Gyeoul’s usual gentle gaze, with its slightly downward-tilted eyes, was gone.  

Her normally soft and sweet demeanor had been replaced with mischievous eyes and a playful grin.  

Despite her transformation from a quiet child into a playful troublemaker, her cuteness was still overwhelming.  

It was all thanks to her exceptional looks.  

*"Our Gyeoul is beautiful no matter what she does…"*  

Even if Gyeoul swore, wouldn’t it still sound adorable?  

Midsummer seriously wondered about this as she gazed at her.  

Her beauty was so breathtaking that even child actors famed for their charm would have to admit defeat.  

In a world obsessed with appearances, Gyeoul’s cuteness was like a cheat code.  

It was enough to make anyone understand why adults loved giving children pocket money.  

*"And that Gyeoul is part of my family."*  

Midsummer smirked to herself as she pulled Gyeoul into a hug.  

But unlike usual, Gyeoul didn’t quietly settle in her arms. Instead, she squirmed restlessly.  

"Let’s play! Let’s play!"  

"Uh, okay…"  

Midsummer knew she needed to break the hypnosis, but she rationalized that the effort might as well come with some fun.  

She gently tugged on Gyeoul’s soft cheeks, marveling at how impossibly smooth they were.  

"So, what should we play?"  

"Tail! Tail biting!"  

"Tail biting?"  

Before Midsummer could fully process what that was, a white tail appeared in front of her face, wagging slightly as if daring her to bite it.  

*What?*  

Was Gyeoul trying to kill her with happiness?  

As Midsummer reached out to grab the tail, Levinas suddenly darted in and bit it first.  

The two girls giggled uncontrollably.  

A moment later, Saebyeok hesitated before offering her own tail to Gyeoul, who promptly bit it with a playful chomp.  

But what about my tail?  

Midsummer sighed as her chance to join the fun was snatched away.  

Still, seeing the kids so happy made it hard to be upset.  

"Gyeoul, why do you want to play tail biting all of a sudden?"  

"Tails are important!"  

"Oh…"  

Her explanation was simple and clumsy, but Midsummer understood it perfectly, thanks to what Sophia had once explained.  

For beastfolk, tails were as vital as eyes or hands.  

They used their tails to express emotions, convey thoughts, and even communicate signals during battle.  

In other words, their tails were a unique and crucial communication tool.  

To entrust one’s tail to someone else?  

It was the highest form of affection and trust a beastfolk could offer.  

*"I trust you! Here’s my tail to prove it!"*  

Gyeoul had chosen this game to show how much she trusted her family.  

How could a game be so heartwarming?  

Midsummer found herself covering her mouth with both hands, unable to suppress her smile.  

"Gyeoul, do you like your sister that much?"  

"Yes! I love her!"  

"Oh!"  

Gyeoul rarely expressed her feelings so openly, usually too shy to say she liked someone.  

This version of her didn’t hide her emotions at all.  

Midsummer wondered if Gyeoul had been holding back her feelings as a way to protect herself.  

A Gyeoul who freely expressed her affection was a dangerous force indeed.  

"Midsummer! Hug me tighter!"  

"But I’m already hugging you!"  

"Then hug me even tighter!"  

"...!"  

*Mother… this must be heaven.*  

Midsummer held Gyeoul close, her small body wriggling in her arms, stirring a deep maternal instinct.  

She started to seriously wonder if she should switch from being the older sister to the mother.  

"Levinas too!"  

"Yes! Levinas likes you too!"  

Gyeoul reached out to Levinas, who eagerly took her into her arms and began rubbing her cheek against hers.  

This uninhibited display of affection from Gyeoul was nothing short of shocking.  

"Wow…! Wow…!"  

Levinas’s ears perked up in delight.  

Gyeoul, who usually just received hugs, was now actively giving them.  

Overcome with joy, Levinas began bouncing up and down, unable to contain her excitement.  

"Wow! Wow!"  

"Levinas, why are you broken?"  

"Because Gyeoul! Because Gyeoul loves me! Wow!"  

Levinas stomped her feet excitedly while holding Gyeoul close.  

Seeing this, Saebyeok stretched out her arms, silently asking for her turn.  

Reluctantly, Levinas handed Gyeoul over, though her face clearly showed her reluctance.  

Family members couldn’t afford to be selfish.  

"I like Saebyeok too!"  

Saebyeok flinched as Gyeoul wrapped her arms around her.  

Even the ever-stoic Saebyeok melted in the face of Gyeoul’s affection.  

*Oh my goodness. This is unbearably cute.*  

Click-click!  

Midsummer whipped out her phone, snapping photos and videos nonstop.  

"How old are you, Gyeoul?"  

Midsummer tried coaxing Gyeoul into showing more cuteness, knowing this might be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.  

After all, hypnosis would be strictly off-limits after today, no matter how adorable it was.  

"I don’t know!"  

"You don’t know?"  

"Yep!"  

Gyeoul nodded with a big grin.  

Midsummer held up eight fingers in front of her.  

"Gyeoul is eight years old!"  

"Eight…! Wow!"  

Gyeoul raised seven fingers, struggling to complete the count. Midsummer helped by lifting her last finger.  

"Gyeoul is just a baby, right?"  

"Yep!"  

Giggling, Gyeoul snuggled into everyone one by one, eventually flopping onto the sofa.  

Her bright, sparkling eyes scanned her family, and she was now nibbling on Saebyeok’s tail.  

It was exactly what Levinas would do.  

"Nom nom!"  

"Huh?"  

"Nom nom nom!"  

It was impossible to tell what Gyeoul was trying to say while holding Saebyeok’s tail in her mouth.  

Still, her wagging tail made her emotions clear.  

"Yes, Gyeoul, I love you too."  

"Mmph!"  

Gyeoul squirmed with delight and even pushed her tail toward Midsummer’s mouth, inviting her to join in the game.  

*Tails!*  

Gyeoul was a force of nature, challenging all sense of restraint.  

Would it really be so bad if I did this just once?  

Though she knew better as an adult, Midsummer couldn’t help considering it.  

Just as she was about to give in, the front door opened, and Sophia entered the house.  

Thud-thud-thud!  

Gyeoul bolted toward Sophia instinctively.  

Once again, Midsummer missed her chance at the tail game.  

*Next time… I won’t hesitate,* she vowed internally, her heart heavy with regret.  

"Sharky! Sharky!"  

"Sharky…?"  

Sophia looked puzzled but still welcomed Gyeoul into her arms without hesitation.  

"Has Gyeoul’s favorite shark come home?"  

"Yes, she has!"  

But what’s going on with Gyeoul?  

Sophia’s gaze silently asked for an explanation.  

Midsummer pointed to Levinas and mouthed the word "hypnosis."  

"Oh dear."  @@novelbin@@

Sophia immediately understood.  

It seemed Gyeoul had fallen under a hypnosis spell that made her express her emotions freely.  

"Sharky, let’s play!"  

"Why are you suddenly calling me Sharky?"  

Despite her grumbling, Sophia gently patted Gyeoul’s back.  

No matter what state Gyeoul was in, she was always adorable.  

Sophia couldn’t help but think the same thing as Midsummer.  

"Sharky is the coolest shark ever!"  

"That’s right!"  

Levinas chimed in, agreeing wholeheartedly.  

Faced with such sincere praise, Sophia couldn’t even pretend to be upset.  

"Ahem… If you think I’m so great, why not call me Mom instead?"  

"…Mom?"  

"Yes, Mom."  

Sophia knew it wasn’t right to take advantage of Gyeoul’s hypnotized state, but she thought one little indulgence wouldn’t hurt.  

Just once, she wanted to hear Gyeoul call her Mom.  

But then Gyeoul said something that sent a shock through the room.  

"My mom… passed away."  

Sometimes, hypnosis brought back buried memories.  

***

"My mother passed away."  

The shocking words spilled from Gyeoul's innocent face.  

Midsummer hurriedly ushered Saebyeok and Levinas back to their room, sensing the weight of the conversation that was about to unfold.  

"Mom… her insides… blood and guts?"  

Gyeoul muttered to herself, her tiny hands clenching as if trying to grasp onto a memory just out of reach.  

Something significant had happened.  

Why couldn’t she remember?  

She furrowed her brows, tilting her head in frustration.  

"G-Gyeoul…"  

Midsummer’s face had turned pale.  

From the fragmented words, it was clear enough what might have happened to Gyeoul's mother.  

Blood and entrails.  

Her mother must have died in a way too horrific to put into words—one of the most gruesome deaths imaginable for any living being.  

Midsummer felt a deep gratitude toward Saebyeok for having erased such memories from Gyeoul’s conscious mind.  

No eight-year-old should have to bear the image of their mother dying in such a manner.  

"Gyeoul."  

Sophia’s gentle voice called out to her.  

Unlike Midsummer, who looked visibly shaken, Sophia remained composed—or at least, her appearance gave that impression.  

"Hmm?"  

"Isn’t your mother right here?"  

"Mom… Sophia?"  

"Yes, it’s Sophia."  

Sophia.  

Hearing the name, Gyeoul broke into a bright smile.  

She loved Sophia dearly.