Even though the sun had risen, she still looked sleepy.
“The harmony of two ecosystems that should never mix. It’s quite amazing.”
“Yes. There’s even a sturgeon over there…”
I stopped mid-sentence and clamped my mouth shut, suddenly realizing the girl in front of me was also a ‘shark’.
Was it okay to farm the same kind of shark?
But then, sturgeons aren’t real sharks, are they?
Confused, my thoughts raced, but my confidence dwindled.
I just fidgeted with my fingers under the hem of my clothes.
“Why are you so flustered?”
“Sh-shark, do you… eat caviar…?”
“…I’ve never tried it.”
Of course, she hadn’t.
From her perspective, it would be no different from cannibalism.
I glanced at her and cautiously whispered in her ear.
“Should I ask them to remove the sturgeon…?”
“…I understand what you’re thinking, but it’s fine.”
“Really?”
“Yes. The difference between beasts and beast-kin is greater than that between humans and monkeys.”
Ah, I see.
That makes sense.
Nodding, I turned my gaze back to the fish swimming in the pond.
“Shall we catch one?”
“With no tools, how do you plan to do that?”
“By hand.”
I lay down by the edge of the pond, dangling my hand in the water.
A mackerel, attracted by the shadow created by my hand, swam right underneath and began to rest.
‘Now!’
Utilizing my quick reflexes, I grabbed the mackerel.
I quickly lifted it out of the water and held it close to prevent it from escaping.
Flap, flap!
The mackerel, with a strength incomparable to the minnows, struggled fiercely, but it was already out of the water.
I stood up, holding the vigorously flapping mackerel in my arms.
“Do you like fish that much?”
“Yes. I never used to like them this much, it’s strange.”
“Is it really that strange?”
The Shark Girl’s gaze shifted upwards to my head.
What’s up there?
As I looked up, I found myself locking eyes with the woman looking down at me.
“Oh, my. You’ve already caught one?”
“Yes, should I let it go?”
“No, why release it when you’ve caught it?”
“Hehehe.”
The woman chuckled awkwardly and waved her hand.
Remembering her laughing crazily while burning a horned rabbit, I quickly hid behind the Shark Girl.
✱✱✱
A post appeared on an internet community forum.
It was about a beast-kin child who had moved near the Daybreak Guild.
───
【Did you guys see the beast-kin kid near Daybreak Guild’s HQ yesterday?】
Poster: Saw them living in a tent outside, what’s up with that???
───
[LuluNana: I saw them today too, fetching water from the pond behind the guild]
[└HealAddict: Why is the kid fetching water from the pond lmao]
[└LuluNana: Seriously, they were wearing shabby clothes too.]
[RealReal: Heard from a friend, seems like they’ve got permission from Daybreak Guild to camp there]
[└BeastkinLover: Why is the kid camping there?? Has Daybreak Guild gone mad??]
[RealReal: Beast-kin kids like living in the wild, you know]
[BeastkinLover: Yeah, but it was just a little kid?]
[SilverTigerFan: Huh?]
[└BeastkinLover: Welcome, Harangi.]
───
“Hmm…”
Kang Jinho, the Guild Master of the Daybreak Guild, scrolled through his smartphone.
The famous community site was abuzz with discussions about the beast-kin child occupying the guild’s backyard.
The rare sight of a beast-kin child in the guild’s backyard was bound to stir up conversation, and his role was to prevent these people from approaching the child.
But how exactly is he going to do that?
Kang Jinho clicked his tongue in frustration, feeling powerless about the situation.
‘Is it too difficult to close the backyard?’
It was a park, a resting place for local residents, and if he chose to close it down, even though it was a private property, would surely attract criticism from the public.
He thought about putting up a fence and ‘No Trespassing’ signs near the child’s tent but decided against it.
It would make the child look like a monkey in a zoo.
For now, it seemed best to trust Han Yeoreum and the beast-kin who had come for the child.
Kang Jinho let out a long sigh without realizing.
‘At least there have been no issues so far.’
He continued browsing the internet.
Soon, he came across a new post about the child.
───
【Today’s update on the beast-kin kid】
Poster: BeastkinLover Just saw them catching and eating fish from the pond
───
[WhatThe: Why are they catching and eating fish from the pond… Isn’t that a park…?]
[└BeastkinLover: Idk?? They were putting all sorts of fish like mackerel and saury in the pond??]
[└WhatThe: Why put mackerel and saury in the pond…]
[WhatIDShouldIUse: They’re holding a mackerel like it’s precious right now]
[└BeastkinLover: You saw it too? lolol Maybe they really love fish because they’re a cat beast-kin lolol]
[└WhatIDShouldIUse: So cute lolol]
───
“Hmm…”
Posting it online without the child’s consent…
Kang Jinho peered through the window at the backyard.
He saw people sneaking glances at the two beast-kin children*, one of them hugging a mackerel like a treasure.
Fortunately, there was no one taking unauthorized photos of the child.
‘Are they worried about the child?’
Well, that’s understandable, it must be concerning to see a young child living like a vagrant.
Kang Jinho decided it was best to bring the child inside the building as soon as possible.