Hugs, Homework, and Heavy Lifts
People in this world really didn't think twice about skinship. They hugged at every opportunity, patted backs and heads, or stroked hair without hesitation. It was quite embarrassing for me, but I couldn't keep feeling that way forever. It felt strange to be the only one getting flustered when everyone else treated it so casually. Maybe I needed to change how I thought about physical affection. It did give me a real sense of comfort, after all.
With those serious thoughts running through my head, I squirmed in Han Yeoreum's arms. I couldn't breathe, but her strength was overwhelming and I couldn't break free.
"I can't even tell you how happy I am to have met Winter."
"Mmph-mmph."
"Hm? What was that?"
Han Yeoreum pushed me back. My nose was finally free, but I didn't gasp for air. Through various experiences, I'd learned that going without breathing for about ten minutes was manageable. Even if my body looked small and delicate, it was far superior to an ordinary Earthling's.
"...Me too."
"You too, Winter?"
"Yes. I'm happy I met everyone."
Rather than complaining about how suffocating it had been, I gave a positive answer. I always wanted to say only good things to my family.
"Aww, you're so cute."
Pat pat—
Just as Han Yeoreum was tapping my back, Levinas came barreling toward us.
"Levinas too! Levinas too!"
I was lying across Han Yeoreum's crossed legs, and Levinas flopped down on top of me. I'd played something similar in my past life—a game where people stacked on top of each other like a hamburger. The difference now was that it didn't hurt. It was just fun.
"Is Levinas happy too?"
"Yeah! Every single day is happy for Levinas!"
Levinas rubbed her cheek against mine. That soft, squishy childlike cheek felt nice. It would be even better if Saebyeok joined in. What was she doing right now?
I turned my head and looked at Saebyeok sitting at the table. She had books and a notebook open, scribbling something with intense focus.
That's...
She was studying math. I waited until the hugging session ended, then walked over to her.
"Saebyeok, are you studying?"
"Yeah."
Saebyeok held the book out for me to see. It was a fourth-grade elementary math textbook.
"Huh? Were you in fourth grade?"
"...If you don't count the time I was asleep, yeah."
"Right... excluding the sleeping time makes sense."
Saebyeok had been asleep for at least eight years. Adding that time would put her close to adulthood. Of course, I had no intention of counting those years as real age. Waking up to find yourself an adult would be unfair. Since Saebyeok was young both physically and mentally, treating her as a fourth-grader felt right.
"Then you're the big sister compared to Levinas."
"Yeah. I'm the oldest sister."
"The oldest?"
"Yeah."
Saebyeok only had one little sister, Levinas, yet she called herself the oldest. Maybe she took pride in the title. Since she seemed to like it, I decided not to point it out.
"Well, since you're the oldest, you have to take good care of your little sister, okay?"
"Got it. I'll try my best."
Pat pat—
Saebyeok stroked my head. This really was a world generous with physical affection. I stroked her head in return while glancing down at the math book.
"Is there anything you don't understand? I can help."
"This might be hard for you, Winter."
"...No way."
It was only fourth-grade math. I figured someone with a proper education like me wouldn't struggle. That is, until I actually saw the problems.
"Winter doesn't know mana calculation formulas, right?"
"M-mana calculation formulas...?"
"Yeah. It's about calculating how much mana goes into magic items."
"......"
What on earth was that? I stared at Saebyeok in silence. The fact that I didn't even know fourth-grade math was apparently shocking to her.
"Winter came from a world without mana. You probably wouldn't know."
"Y-yeah..."
Different worlds really did create situations like this. Feeling flustered, I fiddled with my fingers and stared at the book. It was definitely a problem I'd never seen before and couldn't solve. Me, not knowing elementary math... My ears and tail drooped in shame.
Saebyeok gently wrapped her tail around mine, which was lying limply on the floor.
"It's a formula you've never seen. Don't feel too bad."
"Okay..."
"I'll teach you how to solve it."
Saebyeok handed me a pen. She took my awkward grip and guided my hand.
"The formula goes like this..."
Scratch scratch—
As she moved her hand, mine moved with it. We solved one problem together in no time.
"See? Easy, right?"
"Yeah. Now that I know the method, it's simple."
"You're smart, Winter. I figured you'd get it fast once you knew the formula."
"Mmm..."
It wasn't that I was smart—it was just elementary-level. Embarrassed, I scratched my cheek.
"You can teach me the next unit. You handle everything except the mana problems just fine."
"S-should I...?"
Saebyeok was being considerate of my embarrassment. Even though she'd claimed the title of oldest sister, she truly deserved it. Grateful for her kindness, I taught her math. Aside from the mana questions, everything else was easy, so I managed to recover some dignity.
"Thanks for teaching me math. Let's study together again sometime."
"Yeah."
Saebyeok's tail swayed happily. My own tail, still loosely wrapped around hers, swayed along with it. Studying together wasn't so bad. From now on, we'd do homework like this too.
**
The next morning, I headed down to the training hall in the guild basement. I decided to do some simple strength training today.
This is...
A bench press. I found an empty spot and lay down right away. When I tried to lift the bar, it was way too heavy.
"Ugh..."
The bar didn't budge. My slender arms just trembled uselessly. My body, focused on agility, had pitifully weak strength.
"Hah..."
I checked the plates attached to the bar. Five massive plates on each side—ten in total. No wonder I couldn't lift it. Convinced, I removed one plate.
"......!"
The moment I pulled it free and hugged it to my chest, the weight pulled me backward. I stumbled, unable to stop.
"Aaaah!"
I was going to fall. Just as I squeezed my eyes shut in anticipation of the impact, someone pushed against my back. When I cautiously opened my eyes, a muscular man was holding the plate I'd removed with one hand. He was a guild adventurer I'd seen around the training hall often.
"You okay?"
"Y-yes..."
"This is heavy, so don't try to remove the plates by yourself. Ask someone nearby for help."
"Okay... I'm sorry..."
"No need to apologize."
He approached the bench press and removed all five remaining plates at once. Good grief. I'd barely managed to get one off. My rabbit eyes widened in surprise.
"Don't use any plates. Just lift the bar, got it?"
"Yes. Thank you."
After thanking him, I lay back down on the bench. Without any plates, the bar was manageable. Even so, after three reps my arms started shaking again.
Heavy...
Having mana meant weak muscles weren't a big deal, but I still wished I had a bit more strength. Next, I'd try deadlifts. I headed toward the nearby equipment.
A woman working out beside me reached out to stop me.
"Hold on, Winter."
"Yes...?"
She came over and removed all the plates from the barbell. Then she grinned and patted my head, telling me to give it a try. Without me even asking, she'd helped first. Everyone in our guild was so considerate.
"Hah..."
I managed a couple of deadlift imitations before it became too exhausting and I collapsed flat on the floor. The training hall was huge, so lying down wasn't in anyone's way.
I should try something else.
Every time I approached a machine, someone appeared to help—adjusting the weight to the minimum or supporting my form.
"Mmm..."
Was I just being a nuisance? Feeling self-conscious, I slipped out of the training hall. I'd just shoot some arrows instead.
"Did you see? Winter lifted the bar twice."
"Yeah. She was pretty impressive."
"Honestly, I thought even once would be hard for her."
"It's because Winter's got grit."
I could hear the conversation from inside the training hall. These were people who casually lifted hundreds of kilos. Right. Even managing two reps with my body was a miracle. Rationalizing it that way, I stepped back into the training area.
**
Inside the training hall, Kwon Arin was holding onto Encia's arm. She was trying to apply a technique she'd learned.
"So, you just twist the joint like this?"
"No, like this..."
Crack—!
Encia demonstrated by twisting Kwon Arin's arm. It bent in an impossible direction.
"Aaaagh!"
Unable to endure the pain, Kwon Arin dropped to the floor. She rolled around without caring about the dust clinging to her.
"I-I'm sorry. I only meant to use a little strength..."
"Your 'little' and mine must be different..."
Whew.
Kwon Arin rubbed her arm and, still lying down, reached toward Encia. She even wiggled her fingers, inviting her closer.
"Come here. Let's try out that grappling you learned."
"Okay."
Encia charged toward Kwon Arin, who was still on the floor. From a distance, I watched the scene unfold.
"Hup."
Encia locked her arm around Kwon Arin's neck. She twisted her legs too. Kwon Arin screamed in pain, but Encia didn't stop. This was... training, right? Encia wasn't the type to hurt someone on purpose. And Kwon Arin had become much kinder since we'd first met. It had to be training. But Kwon Arin's screams were too loud. The training was too intense.
Trembling, I couldn't hold back any longer and ran toward them. How could I stop Encia? If I pushed her, she might get hurt. After hesitating, I chose to flop down instead. I lay across Kwon Arin's face—the one who'd been getting beaten up the whole time.
"Winter...?"
"Encia..."
Friends shouldn't do this to each other. Stammering, I forced an awkward smile. My tail swayed weakly.