The Demon and the Cat (2)
The group emerged from the gate. Isol was supporting Harin, while Jinho carried Harin's axe over his shoulder. It was already evening outside. Seha squinted against the blinding sunset. How long had they been in there? He hadn't noticed inside the gate, but now his whole body felt heavy.
"Haa..."
Jinho collapsed onto the ground with a thud.
"We survived... for real..."
"Get up."
Harin nudged Jinho's back with her foot.
"Ow."
"What are you doing, flopping down out here?"
"Cut me some slack. Your axe is seriously heavy. How do you even run around with this thing?"
At that moment, something stirred on Seha's shoulder. It was the baby Behemoth. It had been huddled tightly inside the gate, but the moment they stepped out, its ears perked up and it lifted its head. Its golden eyes widened round.
"Pip."
Cautiously, it began looking around. It spotted a tree.
"Pip?"
It looked up at the sky.
"Pip."
It saw a car parked in the distance.
"......Meow."
Seha chuckled softly.
"Lots of new things to see, huh?"
It seemed uninterested in Seha's words. Then the wind blew. Its fur rippled. It flattened its ears and squinted its eyes. Soon after, it raised a front paw, trying to catch the wind. Flail, flail. It couldn't grasp it.
"......Too cute."
Harin muttered under her breath.
"What'd you say?"
Jinho asked.
"Nothing!"
Seoyeun had gone straight to the gate management agents upon exiting and was talking with them. As the conversation progressed, the agents' expressions grew grim. An irregular boss required investigation already, but an S-rank demilich had appeared too. They'd narrowly averted a catastrophe.
"We'll have to close the gate for the time being."
"An S-rank appearance means assembling an investigation team will take time too."
Meanwhile, Dahong stood beside Seha, watching the baby Behemoth. The little one spotted some grass blades at about shoulder height and sniffed them. The bitter, grassy scent tickled its nose.
"Hah."
Smack. Its tiny front paw swatted the grass. It didn't like the smell, apparently.
"That's grass," Seha said.
The baby Behemoth looked at Seha, then sniffed the grass again.
"Hah."
"......If you don't like it, don't sniff it."
The baby ignored him completely.
Somehow reminds me of Dahong. Seha thought suddenly. The main colors were opposites—white and black—but they oddly complemented each other. Especially the red gem on its forehead or the horn-like features.
...And the way it ignored him.
Seha glanced at Dahong, who was teasing the Behemoth with her finger.
"What're you looking at?"
"Nothing."
Then Isol approached.
"Picked a name yet?"
"A name?"
"Yeah. For that little one. Can't call it Behemoth out here."
True enough. Mentioning Behemoth outside would draw unwanted attention nine times out of ten. Better to give it a different name to avoid a fuss.
"Hmm... Dahong?"
"Yeah?"
"Got a name for it?"
Dahong pondered briefly.
"Blackie?"
"......That's a bit much."
Seha grimaced. Blackie because it's black... risky.
"Why? You named me Dahong after my shirt and eye color."
"W-well, true, but you're not exactly Whitey either."
"Then you name it. You're the summoner."
"Hmm..."
Seha fell into thought. Kami, Dusty, Moss, Star, Bean.... Names flashed through his mind.
Then the red gem embedded in its forehead sparkled.
"......Ruby."
"Ruby?"
"The gem looks just like a ruby."
The baby Behemoth—Ruby—looked up at Seha. Its golden eyes sparkled.
Isol smiled.
"Looks like it approves."
"Ruby."
Dahong tried the name. Ruby turned its head toward her.
"Not bad."
"Right?"
Just then, Seoyeun finished with the agents and returned. Her gaze swept over Team 1.
"Good work, everyone. Head home and rest."
"What about you, Teacher?"
"I've got reports to file at school."
"......Tough break."
The group started walking toward where they'd stashed their gear. As Dahong passed Seoyeun,
"Yu Seha's summoned beast."
"Yeah?"
Dahong turned. Seoyeun stared straight ahead, speaking lowly.
"Let's talk later."
Quiet enough that only Dahong could hear. Seoyeun walked on. Dahong watched her back intently.
"Dahong?"
Seha called.
Dahong turned.
"Let's go."
"Yeah."
Dahong slowly turned. Ruby's tail, perched on Seha's shoulder, swished side to side.
Before heading home, Dahong and Seha stopped by a pet shop near the apartment complex.
Whirr. The automatic door slid open, and Ruby flinched.
"Welcome!"
Ruby, cradled in Seha's arms, perked its ears and bared its claws. Probably picking up scents from other animals.
"It's okay."
Seha stroked it soothingly. Ruby wobbled with each pet but kept scanning its surroundings.
The pet shop was surprisingly spacious. One wall had rows of cat trees; the opposite side overflowed with toys. The snack aisle dangled with treats.
Ruby sniffed eagerly.
"Like it?"
Ruby's pupils dilated hugely. It had caught the scent of snacks, no doubt.
Then a clerk approached.
"Oh, how cute! A kitten?"
"Hi. Uh, actually, it's not a cat..."
Ruby stared blankly at the clerk's face. The clerk peered closer and spotted the red gem on its forehead.
"Oh...?"
"It's a summoned beast, actually. Contracted today. But it's still so young..."
"Ah, I see...!"
The clerk looked fascinated. Aside from the gem and horns, it really did look like a cat.
"But what to do? We only carry regular cat supplies."
"Just the essentials for now. Litter box, food, that sort of thing."
"Ah, for that... this way?"
Seha followed the clerk. Meanwhile, Dahong headed to the toy aisle. Colorful toys and plushies lined the shelves, designed to entice pets. Dahong picked them up one by one.
A feather wand. She gripped the rod and shook it. The feathers fluttered. The bell at the end jingled.
Instantly, Ruby's ears shot up.
"Ruby?"
Ruby planted its paws on Seha's chest and peered over his shoulder at Dahong. Jingle jingle. Dahong shook the wand, tempting it.
"Wait—!"
Ruby leaped from his shoulder. Tap. The black furball landed on the tile and scurried under the display shelf.
"Ruby!"
Seha startled and tried to grab it, but Ruby was faster. He crouched and peeked under the shelf. He saw its waddling butt crawling away.
Ruby darted through to Dahong and pounced at the feathers.
Boing. The feathers sprang away elastically, just grazing Ruby's claws.
Ruby's pupils expanded massively. It leaped again.
Boing. Missed again.
"Meow!!"
Dahong raised the wand high. Ruby reared up on hind legs, flailing wildly with its front paws.
"Dahong!"
Seha rushed over.
"You can't play with it without paying first!"
"I'll buy it."
"You don't even have money!"
"Buy this for me."
"Seriously..."
"Ahaha..."
The clerk smiled awkwardly.
Next, the essentials aisle. Litter box, litter, food. The clerk explained each.
"Summoned beast, right? Figured out its diet yet?"
"Not really..."
"Then I recommend buying small packs of various kinds. They might refuse if it doesn't suit their taste. Once you know, stock up on that."
"Ah."
While Seha listened, Dahong and Ruby stood at the snack aisle. Tuna, salmon, chicken breast, duck. Dahong picked one up. Ruby sniffed beside her, detecting the faint aroma.
"This one?"
Dahong shook the bag. Ruby's ears perked.
"Meow."
"Good."
Dahong tucked it away. She shook another bag. Ruby raised a paw.
"This too?"
"Meow."
"Good."
Rustle.
"Dahong, you can't start with snacks."
"It's fine."
"We don't even know if it can eat them yet."
"If not, I'll eat them."
"Huh...?"
Next, litter boxes. The clerk laid out varieties.
"This one's top-entry, this side-entry. For small cats, we recommend this."
She pointed to a small one. But Ruby glanced at each, then sauntered past, slipping into the largest one in the corner.
"Oh my."
The clerk paused. Ruby circled inside, sniffed, and flopped down contentedly.
"Likes that one," Dahong said.
Seha sighed. He didn't know Behemoth's growth rate, but it'd outgrow a regular cat someday, so big was smart.
"......We'll take the biggest one."
"Haha..."
After checkout.
"Thank you!"
Whirr. Seha and Dahong emerged loaded with a mountain of cat supplies. Dahong looked satisfied. In her arms, Ruby swatted at the fluttering receipt.
"Never knew raising a cat needed so much stuff."
"Cat tree too."
"......We'll order that online."
"Yeah."
The two—no, three—walked the darkening streets.