Chapter 26
Chapter 26
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: Greetings from the Cats
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“Oh my, oh my, oh my.”
Exclamations poured nonstop from the mouth of Jamongi’s owner, who had her hand clamped over it.
More than twenty cats had lined up, approaching Jamongi one by one, rubbing against his legs with joyful expressions.
Jamongi’s owner couldn’t help but pull out her phone to record the scene.
[Thank you, Jamongi.]
[Thanks.]
[Uh, I... I was just doing what the teacher told me to.]
Jamongi enjoyed the attention but felt awkward about it, so he glanced at Lee Jun and stammered.
Still, he felt great.
‘Hehe, ever since I met Woof Teacher, it’s been nothing but praise.’
It was true.
In his not-so-long life, Jamongi had always been anxious.
The looks people gave him were always full of dissatisfaction.
He couldn’t figure out what he’d done wrong, but that’s how it was.
‘Always sighing, always yelling.’
Then suddenly, he’d end up moving to another house.
He’d been on pins and needles, wondering if it would happen again this time.
‘I didn’t want to leave my owner.’
Jamongi really liked his current owner.
That’s why the fear of separation stressed him out even more, which led to him messing up the house.
But then the teacher appeared out of nowhere and solved his problems.
His owner wasn’t going to abandon him.
Jamongi was thrilled just by that, but now he was even getting thanks from these scary cat big brothers and sisters.
It was all thanks to Woof Teacher.
Gratitude for Woof Teacher bubbling up from the depths of his heart, Jamongi beamed and said,
[Woof Teacher, thank you.]
Lee Jun smiled warmly at the greeting.
‘This guy’s anxiety is completely gone now. Anyway...’
Lee Jun glanced at Gray, who was watching Jamongi intently from a short distance away.
Gray’s eyes were filled with gratitude toward Jamongi.
‘He called this guy a scary big brother, right?’
That meant Jamongi saw all these park cats as scary too.
Lee Jun stroked Jamongi’s head.
“Looks like they’re accepting you as a friend now. So get along well with them from now on.”
[That’s right, meow. You’re one of us now, meow!]
[Really?]
Jamongi’s eyes widened.
[Yes, meow!]
At Gray’s words, Jamongi’s mouth fell open.
He’d become friends with these majestic, cool big brothers—all thanks to Woof Teacher.
‘I gotta stay loyal to our Woof Teacher.’
Just then, Jamongi’s owner spoke up.
“But why does that poodle look so listless?”
“Yeah, I’m worried it might be sick or something.”
Jamongi’s eyes sparkled at those words.
***
Lee Jun was worried about the poodle Strawberry.
The news spread like wildfire through Evergreen Park within days.
Whenever Jamongi met other dogs in the park, he passed it on. The dogs who heard it from him told others.
[Brother, ya hear?]
[What’s that, pup? Somethin’ ‘bout the vet worryin’ over Strawberry?]
[That’s right, brother. Ya knew too.]
[I did too. Our director’s been frettin’ over it somethin’ fierce.]
Mongi chimed in from the side, frowning.
[Ya got that right. Vet teacher’s worried, so it’s gettin’ to me too. Ain’t we s’posed to do somethin’ ‘stead of just sittin’ here?]
[True that. Worryin’ me sick. Yesterday I saw lil’ Strawberry, but she didn’t even act like she knew me.]
[Aren’tcha two close?]
[Yup. Pretty tight. Been so long since we met, I was thrilled...]
Mongi’s voice grew weaker.
[Guess she got a shock, huh.]
[……Yup.]
[Brother, it’s been ages since ya came out, right? Somethin’ goin’ on?]
[If she’s hurt, she’d say...]
Mongi’s frown deepened even more.
Seeing that, Ttangkongi continued.
[You’re thinkin’ of Milk sis, ain’tcha.]
[……Yup.]
Milk had lived with Strawberry and been great friends with Mongi.
Of course, she’d been close with Ttangkongi too.
Milk had been one of the longtime regulars at Evergreen Park for a full ten years.
But last spring, Milk passed away.
It wasn’t sudden. She’d been sickly for a while before going.
She’d been fourteen then.
[Milk sis said she took good care of Strawberry...]
[Yeah, she did.]
[She told me to play nice with Strawberry brother too.]
Silence fell among the dogs for a moment.
Then, in the distance, Strawberry came trudging along.
Suddenly, all three dogs turned, wagging their tails furiously to greet her.
Woof woof, bark bark, yap yap.
But Strawberry didn’t even turn her head toward them.
“Long time no see.”
“Come on over.”
“Aw, you look half your size.”
Instead, their owners greeted Strawberry’s owner.
Strawberry’s owner reluctantly approached their spot, and Strawberry trudged after her.
Like it or not, Strawberry had run into the trio.
Normally, she’d be bouncing over, chattering away, but now she just stared blankly ahead.
Ttangkongi asked her.
[Strawberry lil’ sis. What’s with the face? Ya hurtin’ bad?]
[Strawberry, ya okay?]
[Brother, everything alright?]
When they spoke up close, Strawberry reluctantly nodded. But that was it.
[Not hurtin’, huh. Good to hear. But ya got some worry eatin’ atcha?]
Shake shake.
Again, just a head shake in response.
[Dunno what’s up, but chin up, pup.]
[But she’s way too skinny.]
[Yeah. Brother, ya think yer mom’s only givin’ ya grass?]
At Kkakongi’s words, Ttangkongi raised his voice.
[Really? That ain’t right.]
[I know from experience. It ain’t livable. Brother, tell yer mom ya need real food right now. If not, tell our vet teacher. He’ll fix it.]
[Yeah, tell the director.]
Outraged, the three looked up and growled at Strawberry’s owner.
Grrr.
Rrr.
Grrowl!
“Oh dear, why are they acting up all of a sudden?”
“Strawberry’s mom must’ve brought boiled sweet potatoes.”
“Dogs’ll be dogs. How do they even know what’s in the bag? Come on, let’s get snacks out for them all.”
As the owners busily pulled treats from their walking bags, Strawberry’s owner spoke.
“It’d be nice if seeing them eat made our Strawberry eat too.”
“She will. Hand some over.”
“Okay.”
When the owners offered treats, Kkakongi’s eyes went wide.
Strawberry’s owner was holding out sweet potato to her.
[Whoa? Strawberry brother, that’s sweet potato!]
Sweet potato wasn’t just grass to these three.
Sweet, soft—truly top-tier treats.
And not just boiled, but fluffy, chewy baked ones.
[So lil’ sis ain’t starvin’ after all.]
[Guess not.]
The dogs were puzzled—it wasn’t what they’d thought.
[……Namul big brother went to the Cat Star.]
Then Strawberry spoke in a feeble voice.
[Namul? The cat brother at yer place?]
[……Yeah. Namul big brother died.]
[How...]
Soft-hearted Mongi’s eyes welled up.
He approached Strawberry and patted her.
But being short, Mongi’s paw only reached her foreleg.
Stroking Mongi’s foreleg with his paw, then Mongi hugged Strawberry’s foreleg.
[It’s tough, I know!]
Ttangkongi comforted her next.
His paw reached her foreleg ankle.
Patting Mongi’s foreleg, Ttangkongi said,
[Ya did good, lil’ sis.]
Kkakongi too.
[Brother. Chin up.]
The trio’s sincerity reached Strawberry.
She slowly nodded.
[Here, eat this. Gotta eat to get strong, right?]
[Yeah, Strawberry, chow down.]
Despite her friends’ encouragement and lack of appetite, Strawberry nibbled a piece of sweet potato.
Munch munch.
But it tasted like nothing.
She mechanically chewed and swallowed, then closed her mouth.
[Strawberry sis, more?]
But Strawberry shook her head.
She didn’t want any more.
The dogs urged a few more times, but no luck.
The three watched Strawberry pitifully.
***
A few days later, Ttangkongi came to Meongmeong Animal Hospital.
[Vet fella. Can ya help Strawberry a bit?]
“Strawberry?”
[I heard from lil’ Jamongi sis ya were worried ‘bout her.]
At the mention of Jamongi, Lee Jun recalled the poodle from a few days ago.
“Ah, the poodle? So her name’s Strawberry.”
[Yup.]
“So you know her, Ttangkongi. She did look really listless. Is she sick?”
[Don’t think so.]
She might be, but Lee Jun focused on Ttangkongi’s words first.
Dogs shared info among themselves, after all.
“Yeah? Then what’s up?”
[The cat named Namul at her place went to the Cat Star.]
Ttangkongi spilled Strawberry’s situation.
Strawberry, same age as Mongi, had been adopted as a puppy into a home with Milk.
Strawberry had followed Milk like a mom. They were inseparable besties.
Milk was so kind, she even looked after Mongi when they met in the park.
So when Milk got sick, all the park friends grieved and worried.
A year passed, and Milk passed.
That was last year. Strawberry barely recovered from her grief.
But recently, the cat Namul died too.
Back-to-back losses meant the sadness lingered.
[Even then she ate, but now she’s skin and bones, not eatin’ nothin’.]
“Oh no!”
That explained the owner’s expression.
To Strawberry, Milk and Namul were family. Losing them a year apart...
Lee Jun knew the feeling—after Grandpa passed, then Kongdori a few years later, he’d wandered lost.
He fully understood Strawberry’s state.
The difference? Lee Jun had no one left after Grandpa and Kongdori, but Strawberry had her owners.
“Strawberry’s owner knows your owner?”
[Yup.]
“Alright, I’ll have a word.”
Lee Jun approached Ttangkongi’s owner at the checkout.
There were two bags of kibble and piles of treats on the counter.
“Buying so much kibble and treats—you must be busy.”
Lee Jun smiled and asked.
“No. Oh, can you bag that separately? It’s a gift.”
Lee Jun had a hunch who for.
“Got a friend’s dog who’s not eating well?”
“Ha, yeah. My friend’s pup won’t touch food—really worrying her.”
The owner echoed what Ttangkongi had said.
“I’ll tell her to bring it here, so check it out, Director. You understand dogs so well.”
“Will do.”
Hours later, Strawberry arrived at Meongmeong Animal Hospital.
Strawberry’s owner said Ttangkongi’s owner had recommended it.
“They say the director here reads dogs’ hearts well.”
“Ttangkongi’s owner was really worried you weren’t eating.”
“Yeah. She was always lively and a great eater, but suddenly nothing.”
“I heard it started after Namul went to the Cat Star.”
Strawberry’s owner’s eyes widened a bit at Lee Jun’s words.
Not “died,” but “went to the Cat Star.”
That one phrase showed how thoughtful this vet was.
And how much he cared for animals.
‘No wonder they suggested here.’
Grateful to Ttangkongi’s owner, she replied.
“Yes, exactly. Last year when her sister-dog went, she bounced back in a few days. But now it’s been ten days, and no energy.”
Strawberry’s owner sighed deeply and continued.
“She curls up on Namul’s cushion all day. Thought a walk might help, but no dice.”
“Must be tough on you.”
“She worries me. Scared she’ll starve. Nothing wrong health-wise, right, Director?”
“Hard to say without an exam.”
Lee Jun answered honestly.
“Sigh, yeah. First day or two after Namul... went to the Cat Star, I figured no appetite. But still not eating—it’s worrying now. Namul went faster than expected; I feel guilty...”
“Mind if I ask what was wrong with Namul?”
“Heart disease. Congenital hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, I think.”
“Namul must’ve suffered a lot.”
“Yeah. Didn’t show symptoms, so we caught it late. Saw Milk struggling with heart issues, rushed tests. Now I regret it. If we’d found it sooner...”
“HCM’s often asymptomatic, so owners miss it. It’s the top cause of sudden death in cats.”
“Namul’s vet said the same. That she was Haenguni.”
Lee Jun never met Namul.
Never talked to him. But now he understood animals’ hearts somewhat.
Pointing to Strawberry standing quietly by her owner, Lee Jun said,
“They’re so grateful to those who care for them. Namul was surely thankful to you.”
Lee Jun’s words touched the owner’s heart.
She’d heard similar from others.
You did enough.
You worked hard.
Namul appreciated it.
But none hit like this.
It felt like Namul himself saying it.
‘Came for Strawberry, but I’m the one comforted.’
The worry lines on her face slowly faded.
“I hope so.”
A faint smile crossed her darkened face.
“I wish Strawberry knew too. She was the first to find Namul gone to the Cat Star.”
“Ah... Must’ve shocked her bad.”
“Probably. That’s likely the cause. Namul, unlike Milk... Oh, Milk was our previous dog...”
Strawberry’s owner recounted the story of Milk, Namul, and Strawberry.
Lee Jun had heard from Ttangkongi’s owner but listened quietly.
When she finished, Lee Jun looked at Strawberry and said,
“Unlike Milk, who faded slowly, Namul went suddenly—so big shock for Strawberry.”
“Yeah.”
From Strawberry’s view, healthy Namul just died out of nowhere.
‘They said no reaction, right? Doesn’t respond even when spoken to.’
Talking wouldn’t help then.
Need to spark interest.
Most dogs at the clinic wandered around.
But leash-free, Strawberry just stood blankly.
Lee Jun spoke to her.
“Ttangkongi brother was really worried about you.”
At “Ttangkongi,” Strawberry’s ears twitched.
Encouraging—unlike no reaction to the conversation so far.
‘She’s interested after all.’
Lee Jun knelt to meet her eyes.
“Kkakongi thought you were only eating grass ‘cause you’re so skinny and worried.”
Strawberry’s eyes widened at Lee Jun’s words.
[H-How’d you know?]
“How’d I know? Ttangkongi told me, obviously.”
[R-Really?]
“Yeah. He even told me Mongi, Kkakongi, and he were cheering you on.”
Lee Jun kept eye contact.
“So tell me your worries. What’s bothering you.”
Strawberry said nothing, just slowly walked. Lee Jun followed slowly.
The owner started to follow but stopped.
‘The director observes carefully to figure out what they want—no interrupting.’
She sat quietly in the waiting chair.
As Strawberry walked aimlessly, she finally spoke.
[M-My big brother Namul... went to the Cat Star because of me. I sent big brother to the Cat Star.]
Lee Jun’s eyes softened with pity at her words.