The Cooperation Contract and a Tail-Tugging Encounter
From this point on, the story started getting quite complicated. The word that stuck out the most was "cooperation contract." Before, it had just been a consent form or two with a signature and done, but this one apparently needed careful reading and judgment. A long-term cooperation program. A data provision contract and data sharing with domestic hospitals. Regular visits and repeated examinations. Video and genetic analysis. I'd come to the hospital thinking I'd skip school, only to end up listening to far more complicated talk than studying.
“Ughhh.”
“No need to overthink it. In simple terms, it means the money coming in will be bigger and proper research will finally begin,” the Professor said, summarizing the contents briefly for my overloaded brain as I could only groan.
More money coming in, and research starting. Okay, got it. Perfectly understood.
“The other side is also quite proactive about this research, so they’ll probably offer pretty good terms under the name of research funding.”
The Professor continued his explanation. Since the other party was a foreign private pharmaceutical company, the conditions would be more flexible than what a domestic university hospital could offer.
“Still, they won’t be waving around the kind of ridiculous sums you see in movies right on the spot. Like I said before, that would be patient solicitation. They’ll most likely offer a decent amount under the names of participation fees or transportation support, just like we do. The amount itself will definitely be larger, though.”
The Professor kept pouring out a long explanation in an effort to make me understand. Even if it was an American company overseas, they wouldn’t be bringing cash in a money bag and shoving it in my face like in the movies.
“Then, a money bag or something like that…”
“Well, realistically speaking, that’s a bit…”
My hopeful question was shot down in one clean stroke. The firm reply left me momentarily sulking. So that kind of thing only happened in movies? My excitement deflated instantly.
Just as I was slumping in disappointment, the sound of the door sliding open echoed through the room. What tickled my sensitive nose was the savory aroma of food. The woman carrying the meal tray paused for a moment, glanced between the Professor and us, then spoke softly.
“Lunch is here.”
“Oh dear, it’s already lunchtime.”
The Professor belatedly realized the time and excused himself. The conversation ended rather awkwardly thanks to the woman’s sudden entrance.
“Let’s discuss this in more detail later.”
“Yes, thank you for your hard work.”
The Professor gave a quick bow and left. Once I pulled out the meal table stored in the bed, the tray was placed on top with a soft thud.
“Wow, the hospital food looks pretty good~”
Mom, sitting beside me, admired the food on the tray. Today’s lunch was beef bulgogi and mallow soybean paste soup, with kimchi and braised black beans as side dishes. I immediately dumped the bulgogi onto the rice and mixed it thoroughly with the meat juices. Since the B meal plan happened to be porridge, I’d been forced to choose the A plan, but this was just right—not too bland at all.
“I heard hospital food is supposed to be bland…”
With Mom sitting next to me, I tilted my head at the surprisingly well-seasoned Korean meal and muttered.
“They say that, but it’s fine, right?”
“Yeah, it’s edible.”
After answering her follow-up question, I scooped up the braised beans and kimchi with my spoon without even switching utensils. One small downside was the strictly measured portions. Honestly, it felt a little insufficient. Still, since Mom had brought my wallet, I figured I could just supplement it at the convenience store.
“Can Mom head out now?”
“You’re leaving?”
While I was eating with that thought in mind, Mom stood up from the chair beside the bed and asked while getting ready to go.
“Of course. I can’t stay here twenty-four hours. Call me if you need anything else.”
“Okay.”
After my short reply, Mom waved and left the room. The lunch had been satisfying in taste, even if the portions were a bit lacking. After neatly stacking the tray on the table, I naturally escaped the hospital room. This time, I was going out with my wallet.
The ward was filled with the smell of food around lunchtime. The aroma of the beef bulgogi and soybean paste soup I’d eaten earlier lingered. ‘And… huh?’ I sniffed and caught a strange scent. It definitely wasn’t hospital food—something stimulating. Was that… jajangmyeon and chicken…?
Why would those smells be in a hospital? My feet, heading toward the convenience store, came to an abrupt halt. I’d stopped in front of a four-person room. The stimulating smell was coming from beyond the door. However, the frosted film on the door glass made it hard to see inside. I kept sniffing repeatedly. Then, a small hand suddenly grabbed my tail firmly.
“Hik!”
Startled by the unexpected grab from behind, I let out an embarrassing yelp and flinched.
“Tail—!”
The next thing I heard was a young girl’s voice. A passing little kid had grabbed my tail tightly.
“Oh no! Hye-eun! Let go, I’m so sorry! I’m really sorry!”
“I-It’s okay…”
The woman, apparently the girl’s mother, hurriedly pried Hye-eun’s hands off and bowed repeatedly in apology. Though I’d been startled, her sincere apology made me wave it off and step back. While calming my racing heart—
“Hye-eun, you need to apologize too.”
“Sowwy…”
“Mm… it’s okay.”
After receiving the proper apology from the child, prompted by her mother—
‘She looks like an elementary schooler…’
Judging by her height and way of speaking, she seemed around second grade. Why was she hospitalized in a patient gown? Feeling a pang of sympathy, I crouched down and said,
“You can touch the tail gently.”
“Weally?”
The moment permission was given, Hye-eun clung to my back. Her small hands began stroking the outer fur much more gently than before.
“Wow! It’s so soft!”
“Swish swish~”
Her pure, delighted laughter made me excited too, so I gave her a full fan-service by swaying my fluffy tail widely.
“Kyaaah—!”
“How did you do that with the tail?”
While the child’s delighted scream echoed down the hallway, the young mother, who had been watching us play, carefully approached and asked. She was curious about how the tail moved so naturally. I answered briefly.
“Ah, this is also part of the disease.”
“Huh?”
The young mother looked momentarily flustered at the word “disease.” She had apparently thought it was some kind of accessory. Well, that made sense—Beastman Disease wasn’t well known. Since meeting someone even briefly could be fate, I saw no reason to hide it and honestly revealed the name.
“It’s called Beastman Disease. The ears and tail are all part of my body.”
“Eek, really?”
Her reaction was extremely dramatic, which made me want to see even more of it.
“Here, want to touch the ear too?”
“Ah, yes…”
Her hand hesitated, half-extended. She seemed to think it would be rude to touch someone she’d just met. So I leaned my head forward, and her cautious fingers gently pinched and rubbed the tip of my ear. Even though the touch was unfamiliar, it was careful. Mother and daughter now each had an ear and a tail.
“Wow…”
She marveled even while touching the stiffer fur. Feeling mischievous, I revealed the next secret.
“Also, I used to be a guy originally.”
“Eeeh!?”
Another delicious reaction hit my ears. Hye-eun’s mother’s eyes widened in disbelief as she nearly shrieked.
“That’s a lie…!”
“They say I’m the first in the world whose gender changed too.”
Just as we were enjoying the conversation—
“Mom, I need the bathroom.”
“Oh, okay. Let’s go quickly.”
At the child’s urging, the mother also moved. It seemed the conversation was over.
“We’ll be going then…”
“Yes, take care.”
The two bowed and left. Though it had started as a small incident, I felt satisfied that I’d interacted with another patient.
The next day… Children’s Day.
The rumor about me had spread throughout the entire ward. Stories of the patient with fox ears and a tail. Whether it spread through the nurses, the women who brought meal trays, or through Hye-eun whom I’d met yesterday, I couldn’t tell. Whatever the exact source, it seemed everyone in the ward now knew about me.
Occasionally, when I went down to the convenience store, some patients would point at me and whisper as if they’d seen a mythical creature.
“I really couldn’t stop the rumors from spreading.”
Even the Professor, who sometimes came to check on my condition, mentioned it. He’d tried his best, but the rumors had been inevitable. Ever since the contract—or whatever it was—had been signed, medical interest in me had apparently been high behind the scenes. Joint papers about me, research presentations, and many other things were apparently happening. In a world that seemed quiet as usual, only the medical field was going crazy over me. I’d only learned this because the Professor told me. It wasn’t like I was searching academic sites myself.
I was now surprisingly indifferent to myself, yet it was ironic that overseas researchers and high-nosed doctors were the ones showing interest. In truth, how much attention I received from the outside world no longer mattered much. What really mattered was how much money would be deposited into my bank account.
“Heh heh heh.”
Suppressing a quiet laugh, I lay on the bed and turned on my game console. If a large sum of money came in, what should I buy first? Ah, building a new computer might be nice?! It was a day when I couldn’t sleep from all the exciting plans.