The King's Ferocity
After bringing the beastkin children into the guild building, most of the criticism aimed at the guild had died down. People knew the guild was taking good care of them, even if the kids ran around grubby and unkempt.
"Hm."
This was a major burden lifted. For the first time in a while, Kang Jin-ho checked the online community sentiment about Yeomyeong Guild.
'Digging tunnels to live in?' Weren't they living just fine in the guild building until yesterday? Kang Jin-ho, on the top floor of the building, walked to the window and peered down toward where the kids might be.
"Hm."
There was a single hole dug straight down like a sinkhole. Branches and grass camouflaged it well, but Kang Jin-ho could tell it reached about chest height for an adult. Wasn't that a trap rather than a burrow?
As Kang Jin-ho pondered this, a pair of white cat ears suddenly poked through, shoving aside the branches and grass. They twitched this way and that, as if trying to sense the surroundings by sound alone. Then Han Gyeowol stuck her head out from inside the hole. Even covered in dirt and with grass stuck in her hair, she looked utterly adorable.
Is that... a beastkin instinct?
Han Gyeowol, head poking out from underground, scanned her surroundings. She looked just like a meerkat from that documentary a few months back.
"Hey, look at that."
"Oh my, what game is that?"
People in the park glanced over at Han Gyeowol. Maybe their stares felt overwhelming, because she ducked back underground—like a whack-a-mole.
"Hm..."
The kids were playing a bit dirty, but it wasn't bad. They were nurturing their beastkin instincts, and the public seemed to approve. Kang Jin-ho decided to let them be. Kids grew healthier playing in the dirt, after all.
I should tell the guild members to keep an eye on them without putting themselves in danger.
Or maybe the guild folks would handle it themselves. As Kang Jin-ho mulled this over, he spotted someone approaching the hole.
Kwon A-rin. The weird girl who'd come for some bizarre "field trip" thing, then burst into tears upon realizing her opponents were kids.
"They said it was around here somewhere."
Kwon A-rin headed straight for the kids' hole, oblivious to the grass- and branch-covered pit right beneath her feet.
Ah. She's gonna fall in.
No one around to warn her. Kang Jin-ho could only watch with pity.
**
The deep pit I'd dug with Levi Nas. We'd covered the ceiling with grass and branches, but thin rays of sunlight still filtered through. It felt cozy even underground.
Levi Nas seemed to feel the same, hugging her knees and gazing up at the sky.
"King!"
"Yeah?"
"Burrows aren't supposed to go down—they go sideways, right?!"
That'd be true for a normal burrow. But I couldn't stand having dirt right above my head. The ground was soft; it could collapse anytime. Just imagining being buried alive made me shudder.
"I like digging straight down like this."
"Really?! Then Levi Nas likes it too! Let's dig even deeper down!"
"Sure."
But digging any deeper might make it impossible to climb back up. We were both super short. Should I make a ladder? I was seriously considering it when I heard footsteps approaching us directly.
Who's that?
Everyone's footsteps were unique, and these didn't match anyone I knew. Why was a stranger heading our way?
I perked my ears warily. Then the sunlight vanished, plunging the area into shadow—as if someone had blocked it from directly above.
"Huh?"
Looking up, I spotted someone plummeting right toward us. In the dangerous moment, everything seemed to slow down.
"Eek!"
The falling figure was Kwon A-rin, screaming as she crashed through the branch-and-grass ceiling and plunged toward us.
"Eek!"
Startled, Levi Nas squeezed her eyes shut. I hurriedly pulled her into my arms.
Thud!
Kwon A-rin landed on us like she was tackling, but it didn't hurt much—just a faint ache.
"Nngh..."
Levi Nas was nestled in my arms, and Kwon A-rin was sprawled atop my back. I wriggled to escape her, but the space was too cramped. I could only squirm like a stepped-on earthworm.
"Wh-what... why did the ground just..."
Kwon A-rin rubbed her body and sat up. At the same time, Levi Nas in my arms let out a shriek.
"Agh! SupremeKwonA-rin attacked Levi Nas!"
"Uh, wha?"
"She ambushed Levi Nas even after Levi Nas apologized!"
"N-no, wait a sec..."
Spooked, Levi Nas tried to flee the pit, but the collapsed ceiling's branches poked everywhere, making it tough. Realizing this, she plastered herself against one wall, pupils trembling.
"Whoa, King, big trouble! We can't get out...!"
"Yeah. The branches are blocking it."
"Gasp...! Trapped in a tight space with SupremeKwonA-rin...!"
Levi Nas started shaking.
Kwon A-rin waved her hands, insisting it wasn't like that, but Levi Nas only shrieked at the approaching hand.
"S-save me! Save Levi Nas! SupremeKwonA-rin is bullying Levi Nas!"
"W-wait, really, it's not like that...!"
"Gyaaah! She's gonna hit Levi Nas! King, save me!"
Levi Nas screamed at the top of her lungs—loud enough for everyone in the park to hear.
"What the heck?"
"She's hitting the kid?"
Crowds gathered around our pit, glaring menacingly at Kwon A-rin.
"Miss, why're you bullying kids who were just playing fine?"
"Isn't that the woman who fought the kids yesterday?"
"N-no, I..."
Tears welled in Kwon A-rin's eyes. She looked ready to burst into sobs any second.
**
"I'm sorry. I'm really, truly sorry."
Sniff.
Kwon A-rin wiped her tears and apologized profusely to the park-goers. With me backing her up from the side, she cleared the misunderstanding easily.
"So, the hole was hidden, and she fell in by accident. The kid got scared thinking she was being attacked?"
"Yes. I didn't see the bottom and fell into the pit, so they must've thought I was jumping on them..."
"Ah, got it. Sorry for the mix-up."
The citizens nodded, satisfied, and dispersed. Only then did Kwon A-rin collapse in relief.
Levi Nas alone kept her suspicious glare.
"King, that's definitely an act."
Levi Nas whispered in my ear. Since my ears were on top of my head, I had to tilt down to hear her.
"Hm..."
It didn't seem like acting. ...Or maybe it was? She was the type who'd swing fists in real life over something from a game. Better stay quiet for now. Telling Levi Nas she was a good person could backfire if she turned out bad.
"King, let's team up and defeat the evil witch...!"
"Uh, yeah."
I nodded to Levi Nas. If Kwon A-rin was truly good, she'd apologize and clear things up. Until then, I'd play along with Levi Nas.
"Um, kids...?"
Kwon A-rin approached cautiously. Levi Nas stomped threateningly in response.
"Stay back! Levi Nas will kick you!"
She glanced at me, clearly wanting me to join the threat. The only threat I knew was a big rawr. As I debated clawing at Kwon A-rin, Levi Nas urgently pulled my hand down.
"King, that's too scary."
"Uh, yeah. Sorry."
"Just enough not to make her cry."
"Okay."
Not enough to make her cry. Just like Levi Nas, then. I decided to lightly scold Kwon A-rin.
"Adults shouldn't do that to kids. It makes you a pathetic grown-up..."
A pathetic, rotten adult. I meant it to prick her conscience and prompt an apology.
But for some reason, tears started streaming from Kwon A-rin's eyes.
"Sob, you're right. I'm a pathetic person. I don't work, don't study, just game all day at home. Haven't left the house in days except to fight kids."
"Y-you can do it... keep going..."
I hadn't said anything that harsh. Had some bottled-up resentment burst? Feeling bad, I patted her back.
"As expected of the king. So that's the ferocity you've been holding back?"
"Uh... yeah..."
"Phew, good thing the king is on Levi Nas's side."
Even though we'd made Kwon A-rin cry, Levi Nas wasn't gleeful. She just stared down at her in bewilderment.