Chapter 1: Initiating the Gensokyo Paradise Plan
Ding-a-ling~
The pleasant sound of a wind chime echoed gently from the eaves as warm sunlight filtered through the treetops, casting a soft glow along the edge of the veranda and adding a peaceful and tranquil atmosphere to the courtyard.
A slender figure hurried by, carrying a crate of goods. The soda bottles inside clinked rhythmically, producing a crisp, clear sound.
After delivering the goods to the front room, the lively sounds of people passing by on the street outside flowed in, bringing with them the vibrant, bustling energy of everyday life—an atmosphere that made one feel naturally relaxed and at ease.
Once he had finished restocking the empty shelves, Rin settled comfortably into the rocking chair by the door.
The soft sunlight reflected off his delicate features, and he closed his eyes in contentment.
No need to struggle for a living, no worries about working overtime—this carefree, stress-free life had brought him a sense of peace and calm unlike anything he had ever known.
At that moment, a familiar notification sound echoed in his mind—
『 Daily procurement accomplished. New snack added: Barbecue-flavored potato chips. 』
『 New item has been added to the warehouse and is ready for use at any time. 』
『 Daily task refreshed: Sell a bottle of soda 』
This was the system Rin had received when he was sent to this world three years ago—a system that called itself "The Sage."
Its primary function was to facilitate equivalent exchange and enable him to trade and sell various goods.
When he first received it, the Sage system had been incredibly generous, giving him a house and an immortal life, allowing him to settle down quickly in the Human Village of Gensokyo.
Yes, Gensokyo's Human Village.
But to his surprise, this version of Gensokyo was vastly different from what he had imagined.
None of the familiar faces he had expected to see were anywhere in sight.
Over the past three years, he had wandered through every place he could reach, searching for any signs of the people he had heard about, but his efforts were fruitless.
It was as if his very presence had caused some unimaginable shift in the world—erasing the individuals who were supposed to belong there. The sheer strangeness of it all was deeply unsettling.
But about a month ago, he had noticed signs of an old, mischievous lady stealing snacks through a gap in space. That discovery had put his mind at ease.
Based on his theory, as he gradually adapted to life in Gensokyo, the world would stabilize, and the missing characters would start to return. The only uncertainty was how long that process would take.
Relieved, Rin had returned to his relaxed life in the Human Village, hoping that one day he might encounter those familiar figures.
After all, with an endless lifespan, he could afford to wait as long as necessary. A peaceful and long life would give him something to look forward to.
"I just don't know how long I'll have to wait…"
Rin muttered to himself lazily as he stretched, then turned his gaze toward the other side of the street.
At that moment, his eyes met a pair of golden ones looking back at him from afar.
A girl stood at the entrance of a distant alley, dressed in a classic black witch outfit paired with a small white apron.
Perched on her head was a large black triangular witch hat adorned with an oversized ribbon. Her long, golden-blonde hair flowed smoothly down her back, with a braid draped over her shoulder, also tied with a cute bow.
The sunlight illuminated her golden hair, casting a shimmering halo of light around her.
Marisa Kirisame.
Rin's mind immediately sharpened. Before he could call out to her, the Sage's voice suddenly echoed in his mind—
『 The system has detected a romance target. Added to the list. 』(T/N: Ayo?!?!)
『 Sage Assistant System Activated. Initiating The Gensokyo Paradise Plan 』
『 The range of items has been refreshed and expanded 』
『 Main quest established: "Capture" Marisa Kirisame 』
『 Reward: The Mysterious Hand of Sensory Control. 』
Wait a minute!
What kind of system is this?! (T/N: Fr fr bro, the hell was this XD)
Rin's eyes widened in disbelief. Has this system been upgraded from some shady dating app or something?!
Meanwhile, Marisa, noticing Rin's increasingly strange expression, scratched her head in confusion—but then smiled brightly at him.
Instead of walking away, she started making her way toward Rin.
"Yo~ Boss, do you sell any tools for home improvement?"
"I'm Marisa, Kirisame Marisa. I just moved here today, da☆ze~"
"My house isn't even furnished yet, and I can't seem to find any tools. I asked around and heard there was a general store here."
Marisa grinned as she asked, her cheerful and sunny smile making her seem open and straightforward.
"Yeah, I've got some. Hold on—I'll go find them for you. Feel free to look around in the meantime."
Rin invited Marisa into the shop, then immediately went to rummage through a pile of goods in the corner.
As he searched, Marisa's gaze wandered over the various items in the shop. Her golden eyes sparkled with curiosity as she examined the new and unusual objects.
Her eyes landed on a set of red hair ribbons on a shelf, making her pause.
It reminded her of a certain red-white shrine maiden she had seen at the village entrance earlier. The ribbons looked exactly the same.
That girl must have just moved into the village too. She had spotted her handing out flyers earlier—something about living in a shrine further away.
"I should go check it out once my house is furnished!"
Marisa made a mental note of her plan, then put the ribbon down—only to notice a gap forming silently in the corner of the shelf.
What the heck is that?
Curious, Marisa peered into the gap. A strange eyeball inside spun around, scanning the room as if searching for something.
Suddenly, the eyeball locked onto a target. A pale, slender hand reached out from the gap, trying to snatch a bag of spicy snacks nearby.
Before the hand could touch the bag, Rin's fly swatter snapped down without warning, striking the hand sharply. The figure in the gap shivered from the pain.
"Again?! You've been doing this every day for a month without fail. My alarm clock isn't as consistent as yours! Don't think I didn't see you!"
"Tch."
A dissatisfied clicking sound came from the gap, but the hand reluctantly withdrew.
Having dealt with the freeloading "Old Lady Yukari," Rin handed Marisa a toolbox with his other hand.
"Here. A full set of tools—this should be enough."
"Thanks, Boss!"
Marisa beamed, paid for the tools, and prepared to leave.
But before she could take a few steps, she suddenly felt herself being lifted off the ground. A hand had grabbed her by the back of her collar.
Her witch hat was yanked off, and Rin shook it lightly, causing a pile of snacks to tumble out.
Cold sweat immediately started forming on Marisa's forehead.
"This… might be bad."
Sensing trouble, Marisa forced an awkward smile, as if trying to explain.
But before she could say anything, she instinctively sprang into action, trying to escape while Rin was distracted.
Unfortunately for her, just as she took her first step—
She collapsed to the floor in a heap and twitched once before falling completely still.
『 General Store Intruder has been captured. Host, please claim your reward. 』
(T/N: MC's original name is called Lin Yan (林言) 林 that means forest and 言 which means word or speech. So there's many names that can be called to him if translated to japanese, Rin Gen, Hayashi Gen, and Rin Gon. I asked for help (AI) and eventually named him 'Rin', maybe 'Hayashigoto (はやしごと)' and Ringen (りんげん) can be used to call him too .
MC's Appearance