"As you know, Dragon King Ernia is currently not in her right mind. She’s being manipulated by the Primordial One."
"She’s been brainwashed…?"
"That’s right."

She added that it’s like what happened to her in the past—could it really be…?

"Then, could Nia also be…?"
"…"

She explains why she took on the role of an Executioner.

It wasn’t something she wanted; she was forced by the Primordial One. That makes sense now.

The Nia I know is someone who can’t resist cute things, has an extreme tendency towards laziness, and would rather spend her life in a cozy room…

"You’re not thinking anything strange, are you?"
"No, of course not…"

She looks at me as if wondering if this is the right time for such thoughts, but it’s true…

She continues, explaining that the Primordial One is using Dragon King Ernia as a pawn to destroy both worlds.

In other words, this isn’t her own will. But is there a way to break the brainwashing?

A memory suddenly comes to mind.

She changed after I gave her a mana stone.

Then, maybe if we gave Dragon King Ernia a mana stone, it might work.

"I think I have an idea."

I explain the plan I just thought of, and she agrees that it sounds plausible.

"Yes. I regained my mind after receiving a mana stone from Yuna. Before that, I felt like I was being controlled like a puppet on strings, not acting of my own will."

Hearing this gives me hope.

We just need to find the missing Dragon King Ernia and give her a mana stone.

The problem is… where do we find her?

"Nia, do you know where the Primordial One is?"
"No, I only received instructions."

Seeing my disappointment, Nia tries to comfort me.

"The Clan of the Night will help, so don’t worry."
"Nia…"

I look at her gratefully, and she quickly turns her head, a little embarrassed.

Sometimes, she can be so cute.

---

Returning to the hideout, I told Ar the news that Dragon King Ernia is still alive.

"R-really? My mom is alive…?"
"Yes. So don’t worry."

Ar, moved by my words, starts crying and thanks me.

After crying for a long time, she eventually falls asleep. I brush her hair back and check on her.

Most of her wounds have healed, but even in her sleep, she looks uneasy. It seems the emotional scars remain.

The shock must have been intense.

"What should we do next?"

We need to find the Primordial One and also locate Dragon King Ernia to bring her back to Ar, but I don’t know where to begin.

"I’m not great at figuring things out… this is tough."
"Kyuung."

"Right? Thinking isn’t exactly my strong su—What did you say!?"

When I press Yong-yong’s cheeks in protest, he rebelliously mutters that it’s true. I guess I’ll have to assert my authority as his master.

"No treats for a while."
"Kyuung!?"

Yong-yong apologizes, but I’m not ready to forgive him just yet.

As I continue to sulk, he starts showing all kinds of adorable behavior.

Really… How can I stay mad at him when he’s being this cute?

"Just this once, I’ll forgive you."
"Kyuung."

As I’m talking with Yong-yong, he suddenly turns his head and looks outside.

"Did something happen?"

Just then, the door bursts open, and the Enho Twins, Rang and Ran, rush in.

"We have urgent news."
"Something big happened!"

They grab me and lead me somewhere urgently.

What’s going on? I follow them in a daze, and they point up at the sky.

There, something gigantic looms.

It’s so massive that it can’t be fully seen with the naked eye. I can see it, but my mind struggles to comprehend what it’s seeing.

"Kyuung."

While I’m overwhelmed, Yong-yong’s cry snaps me back to my senses.

"Wh-what is that…?"
"We don’t know either."

Then, a voice echoes.

[Let’s talk.]

With a single word, the space shifts.

One moment, we were in the hideout, and suddenly, it’s just me and Yong-yong in another space.

I can’t fully grasp what’s happening, but Yong-yong helps me pull myself together.

In a rather… aggressive way.

"Ouch!"

He smacked my head with his tail, which did help me focus, but it also left a lump on my head.

"That was mean! My head’s not that good to begin with, what if it gets worse!?"
"Kyuung!"

Following Yong-yong’s pointed gaze, I turn and see a chair, table, and an array of tea and snacks that weren’t there before.

As if it had always been there, a graceful middle-aged woman sits, sipping tea.

I rub my eyes, thinking it’s an illusion, but her voice startles me.

"Don’t just stand there. Come, have a seat."

That’s… my mother’s voice.

With trembling steps, I approach the table, and the chair moves itself closer, making it easy to sit.

Once I’m seated, she looks at me with a gentle smile.

Or rather, someone who looks like my mother.

"Are you the Primordial One? Why are you using my mother’s appearance…?"
"Isn’t it comforting to see a familiar face? Or would you prefer this look?"

With that, she changes into the form of my older sister.

"Let’s not play games."
"Shall we?"

She smiles, takes another sip of tea, and makes me a tempting offer.

"I can send you back to your original world. The world where your family is."

"…"

"I’ll even send Yong-yong with you. What do you think? Isn’t it an irresistible offer?"

"What’s the catch…?"

She smiles at my question, and a chill runs down my spine.

Seeing that expression on my sister’s face…

"I’ll give you some time to think it over. Enjoy your happy moments for now."

"Wait, what—?"

Before I could finish, I lost consciousness.

---

Am I dreaming?

It feels like I’m floating on water.

Just as a drowsy sensation overtakes me, I hear a voice and feel a stinging pain.

"Kyuung!"

"Ouch!"

A burning sensation on both my cheeks brings me back to my senses. I sit up and look around—I’m in my room.

And Yong-yong is right there beside me, looking at me with concern. How did this happen?

"Kyuung."
"I… I don’t know either."

When I look in the full-length mirror by my bed, I don’t know if I should be relieved or not, but I look the same.

Blonde hair, short cut, and clear blue eyes—a young girl’s face.

As I stare blankly at the mirror, the door bursts open, and in walks… my older sister!?

"My precious little sister! How long are you going to sleep!?"

Seeing her face in real life, not just in photos, my vision blurs as tears start to fall.

"W-wait! Sis!? What’s wrong!? Did you have a nightmare!?"
"S-sis!!"
"Sis!?"

Crying in my sister’s embrace, I eventually calm down, cheeks flushed, as she comforts me with gentle strokes.

"What happened? Are you okay? And why are you suddenly calling me 'sis'? Is this some kind of joke? April Fool’s, maybe?"

"No, it’s… it’s nothing like that, sis."

She had promised to send me back to my original world, yet here, I’m still a girl.

Every photo on the wall shows me as a girl, too.

This feels like a trick.

While I’m lost in thought, my sister, no, my big sister, is happily playing with Yong-yong.

Wait a second. Why does she act like this is normal?

"Did you sleep well, Yong-yong? Must be hard taking care of my sister all the time. Thank you as always."

"Kyuung."

The two of them are talking so naturally.

"W-wait, how do you know Yong-yong!?"

"What are you talking about? You brought him with you."

"Kyuung!"

I stare at them, bewildered, until my sister tells me to hurry downstairs for breakfast and leaves the room.

Wait… if I have a sister, then maybe… Mom and Dad…?

I quickly open the door and head to the kitchen, where my mom and dad are sitting, chatting at the table.

"There’s my daughter! Hm? Why are you still in your pajamas?"

"Haha, it’s fine, it’s a holiday. Did you sleep well, sweetheart?"

"…"

I stare at them in disbelief, and they ask if I’m okay, inviting me to come sit with them.

With trembling steps, I approach and hug them. They seem surprised.

"Did you have a bad dream, honey?"

"…"

Without saying a word, I stayed in my parents' embrace for a long time.

"Oh dear, why’s our daughter like this today?"

"Who knows. Ever since puberty, she hasn’t been this affectionate."

"…"