Riser
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🕑 Added 2025-09-27 22:11:38 +0000 UTCChapter 21: A New Game
Another two years passed. Milk was now a twelve-year-old boy. He still hadn’t been weaned from his mother’s breast, but no one in the tribe looked down on him.
He was now treated as an adult in every sense, not only as a proud member of the tribe but also as the father of a child.
There was no need to hide it: Millie became pregnant from the semen she received on her first night with Milk. She gave birth to a healthy daughter.
In fact, she had twins. They weren’t boys, but the birth of two new workers for the tribe was celebrated with a feast, making the occasion all about the twins.
The two children grew quickly over the two years. They were still babies, of course, but Millie, Milk, and their protector Linda raised the girls together day by day.
“Milk are you going out to play?”
“Yeah today I’m playing with the kids.”
“Hehe already a father, but still a kid! My son ”
“Haha I’m still twelve, you know ”
“Who says otherwise? You’re still a kid. Go have fun oh! On your way, could you stop by Buren’s and pick up the cloth I asked for? I need to start making clothes for the kids.”
“Okay, Mom I’ll do that. Let’s go, Linda.”
“Yes, Master.”
Striding out, Linda followed closely behind Milk. Millie waved until the two disappeared from sight.
“Waaaah!!!”
“Aaaah!!!”
“Oh my! Why are my daughters crying there, there, shhh ”
Maybe it was because their father Milk was gone, but the twins immediately burst into tears. If they cried just from his absence, their future was clear.
While Millie soothed the babies, Milk and Linda arrived at the village center. There, kids who’d heard Milk would be playing today had gathered, waiting for him.
There were fourteen of them; the other six girls were in sex education, just as Yuke and Bel had been before.
Now fourteen, Yuke was at the peak of her blossoming beauty. Her mischievous, troublemaking personality hadn’t changed, but she was unmistakably a young lady now.
Bel was still ten centimeters shorter than Yuke, but her beauty was no less, and she too was becoming a young woman.
Both girls still liked Milk. In fact, they’d gone to his house earlier to find out when he’d be free and then spread the word to the other kids.
Milk’s position in the tribe was now that of a recognized adult, but his age hadn’t changed, so aside from Honkale’s order to make children, he was mostly free.
Thanks to the twins, he’d soon fulfill that duty, and with Millie’s blessing to play and grow up with the kids, he sometimes made time to play with them.
Of course, he didn’t neglect learning skills and sharing love with Mary and Buren. As a result, the days he played with the kids were always on the “Earth Day” and “Sun Day” when there was no work.
Even so, the kids didn’t drift away from him; instead, they tried even harder to be there on days he could play, which Milk found adorable.
“It’s Milk!”
“Big brother !”
“Milk come quickly ”
“Wow it’s Milk ”
Milk arrived to a hero’s welcome, almost like an idol from his previous life, but he didn’t let it go to his head.
He knew his popularity was due to his unique status as the only male in the tribe, not just his own abilities.
Linda, watching from behind, thought Milk was so mature he could easily show off, but he didn’t, and she found that admirable.
“What are we playing today?”
“Big brother, what are we playing?”
“Let’s play quickly, big brother ”
“Milk ”
Surrounded by clamoring girls, Milk calmed each one and proposed a new game he’d prepared for today.
“I’ve got a new game for us. Listen carefully while I explain ”
Milk explained the game “Mugunghwa Flower Has Bloomed” (a Korean version of “Red Light, Green Light”). The child who’s “it” turns away and sings while the others approach; when the singing stops and “it” turns around, everyone must freeze. If anyone moves, they must go stand by “it” and hold hands.
He added a few rules: the “it” starts 200 steps away, and if no one reaches the end after ten rounds of singing, everyone except “it” does rock-paper-scissors to choose a new “it.”
Other rules stayed the same. If the last person to reach “it” frees the others by hitting their hands, or if no one is out, everyone runs back to the start while “it” chases them.
If “it” catches someone, that person is the next “it”; if not, “it” stays “it,” but after being “it” three times, the group chooses a new one by rock-paper-scissors.
Since they couldn’t use the original “Mugunghwa Flower” song, they used the Holstaurus traditional song “Morning Outing” for the lyrics.
“Hold Mom’s hand! Hold Dad’s hand! Up the hill, to the mountain, we go out to play ”
Swish!
To demonstrate, Milk volunteered as “it,” sang a verse, and turned around.
Some kids hadn’t even started, some lost their balance trying to freeze mid-step, and some struck silly poses to make Milk laugh, while others stood stiffly.
Since it was the first round, Milk let some mistakes slide and just turned back to sing again.
This time, he sang faster. The kids, startled by the quick tempo, rushed forward.
“Hold Mom’s hand! Hold Dad’s hand! Up the hill, to the mountain, we go out to play ”
Swish! This time, several kids tripped or lost their balance, and many of the sixteen were out.
“Haha got you all. Come hold my hand ”
“Aww!!!”
“Ohh....”
“Just let us off once ”
“Nope, nope I already let you off before. Rules are rules ”
So, about eight kids were out and had to hold Milk’s hand. Seeing Milk’s firmness, Bel and Yuke realized this wasn’t just a simple game.
‘The song can be fast or slow, but if you get greedy and lose your balance, you’re out,’ thought Bel.
‘Whoa this is intense. I’ll listen for the next song, and if it’s slow, I’ll run. If I break their grip, I’ll be a hero!’ thought Yuke.
As the two prepared, Milk turned and started singing again.
“Mom hand ”
‘Now!’
Seeing the slow tempo, Yuke dashed toward Milk, and Bel, not wanting to lose, tensed to follow.
But Bel sensed something was off and stayed put. It was only the third round; there was no need to rush.
Milk’s relaxed pace was suspicious he’d sung fast just before, now slow.
‘Something’s up! This is a trick!’
Sure enough, as footsteps thundered behind her, Milk’s lips curled into a smile as his song sped up.
“Hold Dad’s hand! Up the hill, to the mountain, we go out to play!”
He turned. Yuke, expecting a slow song, was caught off guard by the sudden speed, ran harder, and ended up hugging Milk.
“Yuke, you’re out ”
“Ah!!!”
Yuke wailed, blaming herself for being tricked, and joined the eliminated group.
Two others were also caught, leaving only five kids in the game.
Now understanding the rules, the five remaining kids approached cautiously, but forgot to count the rounds.
‘Oh no... only two rounds left!’
Bel realized that what seemed like a lot ten rounds was almost over, and hurried to close the gap. She realized just how far 200 steps could be.
With about 50 steps and two rounds left, she watched Milk closely, ignoring the eliminated kids.
Now alone, Bel knew if she was caught, the game would end and a new “it” would be chosen.
There was no penalty for losing, but her competitive spirit was fully engaged.
She planned to sprint the instant Milk turned his head. If she started before the song, she could close the distance.
Bel crouched slightly, ready to run as soon as Milk’s head turned.
Milk began to turn halfway, looking to the right. Bel took off.
She guessed he’d finish turning and start singing, but she was wrong.
The “it” only starts singing after turning fully to face the wall. Bel had never seen Milk fake a turn before, so she was fooled.
As she realized her mistake, she saw Milk smiling back at her.
‘Tricked!’
She realized too late she’d been had.
“Bel, you’re out!”
“Ugh!”
She admitted defeat and quietly joined the eliminated group.
The round ended. The kids chose a new “it” by rock-paper-scissors, and this time Yuke was “it.”
“Alright! I’ll catch you all!”
“Do your best, sis ”
“Hehe, we’ll win this time ”
The kids rushed to the starting line, and Yuke turned to sing at the wall.
Linda, watching the kids play, was fascinated.
‘Wow that’s how they play? In my day, we just did tribe games next to the boys... This looks so much more fun. Is this all thanks to the young master?’
Even as an adult, Linda found the game fun to watch, though she didn’t join in.
Yuke’s speed as “it” quickly caught a kid, making them the next “it.”
After a few rounds, all the kids understood the rules, and fewer were caught at the starting line.
The game’s name changed to “Morning Outing,” and the kids played until sunset, stopping only when called by the adults.
“See you tomorrow, Milk ”
“See you tomorrow, Milk ”
Yuke and Bel each kissed Milk on the cheek before heading home. Milk, blushing, turned to Linda.
“Shall we go home? Mom must be waiting.”
“Yes, Master....”
‘Hmm?’
