The game of hide-and-seek had begun. It was a version where we pretended to hide from a scary person.

I was assigned the role of the “scary person,” but for fairness, I decided not to use my ears or nose.

“I’m starting now. If I find you, I’ll pretend to hit you… just pretending.”

After counting five more seconds silently, I started searching around the pond. It didn’t take long to find Saebyeok.

“Hmm…”

There was a neatly folded box. Its flaps were closed so the inside wasn’t visible, but I knew Saebyeok was in there. Her black tail was sticking out of the box.

‘Guess she didn’t think about her tail.’

Having a tail must still feel new to her. It would take time to adapt.

Pretending not to know, I approached Saebyeok.

“Where could Saebyeok be hiding?”

Her tail, which had been gently wagging, froze. When my footsteps grew closer, her tail bristled in surprise.

“Hm.”

Though Saebyeok’s face remained expressionless, her tail always told the truth. That adorable trait made me want to tease her.

“…She’s not here, I guess.”

I passed by the box as if I hadn’t noticed her. Relieved, her bristled tail started wagging again.

The sight of her pure joy was endearing. I felt a bit bad about having to catch her, but it was time.

“Found you, Saebyeok.”

I grabbed her tail, sticking out of the box. It felt soft, just like mine.

“Huh.”

The box flaps opened, and Saebyeok’s face peeked out. Her expression was as blank as ever, but her tail twitched in surprise.

“How did you know I was in the box?”

“Your tail was sticking out.”

“My tail?”

“Yeah. Tails seem easy to manage, but they’re not, right?”

People without tails wouldn’t understand this challenge. I was grateful to have a friend who could relate.

“Yeah. Tails are tricky.”

Her ears and tail drooped. She seemed disappointed to have been found so quickly.

I felt sorry for her, but rules were rules. It was time to pretend as per the game’s conditions.

“…Do I really have to pretend to hit you?”

“Yes. That’s how the game is played.”

So that’s how it was here. Was it common in this world to play hide-and-seek this way? I still wasn’t sure, given my limited knowledge.

‘…In a world with mana, it makes sense.’

Even if the game was a bit violent, they wouldn’t get hurt. Accepting that, I raised my fist toward Saebyeok.

“Come here. I’m going to pretend to give you a good thump and pull your hair.”

“Wah.”

Saebyeok made a flat, emotionless sound, pretending to whimper. That’s when someone approached us.

“Gyeoul, what are you doing…?”

I turned to see Jung Yuna looking at us with surprise. I couldn’t understand why she looked that way.

“We’re playing hide-and-seek.”

“Hide-and-seek…?”

“Yes.”

“Why are you…?”

Why was she questioning it? Had I done something wrong? I glanced at Saebyeok, who only tilted her head in confusion.

“What’s wrong with hide-and-seek?”

“It just seems a bit… intense.”

“…Isn’t that how hide-and-seek is played?”

“Is that… really how it’s played…?”

Jung Yuna looked doubtful. It seemed she wasn’t familiar with this type of hide-and-seek.

“When you’re found, you get pretend-hit and have to beg for mercy.”

“That’s…”

Jung Yuna’s pupils shook as if she’d seen something terrifying.

“Is something wrong?”

“No, it’s just… I guess that’s how you two play it.”

“Ah.”

For us, it was that kind of game. She kept making strange, meaningful comments. I didn’t understand them, but I decided to look for the others, who were probably waiting to be found.

“We’re going to find the others now.”

“Can I come with you?”

“Yes.”

I was glad to have her join us. Having another person to play with the kids made it easier for me.

We started searching for the others together, with me playfully tapping Saebyeok’s head as we walked.

—

“Waaah.”

Levinas, who had been running around the pond looking for a place to hide, spotted some tall men and ran toward them. The men had scars on their faces and intimidating tattoos on their arms, but Levinas didn’t care.

“Help Levinas hide!”

“Huh?”

Confused, they allowed Levinas to guide them into forming a wall. She hid inside this makeshift barrier.

“What’s going on?”

“We’re playing hide-and-seek!”

“Oh…”

So, she used them as a wall. The men exchanged glances but stayed still, unwilling to ruin the child’s game. Then, from afar, a familiar figure approached.

It was Gyeoul, the child everyone in the park recognized, accompanied by a new face and Jung Yuna.

“Levi…”

Gyeoul stopped in her tracks, eyes wide with fear as she took a step back. One of the men hesitated, unsure whether to step aside.

“Uh.”

Of course, any child would be frightened. The men were aware their appearances could be intimidating. They weren’t part of any violent group or anything like that.

“Levi…”

Gyeoul’s body trembled as she looked between Levinas and the men. Realizing this, the men all closed their eyes tightly.

They felt trapped; stepping aside would betray the child they were helping, but staying put scared Gyeoul. Either way, it was an awkward situation.

“Ahem.”

“Cough.”

The men made awkward throat-clearing sounds. Despite their rough exteriors, their gentle nature made Jung Yuna chuckle softly.

“I found you, Levinas.”

Jung Yuna spoke up in place of the trembling Gyeoul. Levinas poked her head out between the men.

“Did King find Levinas?”

“Yes…”

“Wow! King is so good at hide-and-seek!”

“Yes.”

Gyeoul glanced nervously at the men, who seemed visibly relieved.

“King must be a genius at hide-and-seek!”

“I’m not that good…”

Hehe. Gyeoul laughed awkwardly. Her eyes then landed on someone else.

Yoo Sang-ah was crouched behind a small structure in the park. It was so small that her entire body was visible.

“…”

Being worse at hiding than the children. The group stared silently at Yoo Sang-ah for a while. Only Jung Yuna knew that Yoo Sang-ah had done it on purpose, pretending to lose to keep the kids happy.

“I found Spiky!”

Levinas ran to Yoo Sang-ah and hugged her. Yoo Sang-ah stood up with a smile.

“Oh no, I’ve been found.”

“Yes! Levinas wants to be the seeker next! It looks fun!”

“Shall we?”

The group moved back to the starting point to begin another round. Jung Yuna turned back to the men and gave them a polite nod.

The men felt a sense of pride. 

—

In the corner of a room, a repair adhesive known as *Suripool* sat on the table. Made from the silk of the Blue Moon Queen Spider, it was a favorite among adventurers for emergency repairs. Once applied, it held for at least three hours, making it perfect for critical situations.

“Hmm…”

Gyeoul might need *Suripool* someday. Just as Midsummer placed it on the table, Levinas burst through the front door.

“Midsummer!”

“Levinas, you’re back?”

“Yes! But what’s this?!”

“It’s glue.”

“Glue?!”

Levinas sat at the table, eyes filled with curiosity as she examined the *Suripool* closely, already brewing mischief in her mind.

“Yes. It’s safe for your skin but don’t eat it or get it in your eyes, okay?”

“Got it!”

“Hehe, I’m going to the kitchen for a bit.”

Midsummer patted Levinas on the head and walked off.

Levinas watched her leave, thinking it would be fine as long as she didn’t eat it or get it in her eyes. After all, it was safe for the body.

“King! King!”

Levinas grabbed the *Suripool* and ran to the entrance, where Gyeoul and Saebyeok had just come in, their ears perking up.

“What’s up?”

“Hold out your hands for Levinas!”

Curious, Gyeoul extended her hands, tail forming a question mark shape. Without hesitation, Levinas sprayed the adhesive onto both of Gyeoul’s hands.

“…What is this?”

It was slippery and sticky, the bond strengthening by the second.

‘What is this?’

As Gyeoul sniffed at the liquid on her hands, Levinas grabbed them tightly.

“Saebyeok, grab her other hand!”

“Okay.”

Levinas held onto Gyeoul’s right hand, and Saebyeok grabbed the left. It was then that Gyeoul realized their hands were all stuck together.

“Levinas, isn’t this glue…?”

“Yeah! But it’s safe for the body!”

“I-I see…”

Gyeoul raised her right hand, and Levinas’s hand lifted with it. She tried to shake them apart, but the bond was too strong.

“Oh…”

There had to be a way to remove this, right? Gyeoul broke into a nervous sweat as she looked at their joined hands.

______________________

TL NOTE: Please don’t skimp on the stars and likes of the translation – it inspires me and gives me the strength to write more. Thank you~!

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep