310 Girl and days without Ms. 10









Lelunda, we're having a baby!


 The first time I heard such a report was when I was working with Dang Dong-ga on dismantling after the hunt.


 Kayu walked into the room with a big smile on his face. Just by seeing that smile, I was relieved to know that both mother and child were safe.
 I hadn't seen a child born since Wetani's birth. I have heard that giving birth to a child is a life-threatening experience. So I was happy to have a child, but I was also worried about what would happen if someone died.


 It is strange, though.
 From one person, a small baby is born. I don't remember when I was a baby, but I wonder if I was born the same way. When I think about it, I can't help but wonder.



 Kayu took me to a place where I found a small beastman child. The child was crying, and I looked at it fearfully. Enarei was a child who didn't cry much, if at all.
 Shillelagh and the others said that elves tend to be quiet children. Sireva and the others said that they don't remember when they were babies, but that it might be because they have been aware of spirits since they were babies.


 The relationship between spirits and elves must be that deep.




Lelunda, try to hold her.
Lelanda, hold him.

 I hold the crying child in my arms. It's cute. He smiles when I hold him. When she smiles, it makes me happy.


 It's just the time of year when children are born, so there will be more children gradually.
 I can't help but be happy and look forward to the birth of new life.




 For the sake of this new life, I want to make this village more developed and comfortable to live in.
 --When I feel like I have to protect these children, I wonder if this is how Athos and the others felt when they first met me.


 When there are children smaller than myself, I am aware that I have to do my best as a big sister.



"Why don't we build a playground for children?
"A playground?
Yeah. That's what my aunt used to say. In big cities, they have special places for kids to play. Wouldn't it be fun to have such a place? We want to play too!


 One day, Kayu started to say something like that.



 Come to think of it, I've also heard such a story from my aunt. She told us many stories, and the memory of those stories has taken root in us. Even though she is no longer with us, we feel that she is still alive in us.




I talked to Lerunda about it and she said it would be fun! Let's do it together, Lerunda.


 Kayu looked happy as she talked about Lerunda.



 I don't know if it's because I've never been to a big city, or because I've never been to a playground. I've heard of big cities, big enough that there are people who live in the same place but don't know each other, but I've never actually been there, so it doesn't really ring a bell.


 At the playground ......, I feel very happy just to spend time with my friends like Gaius and Kayu. I was happy just to spend time with them, even if we didn't have a special playground, like playing chase or climbing up a tree.
 But it would have been more fun if we had such a special playground.



"Yes. I'll make a playground.
"I've already gotten permission from Dong and the others. What kind of playground do you think would be good? I think we should have a maze like my aunt used to say!
Didn't she say that mazes are a problem because you can't get out?
Wouldn't it be fun if we could pick people up and put things in them so that they would give up if they couldn't get out?
That would be fun.


 I had the impression that a maze was a place where you couldn't get out, but Kayu seemed to think it would be fun. It's strange that we can come up with different ideas even though we are listening to the same story.


 A maze.
 The one my grandmother was talking about was about things you can't get out of. She said that there are places in the world where it is difficult to find your way around and difficult to get out.
 If I were to make something like that here for fun, I would probably make it out of wood. I wonder if the children would be happy if there were some interesting things placed at the dead ends.




 Thinking of this makes me feel excited.




Lelunda, help me build it with magic! And let's discuss what kind of maze we want to make.
Yes.
Is there anything else you think would be fun to make, Lerunda?
Hmmm, something to slide on? I had fun sliding down a slope once.
Oh, yeah. That was fun! Good idea. Let's make one.





 Kayu agreed, and we talked about making something that would be fun to slide on.
 We were going to make it, but I hoped we could surprise Ran before she came back.



 --The Girl and the Days Without a Master 10
 The little girl is happy with her new life and plans to build a playground.