Chapter 36
Chapter 36
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: Guardian Cats and Successor Plans
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Lee Jun moved this way, and they followed this way; he went that way, and they trailed that way.
Whether at the animal hospital or home, Gray and Shadow stuck close wherever Lee Jun went. Watching them, Lee Jun asked,
“Shadow, does your eye still hurt?”
[It doesn’t hurt.]
“Good. Then are you hungry? No, it hasn’t been long since you ate, so that can’t be it... Do you have something to say?”
[W-what do you mean? I don’t have anything like that.]
Shadow stammered and quickly darted off elsewhere.
But his gaze still stayed fixed on Lee Jun.
“Gray, what’s up with your friend? Is one of the Bluebird crew sick or something?”
[Shadow’s not my friend!]
[Speak for yourself!]
Ears perked wide open, Shadow jumped in with a loud meow.
Both had their eyes narrowed into triangles, fur bristling between their brows as they hissed at each other.
‘They’re so cute when they bicker.’
Lee Jun smiled, but more than amusement, he felt joy.
If they could banter like that, they weren’t in pain.
“Oh, so you were testing how well you can see now.”
“Looking back with what you said, Director, that seems right.”
Jang So-ra approached, continuing the thought.
“I wondered why they’ve been wandering the hospital since yesterday. Turns out Shadow was doing a vision test.”
“Seems like it, right?”
“Yeah. I thought they were playing butler bodyguard, following you from afar then close up. Ho ho ho.”
“Butler bodyguard play?”
“Oh, when cats trail their owner all day, staring. My Mei does that to me sometimes.”
Gray and Shadow flinched.
‘How did he know we’re watching in case Big Brother collapses!’
Gray had been keeping watch, worried Lee Jun might collapse from overwork.
‘Thanks for saying I was waiting for the right moment, but he caught on.’
Shadow had been timing the perfect moment to say thanks.
“Nah, these two don’t get the butler concept yet. Nah, they’re just checking how much better their vision is today compared to yesterday. And Gray’s watching so Shadow doesn’t bump into anything.”
“Oh my! You two really get along so well.”
Jang So-ra praised their friendship, but the pair couldn’t hear her.
[Guess watching over Big Brother is what butlers do.]
[Seems so.]
[But Big Brother seems disappointed we’re not proper butlers yet.]
[I think so too. Does Big Brother even know what kind of cats we are?]
[Probably not.]
[Time to show him we’re top-notch butler material.]
[Yeah! Let’s guard Big Brother and Meongmeong Animal Hospital like fortresses. Prove we can be great butlers.]
[Deal!]
For once in sync, Gray and Shadow exchanged glances and curled their mouths up.
‘What the heck? How did they twist it like that?’
Amused and baffled by their talk, Lee Jun opened his mouth to correct the misunderstanding.
“No, guys, being a butler isn’t—”
[We know. We’re guarding.]
[You’ll be shocked at how good we are.]
Leaving those words, they bounded off to the cat tower.
They sat tall, peering out the window.
[I’ll watch this side.]
[Then I’ll guard that side.]
Gray stretched his front paw left; Shadow cutely extended his right, gaze following.
“Shadow, your eyes are still weak. You can’t stay there. Come inside.”
[Oh, right. Enemies could sneak in suddenly, so I’ll guard indoors.]
[Go ahead. I’ve got both sides covered out here.]
Their absurd response left Lee Jun chuckling.
“Yeah, playing at building your wild instincts is good too.”
Oden skewers, lasers, toy mice—all toys to hone wildness.
Boosting observation and focus on their own? He welcomed it.
Then—
Gray meowed.
[Jamongi little bro’s coming.]
[Enemy?]
[Nope. The bro who spotted me.]
[The long-eared one?]
[Yep.]
[Oh? Then we can’t show off our cool butler side.]
Moments later, Jamongi entered, heading to greet Lee Jun. Shadow dashed over, blocking him.
Even if not an enemy, gotta inspect and assert dominance.
Not just anyone—this was the long-eared prankster with strength.
‘This guy could show off his power and harm Gray’s Big Brother.’
Puffing up, Shadow growled low.
[Hold it! Stay right there.]
[Whoa? New big bro? Who’re you?]
Jamongi wagged his long tail happily in greeting. Shadow froze, then shouted.
[I’m Shadow.]
He answered, then inwardly reeled.
Shadow—such a cool name—yet he said Shadow.
Before surprise faded, Jamongi flopped down, extending a paw.
[Shadow big bro, I’m Jamongi. Hey, your paws match mine in color. Heh heh heh.]
Shadow looked down: eight white paws.
Four small, four big white ones.
[Hrm, so they do.]
As he replied, Jamongi greeted Lee Jun then turned to find Gray.
Gray kept watch outside while eyeing them.
[Gray big bro, how’s the leg?]
[Much better. You eat yet?]
[Yep! Sis gave me super tasty stuff, ate a ton. Hee hee.]
[Good. Eat well.]
[Yeah, hee hee. You eat tasty stuff too, big bro.]
[Thanks.]
Watching their warm exchange, Shadow tilted his head.
‘Hm, weird. He seems nice, but how can you befriend a long-eared prankster?’
To Shadow, Jamongi was just an endless-energy park runner.
‘Chatting casually with that guy? Impressive.’
Gazing at Gray and Jamongi, Shadow recalled waking here, relieved.
‘Eh, makes sense.’
Turning away, he headed to Lee Jun when he spotted suspicious movement outside.
But Gray paid it no mind.
‘Hm, that guy. Too long in safety, senses dulled?’
Unknowingly, Shadow saw Lee Jun’s space as safe.
Shadow told Lee Jun.
[Suspicious guy incoming. Hide.]
“Suspicious guy?”
Lee Jun strode forward at Shadow’s words. Shadow warned.
[Don’t move carelessly. Hide first, check who.]
“It’s fine. He’s a regular here.”
[Regular?]
[Yeah. Elder.]
[Right! Elder big bro. Awesome.]
Lee Jun, Gray, and even today’s first-timer Jamongi chorused ally.
And in came the star.
A short, pMongchi dog radiating seasoned years.
The dog said on entering,
[Vet sir, you been well?]
“Oh, Ttangkongi. Come on in. Eating well these days?”
[Yup.]
Then Jamongi wagged his tail excitedly.
[Big bro! Ttangkongi elder big bro!]
[Ttangkongi elder big bro’s here!]
[Little bros doing good?]
Ttangkongi returned the greeting; Jamongi spilled words.
[Yes yes, elder big bro! How’ve you been? I missed you soooo much. Did you miss me?]
[I’m good.]
[Seeing you good makes me happy. Anyway, how’s Gray little bro’s leg?]
[Good.]
[Great news. I’ll do a lap then.]
Greeting them done, Ttangkongi walked in, pausing before Shadow.
[New face, eh.]
Ttangkongi glanced at Shadow, said that, and trotted inside without fuss.
No who’re you, no wariness—just passed by.
Shadow was stunned, a first.
‘What?’
Shadow stood still, eyes tracking Ttangkongi.
The elder dog, striking a curious cat’s fancy, ignored the stare and did his routine.
Sniffing hospital spots for new scents, using the pee pad, then a sip of water.
No rush, leisurely lap done, Ttangkongi spoke.
[Gray little bro’s friend?]
Shadow again denied friendship.
[Met here first time? You seem tight for that.]
Gray and Shadow had explained their bond to Ttangkongi.
He listened till the end, then spoke calmly.
[Shadow little bro. You’ve been through a lot.]
Simple words, but they struck Shadow’s heart.
Felt like his lone struggles post-pack were understood.
Regaining senses, Shadow found himself spilling everything to Ttangkongi.
From leaving the pack injured, to agonizing over Bluebird return.
[Hm, I see. So what do you want, Shadow little bro?]
What did I want?
As Shadow pondered, Ttangkongi turned to Gray.
[What about you, Gray little bro? Back to the park?]
[Hm, not sure yet.]
[No rush deciding. Stay here or park, you’re our crew either way.]
Crew—Shadow’s eyes widened.
[Crew?]
[Yup. Same for you, Shadow little bro. Stay here or Bluebird, your crew sees you as crew. Like Jamongi little bro calls me big bro sometimes.]
[I see.]
[If you stay with the vet sir, your crew could visit anytime. Or better care for your friends.]
[What do you mean...]
[Vet sir gets our talk, so if someone’s sick, ask help—that’s what I mean.]
[Ah, got it.]
Shadow nodded, now using honorifics with Ttangkongi.
Respect for the insight dawned.
Nearby, Gray listened blankly.
‘Ah, right. Wherever I am, my crew’s the same.’
Gray had feared losing touch with his crew if living with Lee Jun.
Like past exiles gone silent.
Crew-loving Gray dreaded the disconnect.
‘No need to worry per Ttangkongi big bro. If I wanna go Evergreen, Big Brother’ll take me.’
Fully trusting Lee Jun now, Gray decided.
[I’ll train a successor too.]
[Successor—handing captain to him later?]
[That’s the plan.]
[Not bad. Leisurely life’s fun.]
Ttangkongi smiled slowly at his owner.
***
That evening.
Gray told visiting cats,
[I’ll make Norangi successor.]
Naming a successor meant their captain eyed retirement.
Cats freaked.
[What? Successor?! Captain, what’re you saying?]
[No way! Captain retires, who looks after us?]
[Right! We’ve trusted only you. No, rethink it!]
[Not retiring now.]
Gray added.
But the shock of successor from their captain’s mouth drowned it out.
Cats wailed in protest. Hospital visit rules failed this time.
Meow meow meow.
The racket drew Lee Jun.
“What’s wrong? Who’s hurt?”
[C-captain...]
Excited cats confessed Gray’s words to Lee Jun.
Gray shared his thoughts too.
Lee Jun listened through the chaos, then spoke.
“Hm, so that’s why you looked so serious lately.”
[Knew?]
[Yep.]
“Yeah. Do what you want. Haven’t seen Bluebird myself, but visitors seem fine. Evergreen’s thriving.”
[Yep. Norangi’s doing great.]
[Yeah, Milo too.]
“You’ve been captains long, right? Especially you, Gray—twice as long as predecessors. Time to retire ain’t bad.”
[Not twice.]
“Close enough. Worried about not seeing friends? Visit park once a month.”
[Visit park?]
Shadow startled; Gray’s eyes gleamed.
Lee Jun had taken special treats to Evergreen sometimes.
[Thanks.]
“Sure. Let’s party big. That day Shadow retires, Gray officially names Norangi successor.”
Thus, the cats’ feast was set.