“How about fixing the tent? Protecting it from wind and rain makes the body and mind relax.”

“Um…”

“Fixing the tent counts as rest, right?”

Even though repairing the tent with patch tape is quite expensive, now I have a considerable amount of three million won. There’s no harm in pampering myself a little just for one day. As I happily thought about the tent renovation, the girl sighed deeply.

“Gyeoul, you don’t know what it means to rest, do you…?”

Not knowing how to rest? Her outright rejection was very annoying.

“I know how to rest! After fixing the tent, I’ll gather firewood.”

“Firewood…?”

“Yes. To make a fire.”

Sitting by the fire relaxes the body and mind. It’s the perfect form of rest. Even a foolish witch should know that, right? Glancing at the girl, I saw her biting her lip, as if at a loss for words. It took quite a while before she spoke again.

“Gyeoul, how about we rest my way today?”

“Why, why?”

“I want to show you what rest is like. It will definitely be fun.”

Fun, she says. Isn’t she just planning something enjoyable for herself? I was worried, but I had no right to refuse. I had no choice but to follow her instructions.

“Okay…”

✱✱✱

Yeoreum took Gyeoul to a playground at the foot of the mountain. It was a workday, and since they arrived at the playground before lunchtime, there weren’t many people around.

At the playground, there were slides, swings, a zip line, and other equipment usually enjoyed by children, but Gyeoul’s expression remained completely flat when they arrived. Then, she directed her gaze to Yeoreum and gave her a look as if she didn’t know what to do.

‘Doesn’t she know what a playground is?’

Although the colorful equipment was designed to attract children’s attention, Gyeoul showed no interest whatsoever. It was as if she didn’t even understand the concept of playing.

‘Oh no.’

A child who doesn’t know how to play.

Such a concept is one that I don’t want to believe in, but considering that she doesn’t know what a rest is, it’s not an unbelievable thing.

Faced with this harsh reality, Yeoreum closed her eyes tightly.

“Sigh…”

What kind of life had this eight-year-old child lived? The more Yeoreum got to know Gyeoul, the greater her sense of guilt became.

As Yeoreum’s legs were about to give out, and she was about to sit down, Gyeoul tugged at the hem of her shirt.

“Um, excuse me…?”

“Huh?”

“What is this place…?”

Gyeoul stopped talking, but Yeoreum understood.

‘What is this place for?’

She must want to ask.

“This is a playground. Aren’t the colorful things beautiful?”

“Um…”

Flower garden, giraffe-shaped slide. Although the playground was beautifully decorated, Gyeoul just glanced around without showing any further interest.

Yeoreum realized one thing from Gyeoul’s behavior. This child had lived her life by disregarding all elements unnecessary for survival. 

How hopeless her situation must be? 

Yeoreum’s heart felt like it was being squeezed, but she put on a gentle expression for the child.

“Gyeoul, see that giraffe? You climb up and slide down, want to try?”

“Me?”

Why should I do that? Gyeoul looked at her with that expression.

“It’s really fun. Let’s try it just once.”

“Yes. I know it’s fun.”

“You know? Have you tried it before?”

Has she ever done something resembling ‘playing’ on her own? As Yeoreum felt relieved, Gyeoul’s next words surprised her.

“I told you earlier that I fainted while trying to collect some accord, right?”

“Right.”

“Well, the tree is right next to a steep slope, so when I fell, I also slid down for some time,  and I slid down. It was really fun.”

“Uh…”

Slid down? Doesn’t that mean she eventually rolled down the mountain? 

Yeoreum looked at Gyeoul with trembling eyes.

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

“No. A tree in the middle of the way caught me, so I wasn’t hurt. My clothes got a little torn, though.”

“That’s good.”

But isn’t it more like she crashed into the tree rather than being caught by it? 

Turns out, Gyeoul is a really tough girl.

‘No, maybe she has to be.’

She’s a child placed in an environment where being tough is the only way to survive. It’s not her nature that’s hard; it’s the circumstances that force her to be like that. 

Yeoreum made a resolution in her heart.

‘Someday, I’ll give Gyeoul a beautiful life, where she can grow up like other little girls, a life where she has people who love her, and people she loves, a life where she doesn’t have to hold back her tears when she’s hurt.’

At that moment, Gyeoul was also thinking to herself.

‘Why should I waste valuable time playing in a children’s playground?’