Sophia Playtime
To clear the Sophia Play Dungeon, they had to appease the restless spirits. The most urgent task right now was figuring out what these spirits wanted.
That resentment looks pretty intense...
A dungeon that had hidden away for years without showing itself. It meant they'd endured a long, patient wait just to make their injustice known. That was how most grudge dungeons worked. They'd lurk for months or even years, then manifest like this when the chance to air their grievances finally arrived.
Me ending up here probably wasn't a coincidence either...
After all, the group were Winter's guardians. It surely wasn't random. Han Yeoreum felt a pang of frustration as she pulled out her smartphone.
Once outside the dungeon, Han Yeoreum checked the leftover message and headed straight for the playground where the kids would be.
What expression should she make when she saw Winter? Should she just smile like nothing had happened? Phew. As Yeoreum let out a deep sigh, a familiar child's scream pierced her ears.
"Uwaaaah!"
"...!"
It was Winter's scream. She wasn't the type to scream easily—what on earth?
Yeoreum bolted toward the sound before her thoughts could catch up.
"Uwaaa."
In the middle of the playground. Winter was fleeing with her arms raised high, dodging someone.
Yeoreum cut in front of her without even checking who it was.
"Winter, hide behind me!"
"Y-Yes...?"
"I'll protect you...!"
Yeoreum drew the sword from her waist and eyed the swings nearby. There, her friend Jeong Yu-na was screaming just like Winter.
"Uwaaa."
Someone was chasing Yu-na from behind. It was toddling along with adorable little steps—thud thud thud.
"Oh."
Levi Nas. Was it just playtime after all?
Yeoreum stood there awkwardly, forgetting to sheathe her sword.
"Stay right there!"
Levi Nas, who had been chasing Yu-na, suddenly switched directions and charged at Yeoreum. With her arms outstretched ahead, she looked just like a cute little zombie.
"Ah."
She couldn't just stand there watching. At that speed, Levi Nas might cut herself on the sword. Yeoreum hurled the blade toward an empty patch of ground away from the kids. It was too fast to bother with the sheath.
She'd sworn as a swordswoman to treat her weapon with care, but honestly, the kids mattered more than the sword.
"Yeoreum caught Levi Nas!"
The moment she tossed the sword, Levi Nas slammed into her with a tight hug.
Was it really just tag? Yeoreum dramatically threw her hands up in the same pose Winter had used while fleeing.
"Urk... Big Sis got caught...!"
"Heehee, when you catch someone, you gotta hug 'em tight!"
"H-Huh, that's a rule?"
"Yup! Hug me quick!"
If that was the rule, no helping it. Yeoreum hugged Levi Nas tightly. Even so, she didn't forget to check on Winter.
Curiosity piqued, Winter had perked up her ears and tail, reaching out toward the sword.
"Winter, don't touch it—you'll cut yourself."
"Okaay."
At Yeoreum's warning, Winter pulled her hand back. She crouched down cat-like on the spot, just eyeing the blade.
Is she fascinated by weapons?
Her pose looked just like a cat baking bread—so adorable. Yeoreum chuckled softly and approached Winter with the rest of the group who'd just exited the dungeon.
"Lady Winter, are you perhaps interested in swords?"
"No, I like bows better."
"Ah... I see."
En Sia's ears and tail drooped. As a sword user herself, she was disappointed her king showed no interest in blades.
"It's 'cause it's a weapon from En Sia."
"Oh, is that so."
En Sia's tail suddenly wagged energetically, as if the slump had never happened. Watching it, Winter wagged her own tail in sync.
"Yeah, but... did you already clear the dungeon?"
"No, not yet."
Yeoreum spoke for the group.
"You can leave if it's not cleared?"
"Yeah. Some dungeons let you."
Yeoreum gave Winter an awkward smile and stroked her head. Winter's past still haunted her.
"Dungeons are so mysterious."
"Yeah. Sis is heading back to the guild to figure out the clear condition now. Wanna keep playing, Winter?"
"No, I wanna go with you."
"Okay. Let's head back together then?"
"Yesss."
The moment Winter stood, Levi Nas grabbed her tail. Time for tail-grabbing games? Winter snatched nearby Argo's tail in retaliation. The lizard-textured tail felt cool and nice. She felt a twinge of guilt toward Argo, who was trying not to wag it.
**
That afternoon, back home, I sat on the bench waiting for Levi Nas. We'd planned to hit the dungeon, but everyone insisted on taking a day off, so I decided to rest.
Wonder where Levi Nas went? She said she'd bring something.
Bored, I swung my feet back and forth. Then, from afar, Levi Nas came running toward me, waving something.
"King!"
In Levi Nas's hand was Sophia's cane. The thought of Sophia getting around without it filled me with dismay.
"Levi Nas, you can't take that..."
"Why not?"
"Sophia can't walk without it."
"Huh?"
She looked like she'd never heard that before. Did Levi Nas seriously not know why old folks use canes? She'd lived in the forest, so she was still clueless about the world. Best to explain it properly.
"Her legs don't have strength, so the cane acts like her legs."
"Th-That so...?"
Levi Nas tapped the ground with the cane, then suddenly went limp in both legs. Unable to resist, she toppled forward.
"L-Levi Nas...!"
I'd just explained, and she tried it immediately. I'd overlooked how curious kids are.
I crouched beside her in a panic, checking her over.
"Uuu... King lied to Levi Nas..."
Dusty, but no major injuries. I wiped the tears pooling in Levi Nas's eyes.
"Wasn't a lie. You were supposed to relax just one leg, but you did both and fell."
"Just one?"
"Yeah. Wanna try the cane?"
Teaching basic common sense is an adult's duty, right? I took the cane from Levi Nas and walked like Sophia, tapping the ground.
"Whoa! Just like the shark! King turned into a shark!"
"Yeah. Legs have no strength, so tap the cane like this to walk."
Tap—tap—
Fascinated by the tapping, Levi Nas's eyes sparkled. She ran up without even brushing off the dirt.
"King, let's play shark!"
"Shark?"
"Yup! Pretend to be a shark!"
Imitating frail Sophia for play? That seemed pretty rude. I agonized over it but eventually gave in. Levi Nas wasn't mocking her—she just wanted to copy someone she liked.
"Okay, but who plays Sophia first?"
"King's better at it, so King first!"
"Alright."
Mimic Sophia, huh. Copy her moves and speech? I recalled how she'd acted so far.
"Aigoo, aigoo..."
I patted my back, leaned on the cane, and shuffled forward. Destination: the bench I'd just left.
"Whoa! Real shark! Sharky! Where ya going?!"
"Aigoo, my knees ache—off for a rest."
I shuffled slowly to the bench. Levi Nas followed cautiously beside me.
"Sharky, from now on, get along with Levi Nas?"
"......"
From now on? Was Levi Nas still hung up on fighting with Sophia?
I just nodded silently at her.
"Levi Nas and shark are friends now?"
"No, that's wrong."
"But aren't Levi Nas and shark friends...?"
Anxiety flickered in Levi Nas's eyes. I stroked her head reassuringly.
"Levi Nas and Sophia were friends from the start. Saying it now feels weird."
"R-Really? Even when Levi Nas was mean?"
"Yup. Of course."
A smile bloomed on Levi Nas's anxious face, like a bud unfurling into full flower. Levi Nas really looked best smiling. Heehee. As I petted her head, Sophia approached from afar, supported by Yu Sang-ah.
"You little rascals."
"Sharky!"
Levi Nas charged at Sophia and dove into her arms. Sophia raised a fist overhead, sighed deeply, then patted Levi Nas's head.
"You rascal, why'd you take my cane?"
"Wanted to play with the shark's favorite thing!"
"...How didst thou think this lady favors her cane above all?"
"Shark carries it everywhere, so I figured it was fun."
Classic Levi Nas logic—so cute. I couldn't help giggling.
"Winter, you're in trouble too."
"Y-Yes..."
Right. I'd been playing with it too. I clasped my hands politely in front.
"Misunderstand not—'tis but a necessity for walking."
"Is that so?"
"Indeed, this lady's true favorite is..."
"Favorite is...?"
Levi Nas and I perked our ears. But Sophia cleared her throat and trailed off.
"So, what were you doing with my cane?"
"Playing Sophia."
"Sophia play?"
Now Sophia and Yu Sang-ah looked puzzled. I scratched my neck, embarrassed.
"Just... I like Sophia so much, so we were imitating someone we like..."
"Hrm... Then show me."
Mimic her right in front of her? I froze in place. It was mortifying with the real deal watching.