The door opened and Gaeul came in. Bitna hesitated a little outside, but the moment she saw Woofie running towards her at the sound of the door lock opening, she took a big step inside.

“Hello.”

“It’s been a long time.”

“It has.”

She bowed with a smile, but her eyes were glued to Woofie walking around. Maru grabbed the dog by the scruff of her neck and put her down in front of Bitna. Bitna kept watching her without reaching out, but she eventually gave in and patted the dog on the head.

“It’s the first time I got to touch one like this.”

Woofie seemed to have taken a liking to Bitna’s cautious hand and stayed docile. She had grown up after all this time, but she was still very innocent.

“It’s a shiba-inu, isn’t it?”

“You’re knowledgeable.”

“I read about them in a book. They’re bright and cheerful and loyal towards their owners. They also have a great homing instinct and will return home easily. But the dog’s leg looks injured. Is it a congenital handicap?”

She was as knowledgeable as always as well. Put a blind in front of her and they would mistake her for...