Chapter 56: Rage
I tried to pick up Leo. But the exhausted little guy refused. He licked my hand instead. When dogs or cats lick in certain situations, it's not affection. It means "don't do that." It's the refusal of a good-natured soul.
In the end, I couldn't lift Leo. I set him down in front of the gate and focused on helping him recover. Heal was excellent for external wounds, but it wouldn't fix internal damage. Just to be safe, I called out to Hoya.
"Hoya, mind grabbing a dog outfit from Grandma?"
Nyaaong!
Hoya responded immediately and dashed toward our gate. In the meantime, I started examining how Leo's owner had died. For starters, Hakashi's body wasn't here. Maybe he didn't want Leo to see him go? That thought crossed my mind.
I scanned the surroundings further and spotted a thick diary hidden away. Luckily, my Japanese skill had reached level 3, so I could read it without trouble.
[Found Leo and brought him home. Planned to take him to the shelter. But Leo was already exposed to radiation. People fiercely opposed bringing him, calling an irradiated dog bad luck. They said if I felt sorry for the dog, go live with it. So I decided to stay here. And...]
Hakashi explained why he'd chosen to live here. Radiation victims weren't contagious like plague patients. But people rejected him anyway out of superstition. So Hakashi stayed home with Leo, and suddenly he noticed all the abandoned animals around. He started caring for them.
He wrote about living with them, taking meds daily, watching them leave one by one. He even confessed hating himself for feeling relieved each time. Then the gate appeared. He reported it, demanding treatment and care for the animals. But the government only wanted the gate's rights. One day, returning from the hospital with Leo, he saw hunters killing the animals around.
"You guys monsters too? Heh heh."
Hakashi immediately revoked that hunter's powers. They threatened to kill him. Thinking he was dying soon anyway, Hakashi told them to go ahead. But later, they sneaked back, taking Leo hostage to exploit the gate.
"Ha, these fucking bastards."
If they were in front of me, I'd smash their heads like a minotaur's. Easily. They weren't human. You need at least a shred of conscience to call yourself one.
Anger boiled inside me. I kept reading. Then came the surprising part: symptoms eased inside the gate. That explained how someone who should've died long ago had survived. Probably only possible as gate owner. If regular hunters got that perk, everyone would riot for gates.
Hakashi wrote about entering just the entrance with Leo during quiet times. Leo improved dramatically. As the gate owner's pet, Leo must've shared the effect.
"Then why'd he die?"
I doubted suicide—abandoning Leo? Didn't make sense. I'd assumed radiation, but no. Leave his dog without care? When he had a way to live? Something was off. I read on and found the clue to his death.
"Self-Defense Forces, huh."
Likely killed by them, for some absurd reason.
Nyaang!
Hoya returned. I dressed Leo in the dog outfit Hoya brought. Leo tried to resist, but I said,
"Leo, listen carefully. Someone killed your owner. I'm going after them. You wanna stay here?"
Kiiing, kiiing, kiiiing.
That was sobbing. I hadn't known before, but now I felt it.
Animal Affinity (Passive) skill has reached level 9.
The level-up brought no joy. It only hurt more. I felt Leo's despair, loss, rage—raw and unfiltered.
Woof! Woof!
Leo struggled up and barked at me. He wanted the clothes. I dressed him. The Pomeranian rose, trembling with fury. Then something passed from him to me.
The owner of Bidirectional Gate HF842 wishes to transfer ownership to you. Do you accept?
I looked at Leo. "You can keep it, Leo."
Woof!
"Help avenge your owner? No need for that."
Woof woof!
Leo was well over 10 years old. From Hakashi's story, he'd survived Fukushima with him. As the gate owner's pet, he'd gained knowledge. He probably understood why people coveted the gate. So he was bargaining: the gate for my help.
I'd help regardless. "Keep it—it's full of memories with your owner. I'll help without it."
Leo approached. I knelt to his level, and he licked my face. Affection, not refusal. He insisted I take it. He had no plans to return.
"Leo."
Woof woof!
The message reappeared. I accepted his wish.
Ownership of Bidirectional Gate HF842 has been transferred to you. The gate's location will move to Siho Territory.
The gate vanished with the message. Leo gazed at it wistfully, then barked at me.
Woof woof!
"Yeah, I'll help. Let's go."
I could avenge him myself, but that wouldn't satisfy Leo's grudge. I'd let him do it personally.
"Leo, will you let me tame you?"
Necessary for helping him—planning to bus him around.
Woof woof!
Leo agreed; the system acknowledged. We prepared to return to the territory, but Leo refused, leading me instead. We found a goblin.
Grrrr.
Leo growled. The goblin sneered mockingly. I used Fear on it.
Kieeeek!
The goblin shook violently. Leo charged with a headbutt, but it held. Hoya stepped in, downed it. Leo tore its throat.
Amazingly, Leo knew how to level up. We started clearing goblins around Hakashi's house.
Observation showed Leo at level 25—higher than average hunters. For some reason, he gained tons of exp from his own gate's goblins. Maybe the gate's will: clean up your own mess.
As we hunted, Leo hit level 30. Then the astonishing change: he gained Gigantification.
Gigantification
Gigantic Leo rivaled a gray wolf. Still looked like a pompadour Pomeranian—kinda funny. But to strangers, white-furred giant Leo might seem a white wolf.
Gigantified, Leo unleashed power, massacring goblins. Hakashi's house cleared; now Fukushima-wide purge. Nearly 3,000 goblins down. Leo reached level 35.
Boosting Leo, I spotted people approaching from afar.
"Hold up! Hunter over there?"
"......"
I didn't reply. He continued.
"No hunting without permission. Leave now."
Permission for hunting?
"Why need permission? Monsters gotta die, right?"
"That's Self-Defense Force business."
"You made this mess? Became world's laughingstock?"
"Think you're funny? I'm SDF officer of the Great Japanese Empire! How dare you talk back!"
SDF officer. I asked,
"What happened to Hakashi, Ran?"
"H-how do you know my name? Who are you?"
I wore the Steelman replica suit; he couldn't identify me. Observation revealed "Ran," level 24—elite by Seon-woo's standards, but below Leo.
"Answer. Or I attack."
He raised hands, signaling no threat; he relaxed. I told Hoya,
"Hoya, herd some goblins."
Nyang.
Hoya moved fast. Goblins incoming soon.
"I'm Hakashi's friend. Looks like he's dead. His diary suggests you bastards did something."
"N-no way. That guy had a friend like you."
"Watch your mouth—you'll regret it."
"Hah! Don't make me laugh. Saw you hunt goblins. Tamer? Lucky wolf-taming don't mean shit—you're weak. And we got this."
Gun. Scary, but I trusted my edge.
"Shoot."
"Y-you."
"Answer first. Ran, did you kill Hakashi?"
"Urgh!"
Bang! Thud.
The bullet stopped before me—like hitting a wall. One reason: gate hunters can't attack owners. Now he knew. The kind system told him.