Cultural Differences
Saebyeok lunged straight for my tail. Chomp! Her feline fangs sank in. She hadn't bitten hard, but it was the first time I'd ever felt pain through my tail. Even I, who was used to pain, couldn't help but flinch.
"Nyaaak!"
She let out a cat-like yelp, then immediately clamped her mouth shut. It wasn't a scream or a shriek—just a pure nyaaak. Maybe her beastkin instincts were still running strong.
"S-sorry…" Saebyeok mumbled, glancing up at me nervously once she'd come back to her senses. I waved my hand to show it was fine.
"It's okay. I was just surprised, that's all."
I looked down at the tip of my tail. Not a single drop of blood, not even a scratch. With Saebyeok's strength, she could have sliced it clean off. She must have held back even while charging at me in a frenzy.
"Winter! Did your tail get bitten?! Levinas will heal it for you!"
Levinas grabbed my tail and blew on it with a dramatic hoo—though she was aiming at the wrong spot entirely. Still, the gesture was sweet, so I let it be.
Just as I was about to thank her, she popped the tip of my tail into her mouth and started sucking on it like a pacifier. Chomp-chomp, suck-suck. It didn't hurt, so I decided to leave her to it.
"Saebyeok and Levinas really seem to like tails."
"It's because they're young," Sofia said.
"Young?"
"Indeed. You are no different, Winter."
I had no particular feelings about tails at all. Tilting my head in confusion, I suddenly realized Sofia's tail was curled comfortably in my lap.
"Huh? When did…?"
I had no memory of grabbing it. I stared at Sofia, silently asking for an explanation.
"You charged toward me the moment Saebyeok bit your tail."
"I did…?"
"It seems the moment was too chaotic for you to remember."
"I… guess so."
Was it some kind of beastkin instinct? I'd only been living as one for a short while, so it made sense that I couldn't control it yet. I rationalized it away and looked down at the toilet paper wrapped around my body.
They've probably had enough fun by now. Time to unwrap it.
I peeled the paper away even more carefully than when I'd wrapped it. There was far too much to simply throw away.
"We should recycle this."
"Oh, right. I'll help you take it off, unni."
Han Yeoreum circled me, gently unwinding the paper while I spun in place to make it easier. She kept turning without pause, and soon my head began to spin. Thanks to my agility-focused body I didn't fall, but the others weren't so lucky.
Saebyeok, who had been spinning just like me, suddenly swayed. Before she could collapse, I rushed over and caught her in my arms.
"Hup! Levinas too! Levinas too!"
Levinas started spinning in circles on the spot—though she wasn't actually unwrapping anything, just twirling for the fun of it. After about three rotations she wobbled toward us, dizzy.
"Uwaaah, I'm dizzyyy."
She just wanted a hug. I held out my arms. The moment I did, Levinas's unsteady steps turned into a full-speed dash.
Squeeze!
One arm around Saebyeok, the other around Levinas.
"Oh my, oh my."
Han Yeoreum, watching us with a fond smile, pulled out her smartphone and snapped a photo. She loved taking pictures. I didn't mind, so I let her.
**
Yeomyeong Park. Seol was the undisputed ruler of the park. When she was alone, she would prowl the grounds with regal steps.
"Meow."
Seol set down an empty bottle beside the tent, then repeated the action three times.
"Meow-meow."
Another hard day's work. Time for her reward.
Thump-thump-thump! Seol marched forward with all the might her tiny body could muster—the proud gait she'd learned from the King of Cats, Winter. Humans always reacted well to it. They would squeal, pet her, and offer treats.
"Myaaang."
Ah, there they were—the humans who gave her affection. Seol approached the pair. When she rubbed her head against their legs, their cheeks flushed pink.
"She's seriously so pretty."
"Doesn't she look just like Winter?"
The two women stroked Seol while thinking of Winter, the beloved mascot of the Yeomyeong Guild.
"I heard a rumor that Winter acts cute like this too."
"Really?"
"Yeah. I'm so jealous."
Those who couldn't approach Winter found their fill of cuteness through Seol. Since they didn't know her name, they simply called her Winter as well.
"Winter, are you in a good mood?"
"Meow!"
"Kyaa!"
How could one cat be this adorable? One of the women pulled two cans of tuna from her pocket.
"Meow-meow."
So many cans. One would have been more than enough. Seol sniffed the air, pondering what to do.
"Meow?"
Mixed with the scent of tuna was the unmistakable smell of the King. The King was nearby. It would be nice to share one can with him. After all, humans ate this too.
"Meow-meow!"
Wait here. Seol barked like a dog to convey the message, then dashed off toward the distant figure of Winter wandering through the park.
"Meow-meow!"
The two cat-folk met. Their tails swayed happily at the reunion.
"Seol."
"Meow-meow!"
Though different species, they shared the bond of being feline. Winter and Seol understood each other well enough.
"You want me to follow you?"
"Meow!"
"Okay, got it."
Seol led the way, occasionally glancing back to make sure Winter was keeping up. She ran at a considerate pace, mindful that her king was still young.
"Meow-meow!"
They arrived at the picnic mat near the pond. The two women, spotting Seol, rummaged through their bags—completely missing the fact that Winter had followed right behind.
"Winter came back."
"Yeah. She must want the tuna."
It would be nice if she sat on our laps while eating. Maybe we could pet her head too? The women held out the cans toward Seol's direction.
"Winter, want some tuna—huh?"
Instead of Seol, they found themselves offering the cans to Winter, who had arrived a moment later. Having overheard their conversation, Winter's eyes widened like a startled rabbit.
"M-me…?"
"Uh…?"
Why was the real Winter suddenly here? The women blinked in confusion. Winter, unsure why they were offering her tuna, simply stood there awkwardly.
They wanted me to sit on their laps while eating…? And pet my head too? What on earth for? Just as Winter was about to refuse, Seol tugged insistently at her clothes.
"Meow! Meow!"
"You want to share the tuna?"
"Meow!"
"U-umm…"
Winter knew Seol collected empty bottles every day. She had also helped track down a mouse before. It was a request from a child who had helped her in many ways. Winter didn't want to be someone who only received. She disliked taking things for free, but for Seol's sake, she decided to accept.
**
Before she could even eat the tuna, a problem arose. Why did she have to sit on their laps?
…Physical contact, I suppose.
People in this world were strangely fond of skinship. Hugging, cheek-rubbing, head-patting—it happened constantly. Sitting on someone's lap was apparently just as common.
Is this normal here…? I was often told I lacked common sense. Maybe sitting on laps really was an everyday occurrence in this world. The two women didn't seem dangerous, so I decided to give it a try.
I approached the woman holding the tuna and, after a moment's hesitation, sat on her thigh.
"Hup."
The woman trembled violently, frozen in the exact pose she'd been holding the can.
"Are you friends with our Seol?"
"S-Seol? Ah, yeah. Friends."
I see. Just as I nodded, the other woman's hand came to rest on my head. She was the one who had wanted to pet me. I accepted the touch and decided to ask the question that had been bothering me.
"Um, I have a question."
"O-oh, sure. What is it?"
"Actually, I don't really know much about… this side's customs."
Bringing up "this world" felt risky. For now, I should probably play the part of a clueless beastkin.
"I don't really understand human common sense."
"Right, it must still be hard for you."
"Yes. So I was wondering… do humans like having people sit on their laps like this?"
"Of course! We love it."
Love it? People in this world enjoyed physical contact far more than I'd imagined.
"It… doesn't come across as rude or bothersome?"
"Not at all. Absolutely not."
Both women made an X with their hands, their expressions deadly serious. It didn't look like a lie.
In my old world, this would've gotten me arrested for harassment.
The cultural gap felt strange, but I decided to accept it. In some Western countries, people greeted each other with kisses on the cheek. That same act would get you arrested in Korea. What counted as a crime in one place was just a friendly greeting and light skinship in another. Culture really was fascinating.
Maybe it was because we were the same gender. I should probably test it out on the Guild Master or Choi Jin-hyuk later. If they reacted positively, I wouldn't have to feel embarrassed about sitting on laps anymore.