Heukgu's First Walk
The next day. Afternoon.
Lee Seojin came by.
I opened the front door, and there she stood in her black coat, holding a folder of documents. Her posture was ramrod straight—like a soldier or someone heading to a job interview.
"Hello."
"Hello. Come on in."
Lee Seojin slipped off her shoes and stepped inside. Her gaze flicked briefly to Heukgu. He lifted his head from his spot by the entrance to look at her.
Heukgu's tail gave the tiniest twitch. Looks like you're happy to see her too, buddy.
Kong-i was buried under the blanket on the bed. Guess she wasn't interested now that the guest from last time was back.
"Shall we look over the documents first?"
"Ah, sure."
I checked the papers. There was just a missing date on the subsidy form—nothing major. It'd take a minute to fill in.
I offered her some tea. Wait, no—I should be the one making it.
"Let me get you some tea. Only green tea again, like last time."
"Thank you."
While the water boiled, Lee Seojin brought it up casually.
"Did the thing you mentioned yesterday get sorted out?"
Yesterday. Underwear.
"Ah, not yet. Planning to go today. Grab some medium-winged ones too."
"...Have you decided on a place to get sized?"
"Nope. Just somewhere nearby."
Lee Seojin hesitated for a second. She seemed about to say something, then opened her mouth again.
"...Would you like me to go with you?"
"For real? You sure that's okay?"
"It's part of my job."
Her job. Underwear shopping as a job duty. Could that even count? But if she said so...
"Thank you so much."
Honestly, it was a hundred times better than going alone. Based on memories from my guy days, walking into a women's lingerie store solo wasn't courage—it was recklessness.
I brewed the green tea and set it in front of Lee Seojin. She picked up the cup.
That's when it hit me.
"Ah."
I clapped my hands. Something clicked.
"Right."
My eyes landed on the delivery box by the kitchen. It arrived yesterday, but I hadn't even opened it.
"Hold on a sec."
I tore into the box. Inside was...
A dog harness. Chest-strap type. For medium dogs.
"Ordered this three days ago, and it finally showed up."
I held up the harness. It was blue. Thought it'd suit Heukgu.
"Heukgu, come here."
Heukgu perked up his head, stood, and trotted over.
I dangled the harness in front of him.
"This is your leash. Now we can go for walks."
Heukgu sniffed it curiously.
"Should've taken you out sooner, but can't go without a leash."
I turned to Lee Seojin.
"Perfect timing. On the way to buy underwear, could you walk Heukgu too?"
Lee Seojin's teacup froze mid-air unnaturally. Right—she didn't seem too fond of dogs.
"...A walk?"
"Yeah. I've kept him cooped up inside too long. Dogs need walks, right? Can't do it daily, but occasionally."
At that, Lee Seojin slowly set her cup down.
Lee Seojin closed her eyes quietly.
This woman was saying she planned to take a calamity-grade anomaly out into the city. On a leash. A blue one.
"...Might be tough. He's stronger than he looks. And with his size, you'd probably need a muzzle in public spots."
Lame excuse. She knew it. Arguing against a calamity-grade walk with "muzzle" logic? But she couldn't exactly say, "That's not just a dog—it's a calamity-grade anomaly."
But then.
The calamity—Heukgu's eyes changed.
Muzzle. The moment the word dropped, Heukgu turned to Lee Seojin.
His tail stopped. The carefree wagging halted completely.
A red glow seeped into his eyes. Pupils contracted. His mouth parted, rough, low breaths escaping between fangs.
He was showing emotion.
Clear displeasure.
Cold sweat poured down Lee Seojin's back.
"Nah, does he really need a muzzle?"
The girl—Ha Yujin—said it casually, stroking Heukgu's head.
"He's so small. Right, Heukgu?"
Words slipped from Lee Seojin's mouth unbidden.
"He's not small at all."
She winced. Pure honesty.
Ha Yujin tilted her head, puzzled.
Beneath her, Heukgu glared at Lee Seojin.
Still displeased.
Then, in the next instant.
Crunch.
A sound. Heukgu's body began to shrink.
Shoulders lowered. Legs shortened. His whole frame compressed inward, black fur rustling as it folded, skull reshaping.
From medium dog.
To small dog.
No, a bit smaller.
Barely knee-high. Small enough to carry in two arms.
"......"
Lee Seojin's mind went blank.
Right before her eyes, the calamity-grade anomaly had changed form again.
Willfully. Spontaneously. Reacting to context. Impossible.
"...Huh?"
Even Ha Yujin froze.
She looked down at the shrunken Heukgu.
His tail wagged. Smaller swings now, matching his size.
What did her eyes see? One thing was certain.
"...Heukgu."
Ha Yujin crouched down.
"Did you just... get smaller?"
Heukgu gazed up innocently. Smaller eyes, but still pitch-black.
Tail wagging.
Ha Yujin's eyes sparkled.
She scooped up the shrunken calamity in her arms.
"Heukgu, do you understand me? You're a total genius dog!"
"......"
The sudden size change didn't faze her much.
"So light! This'll make walks a breeze. Might not even need the leash?"
Lee Seojin finally spoke.
"...Still put the leash on."
Dead serious.
"On strong UV days, it's good to protect kids' eyes with sunglasses."
Lee Seojin crouched in front of Kong-i, slipping on children's sunglasses. Pink frames. No idea when she'd prepped them.
"Why sunglasses?"
"UV rays..."
"Ah, you mentioned that earlier."
Awkward—I'd just heard it. She adjusted them instead of repeating, perching them on Kong-i's tiny nose.
But looking closer.
Little girl in an oversized T-shirt and pink sunglasses. The mismatch...
...was adorable.
Objectively cute. Even pushing up the slipping glasses.
"Kong-i, say thank you to Miss Seojin."
Kong-i looked up at her. Sunglasses hid her eyes, but it felt like she was staring intently.
She bowed.
Oh—head down. No words, but a greeting. Huge progress for Kong-i. Just days ago, she'd only glared at Lee Seojin.
"Haha..."
Lee Seojin smiled. It was a smile, but... mouth smiling, eyes not.
...Doesn't like kids either? Dogs no, kids no. Tough gig, victim support officer.
"Ready to head out?"
I picked up Heukgu.
Kong-i grabbed my pant leg with her left hand. Right hand still pushing up the sunglasses.
Lee Seojin stood beside us. Coat on, despite spring. Wonder why, but I let it go.
So out we went—three, no, four of us.
Nice weather. Clear sky, gentle breeze. Typical afternoon in the one-room district.
Heukgu sniffed the air from my arms. Outdoor smells were novel. Tail swaying cutely.
"Like it, Heukgu?"
Woof!
Tail sped up. He loved it.
Kong-i clutched my pant leg, peering around. Sunglasses hid her face, but her head swiveled—lots to take in.
Lee Seojin walked beside me, scanning surroundings. Posture straight. More patrol than stroll.
"Do you come to this neighborhood often, Miss Seojin?"
"...Occasionally, for work."
"Right, you're in charge here."
Wonder how occasional "occasionally" was. Makes sense for an official to patrol their area.
"Any good walking spots nearby? Wanna set Heukgu down and let him roam."
"...Small park two blocks away."
"Nice. Let's go there."
We chatted idly as we walked. Nothing deep.
Best convenience store triangle kimbap (tuna mayo for me), Kong-i learned "don't like" yesterday (stolen blanket by Heukgu), what do you do on days off ( ...nothing special).
Lee Seojin wasn't great at keeping convos going. Answered questions, but always with a period.
She was listening, though. Kong-i's new word got a tiny lip twitch.
Park came into view. Tiny. Few benches, some trees. Playground empty.
"Wanna get down, Heukgu?"
I set him down. He paused, surveyed, then pattered across the grass.
Kong-i let go of my pants and sat on a bench, pushing up her sunglasses. Uncomfortable?
"Miss Seojin, hold this for a sec?"
I held out the harness end.
Lee Seojin's hand froze.
Ha Yujin offered the leash. Blue chest harness. Other end: shrunken calamity-grade anomaly, small-dog size.
"Gonna sit with Kong-i and fix her sunglasses. Be quick."
Casual smile.
Gulp.
Lee Seojin swallowed hard and took the leash. No grounds to refuse. Couldn't say "Can't hold calamity-grade leash."
The strap wrapped in her hand. Light. Other end weighed maybe three, four kilos.
Heukgu turned.
Glared at her.
Lee Seojin stiffened.
But Heukgu glanced once, then turned away.
Dismissive.
Then pattered off across the grass again.
"......"
Tension drained from her grip.
Ignored by a calamity-grade? No—more like permission. Allowed the leash. No hostility. Progress from before.
How to report the "meaningful change," though.
Calamity-grade entity permits reporter to hold leash.
"......"
Lee Seojin followed slowly behind, leash in hand.
A... walk.
Then.
A dog emerged from the alley.
Medium mixed breed. No owner visible. Neighborhood stray.
The mix spotted Heukgu.
Woof! Woof woof!
Barking. Territorial reflex at an intruder. Underestimated the small black dog.
Heukgu stopped.
Slowly turned.
Motion deliberate. Like "You talking to me?"
Red glow spread in his eyes. Slowly. From pupil edges inward.
Pupils contracted.
Mouth opened. Fangs bared—too big for his shrunken body. Size down, teeth not.
Park air shifted instantly. Heavy. Hard to breathe.
Calamity-grade showing displeasure.
Slowly. Very slowly.
Lee Seojin's hand instinctively went inside her coat.
Lips moved. Tiny whisper to comms.
"Crow. Situation. Calamity-grade hostility signs."
Comms crackled alive.
"Alpha, copy. Visual from east rooftop. Moving."
"Bravo, west alley standby. Civilians: three in park, seven on adjacent roads."
"Charlie, sending current sitrep to HQ."
"Delta, 2km barrier prep underway."
Four teams responded in four seconds.
"Charlie, nearby hunters: A-rank Park Doyoung, B-rank Yoon Jaeha. Calling emergency net."
"Copy."
Lee Seojin replied curtly. Lips only.
Beyond comms, people moved. Silently. Precisely. Per calamity protocol.
But she knew. All futile maybe. If calamity unleashed, 2km barrier, A-rank backup—just buying time.
Heukgu's mouth opened wider.
Low, ragged breaths.
Mix still barked.
Woof woof, woof woof.
Instinct screamed flee, legs frozen. Fear paralysis. Classic in calamity radius.
Lee Seojin's heart raced. Response lagging. Worst case, she'd block. But how?
"Alpha, rooftop. Clear line."
"Bravo, alley pos. Civ evac possible."
"Delta, barrier ready. Deploy on order."
Voices restrained. Trained tension. Steady reports.
She knew. Team praying inside.
Heukgu stepped forward. Toward the mix.
Grip tightened in coat.
Then.
"Heukgu~"
From bench. Light, bright, tension-free. Ha Yujin.
"Whatcha doing? Come here."
Heukgu halted.
Head turned. To her.
Red glow receded. Like draining water. Pupils dilated, mouth closed. Fangs gone.
Then swish. Tail wagged.
Heukgu dashed to Ha Yujin. Tiny legs pattering. She caught him in open arms.
"Had fun?"
Woof!
Only then did the mix's legs give. It yelped, backed away, urine trailing. Tucked tail, fled into alley.
Lee Seojin turned slowly.
To comms.
"Crow. Situation over. All stand down."
"Alpha, copy."
"Bravo, copy."
A sigh echoed faintly.
"Miss Seojin~!"
Ha Yujin looked over, Heukgu in arms.
"What was Heukgu up to? Meet another doggie?"
Lee Seojin sidestepped the wet spot on ground.
"...Yes."
"Did he play nice? He seems a bit shy socially."
"...Played nice."
Probably.