A Warm Repayment That Warms the Heart
Jane rushed over to the flustered auntie, who stood frozen in panic.
“What are we going to do? Does this mean we have to redo everything?”
“Oh dear, redoing the work isn’t even the real problem. Looks like the dark fairies have let their poison build up properly this time. With filth this thick, no matter what tricks you try, the smell and stains never come out completely.”
The auntie’s face had turned haggard in an instant. Her gloomy voice only made Jane’s own complexion drain of color.
“Then what do we do? Don’t tell me… these nets are all ruined now?”
“That’s right. We’ll have to throw them all away. What are we supposed to do? By the terms of our repair shop contract, if any nets we’re storing get damaged, we’re responsible for full compensation.”
“Compensation for this many nets?”
The atmosphere inside the repair shop had transformed into that of a funeral home in the blink of an eye. There was simply no way a humble little shop like this could afford to replace such an enormous quantity of nets. Ian watched the women sink into despair, then made a short decision and offered them a helping hand.
“Excuse me, ladies. I have an idea. Would you be willing to hear me out?”
At the stranger’s voice, every pair of eyes snapped toward Ian.
“Who are you?”
The tough-looking woman who appeared to be the shop’s representative pushed herself up from the floor and glared at him. Jane quickly wheeled her chair in front of Ian, blocking the way.
“Aunt Sen! This is Ian. He’s the wonderful big brother who found our Ella for us before!”
“Ah… you mean the young man who tracked down that Mystic Cat in the Milky Way Forest?!”
“Yes! That’s him!”
Jane must have spoken about Ian often, because the sharp tension that had filled the room melted away in an instant.
“But what exactly could this young man help us with?”
To Aunt Sen’s reasonable question, Ian answered with quiet confidence.
“I happen to have a very powerful cleaning skill. Since things have already come to this, please let me take care of it.”
Perfect Bubble ×5
Ian asked everyone to step back, then summoned five Perfect Bubbles in the blink of an eye and sent them flying toward the pile of damaged nets. The bubbles struck the nets hanging on the long drying lines, slipping through every mesh before flowing along the ropes to envelop every filthy net in a pristine white coat. The heaps of nets stacked here and there were swallowed up by the fluffy bubbles as well, releasing a refreshing fragrance into the air.
After a brief silence, the bubbles covering the nets all burst into motes of light and scattered. What they left behind were the original nets—clean and crisp as if freshly woven, except for the holes worn through by age.
The aunties, who had watched the entire scene with wide eyes, exploded into chaos as though their earlier gloom had never existed.
“What in the world just happened?!”
“Good heavens! Not only did the filth wash away, the weave has come back to life! If we just patch the holes, we could sell these as they are!”
“Ian, young man! Thank you so much. Oh my, we need to repay you properly for this!”
Ian smiled brightly as he accepted their gratitude, then suddenly remembered the sights he had seen while walking through the market.
“In that case… could you recommend a good restaurant that serves excellent raw fish dishes?”
The sashimi restaurants he had spotted here and there while exploring the seafood market had looked irresistibly tempting. Just thinking about fresh, raw fish made saliva pool in his mouth.
“Wait, that’s really all you want?”
“Of course. I didn’t help expecting a reward.”
“Hold on. I know a truly fantastic place. I’m quite close with the owner, too.”
In the end, Aunt Sen—her face now glowing—took the lead. She guided Ian and Jane through the market’s winding back alleys until they stopped before a small but exceptionally clean shop. There was not a single ordinary signboard. Only by peering through the spotless glass window could one tell it was a restaurant at all.
“This place is a favorite among the market merchants. A hidden gem that tourists would never discover!”
The auntie declared boldly and opened the door without hesitation. Ian and Jane followed her inside.
The owner was a woman of such striking beauty that her age was impossible to guess. She welcomed the group with warm, deep-set eyes.
“What brings you here? And with customers I’ve never seen before.”
“This young man did me a tremendous favor. Please serve him your best with care. I’ll bring the whole repair shop crew later for a proper sashimi feast.”
“Understood.”
The owner gave Ian a captivating, narrow-eyed smile, then vanished into the kitchen. Aunt Sen returned to the repair shop, and Ian and Jane chose a suitable table and sat down.
“But… is it really all right for me to eat with you?”
At Jane’s cautious question, Ian broke into a wide grin.
“Of course! You expect me to eat alone in a restaurant I’m visiting for the first time? I get lonely easier than I look.”
“Ehehe. That does seem a bit sad.”
Only then did Jane’s expression soften, and she laughed like the child she was. A short while later, the owner approached with a large tray. The moment they saw the plates, Ian and Jane let out simultaneous gasps of wonder.
Dominating the center of the table was a single plate of aged sashimi that shimmered with a faint rainbow iridescence. The fish had been sliced so thinly it was nearly transparent; the pattern on the bottom of the plate showed clearly through the meat. Droplets of oil clinging to every fiber scattered jewel-like brilliance beneath the sunlight streaming through the window. Beside it sat an elegant vegetable wrap—pearl-glossed slices of raw fish gently tossed with wild greens and a savory nut sauce.
“Wow… it’s so beautiful. It looks more like jewelry than fish.”
“You’re right. It almost feels wrong to eat it.”
Ian picked up his chopsticks first and lifted a piece of the rainbow aged sashimi. He dipped it lightly in the tangy sauce the owner had prepared and placed it in his mouth.
The instant it touched his tongue, the characteristic resilient texture of aged sashimi wrapped his mouth in pleasure. With every chew, the fish’s own delicate sweetness emerged, followed by the sour sauce that burst with umami and left his palate refreshingly clean. It carried a depth and richness impossible to achieve with live fish sashimi.
“Jane, this is incredible. It practically melts on the tongue.”
Jane followed his lead and took a generous bite of the pearl-colored raw fish vegetable wrap. After the crisp crunch of the vegetables came a rush of rich, nutty sauce.
“Oppa, you have to try this one! It’s so savory!”
Ian picked up a wrap of his own. The savory sauce perfectly neutralized any potential fishiness, while the burst of vegetable juices and the chewy fish created perfect harmony in every bite. It wasn’t overpowering, yet it kept drawing his hand back for more—a flavor that carried the true depth of a genuine hidden gem.
“It’s really delicious. Now I understand why the market people only come here.”
“Yeah! I’m from the coast, but I’ve never tasted fish this good. It’s so delicious it feels like strength is surging through my whole body!”
The two of them slid plates back and forth, chopsticks flying. The condensed essence of the salty sea in the aged sashimi paired perfectly with the refreshing vegetable wraps.
Outside the window, the noisy clamor of the market continued, but inside the nameless little restaurant, the only sounds were the happy crunch of food and the pair’s delighted exclamations. Once the plates were empty, Ian called for the owner.
“Excuse me, could we have the bill?”
In truth, the more Ian savored each bite, the more firmly he had steeled himself. The cooking was astonishingly superb; there was no way sashimi of this quality could come cheap.
The aging technique alone is unrivaled, but the fish itself is no ordinary catch. I should prepare for at least ten to fifteen gold, right?
It might even be more. As Ian nervously fingered his wallet, the owner approached with graceful steps. Her beauty was the kind one never grew accustomed to, no matter how many times one saw it.
“That will be three gold.”
“Pardon…? That can’t be right. Aren’t you giving us too big a discount?”
“Hoho, shall I tell you a little secret?”
“A secret?”
“Aunt Sen who just left? She’s actually my aunt.”
Ian’s eyes widened as he stared at her face. It was hard to believe the tough, strong-willed auntie had a niece who looked this elegant and refined.
“It’s the first time my aunt has ever brought someone and asked me to take special care of them. I was so happy I decided to show off my skills a little.”
“I… I see.”
Still looking slightly dazed, Ian handed over three gold coins.
“Please remember the way and come again. Even if it’s not an expensive dish like today, every item on the menu is delicious.”
“Yes, I’ll definitely return.”
“By the way, the name of my shop is Leah. It’s also my name.”
Ian politely introduced himself before stepping out of the restaurant Leah. Jane offered to walk him to the entrance of the seafood market. As they strolled side by side, Ian felt a corner of his heart growing warmer than it had in a long time. The experience of offering help to someone and receiving their sincere, heartfelt gratitude in return.
With every layer of that thrillingly pleasant bond, the loneliness named “orphan” that had been curled up deep inside him cracked a little more and began to scatter. After setting foot in this world, it felt like he had finally received permission to exist here more vividly. A profound comfort gently filled his chest.