Chapter 86
Chapter 86
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 86
Chapter Title: Nayeo-ju Saves the World
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Night had fallen, and after confirming that everyone had gone to bed, I began my activities.
Ever since deciding to catch the dog thief, I'd stayed perfectly still on the sofa, resting and replenishing my stamina.
"I've got something prepared just for today."
I pulled out the items I'd stashed in one corner of the room and laid them out on the bed.
Especially the D-grade self-defense telescopic baton, perfect for hitting extra hard.
A C-grade baseball cap with stealth effects and a C-grade mask.
And finally, a universal key limited to thirty uses that could open any lock.
"Perfect."
Looking at the three items filled me with confidence.
Confidence that I could catch the dog thief.
All of them were items, and two were teetering right on the edge between illegal and legal, making them hard to acquire.
"Sneaking in the packages was the toughest part."
Eight adults lived here, three of whom were nosy busybodies with way too much interest in everyone else's business.
It had taken a full-blown spy operation to have them delivered to a nearby public parcel locker and sneak them into my room.
I donned the black cap and mask, slipped the universal key into my pocket, tucked the telescopic baton into my waistband, and covered it all with an oversized hoodie.
Preparation complete.
Then, muffling my footsteps as much as possible, I slipped out of the guild building.
Fortunately, it was late, so the hallways were deserted and dead silent.
And the spot I'd chosen was right in front of the guild's van.
For today, I'd carefully covered the 'JUSTICE' lettering with black tape.
Me, Nayeo-ju, holder of a regular class 1 driver's license.
"A drawer license is still a license."
Honestly, this made me more nervous than going after the dog thief.
"Hoo, I can do this."
It was already late at night.
No time to waste—I started the van and gripped the wheel.
"Just don't hit anyone, don't hit anyone."
After a few deep breaths, I drove the van out of Seoul.
Thankfully, no accidents happened.
It was late, and as I approached my destination on the outskirts of Gyeonggi Province, both people and cars on the road thinned out dramatically.
"Where around here could it be?"
I rolled my tense shoulders and scanned the surroundings.
Trees crowded a wild mountain, with nothing but abandoned fields in sight.
"Perfect spot for an illegal dogfighting ring."
Dogs could bark all they wanted here, and no one would hear.
"There it is."
Even so, they'd put up a big sign for the customers.
"The hell?"
I drove the van to a spot in an alley where it could easily escape and parked. No one checked my ID or stood guard.
That's just how this place was.
A shabby illegal dogfighting ring where anyone could wander in and place bets.
I cautiously made my way toward the largest plastic greenhouse, where voices were coming from loudest.
"Kuhak!"
"Hey! Make them fight for real!"
Drunken shouts leaked through tears in the plastic.
I peered through a hole.
The inside was no different from the illegal fighting ring where Kang Han-i had competed as a fighter.
Just far shabbier, with convenience store plastic chairs and overturned booze crates scattered around.
Whether from disgusting excitement or booze,
faces flushed red, people bellowed at the roughly fenced-off ring.
"Hey! Did you really dose it properly?!"
"If it just dodges, it's not a fight!"
"Owner! Bring out some other mutts!"
Two small dogs stood in the dogfighting pit.
'Dogs' my ass—they looked barely 5 or 6 kg each.
They suited cozy home sofas far better than this place.
Even so, the white-furred one refused to fight, just huddling quietly.
Its brown poodle opponent glanced warily around, baring teeth with a growl, but the white one turned its head away, refusing eye contact.
"Cring!"
Even when the poodle lunged and bit its scruff, it was the same.
It flinched in pain but never fought back.
It wasn't fear—it seemed more like refusing to attack an opponent smaller than itself.
In the end, the brown poodle won.
Of course, when one side wouldn't respond to repeated attacks.
Those who'd bet on the smaller poodle laughed louder.
"Kuhaha! I told you, that one's too cowardly!"
"Tch, damn. Can't even fight worth its size. Looks like a tiger but wasted my money."
"Owner! Just dispose of that white one. Useless."
"Leave it! Probably raised soft by its owner."
"Hahaha!"
Disgusting bastards.
I'd hoped otherwise, but no.
Even the bettors here knew these dogs were stolen from their owners.
"Ah, just wait and see. Once these mutts realize their place, they turn fierce. Heh."
A paunchy middle-aged man said that as he roughly grabbed the dogs by the scruff from the pit.
"I'll put these away, so set up the booze."
At the dogfighting ring owner's words, I ducked into the shadow of a dark tree and quietly tailed him.
The owner dangled the dogs from both hands and entered a small greenhouse at the base of the wild mountain.
Clattering sounds came from inside for a moment.
"Yelp!"
"Useless mutt. Damn it."
The instant a pained dog's cry rang out, I instinctively drew my telescopic baton.
If I let this guy walk away intact, I'd be the dog bastard.
I slipped into the shadows by the door and gripped the baton tight in my right hand.
And the moment the dogfighting ring owner finished his business and stepped out,
Thwack-!
"Guhk."
I smashed the back of his head clean.
Ah, now I feel alive.
He took it full force and collapsed unconscious, not twitching.
I kicked him aside so he wouldn't be in the way and fished his ID from his pocket.
Evidence to send to the police with an anonymous tip later.
'Just you wait. You'll get another whack from the staff of the people.'
I glared at the fallen man like week-old food waste, then entered the greenhouse.
"Gonna smack him once more on the way out, that bastard."
The inside was lined with narrow cages.
And they were packed with small dogs.
No large ones.
Obvious reason.
Easier for small ones to handle, and easier to... dispose of later.
Dogs that had once basked in family love at home now bared wary fangs at me from cramped cages, eyes full of fear.
"Grrr..."
"Woof! Woof!"
I hadn't expected illegal dogfighting ring dogs to be pampered in a hotel or anything.
But this was too much.
The wire cages, left with feces piling on the floor, were so narrow even a few dogs inside couldn't lie down properly.
I roughly adjusted my cap and scanned the interior closely.
Dog food mixed with scraps was caked in white mold.
"Damn it."
Couldn't help but curse.
And in the farthest cage, one caught my eye.
Even in the dimness, its white fur gleamed faintly.
Step, step.
I headed straight there.
Unlike the others barking warily at me, this one in its cage was silent.
Bloody, wheezing faint breaths after who-knows-what beating from the owner moments ago.
How long had this one endured this life?
"...Should've come sooner. Sorry."
The news about the dog thief had been my cue.
I wanted to kick my past self in the shin for waiting for the signal instead of rushing here.
In the darkness, the caged one barely opened its glowing blue eyes to look at me.
The white puppy from the fights that never attacked smaller foes.
"Hello, Baekho."
📛 Name:?? (Baekho)
⚔ Type:Combat
🔗 Imprint Target:None
📈 Evolution Stage:Stage 1
✨ Abilities:□□□, □□□□…
I'd found the familiar of the Four Guardian Gods, Baekho, who had lived as a fighting dog and died without ever finding its master.