The Beastkin Lover's Inspection
Was it the pressure from the government agency and those black suits? Min So-yun and Kwon Yul's gazes seemed even sharper. It made Han Yeoreum reflexively squeeze her eyes shut.
This is hopeless.
There had to be some agreement protecting beastkin children, but look at the state of these two kids right now. One had her torn clothes barely held together with thread and tape, while the other was asking if it was okay to pick up and drink a half-eaten cola someone had discarded. No matter how you looked at them, they seemed like abandoned children.
"Ugh..."
She'd look like a terrible adult, wouldn't she? There was some room for excuses, honestly, but Han Yeoreum decided to stay quiet. She knew any defense at this point would just come off as shameless. Besides, it was partly her fault that Gyeowol had ended up like this. Better to humbly accept the interrogation.
The moment Han Yeoreum opened her eyes, having steeled herself, Min So-yun approached with the sharp click of her heels.
"Ms. Han Yeoreum, don't you buy snacks for the kids?"
"W-Well..."
Even if she offered, the kids refused first. Lately, Levi Nas had even started turning down snacks, probably trying to imitate Gyeowol. How on earth was she supposed to explain that?
'The kids say they don't need snacks!' Was she supposed to say something that lame? In front of children picking up discarded colas to drink? Han Yeoreum couldn't bring herself to do it. Spouting excuses like that in front of kids in ragged clothes would just make her look pathetic. Sure, if the kids backed her up, they might believe her, but for now, she chose silence. She didn't want to look like she was only looking out for herself in front of them.
"...I see."
Scribble, scribble. Min So-yun jotted something down on her tablet with a cold expression. Han Yeoreum could sense she'd blown it from that alone. She'd get an earful from the Master for sure.
As Han Yeoreum's shoulders slumped, she felt a soft sensation against her thigh and glanced down.
"Gyeowol?"
Gyeowol's tail was wrapped around Han Yeoreum's thigh. It was the fearful girl's tail instinctively seeking comfort. Tremors ran through it—shiver, shiver. Gyeowol's shaking body transmitted through the tail. She was so terrified of the government people that her little hand clutched at Han Yeoreum's hem too.
"Hmph..."
Min So-yun paused her writing upon seeing Gyeowol's behavior. She shot Han Yeoreum a piercing glare, sighed, and set the tablet down.
"Guess you really are their guardian, huh?"
"Y-Yeah... Heh heh..."
Gyeowol, thank you so much for relying on a pathetic sister like me. Han Yeoreum vowed to treat her a hundred times better from now on.
** I did my best to show the government officials as much as possible. I had to prove we were working hard—that way, even if they found out we were illegal residents, the odds of getting hauled off would be lower. I showed them the farming, catching fish in the pond, hunting in the dungeon, and even introduced my container house. Of course, knowing they'd come to check on Levi Nas, I made sure to show her working diligently too.
"Mushrooms for sale! Tasty mushrooms!"
Min So-yun and Kwon Yul sat together at the stall I'd set up to sell mushrooms. Levi Nas ignored them completely, focused only on peddling her wares.
"So that's Gyeowol's house, the container over there?"
"Y-Yes..."
I was living in the guild building now, but it cost a daily fee—not exactly free. The container was my real home.
"Hmph..."
Kwon Yul typed something into his tablet. Han Yeoreum, standing beside him like a criminal, flinched at the sight.
What now?
They'd seen us working hard and that we had a decent place to live. She should've aced the evaluation, but Han Yeoreum looked terrified anyway.
"By any chance, do they get no time to play?"
"Playtime...?"
"Yes. Playtime."
Were they worried Levi Nas was working too much? It made sense—she was still a child.
"No, she gets plenty of playtime."
"Really? What does she usually do for fun?"
"Um... Levi Nas likes playing with dolls and watching animations."
"I see."
Min So-yun glanced at Levi Nas, then turned her icy gaze back to me. I still couldn't get used to it.
"And you, Gyeowol?"
"M-Me?"
"Yes. What do you do for fun? Can we know?"
Why were they prying into my private life? It was odd, but I decided to be honest. Lying to government officials could backfire badly.
"I don't play..."
"You don't play?"
"No..."
I wasn't a kid anymore—what was the point? Better to squeeze in more work instead.
"No playing..."
Min So-yun and Kwon Yul wore dissatisfied expressions. I instantly knew I'd messed up somehow.
"...Understood."
They nodded and stood up, exchanging a look before facing Han Yeoreum.
"We'll wrap up here for today. We'll go meet Mr. Kang Jin-ho now."
"O-Oh... Sure."
Han Yeoreum looked like her soul had fled her body. Honestly, I felt about the same. They were scary enough to make my tail tingle.
"I-It’s over."
"Yeah..."
Once Min So-yun and Kwon Yul left, Han Yeoreum collapsed face-first onto the stall. Levi Nas, mid-sale, blinked at her sprawled form.
"Can I sell Yeoreumie for a thousand won too?"
"Yeah... Sister's worth a thousand won..."
A thousand won? Her self-esteem must've been shattered from all this. I frantically waved at Levi Nas.
"Th-That's too cheap..."
"Then how much?"
"A m-million won...?"
"Gasp! Expensive!"
Giggle, giggle. Levi Nas laughed mischievously. I knew she was teasing to cheer Han Yeoreum up. She looked young, but she had a surprisingly deep side.
"Thanks... For valuing your sister at a million..."
Han Yeoreum mumbled weakly, face buried in the stall. That's when—
Bzzz!
Her smartphone vibrated in her pocket.
"Ugh..."
Han Yeoreum fumbled it out, tilting her head to check the screen. Her eyes widened like saucers after a few taps.
"B-BeastkinLover?!"
BeastkinLover? She must really like beastkin to shout it like that. I glanced at her cautiously before speaking up.
"You really like beastkin...?"
"Y-Yeah, I do, but that's not—"
Han Yeoreum waved her hands frantically. What message could have her so worked up? I just tilted my head.
"Levi Nas loves humans too!"
"Really? That's so sweet."
Han Yeoreum sprang up, suddenly full of energy, beaming like nothing had happened.
"Something good happen?"
"Yeah. Looks like we passed the inspection okay."
"Ah."
Makes sense. We'd shown them all our hard work. I felt a swell of pride at having done the job well.
"But there are a few things to watch out for."
"Like what?"
"Yeah. Give the kids more playtime."
"Playtime...?"
I already gave Levi Nas tons. Did they want even more? As I puzzled over it and glanced at her, Yeoreum tapped my shoulder.
"They're worried you're working too much, Gyeowol. They want you to have loads of playtime."
"M-Me...?"
The Beastkin Union, huh. They worried about adult beastkin too? Having been human originally, it threw me off. Or maybe I was just unused to anyone worrying about me.
"Break that rule, and I could get taken away. So you gotta help out, Gyeowol?"
"O-Okay..."
Less work time? That stung. But since Yeoreum had done so much for me, playing seemed fair. But... what do I even do? I froze in place, stumped. It had been so long since I'd last played, I'd forgotten how.
"Um, but... how do you play...?"
"H-Huh?"
"I've never really played in my life, so I don't know..."
Han Yeoreum froze too upon hearing me. She was a workaholic herself—she clearly had no clue either.
** Min So-yun. Her internet community nickname was BeastkinLover. When Levi Nas had been scammed, she'd pulled every string she had to catch the crook. Not an abuse of power, of course—protecting beastkin children was one of the Korean Beastkin Union's core duties. Min So-yun had simply fulfilled her mission faithfully.
"Hmph..."
Min So-yun and Kwon Yul boarded the elevator with stoic expressions, heading to meet Yeomyeong Guild Master Kang Jin-ho. Confirming they were alone, they both let out long sighs.
"Ha... Senior, did you see Gyeowol?"
"Yeah! I thought my heart was gonna explode...!"
Blushes crept across their faces, though their stern, icy demeanors held. Heh heh... Min So-yun chuckled blankly as she pulled out her smartphone. She planned to use her authority to make the kids even happier. But first, maybe she should reveal her identity to Han Yeoreum. It was all for the adorable children.
'Gotta tell her I'll haul her off if she doesn't give the kids playtime.'
She was a woman who knew how to wield her power. Min So-yun thought her job suited her perfectly.