Preparing for camping required some effort, though there wasn’t much to buy since we already had many tools.  

We used the large tarp next to the container and grabbed a few extra ones stored away. The size was big enough to accommodate over ten people comfortably.  

*Cooking equipment…*  

Old but usable pots and dishes were carefully packed into a cart. It wasn’t the same rickety cart I used in the past, so even when fully loaded, it rolled smoothly.  

“All done.”  

“Done?!”  

“Yeah. Levinas, did you pack snacks?”  

“Yup! I brought carrots and chocolate!”  

With Levinas ready and Saebyeok gripping the cart’s handle, we waited for the others to arrive.  

“Uh…”  

A young woman who often visited the park approached us hesitantly.  

“Yes?”  

“Are you leaving…?”  

Her shoulders drooped as she asked, her expression full of sadness.  

Was something wrong? I tilted my head and nodded slowly.  

“Yes… we’re leaving…”  

“Does that mean you’re not coming back?”  

Did she think I was leaving for good?  

It was surprising to see someone I barely knew express such regret. Perhaps an unspoken camaraderie had developed among the park’s visitors.  

“We’ll be back tomorrow. We’re just going camping.”  

“Oh… camping? I thought you were moving away.”  

The woman sighed deeply, placing a hand on her chest.  

“I’m not going anywhere else. This is my home.”  

“Alright. Have fun.”  

“Thank you.”  

Relieved, she returned to her group, calling out that I wasn’t leaving. Their cheer echoed in response.  

What was that about?  

Had I unintentionally formed a bond with the people here?  

As I mulled over the situation, my tail forming a questioning curl, Hanyeoreum approached us.  

“Gyeoul, are you taking the cart with you?”  

Her gaze lingered on the cart, with the rest of the family following behind her.  

“Yes, it’s camping.”  

“Camping… well, that’s kind of close, I guess.”  

“Kind of close?”  

Her tone made it sound like what we were doing wasn’t quite camping. My tail’s questioning curl now directed at her.  

“Yeah, it’s just different from the kind of camping I know.”  

“Oh…”  

I guessed there were different ways to camp, depending on the equipment and methods.  

“But camping is all about enjoying it your way. There’s no wrong way.”  

“Ah…”  

Encouraged, I felt more confident about my approach.  

“I’m looking forward to your way, Gyeoul!”  

“Me too, Chief!”  

Encya and Argo wagged their tails, Encya’s swishing gracefully while Argo’s thumped loudly. Their excitement was contagious.  

“Alright, I’ll do my best.”  

When I reached for the cart’s handle, Hanyeoreum stopped me.  

“I’ll pull the cart. Want to hop in the empty space?”  

“No, I’ll walk beside it.”  

“Okay. What about Saebyeok and Levinas?”  

Levinas giggled and stretched her arms toward Argo, who lifted her onto his shoulder.  

“Levinas rides here!”  

“Me too!”  

Saebyeok climbed onto Argo’s other shoulder.  

Encya, watching them with a thoughtful gaze, turned to me and reached out her hands.  

“Gyeoul, if I may.”  

“Huh?”  

Before I could respond, she lifted me effortlessly, settling me onto her shoulders. I was now riding on her neck, holding onto her for balance.  

“How is it?”  

“Uh… it’s fine…”  

Her tail wagged furiously, brushing against my own drooping tail and making it sway like a pendulum.  

“Perhaps I got carried away… I was just excited about camping with the family.”  

“It’s okay.”  

If she was happy, I didn’t mind. I wasn’t heavy, after all. For today, I decided to go along with it.  

“Encya, pull the cart. I want to carry Gyeoul too!”  

Midsummer glanced longingly at me from behind the cart. Encya, always accommodating, avoided her gaze this time.  

“…Sorry.”  

“Argo, then—”  

“Nope!”  

“Ugh…”  

Hanyeoreum sighed and trudged forward, pulling the cart.  

Did people here enjoy carrying others that much?  

Maybe I should try it someday.  

Just as I thought that, Encya started moving, following behind Midsummer.  

—

We arrived at the mountain where I used to live.  

Even on the steep slopes, Encya maintained her balance effortlessly. Worried about falling, I gripped her soft wolf ears like handles. They were surprisingly nice to hold.  

I gently played with her ears, making them twitch rapidly.  

“Pfft.”  

Jung Yuna, trailing behind us, burst into laughter, covering her mouth with her staff.  

“Why are you laughing?”  

“Sorry, it’s just… your tails are swaying in sync.”  

“I didn’t mean to, but I guess the rhythm matched.”  

“Really?”  

She came closer and grabbed my tail, releasing it when it fell out of sync with Encya’s. It naturally found its rhythm again, swaying in time with hers.  

“Oh my…”  

Jung Yuna looked surprised, while Midsummer licked her lips for some reason, balancing the cart on her head as she climbed.  

“We’re almost there.”  

At the end of the slope was a flat clearing. Midsummer carefully set the cart down.  

“Over there.”  

“Okay.”  

A short walk through the forest revealed a large open space. The sound of flowing stream water was familiar.  

Though it wasn’t a place full of happy memories, I couldn’t help feeling nostalgic.  

The soot near the old fire pit, the overgrown weeds in the garden…  

“This is the first time I’ve seen where you used to live, Gyeoul.”  

Sophia, who had been reluctant to climb the mountain, looked around with curiosity. She had ridden in the cart’s empty space, which made the trip manageable.  

“Yes, I used to pitch my tent right over there.”  

“You’ve worked hard to survive.”  

Sophia patted my head. Without any reason, Midsummer joined in, patting me too.  

“Chief Gyeoul, shall we rest for a bit?”  

“Yes, let’s take a break.”  

Back then, the concept of rest didn’t even exist for me. My life really had improved.  

Reflecting on the past, I grabbed a small shovel from the cart.  

“Gyeoul, aren’t you taking a break?”  

“No, I didn’t walk much, so I’ll start digging.”  

“Want me to help?”  

“No, it’s fine.”  

With a shake of my head, I chose a spot to set up a tent. The first step was to dig.  

—

*Thunk!*  
The shovel sank into the earth as I dug. Somehow, it was much easier than before—perhaps because of my magic.  

“King! Are you playing digging games?!”  

Levinas bounded over to me, followed by Saebyeok and Sophia.  

“Not a game. I’m making a shelter.”  

“A shelter? Why?”  

“There are dangerous creatures in the mountains. You never know when they’ll show up, so it’s better to have a shelter first.”  

“Really?!”  

Sophia crossed her arms thoughtfully. Shelters and safety measures usually came from experience, often harsh ones.  

Had Gyeoul gone through something terrible to learn this?  

“Were shelters helpful to you?”  

“Yes, many times.”  

“I see…”  

Sophia jabbed the ground with her staff, helping dig faster using mana.  

“King! I want to set up the tent right by the stream!”  

Levinas pointed eagerly at the water, but I shook my head firmly.  

“Not by the stream.”  

“Why not?!”  

“If it rains, the water level can rise suddenly and sweep everything away. It happens in an instant.”  

“Gasp!”  

A 100% firsthand experience, no doubt.  

Even if it was just a rickety tent and battered pots, they had once been Gyeoul’s entire world. Losing them must have been devastating.  

“Did you ever get swept away, King?!”  

“No, I woke up when my back got wet and escaped in time.”  

“Thank goodness!”  

“Yeah, thank goodness.”  

Even if her methods seemed unusual to others, there was always a reason behind them—rules born of survival.  

Sophia placed her hand on my head just as I finished the shelter.  

“Huh?”  

I blinked at the dug-out ground.  

“It’s already done. This used to take me an hour.”  

“Because we helped, right?”  

“Yes… I guess so.”  

Work that used to be exhausting now felt almost fun.  

Maybe it was because I wasn’t alone anymore.  

Even though I felt happy, a strange uneasiness lingered in my heart as I stared at the finished shelter.  

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep