A Cat Named Seol
"It looks exactly like Wang!" Levinas exclaimed, staring intently at the cat. She still seemed too scared to touch it directly.
"Does it look like me?"
"Yeah! It's almost half Wang!"
"R-really?"
There was something oddly similar about it. I hadn't expected it to be called identical, but I circled the cat anyway, searching for the resemblance.
"Look at this! Its ears twitch just like Wang's! And it even purrs—golgol gol!"
"So it does..."
It seemed the uncontrollable beast-like parts of me were what matched. Being newly turned into a beastkin, it couldn't be helped.
"And the small parts are exactly the same too!"
"S-small? I'm not that small... well, maybe I am."
At least among our group, I was the smallest. Smaller even than the children Levinas and Saebyeok, so I couldn't argue.
"Wang, but is this really a puppy?!"
"No, it's actually a cat."
"Really?!"
"Yeah."
Realizing I'd been teasing, Levinas giggled. No longer afraid of the cat, she poked its nose.
"Meow! Say meow!"
At Levinas's expectant gaze, the cat lifted its chin. Though still a kitten, it somehow looked dignified. It seemed to understand her words, its mouth working. Then, tail perked high, it let out a bold cry.
"Myang! Myang!"
It barked like a puppy, not a cat. The thin, high-pitched sound typical of a young kitten remained.
"Huh...?"
Don't cats usually meow? I was sure I'd heard meowing before. Maybe cats in this world sometimes barked "myang myang." It was a world with entirely different common sense, after all.
"Wang! The meow cat went myang myang!"
"Uh, yeah..."
Levinas's reaction alone didn't confirm if this was normal. I probably needed to ask directly.
"Levinas, do cats normally go myang myang?"
"No! Meow cats go meow!"
"Ah, I see."
So this was a special case. As I nodded, Encia, who had finished parking, approached.
"It probably learned by watching the puppies at the shelter."
"Ah... because there were so many puppies."
"Yes. It's surprisingly common."
It was like learning a foreign language. Since it was cute, I decided to let it go.
"Encia, what are you going to name the cat?"
"Won't you decide, Winter-nim?"
"Me?"
"Yes. It would be an honor for the child as well."
An honor. I would never think of it that way, but since it was Encia's request, I agreed.
"Hmm... How about Seol? Because it looks like a white snowflake."
"Seol... That's a good name."
Encia knelt on one knee. Her gaze was fixed on the cat, not me.
"From now on, your name is Seol. Serve Winter-nim with all your heart and sincerity."
"Myang!"
Seol barked like a puppy. It seemed to be answering Encia that it understood.
"Winter-nim, could you perhaps stay with Seol for a few days?"
"Sure. I'd like that."
I didn't ask why. It was Encia's request. If it was Seol, it might become good friends with the children, so there was no reason to refuse.
"Thank you. I've been too busy these past few days to take care of it properly."
"Okay. I'll look after it when you're busy. The kids will love it too."
As I spoke, I glanced at Saebyeok. Saebyeok's tail was swishing as she looked at Seol. It was a sign of welcome. I didn't have to worry about territorial disputes.
That was how I ended up taking care of Seol for a few days.
**
That evening, Han Yeoreum returned home to find Winter asleep on the sofa. Levinas and Saebyeok were sitting at the table playing a game.
"Winter's already asleep?"
"Yeah. She must've been really tired."
Meeting Summer's eyes, Saebyeok set down the game console. Levinas did the same without hesitation. Han Yeoreum was simply glad that the children welcomed her more than their game.
"Summer! Look at this!"
Levinas grabbed Summer's hand and pulled her over. A white cat was curled up asleep on Winter's stomach.
"It's a cat."
"Yeah! The wolf asked us to watch it for a bit! Its name is Seol!"
"Wow, really? It looks just like Winter, doesn't it?"
"Right!"
Giggle giggle. Levinas laughed, covering her mouth. At the sound, Seol, who had been curled on Winter's stomach, let out a soft purr.
"Seol just purred."
"The purring was from Wang, though?"
"Huh?"
Han Yeoreum leaned her ear toward Winter's mouth. Purr— It really was Winter making the sound. Apparently, it was the sound cats made when happiest. Was it reacting to family voices? Hehe. As Han Yeoreum smiled and stroked Winter's head, the curled-up cat suddenly stood and bit her hand.
"Myang...!"
Its tail was puffed up. It was quite an aggressive stance—protecting Winter.
"It's okay. I'm Winter's family."
"Myang?"
Really? It almost seemed to ask. Thinking that far, Han Yeoreum let out a small laugh. Where in the world was there a cat that understood human speech? Maybe living with the kids had made her pure-hearted herself.
First, she needed to pull her bitten hand free. As she gently tried to soothe Seol, the cat opened its mouth and released her hand.
"Huh?"
It really acted like it understood. It must've just been good timing. Roughly setting down her things, Han Yeoreum sat by Winter's head.
"Mmm..."
Right on cue, Winter rubbed her eyes and woke up. In her hand, she clutched a small bottle.
"Sorry for waking you."
"It's fine. I hadn't washed up anyway, so I needed to get up."
The diligent Winter had gone straight to sleep without washing. She must've been exhausted.
"You didn't even wash your hands and feet?"
"No, I did wash my hands and feet."
"Good job. You have to wash your hands and feet first when you get home, okay?"
"Yeah."
Yawn. Winter let out a cat-like yawn. Her sparkling fangs glinted along with the bottle in her hand.
"Is that a potion?"
"Yes. Encia gave it to me. Seol wasn't in great shape."
"Ah..."
It was an expensive potion that could even regenerate missing body parts. If Seol had needed that, it must've been in terrible condition. Somehow, it felt like seeing Winter's own past. Maybe because the child resembled Winter.
'Even the personality feels similar.'
Perhaps Winter had brought the child home because of that sense of kinship. She couldn't bear to leave a child in a similar situation alone. As expected, she was kind.
Han Yeoreum stroked Winter's head.
"So, do you have cat supplies?"
"Cat supplies?"
"Yeah. It's only for a few days, but since we're taking care of it, we'll need food and toys, right?"
It was a living being. It needed to eat. Winter glanced toward the kitchen.
"Um... Can't we just give it some of our food?"
"For its health, pet food would be better."
At the word "health," Winter immediately agreed. She couldn't ruin a living being's health out of greed for money.
"Then I'll go buy some tomorrow. It already ate plenty of food at the shelter today."
"Okay. Don't worry about the cost—buy plenty. I'll squeeze Encia for the money."
"Mm... Okay."
Since it was Encia's cat. Still, she should buy at least one toy herself. Yawn. Winter rubbed her eyes and headed for the bathroom. Too tired, she planned to wash quickly and sleep.
**
The next morning, I headed to the pet supply store with the kids. It was a large mart's pet supply section where Han Yeoreum was registered as a VIP.
"Uh..."
The moment I tried to enter the mart, I remembered. The ice cream shop I'd visited with Encia yesterday.
[No pets allowed.]
There had definitely been a sign like that. The large mart might also prohibit animals.
"Wang, aren't you going in?"
"Um... Seol probably can't come inside."
"Why?!"
"Bringing animals into public places is inconsiderate."
Seol, cradled in Levinas's arms, let out a "myang." It sounded like it was saying it was fine and to go ahead.
"Then what do we do?! Are we leaving baby Wang behind again?!"
"No, no need for that. How about you and Saebyeok wait here with Seol? I'll be right back."
"Got it!"
Levinas never questioned anything I said. Thanks to that, I could easily step into the mart.
'The pet supply store was on the fourth floor, right?'
Riding the escalator up, I easily found the pet supply store on the fourth floor.
"Excuse me..."
I called to an employee packing something at the counter. The counter was so high I had to stand on tiptoe. Why were all counters so tall these days? I grumbled inwardly but knew it was because of my height.
"Welcome."
The employee greeted me with a kind smile. Looking straight ahead and realizing no one was there, she looked down. Only then could we see each other.
"I'd like to buy cat supplies."
"C-cat... supplies?"
"Yes. I'd like food and toys."
"F-food, you say...?"
Her gaze shifted to the top of my head. She glanced at the tail behind me too. She seemed fascinated by seeing a beastkin for the first time.
"Do you have food that cats like? The tastiest kind would be good."
"Um... Could it be that..."
"Yes?"
"Ah, no. Never mind."
The kind employee's pupils trembled. I had no idea why.