The Wonder of Hot Water
Along with Sophia and Levi Nas—who'd just marveled that warm water came out—I climbed into the back seat of the police car.
"Ugh..."
Was this it? Were we really headed to jail like this? With sad eyes, I drank in what might be my last glimpse of the world. City buildings, people walking the streets. Who would've thought I'd come to miss the everyday life of this world I'd once despised so much? Once I serve my time and get out, I'll be someone who appreciates normal life, I thought, gazing out the window.
That's when my eyes met Han Yeoreum's as she walked down the street.
Winter, what are you doing there...? her eyes seemed to say.
Bye-bye. That's what I signaled back with my own gaze.
I had so much I wanted to say to her, but as someone who'd been caught, there was nothing I could do. All I managed was a farewell, tapping the glass with my clenched fist.
The car pulled away just as Han Yeoreum vanished around the corner of an alley—and then she came sprinting after us in a desperate chase.
I worried she'd bump into the many pedestrians on the street, but she twisted and weaved through them with impressive skill, keeping right on our tail. The people, seemingly used to such scenes, didn't even flinch at the sight of her racing by.
Right, this was a world with fantasy elements.
As I twisted around to watch her pursuit, the female officer in the driver's seat scolded me.
"Winter, it's dangerous—sit up straight."
"Y-Yes..."
"And buckle your seatbelt."
"Y-Yes..."
I straightened up and reached for the seatbelt, then glanced at Levi Nas right beside me. There was no belt in the middle seat. It looked like we'd have to share one.
"Levi Nas, stay still for a sec."
"Why?"
"We'll buckle this together."
I fastened the single seatbelt around both of us. It was meant for one person, but our small bodies made it work.
"What's this? Levi Nas hates stuff that's tight!"
"It protects Levi Nas from getting hurt in an accident. You have to buckle up in a car."
"Gasp...!"
Whether it was because she hated getting hurt or not, Levi Nas clutched the belt tight with both hands.
And just like that, we made it to Yeomyeong Park in silence.
"Huh?"
Weren't we going straight to jail? What were we doing here? As I looked around in surprise, the middle-aged officer in the passenger seat got out first and opened the back door for us.
"Alright, we're here—time to get out."
"G-Get out...?"
Was this for real? They were just dropping me off at home? I blinked up at the middle-aged cop in disbelief.
That's when Han Yeoreum came skidding to a halt right in front of me, kicking up a gust of wind.
"Winter...!"
Her hand clamped down on my shoulder with crushing force. The pain made me grimace involuntarily.
"Ow...!"
It hurts—let go, please. I looked up at her pleadingly, but her gaze was fixed on the middle-aged cop.
"Officer, is there some problem with my kids?"
"Oh, n-no. We just thought it looked risky for beastkin kids to be out alone, so we gave 'em a ride."
"I see?"
Han Yeoreum let out a relieved breath, patting her chest. Seeing that, I relaxed too.
"So... I'm not getting arrested?"
"R-Right? You didn't do anything arrest-worthy."
Thank goodness. No jail. Phew.
As I exhaled the tension in one big whoosh, the middle-aged cop leaned in and whispered—just loud enough for Han Yeoreum to hear. Of course, my ears caught every word.
"You're Han Yeoreum from Yeomyeong Guild, right?"
"Yes, that's me."
"The guild's looking after these kids?"
The cop's eyes flicked toward me, Sophia, and Levi Nas. It felt like he was grilling her.
"But why are they in that state? They were digging through trash cans."
"W-Well, our kids are just really independent..."
Han Yeoreum looked down, avoiding his gaze. The cop's brow furrowed subtly.
"Independent?"
"Yes... They like living in harmony with nature, and..."
"Gasp! How did you know?! Levi Nas loves trees!"
"Even I prefer the scent of grass over concrete."
I nodded along as if to say me too. Lately, nature had been growing on me more and more.
"...I see. We must've misunderstood. Sorry about that."
"Oh, no—it's understandable. Actually, thanks for looking out for the kids."
Hehe. Han Yeoreum gave an awkward smile and waved them off. The cops said to call if anything came up, then drove away into the distance.
"Haaah..."
Exhausted from the sudden ordeal, Han Yeoreum plopped down on the nearby grass. I glanced at her cautiously before sitting beside her. I knew this mess was my fault.
"...You okay?"
"Yeah. Unnie's always fine."
Hehe. She turned to me with a smiling eye crinkle. It was a while before she spoke again.
"...But Winter."
"Yes?"
"You're still not thinking of living at the guild? Don't worry—unnie'll handle rent and everything."
"W-Well..."
I knew she wanted to help me. But I didn't want to live off someone for free. Thanks, but I'm good. That's what I wanted to say, but after this incident, I hesitated. I'd realized she and Yeomyeong Guild were getting suspicious looks because of me.
"Hmm... How about this, Winter?"
"What?"
"Live at the guild just once a week. Like a trial run. Sound good?"
A trial. Try it a few times and decide. I pondered the new option but eventually nodded. Guilt over her run-in with the cops weighed on me.
"Sure, let's do that...?"
"R-Really? Once a week is okay?"
"Yep..."
It wasn't forever. And experiencing high-class life wasn't a bad deal for someone like me.
The next morning.
I entered the guild building with everyone. Maybe because I and Levi Nas looked extra grubby, I felt people's sidelong glances.
The massive structure was overwhelming no matter how many times I walked in. Levi Nas, unfazed, dashed around the lobby like a kid at a playground.
"Remember that place where Winter cried last time?"
"Y-Yeah..."
"That's the first floor, for guests. The real living quarters are way up high."
Dozens of floors up. All the way up there? I sighed deeply and stepped toward the nearby stairs.
"Climbing all that height sounds like a chore."
"Hmm... Guess Winter doesn't know about elevators yet...?"
"Oh."
Elevators. I hadn't ridden one in nearly eight years—I hadn't even considered it. I'd avoided enclosed spaces with other people.
Not that I'd ever been in a building grand enough to have one, anyway.
"Elevators take you up without all the stair-climbing hassle. Pretty amazing, right?"
"Y-Yeah... Elevators are amazing..."
Now I was being treated like some elevator-ignorant caveman. It stung, but it was my mistake, so I didn't argue. I just stepped into the empty elevator with the others.
"See these numbers? Press one, and it goes to that floor."
"W-Wow..."
Clap clap clap. I clapped awkwardly. Levi Nas followed suit, eyes sparkling.
"Levi Nas is riding something this amazing for the first time! What about the king?!"
"M-Me too..."
First time in this life, at least. It made my heart race, like my life's value had shot up. My tail swished happily, but only when I felt good like this.
"Elevators are for everyone, so no treating them like a ride."
"Got it!"
"Y-Yeah..."
Levi Nas shot her hand up triumphantly. I mumbled my response too.
We arrived at the residential floor. Han Yeoreum led us and opened the front door.
Among us, Sophia was the first to step inside.
"Hm..."
She scanned the interior with keen interest. Her shark tail flicked back and forth—something I'd never seen her do before.
Wow.
Sophia looking this delighted was a first. If I'd known she'd love it this much, we would've come sooner. Feeling apologetic, I trailed after her.
That's when a thoroughly soaked Levi Nas came running up to us.
"Big trouble! Big trouble!"
"W-What?"
What accident had Levi Nas caused? Sophia and I whipped around toward the sound.
"Warm water comes out with no fire!"
Warm water. That single phrase made my eyes bulge. Even the composed Sophia was shocked enough for her tail to shoot straight up.
"W-Warm water comes out?"
"Yeah! It gushes out! This must be where the gods live!"
"W-Wow..."
A house where warm water gushed endlessly. Overwhelmed, I clasped my hands in prayer—then realized it was totally normal for any regular home.
Of course, it wasn't normal for me.
"Warm water..."
I looked up at Han Yeoreum with eyes full of reverence. She just scratched her cheek and gazed down at us.