Soap Bubbles
"You know..." Saebyeok tugged at the hem of my clothes. The old fabric's seams began to fray and pull apart. It was a garment filled with memories from the past, yet it no longer felt particularly precious. That was because I now had people far more important to me. The family who had reached out to someone as useless as me. They were infinitely more valuable than any worn-out piece of clothing. They were the ones I could truly call my sanctuary in life. How could I even think of returning to my old world when I had people who made me smile just by thinking of them? Was this really the right thing to do?
Saebyeok looked down at the torn hem with a bitter expression. "...Actually, I'm just like Sofia."
"Like Sofia?"
"Yes... I came from another world too..."
"I see." Han Yeoreum didn't look surprised or shaken. She simply nodded as if it were the most natural thing in the world. It was all an act to put Saebyeok at ease.
"You weren't surprised?"
"No. It's pretty common around here." Though, of course, this was the first time someone from a destroyed world had arrived.
Han Yeoreum placed her hand gently on top of Saebyeok's head. "...Still, I thought you might be a little surprised or disappointed."
"Why would I be disappointed?"
"Because after finally becoming family, I said I wanted to go back home."
She had been worried about looking ungrateful. It was the kind of concern only a kind child like Saebyeok would have.
"Saebyeok, it's only natural to want to return to your original world."
"B-but..."
"You know Sofia wants to go back to her world too, right? And yet she still treats you like family."
"Yes..."
"Those are two completely different things. There's no need to mix them together and worry about it."
How much pain had this little one been carrying all alone? Han Yeoreum decided to ease some of the burden weighing on Saebyeok's heart.
"You just don't know our rules yet, do you?"
"Rules?"
"Yes. When someone returns to their original world, we bless them and wish them well. We remember the joy of meeting rather than the sadness of parting. It's a rule born from a world full of farewells."
"If I go back to my original world, is there no chance we'll meet again?"
"That... I'll figure something out somehow."
"Somehow?"
"Yes. I don't have a way right now, but I'll make it happen. Do you trust me, Saebyeok?"
"Yes, I trust you."
Ever since she had placed her trust in Han Yeoreum, she had never once doubted her. Han Yeoreum had always solved every hardship that came their way. Saebyeok's tail, which had been hanging low, began to regain its lively sway.
"Hehe, so all of Saebyeok's worries are gone now?"
"Yes. They're all gone."
Swish, swish. Saebyeok's swaying tail tickled Han Yeoreum's hand as they hugged. Yes, this was how Saebyeok should be. Just as Han Yeoreum smiled—
"Someday I'll introduce you to my family and friends from my world."
"Uh, yeah..."
Han Yeoreum's heart sank. Saebyeok's friends and family were already... No, we can still save them. She would have to tell her eventually. But she couldn't reveal the truth to a child who had only just let go of her worries. Saebyeok had only ever known pain. Even for a short time, she deserved peace of mind. Someday she would tell her—about the destroyed world and the chance to save it.
Having made up her mind, Han Yeoreum handed Saebyeok some freshly made snacks. "Saebyeok, take these and share them with the kids, okay?"
"Yes. Thank you for the food."
"Good."
Thump, thump, thump— Saebyeok's footsteps were light as she ran toward the children. She looked just like a proud little kitten.
After eating the snacks together, we headed out to the park with the kids. What should we play today? As always, I sat on the bench and looked around. Just then, Levinas came running toward me from afar, waving her hand.
"Your Majesty!"
"Hm?"
"There's something amazing over there...!"
Thump, thump, thump— I couldn't help but smile at the sight of Levinas stomping her feet. Carrying Saebyeok on my back, I followed where Levinas led us.
"That's..."
"A magician...!"
In the middle of the park, a man was performing. He wasn't a real magician—just someone doing a soap bubble show. Whoosh—! When he swung his wand, enormous bubbles the size of my fist scattered in every direction. There were forty-two of them in total.
"Whoa...!" Levinas's eyes sparkled. Saebyeok, who I thought had been asleep on my back, suddenly jumped down. Kids going crazy over soap bubbles really was a universal thing. I watched the performance with a chuckle.
Pop—! Saebyeok threw a punch at a bubble that floated right in front of her face. It was just like a cat beastkin's punch. Poof—! The bubble burst with a tiny sound. Saebyeok kept popping every bubble that came her way. Levinas seemed to have decided this was a game too and started popping bubbles just like her.
"Hey, kids, want to come over here for a second?"
The performer, pleased by how much the children were enjoying his show, waved us over. Since he hadn't pointed to anyone specific, I gently pushed Levinas forward. Saebyeok was there too, but she would have given Levinas the chance anyway.
"Go on, Levinas. Give it a try."
"Can Levinas really go?!"
Levinas hesitated and glanced at Saebyeok. Saebyeok's expressionless face answered with a flick of her tail. For beastkin, that was a better form of communication than words.
"Got it...!"
Gulp— Levinas swallowed and approached the man. She marched forward with her little fists clenched, swinging her arms side to side. She seemed to be trying to look impressive, but to me she just looked adorable. The audience watching the show seemed to feel the same way, smiling warmly.
"Little horned rabbit friend, would you like to stand up here?"
"Okay...!"
Levinas climbed onto the large bubble wand that was bigger than she was. The man lifted the wand in one swift motion, and a giant bubble formed around Levinas, trapping her inside.
"Hic...!"
Levinas's eyes widened like a startled rabbit. She poked at the bubble with her fingers, but it was tougher than expected and didn't pop. Were the bubbles in this world different somehow? Just as I was about to observe with my beastkin eyes, Levinas's face started turning pale.
"Your Majesty! Levinas got eaten! Your Majesty!!"
Thump, thump, thump— Levinas pounded on the bubble. Instead of popping, it just stretched and stretched.
"Wow." Bubbles in a world with magic really were something else. And "got eaten"? Only a pure-hearted child would phrase it that way. I couldn't hold back my laughter.
"Ugh, you're laughing...! Is that why Levinas can't hear your voice?!"
Levinas stomped her feet in a panic. I needed to calm her down.
"Levinas, it's just a game. You don't have to be scared."
"R-really...?!"
Just hearing that she didn't need to be afraid was enough to steady Levinas. It showed how much she trusted me.
"The little rabbit friend must have been really surprised."
The performer popped the bubble with the tip of a needle. With a clear sound, the bubble trapping Levinas burst. Clap, clap, clap— The people in the park applauded for Levinas. It was applause for both the performer and the brave little rabbit.
"Here, this is a participation gift."
"What's this?!"
"A bubble maker. You can make bubbles just like the ones from the show."
"Hic!"
Levinas accepted the bubble maker with both hands, remembering to bow politely as well.
After the bubble show ended, we returned to the bench with the kids. Levinas didn't sit down. Instead, she wandered around nearby.
"Ahem."
With the bubble maker hanging around her neck, Levinas strolled through the park. I knew exactly what she wanted to show off.
"Levinas, that bubble maker is so cool."
"Yeah! Levinas is a bubble magician now...!"
"Wow, that's amazing."
I didn't hold back my praise. Levinas's shoulders bounced happily.
"Blow some bubbles."
Saebyeok crouched down near Levinas. She must have enjoyed popping them and wanted to do it again. She really was like a cat in every way.
"Okay!"
Levinas twisted open the bubble maker's lid. She held the small wand to her mouth and blew with all her might.
"Pwoooosh."
A sound like a baby elephant came from her puffed-up cheeks. She clearly didn't know how to blow bubbles properly.
"Levinas, you have to blow gently. Like this—whoosh."
"Whoosh?"
Levinas blew a small puff of air. Instead of many small bubbles, one enormous bubble emerged.
"Huh...?"
The bubble kept growing bigger and bigger. It was several times larger than my body. Hadn't it exceeded physical limits? Was this possible because of magic? Just as I was wondering, the bubble floated toward me.
"......?!"
The bubble didn't pop when it touched me. It simply swallowed my entire body whole.
"Whoa! Levinas made a super huge one!"
Levinas jumped up and down. The bubble floated upward too—still containing my body inside it.
"Uh, um...?"
How was the bubble lifting a person? I reached out toward the soap film and realized something. Levinas's mana was wrapped around the bubble. My body began to float gently upward, rising toward the high sky.