The boy handed over a single 100-won coin.  

It was enough to carry a wish.  

Even if it was only 100 won, it couldn’t have been easy for him to give it away.  

For some reason, the people in this town were genuinely kind-hearted.  

"Wow! A hundred won! Wang-ie has hope now too!"  

"Yeah, I guess so."  

I could easily repay 100 won anytime.  

I promised myself to pay it back when we met again.  

Clutching the coin tightly, I looked around at the kids.  

"Let’s make a wish silently and throw it in together."  

"Okay!"  

"Sure."  

I wondered what kind of wishes the kids would make.  

With anticipation, I silently made my own wish.  

"Please let my family be happy."  

Each of us made our wishes and tossed our coins.  

For me, it wasn’t so much a wish as it was a personal resolution to make my family happy.  

How I acted would directly affect whether my family smiled or cried.  

"Did Wang-ie and Dark Wang-ie make a wish too?"  

"Yeah."  

"What wish did you make?"  

Dark Wang-ie?  

A police officer who had been watching us from behind muttered softly.  

She must have realized it was just a kid’s playful comment because she didn’t take it seriously.  @@novelbin@@

"I wished for Levinas and Saebyeok to be happy."  

"What! Really?!"  

"Yeah. What about Levinas and Saebyeok?"  

I glanced at the two of them with curious eyes.  

Saebyeok was the first to speak up.  

"I wished for both of your wishes to come true."  

"What! That’s the same as Levinas!"  

Both of them wished for someone else’s happiness rather than their own.  

It was such a kind and selfless wish, perfectly fitting for my sweet kids.  

Feeling grateful, I patted their heads.  

For some reason, Levinas’ pupils trembled slightly.  

"Everyone’s wish came true…!"  

"Already?"  

"Yes! Levinas is super happy right now! What about Saebyeok?"  

In response to Levinas’ question, Saebyeok wagged her tail.  

It was a method of communication unique to beastfolk, conveying more than words ever could.  

"Saebyeok says she’s super happy too."  

"Wow…! Thank you, angel!"  

With sparkling eyes, Levinas gazed up at the cherubic angel statue atop the fountain.  

She clasped her hands together as if in prayer.  

"The wish came true the moment we made it?"  

The police officer watching us smiled as if she owned the world.  

I knew it was because the kids were just too adorable.  

Of course, my kids are adorable.  

Feeling good, I went along with her for once.  

"Yes, the fountain really granted our wishes."  

Even as I said that, I knew the fountain didn’t actually grant wishes.  

But pretending not to know was my way of protecting the kids’ sense of wonder.  

A fountain that granted wishes would seem like a dream come true.  

"Ugh…"  

The police officer looking down at me suddenly blushed.  

Her trembling hand reached out and rested on my head.  

Rustle, rustle—  

She gently patted my head.  

Why was she patting my head instead of the kids’?  

Confused, I rolled my eyes from side to side.  

A girl covering her mouth with a squeal and a middle-aged man smiling warmly stood nearby.  

It felt like everyone was staring at me.  

Maybe they were looking at the kids behind me instead?  

Either way, it made me happy to see people showing kindness to the kids.  

With a wagging tail and a beaming smile, I felt a pleasant warmth inside.  

The police officer’s expression turned tearful.  

"Sniff…"  

Her hand, still on my head, trembled slightly.  

She even bit her lip.  

"Why… Why are you crying…?"  

"I’m just so happy…"  

Not sadness, but joy.  

Sometimes, people cry when they’re overwhelmed with happiness.  

Was the sight of my kids that moving?  

Before I realized it, a smug expression crept onto my face.  

"Sniff…"  

The officer closed her eyes, overwhelmed by her emotions.  

She was truly someone who expressed her feelings freely.  

---

Back home, I began harvesting vegetables.  

I cradled a cabbage larger than my head when Seol grabbed onto my clothes.  

"Meow! Meow!"  

Seol hung onto my oversized shirt, dangling like a pendulum.  

Her weight pulled one side of my shirt down, exposing my shoulder.  

"Seol, what’s wrong?"  

"Meow!"  

Seol let go of my shirt and darted off in a specific direction.  

She stopped midway and looked back, as if telling me to follow her.  

Was there something over there?  

I set the cabbage down and followed Seol.  

It amazed me how easily I could keep pace with her four-legged strides.  

"What is that…?"  

Guided by Seol, I arrived at the pond.  

Next to it, I found Saebyeok and Levinas busily working on something.  

Splash, splash!  

The kids were filling an old tub with water from the pond.  

They were diligently scooping water with small containers and pouring it in.  

What were they doing?  

Curious, I asked Saebyeok.  

"What are you two doing?"  

"Making a fountain."  

"A fountain?"  

"Yeah."  

Saebyeok approached me and pulled my fallen shirt back up.  

She secured it with a safety pin from her pocket.  

"Thanks."  

"It’s… just what I should do."  

Rustle, rustle.  

She patted my head, mimicking what adults often did.  

Patting someone’s head was usually something adults did for kids.  

It felt strange, but at least she hadn’t picked up anything bad.  

I simply smiled at her in return.  

"So, why are you making a fountain?"  

"To grant wishes!"  

Levinas responded while pouring water into the tub.  

Were they trying to recreate the joy of the fountain for others?  

Moved by their effort, I decided to help.  

"I’ll help you."  

"Okay!"  

We carried more water using ladles from the tent.  

Seol chased butterflies nearby, bouncing happily.  

"Seol, don’t wander too far, okay?"  

"Meow!"  

Seol nodded, her intelligence never failing to amaze me.  

As I kept an eye on both the kids and Seol, I made sure everyone stayed safe while we filled the tub.  

With the three of us working together, it didn’t take long to fill it.  

"It’s done!"  

Levinas cheered and raised her hands high.  

Saebyeok clumsily mimicked her gesture.  

Seeing how happy they were over this simple project made it all worthwhile.  

"Now everyone’s wishes can come true, right?"  

"Yep! But they have to toss a coin for each wish!"  

Giggling, Levinas covered her mouth with her hands.  

It turned out the tub fountain was her little business venture.  

"You wanted to make money, huh?"  

"Yeah! They said the owner of the fountain keeps the coins!"  

Where had she picked up such an idea?  

Scratching my cheek, I examined the tub fountain.  

Levinas’ entrepreneurial spirit was impressive.  

Granting wishes in exchange for a coin was meaningful in its own way.  

But I doubted anyone would toss coins into a shabby tub.  

If left as it was, Levinas might end up disappointed with an empty fountain.  

"Levinas, I think the fountain needs more decorations."  

"More?!"  

"Yeah. The fountain we wished on had an angel statue spouting water. A real fountain needs to spray water to be beautiful."  

Without water, it wasn’t truly a fountain.  

Realizing this, Levinas widened her eyes.  

"But Levinas doesn’t have anything that sprays water!"  

"Hmm… What should we do…?"  

While we pondered, Levinas climbed into the tub.  

"Levinas will spray the water herself!"  

"You will?"  

"Yep!"  

Levinas filled her mouth with water and sprayed it out like a water gun.  

"Um…"  

A living fountain?  

It wouldn’t last long, though.  

Just as I was about to stop her, something incredible happened.  

Wherever she sprayed water, plants began to grow.  

Carrots, eggplants, and other vegetables sprouted up.  

"Levinas, try over there too."  

"Okay!"  

She kept spraying water and moving around.  

Before long, the entire area around the fountain turned into a vegetable garden.  

"Wow…"  

Levinas’ plant-growing ability was astonishing no matter how many times I saw it.  

I clapped in admiration as Levinas sank into the tub.  

"Bubbles rose to the surface, and I quickly pulled her out."  

"Wang-ah… Levinas is tired…"  

"Sorry, I got carried away because it was so amazing…"  

I patted her back, and Saebyeok joined in, curling up in my arms.  

With a soft purr, Saebyeok sounded just like a cat.  

"Now it’s your turn, Wang-ah…"  

"Me? Do I have to…?"  

"Yep!"  

"Well… Okay…"  

Normally, I wouldn’t

 have done it, but I felt guilty for making Levinas overwork herself.  

Hesitantly, I stepped into the tub.  

"Wow! It’s an angel fountain!"  

"No way, Wang-ie is prettier than any angel."  

"Really?! You’re right!"  

The kids’ innocent compliments made me feel flustered.  

My face flushed as I lowered my head.  

"Wang-ie, you have to spray water now!"  

"Uh, okay…"  

I convinced myself this was just playing with the kids.  

Scooping water with my hands, I splashed it out of the tub.  

Just then, someone pushed aside the tall vegetables and approached us.  

"I saw so many plants growing and had to check it out. Looks like I was right."  

Jeong Yuna approached, chuckling softly.  

She crouched in front of me to meet my eyes.  

"What are you kids up to here?"  

"A fountain!"  

Levinas answered for me, puffing out her chest proudly.  

"A fountain?"  

"Yep! Make a wish!"  

"Are you wishing on Wang-ie? Is she the angel statue?"  

Jeong Yuna laughed and pulled out a coin from her pocket.  

It was a shiny 500-won coin.  

Why did she have to come right when I was in the tub?  

My ears and tail drooped in embarrassment.