Chapter 55: The Meaning of Pets

I stood in front of the gate, lost in thought for a good while. That gate definitely led to Fukushima. I was ninety-nine percent sure. Otherwise, there was no way the goblins who'd been living peacefully here could have vanished without a trace.

We'd always kept their numbers in check during hunts. The goblins at the forest's edge were assets to our territory. They might not give EXP to my family or ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Seon-woo anymore, but they were a crucial source for the young orcs still growing into their roles. We'd been regulating their population for a while now, even tossing in chickens occasionally to keep them fed. So it didn't make sense for every last one to disappear.

The conclusion was clear: those ungrateful bastards had gone to Fukushima. Whether by choice or force didn't matter right now—what did was that the gate was still here.

I used Observation on the gate.

The gate's info popped up. A temporary bidirectional gate meant they could come here from over there too. That pretty much confirmed it led to Fukushima.

But I had no intention of going in. Goblins weren't scary—even ten thousand of them would just take time, and I was confident I could handle them. I had the world's strongest lighter, after all. That would enable a massacre.

But there was one thing even that couldn't beat: radiation exposure.

"Until that's solved, no dice."

I could buy radiation suits outside, but did they even sell to civilians? As I pondered, I headed to Mom's place. To figure out how to stack pain reduction like in Park Sung-hwan's case.

"Huh? What's this doing here?"

Mom's new product startled me. It was the kind of thing that made me suspect system shenanigans.

"What's wrong? Bad options?"

"No, the options are too good. This..."

"Hm, blocks contaminants and germs? Kinda vague, isn't it?"

"The key is all contaminants. Meaning, you could stroll through the Fukushima nuclear disaster zone unscathed."

"Oh! So it works like a hazmat suit?"

"Yeah, probably blocks viruses too. Perfect as a protective suit all around."

"I see. Then I should make a few more. For the family to wear daily."

"Ah, that sounds good."

I'd only been thinking Fukushima, but Mom was considering the family's health. She was always one step ahead there. Then I made one more request.

"Mom, make one for Hoya too. Oh, and for Kkamangi."

"Sure thing. Right away."

If I went, Hoya would come along. Even if I tried to leave her behind, she'd follow. So why not dress her in a cute rainbow hanbok? She'd hate it, but with how well we communicated now, I could probably manage. Dogs might whine, but it's not too hard. Cats, though? Nightmare. They glitch out. Search "broken cat" on YouTube—plenty of videos. Some can't even move in clothes. It's stressful for them, so avoid if possible.

Hoya wouldn't break, but she'd despise it. I'd once splurged on a Santa outfit, barely got it on for a quick photo, then ripped it off.

"Mom, Hoya's as a rainbow hanbok, please."

"Hohoho. Got it."

I turned, imagining adorably dolled-up Hoya.

Thwack!

Hoya flew in and smacked my head.

I'd pictured smacking her with a hanbok first, but she beat me to it.

"What? Huh? You wanna go if I'm going?"

Nyaaang.

"What? My face looked impure? How? I was just thinking of our cute Hoya."

Hoya circled me, tail high, scrutinizing if I was lying. But I was honest. She looked suspicious but let it slide since I was shameless.

"Let's check where the goblins went soon."

Nyaaang.

Good, no warnings about danger. Green light.

"Bring Kkamangi too. Might be spacious."

Nyaang!

Got it. I prepped Kkamangi. Then Si-yeon approached.

"Follow me, human."

"What's today's gimmick?"

"I'm a proud heir of Burtia. Show respect!"

"You're playing. Heirs are born; you learned from me."

"Oh, right?"

She did suit it better than me, though.

"So why follow?"

"Your beautiful blacksmith genius sister prepared something for you."

"Shut up and lead."

"Tch."

Following Si-yeon, I saw something familiar.

"Iron Man?"

"Muhahaha! Praise it, bro."

It looked amateurish, wrong color, but definitely Iron Man's arc reactor suit from memory. The issue wasn't that...

"Sis, no-pants fashion applies to armor too?"

No pants. That's the problem.

"I only had the upper body figure."

I desperately wanted to buy a full Iron Man figure right now.

"Let's see anyway."

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

The effects were solid. The system recognized it as Iron Man's replica suit. Still, no pants was a huge flaw.

"Can't you slap some pants on it at least?"

"My artisan pride won't allow it! I can't make what my heart rejects!"

I examined it closely. Scratches everywhere.

"Heal."

I healed her wounds with my one magic-like spell. She'd gotten hurt making these for me...

"Ah, I tripped earlier."

Nope. Just clumsy.

"Anyway, no pants. If it's too bare, grab from over there."

She pointed to the undead armor I'd brought. Two sets on display. I stripped pants from one.

Felt gross. But wearing them...

"What a sight. Now I get why adults say 'what a sight.'"

Si-yeon was right. Ridiculous.

"Whatever. You won't be back for days, so listen to Mom and Dad."

"Fukushima, huh?"

"How'd you know?"

"Saw you peek earlier. I wanna go too, but I'm not the novel sister who drags her bro down. Staying put."

"You wouldn't drag me anyway. But since it's unconfirmed safe, I'll go solo."

"That gate earlier?"

She'd seen it.

"Yeah, just scouting."

"Got it. Be safe."

"Will do. You've grown up, sis."

Stroking her head...

"Seriously grown?"

Position felt higher.

"Heh! Milk with coffee. Coffee milk."

Milk promotes growth—Si-yeon still had some left. Looked about 3 cm taller. From 162 to 165-ish. Good growing girl.

"Keep drinking coffee."

"Annoying."

"Yeah, kidding."

She was great when drinking coffee. Without, she got weird. Anyway, good stuff.

I rested a bit, grabbed Hoya and Kkamangi's outfits from Mom, then rode them into the forest.

Crossing the gate led to a forest. Somewhere in Fukushima, presumably. My smartphone powered on—didn't work inside gates. Confirmed: outside world. No signal, though. No roaming for illegal entry.

Nyaaang!

Looking around, Hoya nudged my leg, pointed one way, and bolted. I spurred Kkamangi after her.

"Definitely Japan."

A traditional Japanese house ahead, like in dramas.

Nyaaang.

Hoya's cry sounded sad.

"What?"

Nyaaang.

She went inside. I dismounted and followed.

A panting dog lay within.

"Heal!"

I spammed Heal on the dog. It slowly came to.

I examined it.

My breath caught. Leo's owner, Yoshimoto Hakashi, must've been the gate owner. Upon death, rights passed to Leo. But Leo couldn't accept it, thinking Hakashi was inside, endlessly opening the gate.

Goblins slipped through, instinctively avoiding killing Leo to keep it open. Inside gates, they'd attack owners; outside, maybe not—sensing gate closure on owner death.

Kiiing, kiiing.

Leo stared endlessly at the gate. Different from mine—bidirectional per Observation.

Dying, Leo still waited for his owner.

I'd assumed malice opened it. Wrong. Leo just waited faithfully.

Then I saw photos. Recognized Yoshimoto Hakashi: the animal rescuer who'd lived here saving them.

"Haa... damn."

Felt like swearing.