Chapter 74
The government people left with a warning not to work too hard.
Though the concept of playing was something I couldn't grasp at all.
Could simply watching television be considered playing?
It seemed more like rest, but are rest and play the same concept?
Lost in thought with my arms crossed, Yeoreum squatted next to me.
"It's not hard. Whatever you do, if it's fun, that's playing."
"Something fun?"
"Yeah. Didn't you have fun when you played at the playground with unni?"
"Well..."
I'm not a child.
It wasn't particularly fun.
It was just nice to feel Yeoreum's touch on my back.
"Didn't like it much?"
When I didn't respond, Yeoreum scratched her cheek.
I had to be honest with her.
"It wasn't fun, but it felt good."
"Why did it feel good?"
"When you pushed my back on the swing. It was the first time someone's touch didn't hurt."
For me, who had longed for human touch, it was a kindness I felt for the first time in a long while.
Of course, at that time, I was suspicious of Yeoreum, so I couldn't fully enjoy it.
"Uh, okay. So, it wasn't fun?"
Yeoreum mumbled, avoiding my gaze.
Maybe she was disappointed to hear it wasn't fun after making an effort to play.
"Still, it wasn't a meaningless time. I really liked that you pushed my back."
"Yeah..."
Hehe.
At that moment, with Yeoreum sporting an awkward smile, Levinas, who was sitting at a stall selling mushrooms, sparkled with excitement.
"Levinas knows!"
"Knows what?"
"About playing! Levinas will teach you how to play!"
Levinas wanted to play.
Since playing with her, a child, was my priority over my own play, I decided to go along with her.
"Okay. What shall we play?"
"Just wait a moment!"
Levinas got up from her spot and ran somewhere.
Yeoreum watched her leave, then took her place at the stall.
"Selling mushrooms."
That one of the guild's strongest would put so much focus into selling mushrooms.
Maybe not just anyone can be the best.
I should work hard like her.
Inspired, I hurriedly sat next to her.
"Selling carrots and lettuce I grew myself..."
<+>
It didn't take us long to sell all the mushrooms and vegetables we had laid out on the stall, thanks to the park being so crowded.
The vegetables I grew myself must have contributed to our success.
'Amazing.'
To think we sold all those mushrooms and vegetables in just a few minutes.
Could this place be an incredible spot?
Normally, such places charge an exorbitant fee for the space.
To be able to use it for free just because we're from the guild indeed shows there's a reason why people would want to live in such a nice place.
"I wonder how much the spot fee is here."
Wouldn't it be at least a million won a month?
As I pondered alone, Levinas came running towards us from afar.
"Ta-da!"
Levinas extended towards us an object she was holding.
It was a football, deflated and dented on one side.
"A ball?"
"Yes! Levinas found it in the forest over there!"
"Doesn't it belong to someone?"
"It's been there for a week, you know?"
The ball was deflated and had been left in the forest for a week without its owner showing up. It was fine to play with it.
"Kids, should I buy you a new ball? This one doesn't seem like it will roll well."
Yeoreum, clearly dissatisfied with the deflated ball, kept staring at it in Levinas's embrace.
Indeed, it didn't seem like it would roll far even if kicked, but it was actually better for the two to play with.
Chasing after a rolling ball would only drain stamina, which was needed for work.
"I'm okay with it."
"Levinas is okay too!"
"Ah, okay."
Despite their reassurance, Yeoreum's expression was not happy. She did not hide her disappointment as she picked up a basket laid out on the stall.
"I'll clean up the stall, so why don't you two play for a bit?"
"No, let's clean up together."
As I went to pick up a basket on the stall following Yeoreum, she snatched the basket from my hand.
It was a signal that I didn't need to help clean up.
"I'm worried you'll be taken."
"Ah."
Was she talking about the time to play?
I felt really sorry, but I decided to play for her sake, even if it was forced.
It would be more accurate to say I was playing along, but it would look like playing to those around us. It was a win-win situation.
"Then, without shame..."
"Where did you learn to say that."
I left the stall and ran towards Levinas, who was kicking the ball alone.
The ball she kicked with all her might didn't go far and stopped nearby.
"Ha-ha! It's a ball that doesn't roll!"
"Yeah. It's a strange ball."
To be able to have fun with a deflated ball.
Children are indeed amazing.
I decided to play along earnestly, following her lead.
<+>
"That ball is really..."
"It can't go far."
"I want to buy a new one."
People resting near the park sighed as they watched me and Levinas.
Is a child kicking a ball that frustrating?
Giving unsolicited advice on playing ball is common in this world too.
"Should Levinas catch it?"
"Yes."
Thud-
The lightly kicked ball didn't go far and fell near Levinas.
Levinas looked at the ball that rolled up to her and giggled, finding something amusing.
"Hey, is playing with the ball fun?"
"Um..."
"Not fun?"
Honestly, playing with the ball itself wasn't fun.
I never liked football in the original world, nor was I good at it.
But that doesn't mean it wasn't fun at all.
"I'm not sure about playing ball, but playing with Levinas is fun."
"I-is that so?"
"Yes. Whatever I do with Levinas, it's fun."
Levinas jumped up from her spot.
"Levinas also finds playing with the king the most fun in the world!"
"Wow, that's amazing. Just like me?"
"Yes! Exactly the same!"
Levinas kicked the ball placed at her feet far away.
She tried to pass it to me, but the ball flew in a strange direction, not towards me.
Despite not knowing how to kick properly, Levinas just giggled.
"Since the king is mature, maybe it'll be more fun to play like adults?"
"Well, I guess...?"
What's the difference?
I tilted my head, looking in the direction the ball had rolled.
Choi Jinhyuk was standing where the ball had fallen.
"Ah! It's a giant!"
"What's with the condition of this ball?"
Choi Jinhyuk picked up the ball that had fallen at his feet and threw it towards my head.
"Uh..."
Was he telling me to head it?
The moment I reflexively brought my head forward, I misstepped on a pebble, causing my body to stagger.
Thanks to the physical abilities unique to the beast-kin, I didn't fall, but my head was slightly raised, and I ended up catching the ball with my face.
Thump!
"...!"
The ball was thrown so lightly that it didn't hurt when it hit my face.
To the extent that I didn't even let out a small groan.
However, my surprised ears and tail still perked up.
"Sorry, are you okay?"
"Yes."
Choi Jinhyuk apologized for throwing the ball, so I smiled back at him, saying it was okay.
Choi Jinhyuk scratched the back of his head, looking embarrassed.
"I guess you didn't know how to head. When the ball flies towards you, you're supposed to receive it with your head, not your face."
"Oh, I see..."
Not knowing how to head.
It was just a slip because the ground was slippery.
I felt like a fool who couldn't even play ball properly.
"Are you okay?!"
Levinas, who was far away, ran towards me.
I was genuinely grateful for the young girl's concern.
"Yeah. I'm okay."
"That was awesome just now! You kicked the ball with your face!"
"Uh, yeah..."
Was receiving the ball with my face really that impressive?
As Levinas was fussing over my face with her small hands, she looked up at Choi Jinhyuk.
"Giant, giant. You're an adult because you're tall, right?"
"Technically, yes."
Levinas jumped lightly at Choi Jinhyuk's affirmative response.
She was like a child excited by a new discovery.
"Then you know how adults play, right?"
"Are you curious about how adults play?"
"Yes! The king is mature, so she has to play like an adult!"
Ah.
That was said for my sake.
I was simply grateful for her kindness.
"There's nothing I can't teach."
"Really?!"
At that moment, Levinas expressed her joy.
Behind Choi Jinhyuk, Encia appeared.
"Jinhyuk... You were with them."
The moment our eyes met, my tail wagged softly.
Her tail also swayed in resonance.
"Hello."
"Hi, Gyeoul. What were you doing?"
At Encia's routine greeting, Levinas raised her hand.
"Adult play!"
"Excuse me?"
"Giant said he'd teach us how to play like adults!"
"Adult play...?"
Encia's mouth dropped open.
Seeing Encia, always expressionless, surprised was fascinating.
"What do adults even play with?! I want to try it quickly!"
"Me too."
In a world where monster hunting was considered a common hobby, there might be something even more fascinating.
I looked up at Choi Jinhyuk expectantly.
However, for some reason, he just kept his mouth tightly shut with a stern expression.
<+>
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