Fangs Reborn and Fake Trances
The fang that fell out would never grow back. Considering the life ahead of me, it was a painful loss. Beastkin were said to live longer than humans on average. Sofia herself was one of those rare beings who had surpassed the limits of lifespan. Did that mean I would have to live all those long years without a fang? From now on, every time I smiled, I would be flashing a gaping hole. I clutched my head in despair at the hopeless situation.
"My fang..."
Modern technology offered implants, but my teeth were very different from a human's. A beastkin's fangs were longer and sharper. To replace my original fang, I would have to have a stake driven into my gum. Even a regular implant cost millions of won. How much more would a custom beastkin implant set me back?
Thud. I collapsed weakly onto the living room floor, even bracing my hands against it. The ejected fang rolled over to Sofia's feet. She picked it up as if it were a precious treasure.
"You must have been quite startled to lose a tooth."
"Yes... What do I do now...?"
The taste of blood lingered in my mouth. The empty space where my fang had been felt hollow. It had been such a useful thing, capable of slicing through even the toughest meat. Only after losing it did I realize how precious it was.
"Don't worry too much. It will grow back."
"It... it will grow back?"
Did beastkin regrow their permanent teeth even after they fell out? Hope welled up at Sofia's words—she never lied.
"That's right. Did you not know?"
"No..."
"Then this must be the first time you've lost a tooth."
It was my first time as a beastkin. I nodded toward Sofia. She wore the happiest expression in the world and tucked my fang into her pocket—a small pouch resembling a lucky charm bag.
"Why are you taking my fang...?"
"Hmm... If I keep it like this, won't a new tooth grow?"
She was talking as if this were some folktale about magpies or the tooth fairy. Judging by how her face reddened, Sofia herself did not seem to take it very seriously. It felt more like upholding a tradition.
"Whatever the case, I hope it grows back quickly. It's very inconvenient without it."
"Don't worry. Since it's in the pouch, it should grow soon."
"Soon...?"
"Yes. Would you open your mouth for me?"
The moment I opened my mouth at her request, something hard began pushing through my gum. I could feel the fang growing in real time. It was sharper and harder than before. How could it grow this fast? I stared at Sofia's pouch in surprise. Perhaps this was some special magic unique to this world.
"Did the pouch make the tooth grow...?"
"Not only does it make it grow, it gives you a stronger tooth."
Just as Sofia said, the new fang felt sturdier and sharper, as if it could tear through steel. In an emergency, I could probably even use a biting attack.
"Wow..."
This world really had all kinds of magic. I looked up at Sofia with sparkling eyes.
"Should I pull out my other teeth too?"
"...You little rascal."
Tap. For the first time in a while, Sofia struck my head with her staff. As always, it did not really hurt.
"W-why...?"
"How can you speak of pulling out teeth so casually?"
"They'll grow back anyway..."
And stronger ones at that. I gave Sofia an aggrieved look.
"Do you know how painful it is to have a tooth pulled raw?"
"It's fine. I'm surprisingly good at enduring pain. Even a broken bone doesn't make me cry."
Even if it was not simple pain but the pain of growth, there was no reason for an adventurer like me to avoid it. Sofia, however, seemed to think differently.
"Goodness..."
Sofia let out a soft cry and pulled me into her arms, gently patting my back.
"It's teething season anyway. The teeth will fall out naturally, so don't force them out."
"Mm... Okay..."
"And if anything hurts, you should at least sniffle. People won't help you unless you show that you're in pain."
"Help me...?"
At my question, Sofia's hand stroking my back paused. After a long moment, I felt her breath against my ear as she exhaled. It tickled, making my ears twitch. I did not know what it was, but Sofia's warmth felt nice. I stayed in her embrace like that for a while.
**
One week. That was how long it took for Winter's teeth to finish changing. Whenever a tooth fell out, Winter ran straight to Sofia without hesitation, asking her to make a new one with magic. In truth, a beastkin's teeth grew back on their own even without being placed in a pouch. Sofia had lied only to protect Winter's innocence—like an adult insisting Santa was real.
Winter was a child who had learned the unfairness of society far too young. Because of that, she often acted more mature than her age. Yet that same grown-up child now came running with a lost tooth in hand, tail wagging and wearing a pure smile as she asked for a new fang. No one could help but smile at the sight of innocent Winter. If she had never been touched by the world's dirt, would she have always been like this? Sofia felt a pang of regret that the child had matured too soon. Of course, the Winter of today was wonderful beyond words, but it was also true that she wanted to see Winter behaving like a child her age.
"Hmm..."
Sofia's gaze turned to Winter. Winter, pleased with her newly grown fang, snapped her white teeth at the air.
Crack! Crack!
The sound was impressive, thanks to the powerful jaw strength unique to carnivorous beastkin. Winter seemed delighted with her new tooth as well, her tail wagging nonstop. Her pure behavior was endearing. With effort, Sofia could probably draw out more of that side of her. What a heavy responsibility.
Sofia absentmindedly rubbed her shoulder. At that moment, Levinas came running toward Winter.
"Winter!"
"Hm?"
"Look at this!"
What Levinas held up was a coin with a long string attached to it. She swung the coin in front of Winter's eyes. Sofia and Winter spoke at the same time.
"Hypnosis?"
**
The coin swayed before my eyes. The string and coin were crudely taped together.
"Levinas, what are you doing?"
Why was she suddenly trying to hypnotize me? I rolled my eyes left and right in confusion.
"That!"
Levinas pointed at the television with her fingertip. A strange program titled "Past Life Experience Through Hypnosis!" was airing. Hypnosis, huh. Wasn't that all a scam? I swallowed the words I could not say to Levinas.
"Levinas wants to do hypnosis too!"
"...What are you going to do with hypnosis?"
"I don't know!"
"U-um..."
She just thought the act of hypnotizing looked fun. Since Levinas wanted to try, I decided to play along with the hypnosis game.
"Look here."
The coin swung left and right like a pendulum. I wondered if it might actually work, but I felt nothing like hypnosis.
"Ah, something feels weird."
I pretended to be hypnotized to play along with Levinas.
"Did you really get hypnotized?!"
"Yeah. I'm hypnotized."
"Whoa...! Levinas did it...!"
Levinas stomped her feet in excitement. She circled around me once, then cleared her throat and placed her hands on her hips.
"Then you have to listen to Levinas's orders?"
"Yeah. I have to listen to orders."
What kind of order was Levinas planning to give? I was not particularly worried, but I was curious.
"Then give Levinas a kiss right here...!"
Levinas tapped one of her cheeks. She was giggling, but her face had turned red.
"Mm..."
There was no reason not to at this point. I leaned in and kissed Levinas on the cheek.
"Huuueeergh...!"
Levinas's body tilted backward. Overwhelmed by the joyful shock, she fell flat on her bottom.
"Levinas..."
Before I could ask if she was all right, someone tugged on my clothes. Right beside me, Saebyeok was staring up at me with wide eyes.
"Yeah."
She wanted one too. I kissed her on the cheek. Whether she was playing along or not, Saebyeok flopped down just like Levinas had.
"What are you all doing?"
Sofia approached, leaning on her staff—the new one she used at home.
"Levinas hypnotized Winter!"
"Hypnosis?"
"Yeah! She'll do whatever she's told!"
"...Are you not just pretending to be hypnotized?"
Sofia gave me a suspicious look. I could not help but feel flustered. She was right—I really was only pretending to play along with the children. I wanted to say that Sofia should not doubt me, but with the kids there, I stayed quiet.
"Winter really is hypnotized! She even gave kisses on the cheek!"
"Hmm... If it's Levinas's ability, it might not be impossible..."
Not impossible? Maybe in this world, real "hypnosis" was possible through magic. That was why the wise Sofia had been suspicious.
"Saebyeok, give Winter an order too!"
"Goodness, what a dangerous thing to say. You must not treat people so carelessly."
"...A nice order would be fine, right?"
"A nice..."
After hesitating for a long while, Sofia looked at me. Her face flushed as she fidgeted with her hands.
"Winter."
"Yes?"
"W-would you try calling me... Mother? No, Mom...?"
"...Mom?"
I had wondered what kind of order would come out, but "Mom" out of nowhere? I tilted my head without thinking. And Sofia, upon hearing the word "Mom"...
"H-hmm, ahem."
She had entered a very strange state.