Chapter 3: Family

Right now, I have three forms I could call my “true self.”

First, the Gumiho itself—a fox with silvery-pink fur, nine tails, and a body about a meter long.

Second, the form of a woman—around 170 cm tall, with a voluptuous, sensual figure: full chest, narrow waist, and wide hips.

Third, the form of a girl—about 150 cm, slender but not childishly flat, a body in the process of becoming a woman.

Three true forms? Does that even make sense?

That’s just how a Gumiho is.

I can switch between “fox,” “woman,” or “girl” just by thinking about it.

With focused magic, I could mimic anyone’s appearance, but that feels more like “disguising” with effort.

Still, I wanted to show my family my true self, and choosing the “girl” form to lower their guard and suspicion seemed to work.

If I’d come as the woman, my height and mature appearance might have made Mom wary.

Showing up as a fox was out of the question. No one would let a beast that size into their home without suspicion.

Anyway, being in Mom’s arms finally made it sink in that I was home. After all those years, my family hadn’t moved or died, and that filled me with tearful joy.

Only then did I notice.

“Mom, why’s your face so gaunt?”

Before I disappeared, Mom never looked so worn. But now, her bare cheeks were so hollow she seemed almost sickly.

“Just getting old, that’s all.”

No, that’s a lie.

The future Mom I imagined wasn’t this haggard.

This must be because of me—because she was so heartbroken she couldn’t even eat properly.

Realizing how much she loved me, to suffer so much just because I was gone, made me feel a strange mix of joy.

What a terrible son I am. That thought hit me, but luckily, I have the power to make up for it.

I channeled spiritual energy into Mom’s body as I held her.

The soul energy I refined would replenish her depleted vitality, making her strong and healthy again.

I’m no healer, and the efficiency is awful.

But efficiency doesn’t matter when it’s for my precious family.

That stuff doesn’t matter at all.

“Oh?”

Mom’s pale, almost sickly face gradually regained color.

She didn’t gain weight instantly, but she looked far healthier than moments ago.

Noticing her body felt better, Mom immediately asked,
“Did you do that, son?”

“Yeah.”

I scratched my head and subtly revealed the fox ears I’d tucked away.

I’d hidden them in my hair, but it was time to talk about who I really am.

“I became a Gumiho. I can use magic and stuff.”

As I spoke, I revealed the fluffy, voluminous tails I’d been hiding.

I’d used magic to conceal them outside, but the ears and tails are part of my true self.

“You’ve made it big.”

Is that what this is?

Maybe because I used magic to heal her, she accepted my outrageous story so naturally.

Honestly, I’d imagined 3,591 scenarios where I’d be treated as an imposter, a con artist, or even a monster that ate her son, so it feeling this easy left me a bit deflated.

Still, good is good.

I told Mom about my experiences in the other world, leaving out the dangerous and dark parts.

Stories of monsters killing, devouring, deceiving, and destroying other monsters aren’t something my family needs to hear.

Maybe I’m kind of cool?

“Oh, my goodness! Son! Since you’re back, I’ll make your favorite beef short rib stew for dinner!”

This body doesn’t need food anymore, but seeing Mom’s eager face, I couldn’t say that.

Mom quickly got ready to go out, and as if afraid I’d vanish again, she held my hand tightly and insisted we go to the market together.

I hid my tails and ears again, then ran my hand through my hair, shifting it from pink to ordinary black.

A pink-haired girl stands out too much.

I’m a simple pacifist. I don’t like causing a scene.

Mom kept calling me her son in public, which got us some weird looks, but nothing major happened.

We bought a ton of my favorite foods at the market and returned home to find an unfamiliar woman there.

“Mom, who’s that?”

Wait, it’s my little sister, isn’t it?

Really?

For real?

Seriously?

When I went missing, my sister was a tiny 7-year-old, my baby sibling. That means after 7.5 years, she’s only 15 now…

Why is she so huge?

Her face is definitely youthful, but her body is that of a woman in her 20s—no, beyond the average. Honestly, I didn’t know where to look.

What happened to my cute little Soye?

A second-year middle schooler?

They say ten years can change mountains and rivers, but three-quarters of a decade was this powerful!

“Well, it’s a long story.”

“She’s your lost brother.”

“What?”

Mom just threw a fastball straight to the point.

Thinking back, I did the same earlier.

But that was because I was overwhelmed by my 15-year return, my heart and head not working right. Now that I’m calmer, I realize that was a reckless approach.

Anyway, the die is cast.

“How’s a girl smaller than me my brother? Mom, snap out of it.”

There aren’t many girls taller than you, I bet.

She’s, what, 175 cm? Not many guys are taller than that either.

“We don’t have money. We’re poor. If you’re trying to scam us, find another house.”

My sister Soye’s sharp words were reasonable but stung deeply.

Then Mom suddenly went full throttle again.

“How dare you talk to your brother like that!”

“No way.”

“Mom! Get a grip! How’s a kid like that my brother! Did he reincarnate or something? He’d be eight years old then. No way he’d look like that.”

“I did reincarnate, but my species isn’t human anymore.”

I perked up my ears and unfurled my tails to show her.

“What’s that? Cosplay?”

“Not cosplay.”

I had no choice but to show my fox form.

Shock therapy is the way to go in hopeless situations.

“Eek!”

Soye jumped in surprise at my fox form.

I wagged my fluffy tails, tempting her.

Bet you can’t resist touching them.

“Ah!”

Soye grabbed and petted my tails before coming to her senses.

I didn’t actually use enchantment magic, despite what I said.

They’re just soft and fluffy.

“A Gumiho is real!”

“It just kinda happened.”

Explaining it would take an epic saga.

“Really, really my brother?”

“Yeah.”

Even though she’s grown so much, she’s still 15—a kid—so she believed quickly.

Or maybe she had a reason to want to believe.

It seems Soye had her own struggles.

I’ll be good to my sister too.

She’s become a stunning woman, not exactly cute anymore, but she’s still my sister.

I’ll make her so happy she forgets all the pain I caused.

I’ve got hundreds of abilities normal humans don’t have.

I’m a body that almost became a god, you know?

Making my family happy is a piece of cake.

‘But my tails aren’t tissues…’

Why are you hugging them and crying?

They’re getting soaked with your tears.

It’s my karma, so I quietly accepted my fate as a tissue.

Fluffy things are guilty.

My father was always a tough person for me. He wasn’t good at showing affection.

Not that he was strict, but I sometimes felt he wasn’t interested in me at all.

But after fending for myself, I realized that his silence wasn’t a lack of love—it was just how he was.

Life isn’t easy, even just taking care of yourself. Raising kids must be even harder.

He never once showed that struggle, and I realized it wasn’t a lack of love but just his awkwardness with emotions.

Sure, Earth and that other world are totally different, but still.

“Father, it’s me, Seok-hyeon.”

“Hm.”

“So, how I ended up like this is—”

This and that, blah blah blah.

“Hm.”

“I missed you.”

“Yeah.”

That’s it?

“We never filed a death certificate, so we can reinstate your identity. With both parents here, we can probably apply for a gender correction too.”

“You don’t have to do anything. Your father will handle it all.”

Looks like I’ve successfully rejoined the family without much trouble.

No trouble, right?

It’s going so smoothly it’s almost unsettling.

But good is good.

No problems, probably!

Maybe!