Chapter 102
Chapter 102
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 102
Chapter Title: The Unseen Intruder
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Sapsari whipped his head around. A little ways off, that guy from yesterday was standing there grinning.
Sapsari got excited.
[Th-that's the guy. He was here yesterday too.]
As Sapsari barked and pointed at him with his front paw, the cats all looked in the direction he was indicating.
Gray blinked and asked,
[Sapsari-nyang, what are we supposed to be looking at-nyang?]
[There's nothing there.]
Even Shadow said he saw nothing, which frustrated Sapsari.
[Right there. He's watching us.]
[So, where exactly is he-nyang?]
[Sapsari, are you feeling sick?]
[That would be bad-nyang. Let's tell Big Brother that Sapsari's not well-nyang.]
[Yeah, let's go.]
The cats ran off, shouting loudly.
[Big Brother-nyang! Sapsari's sick-nyang!]
[Sapsari's sick!]
Sapsari's eyes widened as much as they possibly could.
[Th-there's an intruder right here. Why are you just leaving?]
Why were his big brothers acting like this?
Sapsari was beside himself.
Just then, Benevolent Brother came rushing over, panting.
“Why, why? What's going on?”
As Brother arrived looking pale, Sapsari slowly backed away.
‘This... this is weird.’
Quick-witted and sharp-minded Sapsari could tell this situation wasn't normal.
Sapsari asked timidly.
If Brother didn't understand, he planned to just let it go.
[There's an intruder over there.]
“An intruder?”
Benevolent Brother reacted right away.
Sapsari got so happy he barked wang! without thinking.
“Those are just the birds coming for breakfast.”
Huh? But I meant the guy in front of the birds?
While Sapsari tilted his head, Benevolent Brother kept talking.
“Those guys aren't toys, got it? You can't touch them. Not you either!”
[Of course-nyang. We don't touch birds-nyang.]
[Brother said they're friends.]
The cats replied as if it was obvious and headed inside.
[Brother, we're hungry-nyang.]
“Yeah, let's eat.”
[Will you give us the tasty water too?]
“We'll have that at dinner.”
Watching the brothers chat with Benevolent Brother made Sapsari's jaw drop.
‘Why, why can't anyone see this guy?’
The intruder grinned contentedly beside him, watching the three of them.
{My big bro gives tons of delicious food. Puhut.}
What? My big bro?
Sapsari's eyes bulged.
Grrrr!
But the guy didn't even flinch; he just smiled and said,
{You go too. Go eat a yummy breakfast.}
Wh-who are you?
Sapsari couldn't get the words out and just gulped nervously.
“Sapsari, don't just swallow your saliva—come eat.”
Benevolent Brother waved from inside the house.
‘That guy's gonna steal my food.’
No way that could happen.
Sapsari bounded inside.
“Sapsari, eat lots.”
Sapsari wagged his tail at Benevolent Brother's kind words.
Crunch crunch.
Breakfast was savory and delicious as always.
Sapsari shook off his worries, polished off his whole bowl,
then drank some water.
[Heehee, the water's tasty too.]
Everything at Alley House seemed tasty.
The water was good, the food was good, the gum and treats from the brothers were all good.
With that thought, Sapsari kept drinking.
Slurp slurp slurp.
His long tongue scooped up the water from the bowl.
While Sapsari was drinking the cool, clean water,
{Wow, drink lots. My big bro said to drink lots of water. Puhut.}
That guy's here!
Sapsari's head snapped to the side.
Pffft,
Startled, he couldn't even swallow the water in his mouth, so it sprayed everywhere.
Just then, the cats were sauntering by after finishing their meal.
Kyaoong!
Nyang?
The cats, suddenly drenched, blinked at Sapsari.
[My fur's all wet-nyang.]
Shake shake. Gray grumbled while shaking his legs.
[Yeah, soaked.]
Shadow licked his wet side.
But Sapsari just stood there, unable to even apologize to his brothers.
His eyes were huge, his tail tucked between his legs, frozen in place.
Shadow stared at him and asked,
[Are you sick?]
[Br-brothers...]
As Sapsari stammered, still shocked, Gray and Shadow patted his legs.
[Are you hurting-nyang? Where does it hurt-nyang?]
[He shook his head because he's in pain.]
Remembering vividly when Sapsari had been sick before, the cats worried over him.
They exchanged glances and shouted,
[We have to tell Big Brother-nyang.]
[Let's go to Big Brother.]
As the two cats turned to run to Benevolent Brother, Sapsari quickly said to them,
[Brothers, did you hear that?]
[Hear what?]
[Th-that guy talked.]
[That guy?]
[Who's that guy-nyang? The birds-nyang?]
Gray asked, looking at the chirping birds.
[N-no, not them. The one behind you brothers.]
Sapsari pointed with his paw at the one who'd told him to drink lots of water. The cats turned their heads.
[Nothing there-nyang.]
[Just Strong Brother.]
The cats tilted their heads at the spot Sapsari pointed to.
Suddenly, Gray paled and yelled loudly, forgetting the rule about speaking quietly.
[When I was sentry, Great King Captain said weird stuff just like Sapsari-nyang.]
[Weird talk means you go to the Cat Star. Big Brother!]
Shadow seemed to remember something too and ran off in a tizzy.
But Benevolent Brother was already hurrying over at the sound of the cats' loud cries.
Strong Brother strode up behind him.
“Why why, what's wrong?”
[Big Brother-nyang! Big trouble-nyang.]
[Sapsari's sick.]
Even as the cats wailed urgently that he was sick, Sapsari didn't budge.
“Aigoo, this kid's all stiff as a board?”
Go Gi-jin poked at rigid Sapsari and said to Lee Jun. Lee Jun's expression turned serious.
Finally snapping out of it, Sapsari looked at the two men.
[Br-brothers!]
He wanted to say there was a weird guy over there, but clamped his mouth shut.
‘This is weird. The cat brothers can't see him, neither can Benevolent Brother or Strong Brother.’
A guy only he could see.
And then the guy spoke again.
{Hehe, that's my big bro! Gentle and kind big bro!}
What? He even knows Benevolent Brother is kind?
Just as Sapsari's eyes widened,
{My big bro's the best. Sleeping next to him, he pets me—it's so warm and nice...}
The guy stared at Benevolent Brother.
Sapsari almost agreed—yeah, sleeping with Brother is great.
‘That was close. That guy's weird.’
Sapsari felt uneasy about the guy chattering right in front of him.
‘He knows Benevolent Brother.’
Yet no one noticed him standing right there.
Which meant maybe...
Thump thump thump.
Sapsari's heart pounded fiercely.
That guy must be after his spot.
No other explanation—why else would no one see him?
Sneaking up to him alone, planning to swap places!
Boom!
Sapsari had a huge realization.
[Th-that guy is...]
It had to be one of those fakes. The fake guys who'd impersonated Gray and Shadow brothers, boldly taking spots right next to him!
Benevolent Brother had worked so hard to drive them off and bring back the real brothers!
The fake was back.
If he hadn't quietly told Benevolent Brother about the switched brothers, the wailing cats might still not have returned.
‘Can't say anything.’
Not in front of that fake.
That's why he'd snitched quietly away from the fake cats last time, getting his cat brothers back.
Sapsari took a deep breath and organized his thoughts.
‘Tell Benevolent Brother later, when the fake's gone.’
As he planned, Benevolent Brother petted his head and peered at his face.
“No ocular tremor, and no panting.”
Sapsari didn't get the words, but knew he was worried.
Sapsari wanted to brag to the guy that Benevolent Brother cared for him.
[Benevolent Brother, I'm fine. Not sick.]
Sapsari leaned into Benevolent Brother's hand stroking his back.
“Yeah? Sapsari, wanna try walking?”
“Come on over here, boy!”
Strong Brother clapped.
‘I'm a good listener, Sapsari.’
Pat pat pat.
Sapsari strode forward powerfully, stretching his long legs.
“No paraplegia signs either. Seeing you walk straight means your vision's normal too.”
“Looks that way. If he's fine, no need for tests, right?”
“Yeah, seems so. We'll watch him more; if anything's off, test then.”
“Yeah, MRI needs anesthesia, so better skip if not needed. I'll keep an eye on him.”
“Okay.”
Sapsari didn't understand the brothers' words. But their attention felt amazing.
Hah hah heung!
Sapsari grinned at the brothers.
“See, boss? Kid's smiling—no need to worry.”
“Yeah, good.”
Benevolent Brother smiled too. Sapsari loved it so much he kept turning his head to look at both brothers.
[Big Brother, Sapsari's not sick-nyang?]
[Not hurting?]
“Looks fine. But kids, if you think your little brother's sick, tell me right away.”
[Of course-nyang. We'll tell you if Sapsari's sick-nyang.]
[We'll let you know.]
Sapsari burst out laughing at the cat brothers' firm resolve.
He'd felt great since Benevolent Brother called him their little brother. And now they worried over him—Sapsari puffed up with pride.
‘I'm the little brother of these awesome cat brothers!’
Bet you don't have cool brothers like these, huh?
Sapsari shot a smug look at the fake grinning from afar.
Then he scanned the living room.
He didn't want to lose this space he'd shared with Benevolent Brother, Strong Brother, and the cat brothers to that guy.
‘This place and our brothers are mine!’
So you get lost.
Sapsari glared at the fake.
But the guy just kept smiling, oblivious or not.
{Puhut, my big bro's so popular!}
He looked even happier than before.
Sapsari tilted his head watching him.
‘Weird guy!’
His wariness toward the guy softened a bit.
But that didn't mean he liked him. No way.
***
“Kids, let's go.”
“We gotta clock in with Manager Jang. Right? Ain't that right?”
Everyone was ready to head to the hospital.
As Sapsari followed them out of Alley House, he spotted the fake again and said,
[Go!]
{Got it, I'm going.}
The cocky guy suddenly replied in a limp voice.
Then vanished in a flash.
Sapsari whipped his head around looking for him, but nothing.
‘He's gone.’
He'd won.
Sapsari strutted out proudly.
But moments later, he jolted seeing the guy standing in front of his second-most precious place: Meongmeong Animal Hospital.
And got mad.
Sapsari charged over.
“Wh-what's this kid doing? That hungry for treats~?”
Strong Brother chased after, holding his leash.
[Y-you...]
But Sapsari couldn't say more.
He had to tell Benevolent Brother quietly about this guy. With that, Sapsari clamped his mouth shut and entered the hospital.
The guy following inside soured Sapsari's mood big time.
So he barely touched the gum he always got at the hospital.
No time for that anyway.
‘Gotta watch what that guy's up to!’
Click clack. Before Hospital Sis gave the gum, Sapsari pawed off the hair tie around his forehead.
Then hid his eyes with his fur and spied.
First thing the guy did: watch Benevolent Brother.
But he didn't approach or act familiar.
Just watched.
After staring at Benevolent Brother for a while, the guy moved to a corner of the hospital.
‘Guy doesn't even make a sound when he walks. Sneaky pro.’
That's how he swapped the Gray and Shadow brothers without a trace.
Sapsari followed.
First stop: exam room.
Benevolent Brother wasn't there yet, but the guy hopped onto Brother's chair.
Then rub rub, rubbing his body all over it.
Grrrr.
Sapsari growled in warning.
But the guy didn't budge.
Hating the guy marking Benevolent Brother's chair, Sapsari leaped up and snarled.
The guy fled to the exam table without a fight.
‘Weakling acting tough!’
Sapsari pitied the guy fleeing without a peep.
‘This chair's mine.’
So you...
[Get lost!]
Sapsari bared his teeth and growled low.
Then rubbed his body on the spot the guy had marked.
The guy was small, so easy for him; for Sapsari, not so much.
He wriggled a bit, then curled up and flopped down.
Placing his chin where Benevolent Brother rested his arm.
Right then.
Benevolent Brother entered the exam room.
“Oh, Sapsari, you're here?”
Benevolent Brother smiled and petted his head.
“Why's your head all messed up again?”
Benevolent Brother pulled up a small round chair and sat.
“You lounging like that reminds me of Kongdori. He loved sleeping on my chair... chin on the armrest, just like you.”
Benevolent Brother smiled as he spoke.
But that smile looked familiar somehow.
Sapsari, head tilted, barked m ong! softly.
‘I got it. Fake guy. The fake's smile looks just like Benevolent Brother's.’