Parents' Day Windfall

Even for just a one-week hospitalization, there were dozens of tests and blood draws. After signing that contract, the frequency and intensity of the examinations had definitely become far more aggressive. We paid for this, so we'll extract the corresponding data? It felt like that was the attitude they were taking. On top of that, I occasionally spotted Western doctors with enormous noses in the examination rooms. Sometimes they would approach me, trying to make conversation with a friendly "Hello," saying something like, "Hello. It's a -------- to meet you. We're very g------- for your c----------." But the translation cut off right after "Hello." A few scattered words after that were recognizable, yet my mind had already gone completely blank.

“Uh…”

All that came out of my mouth was a single, idiotic syllable. I understood "Hello," but what came after that? "We are very" what? "Your" what?

“They said they’re ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠very grateful for your cooperation.”

“Ah, I see…”

When I froze up at meeting a foreigner, the doctor who had been examining me stepped in to interpret. I didn’t really understand what was being said, but when I took the offered hand, the other person gave it a gentle up-and-down shake, as if the warm greeting wasn’t just empty words. It was… how should I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠put it? Receiving kindness from a complete stranger felt a little awkward.

The week of hospitalization that I thought would be a leisurely recovery period had, at some point, turned into a daily routine of tests and blood draws. Still, no matter how exhausting it was, it was better than school. Here, they gave me plenty of rest time, saying I needed to recover after each examination, and the meals came out delicious and on time. The hospital’s steamed chicken for dinner was far higher quality than the school’s chicken stir-fry, which was ninety percent chicken breast.

Skipping school and being served three meals a day. It was literally like being livestock being raised, but if this was what it felt like, maybe living as a pampered animal wasn’t so bad after all.

“Normally, there are certain foods that members of the canine family shouldn’t eat. But from what I can see, you have no issues in that regard at all. In fact, your digestive ability has developed to the point where you could even handle raw meat.”

That was what the Professor told me during his mid-term report. I learned a few more facts about my body. Not only could I eat foods that animals normally couldn’t without any problem, but my digestion had conveniently developed to match those animals’ level.

“In addition, looking at your dental structure, right after the disease manifested, your teeth regrew to a certain standard regardless of their previous condition. Your eyesight and hearing have also improved dramatically. You mentioned you used to wear glasses, correct?”

“Ah, yes…”

I gave a short answer to the question embedded in the explanation. Tooth regeneration, improved vision, improved hearing. Up to this point, these were symptoms that appeared in regular cases of Beastman Disease as well.

“On top of that, your gender changed without any surgical aftereffects or side effects…”

The only difference with me was that my gender had flipped without any aftereffects or complications. At this point, the kids might actually be right to call it evolution.

“Given that point, it’s highly likely that, aside from developing a cure, overseas pharmaceutical companies will use your data to research ways to intentionally contract this disease.”

“Hmm…”

I could only let out an awkward hum at the Professor’s continued explanation. In other words, the overseas companies were probably trying to create a drug that changes your gender, just like in manga? And I was the only clue for that new drug. But did they really not care about the animal ears growing? That seemed like a pretty significant side effect too.

“Anyway, the discussion went well, so there’s no need for you to stay abroad. You can continue communicating through our hospital.”

“Got it.”

After pouring out all that information about me, the Professor wrapped up the conversation in his usual vague way.

Two days later, on May 8th.

I woke up with wide eyes after seeing the money that had been deposited overnight.

The deposits ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠weren’t made all at once. Instead, they came in several separate transfers, each a fairly substantial amount.

What the heck…?

At first, I thought I’d misread the units. I’d assumed the cost of hospitalization would be around 300,000 won at most. The incoming sum mocked that assumption, treating the pitiful amount of money I’d scraped together like pocket change. Of course I was happy, but the sum was so large that a part of me felt almost afraid. A sense of unreality crept in—Is this really my money? What if it was some kind of computer error and the money had been deposited by mistake?

Almost seven hundred…

When I roughly counted the digits in my head, nearly seven million won had been deposited that afternoon. At this rate, buying a computer wasn’t even an issue anymore—I could replace several appliances in the house. Come to think of it, Mom had been singing about how we absolutely had to replace the air conditioner this year…

Should I just go ahead and replace it?!

Once the money in my account started to feel real, even the terrifying six-figure price tags suddenly seemed trivial. Maybe I should get one for our room too? Besides, today was Parents’ Day, right after Children’s Day. There was no better day to send a surprise gift. I split two million won from the deposited money in half and sent one million won each to Mom and Dad without a second thought.

About ten minutes after sending the money, a call came in from Mom while I was still chewing on the hospital breakfast.

“Yeff?”

I answered with a muffled voice, my mouth still moving.

“What is this?”

Mom’s flustered voice came through the phone. Since I’d sent it expecting exactly this reaction, I let out a smug little nasal laugh and replied.

“Heheh, a Pa’ents’ Day p’esent.”

“Money came in? How much did you get?”

“About seven hundred.”

Even though it wasn’t a video call, I couldn’t help but draw the number seven in the air with my finger. My lips curled up unconsciously at her shocked reaction.

“Oh my goodness… I’m getting allowance from my own son now.”

“Heheheh.”

Mom let out all sorts of exclamations, as if she’d never imagined receiving money from her child. “Thank you, son. I love you.”

“Yeah, love you too.”

Today felt especially rewarding because I’d given a proper cash gift instead of a few-thousand-won carnation. The warm exchange of special greetings on Parents’ Day seemed to be coming to an end.

“Still, even if a lot of money came in, don’t just spend it recklessly. Decide what you want to buy and manage it properly.”

“Mhm.”

Mom’s voice felt warmer than usual. I gave a short reply to her gentle tone and hung up. The two million won I’d sent today wasn’t exactly a small portion of the total, but I didn’t feel any regret. That aside, had Hyunseo sent a Parents’ Day gift? What if she didn’t even remember what day it was? Children’s Day and Parents’ Day came as a set—surely she hadn’t forgotten. Since I’d been more than filial enough for today, I immediately opened the chat with Hyunseo and sent a message.

After sending that, I went back to eating. Today’s breakfast was beef rice cake soup with white rice, plus pollack pancakes and quail egg jangjorim. It was practically a New Year’s or Chuseok breakfast spread. Even just the side dishes were enough to make anyone’s mouth water. My tail wagged excitedly before I could even put food in my mouth. I scraped the bowls clean until the bottoms were visible.

“Phew—!”

After smacking my lips in satisfaction, I poured myself a glass of cold water from the water dispenser and let out a refreshing breath. If only money didn’t have to leave my account, this place would be paradise on earth. While rubbing my full stomach in contentment, I unplugged my phone from the charger. My belly was full, and a short walk would be the perfect way to pass the time. Just then, a series of small notifications began popping up at the top of the screen.

It was none other than a message from Hyunseo. When I asked if she’d sent a Parents’ Day gift, she didn’t say whether she had or not and instead asked about mine first.

This kid was even curious about what I’d given. Can you handle hearing this? Are you confident it won’t compare to your gift?

Her short, blunt reply came back. She must have been pretty shocked, because there was no response after that. See, that’s why you shouldn’t ask unnecessary questions. I tapped the back button repeatedly in the now-silent chat with Hyunseo. Just as the home screen appeared, the call waiting screen suddenly popped up again for some reason. Thinking it was Hyunseo, I looked at the name—and froze.

The timing was definitely Hyunseo’s, but the name on the screen was unmistakably Dad’s. I swiped the green button to answer.

“Hello? Yeah, Dad.”

“What is this?!”

Just like a married couple, his question was every bit as short and shocked as Mom’s had been.

“The hospital gave me some money today, and since it’s Parents’ Day, I thought ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I’d send a surprise gift.”

“This much came out? Are you sure you have enough left?”

At Dad’s startled, almost panicked voice asking if I still had money left, I answered calmly.

“Yeah, there’s plenty left, so use it however you want.”

“Ohhh, thank you.”

Dad gave a warm, simple thank-you. His gratitude made me feel good, but for some reason he didn’t hang up right away.

“Did you tell your mom you sent money to me too?”

“Huh? No, we talked, but I didn’t mention you.”

Dad suddenly started asking carefully. I tilted my head in confusion even as I answered. Why bring up Mom all of a sudden?

“Hey, just don’t tell her you sent it to me either, okay?”

“Huh? Uh, okay…”

When I was still tilting my head in bewilderment, Dad began desperately pleading over the phone.

“It’s important! This is a secret between guys, got it?!”

“Ah, I got it already…”

The call ended with that frantic voice. I couldn’t help but feel puzzled by Dad’s attitude. What was going on? Was Dad short on money? He earned well, so why was he acting like this? Wasn’t Dad the richest person in our house?