"Nothing should happen... right?"
Xiu Yuan pondered that as he stepped ashore on Narukami Island.
Ever since leaving Watatsumi Island, however, he had felt something he could not quite describe. It was strange and vague, impossible to pin down.
Xiu Yuan remained somewhat wary of the merchant named Yide. He always felt there was something off about the man.
Back on Watatsumi Island, Xiu Yuan had also asked Rina to help keep an eye on Yide.
Several days later, Rina told Xiu Yuan that Yide was a good man who often gave them fish.
Moreover, Xiu Yuan learned that Yide did not give fish to Rina alone. He had given fish to many other people, too.
That ruled out the possibility that Yide was trying to get close to Rina so he could ask her about Xiu Yuan.
While on the island, Xiu Yuan had kept a discreet eye on the man himself, but he had never found anything.
The only reason Xiu Yuan continued watching him was that, on the very first day after being rescued, the man had secretly come to Xiu Yuan's little wooden cabin.
Apart from that one puzzling detail, there was basically nothing else suspicious about him.
"Anyway, I'll only be gone for a day or two. Once the birthday celebration is over, I'll find an excuse to come straight back."
"It should be fine..."
"Even if something happens, he's only one man. How much trouble could he possibly cause?"
Xiu Yuan thought it over carefully, then pushed those strange thoughts aside and set off to buy a few small gifts for Kitsune Saiguu and that sly fox.
Every time he came to Narukami Island, Xiu Yuan could not help marveling at how desolate Watatsumi Island was by comparison.
Here, they had practically anything anyone