Chapter : 21
I glanced subtly at Shakrof. Droplets clung to the ends of his damp, tangled hair, shimmering like jewels.
It seemed he still wasn’t used to the feel of the soft microfiber towel against his wet skin.
Carefully gripping the edge of the towel, Shakrof slowly rubbed it against his cheek.
Each time his hand moved, glimpses of his pale, bare upper body were revealed.
I found myself unsure where to look.
Unlike me, the careless Shakrof didn’t seem to realize he was putting anyone in an awkward position.
I tried not to let my gaze wander and focused only on his face.
And as I did, I was reminded once again—Shakrof was undeniably handsome.
Once, I had seen a dead shark caught in a net and hauled ashore.
Its sharp head had been covered in countless scars from battles fought in the wild sea.
But perhaps because Shakrof had only recently taken human form—or thanks to some blessing granted only to sea folk—his smooth skin bore not a single scar.
His glossy, sleek body looked as though it were carved from pearl.
His pale cheeks would easily flush pink under the harsh sunlight, resembling the faint red of coral.
As I had once imagined during our first meeting, Shakrof had never returned with a treasure chest from a shipwreck to repay a favor.
But in truth, Shakrof himself was the very jewel hidden within the vast ocean.
Pearls and coral—those were the expressions Shakrof often used when describing something beautiful.
And yet, perhaps the one most fitting for those metaphors was Shakrof himself.
With a hesitant gaze, Shakrof looked at me in the darkness.
“The rain has stopped.”
He suddenly spoke.
“It really has.”
Startled by his words, I finally returned to reality.
I looked outside. With the sound of the rain gone, everything had grown quiet.
It seemed the water on the streets would drain away soon.
All that remained was to wait until we could cross the road again.
“It poured like it would last forever… but it stopped so suddenly. It’s strange. When the weather clears, I always feel at peace. Bad weather always brings back bad memories…”
Shakrof murmured gloomily before shifting the mood and asking me,
“Speaking of weather, do you remember, Miss Marina? The storm on the day we first met. I remember it vividly. Not in a good way, though.”
“Of course. Everyone kept saying it was terrible weather. I remember feeling a bit scared. I tried not to worry, but since the whole town was talking about it, I couldn’t help feeling uneasy.”
“Exactly. Even trivial chatter from a school of anchovies becomes hard to ignore when there are too many of them. I think I understand what you mean.”
“Anchovies?”
I let out a small laugh.
“Anyway, I guess I wanted to say it felt ominous. It’s a bit funny for me to say this to you, Shakrof. When you think about it, the ones who should be more anxious about the changing sea are the sea folk, not me.”
“That’s true. Other sea folk are indeed uneasy. I’m just trying to stay calm without trembling.”
Shakrof said, sounding slightly boastful.
“Really? I was just about to say you seem completely at ease, without a worry in the world. I wish I could learn that kind of composure.”
“It’s not just composure. Of course, I believe I’ve developed a certain calmness through hunting…”
He shrugged proudly and continued,
“But that’s not the only reason I’m not worried. There’s another reason. It’s because of you, Miss Marina.
Ever since I met you, I decided not to fear the changes in the sea too much. Of course, I won’t let my guard down against serious danger—but I’ve chosen to believe that, in the end, things will turn out beautifully.”
“Because of me? I don’t understand.”
“I’m certain that you carry the soul of the sea. I couldn’t be mistaken. And among sea folk, there’s a belief about why a land-born human might possess the soul of the sea.”
He had told me about sea folk before.
They believed in reincarnation, and that sometimes, by an unfortunate twist, a sea person’s soul could be reborn on land.
“But that raises a question—why would such a thing happen? Are souls that sinned in their past lives cast out onto dry land as punishment? Considering how harsh the land can be, that idea does sound plausible.”
Shakrof shook his head.
“But sea folk don’t believe it’s a punishment. Neither do I.”
“Why not?”
“If it were punishment for wicked souls, then someone as kind as you wouldn’t exist, Miss Marina.”
With dreamlike eyes, Shakrof looked at me.
Ignoring my flustered reaction, he continued,
“Sea folk understand the sea better than anyone. But sometimes, knowing the sea alone isn’t enough. After all, the sea isn’t completely separate from the land.
When a crisis strikes one world, it inevitably spreads to the other. And in such complex times—when the forces of both realms are entangled—those who are needed are land humans who carry the soul of the sea.”
He said that such reincarnation wasn’t punishment, but something that happened to fulfill a special purpose.
“A land person with the soul of the sea… that means someone connected to both land and sea. In other words, someone who can resolve crises affecting both worlds.
That’s why sea people are sometimes reborn on land—because they’re needed in times when waves of crisis approach from the distant horizon. So, Miss Marina…”
Then, in an almost solemn voice, Shakrof added,
“That’s why, ever since I met you, I’ve decided to hold onto hope—no matter what ominous events may occur. Even if a true crisis comes, I believe you’ll be able to overcome it. I can feel it. You’ll become someone truly remarkable.”
“Remarkable? I’m just someone running a small café.”
“Still remarkable.”
Shakrof insisted stubbornly.
“What do you mean ‘still’? You’re just being stubborn.”
I burst into laughter.
But Shakrof wasn’t the type to laugh along. He persisted with unwavering determination.
“It’s true. I can just tell. Other sea folk think I’m being irrational because I’m blinded by my feelings for you…”
“I think they might be right.”
“Hey, even you, Miss Marina?”
He said, looking dejected.
“But I only recently learned about the Sea Kingdom. Even if someone says I’m destined to solve something, it’s natural that I wouldn’t understand it at all.”
I said.
“Don’t worry about that. When the time comes, they say power will rise within you naturally. Things will work out somehow. That’s how legends usually go.”
“That doesn’t sound very reassuring… And I’m worried about the people in Fishbone Town too. For example, those who have to go out to sea on ships.”
At the mention of ships, Shakrof looked displeased. It seemed he truly didn’t like them.
“If it’s dangerous, then those who must go out to sea are in the most danger. More than me, they’re the ones in trouble. For example…”
I was about to say I was worried about Arthur, but I awkwardly stopped myself.
I hadn’t expected his name to come to mind first.
But Shakrof, as always in moments like this, was quick to catch on.
Before I could speak, he said,
“For example, someone like Arthur Skipper?”
“Ah—yes. That’s right. He was the first person I thought of.”
I replied absentmindedly, my voice sounding flustered even to myself.
“I thought so. Miss Marina, to be honest, when I saw you talking with Arthur Skipper before, I had a thought. I didn’t want to admit it, but you two seemed to suit each other quite well.”
Shakrof nodded.
“Wait—really?”
It would have been surprising no matter who said it, but hearing it from Shakrof was especially unexpected.
“Yes. You looked very well-matched. I even thought… you might suit each other better than you and I. That’s why I felt a bit down.”
