Strengthening My Foundation (4)

"Kkeut! Sharan! Let's get out of here!"

"Sha-ah?"

"Quickly!"

ㅡCheombeong!

Immediately, Sharan and I jumped out of the water!

Thankfully, we hadn't ventured too deep, so we could escape swiftly. If Sharan was blocking my path, it meant the situation was dire. We needed to get out immediately.

"Run!"

"Sha, Sha-ah!"

Kicking off the ground powerfully, we sprinted and hid behind a nearby tree.

"Whew! Good job, Sharan! Thanks!"

"Ma, Master?"

"Haa… Haa…"

Catching my breath, I looked back at the lake.

"…"

A voluptuous and naked beauty with ample breasts tilted her head as she looked in our direction.

"What in the world is she?"

A water maiden suddenly emerged. Her ears resembled fins. That was not a human. I speculated it was a female-shaped monster like Sharan… Why were they all so beautiful? It was astonishing.

ㅡSeuseung.

The water maiden, still observing me, beckoned again. As if inviting me closer. She seduced me, urging me to embrace her.

ㅡCheolreongcheolreong.

The maiden's breasts jiggled… Seriously. Why did all these female-shaped monsters have a basic skill to make their breasts shake? None of them seemed to be virtuous.

"Alright."

I have confirmed it.

She was like those monsters. A monster like the dryad that seduced humans to consume them. There were mantises on land and similar entities in lakes, and water spirits like her existed in the waters.

"Master. She's a 'Sha-asha-ah' living in the water."

"What? A 'Sha-asha-ah' living in the water?"

"Yes."

"Is she dangerous?"

"Similar to Sharan?"

Similar to Sharan?

Being a forest dweller, Sharan would know the strength of nearby entities. Wild creatures are usually aware of this. If Sharan considers her to be similar, then she's dangerous.

"Anyway, Sharan, you tried to protect me?"

"Yes. Sharan will protect Master. Sharan loves Master."

Such pure intentions!

"Really, thank you so much, Sharan-ah! I love you so much! Thanks for protecting me!"

"Sha-ahsha-ah."

That was reassuring.

Let's observe for a moment.

"…"

The water maiden continued to stand still in the middle of the lake, watching us.

Eerie.

How was she standing so still underwater? She didn't seem to move her legs; just half of her was visible, standing still. No normal creature could manage this.

Let's see, female water monsters… Mermaids? Was she a mermaid? No. Mermaids had fishtails, but her lower body was human. You could tell by looking between her thighs… and… elsewhere. Sirens? No. Sirens were somewhat like aquatic birds. Strictly speaking… Undines? Water spirits? However, it didn't feel like Undines seduced humans to consume them.

Then…

"Uh?!"

The water maiden placed her hand on her chest and began to speak.

"⸻⸻⸻."

Speaking? No. It wasn't speaking. She was singing. Though unclear, she seemed to sing with lyrics!

A monster that sang!

"Rusalka!"

The water spirit, Rusalka!

Rusalka was a spirit that lived in the water! She lured people with her song, drew them near, and then drowned them, killing them!

Perfect fit!

Let's name it Rusalka!

"⸻⸻⸻."

But was the song… good? The voice sounded pleasant. And most importantly, it didn't seem like just a voice; it seemed like she was speaking a proper language.

Could she speak?

"Master?"

"Huh. Sharan. Wait a minute, Sharan. Do you understand what she's saying?"

"Shaa… Then let Sharan try speaking."

-Swish.

As Sharan said that, she tried to move in that direction. But I couldn't let them be alone. I immediately grabbed Sharan's wrist to stop her.

"Wait a moment."

"Master. It's okay. I'll just talk for a moment."

"Are you sure it's okay?"

"Yes."

If that was the case.

Sharan walked up to the water's edge as I let go of her wrist.

And then.

"Shaa. Shaashaa. Shaashaa? Shaa."

She began speaking in a language I couldn't understand, addressing the Rusalka. Then, the Rusalka stopped singing and slowly approached Sharan.

-Slither.

It didn't even seem like she was walking. Without any physical movement, she slid closer, like a snake gliding on the water.

-Grasp.

I gripped the spear tightly.

I should be ready to attack if needed.

Anyway.

-Splash.

Finally, the Rusalka, who had reached the shore, began to move her legs to step onto the ground. Those legs, which hadn't moved while in the water, were now functioning normally.

"…Naked."

She was indeed naked. She was a completely unclothed woman except for some string-like ornaments on her arms and legs. Undoubtedly, like Sharan, any man would be drawn to such a seductive naked woman. Just look at her ample bosom and the curve of her hips. They were no less than Sharan's.

Anyway, Rusalka stood in front of Sharan.

But they seemed really close, right? No!

"…!"

Too close!

The nipples of Sharan and Rusalka pressed against each other! Both women's breasts were pushed together provocatively…! To be precise, Sharan was wearing a bra, so the nipples didn't really touch, but they were in that approximate position.

The two seemed to have similar breast sizes.

Was Sharan slightly taller?

-Gulp.

I swallowed, fixated on the scene.

"Shaa. Shaashaa. Shaa."

"⸻?"

Sharan started speaking, and the Rusalka tilted her head in response.

"Shaashaa. Shaa? Shaa."

"⸻⸻."

I didn't really understand, but…

It seemed like they were communicating with each other.

Sharan and the Rusalka communicated in such close proximity, their nipples pressing against each other.

And then.

"Shaa? Master?"

"Yes! Sharan! I'm here!"

Thump thump thump.

Sharan came back to me, running slowly.

"Sharan. Are you okay? Anything unusual happened?"

"Yes, Master. I'm fine."

Though I was quite on guard, Sharan seemed to be okay. It appears they had a somewhat ordinary conversation.

Did they think there was no need to fight since they are similar predators? Hence, the conversation was established?

"So, what did she say?"

"She was curious about who Master is."

"She was curious about me?"

"Yes. She said you don't seem like a 'shaashaasha?'"

"I'm a 'shaashaasha'? What's that?"

I couldn't quite grasp Sharan's 'shaashaasha.'

"I'm not sure. She said you have horns on your forehead and long ears. So you seem similar to 'shaashaasha?' but different? She said she felt a strange power? Energy? from you. Something like that."

"Hmm."

Having horns and long ears. Also, she felt a strange energy?

So, I don't seem like a 'shaashaasha?'

Let's deduce for a moment. Horns and ears. And she felt my power was strange. So, did it mean someone without horns, with short ears, and no magic?

"Isn't that a human?"

Was she talking about humans?

"Shaasha? Human?"

"Ah, I'll explain later."

Let's assume the 'shaashaasha' Sharan mentioned was a human.

So, Rusalka thought I was a human, tried to seduce me, and then got curious because I seemed different? That sounded like a decent deduction.

"But Sharan, how did you communicate with her?"

"Huh? We just did."

"Just like that?"

"Yes, Master. We 'shaashaasha,' you know? We talk?"

Oh my.

"So, she won't attack me?"

"She won't attack since I spoke with her. And she finds it curious that Master and I are together."

I guessed so.

"She said she won't attack."

I glanced over.

I looked back at the Rusalka.

"…"

With a smile, the Rusalka covered her private parts with one hand and waved at me with the other.

"Hello?"

I waved back.

Nod nod.

She nodded her head.

"—."

And she said something.

"Master? She wants to greet you?"

"She wants to greet me? It should be 'she wants to,' not 'she wants'."

"Yes. She wants to greet you."

"Then we should. Anyway, Sharan, for now, call her Rusalka."

"Rusalka?"

"Yes."

"Yes, Master."

If Sharan said it was okay, then it was fine.

So, should we greet her?

"Let's go."

I headed back to the water's edge with Sharan.

"Hehehe."

As we approached, Rusalka laughed out loud. With that smile, she seemed delighted that I came to greet her. Yet, she was still covering herself with her hand.

I wished she wouldn't cover herself.

Was she aware of her body, unlike Sharan?

Rustle.

Thus, I stood before Rusalka.

"Such a… big chest."

There was a weightiness to it. Comparable to Sharan.

"Master? Have you seen Rusalka's chest?"

"Uh, what? No, I haven't."

"You like chests, Master. Sha-a. Sha-a-sha-a."

Then Sharan spoke to Rusalka.

"⸻?"

Rusalka tilted her head in confusion.

And then,

Nod nod.

She nodded.

"Master. It's okay."

"What is?"

Swoosh.

Suddenly, Rusalka approached me. As if that wasn't enough, she grabbed my wrist.

"Hey? Wait. Yo."

Then she lifted my hand and… suddenly…

"No way!"

Squish.

She placed my hand on her breast!

What on earth was happening here? Letting me touch her chest!

"Sharan?!"

"You like chests, Master. Did you ask to touch? Did you request it?"

"I like them, but I never made such a request!"

"Do you dislike it, Master?"

"It's not that I dislike it!"

Sharan was just being innocent! She simply made the request because I liked it. Of course, there was nothing bad about touching a woman's breast, especially of such a sexy beauty. It felt good.

"…"

But I was happier that Sharan thought of me.

Squish squish.

Anyway, I briefly fondled Rusalka's breast before letting go. Rusalka was smiling faintly as if pleased.

"Sha-a. Sha-a-sha-a. Sha-sha."

Suddenly, Sharan said something.

"⸻?!!!"

But suddenly, Rusalka blushed, shaking her head frantically, hurriedly covering herself with both hands.

"What's this?"

"Master? Rusalka says you shouldn't look."

"…"

"Should I ask her if it's okay to touch?"

"It's okay, Sharan."

Ah, that was it.

I smiled quietly and patted Sharan's head.

You pretty thing. You asked because I liked it.

"Anyway, Sharan. Can you relay what I say to Rusalka?"

"Yes, Master."

Then, let's start the conversation.

Having an interpreter should be fine.

"Nice to meet you. I'm called Kyuls."

"Sha… Shasha… Kyuse. Kyuse. Sha."

Bowing her head to greet, Sharan started interpreting. Listening to Sharan's words, Rusalka…

"⸻."

Spoke something and bowed.

Good.

The interpretation was going well.

Now, I have some questions.

"Thank you for the greeting. But I saw you singing and speaking earlier. What language was that?"

Sharan started to interpret.

"Shasha? Sha. Sha, Shaaa."

"⸻⸻."

The two of them were having quite a chat.

Upon closer observation, they seemed to communicate very well.

A few minutes might have passed.

"Master? The language Rusalka speaks? The 'Shasha' that Sharan mentioned? She said it's the 'Shasha' language."

"If that's the case!"

Shasha!

"It's the language humans speak!"

If my assumption about the shasha being human was correct, this was great!

An opportunity to gather information about humans!