Sweat Doesn't Betray (2)
"......What?"
"It's a weight-gain medicine. They say it works wonders!"
Ben beamed innocently at Patrick's bewildered stare.
"Mom was worried because Dad's been losing weight fast in this heat and feeling exhausted no matter how much he sleeps. After taking the medicine, he put the weight back on right away and felt much better."
"So you're saying......"
"Halmae mentioned that the teacher looked worryingly thin. You took the medicine, right? That's why you gained weight? It looks good on you!"
"No, what are you talking about, Ben! The teacher looks worse now!"
"But she said gaining weight improves stamina!"
The children's bickering voices gradually faded out. Patrick, clutching the medicine bottle with resentment, could only sniffle.
"What have I done?"
"Hahaha! No wonder the medicine was running low. I thought my wife had shared it with the neighbors."
"See, Dad says it's fine!"
Thwack!
"Ow!"
"Still, sneaking it out was wrong."
"If you knew it was wrong, why did you take it!"
"......"
Perhaps the greed that had clouded his mind cleared once he understood the medicine's true purpose. Patrick let out a long sigh, one hand still holding the bottle with a few pills left, the other gripping Ben as they arrived at the brewery.
"I'm sorry. I got greedy because I heard it was good medicine. Just like Ben said, this was my mistake."
"Oh, no need for that, teacher! What are you saying? I bought plenty intending to share with everyone anyway, so don't worry about it. Haha!"
"Still......"
At Patrick's subtle glance toward Ben's head, the boy's father quickly caught on.
"Intentions aside, you can't just touch your father's things without permission, can you? As punishment, no snacks today. Reflect on it, Ben!"
"Yeees......"
Ben's small shoulders drooped glumly, but some lessons had to be learned.
This is what a real adult does.
Patrick congratulated himself inwardly. Once he'd achieved his goal of coming down to the village, the brewery yard finally caught his eye.
What the heck is this? Why is it such a mess?
The usually tidy yard in front of the brewery was now filled with nets that looked like they were being prepared.
"By the way, what are all these nets for? Do you have to go out on the boat again?"
Patrick knew well that with the brewery business going smoothly, they no longer needed to fish to make ends meet.
Does the liquor not sell well in autumn? No, that doesn't make sense. Wouldn't people crave it more when the cold wind blows?
If the brewery's liquor didn't sell, the "education fund" coming Patrick's way would shrink, which would be disastrous.
"Ah, it's not the problem you're thinking of, so no need to worry!"
Ben's father waved his hands frantically at Patrick's suddenly pale face and added,
"It's almost peak season."
"Peak season?"
The answer was unexpected. Ben's father grinned.
"You could say it's the reason our village has managed to survive until now despite having no special products worth selling."
"Pardon?"
"The Farmer Turtle migration will be coming down soon."
Turtles? What turtles?
"......Don't tell me you're catching the turtles?"
Weren't turtles friends of the Dragon King? Wouldn't catching them bring punishment?
More importantly, do people even eat turtle meat?
Quickly searching his memories, Patrick couldn't recall hearing about eating turtle meat in either this life or the last.
"Haha! No. When the Farmer Turtles move in groups, we couldn't catch them even if we tried, and even if we did, who knows if anyone would buy them."
The Village Chief appeared at just the right moment. He'd heard Patrick had come down to the village and stopped by to see what was going on.
"Farmer Turtles prefer warm places. That's why they head south before the cold winds blow. They're looking for a place to lay eggs and raise their young in winter."
"Like migratory birds."
"Something like that. Hehe."
"But if you're not catching the turtles, why is it peak season, Chief?"
"When they start their southward migration in earnest, the nearby fish all move together too. Some of them pass near our island."
The Village Chief, who had regained much of his former robust figure, pointed toward the distant shore as he spoke.
"If you set up nets in the passage between that island and ours when the fish are moving, you can catch plenty of valuable ones that you'd normally only see far out at sea. It's half water, half fish—first come, first served."
Patrick's eyes sparkled at those words.
"You just have to set up the nets?"
"Yes. Well, it's much harder work than it sounds, but compared to going out to sea and not being sure of the catch, it's in a league of its own."
"That's right. Once you catch them, the money's guaranteed. As long as your stamina holds up, you might not live in luxury, but you'll get through winter just fine. Haha."
After hearing the explanation, Patrick nodded.
Looks like it brings in quite a bit of money.
Even with the brewery running smoothly, the fact that they were still preparing nets to participate suggested this side job was lucrative enough.
His thoughts were brief, his decision swift.
"Can I come too? I want to go! Please let me join!"
"......Pardon?"
Patrick's sudden declaration to join caught Ben's father and the Village Chief off guard. They exchanged glances.
— Why did you have to bring that up!
— You should've just glossed over it......
They hadn't said it aloud, but their feelings were clear. It wasn't that they minded sharing the fish. A few fish couldn't be weighed against Patrick. No matter what anyone said, Patrick was already like family to the people of Dunbrook Island.
What worried them was one thing.
"It's very physically demanding work. The big fish are strong and hard to handle. That's why we make sure anyone with a small frame or poor health takes it easy."
"The Chief is right, teacher. It requires far more stamina and strength than usual. So how about helping with the fish cleaning once we bring them back?"
At their troubled words, Patrick finally understood why Ben's parents had gone to the trouble and expense of buying the "weight-gain medicine."
So that's why they shared it with the neighbors too?
No wonder it seemed odd—they were just stocking up for the peak season, weren't they?
"But I've actually gained some weight too. Hup!"
Patrick rolled up his sleeves and flexed his arm.
"Biceps!"
Changing his pose,
"Triceps!"
With a smile,
"Pecs~ and abs!"
Of course, no miracle occurred to produce muscles that weren't there, but what mattered was the spirit.
"......"
"......"
Clap clap clap!
"Oh! Funny pose!"
One child who had no sense of the atmosphere broke the adults' silence.
"Can't you take me along?"
Even if it wasn't something he particularly wanted to do, the human heart yearned to join in if everyone else was doing it without him. In the end, Patrick abandoned his muscle-flexing (or lack thereof) and chose to widen his eyes, pout his lips, and whine instead. The newly plump cheeks only enhanced the effect of looking more childish.
"......If it gets too hard, you absolutely must not push yourself. Understood?"
"Of course! If it gets even a little tough, I'll lie down and rest right away, so don't worry!"
"Even so, isn't that a bit much, teacher?"
"Shh."
Covering Ben's mouth, Patrick asked with a grin,
"So what supplies do I need to bring?"
Splash, splash—
"Hehehe. Finally, we're setting off."
A few days later, at the beach before dawn. Though the sun had yet to rise, the dim sky didn't hinder the fishermen's preparations. Patrick had already climbed onto the stern of the fishing cooperative's boat, striking various poses against the beautiful sea backdrop.
"He seems excited. Hehe."
"Come to think of it, is this the teacher's first time on a boat?"
"Right? He used to go fishing occasionally, but lately he hasn't seemed interested."
"Fishing isn't easy work. Hahaha!"
The fishermen found it quite novel that Patrick was joining them. It was like a complete newbie dropping into a field full of veterans.
"Just in case, we packed some medicinal herbs too."
"You think? Already loaded them on the boat, so don't worry."
The fishermen, who had even prepared motion-sickness herbs usually used by novice sailors, chuckled heartily as they imagined what was to come.
"By the way,"
Luca, one of the fishermen who had relatively personal exchanges with Patrick, scratched his head and spoke up.
"Is it okay for the teacher to come on the boat?"
"His body's weak, but what's wrong with going out?"
"That's not it. I mean, didn't they say the punishment the teacher received was exile?"
"They did."
"Then if he goes out on the boat, wouldn't that mean leaving the exile area?"
"......?"
It was a point no one had considered.
The waters right in front of the island count as part of the island, right?
But since it's still 'on the island,' maybe going on the boat isn't allowed?
Were those question marks floating above the fishermen's heads just an illusion?
"......Why, why are you all looking at me like that?"
Even Patrick, who wasn't particularly perceptive, felt the awkwardness when the fishermen suddenly stared at him in silence while sorting their gear.
"......Since he swims and all, the waters near the shore should be fine, right?"
"Ah, that's true!"
"As expected, people from the capital are different."
They resolved the issue by inwardly cursing the loophole-ridden law.
Still, just in case, I shouldn't say anything if the soldiers come.
A new worry had arisen, but for now, they set off!
Splash, splash—
They had expected a horn to sound with a "Wooong—!" but no such sound came. Only the quiet sound of cutting through the waves echoed across the dawn sea.
"Everyone to your stations!"
"Make sure the nets don't get tangled!"
"Hands! Watch your hands! Don't get pulled in!"
Only the occasional nagging from veteran fishermen could be heard on the boat carrying the newcomer.
"From here to there, we'll block the passage with the boat and set the nets. This is the narrowest point. The most valuable catch is...... Teacher?"
The Village Chief was also on Patrick's boat. Normally, the physically demanding work meant he wouldn't board a boat anymore, but today he'd made a special exception to mark for Patrick. Unfortunately, Patrick wasn't in any state to listen to his explanation.
"Ugh!"
Even though he hadn't eaten anything, nausea rose.
"Uweeeck!"
The sound of retching echoed across the quiet beach.
"Hahahaha! The teacher's doing a perfect job of chumming the waters!"
The fishermen's hearty laughter rang out. A newbie suffering was apparently comedy gold in any world.
"Teacher! Teacher, your face......!"
Still, Patrick was persistent. He went out on the boat for three days straight, and
"Isn't it dazzling?"
Three days of struggle had yielded something more valuable than fish.
"Your face is back!"
Patrick strutted about, proudly jutting out his chin to show off his sharp jawline.