Chapter 278
Chapter 278
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 278
Chapter Title: Dog and Wolf (3)
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"Ahem. I-Is this okay?"
Ha-eun, now sporting black cat ears and a tail, approached Oh-jin.
The accessories suited her usual cat-like features perfectly, and Oh-jin swallowed hard.
"S-So? How is it? Does it look okay?"
Her cheeks flushed bright red with embarrassment as she struck a slight pose.
The way she stuck out her hips, her cat tail dangling behind her, struck a chord deep within Oh-jin.
Oh-jin voiced his honest opinion.
"Seems a bit much for someone over thirty... Keuk!"
Ha-eun's fist, moving at a blinding speed, slammed into Oh-jin's solar plexus.
"I-It's not like I wanted to wear this, you know?!"
Ha-eun huffed, glaring fiercely at him.
Even she, who had grown quite bold in expressing her affection since becoming Oh-jin's lover, had no tolerance for this kind of niche play.
"They're surprisingly well-made, though. You can even make them move a little by channeling mana into them."
Isabella, wearing brown dog ears and a tail, wagged her tail like a puppy welcoming its owner home.
Every time he saw her like this, the memory of her whispering "woof woof" in his ear made his cheeks burn for no reason.
*'I should grab a few of these later.'*
Solidifying his resolve, he glanced back at Isabella.
"By the way, are you sure you don't need to go with black?"
"Yes. If class is determined by fur color, it seems necessary to be able to disguise ourselves as the Brown Mane tribe, who are likely commoners."
True.
Just as the rich don't fully understand the lives of common people, being in a higher class doesn't necessarily mean you know everything.
"Besides, isn't brown cuter?"
Isabella said with a smile in her eyes, pressing herself against him.
As expected of the resourceful Isabella, she had already mastered controlling the props, twitching her ears and wagging her tail as if she were a real beastman.
The fluffy dog tail tickled Oh-jin's thigh.
Ahem.
Oh-jin cleared his throat for no reason and averted his gaze from Isabella.
A peal of laughter came from beside him.
"Vega..."
[...There were none in my size.]
Vega pouted, looking sullen.
Naturally, there were no props that the palm-sized Vega could use.
Even if she could, she wouldn't be able to pass as a beastman.
"Then you can hide in my inner pocket, Vega."
[Is that alright?]
"If it gets stuffy, you can always return to the Sanctuary for a bit."
[Ahem! How could I possibly leave my child behind and return alone?]
Vega quickly slipped into Oh-jin's inner jacket pocket and hid herself.
Peeking out with just her face, she glanced around, her eyes sparkling as if she was quite pleased with the ride.
"Riak..."
Oh-jin frowned as he looked at Riak, who had changed back into his wolf form.
Being a beastman, Riak didn't need a separate disguise.
The problem was his brilliantly shining silver fur.
"What do you want to do? Are you going to go as you are?"
"..."
After a moment of silent contemplation, Riak shook his head.
"No, I will dye it if possible."
"Dye, have material."
Baek Mu-gang rustled through the closet again and brought out a black dye.
"But, can't change body form."
According to Riak, beastmen could change into three forms.
There was the complete animal form, like Riak was in now; a human form with only ears and a tail; and finally, a half-beast, half-human form, like a werewolf.
The half-beast form consumed the most stamina.
It was mainly used in combat because it provided an explosive burst of power.
They usually remained in their animal or human forms, and since the human form was more convenient in many ways, most chose that.
"Beastman. Change body, fur grows back. Dye disappears."
"I know."
Riak nodded as if this was common knowledge.
It seemed that because their society was stratified by fur color, dyeing had been a common practice for a long time.
*'So, by changing fur color, a noble can become a commoner, or even an outcast?'*
It seemed like a very flawed system.
But when you thought about it, human society wasn't all that different.
Why else would the term 'car poor' exist?
People drove expensive foreign cars they couldn't afford just to make their social status appear higher.
Of course, dyeing one's fur was much simpler than driving a foreign car, but it also meant you could be found out just as easily.
*'All they'd have to do is ask you to change form, and it'd be over.'*
In any case.
It was better to dye his fur than to walk around with it silver.
"Dye, I'll help. I'm good."
Baek Mu-gang mixed the black dye with water and approached Riak.
And then he promptly tilted the container as if to pour its entire contents out.
Just before the dye could cascade onto Riak's head like a waterfall, Isabella barely managed to grab Baek Mu-gang's arm.
"W-Wait a moment!"
"Hm? Why?"
"I-I'll do it."
Isabella forced a smile and took the container of dye from Baek Mu-gang's hand.
"I'm good at it, though..."
Baek Mu-gang muttered with a sullen expression.
"Let's go outside, Riak. I'll help you."
"...I'll be in your care, Leech Woman."
"Please don't call me a leech."
"Then should I call you an earthworm?"
"Oh my, should I hand this back to Master Baek Mu-gang? He seemed quite confident."
"Ahem. Let's hurry outside."
Not wanting to be doused in dye, Riak quickly turned and headed out.
Isabella followed Riak outside.
Oh-jin approached Baek Mu-gang, who was staring wistfully at the door.
"Elder."
"Yes?"
"Is there any chance you could help us meet Horus?"
At first, he had been taken aback by how different the man was from what he'd imagined.
But after talking to him, it was clear that Baek Mu-gang possessed extensive knowledge about the Demon Realm's ecosystem.
With Baek Mu-gang's cooperation, contacting the king of the Demon Realm would be much easier.
"No can do."
The answer was a sharp refusal.
Baek Mu-gang shook his head firmly, a guileless smile on his face.
"I have to go find my treasure."
What kind of object could it be to have Baek Mu-gang so obsessed?
"What is this treasure you're looking for?"
"Treasure is treasure."
It was the same answer as before.
"It's precious, so I have to find it."
Baek Mu-gang smiled brightly, like a child.
"Do you have any clues?"
"Bad guy stole my treasure, have to find bad guy."
"...Bad guy?"
"Bad guy is bad guy."
The conversation wasn't going anywhere.
Still, he had learned one thing from their short exchange.
Someone had stolen Baek Mu-gang's treasure, and Baek Mu-gang was chasing after them.
In this distant land of the Demon Realm.
For five long years.
Alone.
"..."
He was curious about the treasure's identity, but given Baek Mu-gang's state, it seemed unlikely he'd get a proper answer.
"Well, thank you for your help, elder."
It was a shame he couldn't secure Baek Mu-gang's cooperation.
But thanks to him, they had gained a lot of information about the 'Khan' kingdom.
From here on, it would be faster to find out things for himself.
"Hm? You're leaving already?"
"Yes. We lost a lot of time getting through the forest."
"Hehe. It was nice meeting you."
Baek Mu-gang chuckled innocently and extended his hand.
Oh-jin shook the wrinkled hand.
It was as thin as a skeleton's, but he could feel a strange strength in it.
"Grandpa, are you going to look for that treasure?"
Ha-eun asked from the side.
"Yep! I'm going on a treasure hunt!"
"...I hope you can find it."
Perhaps she sensed something in his bright, star-like smile.
Ha-eun cheered him on with a voice full of sincerity.
"Thank you! I'll definitely find it!"
Baek Mu-gang clenched both his fists.
"Oh, right. You have the compass, right?"
"Ah, yes."
"You can follow that to find me. If you have more questions, come find me."
"Understood."
Oh-jin exchanged brief farewells with Baek Mu-gang and went outside.
Riak was there, his fur now dyed black.
"Is that strange human not coming with us?"
"He said he has something else to do."
Oh-jin turned to Riak and asked.
"Anyway, how long does it take to get to the Khan kingdom from here?"
"We can get there in half a day. Follow me."
Riak turned and began to walk forward with long strides.
Oh-jin's party followed behind him.
"That treasure the old man is looking for, what do you think it is?"
"Who knows?"
"Hmm."
Ha-eun narrowed her eyes and tilted her head, completely clueless.
"Still, it's a bit shocking. He's so different from the image I had..."
Who would have imagined that Cheonkwonseong Baek Mu-gang was a senile old man?
[I see now why Deneb was so reserved. That child is overly concerned with how others see him.]
Vega clicked her tongue and shook her head.
"Still, that's his Apostle. Isn't that too harsh? It's not like the old man committed a crime."
[He may be reserved, but he is likely helping in various ways. Did he not send Allen on an errand to the Demon Realm?]
True.
If he truly thought of Baek Mu-gang as a disowned child, there would have been no reason to send Allen all the way to the Demon Realm with necessary supplies.
"Anyway, that kid has a weird personality. If he's going to help, he should just go all out."
Ha-eun frowned, feeling sorry for Baek Mu-gang, who was wandering the Demon Realm alone for years in search of his treasure.
Oh-jin let out a small laugh and patted Ha-eun's back lightly.
"In any case, let's focus on our own business for now."
"Ah, right. We should."
The party followed Riak back into the dense forest.
Although it was a forest, they weren't attacked by all sorts of demonic beasts like when they had navigated the 'Forest of the Demon Sea'.
If anything, it was so quiet it was unnerving.
Oh-jin activated the Stigma of Canes Venatici, scanning his surroundings as he moved forward slowly.
As they were making their way through the forest.
"Brother-aaaaah!"
A piercing scream tore through the air.
The metallic scent of blood tickled his nostrils.
"..."
"..."
Oh-jin's party exchanged silent glances.
Without a word, they took off in the direction of the scream.