020. Sea Fog in Broad Daylight
“Strange.”
It was a morning that seemed like it should begin like any other day.
I stared at the thick sea fog covering the ocean in front of the fish farm and muttered.
“This isn’t weather where sea fog should form.”
The weather forecast had clearly said the entire country would enjoy bright, cloudless weather.
Sure, forecasts were wrong all the time.
But could they be this wrong?
Still...
Fog would not stop me from doing fish farm work.
The kids seemed a little confused, though.
“I have returned from patrol, Lord Suho. Peep!”
Orlan came back after scouting through sea fog so thick that I could barely see ahead.
“How was it? Anything strange?”
I lightly stretched out my arm.
Orlan flew over and landed on it.
“Nothing at all. However, something feels unusual. Today’s sea fog does not match the weather.”
“Yeah. I’ve never seen fog this thick on such a clear day.”
“Perhaps something unusual is happening beneath the sea... Ah. He has returned. Peep!”
Orlan’s sharp gaze turned toward the ocean.
It seemed Daldal had returned from scouting underwater.
Of course, I still could not see him at all.
While I secretly admired Orlan’s sharp senses...
Splash!
Daldal leaped out of the sea in a dramatic pose, shook his body violently, then approached me.
Peet-peeeep!
[Translation: This body has appeared!]
“Good work, Daldal. How is it underwater?”
Daldal hurried over.
He glanced at Orlan.
Then...
Peet!
He suddenly climbed up my leg and stretched his long body across my shoulder.
The soft, wet texture of Daldal’s fur against my neck felt nice.
Orlan looked displeased.
Peep-peep! Peet!
[Translation: Underwater situation report!]
Oh.
Daldal had apparently been receiving some sort of education from Orlan lately.
His way of speaking suddenly sounded military.
“Good! Report!”
Not wanting to lose, I puffed out my chest and shouted.
Daldal gave the sea a meaningful look.
Then he stretched both tiny hands forward.
Peet-peep-peep! Peep! Peep!
[Translation: Discovered extremely cool and useful-looking amber stone! Report complete!]
Inside Daldal’s hands was exactly what he described.
A smooth, handsome amber-colored stone.
Its texture and engraved patterns were unusual.
It definitely looked impressive enough to proudly show someone.
“You little...”
Orlan shook his head.
“But it really is a cool stone. Great discovery!”
Pee-hoo-hoo-hoo... Peet-peeeep! Peep!
[Translation: Hohoho... You properly understand value of stone. But I won’t give Suho this one! Mine!]
“Then Daldal should treasure it.”
Pee-yahoo!
[Translation: YAHOO!]
After happily whistling for a while, Daldal opened his Inventory in midair and handed me another stone.
Unlike the amber stone, this one was small, blunt, and had a bluish glow.
Peet-peeeep-peep!
[Translation: Instead giving previous one!]
“This stone is nice too. Are you really giving it to me?”
Peep-peep!
[Translation: Little painful!]
“Hahaha!”
Peep-peet-peet! Peet!
[Translation: Still, Suho is precious person! Qualified to become owner of Unit No. 1!]
Daldal looked at Unit No. 1 with an expression full of lingering regret.
Then he met my eyes and nodded.
It seemed he had completely accepted me as the rightful owner of Unit No. 1.
“Thanks. I’ll use it well.”
I placed Daldal’s precious Unit No. 1 in my chest pocket and stroked him.
From both sides of my face, I simultaneously heard Daldal’s satisfied humming and Orlan’s displeased grunt.
“He returned after doing something strange, but it seems he found nothing dangerous. Peep.”
“Yeah. Sea fog isn’t exactly rare anyway. Maybe today is just unusual.”
Neither the sea nor sky seemed dangerous.
Time to return to daily life.
I quickly checked the Fantasy Creature tanks and the fish farm equipment.
Then I fed the fish that had just woken up.
Even while I busily handled the morning work, the thick sea fog showed no sign of disappearing.
Right.
Maybe streaming on a day covered in fog like this would create some interesting footage?
Now that I thought of it, I might as well start immediately.
‘Oh.’
‘It’s here. My dopamine.’
‘Daldal! Look this way!’
‘Owner hi hi hi hi.’
“Hello, everyone! It’s been a few days! Have you all been well?”
‘Life is life.’
‘Fine dust and pollen are killing me.’
‘This is my twentieth request to show Daldal.’
‘Orlan too!’
“Hahaha! Right, right. I know. I know perfectly well that you’re here to see Daldal and Orlan instead of me. Yes, yes.”
‘Owner sulking?’
‘Owner ego issue.’
‘Am I the only one who came to see the owner’s face?’
“I’m joking. Daldal and Orlan are resting behind me right now. I just finished work too, so I’m resting.”
‘Sad...’
‘Hands up if you prefer seeing owner.’
‘111111’
‘222222’
‘3333333’
‘333333’
‘Kiss us.’
‘Wait, is that fog around you? Can’t see anything.’
“Ah, right. There’s a ton of sea fog. I heard yesterday and today were supposed to be bright and clear, so it’s strange. To exaggerate a little, I probably wouldn’t notice if someone broke in. Hahaha.”
‘That joke is kind of scary.’
‘Be careful. Could be a sign of a Gate appearing.’
“Yes. Don’t worry. Orlan and Daldal are protecting me, so there’s no problem!”
After chatting for a little while, I headed toward the beach with the Status Window camera.
Visibility was so bad that I could barely see the waves directly in front of me.
Even so, I had no difficulty finding the various kinds of marine trash that had washed ashore overnight.
“All right then... Anyone want to clean the beach with me?”
I brought out a large cart.
Then I picked up large and small pieces of trash scattered across the beach while chatting with viewers.
‘Still can’t see Daldal or Orlan.’
“True. Maybe they’re taking a nap. Right, you haven’t seen them sleeping yet, have you? I’ll secretly show you. Screen stay here!”
‘Ohhh.’
‘OOOOOOOO.’
‘Here comes my cuteness.’
I walked toward the place where Daldal and Orlan often napped.
I imagined the two curled into adorable balls while sleeping.
And then...
Huh?
‘They’re not there?’
‘Went to the sea?’
Daldal and Orlan were nowhere to be seen.
Only a series of fresh footprints remained where they had been.
They always told me before going somewhere.
What was going on?
I tilted my head and followed the footprints.
‘Why is the screen doing this?’
“Daldal! Orlan?”
‘Guys, can you see the screen?’
‘Yeah, it’s cutting out.’
‘Never seen an Awakened live stream cut out before.’
