“So… you were the one who saved me?” Kai asked awkwardly.
Did he seriously fall into the ocean the moment he arrived in this world?
What kind of terrible reincarnation setup was that?
Honestly, that so-called god seemed pretty unreliable.
“Obviously it was me,” Nami replied with a huff.
“If I hadn’t found you, you probably would’ve drowned already.”
“Or gotten eaten by some sea monster.”
The more she thought about it, the more irritated she became.
Why had she dragged home such a troublesome burden in the first place?
Crossing her arms, Nami glared at him fiercely.
“You owe me ten million Beli, got it?”
Kai nearly choked.
Yep.
That definitely sounded like the famous Cat Burglar Nami.
“Can’t you lower the price a little?”
“Ten million is kind of…”
“Nope!” Nami declared proudly.
“I saved your life!
Honestly, ten million is already a discount.”
“Alright, alright.” Kai rubbed the back of his neck helplessly.
“I’ll pay you back later.”
The moment those words left his mouth, Nami froze.
Then her eyes practically turned into shining Beli signs.
She’d only said it as a joke.
She never expected him to actually agree.
Wait.
Could this guy secretly be rich?
Maybe some runaway noble or the son of a wealthy family?
If that were true…
Then she’d finally have enough money to save the village!
“When are you paying me?!” she asked instantly.
Seeing the greedy sparkle in her eyes, Kai laughed awkwardly.
“Well… I don’t actually have the money right now.”
“But I’ll definitely pay you back in the future.”
Nami’s face immediately fell.
“What the heck?
So you were bluffing.”
She waved it off with a sigh and stood up.
“Forget it.
I was joking anyway.”
Then she headed toward the door.
“Come on.
Let’s get you something to eat.
You’ve been unconscious for a while, so you must be starving.”
She paused before smiling lightly.
“Oh right.
I’m Nami.”
“Kai,” he replied as he stretched lazily after getting out of bed.
A loud growl came from his stomach almost immediately.
“Yeah… food sounds amazing right now.”
Seriously, how long had he been unconscious?
That useless god better hope they never met again.
The moment Kai stepped outside the bedroom, he noticed another beautiful young woman with short blue hair sitting at the table.
So this must be Nojiko.
“Oh?” Nojiko teased with a playful grin.
“Nami’s handsome boyfriend is finally awake.”
“Come sit down and eat.”
“I told you he’s NOT my boyfriend!” Nami complained for what was probably the hundredth time.
Why wouldn’t her sister believe her?!
Nojiko simply ignored the protest.
After all, Nami suddenly bringing home a handsome guy was suspicious enough already.
There had to be a story there.
Rolling her eyes, Nami dragged Kai over to the table.
“This is my sister, Nojiko.”
“And this idiot is Kai.”
“I’m not explaining anything else, so just eat already.”
Nojiko chuckled softly.
Was little Nami getting embarrassed?
How adorable.
“So, Kai,” Nojiko asked curiously, “where exactly did you meet Nami?”
“Where…” Kai swallowed a bite of bread before glancing toward Nami instinctively.
“Why are you looking at me?” Nami replied helplessly.
“Just tell the truth.”
Kai nodded.
“Technically… we met in the middle of the ocean.”
“As for which ocean, I honestly have no idea.”
He had been unconscious during most of the trip through dimensions.
There was no way he could answer properly.
“I see.” Nojiko accepted the explanation easily enough.
Meeting someone at sea was hardly unusual around here.
Especially for someone like Nami, who spent most of her life traveling.
Looking him over carefully, Nojiko tilted her head slightly.
“Your clothes don’t look cheap.
Are you some kind of noble?”
Kai scratched his cheek awkwardly.
“Oh, these?
My family bought them for me.”
“But I’m really just a normal person.”
Back in his old world, anyone with enough money could wear good clothes.
Nobility had nothing to do with it.
Nojiko clearly didn’t believe him, but since he didn’t seem willing to explain further, she let the topic drop.
Meanwhile, Nami pointed at him with a serious expression.
“Listen carefully.
I don’t feed lazy people around here.”
“If you want meals, you work for them.
Got it?”
“Once you recover, you’re helping out in the tangerine grove.”
Kai blinked slightly.
So she really planned to keep him here for now.
Honestly, bringing him back had probably been a desperate decision on her part.
Still…
Everything would change once she finally bought back the village.
After that, nobody would be trapped here anymore.
One hundred million Beli.
Just a little more.
She was so close.
“Tangerine grove, huh…”
Kai studied Nami quietly.
This girl really trusted him that much?
After all, he remembered that Nami hid all the money she stole inside that grove.
Which meant she was unknowingly allowing a complete stranger near the thing most precious to her.
Honestly…
That reckless trust made her unexpectedly cute.
And Kai found himself smiling.
Yeah.
He definitely liked her already.