Shark in the Pond (4)
I was hopping across the water’s surface on one leg.
Even I had to admit it was an impressive speed.
“How’s that, Blob-chan? Having fun?”
[Gue… eh…!]
The blobfish stuck to the top of my head was clearly enjoying itself too.
Since it was technically my traveling companion, I’d given it the name Blob-chan.
What do you think? Think you can keep up? Not even a shark can match my speed!
I glanced back confidently, only to see…
A full-blown emergency—!!! It was keeping up just fine?!
Splashes erupted as the shark lifted its head above the water.
[Grrrrrrk!]
Jagged teeth, skin like alligator hide. Eyes that were nothing but pale greenish-white sclera with no pupils.
It looked way more grotesque than a normal shark. What the hell had it been eating to turn out like this?
[Gueee…!]
The blobfish helpfully reminded me.
Yeah, eating something as ugly as you would probably make anyone hideous.
If I’d had both legs I would’ve left this thing in the dust ages ago, but with only one leg the disadvantage was… wait, one leg?
‘No choice then. Time to let loose.’
I spoke to the shark that had closed in until it was practically touching my nose.
“Awww man. I really didn’t want to use this here! Watch carefully! And don’t tell anyone!”
The shark ignored me completely and opened its jaws wide.
“Haaap!”
I twisted midair and delivered a spinning back kick straight into its jaw. How’s that for the power of a red-belt in taekwondo!
[Kra… larara?]
The shark, caught completely off guard, couldn’t even hold its head straight for a moment.
Whew. Good thing there weren’t any villagers from Utsuromura around to see that.
‘If people found out I use taekwondo, they’d definitely call me Korean~.’
No matter how you look at it, taekwondo is a Korean martial art passed down from the Goguryeo era.
I’d rather they thought of it as the much newer karate. After all, right now I’m Yuuki, a Japanese boy.
Anyway, while the shark was busy headbanging, I spotted a hole on top of its head.
Not… its genitals, right?
‘Is that like a whale’s blowhole?’
That spot was clearly the weak point.
I grabbed the bamboo fishing rod slung across my back and roared at the monster shark.
“I’ll avenge every plastic straw! Because of whiny sea creatures like you, we all have to use paper ones now!”
I thrust the tip of the fishing rod straight into the monster shark’s blowhole.
[Kroa, kroaaaaah]
It really was its weak point. The shark let out an agonized scream and even started drooling like a dragon with a runny nose.
I called out to Blob-chan on top of my head.
“Blob-chan! Catch the wind! We’re jumping!”
[Gueeeee…!]
This was the pole-vault of the handsome Yuuki!
Using the bamboo’s spring, I launched myself high into the air and landed perfectly on the shark’s back with a solid thud.
“It’s rodeo time! Let’s see who’s really in control here!”
The shark thrashed wildly trying to throw me off, but I clung desperately to the bamboo rod.
Apparently deciding that wasn’t working, the shark suddenly charged forward with reckless abandon. Was it trying to fling me off with acceleration?
But… if it did that…!!!
“Hoo! Run, run! Faster!”
[Gueeeek….]
“What are you making vomiting noises for? You shout ‘Hoo!’ too!”
[Gu… hoo—!!]
o(≧∇≦o)
It was basically a personal aquatic jet ski.
If I went to a tourist spot and rented one it would cost over 100,000 won, but this was free! I was moved to tears.
Utsuromura, you’re amazing!
[Grrrrrrrr…]
After running for quite a while, the shark’s efforts finally showed results.
Cracks started spreading across the bamboo rod.
‘Perfect! Now!’
The instant the bamboo completely shattered with a loud crack, I leaped off the monster shark’s body.
Spinning, spinning, spinning. I landed with a perfect triple axel.
‘Huh?’
Something felt missing. I no longer felt that slimy sensation on my head.
I caught a faint glimpse of a pink gelatinous mass on top of the monster shark. It was the blobfish.
Nooooo! Come back! You were the only fish friend I had left! I can’t lose you too!
‘Ugh.’
To make matters worse, the shark monster was swimming toward me with murderous intent. Its long tail even blocked my escape route.
If someone treated me like a jet ski I’d be pissed too. I get it.
“Hey, want me to go easy on you like I would on a girl with just one arm? Ah. Your fin’s pretty big. Then… maybe just one finger? That might hurt. How about a single strand of hair?”
I tried negotiating a handicap with the monster shark.
[Kroaaaaaaaaah—!!!]
It roared so loudly that waves formed around us.
Rejecting such a generous deal! How rude!
In that moment of crisis, my eyes met the clear gaze of the blobfish clinging to the shark.
❉𓂂(◕˓˳◕ )𓂂❉
It looked like it wanted to tell me something.
Maybe our souls had connected.
I thought I could hear Blob-chan’s voice coming from somewhere.
[Yuuki. My life doesn’t have much time left.]
What are you saying! Blob-chan!
The blobfish’s skin was slowly swelling up. Sorry to say it, but it looked like a tumor.
[If you hadn’t caught me, I never would have known the beautiful blue sky, the refreshing breeze, or how gorgeous the water looks when seen from above.]
Stop it. Damn it. What are you trying to do?!
The pink mass, now inflated like a giant bubblegum bubble, began turning red.
Grrrr? Even the monster shark sensed something was wrong and stopped its attack.
[Most of all, I was happy to meet someone as handsome as you.]
That’s not true. I can’t let you say something so service-level.
White smoke began leaking from the now bright-red Blob-chan.
“Nooooooooo!!!”
I covered my face with both hands and screamed.
I finally understood what Blob-chan was trying to do.
I’m weak to character sacrifice scenes! My tear ducts get all misty at obvious melodramatic tropes!
[Sayonara. My friend.]
BLOB-CHAN'S FINAL SACRIFICE
The pink mass swelled to its limit and detonated in a massive explosion.
BOMB.
[Grrrr!?!?]
Ka-boom ●~💥
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!
SPECIMEN:BLOBFISH (PUKAPUKA BOOTS INCIDENT)
CAUSE OF DEATH:SELF-DETONATION
NOTES:Specimen collected for research purposes. Exploded one hour after being removed from water. One operative sustained minor injuries.
LOCAL NAME:“That ugly fish? Why name it if you’re just throwing it back?”
Blob-chan’s suicide attack! The effect was tremendous.
The monster shark that took the direct hit flipped over and lay there groaning. One of its eyes had been destroyed.
“There’s nothing quite as satisfying as watching a loser’s pathetic final moments.”
I glided elegantly across the water’s surface toward the monster shark and gave it a victory teabag.
It didn’t even seem to have the strength to let out a death cry. It would probably die soon.
“If you’re coming back for revenge, make sure you reincarnate as a cool shark lady~.”
A revenge-driven monster that can’t accept defeat is just ugly, but a beautiful revenge-driven girl is peak entertainment.
Of course, there was zero chance the shark would come back as a beautiful girl.
Glub. The monster shark finally sank beneath the surface of the pond.
The route had taken a slight detour, but I had successfully defeated the legendary fish of Wani-numa Pond! Hooray!
‘A victory with nothing but scars, huh.’
I gave a bitter smile.
The battle had ended in a joint victory between me and the blobfish.
However, the other fish whose dreams had been crushed by the monster shark had already left my side. That was when—
‘Salmon?’
A salmon floated up to the surface.
Then came the trout, the sweetfish, the dace—more and more fish followed the salmon’s lead.
“I see!”
The tyrant of Wani-numa had disappeared.
With peace restored, they had finally returned! I gathered the fish into my arms in a big hug.
You guys! Now you can finally fulfill your dream of becoming delicious dishes!
“Let’s never be apart again!”
I emotionally concluded the reunion with all my fish friends—but Blob-chan was dead.
It was gone forever now.
Still, it would live on as one with my back and my heart!
Summer would be here soon.
The summer I met Blob-chan was coming.
The summer without Blob-chan was coming.
I looked up at the sky.
It was a clear, beautiful blue.
Thank you, blobfish.
Live strong in the afterlife too.
The night sparrow had seen everything.
It was utter madness.
The boy called Natsunashi Yuuki.
From the night sparrow’s perspective, he had only spouted ridiculous nonsense and done bizarre things, yet somehow he had already exterminated the shark anomaly of Wani-numa Pond—the Isonade.
A creature so troublesome that even the Night Watchmen had given up on it due to its aquatic nature, and he had toyed with it like it was nothing.
In the end, he even coldly collected the fish that had died in the explosion.
A monster more monstrous than any the night sparrow had ever seen.
What exactly had this village summoned?
Impossible to analyze. Impossible to understand.
There was only one conclusion it could reach.
‘Natsunashi Yuuki is dangerous.’
The moment the night sparrow frantically flapped its wings to deliver those words to its master Reia—
A willow leaf fluttered gently in front of the night sparrow. Why was a leaf here?
Shaaak.
The leaf sliced the night sparrow apart.
The night sparrow fell to the ground in pieces.
Regardless, the willow leaf continued drifting down at its own leisurely pace.
Target: Isonade — eliminated by external party.
Observer: Night Sparrow — destroyed by unknown blade.
Recommendation: Immediate elimination of Natsunashi Yuuki.
It landed neatly in the palm of a girl wearing a straw hat.
“There’s a saying for times like this…”
She was Kiryuen Yukirin, head of the Kiryuen family—one of the Three Great Families—and leader of the Night Watchmen. The strongest pure-blooded Kiryuen in history.
“—I went and cut down something worthless again.”
Her last syllable came out lisped, so Rin tilted her head and added,
“Again, I bit my tongue.”
