Charlie was also very popular here. Seojun played all over the playground with Charlie. Occasionally, toys and dolls with the Monster Inc. logo could be seen. Seojun and Charlie tried all the playground equipment.
After playing excitedly, the couple handed drinks to Seojun and Charlie.
"Halloween is fun, but the costumes are a bit bothersome, right?"
"Yeah. The hat keeps falling off. The tail is also uncomfortable."
"That's why I didn't wear the mask Dad gave me. Playing in the playground is more fun than dressing up."
Indeed. Charlie's dad was wearing a completely cool mask, but Charlie was only wearing a headband with wolf ears. He could have made or bought one for his son, but it seemed Charlie had refused.
"Still, it's fun, right?"
"Yep!"
After catching their breath for a moment, Seojun and Charlie got up from their seats.
"Shall we play hide and seek?"
"Sure? Let's call the other kids to play with us."
"Okay!"
Seojun and Charlie quickly disappeared into the playground. Seun-hye and Min-joon shrugged.
"Amazing stamina. I'm already tired."
"Agreed."
* * *
"This time, Jun is it!"
The children took turns being it. Charlie, like a leader, set the order, so there was no fighting.
"Okay. Count to 30?"
"Since there are zombies, we should count to 60!"
"Zombies are fast these days... Okay."
Seojun buried his face in the wall.
Charlie didn't forget the role-playing even while playing hide and seek. Zombies were slow but had to touch the seeker without being bitten, and witches or wizards gave one more chance to run by casting a spell.
"One!"
The children scattered like a swarm.
"Two!"
Even so, the children often forgot the rules they set and were quickly caught.
Seojun laughed as he counted. The playground, filled with the children's laughter, became quiet. Only Seojun's voice could be heard.
"60! I'm coming to find you!"
'Not the ability I prepared for this, but...'
To get back at Charlie, who found him so quickly, Seojun decided to use a trick.
[(Advanced) Shadow Werewolf's Wolf Transformation activated.]
[(Advanced) Shadow Werewolf's Wolf Transformation - Intermediate]
A werewolf who lives with a wolf made of shadows.
Lives as a human most of the time but transforms into a wolf during the full moon.
Quadrupedal movement becomes easier, and the sense of smell develops.
Can control the shadow wolf.
There was no obvious change like when he was a Blue Dragon hatchling. When he tried it at home, his eyes turned yellow, his nails and toenails became sharp, and his sense of smell became stronger.
Seojun growled softly. His sense of smell became stronger. His nails and toenails, hidden by gloves and sneakers, became sharp. His eyes, hidden by the shadow of the hat, turned yellow.
Sniff.
He could smell the children.
Seojun's enhanced sense of smell quickly found the hidden children. From the young wizard hiding in a corner of the playground equipment, covering only his eyes, to the Jack-o'-lantern with a pumpkin head under the bench. Finally, he found Charlie, the werewolf, who was hiding skillfully.
No, one person was still missing.
Sniff.
Seojun's nose twitched. It was a human scent mixed with moisture.
"Next, I'll be it... Jun, where are you going!"
"Wait! I think one person is still hiding!"
"What? Everyone is here?"
Seojun walked toward the corner where the scent was coming from. In a dark corner of the playground, a girl was crouching, wearing a black cap.
"Found you!"
The girl, with tears streaming down her face, looked up at the voice. When Seojun extended his hand, the girl, who had been looking at the jelly paw, took it.
* * *
Charlie, who had been playing with the other kids, ran back to where Seojun and the girl were. The girl and Seojun were still holding hands tightly.
"Hi. I'm Jun. I'm a werewolf."
"I'm Charlie. I'm a werewolf, but I don't have a tail."
"What's your name?"
The blonde girl, who had been staring at the cute wolf head like a doll, slowly spoke.
She had finally met children who could understand her among the scary-looking people who spoke an unknown language. They didn't look scary either.
"...Grace."
"Grace, huh? Grace, where are your mom and dad?"
"...I don't know."
Tears welled up in Grace's eyes. She had followed people with a witch's broom because she found it interesting, and then her parents were gone. The fun Halloween festival suddenly became scary.
She walked toward the brightest place and found a playground where children were playing. Everyone was having fun, but she couldn't join in, so she hid in a corner.
'Mom, Dad... Sister...'
Find me.
She was cold and hungry. Grace had refused to eat a waffle because she was full just a while ago, but now she wanted to eat it. She missed her dad who used to take her on the carousel, her mom who used to hug her tightly, and her sister who used to tease her.
Trying not to cry and making herself sadder, she huddled in the corner.
"Found you!"
A bright voice came from right in front of her. When she looked up, she saw a round wolf. No, it was a child wearing a wolf hat.
The wolf child extended a fluffy jelly paw to Grace. It felt like she was in a fairy tale.
Grace also extended her hand and grabbed the paw. As expected, it was fluffy.
After listening to Grace's hesitant story, Seojun and Charlie thought.
"We should call the lost child center."
"Let's go together."
Seojun and Charlie stood next to the girl, holding her hand, and headed toward the couple.
"What's going on?"
Seojun and Charlie, who had been playing well, brought a girl in a witch costume. Grace, scared of the unfamiliar adults, hid behind Seojun and Charlie.
"She lost her parents."
At Seojun's words, Seun-hye and Min-joon were surprised and got up to gather their things.
"Then we should go to the lost child center quickly!"
How worried the parents of this little girl must be. As a parent, just thinking about it made their hearts ache.
Min-joon checked the road with his bag, and Seun-hye bent her knees to look at Grace.
"Would you like to be carried by the auntie?"
Grace clung tightly to the two children's clothes. Feeling the trembling at the end, Seojun realized Grace's fear. He stroked her wrist.
[(Advanced) Calming Apple Blossom Scent activated.]
A sweet scent flowed from Seojun. Grace's irregular heartbeat gradually became steady. Her fear slowly subsided. When Grace's hand let go, Seojun stopped the ability.
"Being carried by the auntie will get us there faster."
"...Okay."
Grace was carried by Seun-hye. Feeling the cold body, Seun-hye's heart ached. How cold and scared must she have been? Seun-hye hugged Grace tightly, sharing her warmth.
"Mom."
"Got it. Let's go."
The family and children quickly headed to the lost child center. Min-joon and Charlie shouted "Excuse me" to clear the way, and Seojun and Seun-hye followed, comforting Grace.
"Here, we have a lost child!"
The staff at the lost child center got up from their seats. The peaceful center became busy. They asked for Grace's name and confirmed her appearance. They radioed the staff patrolling the square to search for the parents and started the announcement.
[...Parents of Grace Wellington from the United States, New York. Grace Wellington is at the lost child center. I repeat...]
Charlie, even in this situation, boasted of his wide network. He successfully got delicious cookies and warm hot chocolate from a city hall staff member.
"These are usually only given to lost children..."
"Come on. We found a lost child!"
"Right. Well done."
It was the first time for both the lost child and the cookies and hot chocolate. When Charlie brought three cookies and three cups of hot chocolate, Seojun smiled and prepared a place for the tray.
"Thank you!"
"You're welcome!"
The two children, who had become close friends in a short time, were like old friends. Seojun gave Grace the hot chocolate. Grace sipped the hot chocolate, and her cold, empty stomach warmed up. The three children wrapped in blankets huddled together in a corner of the lost child center, chatting.
"After the contest, the vampires and werewolves will perform, and my dad will be in it. He's the werewolf leader! Last year, he performed with his friends, and it was amazing. I want to perform on stage when I grow up!"
"Charlie's dad's werewolf costume was really cool."
"I like Jun's costume better."
At Grace's words, Seojun smiled widely.
"Right?"
"Cute."
At Grace's words, Seojun blushed.
"Cute is not good. Werewolves are usually very scary and cool."
"Like my dad! Besides, isn't it hard to be the best with such a round face? Why did you make it like that?"
"Originally, it was a cool wolf hat like Charlie's dad, but it became too heavy after adding things. So, they made this one."
"Still, it's hard to be the best."
"By the way, what is the contest?"
At Grace's question, Charlie answered, and Seojun listened.
"You go on the stage in the center and act. Vampires act like vampires, and witches act like witches. You can use props, but not too big ones. The winner is decided by the audience's reaction."
"What if the audience's reaction is similar?"
Charlie shrugged.
"Then it's a tie. It happens quite often. A tie."
"I see."
"By the way, Jun, did you sign up for the contest?"
"Yep. I signed up as soon as the festival started."
"What's the title?"
"Werewolf Transformation."
"I'll cheer for you. My voice will be the loudest!"
At Charlie's words, Seojun and Grace also laughed.
The staff at the lost child center and the couple, who were worried that the lost child might be anxious, waited for the family to arrive. How long had it been?
"Grace!"
The tent of the lost child center opened wide. A man and woman, who looked like Grace's parents, and a girl, who looked like her sister, ran in. Grace, who had been laughing a moment ago, saw her parents' faces and started crying.
"Mom! Dad! Sister!"
"Grace! Where were you...! No, I'm just glad you're safe."
"Are you hurt anywhere?"
The couple checked Grace all over. The girl and the parents were all in tears.
Soon, relieved that Grace was safe, her parents thanked the staff and the couple repeatedly.
"This is Jun, and this is Charlie. They found me."
"Thank you so much."
Wiping her tears, Grace introduced Seojun and Charlie with the brightest smile. Grace's mom, who also thanked Seojun and Charlie, asked Grace.
"Shall we go back to the hotel now?"
The worried look in her eyes suggested that she was concerned that Grace might dislike the Halloween festival or have some trauma. Grace's dad and sister were also looking at Grace.
"No."
Grace, hugging her warm mom, smiled widely.
"Jun is in the contest. I want to watch it. Jun wants to win, so I have to cheer for him. Mom and Dad, let's cheer together!"
At Grace's words, Seojun and Charlie laughed. They thought she was a quiet child, but it seemed she was just too anxious to speak.
"Then you must win! I'll cheer for you."
Grace and her family left the lost child center to have dinner, which they hadn't had yet. Charlie looked at the clock in the lost child center.
"Jun, you should go prepare for the contest now."
Seojun and the couple also checked the clock. The time given by the organizers was almost up.
"How did you know?"
"It's my 10th time participating."
"How many times do you remember?"
"Hmm. The 5th time?"
The two children laughed.
"I've seen my dad perform."
"Do you want to come with me?"
"Sure. I'll show you how my dad prepares."
At Charlie's words, Seojun smiled widely. He would get to see the cool wolf mask up close!