

"I almost forgot, one more thing. I like to keep the casino exclusive, so I’ll ask you not to talk about it with anyone outside the club. Can you keep it a secret... for your friend Mr. Qi?"

"Yes! No problem… just one question, I have a friend, his name is…"

"Your friend, the wizard from the Tizón Forest? Yes, he’s also a member of the club. Send him my regards," the farmer nodded again, and Qi simply turned his gaze back to the large window.

Y/N walked to the machine with the huge sign that said "Qi Coins," bought some, and glanced around, feeling a little disoriented. She had the sense that Mr. Qi was watching her from the corner of his eye, which made her blush again.

"I think I’ll look for the bathroom first," she thought, spotting a hallway beyond the slot machines and heading toward it.

Once she was out of the blue man's sight, Y/N sighed in relief, looking curiously at the Calico Jack tables and the slot machines, thinking about which one she should try first. To her surprise, the hallway didn’t lead to the bathroom, but instead, it took her to the high-stakes betting tables and a mysterious area where a man, clearly non-human, stood. As Y/N approached, the man asked for her membership card. Upon seeing it, he nodded, returned it, and went inside to find something, later returning with a personalized catalog bearing her name.

Y/N flipped through it, noticing some interesting items, realizing that much of what was featured were expensive art pieces. "I guess it's not that bad," she thought to herself when suddenly, she froze upon seeing a familiar image. "Is that what I think it is?!"

Before her was the legendary rare scarecrow from the Rare Scarecrow Association—The Alien Scarecrow! And not only that, it was priced at a modest 10,000 Qi coins, which was even cheaper than normal coins when converted. Y/N couldn’t contain her excitement and disbelief. She was going to complete her scarecrow collection. With that newfound motivation, she decided to spend some time at Calico Jack’s.

It was already evening when Rasmodius, on his way home after a walk through the forest, arrived back at his house. He hung his hat on the rack, sighed wearily, and looked toward a chair where the farmer was sitting.

"I brought another bottle of wine to open," she said, holding up the bottle.
"That explains all the unusual activity today," Rasmodius replied, heading to the secret room. "Let’s go."

They both entered with serious expressions. Once Rasmodius locked the bookshelf in place, the farmer moved to the couch, sitting as though they were about to discuss something very serious.

"From your expression and the energetic disturbances in the valley, I assume something important happened," Rasmodius said.
"I met Mr. Qi," she said, holding up her club membership card between her middle and index fingers. "Now I have a lot to talk about and questions I think you could help me with," she explained with genuine determination, which intrigued Rasmodius.
"Honestly, this is a topic I once became quite interested in, so I’ll try to answer as best I can."

The farmer, sitting on the couch, leaned forward with her hands between her legs, a serious expression on her face as if searching for the right words to frame her question.

"Is he single?"
"...What?"
"Yes, is Mr. Qi single?"
"What does that have to do with anything?"
"It has everything to do with it! You warned me about how dangerous he could be, but you never mentioned how hot he was."

Rasmodius seemed to be processing what he had just heard. "…Please tell me you're joking."
"Why would I be joking? I just want to know if he’s available."
"Available for who? For you?! You’ve got a village full of young single people willing to do anything to be with you, and you’re interested in the most dangerous guy in the valley?! That man could end you with a snap of his fingers if you piss him off."
"I don’t think he’s that bad. I think he’s just eccentric. He was actually very nice the whole time. Besides, how old could he be at most? 45?"
"By the spirits…" Rasmodius said, placing a hand over his face. "Listen to me, young lady. I forbid you to try to seduce Mr. Qi."
"But Rasmodius…" the farmer replied, pouting as she flopped onto the couch.
"No buts!"
"That’s not fair!"
"Of course it’s fair! Nothing good comes from that casino. Just ask my ex-wife. That’s where she met me!"

Rasmodius moved toward the door, unlocking it again.

"Although, thinking about it, knowing him, I don’t even think he’d accept a gift from you," Rasmodius added, reflecting on how secretive Mr. Qi could be.

Unknowingly, that statement gave the farmer a brilliant idea. Now she was certain: not only would she bet all her chips to get the rare scarecrow, but she’d also bring out her best gifts to win Mr. Qi over.

Chapter Text

Mr. Qi was watching Y/N intently. She had already planted the beets, and they were close to being fully grown. Both of them were feeling somewhat impatient, so to pass the time, Y/N decided to explore the cavern.

"It seems that the money incentive worked quite well," Qi thought, smiling as he watched the screen, comfortably leaning back in his chair while biting his pinky finger.

A while later, one of Qi's most trusted assistants silently teleported into the room. She cleaned up some remnants of cigars and left another box, then checked the room to ensure everything was in order. Before leaving, she asked,

"Is there anything I can do for you, sir?"

Without taking his eyes off the screen, Qi removed his finger from his mouth and, with a more serious expression, gestured for her to leave.

"No, thank you. I'm fine as I am."

At that moment, the farmer was struggling with a mummy, trying to pull off its wrappings out of sheer curiosity to see if it would fall apart like in cartoons. This seemed to deeply offend the mummy, which flailed its arms in protest, demanding a proper fight. Qi couldn’t help but laugh at the scene, while his assistant widened her eyes in disbelief before exiting back to the casino.

"He was watching his favorite show," she explained to her colleagues as she emptied the ashtray into the trash bin. The casino was still empty, and the employees were preparing and relaxing before opening time. Even the bartender was making drinks for his coworkers.

"That farmer is the best thing that’s ever happened to us," a croupier said as she waited for the bartender to finish shaking her drink.

"I wouldn’t be so sure. Sometimes she makes him incredibly irritable," the bartender replied.

"You should've seen the chaos that went into getting that scarecrow," added a man in a cowboy hat from the corner of the room.  

"Do you guys think the boss is in love?" the youngest dealer asked.  

A heavy silence fell over the group as they exchanged glances, as if they had just stumbled upon a massive revelation.  

"Does the boss even have feelings?" joked the man in the cowboy hat, and the moment of tension passed as everyone laughed.  

"You’ve read too many romance novels, dear," the head assistant replied. "This isn’t the first time something like this has happened. The boss has a bad habit of getting fixated on certain club members—showering them with gifts, pushing them to their limits, and then either breaking them or losing interest."  

"Although, if we’re being honest, this farmer has lasted longer than most," the cowboy hat man pointed out.  

"Also, isn’t it strange that the boss moved the bear machine from his office to the casino?" the senior dealer said as she received her drink.  

They all turned their heads toward the machine in silence.  

"Usually, he just asks someone to throw it away, only to go retrieve it himself later. This time, he actually relocated it," the assistant added, as if piecing together a puzzle.  

They all exchanged glances, their expressions reflecting the excitement of having just uncovered the juiciest gossip at work.  

"It’s too soon to jump to conclusions. We should wait and see what happens when the farmer gets her membership," the bartender said, and everyone nodded in agreement.  

Later that day, armed with her new lava katana, the farmer reached the 25th floor of the cavern without any trouble. Excited, she searched for the chest that should contain her prize, but there was nothing. She bombed the entire floor in frustration, only to find more staircases. Feeling thoroughly cheated, she scowled.  

"Oh, I should’ve left a note saying she’d receive it by mail," Qi thought, covering his mouth with his hand as he realized his mistake. He had considered it earlier but didn’t follow through because he hadn’t expected her to succeed that day—and he had been too distracted watching her progress. "She’ll figure it out tomorrow anyway."  

Mr. Qi continued to observe as the farmer reached the 30th floor, then made a trip to the desert merchant to buy some teleport totems and chests. Feeling relieved, he noted that she was eager to return to the cavern. He watched over her as she traveled back, his gaze softening when he saw her dozing off from exhaustion in the bus. Once she arrived home safely, he decided to step away from the screens for the night.  

He made his way to his office, unlocking a hidden door that led to a vault.  

"I had planned to send her 7,000 gold, but I think she deserves more for my mistake," he mused while preparing a package with 10,000 gold. Then he returned to his office and began writing a note, remembering how the farmer had previously complimented his handwriting.  

"You’ve done it. I’m impressed. Enjoy your reward."  

—Mr. Qi

“I think that should suffice,” he thought, tucking the money and note into his coat. With calm steps, as if simply moving to another room, he teleported to the farm without a sound.

Even with his coat on, he noticed the change in temperature as he arrived at the farm. He gazed at the moon above the cabin, closed his eyes, and inhaled the cold, fresh air as if it had been a long time since he’d felt something so pure. He stayed like that for a few seconds, letting the breeze gently sway his purple hair against his cheeks. Slowly opening his eyes, he saw an owl flying over the farm. As he looked toward the horizon, he noticed more and more tiny glowing dots from fireflies the longer he stared. For a brief moment, he wondered how beautiful and different everything felt when not observed through a screen. Was this what the farmer experienced all the time?

Qi’s original plan was to leave the note in the mailbox and leave. In fact, he didn’t even have a real reason to visit the farm in person—he could’ve simply made the package appear in the mailbox. But he thought such an achievement as reaching floor 25 of the Skull Cavern deserved a personal delivery. Now, he knew it had been the right decision.

The package had been delivered. There was no logical reason to stay, yet he still wanted to wander the farm. So many years, so many experiences, had made him numb to many things. Constantly keeping his mind occupied with maintaining control had made him forget how wonderful it could be to simply stop and observe life’s little details. Suddenly, being there felt like the answer to a deeply complex question was right in front of him—tangible yet so profound that he couldn’t fully grasp it.

As he aimlessly wandered, admiring the farmer’s progress, he came across the altar of his old friend.

“You were right about her,” he said, pulling out the same cigar case he had carried the last time they met. He sat beside the altar, lit a cigar, and reminisced about their last conversation.

“You’re too sentimental, even if you try to hide it. Just promise me you won’t cry too much.”

“Jerk,” Qi said, giving the stone altar a punch with the same force he would have used if it were his friend’s shoulder.

But his friend was right. Qi was a deeply sentimental man. In fact, it had probably been a long time since he had felt truly alive—until Y/N arrived. Once life becomes monotonous and you lose your sense of wonder, it feels like there’s nothing left to live for. Isn’t that what they call depression?

Although he hadn’t fully recovered, he had to admit that Y/N’s arrival had brought him something he hadn’t experienced in a long time: excitement. Preparing surprises for her, finding ways to keep her entertained, and even causing her minor inconveniences just to laugh at her reactions had made him look forward to what the next day would bring. If he were to be more introspective, part of his original motivation was that he was sure Y/N had been feeling the same way he had before she arrived.

A small firefly landed on one of his fingers, glowing softly. Qi watched it with genuine amazement. He had always known the valley was a wonderful place, but being behind the scenes, constantly seeking to create more extraordinary things, had made him lose sight of how even the simplest things were what made it magical in the first place. It was as if his search for the most exotic and sophisticated dishes in the world’s finest restaurants had made him forget the wonder of a simple recipe made with love at home.

Once he finished smoking, he left a cigar on his old friend’s altar and left as quietly as he had arrived, eager to see the farmer’s reaction to her reward when morning came. But of all the things he expected to see, what happened next was definitely not part of his plans.

When the farmer opened the mailbox, she was thrilled to find the package. Qi had expected her to open it without even reading the letter, but the opposite happened. She read the letter, counted the money, and, holding it with an air of indifference, went inside while carefully analyzing the note.

“Maybe earning so much money made the reward seem small to her,” Qi thought, puzzled, as he watched her store the package in a different place than usual—specifically, in the drawer where she kept gifts from her friends. “Oh, so it’s a trophy,” he said, a wide, toothy grin spreading across his face at the compliment.

The farmer quickly grabbed an espresso and went to harvest the beets, which were finally ready after so long.

“Is she finally close to figuring me out?” Qi wondered as he watched her run to Lewis’s house. “Then again, knowing her, I doubt she’ll solve the sand dragon riddle anytime soon.”

To his surprise, she did.

“Clever girl,” he said with a proud tone before watching her pull out a warp totem and head straight to the desert. “Too clever.”

Qi shifted in his chair, leaning closer to the screen as the farmer placed the essence and retrieved the final note from the sand dragon’s skull.

“Now she just needs to warp back to the farm,” he thought, holding his breath.

But he quickly felt a mix of relief and disappointment when he saw the farmer throw a small tantrum after realizing she had forgotten the return totem.

“Moderately clever,” he said, snapping his fingers to make the bus appear at the bus stop without her noticing. Confused but shrugging it off, the farmer obeyed and drove the bus.

This gave Qi time to prepare. He immediately got up from his seat and teleported to the casino, walking briskly through it to make sure everything was in order. Suddenly, a man in red Hawaiian shorts and a shirt stepped in front of him, trying to stop him.

“Hey, Qi, I’ve got an amazing business proposal for you. I just need you to—” Before he could finish, Qi grabbed his face with one hand and pushed him aside indifferently, drawing everyone’s attention.

The casino was known for its high standards and employees with exceptional attention to detail, all thanks to Qi. He could be strict but always aimed to be a fair and, within his standards, understanding boss. That’s why, even when stressed, he kept his irritability under control. So, when the employees noticed him discreetly moving around the casino, they knew something was up.

“Do you need anything, sir?” asked his assistant.
“Nothing, really. I’m just making sure everything is in order for my special guest.”
“You mean the farmer?” she asked, surprised.
“I want us to make a good first impression.”

Quickly, everyone who overheard spread the word. They were on red alert—the farmer could arrive at any moment, and they had to make an excellent impression. As if the casino weren’t already organized enough, everyone started acting like the place was a pigsty, cleaning and rearranging things even though they were already spotless. They didn’t fully understand why, but if the boss wanted to make a good impression, it meant he wanted to make a very good impression. The mere thought of what could happen if they failed sent them into a collective frenzy!

Qi went to the bar and casually glanced at the cocktail menu. He always ordered the same thing, so he wasn’t entirely sure what to offer the farmer.

“What are we supposed to offer her?” he asked the bartender, seemingly oblivious to the employees scurrying around frantically.
“We could offer her specialty cocktails!” the bartender said, showing Qi the section with exotic ingredients and drinks that caused strange reactions. “That one right there is an aphrodisiac, sir.”
“Now that I think about it, I don’t even know if she likes cocktails,” Qi said, closing the menu and stepping away from the bar. “Just give her whatever she wants,” he concluded, waving his hand dismissively before clasping both hands behind his back.

He then headed to the prize area, where his employees were hanging the alien scarecrow above the counter.

“What do you think, boss?” asked the employee in the hat proudly.
“What exactly are you doing?” Qi replied.
“Let’s say the farmer walks in, right?” said another employee cheerfully. “She comes in, walks down the aisle, and when she turns around—bam! The first thing she sees is the alien scarecrow!”
“...”

“...”

“You need to move it more to the center.”

The employees adjusted the scarecrow, shifting it slightly to the left.

“It’s still crooked. Besides, it doesn’t make much sense—she already has her own catalog to look at it,” Qi replied. “I just want to add one more thing.”

The counter attendant handed Qi the farmer’s catalog, and with a wave of his hand, he added farm warp totems to it. Now, Y/N could stay out as late as she wanted without worrying about collapsing from exhaustion on the way home.

Seeing there wasn’t much else to do at the casino, Qi decided to check the cameras again to see how much longer it would take for her to arrive. He didn’t want to miss a single second of her reaction when she found the membership. He watched intently as Y/N reached the hardwood stumps and began inspecting them. It didn’t take long for her to find the card. Her first reaction was clearly excitement, but after carefully picking it up and examining it, she couldn’t help but say:

“I have at least three questions about this,” she said, staring at the unsettling photograph of herself on the card.

“And I’m not going to answer them,” Qi replied, even though she couldn’t hear him.

Qi watched as the farmer checked the time, debating whether it was worth stopping by the club. Apparently, she decided to go, but first, it seemed she wanted to change her clothes. That made sense to the blue man, considering she had been running around all day.

“The totems will come in handy,” he thought, giving the farmer her privacy to get ready and returning to the casino. He could be quite invasive, but he had his limits.

As soon as Qi entered the casino, he was met with a banner tied across the entrance window that read, “Welcome, Y/N!” There were balloons, decorations, and the alien scarecrow leaning under the banner, wearing a party hat. Qi stared at the scene in silence, his expression unreadable. Clearly, his assistants had tried their best, but they had definitely gone overboard.

“How about… we all just act natural?” he said, then turned his gaze to the cheerful scarecrow posing as if it were someone’s birthday. “And please, leave the gentleman alone.”

With a snap of his fingers, the casino returned to its original state. Qi then looked toward the door where the farmer would enter. He had been waiting for this moment for a long time, so he knew exactly where to stand to greet her: in front of the large window. Not only would he be the first thing she saw upon entering, but he would also be able to see her reflection in the glass without having to turn around.

Now that they were finally about to meet, a thought he hadn’t considered much before came to mind: Would he make a good first impression? He hadn’t expected the farmer to arrive so quickly, so he felt a bit off his game. Now that he thought about it, he couldn’t remember the last time he had shaved. He discreetly placed a hand on his face to check when someone spoke up.

“You look as cool as ever, boss,” said the youngest dealer, unable to contain her excitement about whether her suspicions were true.
“...Thank you,” Qi replied, feeling slightly embarrassed.

After what felt like an eternity of waiting, the moment everyone had been anticipating finally arrived. Even over the sound of the music, an explosion could be heard downstairs, that was the signal. The farmer was coming up the stairs. Though he wouldn’t admit it, Qi was nervous. He clenched his hands firmly but discreetly behind his back and watched intently through the reflection in the glass as the farmer slowly ascended the stairs. She looked a bit disoriented, of course, she wasn’t used to such an exciting environment. Yet, despite it all, she managed to spot Qi. Noticing this, he slowly turned around.

She was wearing that lovely outfit he had only seen her in during the Egg Festival. She had tidied her hair a bit, though it wasn’t very noticeable. This relaxed Qi; after all, he wasn’t the only one who had made preparations. No words were needed. The farmer had truly recognized him! Y/N approached Qi with such shyness that he found it utterly endearing, drawing a smile from him and making him completely forget that just seconds ago, he had doubted whether he was in control of the situation.

“I’m glad to finally meet you. Welcome to my exclusive club,” Qi said. Y/N had approached, but her shyness had kept her at a distance that was a bit too cautious for Qi’s liking. He wasn’t going to allow that—he wanted to see her up close, to get a better look at her face. “You have the right spark… that’s why I chose you.”
“...What spark?” the farmer asked.
“What spark?” His moment had come—the conversation he had been waiting for so long. “Ah, the spark of mystery, of art…”

“People like you and me have the responsibility to keep the world alive, to let others taste the extraordinary,” he explained, watching as the farmer listened with what he was absolutely sure was genuine interest. Qi, though a man of few words, felt incredibly comfortable talking to her. It was exactly as he had imagined. He even took the liberty of boasting about how he was the one who had placed the chests in the mines. It wasn’t a long conversation—in fact, he did most of the talking—but it was quite pleasant. As they said their goodbyes so she could go play and discover the surprise he had prepared for her, he remembered one last thing.

“I almost forgot—one more thing. I like to keep the casino exclusive, so I’ll ask you not to talk about it with anyone outside the club. Can you keep it a secret… for your friend Mr. Qi?”
“Yes! No problem… just one question. I have a friend, his name is…”

Rasmodius. Of course, he knew who Rasmodius was. He was indifferent to him, though he found it somewhat irritating how arrogant the wizard was about his powers and how he had convinced Y/N that he was an incredibly powerful mage. In Qi’s eyes, he wasn’t all that impressive.

“Your friend, the wizard of Cindersap Forest? Yes, he’s also a member of the club. Send him my regards,” Qi said. The farmer nodded again, and Qi simply turned his gaze back to the large window. He didn’t want to take up more of her time, though he kept an eye on her to see her reactions to his prized casino.

He couldn’t see her expression directly when she discovered the rarecrow, but he made sure to record it from every angle on the cameras. He enjoyed watching her smile with happiness as she played the slot machines and Calico Jack.

“I’d like to see your wizard friend do that,” he said smugly, sipping a glass of whiskey and watching the camera footage of Y/N admiring the rarecrow with a face full of excitement in her walnut room later that night.

He knew Y/N would keep the secret from the ordinary townsfolk, but he was sure she would talk about it with the wizard. So, he decided to check in, just in case. But all he found was Y/N handing over a bottle and the two of them heading to the “secret” room in the castle.

“Secret” was a bit of an overstatement, it was more like “soundproof and camera-free.” Qi knew of its existence but allowed it because he considered it irrelevant. It wasn’t as if Rasmodius could hide anything from him that he couldn’t figure out or notice. To Qi, the wizard was far too predictable, though lately, he had been drinking with the farmer in that room a bit too often, and that had him somewhat intrigued.

This time, however, the farmer spent more time waiting for the wizard than in the room itself, as she left shortly after and headed back to the farm.

“Did they argue about something?” Qi wondered curiously, following her closely. He wouldn’t say her expression was one of annoyance—more like determination.

The next day, Y/N spent her time organizing her chests. She seemed to be looking for something, pulling out all sorts of valuable items that were usually well-received as gifts. Was she planning to give someone a present?

“I hope you’re not planning to give me something,” Qi said in a slightly annoyed tone, though, to be honest, he was very intrigued by the possibility.

He zoomed in, watching as the farmer examined some enormous diamonds with particular interest—a smart choice for a gift to someone you barely know, considering most people would appreciate them.

“I’m sure you can think of something more creative,” he thought, hoping she would change her mind and consider the bottles of wine or some other product she had made herself. Even a cup of coffee would be a better idea.

“Then again, if it’s not something she made, it’ll be easier to reject.” He had a strict policy against accepting gifts, and the farmer wasn’t going to be the exception—she shouldn’t be the exception. The mere thought of his spirit being corrupted by the idea of easy gains was unacceptable to him.

He still didn’t know if the gift was for him, but he already had the perfect words to reject her. It would be simple—he just had to be kind but firm. If she insisted, he would explain that he didn’t accept gifts from anyone and maybe conclude with something like, “My greatest gift is seeing you bring the spark of the extraordinary to the world.” With the right tone and introduction, it would surely sound very inspiring. It was settled—he would use that line to reject her.

Now, all he had to do was wait for her to come to the casino to talk. Knowing how impatient she was, she would surely be eager to try winning her precious rarecrow. He thought she would head to the Calico Desert first thing in the morning to make the most of the day, but instead, she went to the forest.

To his surprise, she wasn’t looking for her wizard friend either. Instead, she wanted to forage for wild berries while making her way to the entrance of the sewers. Of course, the casino wasn’t the only new place she had just discovered.

The farmer wandered through the sewers with her characteristic cheerful stride until she reached the little monster who lived there. She greeted him warmly, and they had a conversation about the place, the products he sold, and some shared interests. They seemed to be getting along well—not surprising, since Krobus was quite likable.

“By the way, I have something for you,” said the farmer as she swung her backpack to the front and rummaged through it. “I’m not too informed about what kind of things you might like, but I thought maybe this would be a good gift…”

Qi froze when he saw her hand over a massive diamond to the little monster. No one had ever played with his emotions—with his pride—like this before. He took a moment to process what had just happened. Now he felt stupid. All this time, he had been planning how to reject a gift that wasn’t even meant for him.

“At least I won’t have to reject it,” he thought, trying to recover from such a blow to his ego. Maybe it was the universe punching him in the gut for all the times he had mocked how important the wizard of Cindersap Forest thought he was. He was sure the wizard deserved it, but perhaps he had gone a bit overboard. “But even he gets gifts from the farmer all the time!”

He decided to stop watching the feed and head to his office. He was too embarrassed to know what to do now. He had so many questions. Had he not made a good enough impression on the farmer for her to want to be his friend? Maybe the wizard had warned her about the fact that he didn’t accept gifts—or worse, he had warned her about him in that mysterious room! What a boring guy! Just for that, he was going to manipulate the energy fields of his tower in a way that would drive him crazy. In fact, it didn’t matter if he had done it or not—he deserved it for getting more attention from the farmer than he did.

He was drinking whiskey and working on it when it suddenly dawned on him that maybe he was overreacting a little. None of this was like him, and he had no proof of anything. Besides, as he kept reminding himself, he was going to reject the gift anyway. But if he was going to reject it, why was he so upset? He didn’t know, but what he did know was that his discomfort was genuine.

He was too entertained subtly altering the way the wizard received energy from the Earth’s axis in his tower, but then an even more diabolical idea came to him. He started moving all the furniture about three centimeters out of place. While completely harmless, this was one of the most devilish things you could do to someone’s home, as it would make them constantly bump into things without understanding why. He was quite entertained moving everything around in the wizard’s house when his assistant knocked on the door.

“Come in,” Qi replied, a malicious smile on his face as he slightly shifted the magnetic north. He knew these changes would be irrelevant to anyone else—it would only slightly move the needle of a compass inside the wizard’s house—but for him, it would be a real headache with no apparent explanation.

“The farmer is in the casino, sir. I think she’s looking for you.”

Hearing that she was in the casino made him happy, but the last part made him reflexively lift his head. Suddenly, all the discomfort, overthinking, and interest in torturing the wizard disappeared. Now, he wanted to see her. He left the office and scanned the room. Not even the noise, people, or chaos of the casino could stop him from finding her quickly. He knew her too well—her walk, the color of her hair, her clothes, even her height.

He quickly spotted her at the slot machines. It was a subtle glance, but she was clearly looking for him while pretending to focus on the machines. Seeing that made him smile, but he wasn’t going to approach her. He preferred to play a little game, letting her find him.

He decided to stand in front of a window again, where he would be clearly visible, feigning indifference. He waited patiently, like a predator stalking its prey. As soon as the farmer noticed him, he could see her eyes light up. He had to bite the inside of his cheek to suppress a smile at such an endearing gesture.

With shyness but without wasting time, the farmer approached him. Qi only turned when he saw her gather the courage to come closer than last time.

“Welcome back,” Qi said, turning to face her.
“Hi,” she replied timidly.
“Are you enjoying your time at the casino?” Qi asked, and the farmer nodded with a smile.
“It’s fun, and you have a lot of interesting prizes,” she said. Qi nodded in agreement.
“I knew you’d end up here someday. Of course, I had to make it difficult for you so you’d have an incentive to strive for excellence.”
“Thank you for considering me. By the way, I have something for you,” the farmer said, adjusting her backpack to pull out a bottle of wine.
“You don’t have to go through the trouble. Gifts aren’t necessary,” Qi said, realizing he had already forgotten the entire speech he had prepared to reject her.
“Well, it’s just that I thought you might like to try one of my wines.”
“I’ve tried them. I’m one of the main buyers of your products,” Qi said, leaning closer to the farmer so his face was at her level. “Really, it’s not necessary. The best gift you can give me is seeing you bring the spark of the extraordinary to the world.”

He thought that would be enough to stop the farmer, but she was naturally very stubborn.

“But this isn’t just any normal bottle,” the girl said, shaking her head. She leaned a little closer to Qi, as if about to share a big secret. Intrigued by the gesture, he leaned in to listen. “I save the best bottles for myself and my close friends. This one is much better!”

He hesitated. He hesitated a lot. But as soon as the farmer held out the bottle to him with a look of genuine excitement, he reflexively took it.

“Alright, I’ll accept it just this once,” he said with a serious expression. He couldn’t show his excitement, or he knew she would keep bringing him more things.

Y/N didn’t know it, but she was the first person to break an important barrier—one that was perhaps more complex than Qi could understand at that moment. On the other hand, she had also spared her wizard friend from all the havoc Qi had already wreaked on his house as soon as they said goodbye.

Chapter Text

Unlike other days, this one wasn’t exactly happy for Y/N. She couldn’t shake the feeling that pessimism had gotten the best of her as she trudged toward her farm, kicking a stone along the path. Today, not only had she won big at the Casino only to lose everything at Calico Jack’s high-stakes table, but she also couldn’t stop thinking about Qi’s indifferent expression when she gave him that gift. She wouldn’t say he hated it, but he’d clearly accepted it out of obligation. Maybe she should’ve given him something far more expensive instead of letting sentimentality guide her—like a simple bottle of wine from her personal harvest. Now she just felt foolish.

“I could try talking to Rasmodius about it, though he’ll probably just say ‘I told you so,’” the farmer thought, sighing.

Under different circumstances, she’d have gone straight to her friends to vent. But this was different. Qi had explicitly asked her not to speak about him to anyone outside the Casino. Just as she was about to cross the farm’s entrance, a small scrap of paper rolled to her feet. Without thinking, she picked it up.

 

“Someone awaits you
on level 100
of the
Skull Cavern.”

 

It wasn’t signed, but it didn’t need to be. The handwriting was unmistakable—even if he’d tried to disguise it slightly. “Well, if he’s making me go all the way down there, he’d better at least invite me to dinner,” she mused, tucking the note away.

Maybe it was too soon to hope, but… did she actually have a chance with Mr. Qi? Rasmodius had warned her: he was deeply private, even “dangerous”—and he’d emphasized that word. Yet whenever she spent time with Qi, however brief, she could’ve sworn there was… chemistry.

“Maybe peaceful farm life and monster-slaying are messing with my head, and it’s all in my imagination,” she thought, trying to shrug it off.

The rest of the day, she fought to overthink less about Qi’s complete lack of reaction to the wine and focus on her chores. But it was hard. She needed to talk to someone, even if Rasmodius scolded her. She’d take it, just to get this weight off her chest. So even as dusk fell, she decided to visit him.

“I knew it wouldn’t be easy, but I can’t figure out what he even likes,” the farmer groaned, flopping onto the couch in Rasmodius’ secret room like she was in a therapy session.
“...Oh yes. How tragic,” the wizard muttered, far more invested in studying the anomalies around his hut than her woes. He’d been racking his brain all day over it, realizing the disturbances only occurred at his home. Finally, he gave up and spared her a glance—though her defeated expression told him everything.

“I told you not to bother with gifts. He doesn’t accept them from anyone,” he said, pretending he’d listened to her rant.
“...From anyone?” Her head snapped up, eyes wide.
“Absolutely no one. It makes sense—someone that powerful? Gifts could be used against him later. Don’t take it personally. I’ve heard of him rejecting unimaginably valuable things, even banishing people from his club for insisting.”
“YES!” She leapt up, fists clenched in victory, startling the wizard.
“Glad you’re… cheered up by the lack of rejection, I suppose?” But the farmer was already celebrating uncontrollably, grinning and flushed. When she caught Rasmodius’ bewildered stare, his eyes narrowed in sudden understanding. “You actually got him to accept something?!”

She nodded, brimming with pride. “He couldn’t resist my charm.”
“You’re full of surprises. How?” Rasmodius leaned in, genuinely intrigued.

After she recounted the story (which he actually listened to this time), he stroked his beard. “He must’ve sensed you had no ulterior motives.” Then he eyed her triumphant smirk. “Unless you do, you grave-robbing menace.”
“What else do you think I should give him?”

Rasmodius paused. Qi’s reaction was unusual, and the curiosity of how far he’d let her in was… compelling.

“Wait a day or two before seeing him again. Next time, don’t bring a gift—ask what he thought of the wine, talk to him. Then give the next offering.”

She nodded eagerly. The plan was perfect.

“Why didn’t I think of that? You’re good at this.”
“What can I say? I’ve a way with women… and certain magical beings.”
“What kind of magical beings?”
“None. It’s late. Go home.” He practically shooed her out.

Burrowed under her blankets, she was too excited to sleep, tossing until her pet grumpily relocated. Talking to Rasmodius hadn’t been so bad—she’d expected no support, but curiosity had won him over. Probably because he didn’t think she’d succeed.

Qi’s response had been neutral… but now she knew it wasn’t indifference. If she wanted to unravel the blue man’s mysteries, this was her moment to play her cards right.

The next day happened to be the Stardew Valley Fair, which she’d nearly forgotten. For the farmer, it was the perfect distraction—she threw herself into the games and time with friends. The look on Alex’s face when she effortlessly beat him at the strength test again was priceless. Even Sandy had ventured out for a visit. Y/N tried every booth until she won another scarecrow (just like last year’s), and finally, at Haley’s insistence, she got her fortune read.

“I’d like to know about my farm… and my animals’ health,” she asked the fortune teller.
“I see a promising future! Bountiful harvests, many upgrades, and healthy livestock—even some giant crops.”
“That sounds perfect!”
“Anything else you’d like to ask?”
Y/N hesitated. “Not really…”
“How about love?” the psychic teased.
“Uh—sure, why not?”
“Many are interested in you, but your heart’s already set on someone. Let’s see who…” She paused, frowning. “How odd. I can’t quite see them. Oh.” Her expression turned pitying. “You’re treading… very barren soil.”

The farmer’s face burned. She quickly changed the subject to her friends’ fortunes.

The following day, she visited Elliott’s cottage to read his latest drafts and brainstorm ideas. It wasn’t their first time—he’d already set out homemade beer, snacks, and a long list of questions alongside her annotated manuscript.

“Thank you so much. I had no idea about half these cow and duck facts. This is pure gold,” Elliott said, shuffling his notes.
“Anytime. Helping you write is fun,” she replied, sipping her beer.

As the conversation grew livelier, she shifted closer on the couch.

“Hey, Elliott… Can I ask for ultra-secret advice?”
He leaned in, intrigued. “Whatever it is, it’s safe with me.”
“Say, hypothetically, if a friend wanted to know if someone’s taken… without being obvious?” she whispered.
“Is this ‘friend’ you?” Elliott grinned, not bothering to lower his voice.
“Stay on topic!”
“Fine. Your ‘friend’ could mention how their friends are settling down, then ask if it’s happening in his social circle. Either he’ll volunteer the info, or she can ask naturally.”
“That’s genius!” The farmer beamed. “Speaking of… You got anyone you’re interested in?” (Her curiosity about him and Leah was genuine.)
“Completely single and available,” he said, winking. “See? That technique worked flawlessly.”

She laughed awkwardly, realizing how he’d misread her. Truthfully, since meeting Qi, she hadn’t flirted with anyone else.

The next morning, the moment arrived: she’d visit Qi. Or rather, the Casino! To make it seem natural, she first stopped at the Skull Cavern to mine until her backpack was full—or she found something noteworthy. Luck was on her side: a prismatic shard on floor five! (Though she had no idea what it was for.) Still, it felt like the perfect excuse to finally see the blue man.

“Guess today’s my lucky day. Time to spend it at the Casino,” she declared, tossing the shard into her pack and strolling out of the monster-infested depths.

At the Oasis, she headed straight to Sandy, handing her a flower and a package Emily had forgotten to deliver at the Fair.

“She meant to give this to you the other day.”
“You’re an angel!” Sandy hugged her.

After chatting about town gossip, the Fair, and Sandy’s next visit, the farmer climbed to the Casino—and the real reason she’d come.

“You always seem so excited to visit. Not that I mind! Just… be careful with the betting,” Sandy said gently. From her perspective, Y/N probably looked like a gambling addict.
“Oh, don’t worry! I’ve got it under control.”

As she climbed the stairs, she did the math: she had been spending a lot at the Casino lately. Maybe she should limit herself to two days a week.

“Tuesdays and Fridays sound good,” she decided, reaching the top.

There he was—Qi, in his usual spot. Without overthinking, she approached. He didn’t glance away from the window until she leaned slightly into his view and offered a shy:

“Hi.”

“Hello, Y/N,” Qi replied, turning slightly to look at her.

Feeling a little embarrassed but not wanting to overcomplicate things, she asked directly:
“So, what did you think of the wine?”
“I haven’t tried it yet,” he answered dryly.
“Do you not like wine?” Y/N pressed, trying to understand his tastes better. “Do you prefer sweeter flavors? Or are you more into savory things?”

Qi, mildly amused by her genuine curiosity—watching her with the wide-eyed focus of a child trying to unravel a magic trick—couldn’t help but let a subtle smile slip. It made her blush.

“I’m simply waiting for a special occasion to open it.”

He sidestepped her other questions.

“Want to see something really cool I found in the mines?”
“Of course,” Qi said, his smile lingering.

She rummaged through her backpack and pulled out the colorful stone she’d found earlier.

“Look! It changes color when you move it,” she explained, holding it out. Qi took it carefully, examining the way the light shifted across its surface.
“A prismatic shard. They are quite striking.” After a moment, he handed it back. “You’re very lucky.”
“Thanks!”

With no idea how to continue, she tucked the shard away and stood awkwardly beside him before blurting out the first thing that came to mind:

“Mr. Qi?”
“Yes, Y/N?”
“Is there, uh… is there by any chance a Mrs. Qi??”
“Excuse me?” For the first time, he turned to her with outright bewilderment.
“No! I mean—a friend was giving me advice, and I just—”
“Are you asking for advice because you want to date someone?” he concluded.
“Yes! That!”
“I see. Though, to be honest, I don’t think you need to overthink it.” Qi clasped his hands behind his back. “You could have anyone you want. Remember? You’ve got a certain spark. Just find someone who truly appreciates it.” He turned back to the window.
“Yes, sir,” Y/N mumbled, mirroring his stance—until she felt his large hand pat her back twice.
“...So, is there a Mrs. Qi?”

Qi chuckled at her persistence.
“No, Y/N. There is no Mrs. Qi. And before you ask—no Mr. Qi, either. I’m single.”

She laughed with him, the tension dissolving like mist in the desert sun.

Chapter Text

Qi sat in his office, studying the bottle of wine the farmer had gifted him. It was powdermelon wine, its pale, whitish hue reminiscent of winter snow. He wondered just how different it truly was from the other bottles he’d purchased. A quick glance at the label told him it wasn’t from her first harvest but her second—when she had refined her techniques and improved the quality. Back then, she had been so proud of those bottles that he had ended up buying nearly all of them.

"So this was one of the best from that batch," he mused, cradling the bottle in one hand while tracing the label with his thumb. The ink had dried with a slight raised texture, as if she had pressed the pen down too hard in her excitement.

"Powdermelon Wine
Year 1
Winter"

He whispered the words, then closed his eyes, inhaling deeply through the cork. The woody, wine-soaked scent carried another subtle aroma—one unmistakable to Qi. The scent of the farm. The same one he had noticed before, that evening when he had lingered, enjoying a cigar and watching the fireflies.

He was curious about the taste, but he didn’t feel like opening it just yet. Instead, he carried it to his wine cellar—a dimly lit space lined with black-painted wooden cabinets. He approached the main display, where temperature and pressure were meticulously controlled, and where a single bottle rested on an elegant stand. With a dismissive flick of his wrist, he removed the placeholder bottle as if it were worthless and carefully placed his gift in its stead.

Now, whenever he searched for something to drink, he would see it there—symbolizing what it meant to him. A new treasure in his collection. To sate his curiosity, he opened one of the Powdermelon bottles he had bought from her that same season

Later, he watched as the farmer trudged home, her usual energy noticeably absent. He assumed she had gambled recklessly at the high-stakes Calico Jack tables and lost.

"Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. And in the end, the house always wins, my dear. Anyone who steps into a casino knows the risks," he chided—mostly to himself. Still, he didn’t like seeing her like this.

Without much thought, he grabbed a scrap of paper from his desk, uncapped a pen from his coat, and ran the tip lightly over his tongue before scribbling a note—deliberately altering his handwriting and leaving it unsigned.

"Someone is
waiting
on floor 100
of
the
Skull Cavern."

"A little challenge will do you good," he murmured as the note vanished, carried by an unseen breeze to roll at her feet. She picked it up, read it carefully, and for a brief moment, her eyes lit up with that familiar spark of determination—a flicker he was certain only he could detect. Then, with a soft sigh, she tucked the paper into her pocket. Whatever had happened, it had clearly left her more disheartened than a lost bet.

That wasn’t like her.

He quickly reviewed the day’s events, pinpointing the moment her mood had shifted—somewhere between morning and her casino visit. And sure enough, he realized what had happened.

This was his fault.

"You don’t need to trouble yourself. Gifts aren’t necessary," his own voice echoed back at him from the recording, dry and almost irritated.

"I caught myself off guard. I was kinder afterward," he defended, recalling his own perspective.

"I’ve tasted it. I’m one of your biggest buyers." No further questions. If someone tried to be friendly and was met with such coldness, of course they’d be discouraged.

"But this one is different, you fool!" he snapped, as if defending the precious gift.

He kept watching as, in the recording, he leaned closer, attempting empathy. "Truly, it isn’t necessary. The best gift you could give me is watching you unleash that extraordinary spark upon the world."

Qi rolled his eyes. "What a boring man."

Yet he felt a pang of gratitude at how Y/N hadn’t given up.

"But this isn’t just any bottle," the farmer had said, shaking her head. She stepped closer, as if sharing a secret. Intrigued, Qi had tilted his ear toward her. "The best bottles? I keep those for myself and my closest friends. This one really is much better!"

Objectively, she had played him—and the situation—perfectly. No magic, just skill. Admirable. But now, seeing it from her perspective, he felt guilty.

"This is exactly why I don’t accept gifts," he grumbled.

He wanted to return the gesture. Not just out of guilt, but because receiving an unexpected gift had been… gratifying. And now, he wanted to do the same. Maybe he should find another way to cheer her up—something more direct, fun, undeniably f rom him. Something eccentric and thoughtful, something that would make her feel what he’d felt holding that bottle.

"What if I filled her entire farm with mystery gift boxes?" His eyes widened, a triumphant smile spreading. "I’m a damn genius."

Excited by all the amazing ideas racing through his mind—and imagining how thrilled the farmer would be to receive his gifts—he stood up from his seat and went off to work on them. He didn’t notice the girl heading toward the Wizard’s Tower to speak with him and finally clear the air about everything.

The next day happened to be the Stardew Valley Fair. Y/N spent the day playing games and having fun with her friends. Qi found it especially satisfying when Alex challenged her to the Strength Game. The moment she picked up the mallet, Qi positioned himself at the best angle to watch Alex’s expression when the girl shattered his record—and sure enough, when that bell rang, it was absolutely worth it.

“That’s my girl! I expected nothing less,” Qi laughed, watching both Alex and the muscle-bound game host gape in astonishment.

Later, after an intense round of fishing and target shooting, Haley called Y/N over excitedly to tell her about her fortune reading and practically dragged her along to get hers read too. Qi, just as intrigued as Haley, supported the idea. He also wanted to hear the farmer’s fortune—and to see what kind of questions she might ask. What he didn’t expect at all was for Welwick to turn directly and silently stare him in the eyes.

“Hello, Welwick,” Qi said. The woman simply shifted her gaze away from him and turned to the farmer to begin the reading.

“I’d like to know about my farm and the health of my animals,” Y/N asked the fortune teller.

“I see a promising future. Good harvests, many upgrades, and healthy animals. I even see some giant crops.”

“That sounds great!”

“Please, Welwick. You don’t need to be a fortune teller to predict that. Show us something more fun!” Qi teased, knowing she could hear him.

“Is there anything else you’d like to ask about?” the woman said, a little annoyed by the blue man interrupting her work.

“I can’t think of anything else,” Y/N replied, thoughtful.

“How about we take a look at your love life?”

“Sure, why not?”

So far, Y/N hadn’t shown interest in anyone in particular—she was more of a free spirit who liked to flirt with the town’s singles. So the idea of a future with someone—or learning about her preferences—was definitely intriguing.

“There are many people interested in you, but I see that your eyes are fixed on only one person. Let’s see who it is...” the psychic paused, concentrating.

That was much more direct than Qi had expected. Did the farmer like someone? He hadn’t seen her show any special interest in anyone until now. He was incredibly curious to know who it might be—though he also noticed the girl looked slightly uncomfortable.

“Many are interested in you, but your heart’s already set on someone. Let’s see who…” She paused, frowning. “How odd. I can’t quite see them. Oh.” Her expression turned pitying. “You’re treading… very barren soil.”

In the end, the farmer simply thanked her for the reading and left. Qi, wanting to dig deeper, asked Welwick what she had seen—but the woman always responded in the same ambiguous way.

“She’s a daring girl, no doubt.”

“Yes, she is. So who is it?” Qi pressed.

“The information of my clients is highly confidential!”

“I’ll give you 500 casino coins,” he said without hesitation.

“1,500 and I’ll give you a hint.”

“I’m out.”

“Fine! 500 for a hint.”

Qi made a hand gesture for her to go on, and the woman cleared her throat, thinking of how to say it.

“You probably already know the answer. After all, it is the one who dwells in the reflection of the stars.”

The role of being clever and omnipresent came with a certain unspoken perk—even when you didn’t know something or weren’t in control of a situation, everyone assumed you were. Most of the time, that worked in his favor. But in cases like this, it meant he couldn’t ask further without damaging his image.

He didn’t find out much—but now he knew the farmer was interested in someone. And judging by Welwick’s comment, it was something complicated. Qi spent a moment trying to calculate who it could be. To him, anyone could be “barren soil”—no one seemed worthy of Y/N.

“This is what I hate about divination. Everything’s too ambiguous,” he thought, letting out a noise of irritation.

He was never someone to give up easily. And whenever something got stuck in his head, he couldn’t let it go until he was satisfied. Now, the mystery of who the farmer’s secret love interest was had become his new obsession. Not just because of romantic gossip—now, not knowing made him feel stupid.

“The one who dwells in the reflection of the stars.”
Who did she think she was, giving him riddles?

He was growing more and more annoyed. He began analyzing every interaction the girl had had in the past three weeks. He looked for patterns, filtered by keywords, age, and the farmer’s interests. Soon, there weren’t many people left to suspect.

“That would leave Rasmodius, Sandy, Haley, Elliott, Emily, and…” at that moment, he realized he would also fall into that pattern. “I suppose Krobus could be an option too.”

The idea that the farmer might find him romantically attractive felt far too strange. He longed to be her friend - but her partner? He had never even fantasized about something like that; it just seemed ridiculous. Besides, technically, she had only just met him. She couldn’t possibly fall for him based on that alone… could she?

In that moment, like an unlocked memory, he recalled the first time he met her, two years ago that feeling when he saw the spark and determination in her eyes. It had struck him as something beautiful, so much so that he had leaned in to get a better look at her face. Could it be that what he felt back then… she might have felt too?

“Absurd,” he decided.

Even if they had things in common, he found it impossible to be her romantic interest. First of all, she was the granddaughter of his best friend. And if something were ever to develop between them, it could ruin their challenge dynamic — and worse, if it ended poorly, he might lose one of his favorite forms of entertainment. It could even destabilize the balance her presence was bringing to the valley.

With that in mind, he decided to rule himself out.

The next day, Y/N was with Elliott, talking about his new book. He had brought some homebrewed beer, and she had brought some snacks. Qi, for his part, didn’t want to miss the atmosphere — he had one of his favorite cigars and a drink. He had already assumed that with the help of a bit of beer, the farmer might be encouraged to say something — and he was right.

“Hey Elliott… can I ask your advice on something ultra-secret?”
“Anything. Your secret’s safe with me.”
“And with me as well,” Qi added, raising his cigar toward the monitor before taking a puff.
“Let’s say… if a friend wanted to know whether someone is seeing anyone, but didn’t want to be too obvious about it… how could they ask?” Y/N whispered.
“Is that friend you?” Elliott replied at full volume, clearly amused.
“Don’t change the subject!”

Watching the farmer blush like that made Qi realize something — he’d seen her flirt countless times before, but this was the first time she seemed genuinely nervous.

“Your friend could say that a lot of their friends have been pairing off lately, and ask if it’s the same in that person’s circle. That way, they might answer naturally, or your friend could follow up with a casual question about whether they’re seeing someone. It wouldn’t feel forced.”
“That’s a good one!” the farmer nodded excitedly. “What about you, Elliott? Is there someone you’re into right now?”
“I’m completely single and available,” Elliott replied with a wink. “See? That technique works both ways.”

“Was that her way of trying to get info from Elliott?” Qi wondered.

Elliott was attractive. He wasn’t from Pelican Town originally, and he’d probably be an attentive and thoughtful partner for Y/N. Qi wasn’t totally convinced — but if that were the case, he’d respect it. Honestly, he’d probably accept anyone she chose… except Rasmodius. Just the thought that it might be Rasmodius put him in a foul mood.

The following day, he saw the farmer head into the mines early in the morning. That meant she’d likely be stopping by later — and she’d probably see Sandy first. Qi decided to keep a close watch to determine whether Sandy could also be a potential love interest.

“Sandy’s outfit does kind of look like a reflection of the stars,” he mused for a millisecond — before remembering someone else who also fit that description. He immediately dismissed the idea again.

When he saw the farmer hand a flower to the pink-haired woman, he reached a new conclusion:
“She’s nice too. If they started dating, she’d probably come visit more often.”

By the time Y/N had finished her conversation with Sandy, Qi was already standing in his usual spot, waiting for her. As always, he could see her reflection in the glass, showing that hint of excitement in her eyes as she quickened her steps toward him — he’d even say she was bouncing slightly. She didn’t seem to care about anything else around her, like she was coming just to see him.

He admired how, with more confidence now, she didn’t even bother to hide how eager she was to say hello. She stepped behind him, then leaned slightly to one side so he could see her, letting out a timid but cheerful:

“Hi.”
“Hello, Y/N,” he replied, turning slightly to look at her.

Though a little nervous, the girl asked him what he thought of the wine

“I haven’t tried it yet,” he replied flatly. In truth, he had no intention of trying it anytime soon — it was more of a decorative bottle in his collection.

“You don’t like wine?” Y/N asked, trying to better understand Qi’s tastes. Do you prefer sweeter flavors? Or are you more into savory things?”

Qi was slightly amused by the way the farmer was genuinely curious about him, asking questions with the expression of a child trying to understand a magic trick. He couldn’t help but let a subtle smile slip — one that made her blush. In that moment, he couldn’t help but wonder if maybe , just maybe, he could be the girl’s romantic interest. And if that were the case, he wouldn’t mind it at all. In fact, he found it rather charming.

“I’m simply waiting for a special occasion to open it.”  was all he said before silence settled between them.

“Want to see something really cool I found in the mines?”
“Of course,” he replied warmly, still wearing that small smile.

The farmer, excited, reached into her backpack and started rummaging around. The blue man watched her silently, finding her disorganized pack oddly endearing. After a bit of digging, she pulled out a colorful stone that had slid all the way to the bottom.

“Look! It changes color when you move it,” she explained excitedly, offering it to Qi, who took it carefully from her hand to examine it more closely.

As he observed it, he couldn’t stop thinking about how he had seen her enter the mines that morning — and how, the moment she found the stone, she’d come straight to the casino. Was showing it to him her plan all along? A strange twinge stirred in his chest at the thought, but he brushed it aside immediately.

“A prismatic shard. They are quite striking.” he said, tilting it slightly to watch the colors shift before gently handing it back to the farmer. “You were very lucky.” It was the best compliment he could come up with.

“Thanks!”

After that, Y/N didn’t quite know how to keep the conversation going, so she just tucked the stone away and stood beside the blue man in a silence that felt strangely pleasant.

“Mr. Qi?”

From her tone, he assumed she was about to ask something important — but embarrassing.

“Yes, Y/N?” he replied calmly, hoping it would put her at ease. But nothing could have prepared him for what came next.

“Is there, uh… is there by any chance a Mrs. Qi??”

“…Excuse me?” he asked, turning to look at her for an explanation.

“No! I mean—a friend was giving me advice, and I just—”

“You’re asking for advice because you want to date someone?” Qi inferred, trying to help her out of her nervous rambling.

“Yes! That!” she blurted.

“I see. Well, to be honest, I don’t think you need to overthink it.” Qi clasped his hands behind his back, paused briefly, and added, “You could have anyone you want. Remember? You’ve got a certain spark. Just find someone who truly appreciates it.”

With that, he turned toward the large window. Whoever her crush was, his response was honest — even if he hadn’t yet realized just how honest it truly was.

“Yes, sir.”

Y/N took the same posture beside him, and it gave him a pleasant feeling — like when a wild animal decides you’re safe and curls up next to you. He wondered if she had really come to the casino just to spend time with him. It sounded far too fanciful — but honestly, that did seem to be exactly what was happening. And neither of them seemed to mind.

“...So, is there a Mrs. Qi?”
Qi just chuckled at her persistence and replied,
“No, Y/N. There is no Mrs. Qi. And before you ask—no Mr. Qi, either. I’m single.”

At his reply, the farmer laughed with him. He watched her reflection in the glass — that smile, those bright eyes… Could that all just be his imagination?

He had a thousand reasons why the idea of Y/N being in love with him was absurd — or simply not ideal. He could argue that he wasn’t good at commitment, that he always prioritized work over relationships. In the past, he’d been criticized for not being affectionate, for being too strange, especially when it came to gift-giving. There was also the matter of what it meant to be the partner of someone like him. Over the years, he’d made plenty of enemies — whether for being the most powerful figure in the valley or for the countless confrontations, verbal or otherwise, he’d had with all kinds of people and creatures, across all kinds of situations and contexts. The list could go on and on.

But there was something else. Something that shattered all logic. Something ethereal, impossible to explain — and that, truthfully, he’d never speak about with anyone. It was closer to the beauty of hearing a perfect symphony, where all the instruments blend in flawless harmony, than to anything he could put into words. That symphony — as if rising spontaneously from the very fabric of the universe — carried a force and a resonance so overwhelming that it could break through any wall he had ever built.

It was something beautiful, hidden, and also terrifying. It wasn’t worth examining too deeply — because if Y/N didn’t feel the same, it wouldn’t just hurt. It would add a crack to the armor he had spent so long forging. And if there was one thing he knew for sure:

Cracks… always become fractures.