I followed Sophia with the children in tow. The excitement of the news about a broadcasting crew filming at the park lit up their eyes.
“Shark! Is Shark going to be on TV too?”
“No, I’m just here to supervise,” Sophia replied.
“Really…?” Levinas sounded deeply disappointed, her drooping ears showing how much the thought had meant to her. Sophia noticed and cleared her throat awkwardly.
“I’m merely here to ensure they don’t disrupt the park or inconvenience the citizens.”
“Whoa!”
Levinas’s ears shot up straight.
“Why are you so startled, Levinas?” I asked.
“King! They’re going to *supervise*! Supervise important people!”
“Oh…”
To Levinas, appearing on television seemed like an incredible achievement, so the idea of watching over such a prestigious event clearly struck a chord.
“Sophia, what exactly are they filming?”
“I’m not entirely sure. It’s either a documentary about adventurers or some sort of drama…”
“Oh, if it’s about adventurers, our guild is definitely the best choice.”
Yeomyeong Guild was undoubtedly number one domestically and among the top worldwide. I didn’t have exact statistics, but I trusted what Hanyeoreum had said about its reputation.
“You must be proud of the guild.”
“Yes. After all, you’re part of it too, Sophia.”
“Hmm. Very well. Let’s proceed.”
Sophia’s face turned slightly pink as she briskly walked ahead, her staff tapping the ground.
“Wait for us, Sophia!”
The children and I followed her, Levinas taking great care to tidy herself up along the way. She smoothed her ears with her hands like a rabbit, adjusted the carrot badge on her chest, and even checked her reflection in a nearby puddle.
“Levinas, you look even prettier than usual,” I said.
“Of course! If I look pretty, they might let me be on TV!”
At her words, Saebyeok suddenly gasped and began grooming my ears. It took me a moment to realize what she was doing, but her intent was clear—she was helping me look my best.
“Saebyeok, why the sudden grooming?”
“Because Gyeoul has to be the prettiest.”
“Uh, I don’t plan to be on TV, so it’s fine.”
“But it’s TV!”
“Yeah, but I don’t watch it much, so I don’t mind.”
Despite my reassurances, Saebyeok continued grooming me, seemingly enjoying the act itself.
“King, King!” Levinas called urgently, tugging on my shoulder.
“What is it?”
“Do you have makeup? Should I put some on?”
“You don’t need makeup, Levinas. You’re already pretty.”
“Really? Then I won’t bother!”
Levinas quickly abandoned the idea, her trust in me absolute.
“Do you really want to be on TV that badly, Levinas?”
“Yes! It’s my dream!”
“Well, if you act your prettiest, maybe they’ll include you.”
“I’ll be so pretty… just wait!”
Levinas, who was already adorable, would only become more so if she tried. Watching her, I couldn’t help but feel excited as we approached the filming site.
---
Even though it was still morning, the park was bustling with activity. Cameras, microphones, and other equipment I’d never seen before were set up all around.
“Wow.”
This was my first time seeing a filming location, in this life or the last. My tail twitched with curiosity.
“Sit quietly on the bench and just watch, all right? Don’t disturb the adults,” Sophia instructed.
“Yes!” we all replied in unison and found a spot on a nearby bench.
Even as we sat down, Saebyeok continued grooming my ears. She seemed to enjoy it so much that I decided to let her be.
I turned to Levinas, who was sitting stiffly beside me.
“Levinas?”
“...”
Something was off. Her body was tense, her usual energy completely gone.
“Levinas, are you okay?”
“King… Levinas can’t do this…!”
“Can’t do what?”
“My body won’t move right! You should be on TV instead!”
Before I could respond, Levinas grabbed my tail and began licking it.
With Saebyeok grooming my ears and Levinas tending to my tail, I sat frozen, unsure of how to react.
“Maybe just wait a little longer. The nerves might wear off.”
“Okay…”
We stayed seated, watching the crew set up. The kids showed no signs of stopping their grooming.
“Guess I’ll smell like spit…”
Sniffing cautiously, I was surprised that there wasn’t any unpleasant odor.
“Beastfolk must be different,” I murmured, relieved.
Just then, a middle-aged man with a slightly scruffy beard approached us.
“Here to watch?”
“Yes, we’ll stay quiet,” I said.
“Thanks for letting us use the park.”
He spoke as if it were my park, which made me scratch my cheek awkwardly.
“Uh… what are you filming?”
“A documentary! We’re showing the real lives of adventurers.”
A documentary? If they weren’t using professional actors, Levinas might actually have a chance to appear.
“Levinas is an adventurer too. She’s even cleared a Tier-One dungeon.”
“Whoa! That’s impressive!”
The man laughed heartily, his friendly demeanor putting us at ease.
“Levinas, say hi,” I prompted.
“G-Greetings…”
“Greetings…?”
Levinas acted like a shy debutante, which was so out of character that I couldn’t help but stare in disbelief.
“Ha! The bunny friend wants to be on TV, huh?”
“Uh… sorry.”
“No problem. If there’s an opportunity, we’ll include her.”
“Huh?”
Both Levinas’s and my ears perked up. Even Saebyeok stopped her grooming in surprise.
“Are you sure we won’t be a bother?” I asked.
“Not at all. You’re adventurers, aren’t you?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Then it’s fine. Filming adventurers is exactly what we’re here for.”
His casual shrug and reassurance set my tail wagging. Levinas’s dream might actually come true.
“Thank you so much!”
“See you later, then.”
The man waved as he walked away, his leisurely stride and hands in his pockets giving off a cool vibe.
“Levinas, you might get to be on TV,” I said, turning to her.
She was clutching my tail tightly, her expression one of awe.
“T-TV…! Levinas is going to be the Hero Bunny now!”
“Hero Bunny? Like the Animal King?”
“Yes!”
The Hero Bunny was the strongest character in *Animal King,* a beacon of hope for the bunnyfolk in the show. For Levinas, another bunny, it was the ultimate idol.
I sincerely hoped her dream would come true.
---
After the first segment of filming, the crew took a short break.
I brewed a pot of dandelion tea, thanks to Levinas’s ability to grow plants quickly, and handed Sophia a cup.
“Sophia, here’s some tea.”
“Thank you. Could you share it with the others as well?”
“Of course.”
Carrying the pot, I distributed tea to the twenty or so crew members.
“Here, would you like some tea?” I asked, offering a cup to the middle-aged man.
“What kind of tea is it?”
“Dandelion tea.”
He took a sip, his eyes lighting up.
“Wow, this is delicious! Feels like it’s giving me energy, too…”
“I grew and roasted the dandelions myself.”
“Homemade? Could I have some more?”
“Yes, there’s plenty. Have as much as you like.”
I refilled his cup and moved on to the other staff, who eagerly took their share. The tea became so popular that I had to refill the pot several times.
“Is it just me, or do I feel way less tired?” one crew member mused.
“Same here. I barely slept last night, but I’m full of energy now.”
The staff began noticing a pattern—they all felt stronger and more energetic after drinking the tea.
“Could it be the tea?” someone wondered aloud, staring at their empty cup.
The middle-aged director looked down at his own cup, visibly shaken.
“Um… this tea… does it have a buff effect?”
“Yes, it does. It’s supposed to make you stronger,” I replied innocently.
The director stared at his hands, realizing the extent of the tea’s effects. Even as a non-adventurer, he felt like he could take on a Tier-One dungeon.
But buffs were expensive, and the cost was beginning to dawn on him.
“How much did I just drink…?” he muttered.
“Probably a hundred cups across everyone,” one staff member estimated.
“Oh, no…”
The director’s eyes went blank as he stared at the sky.
It was a beautiful day in Yeomyeong Park.