The Wolf Crashes the Party
"This is delicious~."
As I slurped up the strawberry smoothie the staff member handed me, all the raccoons surrounding me suddenly fixed their gazes on my mouth.
"What? You guys want some too?"
"Kyuu?"
"Kyuu kyuu!"
At my words, their eyes sparkled, and they gazed up at me pitifully, as if begging for just one sip.
...Maybe one little sip wouldn't hurt?
How could I resist when they're looking at me like that?
I pulled out the straw and leaned toward them, but the anxious staff member watching from the side frantically waved their hands and shouted.
"Customer! You absolutely can't give the kids human sugary drinks! It'll upset their stomachs."
"Y-yes... Sorry about that."
At the staff's firm warning, I immediately shelved the idea.
Yeah, most animals don't handle human food well anyway.
I poked the nose of a raccoon shoving its damp muzzle right up under my chin with my finger.
"No. This is mine. They say it'll make your tummy hurt. Tsk."
"Kyuuu..."
At my firm refusal, the chubby raccoon clinging to my thigh made a face like the world was ending.
"What, are you sulking?"
I couldn't help but chuckle in disbelief as I kneaded its soft belly with my fingers.
"You pig. How many snacks have you scavenged? Your belly's as big as a mountain."
"Kyuuu!"
As if it understood I was calling it a pig, the raccoon huffed indignantly and chomped lightly on my finger with its mouth.
It knew better than to bite hard enough to hurt me—it was just gently nibbling.
Smarter than I thought? I kinda want to raise one.
"Hehe, hey, that tickles!"
I burst into giggles, tickling its belly and sides, and the raccoon seemed delighted too, flailing its four paws and batting playfully at my hands.
Click! Click!
"...We definitely came to the right place."
"Hyunah, take some pics with my phone too."
Cha Eunwol and Kim Hyunah smiled at the sight of me rolling around with the raccoons, snapping photos nonstop.
The staff were just as enchanted by Baek Arang's cuteness, covering their mouths and cooing quietly.
"Alright, Arang. Aren't you getting hungry? Time to eat."
"Oh, it's that time already?"
Time flew by as we played, and afternoon had slipped away before we knew it.
As I brushed the fur off my clothes and stood up,
"Kyuuu..."
"Kyuuut..."
The raccoons circling me all grabbed my pant legs and ankles tightly with their front paws.
"Kyuu..."
"Kyuut..."
"Hey, I gotta go..."
Their pitiful clinging, like their whole bodies were begging me to stay, froze me in place.
Are raccoons usually this clingy...?
"Huh? What's up with them?"
"Oh my god, I've never seen our babies throw such a tantrum, clinging to a human like this and refusing to let go..."
Even when the staff tried luring them away with treats, the raccoons stayed glued to my legs.
I want to play more, but... we can't stay forever.
I couldn't bring myself to step away, but we couldn't live buried in raccoons forever.
I knelt down and carefully stroked the heads of each one hugging my legs.
"Forgive me, raccoons. Next time."
"Kyuuut..."
"Don't cry like that. I gotta go eat now. I'll come back. Promise?"
"Kyuuung..."
As if they perfectly understood my promise, the raccoons slowly released their paws.
Then, looking utterly dejected, they huddled on the floor and waved their short front paws at me in farewell.
"Kyuu! Kyu!"
"Bye, chubsters. Be good."
Cha Eunwol and Kim Hyunah watched the scene, chuckling in disbelief at how close Baek Arang and the raccoons had become.
We left the cafe and drove to a massive Korean gourmet restaurant that screamed luxury at first glance.
...Kinda like last time, but different.
Here too, the entrance staff wore hanbok, but these were very traditional styles, unlike before.
...Hmm, should I buy some hanbok?
I wouldn't wear it every day, but it'd be fun occasionally.
I naturally headed into the fully reserved restaurant and sat down. My eyes widened at the feast laid out before us.
"Whoa... How much is all this?"
"No idea? They just said leave the card and they'll handle payment."
"...What if it's a scam... Oh, right, no one's dumb enough."
Yeah, who'd scam the Baekya Guild leader?
Get caught, and you're dead—no cop could touch her.
I eyed the table groaning under the dishes and sneakily picked up some braised short ribs, slipping them carefully into my mouth.
The sweet soy glaze and subtle chestnut savoriness had soaked perfectly into the tender meat, melting blissfully on my tongue.
...I gotta come here more.
I quietly pulled out my smartphone and marked the place on my map.
As I stuffed my cheeks full of short ribs, I noticed a gaze and looked up to see the guild leader smiling at me, chin in hand.
"Not eating?"
She'd been watching me eat and gently pushed some side dishes my way with her chopsticks.
"I am. But you eat so enjoyably, I got lost watching."
"It's sooo good..."
"Glad it is. So, can you finish a full bowl of rice these days?"
At the question, Baek Arang set down her chopsticks, puffed out her scrawny chest proudly, and declared,
"I can eat half a bowl now!"
"......You're doing great."
Cha Eunwol stared at Baek Arang's belly and face in turn, her expression a mix of exasperation and amusement.
...Well, better than before.
"Sigh, when's that top gonna grow? You're at prime growing age—eat more if you want height."
Cha Eunwol crossed her arms under her ample chest and smirked teasingly.
"Won't grow big up top if you don't eat plenty. You'll starve your future babies."
"...I'm reporting you for sexual harassment."
"I'll be your witness."
"Hyunah... I'm the guild leader... Arang's not, I am."
Cha Eunwol shot an incredulous glare at Kim Hyunah, who sided with Baek Arang as if it were obvious, but Kim Hyunah didn't even glance her way.
"......I'm trying, okay? I eat a lot... don't exercise every day, but... I work hard."
Kim Hyunah sidled up beside the pouting, cheek-puffed Baek Arang and whispered softly.
"Lady Arang, don't mind her. I like you just as you are."
"...I wanna grow too."
"Ha, seriously... This is why picking up strays is pointless... Sigh."
Cha Eunwol pursed her lips, eyeing Kim Hyunah stuck to Baek Arang like glue.
"Jeez. Kim Hyunah, you always take Arang's side. Fine, I'm the bad guy who always crushes the kid's spirit, huh?"
"Honestly, doesn't it barely hurt at this point?"
"...That hurts."
I poked Cha Eunwol's knee with my short leg stretched as far as it could go, watching her grumble.
"Hm?"
"Hehe, I like you, Guild Leader~."
"What...?"
As I beamed at her, the guild leader froze, her face flushing as she stared silently.
"......And me, Lady Arang?"
"I like Kim Hyunah too."
They both stopped eating, just gazing at me.
What's up with them?
Girls can like each other, right? Back in the day, girls played around a lot together.
I ignored their statue-like stillness and went back to my short ribs.
While we were deep into the meal, urgent, flustered voices came from the restaurant entrance.
"Sir! Sorry, but the entire restaurant is reserved for a private event today, so we can't seat regular customers... Eek!"
Cha Eunwol set down her chopsticks with a clack and turned toward the door. Her face twisted, a chill killing intent radiating from her.
I stopped chewing and peeked over.
A massive man, nearly blocking the door with his bulk, stood there imposingly.
"Step aside. I'm not here to eat."
"Let him in. Don't touch him."
The guild leader's low, icy voice echoed through the restaurant.
The staff paled and backed away. He smirked and strode in leisurely.
Oomph... Still haven't swallowed.
I hurriedly chewed the mouthful bulging in my cheeks, watching cautiously.
Who's that hulking dude? Someone the guild leader knows?
As I tilted my head in confusion, Kim Hyunah beside me stood smoothly and positioned herself right next to Guild Leader Cha Eunwol.
"Barging into people's meals—what rude bullshit is this? Not a wolf, just some stray mutt passing by?"
Despite Cha Eunwol's sharp tongue-lashing, he ignored her completely.
His eyes were fixed solely on Baek Arang, sitting at the table with cheeks stuffed full, looking up at him.
"......"
After staring piercingly at me in silence for a long moment, the man finally spoke.
"You."
"......?"
"Wanna be my daughter?"