Chapter 61
Chapter 61
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 61
Chapter Title: Rolling with Joy at the Shelter
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[Big bro!]
[Heehee, I missed you.]
Injeolmi flopped down flat in front of Haenguni. Chaltteok-i, who had followed right behind, did the same.
The Retriever brothers wagged their tails furiously while lying there, expressing their joy with their whole bodies.
[So, how've you been?]
Haenguni asked cautiously.
His friends were still here, and he felt guilty for being the only one who had gone to a good home.
[Yeah, we've been great. The big bros too.]
[Yeah, we get treats every day now. Teacher gave us some this morning.]
[They were so tasty.]
[Really?]
[Yeah.]
[Ride on my back. Let's go to the bros.]
[There are so many bros over there. They'll be thrilled to see you.]
But his friends greeted him with bright, innocent cheer.
Haenguni had avoided his friends back when he lived at Our Yard Shelter because his legs hurt.
Even so, the Retriever brothers had kept coming to check on him steadily.
They had gotten acquainted in the end, but he hadn't expected such a warm welcome.
[Thanks. But I can walk.]
[Your legs hurt, bro. Hop on.]
The thing Haenguni had wanted most back at Our Yard was to run and walk around playing with his friends.
He couldn't do it then, but now he could.
[They don't hurt anymore. I wanna go with you guys.]
[Heehee, okay then. Tell us if they do. I'll carry you.]
Haenguni dashed off into the pack of friends with the Retriever brothers, who walked slowly to match his pace.
Soon enough, Haenguni was rolling around kimbap-style with the dog pack.
‘Hehe, this is great.’
Haenguni, realizing for the first time how fun it was to play with friends, flashed a bright smile.
Even bumping into them a little didn't hurt at all. In fact, it felt good.
‘Warm.’
Feeling their warmth, Haenguni tumbled this way and that, following his friends.
Just then, Nureongi wandered over. He had been resting after getting tired from running around.
[What's so fun, you guys?]
[Lie down here too, big bro. It's awesome.]
[Yeah, super comfy. Smells yummy too.]
[Injeolmi, does everything smell yummy to you?]
Nureongi chuckled and came over to lie down beside them.
[You smell yummy too, big bro.]
[Hmph.]
Nureongi chuckled at Injeolmi's words and rubbed his back on the grass like the others.
It was something unimaginable before.
‘Thanks to Woof Teacher, I get to hang out close with big bro Nureongi now. Heehee.’
Injeolmi and Chaltteok-i, who liked all the Our Yard family, had wanted to get along with Nureongi too.
But far from it—he'd bare his teeth and shove the Retriever brothers away if they got even a little close.
Now, though, they could lie side by side with the once-scary Nureongi.
‘Heehee, Woof Teacher made it so I could play with big bro.’
Sundae thought the same as Injeolmi.
‘Nureongi's gotten so nice, all thanks to Woof Teacher.’
Sundae, who had been bitten twice by Nureongi in the past, was thrilled now.
He hadn't been hurt badly either time—just fur caught in teeth—but afterward, he'd tremble whenever Nureongi passed by.
[Good. Feels nice.]
Nureongi bared his teeth a bit as he flopped down next to Sundae.
That was distant history now. Sundae, lying beside Nureongi, smiled and said,
[Right? Try moving like this. Your back feels super cool.]
Nureongi rubbed his back on the grass like Sundae.
[Yeah. Nice and cool.]
One by one, more dogs started flopping down on the ground, and soon there were even more.
It was because the dogs who had been running wild around the shelter were getting tired and joining in.
Before long, the shelter was filled with dogs rolling kimbap-style on the grass, and others sprawled on the log benches and pavilions.
Only a handful were still standing.
After rolling around on the grass, savoring the filial piety vibe, the dogs just lay there dazed.
Some dozed off, others stared blankly at the sky.
In this utterly leisurely moment, Sundae spoke up.
[I wanna play here again.]
[Like Sundae said, it'd be awesome if we could come play again.]
[That would be really nice, wouldn't it?]
Pug chimed in.
[Yeah, it really would. Good food comes out, we love Teacher, and there are great friends like you guys...]
Sundae loved this place where he never got scolded for shedding.
Just one thing: the regret of not getting to walk freely. But that was a tiny regret.
Today, after rolling and playing to his heart's content for the first time in ages, even that had vanished.
[If we could roll around like this sometimes, it'd be perfect.]
[Heehee, me too. It's so amazing.]
[What is?]
[Heehee, check this out.]
Chaltteok-i jumped up and spun in place.
[Running and rolling around by myself.]
[M-Me too, it's amazing.]
Injeolmi suddenly bolted off far away, then came dashing back.
[Feels good to run full speed. Heehee.]
[Me too. On walks with Teacher, I had to walk super careful, hehe.]
Chaltteok-i picked up after Injeolmi.
[Walks with Teacher are great, but this is too.]
[Yeah, yeah. Teacher pets us on walks, which is nice, and now we get to play with the bros. Heehee.]
[Right! Love the bros!]
Injeolmi and Chaltteok-i loved Our Yard.
Maybe because they didn't know the world outside, but it was just great.
They loved the Teacher who always called them cute, and all the fun big bros and sisters who taught them games.
And now, one more great thing had been added.
The shelter.
They loved this space where they could play freely.
[I love it here so much.]
[Me too!]
[I love it too. Wanna come every day.]
[Yeah, yeah, every day would be great.]
[I like it here too.]
Haenguni timidly joined in.
As everyone said they loved the shelter, Injeolmi shouted,
[Hehe, it's as good as Woof Teacher!]
[I like Woof Teacher more. But this is good too. Heehee.]
[Woof Teacher is the best ever. He gets what we want.]
[Woof Teacher fixed my tummy ache.]
[Mine was my legs here. They don't hurt now. Hehe.]
Haenguni lifted his leg high.
[Now I can chomp my kibble. Thanks to Teacher.]
A dog who had recently gotten treatment from Woof Teacher and could now chew kibble properly said so.
[Not me.]
Nureongi, who had been lying sprawled, lifted his head to eye his lower belly.
Separate from how well Woof Teacher had treated him, he didn't like that his precious Ttangkongi had been taken away.
Injeolmi, who had been neutered young, watched Nureongi and asked,
[Big bro Nureongi, hungry?]
Injeolmi couldn't know Nureongi's grievance, so when Nureongi scowled, he thought it was hunger.
[Not hungry.]
[Huh? Then why the hungry face?]
Seeing Injeolmi's innocent expression, Nureongi sighed.
[You don't get it.]
[What?]
As Injeolmi tilted his head with a dumb look, short stubby paws tapped Nureongi's back.
[Just forget it.]
Sundae wore the same expression as Nureongi and let out a short sigh.
[Still, not letting us bark is too much. Argh, frustrating.]
One of the usually chatty Basenjis grumbled.
[I hate lining up. Just glare at the kids and they back off. Tch.]
This time, a guy as grumpy as Nureongi piped up.
A bit away, Haenguni muttered,
[Woof Teacher's so great though...]
[I like him too.]
A Maltese as small as Haenguni agreed.
Just then, a white dog with small black eyes gleaming came charging into the pack.
Egg-shaped face, muzzle slanted downward.
A boxer's sturdy body, shoulders spread wide, chest solid.
It was the Bull Terrier Taepung-i.
Taepung-i, whose energy usually overflowed to the point of bursting, loved walk time most.
So now, able to run freely, his mood soared to the heavens.
Taepung-i shouted to his friends,
[Whatcha doing there?]
Loving to run more than anything, he wondered why his lying friends were doing that.
Curious, Taepung-i ran over.
[Why lying down? Fun game?]
[The bros say they don't like Woof Teacher. But I do.]
Injeolmi answered with an innocent smile.
[I like him too?]
Taepung-i grinned brightly too.
[Didn't you say you didn't like Woof Teacher?]
[Yeah, couldn't run, right?]
[Yeah. But now I like him.]
[Why?]
[Woof Teacher said we can keep running here from now on. So I like him.]
Taepung-i shared what Woof Teacher had told him earlier.
[Really?]
[Yeah.]
[Whoaaa!]
[Wow, our Teacher's the best?]
[It's Woof Teacher after all.]
Everyone cheered.
Then Chaltteok-i tilted his head and asked,
[But big bro Nureongi, you said you didn't like Teacher.]
[Hmm, that's that, this is this.]
Nureongi replied, face a bit red.
Just then, a voice called from afar.
“Kids, snack time!”
It was Woof Teacher's voice, the one they all loved.
Woof!
A tiny, sprightly single bark echoed softly through the shelter.
In contrast, the footsteps thundered.
Thud thud thud thud.
Dash dash dash.
Tap, tap tap tap.
The dogs raced full tilt toward Woof Teacher.
Haenguni ran with all his might too.
Haenguni's face as he ran was brighter than ever.
***
Jang So-ra, who had heard from Lee Jun and Go Gi-jin that a shelter had been built at Our Yard, was dying to know what it looked like.
But they'd been too swamped until just now to ask in detail.
Lunch had been eaten in rotations they were so busy, and only now did Jang So-ra have a breather to approach Go Gi-jin.
“Teacher Go, show me pics of the Our Yard shelter.”
“Heh heh, you'll be shocked when you see the photos.”
“I've been so curious hearing you two talk. Finally getting to see.”
Jang So-ra's eyes widened at the shelter photos on Go Gi-jin's phone.
“This is the Our Yard shelter?”
“How is it? Super cool, right?”
“Yeah, it's amazing. So spacious. I'd believe it if you said it was a hotel garden. Wow, look at these parasols—so fancy!”
Jang So-ra marveled at the shelter photos.
“Right? Told you it's top-notch. Think that's all? There's pavilions too, pavilions. Log cabins. Check this out. Spot for the kids to chill if it rains suddenly.”
“The kids must've loved it.”
“They did. Wanna see?”
Go Gi-jin tapped a video of the dogs playing.
Woof woof woof!
Woof woof woof.
As the video played with barks and dogs dashing around, an exclamation escaped Jang So-ra.
“Oh my god... look at their faces.”
“Right? They look thrilled, huh?”
“Yeah, you can tell at a glance how much they love it.”
“Exactly. The kids really loved it. So cute. You should've seen them, Manager—grinning ear to ear, charging like arrows...”
“...Sniff!”
“Huh?”
Go Gi-jin stopped and looked at Jang So-ra.
“It's just... so great. Really great. Hic, sniff.”
“Why're you crying all of a sudden?”
Then the clinic door opened, and Lee Jun walked in.
“Everyone worked so hard today. Tired, right? Sugar's owner gave this—says it's new... Huh? Manager Jang. Why are you crying?”
[Chatting with Strong Brother made her cry-ong.]
[Strong Brother made her cry.]
“Really?”
Lee Jun glanced at Go Gi-jin and asked.
“Did you make Manager Jang cry?”
“N-No, I just showed her this.”
Go Gi-jin tapped the open video on his phone.
“It's the shelter?”
“Yeah. She saw it and started crying.”
“Hic, sniff. The kids must be so happy, that's why...”
“They are. They loved it big time. So stop crying and have some of this. Sugar's owner called it her masterpiece.”
“Okay...”
“We're going to Our Yard next week anyway. You'll just smile when you see it. They're so happy. Eat up, get your energy, and let's work hard next week.”
“Yes, Director.”
Jang So-ra took a sip of the coffee Lee Jun had brought and continued.
“It's such a relief.”
“Isn't it.”
“Right. The kids finally have space to run free—truly a blessing. Yum!”
Go Gi-jin popped cake into his mouth mid-sentence.
“Wow, this is delish. Gotta buy a big one today.”
“Sugar's owner said she wants your tasting review.”
“Heh heh, it's really good.”
As Go Gi-jin stuffed his mouth with cake, Gray jumped down from the cat tower.
[I want snacks too-ong!]
[I'm hungry.]
Shadow pouted, lips pursed.
‘These guys are jealous we're eating without them.’
Lee Jun checked the time— a bit past 4 p.m.
About time for them to get peckish.
“What do you want? Churu? Canned? Treats? Gum?”
Lee Jun rummaged for cat snacks and asked.
[Round, hard, tasty ones-ong.]
[Want square ones.]
“Gray wants toothpaste gum, Shadow wants treats, got it.”
As Lee Jun pulled the snacks from the bags, the cats let out loud meows and climbed the cat tower.
[Someone's coming-ong!]
As Gray said, the door bell jingled soon after.
“Hello? Director Lee.”
“Long time no see, Team Leader Park.”
Lee Jun greeted warmly.