The festival was in full swing. People seemed to really like the Spirit Festival, because every year they dressed up as youkai and did various things that they thought brought them closer to the ancient traditions of their people.

And how could real youkai miss a festival that was dedicated to them? For them, it was a holiday of fun. In the cities of the shadow world where youkai live, there is always a particularly loud noise and larger crowds on this day, but some prefer to go out into the human world.

You were one of those youkai. It was enough to just be somewhat humanoid, and the rest of the inhuman features did not even need to be hidden. They were taken for a very realistic costume. And now you were wandering alone among the crowd of people, eating sweets from the festival, when suddenly a voice was heard nearby.

"I knew I would find you here. Aren't you tired of holding the Spirit Festival in the human world every year?"

It was Jiaoqiu. It's not that this fox was your friend, but your communication had been going really well lately. It even seemed like he was trying to meet you more often.

"Although, I suppose even humans would have more variety. In our city center, they've been tearing off the limbs of one unfortunate mortal for fun for several decades now. Boring."

He sighed sadly, waving his fan. It seems he really came out of boredom, just to see you.