Shaking Off Fears with Fish
Shake shake shake— Han Yeoreum spotted Jeong Yu-na near the pond. Yu-na stared down at her sprawled-out sandwich with a gloomy expression, her face utterly drained of color, like her soul had fled her body.
"Yu-na."
Even calling her name from right beside her got no reaction. Something must have happened, right? Han Yeoreum cautiously patted her shoulder.
"Yu-na?"
"Ah...!"
Yu-na flinched hard, her body trembling. At the same time, focus returned to her pupils, like she'd just woken from a deep sleep.
"Yu-na, did you run into Winter earlier?"
"Y-yeah."
What on earth had happened during their meeting to leave Winter soaked and Yu-na in this dazed state? Before Han Yeoreum could voice her question, Jeong Yu-na spoke up first.
"I... I let the kid fall into the water..."
"What...?"
Let her fall? Yu-na could be prickly, sure, but she wasn't the type of villain who'd deliberately drown a child. Doubts welled up in Han Yeoreum, but she held her silence, giving Yu-na space to speak freely.
"We bumped into each other at the pond out of nowhere... She got startled by me and ran off, then fell in..."
"Ah..."
An accidental encounter that spiraled into a sudden mishap. It was hard to pin the blame entirely on Yu-na.
"I reached out to pull her out, but she didn't grab my hand and climbed out on her own."
"She's still scared of people."
"Yeah. I tried to apologize right away, but when I got close, she flattened herself down and started shaking like a leaf. She even covered her ears, like she didn't want to hear my voice..."
Jeong Yu-na rubbed her own arm. Seeing her so lacking in confidence—unlike her usual self—was heartbreaking.
Kids have always been especially afraid of Yu-na.
Was Winter terrified of Yu-na's sharp features too? Han Yeoreum let out a long sigh and glanced toward the tent where Winter should be.
"Yu-na, want to go over and try apologizing first?"
"Wh-what if she just runs away again...?"
"Hmm..."
It was a valid point. Forcing a frightened child to stay for an apology felt wrong.
What should I do?
How could she get the two of them to meet? As Han Yeoreum pondered, she noticed loaches swimming here and there in the pond.
"Ah. Fish."
"Fish?"
"Yeah. Winter loves fish."
They'd planned to stock the pond with various fish. If she left this task to Yu-na, the two would naturally cross paths. Meeting through something Winter loved might help ease her fear, even a little.
"Approach her with something she likes?"
"Exactly."
As expected of a mage—quick on the uptake. Han Yeoreum decided to brief Jeong Yu-na on the pond fish operation for tomorrow.
I'd lit a bonfire in front of the tent and was drying my wet hair. Behind me, the shark girl Sophia helped wipe away the moisture with a towel.
"Aren't your ears heavy from all the water?"
"Yes. They're so heavy I can't lift them."
Human hands touched my body, but her grandmotherly gentleness melted away the hostility and fear. It had been so long since touch from another person brought me peace. Maybe because she wasn't fully human.
"Chief! Whatcha doing?!"
A lizard man approached beside me as I dried my hair. His boisterous energy, shattering the calm, had become familiar now.
"Drying my hair."
"Your hair?!"
"Yeah. I fell in the water earlier."
"No way!"
Thud thud—! The lizard man slammed his massive tail against the grassy ground. The green turf sank deep, exposing the soil beneath.
"Chief! Water in your ears?!"
"Yes. It got in earlier, but..."
It got in earlier, but it's fine now. Before I could finish, he scooped me up effortlessly.
"Then Argo'll get it out for ya!"
The lizard man flipped my body upside down. With my ankle gripped tight, I dangled in the air, swinging back and forth.
"W-wait a sec...!"
"It's fine! This is the best way to drain water from your ears!"
Shake shake shake— The lizard man jostled me up and down. He shook me so roughly it felt like he'd make me vomit up everything I'd eaten.
"Uwaaa."
In my upside-down, shaking vision, I saw Sophia's resigned expression. Instinctively, I reached out toward her.
"S-sa-save... meee..."
"How's it feel, Chief? Water pouring out?!"
"Uwaaa..."
My brain rattled so much I couldn't think straight. I just clung to my slipping top while dangling. Then the shark girl approached and raised her cane high.
"You fool."
Crack—! A light impact sound, and the shaking stopped. She'd reined in the crazy lizard for my sake.
"Elder! Why'd you hit me?!"
"You think shaking a child like that works?"
"But it's fun! The village kids loved it?!"
"Some children hate rough play. Tastes differ for everyone."
The shark girl sighed and reached out to me. I seized the chance and grabbed onto her tightly. Suddenly, I was upside down in her arms.
"Ah."
A person's embrace. My first hug in years, and upside down no less. Overwhelmed, I froze stiff, and her body began to wobble.
"Urgh...!"
Was I too heavy? Or was the shark girl just weak? She staggered backward unsteadily, looking precarious.
"I'll get down now."
"W-wait, just stay still a moment..."
Her trembling arms and tottering body. Was she about to fall? As I worried inwardly, her body started tilting backward.
"Ah."
Guess this was inevitable. I squeezed my eyes shut, bracing for impact—when Han Yeoreum appeared out of nowhere to catch the shark girl.
"What are you two doing...?"
Han Yeoreum righted my upside-down body. The moment my feet touched the ground, a sigh of relief escaped me unbidden. The shark girl, feeling the same, pressed a hand to her chest and exhaled deeply.
"Th-thank you. I'm not strong on land..."
"Sure. Playing is fine, but don't get so dangerous. Both of you are still..."
Han Yeoreum trailed off, clamping her mouth shut. The shark girl's brow furrowed slightly.
"Don't treat me like a child."
"S-sorry. You just look so young."
"...Judging by appearances is a chronic human flaw. Reflect on that."
"Yes. Sorry."
Han Yeoreum bowed her head and came over to me. Her cheeks were flushed red.
"Sorry, my sister embarrassed herself."
"Huh?"
"She did it before too—judging by looks again. Really sorry."
"......?"
Isn't judging by appearances just human nature? I didn't get why she was apologizing to me, so I just tilted my head.
"Haa... When will she ever grow up."
Han Yeoreum plopped down by the bonfire with a grumble. I eyed her cautiously and sat a bit farther away—my hair still wasn't fully dry.
"Hey, Winter."
"Yes?"
"Fish are coming in tomorrow morning. Can you check them out?"
"Al-already...?"
I'd thought stocking sea and freshwater fish together would take longer, but this soon? My tail swished excitedly at the thought of the new fishing spot.
"Yeah. But I've got something to do in the morning, so someone else'll have to help. That okay?"
"Uh..."
"If it's really no good, I can do it later when I'm free."
"N-no, it's fine..."
This pond would be my precious food source. Better to get started ASAP.
"Hmm... She's someone you know a bit. That okay?"
"Someone I know?"
"Yeah. That sharp-looking sister who uses fire magic."
Was it that woman from earlier? The one who'd cackled at me while I fled from the horn rabbit. Blood drained from my face at the girl's shocking words.
"She won't mock me or anything, right...?"
"Yeah. No way. She wants to apologize to you."
"N-no way...?"
That fierce woman apologizing to me? Impossible unless the world ended. She was the dangerous type who incinerated horn rabbits to the bone with superheated fireballs.
"Maybe a bit much?"
"Uh..."
I scanned Han Yeoreum up and down. I couldn't fully trust her yet, but I'd decided to trust her halfway. With food on the line, I'd bet on that half-chance.
"Yes. I'll give it a try."
"R-really?"
"Yes."
I nodded, and her face lit up.
"I'll tell her not to touch you at all, so don't worry. If she's too scary, just hit her and run."
"Y-yeah..."
Hit her? I'd end up a flaming horn rabbit. I just shrugged at her.
To survive in the city, I need to learn how to deal with people.
Still, fear was fear. Today felt destined to be full of worries.
That evening, I wandered near the pond with a cup in hand. My throat was parched.
I forgot to ask where to get water.
Where could I find some? As I pondered, the crystal-clear pond water caught my eye. Thanks to the item, it was as pure and transparent as the stream from my old home.
Can I drink that...?
To be safe, I scooped up a cupful. With my vision—several times sharper than a normal person's—I inspected it closely. Not even a speck of dust.
Could I boil this and drink it? Better ask the girl. Clutching the cup, I dashed back into the tent. The stares from those around me were too hard to bear.