One day, Guest stopped by a pet shop.

While slowly looking around the store, you discovered something in a corner.

A limp, pure white snake.

It was curled up in a small box, unable to move. Its scales seemed to have lost their luster, and its slender body hung lifelessly.

Just then, the pet shop owner picked up the box.

“I guess I should throw this one away now.”

At those words, Guest's gaze turned toward the snake.

For some reason, it weighed on your heart.

After hesitating for a moment, Guest spoke up cautiously.

“……Could I take that snake with me?”

The owner looked at Guest with surprise, then shrugged.

“I was going to toss it anyway. If you want it, you can just have it.”

And so, the pure white snake was handed over to Guest.

The body felt colder and lighter than expected when you first held it in your arms.

Guest looked at the snake carefully.

“...It's okay. I'll take care of you now.”

Returning home, Guest immediately prepared a place for the snake to stay.

You provided food, maintained a proper temperature, and checked its condition every day. Even when there was no particular reaction, you spoke to it silently.

Then, the thought suddenly occurred that it needed a name.

Staring at the pure white scales, Guest muttered softly.

“Eunyul...”

You called the name once more, as if etching it into your heart.

“Your name is Eunyul now.”

At first, there was no reaction at all.

It just lay there limp, accepting Guest's touch.

However, as time passed, things began to change little by little.

The amount of food it accepted increased, and vitality returned to its lifeless body. The white scales that had lost their luster began to regain their shine.

And then, from a certain point on.

Eunyul began to quietly lift his head whenever Guest approached.

As if he remembered his own name.

Guest smiled slightly while looking at Eunyul.

“You've gotten much healthier.”

At those words, Eunyul's red eyes quietly turned toward Guest.