How Dare You Show Your Face Here
"...Screech!"
"...Hiss!"
"...Is she still like that?"
Dojin asked Do-hee as he walked into the playroom.
"...Yeah."
"Sigh..."
A sigh escaped Dojin's lips at Do-hee's reply.
Even before he had gone out at Chanarshanhu's call, Bo-ri had been staring out the window, occasionally hissing.
But he hadn't expected her to still be doing it now.
It's already been an hour.
Even a human would get exhausted after raging for that long.
Yet Bo-ri remained in full-on angry mode, as if she couldn't let go of whatever was vexing her.
What if she makes herself sick again?
At a glance, they looked healthy enough, but Ttorang-i, Bo-ri, and her kittens were all far from physically sound.
Because they had survived such severe illnesses, even a slight dip in their condition could trigger a rapid relapse.
Consequently, Dojin had to make weekly trips to the veterinary clinic.
The nurses at the Good Doctor Animal Hospital didn't joke about getting their salaries paid by Sekki House for nothing.
"Bo-ri, come here."
"Meow!"
As Dojin approached and scooped her up, Bo-ri resisted slightly before slowly letting her body go limp.
She, too, was exhausted from staying angry for so long.
Pat, pat.
"Oh dear, why are you so upset? Look, you're making the babies worry."
"...Meow?"
Bo-ri turned her head at Dojin's words as he gently patted her backside.
"Meow..."
"Mew..."
The five kittens, including Samsaek-i, were crying anxiously as they looked up at their mother.
"...Meow."
Wiggle, wiggle.
Perhaps moved by the sight of her children, Bo-ri began to squirm, trying to get down.
When Dojin gently set her on the floor, Bo-ri padded over to her kittens and gathered them into her embrace.
"Meow."
"Mew."
"Purr."
The playroom filled with the soft chorus of feline voices.
As if witnessing children comforting their mother, Do-hee and Seung-wan looked visibly moved, their faces filled with emotion.
Scratch, scratch.
Uh... should I pretend to be touched too?
In this spacious room, Dojin was the only one who remained completely unfazed.
"It seems pretty clear that Bo-ri's agitation is because of those stray cats, right?"
Once Bo-ri had calmed down and the kittens had dispersed, Dojin gathered the other two to start a discussion.
They couldn't just leave Bo-ri in this state forever.
"Yeah. More specifically, that black cat."
At Do-hee's words, all three of them turned their gaze to a single spot.
It was the only kitten in Bo-ri's litter without stripes—a little one whose coat was almost entirely black, just like the stray they had seen earlier.
"I had my suspicions when I looked at Kkamang-i, but the father cat really was a black cat."
"Right? I never noticed it before, but now that I'm paying attention, Kkamang-i looks exactly like that guy."
At Seung-wan's remark, Dojin took a closer look at Kkamang-i.
Despite still being a kitten, his sharp features and the shape of his ears were a spitting image of the stray.
The only difference was the white fur below his ankles.
"Given how things are playing out, it's safe to assume that guy abandoned Bo-ri, right?"
"Of course. Didn't you see Bo-ri earlier? She looked ready to tear him to pieces on the spot."
"It's shocking that he abandoned a pregnant female carrying his own kittens, only to show up here with a new mate. I thought cats would be different from humans."
"..."
"..."
Ignoring Seung-wan, who seemed genuinely traumatized, Do-hee continued.
"I was thinking... could that be why Bo-ri was acting so strange toward you the past few days? You said you ran into those strays on your way back from walks."
"Yeah. They were trying to settle on top of the wall, so I chased them off a few times."
Do-hee's words made Dojin recall the events of a few days ago.
Even after getting scolded by Ttorang-i, the strays kept coming back.
From their perspective, this was a place where they used to get regular meals, so it must have been hard to give up.
But since that day, Dojin had not only stopped feeding them but had also chased them away whenever he saw them.
Did I catch their scent back then?
Before, they had only looked at each other from a distance, but once he started actively chasing them, the scent must have rubbed off on him.
That would explain why Bo-ri went back to normal the next day. A faint scent wouldn't linger for more than twenty-four hours.
"I've got the gist of the situation... but it's tricky."
"Yeah... exactly. There's nothing we can really do."
Do-hee nodded with a deflated expression at Dojin's words.
It was a relief to solve the mystery, but they were truly powerless here.
If it were a human, I could get revenge on her behalf.
But in the end, this was a dispute between cats. Just because the black cat was irresponsible didn't mean they could step in and punish him.
"No! He must be brought to justice! How could he abandon such beautiful, lovely kittens! This is unacceptable!"
"...I think Seung-wan needs to cool his head for a bit."
"Yeah, Oppa. I'll take our Seung-wan and go get him washed up."
"Huh? What's wrong? Wait, Do-hee, let go of me! I have a mission to establish moral standards in feline society..."
"Yeah, I get it, so let's finish this in the shower room, okay? Washing your hair with cold water will cool you down."
"Ah, no. Wait...!"
The Joan of Arc who championed the order of feline society was dragged off to the shower room by her smaller friend.
"Fetch!"
Woof, woof!
With a shout, Dojin launched the flying disc.
As if waiting for this exact moment, Ttorang-i dashed in the direction the disc flew.
"Whew, this isn't easy either."
Dojin rotated his shoulders during the brief break.
Because Ttorang-i brought the disc back in the blink of an eye, he had to stretch constantly to avoid waking up sore the next day.
But after thirty minutes, he was reaching his limit.
His right arm was starting to lose strength.
Poke, poke.
"Huh?"
Dojin, who had been vigorously stretching his shoulders, looked down at the sensation near his waist.
"Sun-jam? What is it?"
Lately, whenever Dojin took out the flying disc, Sun-jam would naturally follow him outside.
She had realized that bringing out the disc meant playing with Ttorang-i on the field.
It actually made me more self-conscious when she just stood there watching.
Until now, Sun-jam hadn't done anything.
She had simply stood quietly by Dojin's side, watching him throw the disc.
But today, she was finally expressing a desire.
Since Sun-jam rarely spoke, Dojin had been quietly concerned about her, making this moment strangely reassuring.
"..."
"Hmm? This? You want to try throwing it, Sun-jam?"
Dojin mimed throwing the disc that Ttorang-i had just brought back.
Understanding his gesture, Sun-jam nodded.
"Well, will it be okay?"
After a moment's hesitation, Dojin handed the disc to Sun-jam.
He worried whether a five-year-old could throw it properly, but since the disc was very light, he figured it would be fine.
However, Dojin soon realized just how pointless his worries were.
Whoosh!
Woof, woof!
The disc Sun-jam threw flew almost as far as Dojin's throws.
And she hadn't even put much effort into it.
"...Is this the power of nomadic blood?"
A drama he had watched in the past flashed through Dojin's mind.
It was a Korean drama where the female lead inherited superhuman strength, and the character's concept was a Mongolian girl.
"Maybe that drama was actually historically accurate..."
Whoosh!
Woof, woof!
Even as Dojin watched, the game of fetch continued without pause.
A dog and a young child.
Perhaps because it was a combination that wouldn't lose to anyone in terms of stamina, the disc flew back and forth relentlessly.
"...Maybe I should just leave playing with Ttorang-i to Sun-jam."
Sun-jam was already taking care of Ttorang-i's indoor walks.
Of course, Dojin hadn't asked her to.
Sun-jam had simply taken the initiative to walk her before Dojin or Do-hee could.
And she did it three times a day—morning, afternoon, and evening.
She loves eating so much, yet she rushes through her meals just to walk Ttorang-i. I can't even stop her.
He had tried to stop her a few times.
Playing together was one thing, but there was no need for Sun-jam to go out of her way to walk Ttorang-i.
However, Chanarshanhu had stopped Dojin instead.
"Boss, it is okay. In Mongolia, young children look after livestock. Sun-jam saw many animals in Mongolia too."
"Mongolian people need a role. If someone has no role in the family, they feel left out."
Their words made Chanarshanhu's family's behavior make sense.
It was their own culture.
I only hired Chanarshanhu, but since they were all invited here, they must be trying to help in any way they can.
Dojin didn't mind, but if this was their way, he had to respect it.
"Understood. Then I'll leave Ttorang-i's walks to Sun-jam."
"Yes, thank you, Boss."
"Thank you."
The two bowed with smiles at Dojin's words.
Just then, a voice calling for Dojin rang out.
"Director, could I speak with you for a moment?"
"Yes? Ah, of course."
Turning his head, Dojin's face momentarily stiffened.
The person calling him was none other than the powerhouse of the staff cafeteria, Mrs. Heo Mi-yeong.
Why Mrs. Heo?
A summons from Mrs. Heo was bound to make even Dojin nervous.
If there was one place where she wielded absolute authority, it was the cafeteria.
And that tension peaked the moment the first words left her mouth.
"Director, I hear Sun-jam has been walking Ttorang-i lately?"
"..."
Her demeanor practically screamed, I already know everything, so just confess, prompting Dojin to nod slowly.
Meanwhile, his mind raced to figure out how to explain Mongolian culture.
To an outsider, he might look like an abusive employer forcing a five-year-old girl to work.
But Mrs. Heo's next words were completely unexpected.
"Sigh, Director, please eat your meals a bit slower."
"...Pardon?"
"You probably don't realize this, but when you and Miss Do-hee eat quickly, Sun-jam barely gets to eat anything."
"...?"
Seeing Dojin's utterly baffled expression, Mi-yeong sighed again and began to explain.
"So... Sun-jam is rushing her food to walk Ttorang-i before we do?"
"Yes. Since you usually walk Ttorang-i after meals, she seems to be eating in a rush to get to it before you do."
"..."
Was it because Mi-yeong's words were so shocking? Dojin couldn't speak for a long moment.
What kind of kid...
Her desperate effort to fulfill her role was no less than that of an adult.
In fact, she was better than most adults.
And she loves food so much.
Dojin remembered the day she arrived, tearing into beef ribs.
She had held a rib in each hand, chewing with the happiest face in the world...
"I know it's presumptuous of me to say this... but I thought the child should be able to eat in peace."
"No, thank you for telling me. If you hadn't, I would have made a huge mistake."
Following that conversation with Mrs. Heo, the three of them made sure to be the last to leave the cafeteria.
They did this so that Sun-jam and her family could eat comfortably.
And now, Dojin was witnessing the results.
Whoosh!
Pant, pant!
...Ttorang-i lost.
The endless relay, which felt like a contest of wills, finally came to an end.
The winner, surprisingly, was Sun-jam.
Granted, Ttorang-i had already been playing before, and the nature of the game put the dog at a severe disadvantage.
Even so, it was astonishing that a five-year-old child had outlasted Ttorang-i's stamina.
She ate that smoked duck so happily yesterday, and now look at her go.
As Ttorang-i collapsed onto the ground, unable to go on, Sun-jam walked over and began to pet her.
Just as Dojin was thinking she looked like a professional trainer praising a dog, voices called out to him from behind.
"Oppa!"
"Dojin."
"Huh? What brings you two out?"
"We wanted to give Bo-ri and the kittens some fresh air."
"It was too hot during the summer to bring them out often. Now that the weather has cooled down, we plan to bring them out more."
At their words, Dojin looked down at the ground.
"Meow?"
"Mew..."
"Mew~"
With their own distinct cries, Bo-ri and her kittens trotted toward Dojin.
Samsaek-i, as usual, climbed up his leg and onto his shoulder.
Jambo, already sleepy, curled up right on top of Dojin's foot.
And Bo-ri...
"She doesn't look too bad."
"Yeah. She seems to have settled down after a few days."
Dojin stroked Bo-ri, feeling relieved by Seung-wan's assessment.
Since Seung-wan, who observed Bo-ri much more closely than he did, said she was stable, he could relax.
"Meow."
After enjoying the touch for a moment, Bo-ri leaped straight into Dojin's arms.
"Whoa, Bo-ri. You know how to act spoiled too?"
"Meow."
Pretending not to hear Dojin, Bo-ri burrowed deeper into his embrace.
She must have had a rough time over the past few days.
Watching them, Seung-wan spoke with a hint of envy.
"It's strange how the cats get so affectionate whenever they see you, Dojin."
"Is that so? Maybe it's because I rescued them when they were in trouble?"
"No, no matter how I look at it, Oppa, you should have been an animal trainer."
"Meow."
"Look at that! Bo-ri is so sly. When it's just us, she looks down on us. But in your arms, she acts all innocent."
"Meow."
"She says that's not true."
"Oh my goodness, look at her!"
"Pfft!"
Do-hee glared at Bo-ri at Dojin's remark, and Seung-wan laughed at the two of them. It was a happy moment.
But that happiness did not last long.
"Screeech!"
"Yowl!"
The moment a cry distinctly different from Bo-ri's family echoed,
"Hiss!"
Bo-ri, who had been acting cute in Dojin's arms just a second ago, dropped to the ground and bristled her fur.
"What is it?"
"Could it be?"
The three of them followed Bo-ri's gaze to a single spot.
"Hiss!"
"Yowl!"
As if responding to Bo-ri's hiss, an equally hostile hiss echoed from over the wall. Soon, two familiar figures appeared on top of the wall.
"Those pests again!"
"How dare they show their faces here!"
The moment they saw the black cat and the brown mackerel tabby, harsh words burst from Do-hee and Seung-wan's mouths.
But their shouts posed no threat to the strays. As if mocking their words, the strays leaped over the wall and entered the grounds of Sekki House.
Grit.
Oh, really?
A fire lit in Dojin's eyes as he stared at the strays.
Before he knew it, he was holding a badminton racket—the very same one he had used to swat hornets.
Recalling the sensation of swatting hornets, Dojin was about to step forward when someone else lunged ahead of him.
"Bo-ri!"
"No, come back!"
Do-hee and Seung-wan's cries came too late.
Bo-ri and the two strays had already tangled into a ball, locked in a bloody brawl.
"Damn it!"
A startled Dojin rushed forward, but even he couldn't break up the three tangled cats.
They moved so fast during the fight that he couldn't even grab their tails.
"Screeech!"
"Hiss!"
"Yowl!"
As the violent sounds of fighting and screeching continued, the faces of Dojin and the others grew grim.
At a glance, it looked like a chaotic mess, but looking closer, Bo-ri was taking a one-sided beating.
"Bo-ri! Come here!"
"Oh no, what do we do?!"
"Hey, you pests!"
No matter how much the three of them chased and shouted, nothing changed.
Not only was she outnumbered, but her opponents were healthy wild cats.
Bo-ri, who had recently given birth and was still suffering from the aftereffects of her illness, was in no condition to handle them.
"You black bastard! How dare you hit Bo-ri!"
"Her kittens are watching! You absolute scumbag!"
In the end, curses burst from Do-hee and Seung-wan's mouths.
Since their physical abilities were nowhere near fast enough to catch the three cats, this was all they could do.
I can't catch up.
Dojin was having the same problem.
The strays were cunning; they didn't keep the fight in one place.
The two of them took turns attacking Bo-ri, and whenever Dojin's group got close, they lured Bo-ri away to another spot.
Covered in wounds, Bo-ri was too agitated to realize she was being led by the nose.
This is bad.
At some point, blood began to stain the ground.
Since the two strays were completely fine, it was obvious whose blood it was.
I have no choice. I'll have to use this.
Lacking the speed to catch them, Dojin gripped the badminton racket tightly.
He planned to throw it to break up the fight.
If a shadow hadn't suddenly flashed past him at that moment, he would have thrown the racket.
"W-what was that?"
Dojin's question was answered instantly.
Woof, woof!
"Screeech!"
A new sound echoed across the field, which had been filled only with cat screeches until now.
"Ttorang-i?"
"Get them, Ttorang-i! Teach them a lesson!"
"Make sure they never show their faces here again!"
Snapping out of his daze at Do-hee and Seung-wan's cheering, Dojin finally understood why the Mongol Empire had once conquered the world.
"..."
Woof, woof!
She didn't say a word.
Yet Sun-jam, riding atop Ttorang-i, guided the dog with simple hand gestures and nods, cornering the strays.
"...Is this the Jungle Book?"
He had never imagined he would see someone riding a dog like a sled.
Yet a cartoonish scene was unfolding right before his eyes.
Grrr!
Whether it was Sun-jam's command or the sight of Bo-ri's blood, Ttorang-i was unusually worked up.
As she aggressively lunged at the strays, wounds quickly began to appear on their bodies.
"Screeech!"
"Yowl!"
Having sustained significant injuries to their bellies and legs, the strays could no longer hold their ground and scrambled up the wall to safety.
Grrrr!
Ttorang-i kept growling, glaring up at the cats on the wall.
She was clearly still furious.
Normally, she would have easily leaped over the wall to attack, but she seemed to be holding back out of consideration for Sun-jam on her back.
"Hiss!"
"Meow!"
Sensing Ttorang-i's hesitation, the strays hissed back at her, acting bolder than before.
But that was their mistake.
"Screeech!"
"Kee-yak!"
Having returned at some point, Hwindung-i and Cheongdung-i swooped down rapidly, targeting the strays.
"Screeech!"
"Hiss!"
The strays barely managed to dodge the talons of Hwindung-i and Cheongdung-i.
However, they didn't escape unscathed.
Although they avoided being snatched up by reacting just in time, they both sustained deep scratches.
Unable to endure any more, they finally fled over the wall.
"Serves you right! Just try coming back!"
"How dare you show your faces here! If you come back next time, you're dead!"
Perhaps due to the curses of the two women, the bloodstains left on the wall did not wash away for a very long time.