After the promotion ceremony, we went straight back to the park. Levinas, proud of her new carrot badge, wandered around, purposefully choosing places with people.

“Ahem.”

Levinas puffed out her chest toward the crowd, making sure her carrot badge gleamed in the sunlight.

She must have wanted to show off her guild badge. I couldn’t help but chuckle at the adorable sight, though people’s reactions weren’t as enthusiastic.

“…?”

People didn’t seem to understand why Levinas was acting that way. I figured it was time to let her in on the secret.

“Levinas, that badge looks awesome.”

“Right? It’s the coolest badge in the world!”

I stared at her badge with an envious look, and only then did the people around us seem to catch on, putting on exaggerated expressions.

“W-Wow, look at that carrot badge!”

“Oh my! It’s the legendary carrot badge, given only to the kindest of kids!”

The title “Legendary Carrot Badge” made Levinas’s white ears perk up with excitement.

“Did you hear that, Wangya? It’s the legendary carrot badge!”

“Yes, it’s amazing. Only the nicest kids get it.”

“Yes!”

Giggling, Levinas quickly covered her mouth. She glanced at me and Saebyeok with a slightly guilty expression.

“What’s wrong?”

“Well… I feel like I got a better badge than yours…”

Was she feeling bad for having a unique badge? Just as I was about to reassure her, the people around us pointed at my and Saebyeok’s badges, acting amazed.

“W-Wow! That’s the legendary single-line sun badge!”

“Whoa! Given only to those as kind as the legendary carrot badge holder!”

Their acting was a bit clumsy, but I appreciated it. They were doing it for Levinas’s sake.

“Wangya, did you hear that? Our badge is just as great as the carrot badge!”

“Yeah, I guess they’re pretty similar.”

“Hehe!”

Levinas grinned, clutching her badge proudly. Seeing her so happy brought a smile to everyone’s faces.

“Look at the kids relaxing now.”

“The way their tails wag is just too cute.”

Though their voices were soft, I could hear them clearly. For some reason, their warm gazes were directed at me.

“What’s this?”

It almost felt like they thought I was jealous of Levinas’s badge. How unfair! I was about to explain, but before I could, Levinas grabbed my and Saebyeok’s hands and pulled us along.

“Let’s go over there too!”

“O-Okay…”

Levinas confidently explored every corner of the park. After a while, she finally sat in the shade of the bushes, looking satisfied.

“Hehe, as long as I have my carrot badge, I’m invincible!”

“Yeah, you seem even stronger now, Levinas.”

“Yep!”

She kicked her legs back and forth, enjoying the moment. Then, as if suddenly inspired, she took a book from her bag.

“What’s that?”

“Sharkie bought it for me to study hard!”

“…A language book?”

It looked like something a kindergartener or young elementary student would use. The cute cover piqued my curiosity.

Shuffling through the pages, Levinas revealed an adorable illustration. The section title read “Our Vehicles,” and it was filled with drawings of different modes of transportation.

Next to the drawing of an airplane was the consonant pattern ㅂㅎㄱ, and next to the bus was ㅂㅅ. The exercise was to match words to the images, but Levinas was clearly struggling.

“Umm…”

Tap tap tap—

Levinas tapped her lips with a pencil. Modern society was still new to her, so these questions seemed difficult.

“Levinas, is this really hard?”

“Yeah, it’s kind of tough for me.”

“Do you want some help?”

“Yes! Let’s study together!”

Levinas placed the book on the ground, and we naturally lay down on the grass to study.

“Wangya, what’s this?”

“This is…”

Levinas pointed to an oval egg-shaped drawing, with ㅁㅂ ㅇㅂ written next to it.

‘What could this be?’

Since the theme was transportation, why would there be an egg? I tilted my head, puzzled by the picture.

“Do you know what this is, Wangya?”

“I’m… not really sure…”

What could it be? I looked around in frustration when Saebyeok, who had been quiet, finally spoke up.

“It’s a magic disc.”

“Magic disc?”

Levinas and I both looked confused. I realized just how little I knew about the world.

“It’s like a skateboard you ride on, but it floats thanks to magic.”

“Oh…”

In this world, there were unique types of transportation. I could only scratch my cheek, feeling awkward.

“Wangya, isn’t the world really complicated?”

“Yeah…”

“How are kids supposed to live in it?”

Sighing, Levinas moved her pencil to the next picture. It was clearly a drawing of a subway.

Scribbling down the word “subway” in crooked letters, Levinas looked at me and Saebyeok, as if she wanted to say something.

“What is it?”

“Wangya, have you ever ridden a subway? It’s like a giant worm.”

“I haven’t…”

“Me neither.”

The only vehicle I’d ridden since arriving here was the guild’s car. We had to save on transportation costs.

“It’s my dream to ride a subway one day.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Isn’t it like a dream to travel underground like a worm?”

“Yeah… it must be amazing…”

I had no idea Levinas had such a dream. If I’d known sooner, I could’ve done something about it. Now that I thought about it, why not help her experience the subway?

“Levinas, how about we ride the subway today?”

“Huh…?!”

Levinas’s eyes widened. She looked at me as if trying to confirm if she’d heard correctly.

“Riding the subway has been a dream of mine too.”

“Really?! You too?!”

“Yes.”

Who knew she’d be this happy? I decided that today, instead of going hunting, we’d all go experience the subway.

—

Lunch hour.

Sofia returned home and sat in the massage chair to relax. Her small body took a break, but her mind kept racing.

‘Her sense of normal is way too warped.’

Thump thump thump—

As the massage chair gently patted her back, she recalled what Jung Yuna had told her. The notion that Gyeoul considered a broken arm as just a minor injury.

Even beastfolk with strong bodies and resilience would groan from a broken arm, yet this eight-year-old saw it as no big deal. Sofia could only feel sorrow over the fact that Gyeoul’s statement wasn’t just bravado.

‘The more I learn, the more dreadful her past seems.’

Sofia had thought she understood Gyeoul’s past, but with each layer, a more miserable history came to light. The depth of it was now unfathomable.

“Hah…”

Well, whatever. She’s happy now, Sofia told herself. She knew it was just her way of trying to feel better. She decided she’d think about it more seriously after a short rest.

‘I wonder what the kids are up to.’

Gyeoul and Saebyeok had probably gone hunting. And Levinas… maybe she went along?

Just as Sofia was thinking about the kids, the front door opened, and three sets of little footsteps echoed inside.

“Get ready!”

Levinas’s shout was followed by the three children running into the room. Startled, Sofia opened her eyes.

“Aren’t you going to the dungeon today?”

“No, we’re going to ride the subway today.”

“The subway?”

“Yes.”

Gyeoul’s tail swayed back and forth. Were they planning to go somewhere nice on the subway? Sofia’s curiosity grew.

“Where are you planning to go on the subway?”

“We’re not going anywhere. We just want to try it out since we’ve never ridden it before.”

“…Is that so?”

Though the subway was a common mode of transport, it seemed like a big event for these kids to even call it an experience. Sofia couldn’t help feeling a pang of sympathy for them.

“Wangya, what should we bring for the subway?”

“…A weapon?”

“You little rascal.”

Bonk.

Sofia tapped Saebyeok’s head with her staff. While adventurers were legally allowed to carry weapons, it wasn’t appropriate to think of that first.

“No, you don’t need any weapons. Just bring yourselves.”

Sofia could only feel exasperation, knowing how warped their common sense was.

“Sharkie, have you ever ridden the subway?”

“I… know about it in theory.”

“What does that mean?”

“…It means I haven’t actually ridden it.”

“Then Sharkie should come with us! We’ll all become little worms together!”

Levinas tugged on Sofia’s hand. Not wanting to send them alone, Sofia had no choice but to go along.

“But remember, no making a fuss, and you have to listen.”

“Not a word at all?”

“One word is fine.”

“Got it!”

Clap.

Levinas covered her mouth with her hand, fully intending to only say one word during the entire subway ride.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep