Reunited with Hoya
"But what skill should I pick up to become the office darling?"
The company I worked for was a solid mid-sized outfit that made pet food for cats and dogs. They used so-called organic ingredients, which meant the prices were a bit steep—a downside, sure—but surprisingly, the stuff sold well enough that they even exported it. The department I handled was exports.
My main gig was shipping to the US while importing raw materials.
English?
English seemed doable. I could grab a conversation book, head in there, and grind away at it nonstop. Cassette tapes and stuff didn't work inside anyway, so books it was.
"First things first—figure out if I can even turn English into a skill, then brainstorm the rest slowly."
If English became a skill, what level would it be? Honestly, I wasn't great at it. Business English, maybe? I could handle work-related stuff, speak and understand it on that level. If I had to guess, probably not even level 1.
"Time to scout around."
I stashed my gear in the tent, grabbed a baseball bat in one hand—light load—and started moving. Seon-woo had left it behind recently. Aluminum, so it seemed sturdy enough.
The island was about as small as I'd figured. I stuck to the perimeter, and it took maybe two hours to circle it. I wasn't even speed-walking—just my normal pace.
Trekking the sandy beach was a bit taxing on stamina, and going barefoot might've felt nice, but wandering around shoeless when who-knows-what could be lurking? Nah, that'd be insane. I held off.
Fishing, maybe?
I didn't know much about it, but this spot sure looked prime for it. The island's center was still unexplored—dense forest that gave off creepy vibes. Venturing in there would definitely call for jungle gear or something.
Time for a break.
Four hours in the gate so far. I flopped into the tent. I'd left stuff here before heading out to explore, worried something might sniff around while I was gone. Everything was exactly as I'd left it.
Still, no relaxing yet. Needed to check if it'd stay that way till tomorrow.
Lying there a bit, I decided it was time to head back to my room. Plenty of stuff to grab, I figured.
"Huh?"
Back in my room, I froze. The clock was the culprit.
"Just one hour?"
Five hours over there, but only one here. The implication was clear.
Time flows differently?
I'd never seen anything like this online. The ratio wasn't exact, but it felt like 1:5. One real-world hour for five inside.
One thought hit me.
"Holy shit, jackpot! I can sleep like a king."
And...
"Books galore. Sucks about ebooks, though."
Everything was digital these days—no ebooks meant real tragedy. My fave genre novels rarely hit print anyway.
But no biggie. Libraries had the classics and older stuff.
"Gotta hit up Seon-woo first."
Seon-woo sold camping gear—well, his dad ran the shop, and he worked there. So I swung by unannounced.
"What? Gate pop up in your house or something?"
This guy's got eyes like a hawk.
I kept my cool, per the skill.
"Figured it's time to heal up and live a little."
"Fair. You've been grinding at that job. Mid-30s, promotion to section chief right around the corner, right?"
"That's why I'm easing into it."
"Smart choice, sir! This way!"
"Alright, what's good here?"
"Cut the crap—what's the goal?"
"Goal?"
"Campsite? Or wilderness trekking?"
"What's the diff?"
"Campsites are comfy setups—focus on convenience over survival kits. Wilderness? Survival first."
"Survival? In Korean mountains? Overkill much?"
"Maybe. But when it comes to staying alive, overkill's fine by me."
Seon-woo's dead serious tone had me nodding. Survival was king, after all.
"Survival set it is, just in case."
"Right this way, cu... customer."
Felt ripped off, but whatever. Best bud—he'd let me scam him back with a grin.
Shopped till I dropped; he loaded my car, waved with a smug, satisfied smile.
Back home, I chucked the camping gear straight into the gate. Hadn't fully explored yet, but the entrance didn't scream danger.
Once sorted, I hit the local used bookstore. Having one nearby? Bliss. Loaded up on books, hauled 'em back, tossed 'em in.
"Perfect. Let's go!"
Stepped right in. Fresh air—unlike anything on Earth—filled my lungs, cool and invigorating.
And there to greet me... a small, cute...
"A cat?"
No matter the angle, cat. Not just any cat—identical to my beloved Hoya, lost years ago.
"Hoya!"
Nyaa!
Hoya—or what looked like her—turned at my call, those kind eyes locking on. She meowed happily, trotted over, rubbed against my leg.
I scooped her up gently. Always clutched my arms with her front paws when I held her.
This one did too. That familiar grip...
Tears welled up unbidden.
When Hoya vanished, I'd lost it—scoured the neighborhood like a madman, even hired a cat detective, tore the place apart. Door was shut; no hiding spots unchecked. Ghost-level disappearance.
And here she was, chill as ever.
"Hey! You have any idea how hard I looked?"
Nyaang?
"No, Daddy's not mad. Just... so happy."
I ducked into the tent, lay back. Our ritual: I stretch out arms, she pillows on them.
And she did—exactly.
First glance confirmed it, but yeah. Hoya.
"Hoya, where've you been? How'd you get in here alone?"
Nyaang! Nyang nyang! Nyaang!
Chattering away, like spilling her guts—sad, aggrieved tones.
"So you stumbled in without knowing?"
Nyaang?
Shrugged it off—who cared? We were reunited.
Had plans, but screw 'em. Blissed out hugging her.
"Thank god."
I wasn't clingy overall, but Hoya? Obsessed. Her loss wrecked me for months—company pushed leave.
Some wouldn't get it, but pet people would. Losing a companion ain't just pet loss—it's family. How stay sane?
So this reunion? Pure magic.
Staring at her, lost in the moment...
Observation skill has been created.
Sudden system alert flickered before my eyes. Just like the first skill spawn.
I stared at Observation.
Observation skill used.
Skill: Observation (Active) Lv. 1
Stare piercingly at a target to reveal its information. Details vary by level.
Irony: Observing the Observation skill. Then I turned to Hoya.
Her info popped up.
"Whoa, Hoya! What the hell have you been up to in here?"
High-level cat legend—would one-shot me on contact. And there it was: official confirmation she was my lost Hoya, my name as companion. Pride swelled.
"Hoya, strength, agility, smell—fine. But intelligence and spirit? Smarter than me?"
Nyaang!
She eyed me like I was pathetic. Fair—those stats screamed it.
I picked her up, set her on my lap. Purring bliss, she groomed herself.
Lv. 47. What trials forged that? Heart ached imagining.
"Right."
Pulled cat treats from my bag—always carried 'em, hoping. Fed strays mostly, but today? True owner.
"Here."
Nyuung nyang nyang nyang!
She devoured 'em, joyful sounds lifting my mood sky-high.
Then—
My manual alarm blared.