Since I’d been collecting herbs along the way, it’d taken an hour to find this water source, but it was actually only fifteen minutes away from my cabin. This was the solution to my water problems. I might have to make multiple trips a day, but it would be perfect exercise after being cooped up in the workshop for hours. I would incorporate it into my routine starting tomorrow.
I peered at my reflection in the water. The ripples made it hard to tell, but my reflection looked thirty years old, as I had requested. I’d figured that twenty would’ve been unbelievably young to be an accomplished blacksmith, which was what I’d asked to be, and what the data and experiences that came with the install now pointed to. No one would’ve believed in the abilities of someone so young, especially considering that I was a stranger to the area.
My internal clock told me that there was still some time before sunset. I ambled along the shore, looking around at the forest and lake, and I made a couple of discoveries. First, there were shrubs growing fruits that looked like raspberries. In the boughs of the trees, there were apple look-alikes too. According to the data, they were both edible, so I picked one apple doppelganger from the tree. It certainly smelled like an apple.
I tentatively took a bite. “This is so sour!” I exclaimed.
Though it had a trace of apple flavor, it was extremely acidic. It wasn’t quite as sour as apple vinegar, but it was a no-go for anyone who disliked sour food. What a frightening fruit! The farmers in my previous world worked hard to grow sweet, juicy apples, and their efforts had really borne fruit, pun intended. In any case, I hadn’t brought anything to carry the fruits in, and I still had some food stockpiled. I’d come back another day to gather some.
I turned away to look toward the lake again. The flowing waters suggested that there may have been a mountain nearby; perhaps it was the source of the river and the place where the water drained from, but I couldn’t see anything from where I was standing. I spied some fish swimming in the crystal clear waters and vowed that next time, I’d come with a rod and bait to try to catch some. Hopefully, I’d have time once I started working as a blacksmith—I’d be spending most of the day in the workshop since smithing was going to be my livelihood. Well, I could always decide on fixed hours and then go fishing on my days off.
I was done being a workaholic. I wanted to live a slow, quiet life.
I puttered around for a while longer before my internal clock said it was getting late. It was time to go back...or so I’d decided when I suddenly saw movement in the grass. Looking closely, I saw a large animal around 150 centimeters long, almost the size of a human adult. I approached it cautiously.
It was hidden in the shadows, so I couldn’t see it clearly, but I noticed that it had triangular ears like a cat or a dog. However, its silhouette looked almost human. Its shoulders heaved up and down and I quickened my steps. It could definitely hear me approaching, but its breathing was ragged and it didn’t move a muscle aside from its shoulders.
Only when I came within touching distance did I realize what the animal was. Maybe it was rude to call it—her—an animal. She must’ve been one of the beastfolk. She had a tiger-like tail and ears along with striped fur on her hands and feet, but she looked human otherwise. Light leather armor protected her torso. She was carrying a bow slung over her shoulder and a quiver down by her waist, but maybe she’d not had a chance to use them during her last tussle.
Painful-looking wounds covered her body. She had collapsed facedown, but I could see that her armor was torn at the sides, and the exposed skin was bruised and bloody. While the wound wasn’t bleeding profusely, it was obviously severe. I didn’t need the data to tell me that much.
“I have to get her somewhere safe as soon as possible.”
I turned her over and lifted her up. Her armor wasn’t as secure as I’d thought because her surprisingly ample breasts spilled out over the top of the leather. I was shocked, but there was no time to stop and stare. I just filed the image away and hefted her body over my shoulder in a so-called fireman’s carry. She was lighter than she looked.
“It’d be more chivalrous to carry her like a princess, but this is faster,” I remarked. “It’ll have to do. Sorry.”
Carrying the half-tiger girl, I rushed back home. I’d walked a ways along the shore of the lake, so it took longer to get home than the fifteen minutes I’d initially estimated. She was fading fast, but her body still contained warmth. I clung to the hope that I’d make it back in time.
When we got to the cabin, I had to set her down so that I could unlock the door. The muffled clatter from the workshop side reached my ears. I hurried to the bedroom, and after scrounging around, I found some extra sheets in the cupboard. I grabbed two, returned to the living room, and put them on the table. Then I headed into the workshop, where I was able to find a needle, thread, and knife. The former two were for stitching together scabbards and the latter was merchandise, but this wasn’t the time to be picky.
I had everything I needed.