Chapter 49
Chapter 49
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 49
Chapter Title: The Destruction Kings Crash the Clinic
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Woof woof woof woof! Arf arf grrr woof!
Ruff ruff ruff woof woof woof!
[Whoa! How long has it been since we last went out? Wheee!]
[Who the hell marked their territory here? Jerks! I'll wipe your scent away!]
[Eeee! This is exciting! Run like the wind!]
A dog the size of a house thundered along, while a spotted one that looked like a Go board raced beside it at top speed.
Trailing behind, a man gripped two leashes, running—or rather, being dragged.
One was a Jack Russell Terrier, the other a Pyrenees.
"Whoaaaaa! Guys, slow down a bit, huh?"
The man, who was practically screaming, was a regular at the park cafe run by Sugar's owner.
A few days earlier, he'd stopped by the cafe and heard about Meongmeong Animal Hospital.
'They picked up Sugar like it was nothing?'
The nicknames of the dogs charging ahead were "Destruction King Bro."
They earned the title because whenever they showed up, their boundless energy and uncontrollable frenzy turned everything around them to rubble.
Who would welcome dogs that couldn't contain their overflowing vigor and caused chaos everywhere they went?
Even their owner couldn't handle them. Because of that, the man hadn't been able to walk them properly.
With no outlet for their energy, the dogs' temperaments grew even more extreme, and whenever they did go out, they caused even bigger scenes.
It was a vicious cycle.
The animal hospitals were no different.
The Destruction Kings had become infamous troublemakers at all three clinics in the area.
The vets at those hospitals feared the man's dogs.
Every visit left the place in tatters due to their hyper personalities.
The hospitals had told him to bring one at a time, but who wouldn't want to if they could?
Leaving one behind meant the house would shake with their barking, making it impossible.
Because of that, these two hadn't seen a vet in over a year.
"Hah... Please, just let us get their vaccines today..."
Ear cleaning and nail trimming would be nice, but even hoping for that was greedy.
The man just prayed they'd manage the vaccines without incident.
Soon, the animal hospital that reportedly handled small dogs like Sugar came into view.
"Please... take them in..."
Muttering a prayer under his breath, the man yelled at the dogs.
"Stop! Stop! No further!"
But of course, the dogs didn't listen.
They kept surging forward, bursting with power.
With no time to sigh, the man shouted louder than before.
"Gum! Gum! Gum over there!"
Right then.
Halt!
The racehorses who'd been barreling ahead froze in place.
[Gum? Did he say gum?]
[Yeah! Let's go!]
[Yeah. I'm getting two big ones.]
[I'm getting three!]
[Then I'll take four!]
Ruff ruff ruff woof!
Arf woof woof woof!
The dogs made weird noises as they bolted toward Meongmeong Animal Hospital.
From the cat tower, the cats watching the scene burst into meows.
[Weirdos incoming!]
[Who are those maniacs?!]
Startled by the cats' unusual hostility, Lee Jun stepped out from the ward where he was tending to them. Go Gi-jin followed.
"Who's coming?"
But he didn't need an answer—the massive white blur charging toward them said it all.
"Looks like Sugar's buddy. First time seeing a Pyrenees and Jack Russell combo, though."
"That Jack Russell? Folks around here think it's a Dalmatian. Heh heh."
"Perfect timing. They're fast. Hey, aren't they heading to our clinic?"
"Haven't seen cuties like these in ages."
Lee Jun and Go Gi-jin strolled leisurely to the entrance, thinking the Destruction Kings were adorable, and opened the door.
"Welcome..."
Before Lee Jun could finish, the dogs and their owner whooshed inside.
[Whoaaa, this place looks fun.]
[Sniff sniff sniff. Who dared mark territory here? I'll cover it with my scent!]
"H-Hey, guys, once you're in, just stop, okay?"
Panting hard, the man yelled. Go Gi-jin stepped up and offered his hand.
"Hand over the leashes."
"Huh?"
"Give me the leashes and take a seat. You look beat."
Stunned by the unexpected kindness, the man nodded anyway—too out of breath to argue.
"Y-Yeah!"
Go Gi-jin took the leashes, and the dogs panicked.
[Huh? Why won't it budge? Grrrrowl! Rruff!]
[I wanna go over there! Grraaah!]
The dogs growled fiercely and strained with all their might.
But they couldn't advance a single step.
For the first time, their actions were checked, and they freaked out.
Woof woof woof!
Arf arf arf!
The two barked like they were tearing the clinic apart.
The man panicked just as much.
Not one, but both frozen in place.
'Whoa, how strong is he? Makes sense he could scoop up Sugar no problem.'
His lips twitched upward at the hope of finally getting the checkup he wanted.
That's when it happened.
"Quiet!"
Lee Jun lowered his voice in command.
But the dogs kept barking and hopping in place.
"S-Sorry! They're not bad dogs, it's just been so long since they went out, they're excited... Sorry."
The man apologized sheepishly.
The Jack Russell ignored him, still bouncing and growling.
[Why won't it move? Th-There's a ball over there! Ball!]
"This?"
Lee Jun held up a ball, grinning at them.
[Yes! Gimme! Woof!]
The Jack Russell leaped high for it.
But Lee Jun raised his hand higher, out of reach.
"Such lively pups."
One bounced straight up, the other strained forward. Go Gi-jin smiled warmly.
Seeing them subdued by Go Gi-jin's strength, the man's fists clenched.
'He pinned my boys! Nice!'
Relieved at the prospect of an easy visit, he sighed in comfort.
The Jack Russell kept jumping for the ball. Smiling, Lee Jun spoke to it.
"Sit and wait nicely, and it's yours."
[Really?]
"Of course!"
Desperate for the ball, the Jack Russell sat immediately, head up, staring.
"Wha...?"
The man's eyes bulged at the unfamiliar sight. Go Gi-jin let out an impressed whistle.
"Whoa, still amazing every time. How do you get them to listen so well, Director?"
Lee Jun smiled at him and turned to the dogs.
"Good. Sit nicely like that, and you get the ball plus cookies."
[For real?]
"Yep."
[I want gum!]
[Me too, gum.]
"Gum?"
[Y-Yeah! Gum!]
"Sure thing."
Casually, Lee Jun grabbed a small gum from the display—about three finger-widths long.
The dogs deflated at the sight.
[Aww, that one?]
[Pfft, not even a mouthful.]
"Right, you know it. Listen well, and you get this."
Lee Jun pointed to the biggest gum in the clinic.
Their eyes sparkled.
Even the Pyrenees sat neatly beside the Jack Russell.
"Good, you sat nicely. Here's your reward."
Lee Jun gave each a ball, then the small gum.
They chomped the ball, then the gum, thrilled.
"Huh, can't believe this. What are you guys?"
The man rubbed his dry face in disbelief. Lee Jun chuckled.
"They're good boys. They listen well."
"Th-They are good... but only at home..."
"That's good enough. Overflowing energy, no aggression."
Just as Lee Jun said, neither had bared teeth once.
"Y-Yeah. Never bitten anyone or another dog."
"See? You've raised them well."
"But they go too wild..."
"Good temperament means this fixes quick."
"Really?"
"Naturally. Shall we check them?"
"Oh, right."
Distracted by one man's strength and another's words, the man finally explained why he'd come.
In no time, both got vaccines, nails trimmed clean, and ears cleared.
"Doctors, thank you so much."
"No big deal. Just doing our job."
Touched, the man beamed.
"Th-Thank you. Never had an easy visit like this. Truly grateful. See you next time."
"Anytime."
[Can we come tomorrow too?]
[I wanna come back.]
Smitten by Lee Jun who understood them and gave treats, the dogs wagged furiously.
"Promise to come nicely!"
They nodded vigorously. Lee Jun told the man.
"They promised. They'll keep it."
"Think so?"
"Yep. They don't lie. Trust them home. But come tomorrow if they're good. Promises matter."
"Got it. Good behavior means daily walks."
The man thanked Lee Jun and Go Gi-jin repeatedly before leaving.
"Now, cleanup time?"
"I'll handle it. You two rest, Director, Doctor."
Jang So-ra emerged with the vacuum.
"I'll get it. Wow, Jack Russells shed a ton. Always amazes me. And that Pyrenees left a cMongchi."
"Short-haired breeds shed plenty."
"True. Used to think short coats meant no shedding."
Go Gi-jin vacuumed the scattered Jack Russell hairs.
"I'll tidy the exam room."
"I'll mop."
The three finished quickly.
Go Gi-jin eyed the spotless clinic.
"Cute pups, but what a fur nightmare. Short coats shed like crazy, long ones less but their size makes it massive anyway."
"Yeah. Owner's impressive, raising two indoors."
"Totally. Seems like a great person."
"Yep. Your strength made it smooth."
"Nah. You trained 'em well. How do you do it? Impressive."
"You're more impressive."
"Just held 'em."
Casually, Go Gi-jin continued.
"Sugar too, those pups—Haenguni ones. Raised with love shows. Feeding big dogs right is tough... Nice to see."
"Bring 'em to raise 'em right."
"Exactly. Life's short—do it well."
"Right."
"Everyone who comes here seems great."
"Agreed. All good folks."
Lee Jun smiled, recalling customers since opening day.
That's when Gray meowed from the cat tower, peering out.
[Black like you, Shadow!]
[Me?]
Curious, Shadow glanced out, then sighed.
[Aww, paws are black too.]
[Still pretty close.]
"Fair. Why's that one walking head down? Something there?]
[Dropped a toy!]
Lee Jun chuckled at the cats' chatter.
'Another dog for our clinic.'
Definitely one dragged unwillingly. He peeked outside.
A black Cocker Spaniel trailed its owner, head hung low.
Soon, with a jingle, the black Cocker entered, led by its owner.
"Welcome."
"Ahem, took him in 'cause his ears might be bad or he stinks bad."
The owner smacked the Cocker's head lightly in reply to Lee Jun's greeting.
Lee Jun's eyes narrowed.
'That Cocker flinched.'
Just a light tap, yet it cowered in fear.
'And hiding behind the owner is odd too.'
Especially after the hyper duo.
"Quiet Cocker. Well-trained, huh."
The owner, unaware of Go Gi-jin till now, startled but laughed heartily.
"Haha, listens to me good."
"Seems so. Cockers need lots of exercise."
As Go Gi-jin said, in a new place, the Cocker neither sniffed nor explored.
Just stood meekly behind its owner, head down.
But that alone wasn't enough for suspicion.
Lee Jun stayed neutral.
"Exam room?"
"Exam? Nah, I'll wait here. Coffee okay?"
The owner handed the leash and lumbered to the drink area.
No instructions for good behavior, no symptoms mentioned.
"Come on."
As Lee Jun led the Cocker, its eyes met Shadow's while scanning for the owner.
Shadow instantly read the plea in those dull eyes.
[You... suffering?]
At Shadow's words, a flicker of strength entered the Cocker's gaze.
[He... help... please save me.]