Chapter 173
Chapter 173
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 173
Chapter Title: Moldy's Runaway Pack (2)
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04 District has had few single-family homes and plenty of apartments since way back.
It was mainly a place where moderately well-off folks gathered to live.
Most residents were middle-class people.
However.
After the dimensional gate incident broke out.
Crisis hit those living moderately comfortable lives.
South Korea plunged into massive chaos.
Entire companies vanished overnight, and firms producing valuable goods turned into outfits churning out useless junk.
Rich folks from the provinces losing their homes led to frequent cases where people in monthly or key-money rentals got kicked out too.
So, what would people whose homes were about to get wrecked in a single day abandon first?
"Grrr-!!"
It was the dogs that moderately well-off people often kept as pets.
Even with all the affection, food was suddenly hard to come by, so they had to cut down on mouths to feed.
Of course, some probably hugged their dogs tight and died out of love and a sense of duty.
But there were also those who faced reality head-on and ditched their dogs quick.
The Hero Association Chairman kept so many dogs for the same reason—he couldn't just stand by and watch all the strays wandering the streets.
That led to countless stray dog runaway packs forming in 04 District.
The abandoned pups banded together, scraping by on the brutal streets.
But Moldy, raised cozy at home since it was little, had no clue about gritty details like that.
"Woof woof!"
Moldy wagged its tail in delight at meeting its new friends.
But the stray pack crouched low, eyeing Moldy warily.
"Woof?"
Why were they acting like that?
Moldy couldn't make sense of it.
Why would fellow dogs be on guard against each other?
Blissfully ignorant, the moment it stepped forward.
"Grrr-! Bark bark-!!"
Swoosh-!!
A small but vicious Pomeranian lunged straight at Moldy.
The Pomeranian snarled fiercely, going for Moldy's throat.
Moldy flinched back in shock.
"Wha-whine…!! Woof woof…!"
"Grrr-!!"
The Pomeranian and its crew started circling Moldy.
Like they were about to attack.
"Grrrrr-!!!"
"Wh-whiiine…"
Tremble tremble-
This was Moldy's first time dealing with anything like it.
Even if someone attacked, it'd figured it'd be the redhead or bluehead.
Never imagined getting jumped by its own kind, so it shook in terror.
On top of that, Moldy had zero fighting experience.
"Whiiiiiine…"
"Grrr-! Bark bark bark-!!!"
Right in the middle of the standoff.
At the Pomeranian's shrill attack signal—like a recorder—five small dogs charged Moldy.
"Kyaaang-!!"
"Wh-whine…!!"
Chomp- chomp-
The small dogs bit into Moldy mercilessly with their teeth.
Moldy just curled up tight in the center.
"Grrr-?"
"Woof?"
"Gr-grrr-??"
Weird.
Why didn't it hurt at all?
Moldy pried open its squeezed-shut eyes and stood up.
If anything, the small dog crew was the one freaking out.
"Gr-grrr-? Grrr grrr?"
"Grung-! Grrr grrr-!!"
Why weren't their attacks landing?
The Maltese and Shih Tzu exchanged panicked glances.
Seeing that, the Pomeranian stepped up front and barked.
"Grrr-! Krung krung-!!"
The Pomeranian barking right in Moldy's face.
No backing down, it charged straight at Moldy.
"Grrrr-!!"
"Woof?"
Moldy just casually swiped its paw across the Pomeranian's face.
"Woof-!"
"Kya-kyagaeng!!"
The Pomeranian let out a pained yelp as it crashed to the ground.
Its crew went all mopey-faced, tails tucked, bellies to the dirt.
"Woof?"
What was this?
In the animal world, winner takes all.
Just like that, Moldy became the boss of the runaway pack.
***
Fresh off victory against the runaway pack.
Moldy followed the Pomeranian's lead through a narrow gap under some iron bars, arriving at a vacant lot.
"Woof woof?"
This your home?
The Pomeranian gave a little nod.
Then it introduced itself as Mochi.
"Krung krung."
Mochi showed off the massive box it'd been crashing in before.
From today, it said, crash here.
"Whine…"
Sleep here?
Damp and zero fluff.
Moldy wasn't thrilled.
But then it thought about home, and the reluctance vanished.
"Woof woof-! Woof woof woof-!"
No way I'm going back home!
Moldy, lips quirked in a smug grin.
It crawled into the uncomfortable box on purpose and flopped onto the hard floor.
"Whine whine…"
Home really was the best, it realized.
As Moldy lay there chilling for a bit.
"Grrr-! Krung-!"
Mochi came bounding over, barking frantically.
Moldy cocked its head, asking what.
"Woof?"
"Grrr-!"
Intruders.
"Whine…"
Peek-
Moldy poked its head out of the box to check.
It was a big-dog runaway pack of Malamutes and Huskies.
One of the four major stray crews.
They immediately tore into the small dogs' box, trashing the place.
"Bark-! Bark bark-!!"
"Gr-grrr…"
The small dogs flattened themselves and offered up sausages scavenged from trash cans.
But the boss-looking Malamute wasn't having it.
"Bark bark bark-!!"
"Kyagaeng-! Kaeng-!"
A Maltese went flying far off courtesy of the Malamute.
The Maltese tumbled across the ground before staggering up, looking hurt.
"Whine… Woof…!!!"
You jerks!
Moldy wasn't about to just watch.
Fearless, Moldy marched up to the Malamute.
It threw its mouth wide and barked for all it was worth.
"Whiiiiiine-!!!"
"Kuh-kuhwoong…!"
A bark loaded with Dragon Fear.
The Malamute strained with everything it had to hold out.
"Kuh-kuhwoong…"
Thud-
It buckled and collapsed right there.
Moldy proclaimed with dignified poise.
"Woof woof-!!"
Get along with your friends.
Then it turned to Mochi nearby.
"Woof-!"
The four major crews.
Where's the next one?
Mochi replied.
"Krung-!"
The scheming political mastermind Border Collie strategist was close by.
Moldy sprang into action the second it heard.
"Woof woof woof-!!"
Off to unify the four crews.
And so began the legendary saga of Moldy uniting the four major crews.
***
The Iron Malamute.
The Strategist Border Collie.
The Karate Shiba Inu.
The Red Devil Jindo.
In a single day, Moldy took down the bosses of all four crews.
Unified them and became overlord of every runaway pack.
Moldy gathered every stray in the vacant lot and declared.
"Woof woof. Woof woof woof."
Got it.
Your skills.
"Whine. Woof woof-!"
Get along with your friends.
What have you been doing all this time!
"Woof-!"
From now on, play nice!
The dogs all howled at Moldy's brief speech.
"Awooooo-!!"
The pack's evening howl echoing late at night.
Big dogs, mids, smalls.
Breeds be damned, all together.
They'd gained a huge revelation that day.
Size and breed didn't matter much for dogs.
Open your heart, and anyone could be a friend.
Fighting each other—dogs scarred from being ditched by owners—only left deeper wounds.
Having stirred the dogs' hearts like that.
"Woof-! Woof woof-!"
I'm heading out now!
Don't come looking for me!
With a don't-search-for-me command, Moldy ditched the pack and left the lot.
"Woof."
Now that it'd been through it, it got it.
How rough life outside was.
"Woof woof."
Home really was the best.
Thinking that, Moldy stood out on a street bustling with people.
That's when it spotted a figure heading its way from afar.
"Hey, Moldy!!"
"Found ya, Moldy."
"Wh-whine… woof woof woof…!!"
Shiver-
Hwa-ryun and Su-ryun closing in.
Moldy flashed back with PTSD, body quaking.
'Woof woof… woof…?'
What if they roast and eat me.
What if they fuse me with Choryun's owner.
Lost in worry, shaking like a leaf.
Hwa-ryun and Su-ryun dipped their heads a bit.
"Moldy, why get all pouty over that!? S-sorry already! Let's head home, Moldy!"
"Sorry, Moldy. I went overboard teasing. It was just messing around. Sure, a little real… but I never meant it."
Bow-
Hwa-ryun and Su-ryun, bowing their heads a touch for its sake.
Moldy knew full well how ironclad its owners' pride was.
So it decided to accept the apology.
"Whine…! Woof woof…!!"
Nod nod-
Nodding to say it'd forgive them.
Hwa-ryun scooped up Moldy and hugged it close.
"Time to go home, Moldy! Searching for you wore me out big time!"
"I'll give you snacks lots. No more running off."
"Whine… whiiine…"
Swoon-
Nestled in Hwa-ryun's arms, Moldy slowly shut its eyes.
A day like a dream.
Dreaming it.
And with that, Moldy's runaway uproar came to a close.