Return to the Mountain
Camping meant preparation. Luckily, they already had plenty of camping gear, so there was no need to buy anything new. They would use the tarp beside the container as their tent and packed a few extra tarps they had stashed away. The space was large enough for more than ten people to sleep comfortably. "Cooking tools..." The pots and bowls were old but still perfectly usable. They packed them neatly into the cart. Unlike the rickety old cart from before, this one rolled smoothly even when stuffed full. "Done."
"Really?!"
"Yeah. Levinas, did you pack the snacks?"
"Yep! I got carrots and choco!"
Levinas finished her share of the preparations, and Saebyeok took hold of the cart's handles. With everything ready, they waited for the others.
"Um..."
Someone approached them. It was a young woman who often passed through the park. "Yes?"
"Are you... leaving?"
The woman's shoulders slumped, her disappointment plain to see. Had something happened? Hesitating, the protagonist nodded. "Yeah... we're going."
"Then... you're not coming back?"
She must have thought they were leaving for good. It was strange that this woman, whom they only knew by face, looked so sad. Maybe an unspoken bond had formed among the park's residents without anyone noticing.
"We'll be back tomorrow. We're just going camping."
"Oh...! It's camping? I thought you were moving somewhere else."
The woman let out a long sigh of relief, hand pressed to her chest. "We're not going anywhere else. This is our home."
"Right. Have fun, then."
"Okay."
The visibly relieved woman turned back to her group. "They're not leaving!" she called out, her voice carrying clearly. The women in her group let out excited squeals. What was that about? Had some kind of connection formed without anyone realizing? Just as the thought crossed their mind, Han Yeoreum approached with the others.
"Saebyeok, are you pulling the cart?"
Han Yeoreum's gaze rested on the cart. Her family stood beside her. "Yeah. It's camping, after all."
"C-camping... I guess it is similar."
"Similar?"
The words sounded like she meant it was close but not quite the same. The question mark that had formed earlier now pointed at Han Yeoreum. "Yeah. It's a little different from the camping I know."
"I-is that so...?"
"But everyone enjoys camping in their own way. Your way isn't wrong either, Saebyeok."
"Oh..."
There were all kinds of differences in equipment and methods. The protagonist could guess what Han Yeoreum was trying to say. "I'm looking forward to seeing how Winter does it."
"Chief! Me too!"
Encia and Argo wagged their tails. Encia's swayed gently while Argo's swung with heavy thumps. The two beastkin expressed their excitement in their own ways. "Right. I'll do my best."
Just as the protagonist reached for the cart handles, Han Yeoreum stopped them. She meant she would pull it instead. "I'll take the cart. Want to ride in the empty space?"
"No, I'll walk beside you."
"Okay. What about Saebyeok and Levinas?"
At Han Yeoreum's question, Levinas giggled and reached toward Argo. Argo lifted Levinas onto one shoulder. "Levinas wants to ride here!"
"Me too."
Saebyeok climbed onto Argo's other shoulder. Encia watched the scene quietly before extending a hand toward the protagonist. "Winter, if I may."
"Huh...?"
Encia's gentle hands lifted them up. Before they knew it, they were seated on Encia's shoulders in a piggyback ride. "How is it?"
"I-it's..."
Encia's tail wagged at an incredible speed. It lightly tapped the protagonist's own tail, which had drooped from embarrassment, making it swing like a pendulum. "I must have been too forward. I got carried away thinking about camping with family."
"No, it's fine."
If Encia was doing this because she was genuinely happy, then it didn't matter. Besides, the protagonist's body was small. They decided to just stay like this for today. "...Encia, pull the cart for me. I want to give Winter a piggyback too."
Han Yeoreum, still holding the cart, shot them an envious look. Encia, who usually agreed to any request, deliberately looked away. "...I'm sorry."
"Argo, then..."
"No way!"
"Hngh..."
Han Yeoreum's mouth turned downward. She trudged along pulling the cart, managing not to trip. Did people in this world just like carrying others? If the chance came, they would have to try it sometime. Just as the thought ended, Encia began walking faster to catch up with Han Yeoreum. The camping trip had begun. Sitting atop Encia, the protagonist wondered what to do first. They decided the first step was to dig a pit.
**
They rode piggyback all the way to the mountain where the protagonist had once lived. Even on the steep slopes, Encia kept perfect balance. Worried about slipping, the protagonist gripped Encia's ears tightly. Beastkin ears were soft and pleasant to hold. They kneaded Encia's ears with both hands. The wolf ears twitched rapidly. "Pfft."
Jeong Yuna, following behind, burst into laughter. She covered her mouth with her staff and laughed for a long while. "Why...?"
"Sorry, it's just that your tails are wagging in sync."
"I didn't mean to... but our pace matched up."
"Is that so?"
Jeong Yuna came closer, grabbed the protagonist's tail, and released it at the exact moment it was out of rhythm with Encia's. The mismatched tail gradually fell into sync. It was a natural adjustment, not something done on purpose. "Oh my?"
Jeong Yuna looked surprised, while Han Yeoreum was somehow licking her lips. She carried the cart on her head as if it weighed nothing, climbing the slope. "Looks like we're almost there."
The slope ended, revealing flat ground. Han Yeoreum carefully set the cart down. "It's over there."
"Yeah."
After pushing through the forest for another minute, a wide clearing appeared. The sound of flowing stream water felt familiar. It wasn't a place with good memories, yet somehow it felt nostalgic. The soot near the old campfire site was still there. The vegetable patch was overgrown with weeds. "This is the first time I've seen where you used to live, Saebyeok."
Sofia, riding in the cart, looked around with curious eyes. She had been reluctant to come because climbing the mountain was difficult, but there had been space left in the cart. "Yeah. I used to pitch my tent and live here."
"...I see. You worked hard."
Sofia patted their head. Han Yeoreum, who happened to be nearby for no particular reason, joined in. "Chief Winter, shall we take a short break?"
"Yeah. Let's rest."
Back when they lived here, the concept of resting hadn't existed. Their life really had improved a lot. Thinking back on the past, they picked up the shovel from the cart. "Saebyeok, aren't you resting?"
"No. I didn't even walk. I'll just dig the ground."
"Want big sis to help?"
"No, it's okay."
After shaking their head, they chose a spot to pitch the tent. The first thing to do was dig the pit.
**
Thud! Saebyeok scooped out soil with the shovel. Thanks to their mana, it was much easier than before. "King! Are you playing in the dirt?!"
It was dirt-digging playtime. Levinas hopped over to Saebyeok's side. Saebyeok and Sofia followed behind. "Yeah. But it's not play."
"If it's not play, why are you digging?!"
"We need to make a shelter."
A shelter. Levinas had seen one at Saebyeok's tent house before. Remembering it, Levinas began scooping dirt with their hands. "King, but shouldn't we pitch the tent first?!"
"We have to make the shelter first, then pitch the tent on top."
"Why?!"
"There are dangerous creatures in the mountains. You never know when they'll show up, so making a shelter is the most important thing."
"Really?!"
At Saebyeok's explanation, Sofia crossed her arms. Safety rules were usually born from terrible experiences. What kind of experience had made Saebyeok prioritize the shelter first? Sofia tried to imagine it. "Has the shelter helped you before?"
"Yeah. Many times."
"...I see."
Sofia stabbed the ground with her staff. Infusing it with mana and emotion, she dug rapidly. "King! But Levinas wants to set up the tent right next to the stream!"
Levinas pointed at the stream, but Saebyeok firmly refused. "Not by the stream."
"Why not?!"
"If it rains and the water rises, everything will get swept away. The flood comes in an instant, you know?"
"Huk!"
It was one hundred percent from experience. They must have been swept away once. Only an old tent and a dented pot would have been lost, but those had been Saebyeok's entire fortune. What had it felt like for a child to lose everything they owned? Just thinking about it was heartbreaking. "Did King get swept away too?!"
"No, I barely made it out. I woke up because my back was getting wet while I was sleeping."
"Huk! Thank goodness!"
"Yeah, it really was a relief."
Even if a child's actions seemed strange compared to others, there was always a reason behind them. They had made rules to survive. Those rules were what had kept them alive until now. They had survived so well without any adult's help. Just as Sofia raised her hand above Saebyeok's head— "Huh?"
Saebyeok looked puzzled, blinking at the ground. "What's wrong?"
"The pit's already finished. It usually takes an hour to dig."
"We dug together, didn't we?"
"Yeah... I guess so."
Doing the same work as before didn't feel difficult. It was actually enjoyable. Before, they had only a sharp rock instead of a proper shovel, and it had been exhausting. Was it because they were with everyone now? Saebyeok stared at the freshly dug pit for a long time. Even though it had been fun, their heart felt strangely unsettled.