Chapter 119
Chapter 119
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 119
Chapter Title: Gifts for Woof Teacher
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Yellow's little head slowly shook side to side as he pondered how many rats he should catch.
[Woof Teacher said we shouldn't play with rats by carrying them around.]
Woof Teacher had given instructions to the Park Cats, who were making great contributions to eradicating rats that spread deadly infections.
‘Even if you massacre the rats, never play with them. Pile them up in one place.’
The Park Cats adored Woof Teacher.
They followed whatever Woof Teacher said, so after hunting rats, they no longer played with them. Instead, they gathered them at the spot Teacher had designated.
Then people came and took them away.
As Yellow removed rats from his gift list and fell deep into thought, a chirping sound came from above his head.
It was the sound of a bird.
[Hmm, a bird?]
Yellow looked up and spotted a small bird perched on a tree branch.
Once, when he had visited Meongmeong Animal Hospital, Woof Teacher had been holding a bird in his arms and stroking it.
[Teacher smiled and said birds are pretty.]
He should give Teacher a bird that Teacher liked as a gift.
That was Yellow's thought, and he curled up the corners of his mouth.
[It's a gift, so I can't give him something common like that one.]
Woof Teacher had given them countless things.
The freshly grilled chicken they tasted for the first time.
Not just Yellow, but all the Park Cats were astonished.
They knew white meat was tasty, but they'd never tasted anything like that before.
And what about the meat they ate by the vast waterside!
[It was savory and even sweet.]
Yellow recalled the Hanwoo beef he first tasted by the Gangneung seaside and licked his chops.
The tender meat that melted in his mouth—what about that!
Even now, everything Woof Teacher gave them had been delicious. It was on a whole different level from the food they usually scavenged.
Remembering how Woof Teacher had watched them eat that heavenly food with a pleased smile, Yellow steeled his resolve.
[Let's catch a really cute and pretty one for him.]
Lately, a bird with a pure white forehead like Shadow's paw and round, round eyes had appeared.
That very small bird, with a tail as long as its body, sometimes perched on trees but also hopped along the dirt ground. It pecked at trees with its tiny beak.
Curious Yellow had watched what it was doing.
And then, wasn't it pulling bugs out from inside the tree?
[Since it hunts well too, Teacher will surely like it.]
Just like how Teacher liked that they hunted rats.
Having thought of the perfect gift for a master hunter, Yellow wore a satisfied expression and went into hiding.
Sogeum-i spotted Yellow hiding among vines in a spot with a good view of where the bird often appeared.
[Oh? Leader!]
Delighted, Sogeum-i scampered over to Yellow.
[Hehe, good thing. I thought Leader was out on patrol.]
[I'm in ambush.]
[Ambush? Did someone invade again?]
Sogeum-i jumped up and cried out.
The cry wasn't loud, but it was already enough for the nearby cats to hear.
The cats came running to where Yellow and Sogeum-i were.
[Leader! Is it true? Did Chirp's gang show up again?]
A sentry cat mentioned the Chirp gang from Pine Mushroom Park that had tried to invade not long ago.
[Hmm? No way. Those guys are too scared of our King Captain to ever show up again.]
[King Captain beat them into a bloody pulp.]
Totto, the mischievous one who hadn't been there because he'd eaten yarn and been rushed to Meongmeong Animal Hospital, chimed in.
[Yeah. The Pine Mushroom territory guys can never cross here again.]
When Yellow spoke firmly, the sentry cat asked.
[Then which ones is it?]
[It's not that.]
[No. Leader can't do it alone. We'll protect together.]
[Yes. We'll protect together.]
The cats, thinking Yellow was sacrificing himself just for them, vied to insist they'd lend their strength.
[Really, it's not. I'm preparing for a hunt.]
[A hunt? Those bastards! Even after we wipe them out, they keep coming back. Persistent!]
[Yeah. We can't let it go. Let's do another rat extermination before it gets colder.]
[That sounds good. Yellow Leader, just give the order!]
[Give the order!]
The sentry cats and hunter cats knelt before Yellow and bowed their heads.
[I agree with you all. But not now.]
If the cats started hunting, that pretty bird would fly away.
But the cats who had bowed their heads before Yellow didn't budge, just waiting for the order.
[Sigh, fine. I was planning to hunt a bird as a gift for Woof Teacher.]
[A hunt?]
[A gift?]
The cats asked one after another.
Ever since Woof Teacher and King Captain Gray took charge of their food, the cats hadn't hunted.
Their bellies were full, so there was no need.
Except they steadily continued rat extermination. That was because Woof Teacher had asked them to eliminate the rats.
With food worries gone, hunting didn't interest the cats much.
But at the words of giving a gift to Woof Teacher, their eyes sparkled.
Sogeum-i said.
[I, I want to give a gift to Woof Teacher too.]
[M-me too. I definitely will.]
Totto, who had survived thanks to Woof Teacher, shouted.
[I should give one too.]
[I want to give one too.]
Cats who wanted to give gifts to Woof Teacher sprang up one after another.
Then, an elderly cat spoke up.
[That's a fine idea. We've only received until now, haven't we? It's time we gave back.]
[Yes. I'll give my treasure.]
[Me too. I can't hunt like Leader, so I'll give a shiny treasure.]
[Heh heh, then I should give a treasure too.]
Yellow, who had been listening to each cat declare they'd give gifts to Lee Jun, reached a conclusion.
[Got it. Let's do that then. Now scatter. I need to catch that bird.]
[I'll help.]
[Me too.]
When a considerable number of cats said they'd join the hunt, Yellow replied.
[Thanks. But we need to catch it alive. Got it?]
[We'll keep it in mind.]
As over fifty cats scattered in all directions, one spoke up.
[But the bird Leader mentioned. That cute one with the round head.]
[Yeah.]
[It's gone. It flew away two days ago or something and hasn't come back.]
[That black bird chased it away.]
She pointed to a magpie cawing from a tree.
[Nothing to be done. We'll have to hope it shows up.]
Even so, he didn't want to catch that one.
‘It’s a gift, so it has to be cute and sparkly pretty.’
[We'll stand by in ambush.]
[Yeah, thanks.]
After giving orders to the hunter cats, Yellow headed outside.
With the hunt plan derailed, he planned to carry out the next task.
[It would be nice to find some warm leaves.]
Yellow set out to scout the alleys near the park in search of something like the cloth scrap he'd draped over Sogeum-i.
Turning into the alley, Yellow went to the spot where he'd found towels and cloth the day before.
‘There it is!’
Something was piled high on a rectangular box.
Yellow jumped right up onto the box.
The box Yellow climbed was a clothing donation bin.
A plastic bag about Yellow's size was placed on top of the bin.
Yellow first peered inside the plastic bag. It looked safe.
This time, he sniffed: sniffs sniff sniff.
There was a faint unpleasant smell, but it was tolerable. And no other animals' scents.
Now Yellow pressed with his front paws.
His paws sank right in—it was fluffy.
The corners of Yellow's mouth twitched up.
[Found it!]
***
As the sun set, the cats began to bustle about. They had something they had to do before bed.
[Woof Teacher said to always drink water before sleeping.]
[We have to use the bathroom too. That way we sleep soundly and it's good for the body.]
In the past, they'd hold it even when desperate in the cold winter because they hated the chill.
But now, remembering what Woof Teacher had taught them, the cats busily headed to the water bowls and sand bathrooms.
With sleep preparations done, the cats each entered their own Hiding Houses.
When the wind blew fiercely, it was still cold, but compared to before, it was paradise.
Cozy spaces.
Murmurs came from those spaces.
[Sleep well.]
[Sweet dreams.]
Yellow and Sogeum-i together placed the cloth Yellow had fetched during the day over the backs of cats who had lain down.
With cushions warming the floor and soft cloth on their backs, the reclining cat grinned widely.
[Thank you. Thanks, Sogeum-i too.]
With a hop, the two cats left the Hiding House, and the cat poked its head through the cloth and let out a sigh.
It was a sigh of contentment.
[Haaa…… so warm.]
The cats outside smirked.
Yellow gave instructions to the cats.
[Do it like this.]
[Got it.]
The strong cats—sentries and hunters—grabbed the cloths Yellow had gathered and hurried to the Hiding Houses they were in charge of.
Yellow said to Sogeum-i.
[Let's go to the next house.]
[Okay.]
Yellow and Sogeum-i went into the Hiding House right next door and did exactly the same.
[Hehe, it's warm. Thank you.]
And so the night deepened, and the Cat Town cats could welcome a cozy night.
After tucking in even Sogeum-i, Yellow sat on the platform.
Kwaa kwaa!
Golong golong gorong.
Drurung.
The cats' snoring sounded heartwarmingly around him, with no coughs to be heard.
The corners of Yellow's mouth slowly curled up.
[Good.]
With his mind much more at ease, Yellow gazed at the pile on the platform.
They were treasures the cats had brought, saying they wanted to give them to Woof Teacher.
Balls, pinecones, shiny stones, crinkly shiny paper that went pop when stepped on, twigs, and more.
Treasures each cherished dearly.
[Once I get my gift, we're good.]
Where could that one be? If it doesn't show up, what should I give?
As Yellow's worries deepened, Sogeum-i approached.
[Leader.]
[Why aren't you sleeping?]
[I was worried Leader might be shivering in the cold.]
Burr.
Come to think of it, it was cold.
[Hehet, let me cover you with this. Sleep well.]
[I'm fine.]
Yellow told Sogeum-i to go lie down so he could cover him.
[Still…….]
Sogeum-i, who had just been covered and lain down, was incredibly warm. He wanted Leader Yellow, who worked so hard for them, to feel that warmth too.
As he hesitated, a cat on sentry duty approached.
[I'll cover Leader, so you sleep first, Sogeum-i.]
In that case! Sogeum-i beamed and replied.
[Thanks, Sentry Uncle!]
That night, Yellow too spent a warm and cozy night like his fellow cats.
***
He waited several days, but the cute little bird didn't appear.
[Nothing to be done. If it shows up later, I'll give it then.]
Yellow planned to take the family's gifts to Teacher the next day.
That day too, Yellow didn't stop tending to his family even late into the night.
After covering every Hiding House with cloth scraps one by one, he fell asleep to a familiar scent.
It was Woof Teacher's scent.
He hurried outside, and Woof Teacher was smiling.
[T-T-Teacher!]
Woof Teacher stroked Yellow and said.
“Our Yellow has been working hard. Covering blankets on the kids every night?”
[I was worried they'd be cold.]
“Such a good boy. So Teacher brought a gift.”
[A gift?]
“Yeah.”
Woof Teacher pulled out a fluffy cushion.
It was thinner than the cushions in the Hiding Houses but thicker than the cloths they used to cover up.
Still, it was great.
Because it looked like it would keep them warm if placed on top.
[Th-thank you.]
“Try going in.”
Go in where?
As Yellow tilted his head, Woof Teacher slipped his hand into the thin cushion.
Blink blink!
As Yellow's eyes blinked, Sogeum-i's head suddenly vanished inside.
Then his body too.
[Hehet, it's warm. Yellow Leader, this is so warm.]
As Yellow approached, Sogeum-i came out. Then he dove back in—the floor was fluffy, and the cloth stayed on his back without slipping.
“You go in and out like a burrow. No need to go around covering blankets at night.”
[Like a burrow?]
“Yeah. It's called a Sleeping Bag Blanket. Very warm.”
[Sleeping Bag Blanket…….]
Yellow repeated 'Sleeping Bag Blanket' and dove in like Sogeum-i.
[I-it really is.]
Entering the thing called a Sleeping Bag Blanket warmed his whole body.
And not just his body—Yellow's heart melted warmly too.
“I'll put one in each Hiding House, so starting tonight, sleep inside these. And next week, I'll make doors too.”
Yellow didn't understand the part about doors, but at the words of giving one each, he backed out of the Sleeping Bag Blanket in a hurry.
Then he bowed.
[Thank you. Woof Teacher.]
Life as stray cats was truly harsh.
When winter came, that hardship deepened.
Moreover, he was the leader.
As the one leading them all, he had to bear these worries alone, with no one to confide in.
But things changed after meeting Woof Teacher.
Besides King Captain, he had someone to lean on, and that person shared so much with them without holding back.
Yellow thought how fortunate he was to have met this person before him.
‘I can't just sit still like this.’
Yellow dashed over and dragged the bag full of gathered gifts.
[Woof Teacher! This is a gift from our family to you.]
“A gift? For me?”
At Woof Teacher's words, the cats emerging from their Hiding Houses chorused.
[Woof Teacher! Thank you!]
[Woof Teacher! This is great.]
“Oh my! Am I receiving something too precious?”
[Woof Teacher is the most precious!]
[Woof Teacher is the best!]
Lee Jun beamed at the cats chorusing happily with bright smiles.
‘Pure, kind kids. Since I got something precious, I should give something back too, right? Something really good. Anyway, first…….’
Lee Jun grinned at the cats.
“Let's have a delicious breakfast!”
Nyaoong nyaoong.
Nyaowo!
The cats cheered.
Lee Jun's smile deepened as he watched them.
Yellow standing beside him smiled broadly like Lee Jun too. And he offered sincere thanks from the heart.
[Woof Teacher, thank you so much.]