Chapter 83
Chapter 83
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 83
Chapter Title: We'll Live Together
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"No, we'll live together."
Flap, Sapsari's ears twitched.
"Oh, that's perfect. This is really great."
"I knew our director would say that. Hehe, the folks on the walking path will be over the moon when they hear."
People murmured around them, but none of it reached Sapsari's ears. Only the benefactor's words kept circling in his mind.
‘……We'll live together.’
A smile bloomed across Sapsari's face as his eyes folded into happy half-moons.
***
Back home, everything felt fresh and new to Sapsari.
Sapsari gazed at the living room.
There was his cushion, right next to the cats' cushions.
On top of his cushion lay the cats' fish toy, and beside it sat the yarn ball the benefactor had gifted him just a few days ago.
Seeing the cats' toys and his own lined up side by side on his cushion just felt good.
It was the same spot from this morning, but now it felt so much cozier and more peaceful.
Until this morning, his cushion had felt so out of place, like he was floating all alone...
‘Who knew staying here at Alley House forever could feel this amazing.’
Sapsari felt so good seeing his cushion proudly nestled between the cats'.
Maybe that's why his food tasted even better.
Chomp chomp chomp.
Sapsari polished off his meal in a flash and trotted over to the benefactor.
It was for the gum he held as dessert.
Clap clap clap!
"Wow, Sapsari, you're walking like a pro now. You didn't wobble even once getting over here."
The benefactor beamed at him and gave him praise.
‘Is this really something to praise?’
Sapsari, who had rarely ever been praised in his life, found it puzzling.
Even the cats, mid-meal, came scampering over and clapped their tiny front paws in delight.
Dong dong dong.
[Sapsari, you walked so good meow. Amazing meow.]
[You didn't fall once.]
[Soon you'll be able to run meow.]
At Gray's mention of running, Sapsari flashed a toothy grin.
Good food. Good words.
Thrilled, Sapsari spent a while strutting tall-backed around the living room.
After all that walking and gum, sleepiness washed over him.
The cushion he settled into for bed was pure comfort.
[Brother, sleep well meow.]
[Brother, good night.]
[......]
Sapsari started to greet the benefactor like the cats but clamped his mouth shut. His speech wasn't great yet, but with the benefactor right there, it was all good.
"Good night."
Sapsari plunged into deep sleep.
***
The next morning, Lee Jun woke up with a chuckle.
Sapsari was sleeping sprawled across his blanket.
‘Yesterday it was just his head creeping up, and now this.’
Under his arm was Gray, at his head Shadow, and claiming his thigh: Sapsari.
Sapsari wasn't starting conversations yet, but his body was already showing full affection.
Lee Jun gazed at the sleeping Sapsari.
He looked utterly at peace.
‘This guy's got the most relaxed face he's had since we met.’
Watching Sapsari in deep slumber, Lee Jun muttered.
"Gonna have to swap out the bed first if I'm sleeping with all these guys?"
Once Sapsari fully recovered, they'd ditch living room life and head to the bedroom, but cramming Sapsari in too? This bed wouldn't cut it.
As Lee Jun got up, the cats stirred and rose too.
The woken cats padded to the window.
Checking for rain, as always.
No rain meant playtime in the yard until breakfast.
Sniffing scents, climbing trees, patrolling the perimeter.
[No water coming meow.]
[Out we go.]
The cats headed excitedly to the yard.
Normally they'd bolt, but mindful of Sapsari, they walked slow like Ttangkongi.
Swish swish, Gray's long luxurious fur sparkled in the morning sun.
Sapsari followed along.
He strolled the yard sniffing scents, looked up at the tree-climbing cats, and wagged his tail.
As Lee Jun watched Sapsari walk, Go Gi-jin approached.
"When that fella smiles, the whole house lights right up, dontcha reckon?"
"Looks good, huh?"
"You bet. Never figured he'd smile like that. Real Haenguni break."
"Gray and Shadow pulled their weight big time."
"No doubt—stickin' by him when things were rough? Must've helped heaps."
Lee Jun nodded in reply, but Go Gi-jin kept going.
"Knew you'd take the pup under your wing. Findin' him a home? That's no small feat. Smart call anyhow."
"Once betrayed, always scarred. Don't wanna hit him with loss twice."
Even if someone offered to take Sapsari, Lee Jun had no plans to hand him over.
Take him without knowing his temperament, then bail? That wound would be near impossible to heal.
Maybe sensing Lee Jun's resolve—Sapsari's expression brightened noticeably.
His leg recovery sped up too.
"Think he's ready to tackle the park soon?"
"Want me to take him out?"
Before Go Gi-jin finished, Sapsari took a step back from where he stood.
Far from miffed at the rejection, Go Gi-jin burst out laughing.
"Haha, that rascal. Expressin' himself like a champ now. Alrighty then, off to your walk with your favorite bro~."
Lee Jun asked Sapsari.
"Wanna go to the park?"
Nod. Sapsari dipped his head.
"Whoa, answerin' clear as day now?"
Go Gi-jin stroked the excited Sapsari, but the cats spoke up.
[Kkakongi's coming meow.]
[It's Kkakongi.]
Soon enough, Kkakongi bounded into the clinic, buzzing with unusual excitement.
After greeting Lee Jun, he beelined straight for Gray.
[Brother, big trouble's brewin'.]
[Big trouble? You starved or somethin' meow?]
Gray asked worriedly, knowing Kkakongi had gone hungry once.
[Nah, not starved—ate plenty da. Ah, that's not the point. Park's got a punk with the same name as you, brother da.]
[Name? Same as mine meow?]
A guy sharing the precious name the Benevolent Brother gave him.
Gray felt irked.
[Real ugly mutt, loud as all get-out—yellin' his name so the whole park shakes da?]
Flinch—ugly hit a nerve, Gray's brow twitched.
[He's got a gang, hollerin' it big, so everyone's thinkin' that's the Gray da.]
Thinking his name stolen, Gray exploded.
[I'm Gray meow!]
"Go fight him right now. Beat him and take your name back!"
Shadow chimed in, fired up beside him.
In cat groups, same name meant the stronger one claimed it.
Shadow's anger was par for the course.
[Damn straight krao~meow!]
Gray's furious yowl rang through the animal hospital.
Gray sprang into action at once.
"Sapsari, let's go."
Gray's eyes gleamed at Lee Jun's words.
‘Park time meow.’
Gray beat Sapsari to the door.
[I'm goin' too meow.]
[Me too.]
Shadow glared at the door with grim resolve.
"These guys are dyin' to check out the new friends, huh?"
Gray's face scrunched up at Lee Jun's words.
Fur bristled, teeth bared, he bellowed.
[No way meow! I'm gettin' back the precious name your bro gave me meow!]
Like a knight marching to war.
Shadow's eyes flashed.
‘Gray as always!’
Gray charged to Evergreen Park, fierce territory guardian as ever.
Just then, the three notorious punks were rampaging through the pet playground like they owned it.
One a tad bigger than Sapsari, the other two Jamongi-sized.
As Gray, Shadow, and Sapsari hit the park, one punk barked.
[New faces!]
[Heh heh, perfect—bored outta my skull. Make 'em kneel too!]
[Yes! Time to show 'em who's boss!]
Thud thud thud thud.
The three punks charged at Gray's crew.
Grrrr.
Gray let out a low growl, coiling for instant pounce.
His sharp golden eyes pierced the punks.
Pupils flared wide then narrowed to slits—razor edges like lasers locked on target.
Flinch!
The charging punks shuddered.
But only for a beat—they licked their chops.
[Heh, fun lookin' one.]
[First ones not to flinch at us, huh.]
[We'll fix that.]
That's when it hit.
[Who's Gray meow?!]
The punks froze for real this time. Two eyed the third.
[Yo, he's callin' you? You're famous in the turf already?]
[Heh, how's he know my rep. Pup, yeah? What you want? Here for the loyalty oath?]
[You idiots nuts? Talkin' that way to Gray?!]
Shadow snarled right beside Gray.
The park cats who'd trailed them since Gray and Shadow arrived got mad too.
[What kinda trash talk to our captain?!]
[You're done for.]
[Dare demand an oath from our captain? No mercy!]
Kyaooo! Grrrr! Snap!
Cats perched on trees and bushes nearby stiffened hind legs and tails, baring fangs.
[Hee hee, tons of fun types here, eh?]
[Yeah. Won't be bored anytime soon.]
The punks slobbered over their lips with long tongues, tails swaying lazy-like.
[Hey, he called you out—you start.]
[Heh, got it. Gonna flatten the nose on the punk who said my name. Watch this!]
Grrrrr!
Punk Gray bared fangs, eyes blazing.
Then thud thud thud thud.
Straight for Gray cat.
[Captain!]
One park cat let out a sharp cry.
Yellow barked orders fast.
[Everyone, charge! Protect the captain!]
Knyaoooh!
Arrrrooong!
Yowoooohooong!
The cats yowled battle cries.
But remembering Woof Teacher's no-noise rule, their voices stayed whisper-quiet.
Punk Gray heard the tiny mews and was baffled.
[These weaklings darin' to come at me?]
Then something even more ridiculous happened.
[Everyone, halt meow!]
At Gray cat's low, soft meow, the cats froze on the spot.
Just a split second, but Punk Gray felt the charisma.
‘Huh, kinda badass.’
But Gray's words fired him up.
[I'm takin' my name back from this punk meow!]
[What? Name?]
[That's right meow. I'm Gray meow!]
[I'm Gray!]
[I'm Gray meow!]
[Hah, Gray this, Gray that—from a total weakling!]
Punk Gray scoffed at the bristly-glaring Gray cat.
Weak-lookin' crew meant weak leader.
Rustle rustle rustle.
Punk Gray rushed right up.
Raaargh—maw wide for the cat's neck.
Whoosh—cat vanished in a blink.
Thump.
Heavy weight on his neck, nyaong drilled into his ear.
[Slowpoke meow!]
Pow pow pow.
Gray cat smacked him front-paw style nonstop.
[Thank your bro you're still kickin' meow.]
If not for Benevolent Brother's no-claws rule on others, those'd pierce skin.
Then—whoosh.
Gray cat sailed far off.
Another punk dashed up, bit, and flung him.
Too sudden—Gray couldn't block, slammed to the ground helpless.
But nimble Gray landed smooth as silk.
Stern-faced, he lunged back at the punk.
Thump.
Different punk batted him with a paw.
Blocked again.
[These jerks!]
Shadow, who'd held back till now, leaped in.
[It's fine meow! This is name-reclaimin' meow!]
[Fine my tail! They're gang-rushin' us!]
Park cats always did one-on-one for strength tests.
These punks ignored that, three-on-one on Gray.
Shadow dove at the punks heedless.
Grab.
But Shadow got blocked too.
Yellow, who'd held back, yelled.
[Everyone, charge!]
Nyaaoooh!
Haaaak!
As cats leaped from trees, Sapsari—who'd been rehabbing a bit away—blitzed to the punks like a bullet.
Wham!
One punk crumpled.
[How dare you!]
Sapsari, who'd body-slammed the punk, glared down at the fallen foe and unleashed a mighty roar.