“However. We do not know what we should do. We have lived only as we were told our entire lives.”
A young male said in a low voice.
His face was clouded with helplessness.
Freedom was good, but the weight of the choices that Freedom brought felt overwhelming.
Sang-woong looked at them with a pitying gaze.
However, this was something they naturally had to go through in order to live like a Human.
They had to learn how to decide and take responsibility for themselves.
“I know.”
Sang-woong spoke softly.
“It seems daunting at first, but you will adapt quickly. Even looking at our Human history, it is a clear fact that you all will be able to adapt soon.”
The people did not fully understand Sang-woong’s words, but they did not have the courage to ask again.
Sang-woong had rejected being a King, but he was still a god-like existence to them.
“Changing a way of life that you were used to in a single Day is indeed not easy. But you must do it. You must find a way together by helping each other, pooling your wisdom, sharing opinions, and sometimes clashing. You will go through many trials and errors, but you will also be able to learn a lot from them.”
Sang-woong tried to give the people courage.
He hoped they would gain the experience of achieving something through their own strength.
“You are no longer Noya.”
Sang-woong emphasized once more.
A firm resolve was contained in his voice.
“You are free Humans who live by your own will without being ruled by anyone. What I promised you was not rule, but a foundation and an opportunity to pioneer your own lives.”
Faced with Sang-woong’s firm and uncompromising attitude, the people could no longer plead.
They looked confused, but at the same time, they seemed to discover some new meaning in Sang-woong’s words about having to “create it themselves.”
Even amidst the fear, a vague sense of responsibility given by the phrase “one’s own life,” and a strange expectation for a new life not ruled by anyone, began to sprout in a corner of their hearts.
They had tried to welcome Sang-woong as their King, but Sang-woong gifted them the weight of Freedom instead of a throne.
Enduring the weight of a new life was now their burden.
They looked at each other’s faces.
It was scary, but if they were together….
A faint sense of solidarity began to sprout in their hearts.
***
The roar of an excavator echoed across the lush Field.
The massive iron arm overturned the hard Earth and fiercely pulled out tangled tree roots, reshaping the terrain.
The place that had been full of uneven hills and large and small rocks was gradually being reborn as a wide, flat space following the movements of the heavy excavator.
Nature, which had been overflowing with green Life, was now filled with the smell of overturned Earth, the sound of machinery, and the smell of oil, but amidst that chaos, something new was clearly taking shape.
Inside the excavator’s cab, sweat was beading on Park Mancheol’s face under his hard hat.
However, an unerasable smile was fixed on his lips.
From the narrow, swaying cockpit, he skillfully operated the levers. His Cooking Skill—scooping up Earth, pouring it exactly where he wanted, and smoothing the ground—was as cheerful and energetic as a master craftsman shaping clay.
Despite it being physically demanding work, his expression was full of pure joy, like a child playing with a giant toy.
Though dust blew in the wind and covered his face and work clothes, he focused on the work without concern.
His eyes sparkled with deep satisfaction.
He was losing track of time, demonstrating the clear concentration that only someone moving toward a goal could have.
At this time, Sang-woong was in the middle of finishing up the lunch business at the Restaurant.
It was not a scene of bustling activity with no room to step like in the past.
As reservation seats were created and using the Restaurant became inconvenient, the number of Customers naturally decreased.
Not many people were willing to endure the inconvenience of coming all the way to a remote place and waiting a long time just to eat common food like Soybean Paste Stew or Kimchi Stew.
Since the lunch Customers were mostly nearby office workers, they all left at once as soon as it passed 1:30 PM, as if they had never been there.
The bustling hall became empty like a lie.
Instead of the sound of clashing chopsticks, only quiet background Music lingered.
Sang-woong picked up a prepared tumbler and headed toward where his father was working.
Inside the tumbler was a special drink made with fruits that had grown while receiving plenty of Earth Energy, which infused vitality into the whole body.
The drink, with its brilliant light, made one feel good just by looking at it.
He stood briefly on a newly piled heap of Earth and waited for his father to finish the work.
A moment later, the excavator’s massive arm stopped moving and the engine noise lowered.
As the heavy mechanical sound subsided, the sounds of Nature, such as birdsong and the sound of the wind, were heard clearly once again.
Park Mancheol opened the cab door and carefully stepped down onto the ground.
His work clothes were stained with Earth, and his face and arms were glistening, smeared with Earth and dust.
“Father, it’s mealtime. Please drink this and go rest. It will be refreshing.”
Sang-woong handed over the tumbler.
Park Mancheol took the tumbler as if he were used to it, opened the lid, and gulped it down.
With the sweet and sour taste, a special sensation of cool energy and vitality rising from deep within his body made him wear a refreshed expression as if he had drunk a cold beer.
It was on a different level from simple thirst quenching.
With every sip, the accumulated fatigue washed away, and it felt as if new energy was springing up.
“Kueh! This is great! Oh man, this is amazing every time I drink it. How can there be such a taste in the world!”
Park Mancheol repeatedly exclaimed in admiration and wiped his mouth with satisfaction.
“Drinking this makes the fatigue from working since morning feel like it is washing away! As expected of my Son’s Special Drink.”
He laughed happily and returned the tumbler to Sang-woong.
Sang-woong observed his father’s face and physical condition.
His eyes held deep affection and concern for his father.
“Don’t overdo it, Father. Making the Playground here is not an urgent matter. It is plenty fine even if you do it slowly.”
Sang-woong considered his father’s health most important.
No matter how much less difficult operating an excavator was compared to hard Farming, focusing for long hours outdoors and repeating fine operations accompanied mental fatigue and unknown physical burden.
However, Park Mancheol waved his hand as if Sang-woong’s concern was pleasant nagging.
In his eyes, instead of fatigue, strong desire and an unyielding spirit overflowed.
“What do you mean, overdoing it! It’s not hard at all. The machine does all the work, so what!”
The father showed off his solid muscles by lifting his Earth-smeared forearm.
“And do you know how fun driving an excavator is? This is no different from a game of digging the ground while sitting down! To think I can manipulate the Earth as I please! It’s so much fun!”
Park Mancheol seemed to feel great joy in the operation of the excavator itself.
It was to the point where, even when Sang-woong wanted to gift him a nice car, he wanted an excavator.
People say cars are the best toys for adults, but for Park Mancheol, the excavator seemed to be the best toy.
In the process of the hard, rough Earth becoming flat and taking the desired shape with a single delicate operation of his, he seemed to feel a different kind of creative achievement and joy from Farming.
And behind his joy was deep affection and pride for Sang-woong.
The overwhelming reward of contributing to his son’s good work filled his heart.
“And well, my son is doing such a good thing! I have to add my strength!”
Park Mancheol spoke while patting Sang-woong’s shoulder.
In his voice, along with deep support for the work Sang-woong was doing for the Children in difficult circumstances, a sense of pride that he was helping with this work could be felt.
“Once the Earth is refined like this, it will eventually become a Playground where Children can run around to their heart’s content! Just thinking about it makes me feel good! Hahaha!”
Park Mancheol laughed heartily.
“Now, let’s go rest. I’ve prepared a delicious lunch.”
Sang-woong led his father toward the Restaurant.
“Yes, yes! Let’s eat that delicious Bap!”
He headed to the Restaurant with Sang-woong in a good mood.
Park Mancheol thoroughly shook off the dust from his work clothes at the sink next to the Restaurant and washed his hands and face.
He roughly wiped his face and hands with the towel he was wearing around his neck and entered the Restaurant.
“Father, please sit here.”
Sang-woong had already placed a spoon and chopsticks at the seat Park Mancheol liked best.
When Park Mancheol sat in the Chair, Sang-woong brought out a table full of food he had prepared with Sincerity for him.
Today, the table was full of delicacies from land and sea.
Sang-woong brought out colorful salads made with fresh vegetables and fruits grown directly from the Earth, and a spicy fish stew made with a large fish caught from the Pond.
Beyond a simple meal, it was like a medicinal meal where the Life of the Earth seemed concentrated.
A fragrant smell filled the Restaurant.
“Haha, today too, even a King’s table would not be enviable! How can I not have strength after eating such Bap!”
Park Mancheol laughed with satisfaction as he picked up his spoon.
The Dish Sang-woong prepared was always the best.
It was not just the taste; he felt as though vitality filled his whole body and he became younger every time he ate.
“Mmm! Look at these vegetables! They’re so crunchy and sweet! It seems your Cooking Skill is improving day by day.”
“It’s just because the ingredients are good.”
“I do some Farming myself, but I don’t know how you grow them so well. The nutritional value seems exceptionally superior too. I don’t know who it is, but I’d like to go and learn from them myself.”
“Hahaha.”
Sang-woong laughed off Park Mancheol’s words.
That great farmer was the Ahoa Tribe, and this was not a technique that could be learned.
Sang-woong had also asked the Ahoa Tribe once how they could grow things so well.
At that time, the Ahoa Tribe thought for a long while and said this:
“Don’t know. Hawi! Just grow. Hawi!”
It was an answer befitting a race specialized in Farming.
“Thanks to that, my energy has been overflowing lately! You forced me to get a checkup a while ago, so I went to the Hospital. The Doctor said then! I’m over sixty, but my physical age came out to be exactly twenty years younger! This makes me a complete youth! I wonder if I might even see a late-born child at this rate! Hahaha!”
The father cracked jokes playfully while eating his Bap and Side Dish deliciously.
The sound of his healthy laughter filled the Restaurant.
His face was full of satisfaction and joy regarding the youth and health he had regained thanks to his son.
“A late-born child? If Mother is okay with it, I’m for it too.”
When Sang-woong chimed in even further, Park Mancheol waved his hand in the air, saying it was enough.
However, even in such a friendly Atmosphere, Sang-woong was actually unable to fully enjoy himself.
Though he was smiling broadly, the shadow of concern subtly cast on his father’s face was clearly visible.
Behind the pleasant laughter and banter, he saw a fleeting, uncomfortable, and heavy emotion pass by with a short sigh.
It was likely because of the Village matters.
A few days ago, he had heard from his mother that his father had been under a lot of stress lately due to Village affairs.
The joy of the excavator work and the delight of health seemed to take a back seat for a moment in the face of the Village problems.
As the meal was nearly finished, Sang-woong could no longer ignore his father’s concern.
He carefully brought up the subject.
“Father, is something worrying you? Your face is full of concern.”
At Sang-woong’s sudden question, the father momentarily hesitated with his chopsticks.
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