101. Train

101. Train

A lush green pasture.

In that pasture, ten Seol-gus are playing. Seeing the balls of fur bumping into each other, they must be incredibly fluffy.

Kkang!

At that moment, one Seol-gu suddenly leaped out of the group and jumped over the fence. I saw it and counted.

“One Seol-gu…”

As one jumped over the fence, the other Seol-gus began to follow suit. It must have looked fun.

What’s so fun about jumping over a fence? If Seol-gu were a wolf, he would sit there nobly, but foxes are truly frivolous animals.

Anyway, I continued counting.

“Two Seol-gus… three… five….”

Finally, when I counted ten, I realized I hadn’t fallen asleep yet.

“Uum.”

My sister, Dad, and Seol-gu are all asleep. I should be asleep too… but I can’t sleep, and that’s the problem.

It’s not the clattering sound of the train that’s bothering me. It’s not the position of lying with my head on my sister’s lap that’s uncomfortable.

It’s simply that I slept too soundly last night.

In Lucy’s house, which was already warm, I finally escaped the tent and slept on a fluffy bed, so I couldn’t help but sleep soundly.

If I were to describe myself at that time, I would be like a melted marshmallow. My tail, body, and ears all melted and stuck to the bed.

And on top of that, I slept in my sister’s warm embrace… so there’s no need to mention how deeply and comfortably I slept.

“Kkang.”

At that time, sleeping soundly was just great, but looking back, it’s a pretty big problem. If I can’t sleep now, I’ll have to toss and turn inside the cramped train, going “Kkang-kkang” for the ten-plus hours the train travels to its destination.

“Kkkhhh….”

Alright.

Let’s try to sleep again.

My eyes are still wide open, but if I try to sleep, I’ll eventually be able to sleep.

“Kkkhhh.”

Comfort is the most important factor for sleep. I adjusted my position. I rested my head on my sister’s thigh, tucked my tail between my waist and the seat, and twitched my ears a few times to relax my muscles.

Once prepared, I closed my eyes and took a steady breath.

Slowly, as if taking a deep breath.

“Hooo, haaa, hooo….”

Thus, I slowly let my consciousness sink. Down to the depths, below the cozy darkness, over there….

There lies Ice fruit.

Sweet, sour, and cold Ice fruit is placed right there.

So how can I resist going?

Come… Seol-ah, sleep quickly.

Then, in your dreams, eat plenty of Ice fruit.

Hehehe.

Just thinking about it makes my mouth water. Gulp, the saliva goes down my throat.

Ah, I see it there.

Sweet, sweet fruit is visible…!

“Kkang.”

“Eh.”

At that moment, Seol-gu slowly walked out of the darkness.

Wagging his tail, Seol-gu approached the Ice fruit, naturally took it into his mouth as if it had been designated as his own, and then disappeared back the way he came into the darkness.

“Uh….”

I was stunned for a moment, unable to comprehend the situation, and then I angrily shouted and sat up.

“Rang Seol-gu!! Give me back my Ice fruit…!!! Uh, huh.”

But what was there was not the Ice fruit thief Seol-gu, but the scenery outside the window of the train, which was running diligently.

Could it be… a dream?

I looked around, but I couldn’t see the dark landscape I had seen earlier. Just in case, I checked the bag where Seol-gu was, but there was only Seol-gu sleeping soundly, no Ice fruit.

“Huk….”

It was a dream.

When did I even fall asleep?

No, more importantly, I never imagined that I would wake up for such a ridiculous reason after struggling to fall asleep.

“Eugeuk….”

“Uh, Sister?”

In the meantime, I heard a groan from near my head. I looked up and saw my sister groaning in pain while rubbing her nose.

Come to think of it, when I stood up earlier, I felt like my head hit something, and it seems I must have bumped into my sister’s face.

I quickly blew air onto my sister’s nose.

“S-sorry! I’ll blow on it for you! Hoooo.”

“Uh, Sister is okay… yes.”

My sister laid me down again. Even so, she kept touching her nose, as if the pain hadn’t subsided.

What should I do….

I hate Seol-gu. How dare he wake me up and hurt my sister.

I glared at the bag Seol-gu was in and stuck out my tongue, saying “Nyah.”

Although it was entirely my fault for bumping into my sister, it wouldn’t have happened if Seol-gu hadn’t stolen the Ice fruit in my dream. So, it’s all Seol-gu’s fault.

If I ever get Ice fruit, I’ll eat it all by myself without leaving any for Seol-gu.

Hmph.

… But what should I do now?

Dad is sleeping, and Seol-gu is sleeping. My sister also seems like she’ll fall asleep soon, so I have to sleep too.

However, after falling asleep and waking up, I feel even more awake. I doubt if I can sleep at all like this.

Heeum.

Should I try counting sheep?

Counting ten Seol-gus earlier didn’t work very well. But now is not the time to be picky, so I have no choice but to try this.

Okay….

I recalled the pasture scene in my mind again. A pasture where warm sunlight shines on the ground, and fresh grass grows slowly.

The grass grows… grows… and becomes a giant tree….

Huk!!

No. If the pasture turns into a forest, I won’t be able to count the sheep. The sheep will be hidden by the trees.

I shook my head and returned the pasture to its original state. This time, it’s a pasture with only grass, with the grass removed from the plants.

The sun shines on the ground again, and the grass grows lushly.

The sheep released into the pasture are happily playing while eating this grass. It’s a peaceful and quiet pasture where nothing happens.

From a distance, a wolf is watching that pasture. It’s me, Rang Seol-ah.

“Ohoho.”

Wolves are fearsome and great predators, animals that eat sheep. As a wolf, I am watching the sheep while hiding in the tall grass.

… Wait a minute, the grass didn’t grow that tall.

The weeds in the pasture only grew up to my ankles. No matter how short I am, it’s not suitable for hiding.

So, let me change the description. I am staring at the sheep with my chest proudly out, not hiding.

The rustling sound of stepping on the grass echoes, and the sheep, noticing my presence, glare at me fiercely. But I won’t back down. I am a predator, and they are food.

Tonight, it’s lamb!

“Wooooolf~”

With a wolf’s signature howl, I charged into the pasture. With the attack of a very fast and fierce wolf, the sheep fled in panic.

Finally, a sheep makes eye contact with me.

Today’s sacrifice is you-

“Kkang!”

However, contrary to expectations, the sheep kicked me with its hind legs and sent me flying. I flew far into the sky, and with a sparkling effect, I became a star in the night sky.

“No!!”

“Eugeuk!”

“Huk, Sister, I’m sorry!”

I was horrified and sat up, and my sister once again hit my head with her face and clutched her nose. I quickly apologized to my sister.

Oh dear….

Counting sheep seems difficult. The sheep’s resistance is stronger than I thought. When I imagined being kicked and flying by the sheep, I really thought I was flying.

“Phew….”

That’s not a sheep. It’s a monster disguised as a sheep.

The monster rabbit also deceived others with its cute appearance, and now even sheep are doing it. This is truly a dangerous world.

Then let’s change direction.

Instead of dangerous and ferocious monster sheep, let’s count the harmless and weak Seol-gus.

Counting ten earlier didn’t work well… This time, I should increase the number.

I recalled the pasture scene again. A peaceful and quiet pasture with lush grass and warm sunlight shining down.

A cool breeze blows from beyond the distant horizon, ruffling my hair. I closed and opened my eyes, and then a hundred Seol-gus suddenly appeared in the pasture.

Kkang.

Seeing them bark well, they are indeed Seol-gus.

The hundred Seol-gus are peacefully grazing and playing… Wait a minute, do foxes eat grass?

As far as I know, foxes probably don’t eat grass.

Okay, let’s remove the part about eating grass.

A hundred Seol-gus are peacefully wandering and playing in the pasture. Some are rolling on the grass, and some are licking other Seol-gus’ tails while playing. They don’t eat grass.

There’s also a Seol-gu spinning in place, trying to catch its own tail. Hahaha, how foolish.

Meanwhile, one of these many Seol-gus suddenly noticed a fence in the center of the pasture.

The Seol-gu seemed interested in the fence and approached it, and then, with a weak cry of “Kkang,” it jumped over the fence. I counted it.

“Okay, one Seol-gu….”

Then, the other Seol-gus looked at the fence in unison. They probably thought jumping over the fence was a fun game.

A group of Seol-gus approaching the fence. From a distance, it looks like a giant white ball of fur moving. It’s fluffy and cute.

Seol-gus preparing to jump over the fence.

Good. I just need to count the Seol-gus like this. Then I’ll naturally fall asleep.

“Okay… two Seol-gus, three, five, eight, twenty… Uh, wait a minute!”

Kkangkkangkkangkkangkkang!

The Seol-gus, having finished their preparations, jumped over the fence simultaneously. I, who was trying to count them one by one, panicked and started counting wildly, but it was too late. The Seol-gus were all tangled up, making it impossible to count.

“Huk… Wait a minute, are they coming this way? Ah, no!”

The hundred Seol-gus who had jumped over the fence turned their heads towards me, who was watching from a distance. Then, they all leaped towards me at once, their momentum comparable to an avalanche.

Avalanche… No, it should be called a Seol-gu-lanche.

Rumble, the ground vibrates. White tail furs flutter.

“Uwaaak!!”

Finally, I was engulfed by the fluffy Seol-gu-lanche.

——

“She’s sleeping well.”

“Yes. Fortunately.”

Seol-yeon picked up Seol-ah, who was sleeping soundly, and held her in her arms. Seeing her tail wagging constantly, she seemed to be dreaming.

Seol-ah’s father carried the bag containing Seol-gu on his shoulder. At the same time, the train’s speed gradually decreased.

“To come here again.”

The sky visible outside the train window was so dark that not a single star could be seen. However, the land beneath the black sky was as bright as day with the light of countless lamps.

This was their destination, the capital of the Magi Republic.