Chapter 89
Chapter 89
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 89
Chapter Title: Fat Cats on the Run
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“Ahahaha, Mom, look at those cats’ bellies. They’re jiggling! Like bouncy balls!”
Huff, huff, huff.
The cats’ breathing grew heavier.
“Hello, big round bouncy ball cats!”
The kid waved at the cats and ran off.
[I’m not a poop-round cat meow!]
Furious, Gray planted his front paws on his pMongchi sides, furrowed his brow, and glared at the departing child.
“Oh my, look at them. So cute, all pudgy like stuffed toys!”
“Totally. I just want to hug them.”
Gray’s ears perked up at the words calling them cute.
Normally, he wouldn’t welcome it, but right now, even that felt good.
[That’s right meow. I am cute meow!]
Gray let out a delighted meowl toward the college students.
“Eek~ So adorable! But they look kinda familiar.”
“It’s them! Gray and Shadow!”
[Ehehe, now they recognize us.]
Shadow, who had been striking the same pose beside Gray while glaring at the kid, burst into a big laugh.
Finally, people who appreciated their coolness had arrived.
“Oh! Really?”
“What do you mean ‘really’? You watch their videos every day and can’t even recognize them?”
“No way. These ones are chubby. Gray and Shadow are so sleek and handsome.”
“Are they? Well, still, they’re so pMongchi and cute.”
[I’m Gray meow!]
[I’m Shadow!]
“True. Anyway, they’re super cute! PMongchi animals are the cutest.”
“Hello, chubbies!”
The college students giggled as they walked on.
Gray and Shadow pressed against the glass, meowling away.
[I’m Gray meow.]
[I’m Shadow.]
[…The handsome Gray… meow!]
[The sleek Shad… ow!]
The cats’ meows grew fainter.
Gray looked down at his belly. It still jiggled.
[It’s always been like this meow.]
The jiggle around the belly was a primordial pouch, an evolved flap of skin that stretched out.
Thanks to it, he could stretch his hind legs coolly during jumps and protect his organs.
[Exactly. Gotta have this to chow down big time.]
Shadow chimed in, looking at his own belly.
In the wild, where hunting was tough every day, it was best to eat a lot when you could and store it up.
Anyway, cat bellies were supposed to jiggle.
[But Gray, your belly doesn’t jiggle as much anymore?]
[See meow. I’m not a chubby cat meow!]
Gray beamed at Shadow.
Shadow’s belly wasn’t as saggy as before either. It was just round and jiggling a little.
[You too, Shad… meow?]
Gray tilted his head at Shadow.
[But Shadow, you look way bigger meow!]
[Of course. I’ve always been big and burly. Not like some fluffball—a truly massive cat.]
Shadow stood on his hind legs atop the cat tower, showing off his size.
A burly build.
In the wild, bigger and bulkier was advantageous. Most boss cats were big and agile.
[But you’re poop-round meow!]
Just like the kid had said, Shadow was round.
His shoulders were pudgy, and his once-slim belly stuck out.
This wasn’t the taut, sleek Shadow anymore.
Just then, Sapsari’s cushion caught Gray’s eye. On it lay Sapsari’s toy—a pMongchi teddy bear, sprawled out.
Gray’s eyes sparkled.
[Just like Sapsari’s toy meow!]
Thud!
At Gray’s words, Shadow plopped down.
[Th-that’s ridiculous.]
“It’s ridiculous? Keep gaining weight like this, and you’re in danger!”
The cats’ heads whipped toward Lee Jun in unison.
[Is Shadow going to the Cat Star meow?]
[M-me…?]
“It could happen.”
The cats’ faces turned ghostly pale at Lee Jun’s words.
[Sh-Shadow, no meow!]
Sniff, Gray leaped over and hugged the prone Shadow.
[…Sniff! Things are finally looking up, and I’m not even hungry anymore…]
Shadow burst into tears.
[Shadow meow!]
Gray grew sad too.
[Gray, take care of Bluebird. Big Bro, look after our Bluebird crew.]
[O-okay meow. I’ll take good care of them meow!]
Gray hugged Shadow tighter and cried with him.
Nyaoooow!
…Sniff, knyaow!
Smack, smack.
Suddenly, their butts burned like fire.
The crying cats jerked their heads back.
[Why hit us meow?]
[Ow!]
“Melodrama much? You too, Gray. Keep rounding out like this, and you’ll be holding paws with Shadow, crossing the Jordan—no, heading to the Cat Star together, you rascal!”
Boing.
Gray, who’d been draped over Shadow’s back, sprang up.
[I’m going to the Cat Star too meow?]
“Hanging around all day doing nothing but eating? Of course!”
The cats fell silent.
They trotted over to Sapsari’s cushion and flopped down with a thud.
Lee Jun’s eyes widened at the sight.
“Down again? I told you that’s no good!”
[Didn’t expect this from Big Bro meow.]
[Wasted our scare.]
The cats replied indifferently without even lifting their heads.
Lee Jun looked dumbfounded at their sudden change, but the cats continued.
[Cats have gone to the Cat Star from not eating enough meow. None from eating too much meow!]
[One of my minions wandered days hunting food and went to the Cat Star. Lounging like me keeps you from going.]
Gray and Shadow, sharing stray cat reality, shot resentful glares at their Big Bro.
“Whew, what to do with these guys?”
The cats ignored his sigh, savoring the cool, comfortably full moment.
“No helping it. Keep being chubby cats then. You won’t hear ‘nimble and cool’ anymore, but if you’re fine with that…”
[No way meow!]
[L-let’s go!]
Pat pat pat.
The cats bolted toward the glass door.
Scratch scratch scratch.
Tap tap tap.
They pawed at the glass and stomped their feet.
[B-Big Bro, to the park meow.]
[I wanna run in the park!]
Lee Jun smirked at the cats frantically pressing against the door, begging to go out.
“You really want it, huh? Can’t say no then.”
Lee Jun called Sapsari.
“Sapsari, to the park!”
Sapsari, who’d always hated getting his fur wet after runs, wagged his tail furiously and bounded to Lee Jun.
“It’s hot, so I’ll carry you to the park.”
Lee Jun set Gray and Shadow down, then Go Gi-jin took Shadow from him and put him on his shoulder.
“Bro, take me too.”
“You guard the hospital.”
“It’s hot out, so I’ll go. You stay at the hospital, Bro.”
Lee Jun could see exactly what would happen if he let Go Gi-jin take them.
‘They’ll pant a bit, he’ll carry them on his shoulder for a lap, then come back bragging about a great walk.’
Lee Jun picked up Shadow and headed out with Gray on Sapsari’s back.
“Call if there’s an emergency.”
“Got it.”
Then Sapsari rubbed his head against Lee Jun’s waist.
[I’ll carry you.]
Sapsari, who usually spoke casually to Lee Jun, sometimes mixed in weird half-polite talk now.
Lee Jun found this Sapsari utterly adorable.
‘He’s blurting out what he wants without hesitation now. Nice.’
And when he did, Lee Jun usually went along with it.
“You sure? Won’t be too heavy?”
[Light.]
[Puhuhu, yeah meow. I’m light meow.]
[I’m light too!]
Gray and Shadow laughed happily.
“Then one each. Sound good?”
[Good!]
[I’ll ride Sapsari meow!]
[I get the ride back.]
The cats settled the order without fighting.
“Cute bunch.”
Lee Jun carried Shadow while Gray rode Sapsari to the park.
[The, the Boss is here!]
The cats swarmed, sniffing around Gray and Shadow before bowing their heads low.
Gray and Shadow tilted their heads at the greeting cats.
[How’ve you been meow!]
[Ahem, we’re here!]
The Evergreen and Bluebird cats got along well from frequent meetings and treat-sharing.
So they treated Shadow with respect too.
But this was extra polite.
The cats clasped their front paws and bowed formally. Norangi, at the front, spoke for them.
[Hello. I’m Norangi from Evergreen turf. Do you know where our Boss is?]
Norangi sniffed deeply, head bowed.
‘Smells like the Boss. Must be super close. Even talks like him.’
Gray’s eyes went wide.
[What’re you talking about meow?]
[W-well, you smell like our Boss, Gray, but he’s not here…]
Norangi mumbled, then took a big breath.
‘The glare’s terrifying. Totally fits as our Boss’s friend.’
Then—
[Forgot me already meow? I’m Gray Gray meow!]
Gray’s roar echoed through the park.
[Eek!]
Thud.
Startled, Norangi’s eyes bulged as he sat down.
The other cats plopped down too, trembling.
[I-is that true?]
Norangi’s pupils shook like an earthquake.
[O-our Boss is super cool and sleek…]
Not a massive fattened cat.
Norangi couldn’t spit out the last bit.
[Kehhehe, they don’t recognize you.]
[Impossible meow!]
Lee Jun stifled a laugh at Gray’s devastated face—laughing now would earn eternal grudges—so he suggested exercise instead.
“Gray, Shadow! Train hard and lose the weight. Makes sense they don’t know you, right?”
[Hmph, I’m still fine!]
[Eek! Is that Shadow Boss?]
[N-no way…!]
Shadow’s eyes shook at Norangi and the cats’ shock.
[N-no! Can’t be!]
Clutching his head in agony, Shadow dashed to the playground.
[Come on meow!]
Gray thundered after him.
“Kids, start slow.”
Lee Jun and Sapsari followed the cats into the pet playground.
Sapsari, trained to walk slowly then build speed to strengthen leg muscles, stuck to his usual slow pace along the edge.
Gray and Shadow, who’d climbed steep cliffs, leaped long puddles, and dashed up mountains nonstop, hated dawdling.
The cats sprinted to the playground.
Dash, dash, dash.
Thud thud.
Gray and Shadow raced.
“Don’t overdo it—just walk slow.”
[I’m Gray meow!]
[I’m Shadow!]
Eager to impress Big Bro, the cats sped up more.
But soon, their pace visibly slowed.
Trot, trot, tro… t… thump.
Ta-tak tak da… ack!
Huff huff huff!
Pant pant wheeze!
Dragging their legs, the cats halted, gasping.
Too much—they flopped flat.
[Ugh… tired meow!]
[S-so… tiring!]
Lee Jun chuckled and offered his portable water bottle.
“Here.”
Gulp gulp.
Slurp slurp.
The cats guzzled like it was life water, then flopped again.
[Hate… chubby cat meow. But running in heat’s worse meow.]
[Feels like Cat Star.]
Long-furred Gray already hated summer. But back then he was nimble; now with fat everywhere, it was way hotter and harder.
Same for Shadow.
Bigger body plus air-conditioned comfort lately made even bearable heat unbearable.
Lee Jun sighed at the sprawled, whining cats.
“No choice. Call it for today.”
One draped on his arm, the other on Sapsari’s back like defeated soldiers, they returned to Meongmeong Animal Hospital.
Lee Jun smirked at them.
“Bet they’ll crash straight through the night.”