Crying is Legal

They say there are three moments in a man's life when he has to cry. Otherwise, you shouldn't shed a tear. But honestly, couldn't this count as an exception?

"Hmm, where'd that cheeky bastard go? Now there's just a mute standing here."

"⋯⋯."

Well, yeah. My apartment, with a mountain of loan payments still left, was already half wrecked. The cold wind whistling in from beyond the wall felt exactly like a hole punched straight through my bank account. And that monster I'd just been gawking at on my phone? A wolf-shaped beast was right there in front of me. Plopped smack in the middle of my room, staring me down with bulging eyes full of what looked like keen interest.

This much trauma? Crying's gotta be legal.

"Still, you can pat yourself on the back. Piercing through my concealment? Even in my weakened state, no one from the demon realm has ever pulled that off."

⋯⋯That's not what I—

The urge to correct him welled up in my throat from sheer absurdity, but I kept it swallowed down. Because I had a pretty good guess what would happen the second that creepy glint of curiosity left those eyes.

I sneaked a glance at the massive claws at the wolf's feet, where black droplets of blood were plopping down one by one. My mind flashed back to the video, where those same claws had shredded asphalt like tissue paper.

⋯⋯Gulp.

One wrong word, and those claws would dice me up in seconds flat. Ugh, just imagining it made my body tremble.

"⋯⋯."

But seriously, why the hell was this thing here? That huge bulk, that fluffy-looking tail. It had definitely been throwing down with the magical girls in Jongno just a bit ago. So why was it squatting so brazenly in my apartment like it owned the place?

No way the magical girls lost, right⋯⋯?

"Your body's shaking. Are you scared?"

I flinched. How'd it know?

"Guess so."

As I froze without a word, the wolf suddenly burst into a booming laugh. Dust rained down from the cracked ceiling with every heave of its massive frame.

⋯⋯Good thing I lived on the top floor. Otherwise, I'd be making awkward eye contact with the upstairs neighbors right about now.

"Don't be so terrified. I have no intention of harming you."

It went on to say that it didn't have much time left anyway, and it wouldn't be sticking around this place for long.

⋯⋯'Not much time left'?

Only then did I finally get a moment to properly check out its condition. Up close, the thing was covered in wounds everywhere. Those black droplets from its claws? Had to be its blood. Looking again, its sitting posture suddenly seemed way different from before. What I'd taken for a proud predator's stance now looked more like a battered stray puppy crammed awkwardly into my cramped room—pathetic and spent.

At least it's not the worst-case scenario.

From the looks of things, the magical girls had thrashed it and it'd fled here. But why my place, of all spots? Ugh.

"Ahem, ahem⋯⋯."

Gurgle.

As I snuck peeks at it, a low rumble suddenly echoed from deep inside its enormous bulk. Surprisingly dainty sound for something the size of a mountain.

It's hungry, huh. It even cleared its throat like it was trying to cover it up.

"⋯⋯Pretend you didn't hear that."

Unlike the sharp glare from the video, its eyes trembled weakly as it squeezed them shut and turned its head away.

"⋯⋯."

Might not be as scary as I thought⋯⋯?

"⋯⋯Hey."

"What."

For some reason, seeing it so vulnerable made my mouth move on its own.

"How much time you got left?"

Maybe it reminded me of that scrappy little pup I'd raised way ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠back. Or maybe my head was just messed up. Who knows.

It cracked open one eye at my question and answered.

"Don't worry. By human reckoning, I'll be gone in under ten minutes."

"Where to?"

"Somewhere with no one around. Where I'll pay the price for my recklessness."

Its flat tone carried an oddly wistful echo. The ferocious monster had vanished somewhere, leaving behind just an old beast searching for a quiet place to die.

"⋯⋯Hold on a sec."

I turned toward the kitchen, back to the wolf. The second I took a step, it shut its eyes again. Probably thought I was bolting.

Screeech.

Opening the fridge in the corner revealed yesterday's leftover chicken box. Cold drumsticks and a combo pack with a few wings. For a split second, doubt flickered in my head—was this really the move?

"⋯⋯."

But⋯⋯whatever. Screw it.

I bit my lip and shoved the box into the microwave. Even now, in the middle of doing this, I had no clue what I was thinking. It was straight-up insane, no matter how you sliced it.

⋯⋯Probably some dumb kid habit from way back that never died out. Guess I'm not cut out to be a real adult yet.

Whirr—ding!

The cheery chime filled the tiny kitchen with the warm, savory smell of fresh-heated fried chicken. I grabbed the box and headed back to my room.

"⋯⋯What is that."

It stared at me with eyes gone huge, genuinely shocked that I'd come back.

Whatever. I silently set the box down near its massive front paw.

"Food. You said you'd leave in ten minutes."

"Hah."

"They say ghosts look better fed before they go."

It ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠glanced between the box and me in confusion, then clicked its tongue.

"⋯⋯You're a strange one."

I know. Not something a normal person would do.

"I'll take that as a compliment. Eat it before it gets cold."

I shrugged like it was no big deal and nudged the box closer.

"Hmm⋯⋯."

It picked up the box, hesitated for a second, then—whoosh—dumped the whole thing into its maw.

Chomp chomp.

Its cheeks puffed out softly, a cute contrast to its brutal size.

"How's it taste?"

"Delicious."

With that, the room filled only with the crunch of bones being gnawed clean. A brief silence.

It polished off every last crumb, licked the grease from its chops, and spoke low.

"⋯⋯I've decided."

Eh? Decided what?

My head tilted on instinct at the cryptic line.

"You—no, you might be able to pull it off."

Me? What the hell does that even mean?

Before I could snap back in frustration—

"—Guh?!"

A searing pain exploded in my gut, like heartburn from hell or food poisoning stabbing straight through my insides.

My vision flashed white, everything blurring from the agony.

No, what the fuck are you even talking about!

"Urk, ugh⋯⋯."

No, it already hurts like hell! What the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠fuck is this psycho wolf on about? Did getting wrecked by the magical girls fry its brain? Is it picking on civilians to satisfy some twisted urge now?!

"Guhk⋯⋯."

The pain peaked, then sensation started fading bit by bit.

Ah. So this is it. Dying like an idiot to a monster.

What hit me last was bitter regret.

⋯⋯Should've just run. What was I thinking, playing good Samaritan with my precious chicken? One plus one free, my ass.

⋯⋯.

I closed my eyes.

Squawk.

***

And just like that, I figured I was dead.

"Ugh⋯⋯."

Consciousness slowly bubbled back up. First thing I saw: my room's familiar ceiling.

Eh?

Couldn't help but wonder. What the—? Didn't that monster just attack me? Wasn't I dead?

"Re... reconstruction⋯⋯?"

The bizarre word I'd never heard before made me instinctively look down at myself.

"Wha—what the hell!"

I spotted my suddenly shrunken body.

What is this?

I yanked over the mirror rolling around the floor and checked myself out.

"What⋯⋯."

Reflected back wasn't the haggard salaryman anymore. Snow-white long hair flowing like silk, tousled by the wind blowing through the shattered wall. My round eyes gleamed ruby red, pale skin dusted with a soft blush. The baggy dress shirt and slacks? Gone. Instead, a cute getup: white tee under black outerwear, topped with a massive ribbon at the chest.

And as the finishing touch—a giant bow right at my solar plexus. Give me back my clothes!

"What... what is this⋯⋯?"

Even worse, the voice from the mirror's mouth wasn't my gravelly uncle tone. It was a clear, girlish lilt. A single strand of that long hair drooped in a hook shape above my head, like it was mocking my shock.

⋯⋯What the actual fuck.

I flailed in panic, and that's when the wolf's voice echoed in my head again. This psycho.

Whatever was happening, I had a sinking feeling I knew.

"My life's fucked."

This is your fault, you bastard.