The Cat's True Owner (4)
The next day arrived. I wandered around the convenience store, eyeing the products that were running low. 'Chilgaejang, black sesame ramen, and Shanghai Deed Burger... Better check the daily necessities too.' The day kicked off by jotting down the shortages on paper and heading to the counter.
First up was placing the orders, then waiting as the shelves filled up neatly. The biggest shortage, as expected, was cat supplies. No surprise there—Yoo Hwa-yeon and Hwa Hyo-seon kept spoiling the cat with churu and canned food because it was so damn cute. They say a dog's luck is the best, but now it's cats that have it made. In just a few days, the cat had plumped up noticeably. Well, yeah—before this, it probably only ate mice or snakes caught in the wild.
Anyway, another change popped up on the POS register.
[New Orderable Items Available]
A message window like that appeared, listing quite a few new products. Scrolling down, I easily spotted more cat-related items. 'Scratcher and snake toy?' There were tons of new pet supplies: dog chews, harnesses, leashes, muzzles, cat toys, catnip spray, and more. It seemed like every time I served customers, sold stuff, and used the earnings to expand—whether by one pyeong or ten—the system unlocked new items. I'd already used cigarette profits to expand the space right next to the front yard. I hadn't bought shelves yet since I wasn't sure what to stock, but seeing the new pet category made me think: perfect spot for a pet supplies rack.
As the saying goes, strike while the iron's hot. I ordered the shelves right away. The familiar clinking sounds rang out as the metal racks assembled themselves.
'For now, let's order the scratcher, snake toy, churu, and some cans.' Once the order was in, the shelves stocked up neatly.
"Boss! New cat stuff came in?"
Yoo Hwa-yeon wasn't fazed by the store's quirks anymore. Like the saying goes, even a temple dog recites poetry after three years. After hanging around the convenience store so long, she just accepted most things as normal.
-Nyaaao~
Yoo Hwa-yeon bought a scratcher with her own money and set it on the floor. Butterfly—happy as could be—started purring and clawing at it.
Scratch! Scratch!
Is it that good? Watching Butterfly raise its butt high and shred the cardboard had me suddenly thinking about its owner. If someone lost a cutie like this, they'd be searching desperately right now. Unless... it was abandoned? In the Murim world, animal abandonment wouldn't even be a crime, but if that's the case, the owner must be a real monster.
Right then—ding-a-ling! A customer pushed through the door. A man with half-closed eyes like he was sleepy, long hair tied back, and a faint smile that gave him a striking vibe. Looked about forty.
"Welcome!"
I headed to the counter to greet him, but...
"Um, excuse me... is there by any chance..."
The customer trailed off mid-question, staring at the cat on the floor. His narrow eyes snapped wide open.
"Tiger!!"
He called out a familiar name and dropped to his knees in a pleading bow. Tiger?
-Nyaaaaao!
Butterfly—no, Tiger—recognized him too, rubbing its face happily against him.
"There you were! I've been looking everywhere! Why'd you run away from home? Was I that unlikable?"
-Meooow~
"Yeah, yeah. You're found now—that's what matters! Let's go home. I'll treat you even better."
As the man reached to pick up Tiger—
-Hiss!!
Tiger suddenly hissed and bolted far away. The man's face crumpled into instant despair, staring blankly at the spot where Tiger had fled.
"T-Tiger... why..."
"Excuse me... did you see the poster in front of Manokru and come here?"
I asked, and he turned with that faint smile again, clasping his hands in an arch hand salute.
"Yes, exactly. The poster led me here. Thank you so much for looking after Tiger."
"No problem. So its name's Tiger, huh."
"Yes. As a kitten, it had alternating patches of dark and light brown fur, like tiger stripes, so that's what I named it."
Hmm, makes sense.
"But if you're the owner, why's Tiger running away from you?"
I had to check. If he wasn't the real owner and just some opportunist eyeing the cat, he could take it, demand more money, and flip it to the real owner. Even if it was temporary care, verification was key.
"I am the real owner! But why's this rascal running..."
Wait. Did Tiger run away because of abuse? If so, no way I'd hand it over.
"Did you hit it?"
"...Pardon?"
"A real owner, the cat would recognize. Running away screams possible abuse, doesn't it?"
I narrowed my eyes, interrogating. He furrowed his brow, exploding in righteous fury.
"Abuse?! How could you say that? I cherish Tiger more than anything!"
He huffed indignantly. Okay, probably not abuse. Then why'd Tiger bolt?
He made smooching noises—smack smack!—searching for the runaway.
"Tiger! Where are you? Come out! Your dad's looking for you."
He looked pretty pathetic. Seemed like the real owner after all.
Then Tiger peeked out from hiding.
-Nyaaaoong!
And rubbed its face on the man's leg.
"That's my girl. Finally recognizing your dad."
-Nyaaow~
"You had me so worried, you little punk."
A tearful family reunion. He stroked Tiger's nose bridge, and it purred happily.
"Alright, time to go home."
-Hiiiissss!!!
Tiger hissed again and fled. The man slumped, shoulders drooping.
"Sigh... why again..."
Watching from the side, I spotted a pattern.
"Sir, try calling it one more time?"
"B-but it'll run again!"
"Trust me, just once."
He nodded and called in a high-pitched tone.
"Tiger! Tiiiiger~"
-Nyaaaooo!
Tiger emerged again.
"Now try saying 'let's go home.'"
"Tiger! Let's go home!"
-Hiiiissss!!
Yup.
"See! It ran again! Tiger's forgotten its dad..."
"Not forgotten—more like doesn't want to go home."
Tiger only bolted at "home." It didn't want to go back. Not that surprising, really. Murim cats probably had crap food—no treats or proper meals. Maybe the occasional stream fish or snake. After churu and cans here, who’d wanna return to that?
The convenience store wasn't just a shock to Murim folk—it blew cats' minds too.
"No, Tiger! Why don't you wanna go home? Dried fish jerky's waiting! I've been counting days, stocking all your favorites!"
He looked on the verge of tears. Felt bad for suspecting abuse.
"Sir, try feeding it this."
This place was paradise for Tiger, full of food, but nothing beats being with your owner. I handed him the last churu stick.
"What's... this?"
"Churu. Cats go nuts for it."
"Nuts, huh? Tiger prefers dried fish."
"Just try."
I twisted it open and handed it back.
"Squeeze from the end."
He nodded skeptically and called.
"Tiger! Snack time!"
Tiger came bounding over like the hissing never happened, meowing long and loud.
-Nyaaaaaaaaooooo!
Gimme now!
He squeezed slowly. Chomp chomp chomp! Tiger lapped it up eagerly. Everyone in the store grinned ear to ear.
"Aigoo, eating so well! This good, huh?"
-Chomp chomp chomp!
"Buy this and you'll come home?"
-Chomp chomp chomp!
"Whoa! No running!"
He beamed at me. I just nodded with a smile.
Yoo Hwa-yeon sidled up, looking bittersweet at the man and Tiger.
"Thought you were gonna keep it."
"Better the owner found it."
"Hing... kitty..."
I was bummed too, but stealing a pet? No way. Good thing we posted that notice—look how happy he was.
Speaking of... I tilted my head, studying the man's face closely. Familiar... or am I imagining it?
"Innkeeper! Innkeeper!!"
Lost in thought about where I'd seen him, he suddenly called me. The counter was piled high with churu from the shelves.
"All of it!"
He grinned wide. Whoa! Freshly stocked, and he cleaned 'em out.
This guy's got deep pockets!
"That's six nyang total!"
He plunked down six nyang without hesitation. I hummed cheerfully, scooping them up.
"By the way."
"Yes?"
"What's the innkeeper's name?"
Our eyes met as he gazed warmly.
Why ask now?
"Kim Jung-hyun."
"Kim... Jung-hyun."
"Yeah?"
"Just... wanted to know the name of the man I'm so grateful to."
That look was loaded.
"Well, I'll be off."
He scooped up Tiger and a ton of churu. With treats in sight, Tiger was dazed, oblivious to heading home or getting sold.
Then—BAM!
The door nearly shattered as a panicked Hwa Hyo-seon burst in.
"Strategist!! The cat's owner showed up—"
She froze mid-sentence, like she'd seen a ghost. Pupils dilated, lips quivering—she was seriously rattled.
First time seeing her like that. That attached to the cat? Maybe adopt another one?
But no—the man spotted her and halted too.
"Uh, uh..."
Hwa Hyo-seon started to speak, but he quietly raised a finger to his lips.
"Shh."