Chapter 29: Resolve
Gates provided all sorts of ingredients. But selling them openly outside wasn't easy. The reason? It would reveal that I was the gate's owner.
What was the problem with that? Simple. My power was still too weak compared to what I possessed.
That said, we couldn't keep consuming everything from the gate just among family and Seon-woo forever. The fields were expanding, the chicken coops were growing, and now we even had livestock pens. Somehow, we needed to use it all up.
Luckily, I'd started my career at this pet food company. Most ingredients could go into feed. But supplying gate-sourced materials to my current employer was tricky. I'd have to explain exactly where they came from.
So, I had one idea.
"Let's start a business."
Starting a business was daunting, of course. Capital was needed, among other things. But flip that around—if we solved those issues, we were golden.
Next question: Would my products sell? Easy. Just think about the effects when gate ingredients were used as feed.
It might be tough at first, but once sales kicked off and word spread, it'd fly off the shelves. My job was to commit and make it happen.
But who should actually start it? Not me—Father. He'd run a business before and had the insight for it.
Someone might say it betrayed my current company. But I was targeting therapeutic pet feed. They'd released stamina-recovery feed, but nothing else functional.
I wasn't planning anything massive. Just acquire a small factory and produce functional and therapeutic feed there.
Animals differ from humans—they don't say when they're hurting. Dogs dependent on people might occasionally show it, but even they hide pain. Cats? Forget it.
So, owners often don't notice until it's severe. And even if they catch it early and rush to the vet, treatment isn't easy.
It's not that Korean vets lack skill—plenty excel at pet diseases. The issue is animals can't communicate, making treatment itself a hassle.
The best approach? Treat through food.
Around the office, one colleague had an elderly cat with kidney failure. She injected subcutaneous fluids morning and night—50ml daily. Someone who'd never given shots suddenly jabbing their cat. Tough on both.
But it let the cat live more comfortably longer. Kim Jung-hee from our department was in that boat. She tried every new premium feed on her cat—not because injections were hard for her, but because she hated seeing it suffer.
Feed helps kidney issues but doesn't cure them. Humans get dialysis; cats can't easily. Transplants? No way.
Some might scoff: "It's just an animal." But why call them companion pets? The word means "mate" or "partner."
Non-owners won't get it, but pets are family. You don't ditch family when they're sick.
Pet owners always wish: "Stay healthy, live long, and go peacefully without suffering."
That's like praying for your own kin. I feel the same for Hoya—may she leave comfortably someday. Though she might outlive me at this rate.
Anyway, therapeutic feed was crucial. I wanted to make professional-grade stuff.
What about human meds? Sure, but people handle treatments easier and beat most non-terminal illnesses. No need for me specifically.
"Gotta talk to Father."
Committing didn't mean quitting my job tomorrow. Therapeutic feed needed prep—consult experts, etc. So, keep grinding at work.
"Choi."
"Yes, Manager."
I busted my ass at the office as usual.
After work, I met Seon-woo. He'd already signed the store lease—now just open shop.
"How about processed foods only? Watermelon juice, pineapple and grape jam?"
I nodded. Way easier—no spoilage worries.
"Sounds good. And I..."
I told him about starting a pet food company. He lit up. The guy raised two dogs—a Pomeranian and a Shetland Sheepdog, both rescues.
His Pom had alopecia from a bad clipper shave at the groomer. Now it had fur only on its face, patchy elsewhere. Stressful for the dog? Maybe. Heartbreaking for the owner, definitely.
"If Tofu works, will our Mungchi grow fur back?"
"If it's follicular, maybe. Not sure. But someday, right?"
"Hope so. Still cute and lovable, but pitiful-looking."
I nodded. Amputee cats or blind dogs adapt fine, but onlookers pity them. Still, normalcy's better all around.
"Try it. Think Mungchi'll eat tofu?"
"Mix with treats, maybe."
"Celri okay?"
"Too fat. Average is 8-9kg; he's over 15."
"Doesn't look bad."
"No issues now, but later?"
"True, humans too."
Overweight sneaks up. Better shed if possible.
"Anyway, I'm all in on therapeutic feed. But it's no cakewalk."
"Nothing is. Permits sorted?"
"Filed today. Registration soon."
"Good. No selling pre-approval."
"Pfft, business is my jam."
He grinned. I had to ask:
"Not bummed about no gates?"
"Nah. Never wanted to be a hunter—just stumbled in once, didn't tell you 'cause I figured I'd quit anytime. No regrets. Lost skills don't make the world riskier."
True. Post-gates, life rolled on unchanged. Especially safe top-ranked Korea.
"We'll go later."
"Thanks to my buddy, time to cash in, heh."
We settled 6:4—me 6, him 4. I wanted 5:5; he pushed 7:3. He handles ops, so 5:5 felt fair to me, but not him.
"Earn big. Your wins are mine."
"You too. Head in."
"Yeah."
The shop looked sharp. Toured it, then home.
Nyaaang nyaaang!
Hoya scolded my late return.
"Sorry, met Seon-woo."
Nyaaang nyaaang nyaaang!
"Got it. Straight home next time. What's with the nagging?"
Thwack!
Retribution.
"Cancel 'nagging'."
Nyaaang. Nyaa nyaa.
"I'm weak, so staying out's risky? What's risky in this safe world?"
Hoya gave me a pitiful look.
"What? You know something I don't?"
Nyaaooong.
She sighed. Felt like I'd committed a grave sin. And something felt off.
Hoya's smarter than me—higher intellect, senses, everything. If she thought outside was dangerous, enough to chew me out for lingering...
The conclusion?
"Hoya, is there really danger out there?"
Nyaaang!
Obviously.
"Guns? Car wrecks?"
Nyaaang!
No.
"Monsters outside too?"
Nyaa nyaaang!
Yes. Monsters outside? Brann chickens came out fine. Maybe Baekya could too? Failed last time, but didn't try alternatives.
Baekya might classify as monster. So real-world monsters possible? Someone crazy enough...
World's vast, nuts abound. Can't assume all gate owners sane.
"Got it. Time to prepare."
Family too? Tricky. Nothing confirmed yet—start with myself.