Grown-Up Games
The Adults' Play Association had left a warning not to work too hard. They said to play a little, but as I was now, I couldn't even grasp the concept of playing. Was simply watching TV considered playing? That felt more like rest, though. Were rest and play the same thing? With my arms crossed, lost in thought amid all this ignorance, Han Yeoreum crouched down beside me.
"It's not hard at all. Whatever you do, if it's fun, that's playing."
"Fun stuff?"
"Yeah. Weren't you having fun last time at the playground with sis?"
"Um..."
I wasn't a kid anymore. It hadn't been particularly fun. I'd just liked the feel of Han Yeoreum's hands on my back.
"...Not really?"
Since I didn't answer fully, Han Yeoreum scratched her cheek. I figured I should be honest with her.
"It wasn't fun, but it felt good."
"Why'd it feel good?"
"You pushed me on the swing. It was the first time someone's hand touched me without it hurting."
For someone like me who'd craved human touch, it was a gentleness I hadn't felt in ages. Of course, back then I'd still been suspicious of Han Yeoreum, so I hadn't fully enjoyed even that.
"Uh, y-yeah. S-so it wasn't fun?"
Han Yeoreum stammered, avoiding my gaze. She might've been disappointed after going out of her way to play with me.
"But it wasn't meaningless. Pushing my back felt really nice."
"Yeah..."
Hehe. As Han Yeoreum gave an awkward smile, Levi Nas—who'd been sitting at the stall selling mushrooms—perked up with sparkling eyes.
"Levi Nas knows!"
"Knows what?"
"Playing! Levi Nas will teach you how to play!"
Levi Nas wanted to play, huh. Since playing with the kid took priority over my own playing, I decided to go along with her.
"Okay. What do you wanna play?"
"Wait a sec!"
Levi Nas jumped up and dashed off somewhere. Han Yeoreum watched her go, then took her place at the stall.
"Damp mushrooms for sale."
One of the guild's top fighters, reduced to peddling mushrooms. Maybe that's why not just anyone could be the best. I should take a page from her book and work hard too. Filled with admiration, I hurriedly sat beside her.
"H-homegrown carrots and lettuce for sale too..."
We sold out of all the mushrooms and veggies on the stall in just a few minutes. The park was packed with people, for one thing. And the fact that they'd been homegrown probably helped too.
Impressive.
Selling that huge pile in minutes. Was this spot some kind of prime real estate? Places like this usually charged insane stall fees. Being able to use it for free just because we lived in the guild... There was a reason people flocked to places with good folks.
I wonder how much the fee is for a spot like this.
At least a million won a month, right? As I pondered alone, Levi Nas came running back from afar.
"Ta-da!"
Levi Nas thrust out the thing she'd been hugging to her chest. It was a soccer ball, completely deflated and caved in on one side.
"A ball?"
"Yeah! Levi Nas found it in the woods over there!"
"...Doesn't it have an owner?"
"It's been there since a week ago?"
The air was gone, and it'd been abandoned in the woods for a week with no owner showing up. Seemed fine to play with.
"...Hey, kids, want sis to buy a new ball? This one's not gonna roll right."
Han Yeoreum stared longingly at the deflated ball in Levi Nas's arms, clearly displeased. It probably wouldn't roll far even when kicked, but that might actually be perfect for playing with just the two of us. Chasing a rolling ball would just drain our stamina anyway, and we needed to save energy for work.
"I'm fine with it."
"Levi Nas is fine too!"
"Ah, okay."
Even though we said we were fine, Han Yeoreum's expression soured. Without hiding her disappointment, she picked up the basket from the stall.
"Sis'll clean up the stall, so you two play for a bit?"
"No, I'll help clean."
The moment I reached for a basket like she was doing, Han Yeoreum snatched the one from my hands. I knew that meant no cleaning for me.
"'Cause I don't wanna get caught slacking."
"Oh."
She meant playtime. I felt bad, but for her sake, I'd force myself to play. Technically, it'd be me playing with Levi Nas, but it'd look like playing from afar. Two birds with one stone.
"Then, shamelessly..."
"Where'd you learn a word like that?"
I left the stall and ran toward Levi Nas, who was kicking the ball alone. The ball she kicked with all her might barely went anywhere before stopping nearby.
"Haha! It's a ball but it won't roll!"
"Yeah. Weird ball."
Even a deflated ball could be fun. Kids really were amazing. I'd follow her lead and play hard too.
"That ball sure..."
"Won't go far 'cause it's deflated."
"Wanna buy a new one."
People resting near the park sighed as they watched me and Levi Nas. Was watching a kid kick a ball that frustrating? Looked like people in this world loved giving unsolicited advice on soccer too.
"Levi Nas, gotta catch it good?"
"Yeah."
Thud—the lightly kicked ball didn't go far and dropped near Levi Nas. She giggled like it was the funniest thing as it rolled right to her feet.
"Wang-ah, is ball fun?"
"Hm..."
"N-not fun?"
Honestly, kicking the ball itself wasn't fun. I hadn't liked soccer back home either, and I sucked at it. But that didn't mean there wasn't any fun at all.
"Dunno about the ball, but playing with Levi Nas is fun."
"R-really?"
"Yeah. Playing with you is always fun, no matter what."
Were my words that pleasing? Levi Nas hopped up from her spot.
"Levi Nas thinks playing with Wang is the most fun in the world too!"
"Whoa, no way. Same as me?"
"Yeah! Exactly the same!"
Levi Nas kicked the ball at her feet far away. She was trying to pass to me, but it flew off in some weird direction instead. Even though she didn't know proper kicking form, Levi Nas just kept giggling.
"Wang-ah's so grown-up, maybe grown-up playing is more fun?"
"M-maybe...?"
What would grown-up playing be like? I tilted my head and looked where the ball had gone. Choi Jin-hyeok was standing right where it landed.
"Ack! Giant's here!"
"What's wrong with this ball?"
Choi Jin-hyeok picked up the ball at his feet and tossed it toward my head.
"Uh..."
A header? Instinctively bringing my head forward, I slipped on a pebble at my feet and stumbled. Thanks to beastkin physical prowess, I didn't fall, but my head tilted up, catching the ball with my face instead.
Thwack!
"......!"
He'd thrown it so lightly it didn't even hurt. Not enough for a tiny whimper. But my surprised ears and tail perked straight up.
"S-sorry, you okay?"
"Yeah."
Choi Jin-hyeok looked apologetic for throwing it, so I smiled at him to say it was fine. He scratched the back of his head sheepishly.
"Guess you don't know how to header yet. When the ball comes from above, hit it with your forehead, not your face."
"R-right..."
I didn't know headers? I'd just slipped—that was all. Felt like I'd become some idiot who couldn't even kick a ball right.
"Wang-ah, you okay?!"
Levi Nas came running from afar. It warmed my heart that the kid worried about me.
"Yeah, I'm fine."
"That was super cool just now! You headed the ball with your face!"
"Uh, yeah..."
Was catching it with my face that impressive? As Levi Nas poked at my face with her little hands, she looked up at Choi Jin-hyeok.
"Giant-o, Giant-o. Giants are tall, so you're a grown-up, right?"
"Well, yeah, I'm an adult."
At his affirmative answer, Levi Nas bounced lightly. She looked thrilled, like a kid on a sugar high.
"Then you know how grown-ups play too, right?"
"...Curious how adults play?"
"Yeah! Wang-ah's so grown-up, she needs to play like one!"
Ah. She said it for my sake. The kid's kindness touched me.
"No reason I can't tell ya."
"Really?!"
As Levi Nas beamed with joy, En Sia appeared behind Choi Jin-hyeok.
"Jin-hyeok-ssi... You're with the two of them."
The moment our eyes met, my tail started swishing gently. Hers swayed in resonance.
"Hello."
"Yes, Gyeowol-ssi. What are you up to?"
At En Sia's casual greeting, Levi Nas raised her hand beside me.
"Grown-up games!"
"...Pardon?"
"Giant says he'll teach grown-up games!"
"Gr-grown-up g-games...?"
En Sia's mouth fell open. It was novel to see her usual stoic face so shocked.
"What do grown-ups even play?! Wanna see now!"
"Yeah, me too."
This was a world where monster hunting was a casual hobby. Maybe there was something even more exciting. I looked up at Choi Jin-hyeok expectantly. But for some reason, he just stood there with a stiff face, lips tightly shut.