"Why–why can't I hit it...?"
Just a moment ago, I was able to perfectly hit any of my targets with my bow, yet, why can't I hit even a single can right in front of me?
Confused by the situation and just staring at the collapsed tent, Sophia approached me while leaning on her staff.
"It seems your mana didn't flow."
"Mana? Why didn't it flow all of a sudden?"
"It's probably because you're not as tense as when you're hunting monsters."
"Aha..."
Whether facing monsters or during moments of crisis, I had noticed my sight and hearing unusually sharpening.
Maybe my mana instinctively activated whenever I felt danger, and right now, with a safe target, my mana probably didn't stir.
"Try shooting with the tension you feel when facing monsters."
"Okay. But first, I should clean this up."
"Mm... Yes, that would be best."
I moved towards the scattered glass shards.
One piece at a time.
With my small hands, I diligently picked up the glass fragments.
The glass bottles, costing a hundred and twenty won each, now shattered.
All together, that was over five hundred won.
Tch.
My tail expressed my frustration, thumping the ground on its own.
It was then that someone called out my name from afar.
"Gyeoul! I sold the mana stones!"
"Yes."
Turning my head, I saw Yeoreum waving at me from a distance, holding a bundle of bills.
The guild apparently bought mana stones, and it seemed to go quickly since a guild member, Yeoreum, handled it.
"Gyeoul—Huh? Why is the tent like this?"
"Well, I was practicing archery and accidentally broke it..."
"I see..."
Yeoreum scratched her cheek, then squatted near the glass shards.
Unfazed by the broken glass, she skillfully scooped up the pieces with both hands.
"I–I can do it—!"
I couldn't let someone else clean up my mistake.
I hurriedly squatted in front of her, but she pushed me back, preventing me from getting closer.
"I'll clean this up. Gyeoul, you still have a lot to do."
"But, still..."
"It's okay. I want to finish quickly so I can play with Gyeoul."
I closed my mouth at Yeoreum's kindness.
Whether teaching me how to hunt monsters in the dungeon or helping clean up the glass.
She seemed nothing but kind.
'Is she really a good person?'
My doubts were frustratingly unresolved.
It would have been better if she had told me everything.
Though I felt a sense of loss, like Yeoreum said, I had too much to do.
I decided to finish my tasks first.
"Sophia, let's go pick azaleas together."
"Azaleas?"
"Yes. I saw a lot blooming over there."
"Hmm..."
Blinking her eyes in thought, Sophia rose from her seat.
I was a bit happy, no, very happy, that I didn't have to pick azaleas alone.
✧✧✧✧✧
Living a life of poverty taught me one thing.
There are often useful items discarded like trash.
I headed to the recycling bins in one corner of the park, looking for materials to repair the tent.
WI couldn't find any tarps or covers, but I managed to collect a few empty bottles.
"This one has cigarette butts inside it..."
"Yes. If we clean it well, we can sell it."
"Oho..."
Thump Thump
When I tapped the neck of the bottle on the ground, the cigarette butts fell out from inside.
It was dirty work, but I picked them up and threw them in the trash, keeping only the empty bottles.
"Just wash these a few times with water, and they'll be fine."
"You're very frugal."
Sophia held the empty bottles I handed her.
I led her to a nearby bush, thinking to myself.
Today, I should also take care of the tent.
'With enough money, I can even buy waterproof tape, right?'
Never thought the day would come when I could fix the holes in my tent.
Feeling a thrill in my heart, I stood under a tree blooming with azaleas.
"Let's pick lots of azaleas."
I demonstrated to Sophia how to pick azalea petals without tearing them.
There was a trick to plucking them in one go.
"You're quite skillful with your hands."
"Yes. Sophia..."
Sophia, join in too.
Just as I was about to say that, I heard multiple footsteps from nearby.
Tap Tap
About five young men and women made up the approaching group.
'Not adventurers... are they here just to enjoy the park?'
Did they come here to see the azaleas?
Or did they have some business with us?
Confused, I instinctively stepped back.
"Hello?"
A woman at the forefront of the group waved at Sophia and me.
Not knowing her intentions, I simply looked up at her silently.
"Hey, don't approach so suddenly, you'll scare the kids."
"Oh, is that so?"
"Who are you calling kid..."
Sophia muttered discontentedly as the woman scratched the back of her head.
Her smile seemed harmless, but I hadn't lived a naïve life to trust someone based on their appearance alone.
She must have some purpose.
"Sorry, we just thought to share some snacks."
"Snacks?"
"Yeah. We came here to hang out but brought too much."
She held out a basket to me.
It smelled delicious, but I had no intention of accepting it.
"No, it's okay. We have our snacks."
I showed them the freshly picked azalea flowers.
They were pretty pink petals, but for some reason, the group looked pale and just stared at the petals.
"Is that so? What should we do with all this? Do we have to throw it away...?"
She coughed awkwardly and opened the basket.
Inside were sandwiches, drinks, and snacks.
"..."
It would be a shame to throw those away.
Unsure of what to do, I just looked at Sophia.
"There's no poison in it, right?"
Sophia frowned, alternating her gaze between me and the group of people.
She seemed to have something to say but was holding back for some reason.
"Why would we put poison in it?"
"We're just giving it because you two sisters are so pretty."
"Sisters...?"
Sophia is a shark and I'm a cat, how do we look like sisters?
Confused, I was about to grab Sophia and run away when she reached for the basket first.
"Then we'll gladly accept your kindness."
"Ah—!"
She's accepting it so easily?
The usually smart Sophia actually accepted it without showing any suspicion?
Surprised, I looked at Sophia with wide eyes.
"Don't worry too much. I think I understand why they're offering this."
"Still—!"
Even if it was a harmless gesture, accepting something for free didn't sit well with me.
Rolling my eyes, I offered them some azalea flowers.
"Here, take these..."
"Wow, are you giving these to us?"
"Yes... I haven't picked many, should I pick more?"
"No! These are enough for us, right?"
The woman picked an azalea flower and playfully stuffed it into the mouth of a man nodding beside her.
'Ah.'
That would taste incredibly sour and bitter if eaten raw.
I was worried, but he chewed on the flower petals just fine.
"Thanks. We'll take these and enjoy them."
"Yes..."
Although I had picked only a few petals, the barter was successful.
I sighed in relief and watched the departing group.
I never found out why they were kind to me.
✱✱✱
"Ah, those kids are really cute."
"I know, right."
Jeong Chae-Ah looked down at the azalea flower in her hand.
She felt sorry for the kids picking up trash and had offered them snacks, but in return, she received flowers.
Their kindness was endearing, yet it also brought a pang of pity.
"Why are those beast-kin children picking up trash here?"
"Who knows? There have been a lot of beast-kins around here lately. Maybe it's related to that?"
Why were those young beast-kin children homeless in the park?
And why was Daybreak Guild just letting this be?
The guild wasn't known for neglecting such matters.
Maybe there was something specific to the beast-kin.
"...But it's still better than ignoring them."
Jeong Chae-Ah knew she was being nosy, but decided to do something for the children anyway.
Click
Jeong Chae-Ah took out her smartphone and snapped a photo of the azalea flower she received from the child.
She then posted a brief message on her personal SNS.
───
Gave snacks to cute kids at Daybreak Park and got flowers in return?
───
Beast-kin child.
Homelessness.
She avoided such sensational words.
What Jeong Chae-Ah wanted was for her followers to think of the homeless children in the park on their own.
[Daybreak Park is beautiful, isn't it~]
[The children are so kind-hearted.]
[I heard recently that beast-kin children started staying there?]
Natural interest is better than sensational interest because it lasts longer.
Sensationalism could bring harm to the children by attracting the wrong kind of attention.
This was a truth Jeong Chae-Ah, an influencer, had learned over her years on social media.
'If things go well, that's good, but if they don't...'
Would Daybreak Guild really continue to ignore the children even then?
With a blank expression, Jeong Chae-Ah looked up at the building of the Daybreak Guild.