Zoo Outing (1)
After spending a full day resting in bed under Hoaran's devoted care, I finally came back to life—but that didn't mean I rushed off to work.
It made sense, since Lilith had flat-out told me not to go out for a while.
The reason? My Jotaechang had suddenly shot up several levels, so my Gift might rampage again anytime. Better to keep an eye on it for now.
She seemed to be hiding something else too, but I decided to just go along with it.
Not that I told her, but every morning my Gift was going haywire anyway, and I was relying on Hoaran to sort it out.
Shit could definitely hit the fan.
And most importantly of all...
My dick was back in action, sure—but the urge had completely evaporated for the time being.
I'd plunged straight into full-on sage time.
I could probably get it up if I tried...
But no way did I feel like dragging myself to work just for that.
Anyway, that's how it went, and before long...
"Fuck, I've got nothing to do..."
Even rolling around doing jack shit had its limits.
Messing around on Mammathong or Yanetja, cranking out random bullshit posts—it was getting old. I'd blown through all the comics Lilith lent me too. Zero entertainment left.
"You haven't finished them yet? Mom."
Lilith—who'd also decided to take it easy for a bit—glanced up from her borrowed comics as she crunched on some snacks. "If you can't wait, just read the next volume first."
She flipped the page with her tail—swish.
"Nah."
What's the point if you skip ahead? Might as well spoil the whole damn thing.
Plus, it cut off right at the hype cliffhanger. No way I'd start anywhere but the next one.
"Hurry up and finish."
"Ah, fuck... hold your damn horses, you little shit."
Prodding her to speed up earned me a shove to the head from her foot—squish squish.
What a goddamn shitty mom.
"You two aren't kids anymore. No need to bicker over something so trivial."
Hoaran sighed at the sight of us.
"Hoaa..."
Even Hoah was giving me that pathetic side-eye from beside her, just like Hoaran.
No choice—I peeled away from Lilith and zoned out again. That's when Hoaran spoke up.
"If you're truly that bored, how about some training with me? We haven't had time lately, have we?"
"Training...?"
I mulled it over at her suggestion.
She was right—we hadn't touched any shamanism practice lately.
But...
I was sick of lounging around doing nothing, sure. Still, that didn't mean I wanted to dive into shamanism drills.
It was like being bored out of my skull but refusing to crack a book or do anything productive anyway.
Telling Hoaran that would crush her, though.
I was her kid and disciple, after all.
"Do you... dislike it?"
She eyed my silence, so I scrambled— if I didn't answer quick, I'd end up hauling Fox Stones around under the pretense of "shamanism training."
Right then, the TV droning in the background as white noise switched to something perfect.
Something white flashed across the screen, followed by a scream—but it got all our attention. Me, Hoaran, even Lilith munching snacks over her comics.
The camera shook wildly—thud crash—and something hit the ground with a final yelp. Then a grinding crunch and the reporter's voice:
"These fucking horses all need to get wrecked—"
The host cut to the next topic in a flash. Talk about competent—especially for a rare human on air.
That's the world we lived in.
You needed reflexes like that to survive in those seats as a human.
Me? I'd freeze solid if that shit went down.
Anyway, perfect excuse to dodge Hoaran's training. "Shamanism later—wanna check out that zoo?"
"...You're saying you wanna go after seeing that?"
Lilith stared at me like I was nuts.
I shrugged. "Accidents like that happen all the time."
Nothing new.
No big incidents lately, but minor fuckups were daily routine.
"So, you in or what?"
She closed her comic. "...Whatever. Hoaran?"
"A zoo... Not a bad idea."
Lilith bit the bait fast—she was bored too—and Hoaran looked intrigued. "Then let's go. Zoo it is."
Impromptu decision, but life threw curveballs like that.
Nothing ever went to plan, and sometimes you winged it.
Most brainless outings bombed, but we were just killing time anyway.
"...Fine, whatever."
"Wait just a moment, then."
Hoaran was right—we couldn't roll out like this. I nodded.
I could throw on anything, but they couldn't.
"I'll head out first?"
"Sounds good."
So I geared up quick and went outside to fire up Zippy—my scooter—in ages.
"Long time no see, Zippy."
Lent by Lilith, I'd ridden it once that day and parked it since. I patted it fondly.
"Ah."
Dust everywhere—my hand was filthy black.
Made sense; it'd been weeks, no rain lately.
Needed a wash soon. Waiting for Lilith and Hoaran, I spotted them approaching—zoo-ready.
But...
Blonde Lilith, black-haired Hoaran.
No horns or tail on Lilith, no fox ears or tails on Hoaran.
Made sense—two of the twenty-two heroes strolling a crowded zoo in true form? Chaos.
Just hair swaps and hiding features flipped their vibes completely.
"...What're you staring at?"
"How do we look, Hanjo?"
"You both suit it perfectly."
Lilith's girly outing outfit—rare sight. Hoaran's first-time long skirt ensemble, ankle-length and demure.
They pulled it off flawlessly.
Originals like them made anything work.
"Hmph, obviously."
"Glad you think so."
They seemed pleased—time to head out. But Hoaran's basket caught my eye.
"What's that?"
"It's an outing, no? Packed a simple picnic."
No way...
Minutes of waiting, and she'd whipped up lunch already?
"...Why're you staring?"
Wondered what Lilith did in that time. She scowled, sensing it—I averted quick.
"Hop on."
They nodded and both lunged for shotgun—then eyed each other.
"...I'm taking front. You back? Got the basket—cramped up here, right?"
"I can hold the basket. You should go back, Lilith. More room to lounge."
"You think I lounge every day?"
"Don't you?"
Ah.
No clue why they fought over the dreaded passenger seat everyone hated.
"We switch on the way back. Alternate."
"......"
"......"
They glared. Then, resigned:
"...Can't be helped."
"Indeed."
But they both reached for the door again.
"I'll take going—"
"I'll take going—"
Glare.
...When the hell were we leaving?
Today, even...?
After much haggling—my mediation—Hoaran up front going, Lilith back.
Convinced Lilith by reminding her she skipped shotgun last time to the botanical garden for Ariadd.
Her pissed-off mirror glare was awkward as hell.
Anyway, zoo arrived.
Crowded as fuck—probably from today's TV spot. I gawked up at it.
"Fucking huge."
Apparently, they'd converted the whole district. No shit it was massive.
"Fucking pricey too."
Adult ticket nearly 100,000 won a pop. Highway robbery. I grumbled.
Lilith smirked. "You're raking it in—why bitch?"
"That's that, this is this."
Bad habit to blow cash just 'cause you had it. Regret later.
Still...
"Hanjo, there's a bird with six wings over there. Shall we?"
Hoaran scanned the entrance pamphlet, tails twitching visibly despite hiding—super excited. Worth it.
"Doppleganger zone too. Up?"
"That's an animal?"
"Slime subspecies, they say. No intellect, treated as monster."
Monsters in the zoo too.
Lilith was hooked.
Good call coming.
"So? Six-wing bird looks boring—doppleganger first?"
"What...? Six wings, and you call it boring?"
"Says the one with nine tails..."
Hoaran shot back at Lilith's mutter. "Were you referring to me?"
"Who knows...?"
"...Kinda."
Quit fighting over nothing.
"Just follow the numbered zones here."
Perfect for my indecision—sequential exhibits, starting nearest entrance.
They glanced, snorted, and yanked my arms—one each.
"Let's go."
"Onward."
To heaven?
My arms might rip off—ease up.