The Ice Golem's Sweet Apology
During adventurer training, a tongue stuck to the ice simply wouldn't come free. Levinas's ears, which normally stood tall with boundless energy, drooped flat against her head.
"Tongue's thtuck..."
Levinas turned her pitiful gaze toward me. With her tongue frozen to the ice, she couldn't even turn her head.
"U-um..."
Heat would probably free her tongue, but I had no way to produce any. My eyes naturally drifted up to Yuna, the mage.
"Her tongue's stuck."
"Got it. Just a second."
Yuna pinched Levinas's tongue between her index finger and thumb. A warm wisp of steam rose, and in moments Levinas's tongue came loose.
"Tho cold!"
Levinas licked the back of her hand a few times, trying to chase away the chill. In that brief moment of licking, I pulled on my senses and checked her tongue.
Doesn't look injured.
What a relief. I'd been worried she might get frostbite. Seeing her tongue free of any swelling eased my mind.
"Levinas, is your tongue okay?"
"Yeah... my tongue's fine, but my heart isn't..."
"Why isn't your heart okay?"
"Levinas thought the ice person was a good person...!"
Levinas frowned, brushing her bangs aside. Her white forehead and a small horn came into view.
Tap-tap—
Levinas pecked at the ice statue with the horn on her forehead like a woodpecker. Surprisingly strong, the horn sent tiny shards of ice flying in every direction.
"Eek...!"
A shard flew into my eye. My ears and tail shot upright in surprise. Thankfully it didn't hurt—just felt cold—and that cold made my shoulders hunch.
"L-Levinas. You mustn't do that."
Yuna slipped her hand between the golem and the horn. For some reason her eyes stayed fixed on me, her expression almost frightened. I couldn't understand why she was looking at me like that.
Whoosh—!
Levinas's horn, which had been charging forward, slowed to a stop right in front of Yuna's palm and only lightly tapped it.
"Why not?"
"W-well, poking with your horn is..."
"Is what?"
"Um..."
Yuna kept stealing glances at me. I tilted my head at her anxious, worried look. Why on earth was she making that face?
The moment my tail, which had been standing on end, curled into a question mark, Yuna spoke again.
"Th-the ice giant is actually a very kind friend...!"
"...Even after yanking Levinas's tongue like that?"
"Yes. After playing a prank, it gives a gift to say sorry."
"H-huh...! So the ice giant is a gift-giver?!"
At the word "gift," Levinas's ears perked right up. Her expectant, innocent expression was so endearing that my arms tightened around her.
"Gift-giver?"
"Yeah! Birds that give gifts after playing pranks are called gift-givers!"
"Ah, right. Something like that."
Yuna swung her staff through the air. The ice golem's finger shattered and landed neatly in a small bowl.
"Th-the ice person's hand...!"
"It's fine. It'll grow back."
"Really...?"
"Yes. More importantly, would you like to see this?"
Yuna sprinkled syrup and red beans she'd produced from somewhere over the ice. I knew exactly what she was making—patbingsu.
"What's this?"
"Ice candy. The golem wants to apologize with it."
She handed one bowl to each of us. Accepting the patbingsu meant accepting the apology. Patbingsu, huh. This was my first proper patbingsu in this world. Curious, I poked the shaved ice with my fingertip.
"Is this your first time having patbingsu too, Winter?"
"Mm... I've had something similar before."
"Similar?"
"Yes. When I was hungry in winter, sprinkling corn flour on snow tasted good. It's different from mixing it with water."
The corn flour didn't dissolve, so the flavor stayed richer. It was a rare winter delicacy.
"U-um... but this will probably taste even better?"
Yuna scooped up a spoonful of patbingsu and brought it to my mouth. The beans and ice blended perfectly into a fantastic flavor. My tail wagged like crazy.
"Wow..."
Delicious. I took the spoon from Yuna and started eating the patbingsu in earnest. One bite. Then another. I kept eating until a sharp chill hit my head and I dropped to the ground.
"......!"
Ah. I shouldn't have eaten something so cold so fast. It was just too good—I'd forgotten.
Turning my head, I saw Levinas also clutching her head and squatting down beside me.
"Ughk...!"
"A-are you okay...?"
Along with Yuna's worried voice came the sound of soft footsteps—Han Yeoreum's. I could also hear Saebyeok purring in her arms.
"What happened?!"
Han Yeoreum rushed over, voice urgent. She placed a hand on my back to check my condition, then grabbed Yuna and shook her back and forth. I couldn't see it directly, but my sensitive ears let me picture the scene clearly.
"What's wrong with the kids?!"
"C-calm down. It's just from eating patbingsu."
"Patbingsu...?"
"Yeah. They ate it too fast and got brain freeze."
While Han Yeoreum and Yuna fussed, the sharp chill in my head gradually faded. I picked up the patbingsu bowl I'd set down and walked over to Han Yeoreum.
"Are both of you okay now?"
"Yes, I'm fine."
"Yeah! Levinas is fine too!"
I nodded and scooped up a spoonful of patbingsu to feed Saebyeok. Nom— Saebyeok's tail wagged just as fast as mine had. I should eat more patbingsu too. Just as I lifted another spoonful, Han Yeoreum reached out toward Levinas and me.
"Will you two give your spoons to Unnie?"
"The spoons?"
Why the spoons all of a sudden? I handed mine over, puzzled.
"Eating cold food too fast gives you a headache."
"Yes, I know that."
"Even if you know, it still happens in the moment. Unnie will show you the right speed to eat at."
"Mm..."
There was really no need, but before I could refuse, Han Yeoreum brought a spoonful of patbingsu to my mouth. Delicious. Maybe because of her warmth, being fed didn't feel bad at all. Well, just this once would be fine.
Thanks to Han Yeoreum's care, we finished the patbingsu without getting brain freeze again. Eating it together with everyone made it the best patbingsu I'd ever had.
**
It was time to head to the hunting ground. Today's was no ordinary one.
"Winter, you have to stay right next to Master, okay?"
"Yes. I'll stick close."
"If it gets too scary, don't hold back—tell Master right away."
"Okay."
Today we were challenging a Level 3 dungeon. Han Yeoreum's worry was only natural.
"Don't skip meals. Make sure you eat properly."
"All right..."
I had to listen to her anxious reminders for over ten minutes. After that, I said goodbye to the children.
"I'll be back."
"Yeah! Come back even stronger, Winter!"
"Good luck."
"Thanks."
I wished Levinas and Saebyeok could come too, but a Level 3 dungeon meant only I, with plenty of monster-hunting experience, could go.
I need to stock up on plenty of enhancers.
They'd said the enhancers would keep coming as long as I took care of Levinas. Since there were so many left, I'd decided to bring a bunch and share them with the other adventurers.
"I'll be going now."
Bow.
I bowed at the front door. Han Yeoreum, Sofia, and all the children saw me off with warm words. It felt good. I was simply grateful to have a home to return to.
**
Level 3 dungeon. About twenty adventurers stood nervously before the shimmering portal. Some stood at attention, others clasped their hands politely in front of them. As free-spirited adventurers, their postures varied, but they all shared one thing: they hadn't let their tension slip.
It was because they knew the instructor was none other than Kang Jin-ho, the Guild Master of Yeomyeong Guild. He was widely regarded as the strongest. Ever since he'd started wearing constant buffs and enhancers, no one could even compare.
"Th-the floor's clean, right?"
"Yes...! We cleaned it thoroughly."
The dungeon management official kept glancing at the floor, ready to pick up even the tiniest piece of trash. He knew Kang Jin-ho disliked such formalities, but he couldn't help himself.
"H-he's coming...!"
At the official's cry, one adventurer swallowed hard. Just the Guild Master's arrival made them feel like the air had been sucked from the room. So this was Kang Jin-ho. Every gaze locked onto him—until a lovely child came running after him with quick little steps.
"Mister, let's go together."
"...Sorry. I walked too fast."
Sorry. He actually apologized? More than that—who was calling Kang Jin-ho "Mister"?
The adventurers' shocked stares turned to the child. It was a pure-white beastkin girl with adorable white ears and tail.
"Oh?"
"It's Winter?"
A playful rumor had been spreading among the adventurers—that maybe Winter was the real power behind Yeomyeong Guild. After all, she was the one who could order Kang Jin-ho around however she pleased.
If it's Winter, I'll accept it.
One adventurer thought so to himself. The tension that had filled the air because of Kang Jin-ho drained away like the tide.
"Don't leave my side."
"Okay."
"...Wrap your tail around here."
Kang Jin-ho held out two fingers toward Winter. Without hesitation, Winter wrapped her tail around them. So even Kang Jin-ho became completely smitten in front of Winter. Maybe this training session would actually be fun?
Just as the adventurers began to feel hopeful, Winter swung the bag on her back around to her front. The slightly open bag revealed countless enhancers inside. It was Winter's gift to everyone.