The Bride Of The Sacred Forest God
Chapter 33. Bad News in the Market

Reda who was holding the little fox's hand continued to put on a red face.

“I'm really sorry for making you cry, Ryuunosuke.”

“Ehehe~Ryuunosuke is better. Ryuunosuke already got support from mom.”

“Mother?”

“ Ryuunosuke's mother gave us support. Ryuunosuke is sure we'll make it! Reda-sama must become more and more beautiful first to attract the attention of Aragaki-sama. After that, Reda-sama can express the feeling of likes buried in your heart.”

Blush

Reda's face turned red. Who would have thought this little fox could blatantly speak so. Reda tried to control herself and shift the subject.

“R–Ryuunosuke, if I don't remember wrongly when we brought the food, there are so many new ingredients.”

“Castany and yam and fruit. It seems to be from Aragaki-sama or Nagi-sama and Kuroto-sama. There's their scent in his pocket. Possibility got from the market.”

“So. It looks like it would be really good if it was made into another menu. We will work together yes.”

The little fox nodded happily while wagging his thick tail along the way and Reda managed to divert the conversation.

“Thank God. I can be ashamed that this sweet fox kept saying that. But.I can't imagine if I have to tell Nushi-sama my feelings. He'll probably kill me right away.”

Reda's mind was still shrouded in negative thoughts, but the radiance in her eyes said another.

“I still believe God still gives me a chance. This remaining time I will make good use of.”

“I will fight and be more brave myself to be able to communicate with Nushi-sama even though it is full of pain.”

As they were about to head to the market, both stopped. The little fox's hand grips grew stronger and his face looked solemn. He looked at the girl and said.

“Reda-sama, wait here yes!”

“Ryuunosuke!!”

The little fox ran towards the village alone leaving the girl.

“Are we not going shopping together? Why am I left alone?”

After a long while, the little fox ran carrying something.

“Reda-sama!”

“Ryuunosuke? Ryuunosuke, where have you been?”

“Ryuunosuke brought this to you, Reda-sama.”

Reda received the cloth. It was like a thick cloth that could cover almost half of his body.

“What is this, Ryuunosuke?”

“This fabric can cover Reda-sama. Reda-sama will be safe wearing it.”

“But why?” Reda is getting confused

The little fox looked sad when he wanted to say it.

“Ryuunosuke remembers the first time Reda-sama was at the Aragaki-sama residence, Reda-sama was so dirty from the throwing of rotten eggs and tomatoes. It must have been done by other residents.”

“I know that they all hate humans, so I wouldn't be surprised if they did. It's all over, Ryuunosuke. I'm fine.”

“But Reda-sama's body scent will be smelled by them. Ryuunosuke does not want Reda-sama to be treated like

that's again” Ryuunosuke said with an anxious face

Seeing her little fox so worried about her, Reda smiled and put on the cloth from her head and tied it to cover her upper body to her stomach.

“Ryuunosuke, thank you very much. I'll wear it. Don't worry like that. I feel guilty if we cry again.” said the girl smiling

The fox is starting to look fine.

“Reda-sama just relax! The fabric is made by a stealth seller so aroman Reda-sama's body will be covered with the cloth.”

Reda nodded. The little fox again took the pretty girl's hand to go to the market.

As usual, the place is crowded. For the first time since a week had passed, Reda saw many people there.

They are not humans, all have various forms since they are demons. However, they can talk, wear clothes and trade. Just like humans do.

“I remember the night I first came, this place was so crowded. But seeing it when the sun shines like this, I just realized that this place is so fun.”

There were a lot of vendors and children running around there. The atmosphere was more crowded than Reda had imagined.

“Reda-sama, how do you think Higashi no Mori is?” ask the little fox

“Blown and full of warmth. This place is much more crowded than my village, Ryuunosuke. It's so much fun.” said the girl with a smile

“Ehehehe~thank God if Reda-sama likes it. This is all thanks to Aragaki-sama. Although this place is not as crowded as before, but this place still exists because of all the great things done by Aragaki-sama.”

Stop for a moment.

“Ryuunosuke..”

“Hmm?”

“I'm really sorry for what my ancestors did to you in the past. I'm sorry, I've made this place feel bad memories. I'm sorry, for making such deep wounds on Nushi-sama and all of you.” Reda looks like she's holding back her tears

Ryuunosuke firmly replied, “That's not the fault of Reda-sama! Reda-sama is innocent, so don't apologize! Ryuunosuke doesn't hate you. Reda-sama is not the same as all of them who are evil on us!”

Reda smiled hearing that. They continue their journey. Without realizing the two, from above the sky there were two tengu watching.

“That little change is really detail.” Praise Kuroto

“We know that Ryuunosuke is the one who likes Reda-sama the most at the moment. But, if not looking at Ryuunosuke, I probably wouldn't have realized that it was Reda-sama. The fabric completely covered his human scent.”

“You're right. But, why should we keep an eye on them?”

“I just...feel that the village girl will not go through the easy road in a place where there are only demons in it.” Hakuren looks worried about both

“You seem to have been contaminated by those fox tears yes, Hakuren.”

“I don't think it's just me.”

“You mean?”

Kuroto just kept quiet while ruffling her hair. He covered his mouth and muttered to himself.

“What can I do. It tastes really good. It is better than what we usually eat. I never eat anything like that.”

Although it was just a slow mutter, Hakuren clearly heard it. He smiled and looked again at where the two men were going.

The target of the two tengu was looking at fish at one of the sellers in the market.

“Yoo~ please, please. Fresh fish new ushered.” The seller was a bird-headed demon with a long beak. He sells a lot of fresh fish of all sizes.

“Ryuunosuke, the fish looks fresh. See this.”

“True, Reda-sama.”

The salesman seemed to know the little fox.

“Aa, Ryuunosuke. Long time no see you.”

“For a long time no see, uncle Tori.”

“Nushi-sama just came by this morning to get around.”

“Really? It's only right that Aragaki-sama brought something earlier.”

“That's. I intended to give him these fish earlier, but he said it was too much so maybe you can take this fish with you. Uh! Here, I give you the biggest.”

“Huwaa~thank you very much, uncle.”

“Oh yes, who is this? Is the new stealth?”

The seller was quite curious about the person who was with the little fox. Reda was frightened, but Ryuunosuke finally answered her.

“This...new server Aragaki-sama.”.

“So.”

Reda was quite relieved to hear it, but it was only a beginning of another incident. The salesman invited Ryuunosuke to chat.

“Oh yes, about a week ago Nagi-sama and Ginko-sama brought another human child. Is that another ‘bride’ candidate?”

“That's.”

“Huh! But no matter how many come the result will be the same. All those human girls were of no use. You think so too, right? I still hate them. Why are they still sending humans just to die? Nushi-sama will never forgive them.!”

“Uncle Tori!” Ryuunosuke tried to stop the bird demon from saying anything bad, but it was useless. Another customer came to hear about it and talked about it.

“What's up, Tori-san?Oh, there's little Ryuunosuke.”

“Ah, I was talking about ‘brantin’ candidate who came a week ago.”

“Oh, Nue's food candidate is yes. Ahahaha, that's sad. Though no one expected the presence of that ugly girl.”

“True. I heard that the girl who died a few months ago was trying to kill Nushi-sama. humans do not know themselves yes!”

“I'm sure the girl who is now coming also has bad intentions on Nushi-sama. You mean, you sly girl! Her face must be as ugly as her ancestral nature used to be!”

“I saw him when he came. He's shabby like he's not taken care of. Even animals are better than him. Ahahaha.”

“You can't get close to a woman who's more cunning than a demon huh. They are evil!”

Ryuunosuke wanted to scream out from the emotion of hearing that, but Reda gently blocked the little fox's mouth without touching it.

When the little fox heard her, the girl gave her smile and moved her lips while saying, “Nothing.”

Reda tried to divert the conversation of the seller and other buyers so that the little fox was not angry.

“Uncle, are there any other fish we can buy? It doesn't taste good if we come to get fish for free.”

“Oh, you're right. This fish is suitable for frying. This one is also suitable for making niboshi dashi (a spice made from dried fish in Japanese cuisine).”

“Then we take this and this fish and the dried niboshi fish.”

After Ryuunosuke gave the coin and brought his groceries, he pulled Reda's hand and left without giving a word. The seller and the other buyers were a little surprised by the little fox.

Ryuunosuke who was carrying a small woven basket containing fish pulled Reda and walked quickly.

“Ryuunosuke, don't hurry. Here many people, Ryuunosuke.”

The little fox seemed unwilling to stop and continued walking.

“Ryuunosuke..”

The call was ignored by the little fox. Until the little fox stopped on its own. Reda seemed to understand what was going on with her little fox. He smiled and walked with her again.

“Ryuunosuke, don't think about it. They say it because they don't know.”

“But, Ryuunosuke doesn't like to hear Reda-sama being insulted like that!” the little fox started crying with an annoyed face

Reda wiped away the little fox's tears.

“We're here for shopping, remember? Ignore all of that and let's move on. I'm looking forward to going shopping with Ryuunosuke so I hope Ryuunosuke also doesn't put on such a sad face, huh?”

Hearing that, Ryuunosuke smiled again. They continued their journey to shop again.

However, unbeknownst to the little fox, Reda held back her tears.

How broken the heart of the poor village girl to hear the news of her arrival became full of such bad gossip.

“Reda-sama..”.

“Ya?”

“Do not..crying yes.”

The beautiful girl smiled to hide her pain and sadness.

“I'm not crying. Ryuunosuke also don't cry anymore huh.”

The little fox nodded and for the sake of the little fox's smile, Reda accepted the insults and bad news with a smile.

****