Chapter 58
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Translator: MJK
Chapter: 58
Chapter Title: Koko's Garden Adaptation
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After returning from cooking class, I handed out the puppy-shaped cookies I-hana had given me to Muryong and Hasuo.
-Hmew?
Muryong, fascinated by the unfamiliar shape of the treat, poked at it tentatively with a front paw.
Woof!
Then it shoved the cookie—nearly as big as its own body—into its mouth in one go.
Crunch, crunch!
Hasuo was happily munching away on his crispy cookie right beside it.
"Looks like they love it."
I watched them and thought back to that woman from cooking class.
She'd sat next to me and seemed pretty skilled at cooking whenever I glanced over.
Maybe I should share some of my dishes with her next time.
'Hm?'
Suddenly, I spotted crude handprints on the car hood, illuminated by the moonlight.
'Who touched it?'
A clearly unpleasant aura from strangers lingered on the vehicle.
I immediately pulled up the black box footage.
It was an artifact-grade model powered by mana stones, capturing 360 degrees in ultra-HD with perfect facial recognition.
-Brothers, what's up!
The screen showed two young guys goofing around on my hood for a live stream, every detail recorded.
Moments later, the woman from cooking class appeared and shooed them away.
'What the hell are these clowns?'
I frowned.
Blatant rudeness.
And plain stupidity before that.
Not even realizing their faces and voices were all being recorded, prancing around on someone else's property like idiots—it made me grimace.
'And that woman...'
Honestly, it was unexpected.
She had this cool, aloof vibe, but she'd stepped in like that for something that wasn't even her business.
She'd even wiped down the hood with her handkerchief.
Maybe it was nosiness, or maybe she just couldn't stand injustice.
Either way, I appreciated it.
'This face should be easy to track down.'
I searched for their channel right away.
They were live.
[Channel: Hype Bros] Brothers! Today we're hitting that haunted house we teased last time! Let's go!
-Ugh, that Phantom Guild chick from earlier was such a bitch, right?
-Yeah, who does she think she is lecturing us? Driving around in some Ghibli like that. Rich bitch~
They were chattering noisily as ever.
The broadcast showed the address—a rundown abandoned house not far from here.
-Hmew...
Muryong sat on the porch, staring at the cookie Hasuo was eating.
Drool dripped down, but somehow it resisted snatching one.
"Even our little ones know not to mess with other people's stuff."
Besides, this was the meaningful car Old Man No had gifted me.
"Guess they need a lesson."
"Kkiyot?"
I patted Gorani's back just as it was heading out for its nightly stroll.
"Alright, brothers! We've finally arrived at the haunted house! Whoa, the vibe is perfect!"
The two streamers were hyped up on viewer donations.
"Today we'll smash any ghosts or whatever—huh?"
Thud!
Right then, the rickety second-floor ceiling of the old haunted house caved in, and a massive black shadow loomed before them.
As the dust settled, a house-sized Gorani revealed itself.
"H-Hiiiik!"
"Wh-What the—aaack!"
The sudden appearance of the monstrously huge beast sent them screaming to the floor.
Drip... drip...
The camera captured one streamer's pants leg soaking through in terror, broadcast live for all to see.
The chat exploded.
-LOLOLOLOL Did he just piss himself?
-LOLOL Uppercase man pissing at a deer
-Panty peek! Panty peek!
-(Donation 10,000 won) Diaper money, kid
Screeeeech!
Gorani unleashed a piercing shriek toward them.
It wasn't laced with magic—just raw volume—but enough to gift them ringing ears that'd keep them up for weeks.
"Aaaah! My ears!"
They clutched their ears and rolled on the ground.
Crack!
The phone screen shattered like a spiderweb from Gorani's direct sonic hit.
Then, from the darkness, a man slowly stepped forward.
'Wh-What... is this pressure?'
They forgot even the sensation of their soaked pants.
The man simply stood there quietly, yet he exuded an overwhelming aura that crushed them.
"Wh-Who...?"
"The owner of that car."
He dangled the Maserati key in front of their faces.
They instantly grasped the situation and felt doom in their guts.
To survive, what now?
"G-Get up! We gotta beg!"
"We're sorry! So sorry!"
"Sorry for what?"
"Cl-Climbing on your car—we messed up!"
They groveled desperately.
If they didn't beg now, they'd either die by this man's hand or live with eternal regret—that primal dread hit them hard.
"My car was filthy."
"Y-Yes sir! We'll wash it right now! Polish it spotless!"
"Then while you're at it, make sure not a speck of dust remains. No visible scratches either. I'll pick it up in the morning."
"Yes! Got it!"
The man turned and left.
Gorani toyed with them like playthings, batting at their bodies with its front paws.
"Play as much as you want, Gorani."
With that, he vanished leisurely.
"Kkiyoo!"
Gorani's eyes gleamed wickedly in the dark.
Like it'd found the best toy ever.
"Uh... uwaa..."
From that night until dawn broke.
The haunted house echoed with the two men's agonized screams alternating with Gorani's gleeful roars.
A few days later, I headed to Old Man No's place for the first time in a while.
I was curious about his new job life at Valhalla, if Hellmung-i had put on some weight.
All sorts of things.
"Oh, Assistant Jang! Come on in!"
"Huff, huff!"
Hellmung-i beat Old Man No to the punch, bounding out with wagging tails to greet me.
"Hellmung-i?"
A cute name tag reading [Hellmung-i] dangled from the hellhound's neck.
"Yeah, the company made it. Heh."
Old Man No looked bashful, but he was clearly hooked on doting on the pup these days.
I placed some [Sun-Kissed Carrots] and a few [Fluffy Potatoes] in Hellmung-i's bowl.
Its body was still small, but its eyes now sparkled with newfound vitality.
Hellmung-i charged like a bullet but halted before me instead of diving straight in as usual.
Then it cautiously lowered both heads.
"Grrrm..."
The low rumble felt like gratitude—or maybe permission to eat.
"Heh, look at this guy. He really takes to you, Assistant Jang."
"Really?"
"Seems he knows who feeds him like a ghost. Hierarchy's already set, I guess."
I stroked each head in turn, and only then did it frantically bury its faces in the bowl.
It emptied it in seconds and licked the back of my hand with its warm, wet tongue.
Clear submission and thanks.
"Director, do you know any good elementary schools in Seoul?"
"Elementary? What's this about?"
"My little sister's almost ready for school. Not online classes from her hospital bed anymore—I want her in a real one, making friends."
His eyes lit up at my words.
"That's my specialty! I know every school district around here thanks to my nieces and nephews. For your sister... she was pretty smart, right?"
"Yes. Even without attending, she always ranked top with just online classes. Sharp kid."
"Then somewhere like Saint Mary's School for gifted kids?"
Old Man No got excited like it was his own business, rattling off pros and cons of elite primaries I'd never heard of.
"But Assistant Jang, no thoughts on a hunter academy? Regular geniuses get lapped the second they Awaken, you know."
"If So-ye wants it, sure. But she doesn't seem interested. Right now, I just want her doing what she loves, whatever the cost."
I glanced at Hellmung-i and recalled So-ye crying at Gorani recently.
Gorani had been down since, hiding it but looking gloomy—it bugged me.
"Director, know any places selling rare curiosities?"
"Rare stuff?"
"Yeah, special items not widely known. Price doesn't matter."
He pondered briefly.
"There's one. Can't be regulated by the Bureau or guilds, so they turn a blind eye. Exotic rarities trade hands there. Get lucky, snag legendaries dirt cheap. But dangerous for civilians."
"Where?"
He whispered low.
"The black market."
Lately, the chicken had a new mission.
Entertaining the house's two young masters.
Muryong-nim and Hasuo-nim.
Cluck cluck!
Flap flap!
Forgetting its injured wing, the chicken dashed around the yard, performing tricks.
Scratching pictures in the dirt, fluttering wings for stunts, belting out songs at full volume.
Like an uncle desperately entertaining nieces on holiday.
-Hmewt!
“Pwaaang!”
Every time Muryong and Hasuo giggled at its antics, the chicken swelled with pride.
Job well done today.
Of course, it wasn't tiring.
Compared to starving in the mountains, chased by wild beasts—this was paradise.
Playing with such cute kids was rewarding and fun.
Blink, blink.
These days, with peace of mind, sleepiness hit anytime—that was the only issue.
As the chicken dozed under the warm porch sunlight...
-Hmew.
Muryong, who'd been playing nearby, toddled over to the sleeping chicken.
It carefully inspected the chicken's broken left wing.
Then, ever so gently, placed its tiny front paw on the bandaged spot.
Shiiiine...
A clear, warm energy flowed from Muryong's paw, seeping into the wing.
Fractured bones realigned, torn tendons mended—in quiet restoration.
In its doze, the chicken felt its wing twitch lightly but dismissed it as a pleasant dream.
"Kko-kkok... kkok-kkok..."
In the dream, the chicken spread both wings wide, soaring freely across the vast skies where its master awaited.
A peaceful afternoon, lost in that sweet reverie.