Kuro’s children were using the goat-specific athletic course I’d built in the Ranch Area.
No, there’s no need to hide. I really don’t mind who uses it.
And you goats—don’t get cocky just because Kuro’s children are being reserved. If you push your luck, you’ll have a bad time. See? There they go.
Well, it looks like the wolves are holding back, so I’ll let it slide.
I decided to build a dedicated athletic course for Kuro’s children. I set the location in the Ranch Area, right next to the one for the goats. It was essentially a massive jungle gym made of logs, though I kept the design relatively simple.
My main concern wasn't for the wolves themselves, but for any other animals that might wander onto it. The cows were my biggest worry. If one of them got stuck in a tight space, it would be a disaster.
Because of that, I kept the passages wide. I also avoided installing moving parts like seesaws; I didn't want anyone getting injured. As for the height... well, since it was for Kuro’s children, it should be fine if it was a bit tall. I settled on about five meters. That height might actually be for the best, as it would prevent the other animals from climbing it.
Once the log course was finished, I gave them the okay.
"You can go ahead and play now. You don't have to wait so politely."
If they were happy, that was all that mattered. The younger wolves among them seemed to enjoy it the most, scrambling up and down with excitement.
Still... maybe I should have added a few more stimulating features?
The High Elves and Mountain Elves who helped with the construction felt the same way. After thinking it over, we moved to a new location on the south side of the village, right next to the race track. There, we went all out on a proper obstacle course.
We installed a seesaw, a narrow board, a slide, a suspension bridge, climbing ropes, a tunnel, climbing nets, and a log crossing. It was a challenge to see how far you could go without ever touching the ground. It reminded me of the obstacle race we’d held during the festival.
"For now, let’s give it a test run."
Before we started, I had to stop them.
"Change out of your skirts and into trousers first. It’s not about whether you care or not; I care. Now, go back and change."
The course proved to be quite difficult and physically demanding. One of the High Elves even set up a sign at the start point.
"Beyond this point, the ground is magma."
That certainly heightened the mood.
The children were watching us with interest.
"Now, don't push yourselves. This one is for adults. You aren't tall enough for some of these obstacles."
Naturally, this led to us building a children’s version of the course. Once it was finished, I opened it up to them. Urza and Gural breezed through it with ease. Alfred, on the other hand, was the type to stop and think his way through each section.
"Tiselle, no flying! That's cheating."
"Whoops, that’s far enough for today. Only go up to the red mark. Beyond that, the difficulty spikes and it gets dangerous, so don't push your luck. See? Your hands are already sore, aren't they?"
There was no need to reach the finish line in a single day. They could just pick up where they left off tomorrow.
"Also, remember that an adult has to be present whenever you play here. If you’re going to have fun, do it safely."
The next day.
I went to check on the athletic course in the Ranch Area. A cow was standing on the very highest point of the structure.
...How did it even get up there?
Judging by its proud expression, it wasn't stuck or stranded. It made me anxious just looking at it, so I really wished it would just come down.
Later, I went to meet with the elves in Village Five. They were lined up in perfect, disciplined rows on the plains at the foot of the mountain.
There was absolutely no idle chatter. Every single one of them faced forward, remaining perfectly still. This was apparently the result of Ria’s ten-day training trip to Village Five. When she had returned from that trip, she’d had a look on her face that suggested they still weren't trained nearly enough... but considering a month had passed and they hadn't slackened at all, I thought they were doing just fine. I wondered what she was so dissatisfied with.
The elves performed marching and combat drills for me. They moved individually, in pairs, and in groups of ten, fifty, and two hundred. They walked, ran, converged, and scattered with precision.
They readied their bows for a volley fire. They raised their shields for collective defense. They drew their swords for a skirmish charge.
The Tree King acted as the overall commander, while the Bow King served as the field commander. After an hour of drills, they lined up before me once again.
"How was it?" the Tree King asked.
How was I supposed to respond to a display like that?
"Uhm... maybe they’re lacking smiles?"
They were taking it very seriously, but they seemed to have no mental leeway.
"Understood," the Tree King replied. "The Village Head desires smiles. Laugh!"
"Eh?"
At the Tree King’s command, the entire unit of elves burst into laughter in unison. They were laughing, but their eyes remained cold and empty. It was terrifying.
And that wasn't what I meant. I wanted them to have enough composure to be able to smile naturally. I wasn't looking for hollow, forced laughter.
After returning to the Village of the Great Tree, I sat down to talk with Ria.
No, Ria, you’ve got it all wrong. I wasn't praising them.