Chapter 90
Chapter 90
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 90
Chapter Title: Baekho Meets the Guild
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Out of sheer absurdity, I glanced around, and the other guild members looked just as stunned as Kang Han.
"Raiding a zoo...? No, what the hell do you take me for?"
No one answered. Instead, they started shooting sidelong glances at each other.
Aw, come on, seriously.
"Anyway, let me introduce him. This is my familiar, Na Baekho."
"A familiar?!"
"Sis, you picked up a kitty, no, a familiar?!"
"Yeah. It just kinda happened that way."
I was answering the three high schoolers when a sigh of relief came from beside me.
In the meantime, Kang Han swept a hand over his face, looking as exhausted as if he'd run through three gates.
"A familiar... Thank goodness."
"What, were you worried I'd actually stolen a tiger from the zoo?"
"...What's this one's name?"
Look at this guy changing the subject.
Whatever. Since this was the first time introducing Baekho, I'd let it slide.
I shot Kang Han a glare before turning to Baekho.
"Come on, Na Baekho. Say hi."
"The name's 'Na Baekho'!"
"Na Baekho..."
"It's weird, but cute."
I figured Baekho, who understood speech so well, would at least nod his head.
But this little guy was nervous too, it seemed.
His tiny shoulders were stiff.
I crouched down beside Baekho and gently stroked his trembling body.
"They're a bit loud, but they're good people. It's okay."
"Krrrng."
Oh, right. This kid was just rescued from that dogfighting ring.
I'd been thoughtless.
Meeting all these strangers so suddenly must be tough.
"Baekho, let's go back to the room..."
I was about to say 'let's go' when Baekho's slightly teary blue eyes looked up at me.
And then I felt something strange.
Like I could read Baekho's thoughts.
Ah, must be the contract's effect.
It wasn't like guessing from speech bubbles—this was his actual thoughts and feelings flowing straight into my head.
So I understood.
Baekho was unfamiliar with them, but not scared.
He just needed a little courage.
"It's okay."
My feelings must have reached him too.
As if resolving something, the moisture left Baekho's eyes. He clamped his mouth shut and took a few bold steps forward.
And then...
"Kyaaao!"
He let out a big roar—or tried to. It came out more like a mew.
He was still a baby, after all.
But with his chest puffed out and his dignified posture, he carried the majesty of a divine beast that had guarded the east for ages.
And that bravery brought the humans to their knees.
"Sniff, so cute."
"Those teeth... his teeth are the size of rice grains..."
"Baekho is so adorable, no, so cool!"
"Krrrng!"
Baekho was feeling good now.
So he strutted right up to Jang Su-ho, the biggest one among the fallen humans, raising his front paws high.
Then he flopped down beside him.
Splat.
As his pink belly came into view, even Han Ji-seong, who'd been holding on to his composure, finally collapsed.
Seong Yo-na approached me quietly, fists clenched tight.
"What does Baekho eat?"
"Hm? Familiars don't need special food, but I bet he'd love meat."
"Hehe, got it. I'll fatten him up nice and plump from now on."
Ah, so they'd all noticed.
That he hadn't lived in a good environment until now.
The Justice Guild members, kneeling down to match Baekho's eye level and shrinking themselves small, looked different somehow.
"Baekho-ya, can sis touch your paw just once, just once?"
"Kyat!"
...Or maybe they were just losing their human dignity to the cuteness.
Watching Baekho bask in all the attention made me think of another one.
"Oh, and there's one more familiar in my room."
"What?!"
"But that one's... probably not ready yet. Body or mind."
"Ah..."
Silence fell over the noisy dining hall.
But it didn't last long.
"I see."
"That makes sense."
They nodded and went right back to fawning over Baekho.
Im Cheong-su brushed off his school uniform pants and came over, pulling something from his bag.
"Sis, I made this as a snack and emergency ration for Maeng-i."
"Oh, right. I was gonna ask you for a favor anyway. Perfect timing."
"...I'll make something more nutritious from now on. For Baekho too, and probably the one in your room. They'll need food."
"Yeah, thanks."
Im Cheong-su's nutritious snacks would be a huge help for the skinny squirrel.
"Speaking of Maeng-i. Where's the snack's owner?"
Maeng-i, who'd taken to riding in Im Cheong-su's pocket all day to sightsee, was nowhere in sight.
He usually scampered up and down his squirrel tower on the dining hall table every morning, but not today.
"Maeng-i's over there."
Im Cheong-su pointed to the kitchen counter.
Maeng-i was stuffing his cheeks full with macadamia nuts from the salad toppings. He noticed the attention and scurried over to Im Cheong-su, nestling into his hair.
Looked like he planned to stash the nuts there.
"Hi, Maeng-i."
[ ( ´ω` ) ]
"A new friend came today. Wanna say hi?"
At my words, Maeng-i tilted his head, then stood on his hind legs to look around.
Thump. A macadamia nut rolled off Im Cheong-su's head.
[ (оﾟдﾟо) ]
Maeng-i rubbed his face in disbelief a few times, then climbed down Im Cheong-su's body to the floor.
"Ooh?"
"Maeng-i's coming over first?"
It was a little different from last time with Baek Young.
Baekho spotted the hesitant Maeng-i approaching too.
He stopped rolling around with Jang Su-ho and started heading toward Maeng-i.
As the two familiars drew closer, Baekho's thoughts began popping into my head one by one.
Surprise, curiosity, the brown dog from the cage opposite, small thing.
By then, Baekho and Maeng-i were face-to-face.
[ (оﾟдﾟо) ]
[ (๑ᵔᗜᵔ๑) ]
I worried for a second if the relatively bigger Baekho might attack Maeng-i, but the thought vanished.
There weren't any negative emotions in his head to begin with.
Im Cheong-su, Maeng-i's owner, watched their first meeting half in shock, half in curiosity.
One careful step at a time, the two familiars closed the distance until they were right in front of each other.
The moment Baekho took his final step, Maeng-i hesitated and took half a step back.
His fluffy tail trembled with tension.
Seeing that, Baekho looked dejected.
Forcing it probably isn't good.
I was about to step in when...
Splat.
Baekho flopped onto his back in front of Maeng-i, exposing his pink belly.
He let out a happy "Krrrng" and waved his still-gummy paw pads around.
Like he was saying, Come on over, it's safe.
Thankfully, it worked.
Maeng-i, who'd backed away, tilted his head at Baekho's actions and trotted over first.
"Ooh."
"Ugh, it's so cute my eyes hurt..."
I totally agreed with Seong Yo-na.
Baby tiger and baby squirrel combo.
Maeng-i seemed to like the tiger's warm body heat and settled against the pink belly, grooming himself. Baekho licked Maeng-i's fur in return.
"Haha, Maeng-i's getting soaked, Baekho-ya."
Han Ji-seong approached the pair warmly.
I thought he might be telling Baekho off, but instead he turned Maeng-i around.
"Here, do the other side too."
So Maeng-i got Baekho's affection until both sides were drenched.
In the end, I had to step in and stop Baekho.
"Cheong-su, take Maeng-i. You'll be late."
"Huh? Ack! It's this late already?!"
"Ah, I wanted seconds. Forgot."
Lee Yu-chan grumbled as he slung his bag over one shoulder.
"Should've eaten early like me and just watched. You're still got a long way to go, little bro."
Lee Yu-eul smirked smugly and wagged her tongue.
"We're off!"
"See you later, Baekho!"
"Watch for cars, people, gates!"
The three high schoolers, bellies full from breakfast, bellowed back at Han Ji-seong's words and left the dining hall.
"Yes!"
"We'll be back!"
The guild quieted down once the rowdy teens headed to school.
"Guess I'll eat now too. Baekho, Yo-na sis is grilling meat for you... Wait, what's that?"
Baekho was batting at something with his paw, rolling it around.
"Oh, Na Baekho, you got a gift already."
"Kyaaang?"
In front of the tilting Baekho was a single macadamia nut.