The staff’s call made us turn back.  
To do so, I had to let go of Encya’s hand.  

Her previously expressionless tail swung in apparent displeasure.  
Was it because I let go?  
When I grabbed her hand again, her tail wagged as though nothing had happened.  

“Excuse me, ma’am?”  

“Yes? What’s the matter?”  

“Was it the sign that stopped you from entering?”  

The employee’s gaze flitted between our beast-like features, seeming to grasp the situation.  

“Yes. We wanted to avoid any potential conflict.”  

“If that’s the reason, you’re more than welcome to come in. After all, you’re still people, even with tails.”  

“…Is that so?”  

“Yes! Please visit us anytime!”  

With a bow, the staff member hurriedly ran back into the store, likely due to how busy it was.  

“Encya, they said we can go in.”  

“Yes, how kind of them. Shall we?”  

“Sure.”  

Together, we entered the shop.  
Standing in line, I felt the weight of people’s gazes settling on us.  

Surely it wasn’t because of our tails, right?  
Feeling self-conscious, I instinctively grabbed my tail.  
Seeing Encya’s tail wag beside me, I reached out to hold hers too.  

“Hnghh.”  

The woman standing behind us let out a strange noise.  
She clutched at her chest, and I couldn’t figure out why.  

“Encya?”  

I sought her input with a questioning glance, but she merely gave me a faint smile.  
The people around us were smiling too, for some reason.  

What could it be?  
Puzzling over it, our turn came.  

The counter was too high for me to see over, so I had to stand on tiptoe to make my face visible.  
It wouldn’t be polite to talk with only my eyes showing.  

“Ah, w-welcome! May I take your order?”  

The employee clasped her mouth as she looked down at me, her eyes wide.  
What an odd shop. Shrugging off my thoughts, I placed my order.  

“I’ll have a cheese-flavored ice cream, please. What about you, Encya?”  

“I’ll have the same as you.”  

“Two, then. Cheese flavor, please.”  

I held up two fingers to indicate the quantity.  
The employee, her face partially obscured, showed a faint dimple in what little was visible.  

“Two cheese flavors…coming right up!”  

After completing the order, we soon received two ice cream cones and sat down to enjoy them.  

“This is my first time having such fancy ice cream,” I said.  

“Same here,” Encya replied.  

**Crunch.**  
We took bites of our ice cream simultaneously.  
The rich flavor shocked me, causing my ears to perk up.  

“It’s delicious.”  

“Indeed.”  

Encya’s tail wagged contentedly.  
Mirroring her, my own tail began wagging as well.  

The sight reminded me of what Sophia had mentioned earlier that morning—that we’d gain better control of our tails as we grew older.  

“Encya, do you have trouble controlling your tail too?”  

“Well…that’s…”  

Encya, midway through raising her ice cream to her lips, lowered it back onto the table.  
Her hesitation made me realize I’d asked an embarrassing question.  

“S-Sorry! That was a weird thing to ask.”  

“No, it’s fine. It’s just…for an adult to struggle with tail control is rather embarrassing.”  

Oh, I see.  
For beastfolk adults, struggling with tail control was apparently a source of shame.  
I’d learned something new about their culture.  

“I thought it was nice to have something in common with you…”  

“Something in common?”  

“Yes. I’m just as bad at controlling mine as you are.”  

Encya’s gaze shifted to my tail, and she let out a soft laugh.  

“I see. It makes us feel…like family.”  

“Huh?”  

Feel like family?  
But we were already family, weren’t we?  
Confused, I clutched my ice cream tightly with both hands.  

“S-Sorry! I didn’t mean to overstep by saying we’re like family…”  

“Aren’t we already family?”  

Hearing my question, Encya’s fluffy ears perked up stiffly, something I’d never seen before.  

“Yes, of course! I misspoke, my apologies…”  

Encya suddenly bit into her ice cream with renewed determination, finishing it in record time.  
Her expression grew calm and satisfied after she polished off the cone.  

“Well then, I suppose I’m your older sister now.”  

“Huh?”  

“Oh, don’t worry—I’ll remain professional and continue to serve you faithfully.”  

Encya’s mood seemed to have reached an all-time high.  
It was a bit odd, but as long as she was happy, I decided to let her bask in it.  

—

### At the Shelter  

Arriving at the animal shelter with Encya, we were greeted by rows of cages filled with abandoned animals.  

“These are all animals that have been abandoned by their owners?”  

“Yes, I believe so.”  

“…How heartbreaking.”  

Encya’s ears drooped low, reflecting her sorrow for the animals.  
I decided to offer her some comfort.  

“We can’t save them all, but we can save at least one.”  

“You’re right. I feel the weight of that responsibility.”  

We began walking through the shelter, listening to explanations from the staff.  

How the animals had been abandoned.  
Where they were found.  
Each story was more tragic than the last.  

Eventually, I stopped in front of a cage holding an animal that reminded me of myself.  
It was a white cat—or at least, it might have been.  
Its fur was discolored to a dingy yellow, one eye was missing, and its ears and tail were cut.  

“Hmm…”  

You’ve had a rough life, haven’t you?  
Without thinking, I reached out toward the cat.  

“Mew.”  

To my surprise, instead of running away, the cat rubbed its face against my fingers.  
It seemed to like people more than I expected.  

“It’s very affectionate.”  

“Yes, and its fur is incredibly soft. It’s just like me.”  

“L-Like you?”  

“Yes. Would you like to feel?”  

“Th-Then…!”  

Encya, suddenly brimming with excitement, reached out to stroke the cat.  
Her touch was gentle, but she froze mid-motion.  

“How is it?”  

“Well…I just realized I’ve never touched your ears or tail, Gyeoul.”  

“Oh…that’s true. Here, try.”  

I lowered my head and presented my tail to her.  

Encya’s hands trembled as she brought them closer, finally brushing against my fur.  

Her touch, aside from the trembling, was as kind as Sophia’s.  

“Alright. I’ve made my decision!”  

Encya abruptly turned to the shelter staff, signaling her choice without a word.  

“Encya, weren’t you planning to get a dog?”  

“Yes, but I’ve changed my mind. This cat is just as remarkable as any hunting dog.”  

She seemed to have decided based on the feel of its fur.  
Perhaps it was an ability unique to beastfolk.  

“Are you sure about this one?”  

“Yes, such a beautiful creature.”  

“I’m glad. This one hasn’t had any luck due to its injuries.”  

“How could such a lovely one be overlooked?”  

Encya tilted her head, puzzled, as the staff nodded in agreement.  

After completing the adoption paperwork, we headed back to the car.  
Since Encya had to drive, I volunteered to hold the cat during the ride.  

“Gyeoul.”  

“Yes?”  

“Could you use this on the cat?”  

Encya handed me a small vial of crimson potion—an incredibly expensive healing potion.  

“Um…alright.”  

The potion cost more than I could earn in ten years, but for Encya, it was just another tool.  
I used it without hesitation, trusting her decision.  

I poured the potion over the cat’s missing eye, torn ears, and tail.  
Finally, I placed some on my hand and let the cat lick it off.  

**Lap. Lap.**  
The cat, trusting me completely, drank it all without complaint.  

Soon, its discolored fur regained its luster.  
Its severed ears and tail regrew, and its missing eye sparkled brilliantly.  

“Wow.”  

The transformation was stunning.  
The cat seemed just as amazed, inspecting its body with wide eyes.  

Finally, it looked up at me.  

“Mew.”  

Letting out a sweet cry, it curled up on my lap and began to purr softly.  

“It will now see you as its savior, Gyeoul.”  

“Oh…shouldn’t you have used the potion instead?”  

“No, this cat is for you, Gyeoul.”  

“Ah.”  

I had forgotten. It was supposed to be a hunting dog.  
But I didn’t mind.  

The cat was perfect.  
As it purred softly in my lap, I reached out to pet it.  

Soon, the rhythm of its breathing lulled me to sleep.  
With Encya by my side, it felt like the perfect day.  

______________________

TL NOTE: Please don’t skimp on the stars and likes of the translation – it inspires me and gives me the strength to write more. Thank you~!

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep