Chapter 101
Chapter 101
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 101
Chapter Title: Sapsari's Vigil
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“Hydrocephalus?”
Lee Jun chuckled at Go Gi-jin’s words.
“Paddling or circling? No way this pup has hydrocephalus. Did you see it seize?”
Paddling was when all four legs paddled in the air, circling was spinning in one direction—known as rotational symptoms.
Seizures were convulsions, and the symptoms Lee Jun mentioned were signs of brain issues.
“Nope, didn’t see that.”
“But suddenly hydrocephalus?”
“True, but still. It’s weird, right? It’s not actin’ like itself, won’t respond when called, and why’s it starin’ out there at the dark all sudden-like!”
“Yeah, you’re right.”
Lee Jun had no comeback to Go Gi-jin’s point.
‘What’s out there?’
Lee Jun glanced at Gray and Shadow, who were sleeping soundly.
‘Nah, if there was, they’d be at the window.’
So why was Sapsari acting like this?
“Sapsari.”
Lee Jun called softly.
Even a quiet call always got a reaction from Sapsari. It would look at him and wag its tail.
And it came right over.
But even Sapsari’s ears weren’t twitching. This was definitely not its usual behavior.
“Hmm.”
Lee Jun’s gaze deepened as he studied Sapsari.
‘No way, right?’
It had better not be. Go Gi-jin had named a serious illness—not light at all.
Right then, Sapsari barked, “Woof woof!”
“Whoa? It’s barkin’ now?”
Go Gi-jin’s eyes widened as he stared at Sapsari.
Sapsari was incredibly quiet. It rarely barked and knew to stay silent after sunset.
For Sapsari to bark like that was far from normal.
Lee Jun stood up.
“What’s outside?”
Lee Jun hoped there was a cat or something in the yard.
Frankly, he hated even considering hydrocephalus or any brain disease for Sapsari.
Excess cerebrospinal fluid in the skull presses on brain tissue, raising intracranial pressure. This stiffens the body, hinders breathing, and can curl the tongue.
It might spin in circles suddenly or show various other symptoms.
And while meds could treat these, it wasn’t curable. It was a severe disease that could even take a life.
Lee Jun didn’t want more trials for Sapsari, who had just overcome its pain and started living comfortably.
So as he opened the living room window, he muttered,
“I hope it’s a leaf rollin’ around—or even a scrap of plastic.”
That would explain Sapsari’s behavior rationally.
Slide.
A gust blew in as Lee Jun opened the window.
Sapsari bolted outside.
“Sapsari!”
Go Gi-jin spoke as Lee Jun called to the dog racing around the yard.
“Let it go. Haha, now I get it. That rascal’s protestin’ for not gettin’ walks lately.”
“Huh? Protest?”
“Yep. Makin’ a fuss ‘cause no walks these days.”
Go Gi-jin called to Sapsari.
“Hey now. Got it. I’ll take ya tomorrow.”
“Yeah, haven’t walked it much lately.”
Lee Jun sighed in relief.
“When’d you have time for walks, bro? Not even time to eat.”
“True.”
Lee Jun nodded at Go Gi-jin’s words.
After *Animal World Forever* aired, the attention on Lee Jun was immense.
Daily offers for shows and interviews, plus waves of patients—total chaos.
Meongmeong Animal Hospital already had plenty of patients normally. And with Lee Jun listening to animals while treating, each took extra time.
Work ended late inevitably, and just getting off was a blessing now.
“With all this, I’d borrow their paws if I could.”
Go Gi-jin grinned broadly at Gray and Shadow.
“They must be tired too.”
As patients flooded Meongmeong, Gray and Shadow stayed on high alert guarding the clinic.
“Yeah, probably. No naps anymore—just watchin’ the hospital. Same as that Sapsari rascal. Eyes blazin’ at everyone...”
Go Gi-jin chuckled, adding,
“Feels like three guard dogs on duty.”
Lee Jun looked at Gray and Shadow too.
[...Who’re you meow! Why’re you here meow!]
[Reveal yourself... meow!]
They mumbled guard talk even in sleep.
“Yeah, guard cats for sure.”
“Heh heh, guard cats it is. Anyway, bro, what about that book thing?”
“Huh?”
“The book. Checked the vet cafe today—tons of docs askin’ when your book’s out, say they’ll buy right away.”
“I’m no behaviorist. What book? Maybe emergency care, but...”
“Then write both.”
Lee Jun’s eyes widened at Go Gi-jin’s suggestion.
“Both?”
“Yeah. You’re a pro at explainin’ tough stuff simply. Play to your strengths. Guardians’d love your books—super helpful.”
Lee Jun did want to publish. And Go Gi-jin’s last point hit home: helpful to guardians.
“You know what I wanna write, right?”
“Course. Guardian guide.”
“Exactly.”
Lee Jun wanted guardians spotting diseases faster.
Plenty of books existed.
‘Search online, tons of info.’
But Lee Jun wanted one with precise info from his ability.
And he was confident.
“Plus, I’m curious too. How do ya always know what they want?”
Thanks to Kongdori’s gift. Lee Jun swallowed that, just smiling faintly.
‘How could I say that? They’d drag me off for tests.’
He shuddered.
“Whoa, bro, ya cold? Hang on.”
Go Gi-jin called Sapsari, who bounded back joyfully, grinning at the living room from the yard.
“Done runnin’?”
Woof! Sapsari leaped inside and stood still.
“I’ll wipe your paws—hold on~”
Go Gi-jin scooped up Sapsari and headed to the bathroom, continuing,
“Man, our boy’s such a good kid. Lets me wipe paws, blow-dry too.”
As Go Gi-jin said, Sapsari stayed still even for toe-drying with the dryer.
The cats slept through the dryer noise.
Partly tired, but Alley House was that comfy.
Lee Jun’s lips curved up.
“Nice!”
How great to live this relaxed forever?
Not just these three, but all animals.
‘And understandin’ them makes it even better. Totally changed.’
Before and after hearing animals: night and day.
Treating was one thing, bonding was a true blessing.
Daily chats and affection—priceless.
‘If I could share even a bit with guardians...’
That sealed it: he’d write the book.
“Like you said, Meongmeong series sounds good.”
“Right? Heh heh.”
Go Gi-jin petted the now-dry Sapsari beside him, grinning happily.
Sapsari soon flopped face-first onto the sofa.
“Tired after your romp?”
Go Gi-jin patted its rear, adding,
“There ya go~”
He grabbed the remote and resumed the paused video.
Go Gi-jin’s hydrocephalus suspicion lingered in Lee Jun’s mind.
So his gaze on Sapsari sharpened.
‘Trauma can trigger it.’
If Sapsari hurt its head in the mountains, totally possible.
Lee Jun set down his tablet to observe.
***
Normally, it would’ve noticed its benefactor’s gaze instantly.
But Sapsari was lost in thought about the weird thing right in front of it.
‘I definitely saw it.’
For days, Sapsari had sensed eyes watching.
Not just it— the whole pack.
‘Watchin’ all of us.’
Benefactor bro, cat bros, strong bros—everyone.
‘No. Just watchin’.’
Sapsari corrected: not spying, observing.
Still suspicious.
Sapsari turned to the cat bros.
They slept soundly.
They couldn’t know about the Alley House intruder.
No way they’d sleep so peacefully otherwise.
‘Bros been workin’ hard.’
Lately, more folks visited the animal hospital to see Gray and Shadow.
‘They pointed that thing.’
Like a small gadget by benefactor bro—click, loud snap.
Each time, bros struck cool poses, meowing dramatically.
‘Said it feeds friends well.’
Didn’t get it, but clicking folks shared treats with friends—even sea ones it’d never met.
‘Sea friends?’
Maybe sea friends visited the bros?
Sapsari decided to tell them tomorrow.
Deep down, though, doubt lingered.
‘So stay alert.’
That night, Sapsari patrolled living room and rooms till dawn.
Unaware its benefactor watched worriedly.
Next morning, cats scratched the window upon waking.
Sapsari’s eyes sharpened.
‘This’ll tell if it’s a friend.’
If bros liked the traces, friend.
If suspicious, intruder.
As Sapsari thought, benefactor bro opened the door.
“One lap, then breakfast.”
[Got it meow.]
[Soft meat today?]
“Nope, crunchy kibble.”
[Crunchy’s good meow.]
[Tasty too.]
Cats replied to benefactor bro and sauntered out.
Sapsari followed to the yard.
Mornings, it’d circle sniffing for new scents.
Not today.
It trailed the cat bros closely.
To check their reaction to intruder traces.
Gray looked up and pounced—swoosh!
‘Intruder’s above?’
Sapsari’s eyes widened, fur hiding its view.
Strong bro tied it daytime for clear sight, untied for sleep comfort—now it blocked even its nose.
No way it missed an intruder.
‘Didn’t notice at all.’
Gray bro was amazing.
Sapsari gazed admiringly.
Then—
Pat!
Gray caught a falling leaf with front paws.
[Ooh! Awesome.]
[Shadow, your turn meow.]
[Got it! Two for me!]
Shadow looked up too.
Flutter.
Leaf fell—Shadow leaped.
Pat! Nom!
[Two meow!]
As Gray said, Shadow held leaves in paws and mouth.
[Am... amazing...]
Mid-praise, Sapsari snapped to. Not the time.
[Bros!]
[What, Sapsari meow!]
[Weird guy intruded yesterday.]
[Yesterday? No scent meow!]
Gray sniffed, nose twitching.
[None here? Who?]
Shadow whiskered up and down.
[Big guy like this yesterday.]
Sapsari described, then sniffed.
Sniff sniff.
‘But no scent.’
What?
As Sapsari tilted its head puzzled, a voice came from behind.
{Hehe! They’re amazing! As expected of big bro’s favorites.}