Chapter 9
Chapter 9
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: The Protagonist of the Rumor
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The protagonist of the rumor dropped off two friends in his car and stood in front of the crosswalk.
‘Oh, crossing the street, nyaong?’
In that case, that person would get in a car and head off too.
With that thought, Gray stood still right there.
Gray always saw his comrades off from afar for a long time whenever they came to visit.
He stood silently watching until the cats vanished from sight.
It was because there was no telling when they might meet again—he wanted to etch their images into his eyes for as long as possible while he could.
Gray lifted his head and took in the sight of the man standing before him.
He wasn’t one of his comrades, but for some reason, Gray felt like seeing him off.
And sure enough, moments later, the protagonist of the rumor crossed the street, just as expected.
It was nighttime, so there wasn’t much traffic.
From where Gray sat, he had a perfect view of the man crossing.
He’d hop into a car soon and disappear.
Then it’d be time to head back to the park.
Gray was staring ahead with that in mind when the protagonist of the rumor suddenly ducked into a nearby alley by the crosswalk.
[Walking, nyaong?]
He decided to follow.
Like any other cat, Gray was red-green colorblind. Blues and yellows stood out sharp and clear, but reds and greens blurred together.
But Gray was smart.
Off in the distance, a light was flashing on the pole.
‘The round one up top is flashing right now, nyaong.’
That meant don’t cross yet.
When the light on the bottom flashes and stops, and the people standing nearby start walking—that’s when you cross.
Gray waited at the crosswalk for the light to change.
Flash. The light blinked below, and the people beside him started moving.
Gray crossed leisurely right behind them.
The protagonist of the rumor had already vanished into the alley. But Gray didn’t panic.
‘I smell him over there, nyaong.’
Gray headed down the alley that carried the man’s scent.
This alley was part of his territory too.
Still, he rarely strayed far from the park, so it had been ages since he’d been around here.
Gray scanned the vibe of his long-forgotten turf.
‘It’s quiet, nyaong.’
Partly because it was late, but it felt incredibly serene. Not that it was deserted.
[Captain?]
[Whoa whoa whoa! It’s the captain, the captain!]
[Captain!]
Cats appeared out of nowhere to greet Gray.
A brief mewling commotion broke out.
[Nighttime, nyaong!]
At Gray’s single word, the noise died down as if it had never happened.
[You all doing well, nyaong?]
[Hee hee, Captaiin!]
[Captain, what brings you here-nya?]
Just like in the park, the cats asked in tiny mews.
[Just out on patrol, that’s all-nya.]
[Whoaaa!]
[C-Captain...]
To think he’s out here working day and night for our safety. The cats were moved.
Gray gave them a steady gaze, then resumed following the scent.
Three or four cats trailed behind him.
Gray appreciated their loyalty but spoke up.
[Nighttime, nyaong. Everyone go rest-nya.]
See? He really was a cat who cared for his comrades, he thought.
But the cats who revered him showed no sign of leaving, sticking to his heels.
Being respected by the group felt amazing.
Gray walked with his head held high, his mouth corners curving up even more.
After walking the alley for a good while, Gray stopped in front of a house.
It had a yard and trees—a nice setup.
He checked for signs of life inside, and his mouth corners lifted.
‘Hoong, the guy lives here, nyaong.’
Gray turned and retraced his steps.
[Thank you, Captain.]
[Take care!]
[Hmm hmm, see you in the park, nyaong!]
Having confirmed where the human from the rumor lived and the loyalty of his comrades, Gray returned to the park fully satisfied.
And for the first time in ages, he slept deeply.
***
The next day, Gray woke to a racket like an earthquake had hit.
Thud thud thud.
Dogs racing wildly through the park.
Woof woof woof! Yap yap yap!
Growl growl! Yip yip!
Barking everywhere.
[Why are those mutts making such a fuss first thing in the morning, nyaong!]
[It’s Sunday. They’ll quiet down tomorrow, so just bear with it today.]
A nearby cat said that and wandered off elsewhere.
Ah, if he’d known, he would’ve slept in that quiet alley house last night.
Gray recalled the peaceful alley home from the night before.
‘Might as well go finish sleeping there, nyaong.’
He thought that and rose, when the dogs’ chatter pierced his ears.
[Kkakongi bro, you’re looking sharp today.]
[Now Mom’s gonna load us up with food, right?]
[Whoa, awesome!]
[Right? Feels great.]
[Yeah, starving’s the worst.]
[True that. That teacher dude? He’s the best. Me getting to eat like this? All thanks to him.]
[Hee hee, that round rice cake he shared was yummy. Hope he shares with our eyes too.]
[Yeah. That teacher’s so nice. I ain’t eating that nasty toothpaste no more.]
[Oho, switched toothpastes?]
[Yep. Told the teacher, and he swapped it right away. Just thinking of the old one makes me wanna hurl.]
[For real, he’s the best. Hope that teacher sticks around our hood forever.]
Normally, Gray would’ve scowled at the dogs’ yapping and gone elsewhere to sleep.
But now, their talk amused him. It sank right in.
‘The chatter’s definitely changed, nyaong.’
Not long ago, the dogs would gather and gripe about bland food, wanting more walks but rarely getting them, or guardians ignoring their pains.
They were all complaints.
But now, the dogs chattering away sounded excited. Happy, even.
‘Hoong, impressive, nyaong.’
Gray recalled the warm gaze the human had given him the day before while listening to the dogs.
He hopped down from the tree.
Then settled on a wide, flat rock hidden in the thick bushes.
The dogs’ talk came through clear, and the dense foliage kept him concealed—a prime spot.
‘Noisy, but I can hear about the vet guy, so I’ll endure, nyaong.’
Before he knew it, Gray was calling the protagonist of the rumor “the vet guy” too.
He lay on the rock, lulled back to sleep by tales of the vet guy’s reputation, when his eyes snapped open.
He sat bolt upright.
‘That guy’s coming this way, nyaong.’
And sure enough, a dark head poked into the bushes.
Long face, floppy ears, black eyes staring right at him.
Then the voice followed.
[There ya are, bro. Was worried when I couldn’t see ya.]
Even after Gray had snarled at him not to come closer, this clingy guy had won him over somehow.
[Looking stronger today, nyaong!]
[Right? Food’s the best power-up. Had some killer stuff today too.]
Gray chuckled at Kkakongi’s cheekiness.
Sure, he called them noisy and rowdy, but they met often enough.
[Hey, where’re the other bros and sis? Miss ’em.]
[Still sleeping, nyaong.]
[Aww, too bad. Woulda been nice to see ’em while I’m out with Dad.]
[You, who shows up every day yapping your head off, missing them? Pfft, nyaong.]
Gray was dumbfounded.
He’d heard that voice yesterday, and just days ago it had woken him with its booming volume.
[Mom doesn’t come this far, so I only see you bros when it’s Dad time.]
That’s when a gravelly voice came from above.
“Kkakongi, ya can’t go in there. What if ya poke yer eye out? Come out here now.”
The voice rang out, and Kkakongi flinched.
[Bro, Dad’s tugging the leash. Gotta go.]
[Go on, nyaong.]
Once Kkakongi was gone, Gray curled up and closed his eyes.
But then came Kkakongi’s yips.
[Oh, bro. Ya should check out that animal hospital by the road. That teacher’s super nice.]
Kkakongi wagged his tail and vanished into the distance with his owner.
Kkakongi’s words reignited Gray’s curiosity.
From the kindness he’d shown yesterday, he didn’t seem bad.
But Gray wanted to see for himself how this vet treated animals.
He bolted straight to Meongmeong Animal Hospital. No one was there.
Everyone’s out playing today, huh? Same here.
Gray headed home, planning for tomorrow.
The next day, Gray watched Meongmeong Animal Hospital.
He could hear the vet guy chatting with dogs inside.
Near-sighted as he was, he couldn’t see much inside, but the voices alone told him the mood was great.
And it wasn’t just that.
The dogs’ faces looked different going in and coming out of Meongmeong Animal Hospital.
“Director, he’s so nice, right? Somi’s got a great teacher now.”
[Yeah, he said I’m sweet and pretty.]
Woof woof. The tail-wagging turned into full hip-shaking, and Gray muttered.
[The vet guy said I’m handsome too, nyaong. And I know his hiding spot, nyaong.]
The next day, Gray watched Meongmeong Animal Hospital again.
“No standing on hind legs. That’s why your back legs hurt.”
Hind legs?
Gray lifted his front paws and stood on two legs at the voice from inside.
“Oh my gosh, that one’s adorable. A cat standing on two legs peeking into the animal hospital.”
“What’s with that fur?!”
Passersby said something about him.
Gray turned his head toward them once.
Click.
Some weird sound too.
But Gray wasn’t startled.
He heard it sometimes in the park when he lounged out in the open.
Just...
‘Shoo, go away, nyaong! Can’t let the vet guy spot me, nyaong!’
Gray waited for the people to leave, then focused on the vet guy’s voice inside again.
It carried the same warmth and concern as when he’d spoken to Gray days ago.
On the third day, it was the same.
Gray’s mouth corners twitched up at the voices from the animal hospital.
‘The vet guy’s always so kind, nyaong.’
He wished that voice would call to him too.
‘I’m right here, nyaong.’
Gray had been sitting by the parking lot next to the hospital but moved to a windowsill spot with a good view inside.
After a bit, all the animals inside left.
‘Phew, they’re gone, nyaong.’
Gray peeked inside.
The vet guy was bustling about.
Then whoosh—the vet guy glanced outside.
The vet guy’s eyes met Gray’s. Probably.
Uh uh...
Before Gray could react, the door burst open.
No time to flee—a gentle voice pierced his ears.
“Gray, you must be hungry.”
It was the vet guy. Nice to see him.
But corrections had to be made.
[My name’s Gray, nyaong!]
“Ah, right, it is.”
That’s when a new face popped out, squealing.
“Oh my gosh, who’s this cutie? Director, he’s so handsome! Name’s Gray?”
[Gray, nyaong!]
Gray meowed louder.
“Handsome looks and a cool meow too? Wow. Come on in, Gray. Sis has something yummy for you.”
I’m not Gray!
Gray mewed softly, but his mouth corners kept rising.
And once he followed inside, he felt even better.
“Gray, how’s this? Tasty, right? My cat at home loves this flavor.”
To think something this delicious existed.
Gray couldn’t even reply—he buried his face in the dish and gobbled it up with munch munch munches.
And the next day, Gray scored food at Meongmeong Animal Hospital again.
[Thanks for the meal, nyaong!]
“You’re welcome. Come anytime you’re hungry and ask for food. And bring any hungry friends too.”
[Vet guy, thanks, nyaong!]
“Haha, ‘vet guy’? You sound just like Ttangkongi who comes here.”
Gray’s eyes flicked side to side for a second.
‘Me, this magnificent me, compared to that stubby, slowpoke Ttangkongi? Ridiculous, nyaong!’
No way.
Gray racked his brains. What to call this vet guy?
‘Dunno, nyaong. Think later, nyaong.’
Back at the park, Gray kept pondering what to call the vet guy.
[Captain?]
No. He was the captain of this turf.
Gray shook his head.
[Bro?]
That’s what Kkakongi called him.
It always put him in a good mood.
Yeah, go with that?
‘Anyone who feeds you is a bro, nyaong.’
A kind-hearted bro who fed him.
[Good bro, nyaong.]
He’d tell his comrades their captain had a great bro now.
That’s when a fancy tortoiseshell cat with gorgeous red-brown stripes sauntered up gracefully from afar.
[Captain~ Did you hear?]
But unlike her elegant look, worry laced her voice.
Her face didn’t look good either.
[What’s wrong, nyaong?]
[Dalkomi’s really sick.]
[What? Still not better, nyaong?]
Gray’s golden eyes shook this way and that.