Looking at Kitsune Saiguu, Ren Kai suddenly felt an ominous premonition.
She was smiling.
Meanwhile, the pink little fox in her hands was squealing loudly, struggling desperately.
Time rewound to when Kitsune Saiguu had just returned to the Grand Narukami Shrine.
"Lady Kitsune Saiguu! Why are you only coming back now? I was so scared just now!"
"The War God came back to life!"
The pink little fox immediately leapt onto her, sitting comfortably on her shoulder.
"…."
Raiden Ei stared speechlessly at the fox.
They had just agreed to keep this secret, and she had already blurted it out.
Fortunately, there were no outsiders present.
So Ei didn't stop Yae Miko from speaking.
After all, Kitsune Saiguu was one of the people closest to both her and her sister.
"Oh? I just remembered."
"Did you sneak out again?"
Instead of asking about the War God, Kitsune Saiguu suddenly grabbed Yae Miko's little tail.
"…Uh."
Yae Miko froze.
She had indeed been punished earlier.
Her punishment was confinement in her room—copying spells one thousand times.
"My little Yae…"
"Do you really want to go outside and play that badly?"
Kitsune Saiguu smiled mysteriously.
"Yes!"
"Does that mean you're letting me go out to play?"
The naive little fox immediately imagined herself running around outside happily.
She had no idea her fate was about to change.
"Yes."
"I'll take you out to play."
Kitsune Saiguu smiled in satisfaction, giving Raiden Ei a subtle glance to stop her from interfering.
Ei instantly understood.
If she tried to help Yae Miko now, she might end up being the next victim.
"Yay!"
"I want fried tofu! And skewers!"
"I want ten servings!"
The pink fox Yae Miko had absolutely no idea what was about to happen.
Kitsune Saiguu soon brought her to the maple tree near the harbor of Ritou.
"Lady Kitsune Saiguu… this isn't where they sell fried tofu."
"Why did you bring me here?"
The little fox finally sensed something was wrong.
She tried to run.
But Kitsune Saiguu caught her instantly and lifted her up by the scruff.
"I'm sending you out to train with someone."
"If you follow him well, you'll have endless fried tofu and skewers to eat."
Kitsune Saiguu looked at her mischievously.
"I don't want to go!"
"I don't want to leave you!"
"I know I was wrong! I won't sneak out again!"
The little fox struggled desperately—acting cute, acting pitiful, acting miserable.
"This is a shrine maiden's trial."
"You must complete it."
Kitsune Saiguu suddenly spoke with a stern expression.
"…Alright…"
"But I'll miss everyone."
Yae Miko looked pitiful.
"I'll be waiting for you to return."
"Be good."
"This jade pendant carries the shrine maiden's inheritance. Take good care of it."
Kitsune Saiguu hugged the little fox and hung a jade pendant around her neck.
Inside, she was reluctant to send away her precious disciple.
But she had thought it through.
Perhaps with Yae Miko by his side… that man's path would involve less bloodshed.
"I'll do my best."
The pink fox Yae Miko couldn't stop her tears from falling.
"Go on."
"He's watching you."
Kitsune Saiguu pointed toward the ship.
Toward Ren Kai.
"Yes!"
"Yae Miko will become the greatest shrine maiden!"
The little fox followed her finger and looked toward the ship.
That man looked very handsome…
Though a little fierce.
Still, she believed she could do it.
The next moment—
Kitsune Saiguu teleported the pink fox directly onto Ren Kai's shoulder.
"…."
Ren Kai finally understood.
This woman had just forced him into babysitting duty.
If it were the adult Yae Miko, he would gladly accept.
But right now?
It was literally just a little fox.
The situation felt incredibly awkward.
"What's your name?"
"Will you buy me fried tofu and skewers?"
The pink fox stared at him curiously.
She seemed to smell something familiar.
"…."
Ren Kai sighed and turned around, returning to his cabin.
Then he immediately canceled his transformation.
"Ah!"
"Lord War God!"
The pink fox froze in shock.
The person in front of her was the very same War God who had "come back to life" earlier.
"Well?"
"Did Kitsune Saiguu send you to monitor me?"
Ren Kai looked helplessly at the fox on his shoulder.
He had left Inazuma precisely because he didn't want someone watching him.
And yet now…
He had a fox attached to him.
Throwing her back wasn't an option—he couldn't afford to offend Kitsune Saiguu.
Besides…
Keeping a cute pink fox around didn't sound so bad.
At least the journey wouldn't be lonely.
"No!"
"Lady Kitsune Saiguu said this is a shrine maiden's trial."
"She told me to follow you and train!"
The pink fox replied honestly.
She hadn't even realized she had basically been sold off.
"Fine."
"If you're following me, remember three rules."
"Otherwise, no fried tofu or skewers."
"First: you cannot speak casually outside."
"Second: you cannot reveal my identity. From now on, call me Uchiha Madara."
"Third: while you're with me, you must never tell anyone my secrets—including Kitsune Saiguu."
Ren Kai had no choice but to accept reality.
So he laid down the rules.
"Alright…"
"Lord Uchiha Madara."
"But when will you buy me fried tofu and skewers?"
The little fox agreed immediately—for the sake of food.
"You'll only find those in Liyue."
"The ship might not have them."
Ren Kai answered honestly.
The moment she heard that—
The pink fox's expression collapsed.
She immediately entered a depressed state.
"…."
"Fine."
"Stay in the room. I'll go ask if they have any."
Ren Kai was already starting to feel uneasy.
Right now, Yae Miko looked adorable but completely useless.
All she could do was act cute.
Wait a minute…
Isn't that basically Paimon?
Unfortunately, he couldn't reveal his true identity.
So for now, he would just take care of little Yae.
Raising her until she grew up would probably be a long journey.
"Yae will obediently wait for War—"
"Ahem."
Ren Kai quickly interrupted her.
"Oh right!"
"Lord Uchiha Madara!"
The pink fox nodded seriously.
Ren Kai suddenly felt like he had been wrapped in a soft but inescapable rope.
From now on, his actions would definitely become more restrained.
He used the Transformation Technique again, turning back into Madara.
Then he placed the pink fox gently on the bed.
"Remember."
"Don't run outside."
Before leaving, he turned back to remind her.
"Mm-hmm!"
The pink fox nodded obediently.
"…."
Ren Kai stared at her suspiciously.
It looked exactly like she was planning to trick him.
Back when he played Genshin Impact, his first impression of Yae Miko had been:
Beautiful.
Elegant.
Dangerously charming.
But after learning more about her…
He realized she was actually the ultimate mischievous fox who loved fooling people.
Leaving the room, Ren Kai headed toward the deck.
He planned to find Uncle Fu first.
After all, something this small didn't need to bother Mingyun.