#22 Time to Go
Day one. Day two. Day three. Day four. Furball grew bigger with each passing day. He even started hunting decently in the back hills, becoming the local lord of the mountain.
Time flew by. Cheorwon's winter came and went, followed by spring, summer, and fall. By the time winter returned, Furball's size had quadrupled from before. He was no longer a plush toy that fit in two hands—he'd become a hefty medium-sized dog.
But.
"Cough! Cough!"
The old man kept shrinking. His flesh wasted away, more wrinkles creased his forehead, and his complexion grew darker, as if death itself was closing in.
Furball rolled his ruby eyes, leaning his now-too-big body against the old man's shoulder—he couldn't even climb onto his lap anymore.
Shrinking.
"Furball."
The old man coughed for a long while before speaking.
"It's a strange world, isn't it?"
Furball rolled his eyes toward the old man.
"I lost my family during the Great War. Lost them to monsters, then caught some otherworld plague."
Furball listened to the old man's words.
"But even seeing you, I couldn't kill you. Why do you think that is? You're the pup of a monster no different from my enemies."
The old man coughed again. Krreung!Krreung!
"Maybe it's sympathy. Both of us lost everything, left all alone."
The old man murmured, stroking Furball's head. Furball gazed at him, thinking.
I was small and weak once too. When my belly was empty and there was no food, I got like that. But a friend gave me food, and I survived.
Krreung!Don't worry. I'll bring you food.
Furball licked the old man's cheek, then sprang up and dashed toward the far side of the mountain.
He was good at hunting now.
Pa-pa-pa-pat!
Furball tore through the back hills in a frenzy. But today, no prey in sight. No field mice, no mountain birds—just eerie silence.
After racing through the woods for what felt like forever, Furball finally snagged a fat rat in his jaws and hurried back.
The old man lay still, eyes closed.
Krreung!
Furball dropped the rat and rushed over, licking the old man's cheek.
Wake up.
No response.
Eat this. It'll give you strength.
He tilted his head.
Sigh... sigh... Faint breaths came.
Krreung?
Furball's rolling ruby eyes froze solid. He blinked, then shook the old man.
The frail body lolled limply.
Dying.
Furball realized he was dying. He licked desperately, but it was no use.
For the second time in his life, Furball felt terror. The first was waking up abandoned by his parents and siblings.
And now, the fear of being abandoned again.
But something even greater surged through him—a massive sense of loss and sorrow.
Furball licked nonstop, then backed away hesitantly.
He needed help.
Whoosh—
His gaze turned downward, to the human village.
The old man had often said:
Never go down that mountain. You'll die.
Death.
If you meet people, run.
Hesitation flickered in Furball's eyes. He wavered, then resolved himself and bolted.
Tatata-tat!
No more doubt in his steps. He raced down the mountain.
He tumbled down slopes, gashed his forehead on jagged rocks, but didn't care.
He reached the base—the human village he'd only watched from afar.
Krreung— krreung—
Panting, Furball ran on. He had to find people. People like the old man, to beg for help.
There—one ahead.
"Gasp!"
The man spotted Furball and freaked out.
"Sh-Sh-Shabel Tiger!"
Furball charged toward him.
Help, please.
Krreung— krreung—
"Eeeek!"
The man recoiled in horror, drawing a weapon from his belt.
"Sh-Sh-Shabel Tiger! A-grade disaster spawn!"
He bellowed.
Furball instinctively backed up.
"The cub's here, so the mother's nearby! Spread out! A-grade disaster! Request backup and evacuate civilians!"
People moved like clockwork. Crowds gathered from everywhere, encircling Furball.
As Furball hesitated and stepped forward—
Whoosh!
Weapons flew. A long spear stabbed his flank, blood spurting.
Krrreung!
Why?
Shock filled Furball's eyes. He just wanted help—why attack?
But people poured in from all sides, Awakeners among them.
Furball cried out desperately.
Krrreung! Krreung!
That's not it! I just...
Shwaaak!
Mana blasts incoming—Furball leaped, barely dodging. Awakener. One hit and he'd die. Terror gripped him.
But greater fear: his mountain friend dying.
Furball overcame it and ran.
Krrreung! Krreung!
Someone help!
Krrreung!
My friend's dying!
His pitiful cries only deepened the fear on their faces.
Then—
In the crowd's midst, a man with wild, unkempt black hair stood out. Strangely, amid all those people, only he caught Furball's eye.
Furball bolted toward him without thinking.
Weapons struck home. Thud-thud. Wounds multiplied across his body.
But he reached the man and wailed pitifully.
Krrreung— krrreung— krreung—
The man was expressionless. He cradled a basket, sipping pocket whiskey from a metal flask in his other hand.
He stared straight at Furball. Furball stared back.
"What is it?"
He spoke. First time ever. No one in the village had spoken to him—attacked, yes, but never talked. This man just watched him openly.
Furball cried urgently.
Onlookers shouted at the man.
"Ch-Choi Kang-ho, sir!"
"Requesting backup..."
He shook his head.
"No adults around. Straggler pup. I'll handle it—don't worry."
Relief washed over their faces, proof of their trust in him.
He turned to Furball. Those ruby eyes locked on Kang-ho.
Kang-ho stared and asked.
"You need help, huh."
Krreung...!
Furball nodded.
The man placed a hand on his head. Alien mana seeped in.
Shaaaa—
All wounds vanished. Strength surged, vitality bloomed.
"Lead the way."
Furball nodded, turned, and ran—faster than ever.
Blazing speed through the village, into the back hills.
He glanced back desperately.
Krreung!
The man was already beside him.
Up the mountain, to the old man.
Krreung— krreung— krreung!
Desperate cries.
The old man lay collapsed, breaths fading: sigh... sigh...
The man approached, nodded.
"Otherworld plague."
He examined the body, then looked at Furball.
"Mu continent disease. Overwhelming mana clogs the heart core, eats the body away."
Stoic-faced, he pressed a hand to the old man's chest.
Mu plague was rare. Removable with precise mana control—but few could manage it.
Seeing Furball's pleading eyes, he smiled softly.
"Your friend, huh."
Krreung—Yeah.
"Lucky friend."
Shaaaa—
Bluish-green mana shimmered from his hand, extracting tangled threads from the old man.
They floated up; he oxidized them into nothing.
Fwoosh—
The old man's breath steadied. Pallid face normalized. Limbs flushed with life.
Krreung...!
Furball stared. The man looked like a god.
"Brave for such a little guy."
He smiled faintly.
Whiiiine—
January's winter wind bit cold.
Furball opened his eyes. Sitting in his usual spot, rolling huge ruby orbs.
Just sitting blankly.
Rustle!
Noise from below. Furball's eyes turned.
A familiar face climbed the path.
"Furball."
Kang-ho.
Furball beamed at him.
Krreung! Krreung!
Now house-sized, he ruled not just the back hills, but Cheorwon's northern snowfields.
Kang-ho smiled warmly.
"Time to go."
Furball nodded like he understood, rising from his stone vigil.
A grave lay beneath.
Like a hen brooding an egg, he'd guarded it faithfully.
Kang-ho bowed silently. Furball gazed quietly.
"At least the old man's warm every winter now."
Furball looked from grave to Kang-ho.
Follow that man. Live free in the wide world.
The old man's voice echoed in his mind.
Even he couldn't beat time. Five years after Furball left, he closed his eyes.
No kin, so Kang-ho built the grave here.
But Furball saw him smile at the end.
Our Furball's grown so big already.
Furball's chest ached. He just rolled his eyes.
Nyeng!
Seol-a, in Kang-ho's arms, pawed at huge droplets falling.
Plip! Plip-plip!
Rain?
She looked up at Furball.
Kiiing...
Tears poured from his massive eyes.
Kang-ho stroked his back.
* * *
Kang-ho descended with Furball. Once hated here, now welcomed by all.
He rolled his eyes, endlessly observing the crowds.
Greetings called to Kang-ho everywhere.
Furball loved sightseeing, people-watching most of all.
But now, the man before him was dearest.
He puffed his shoulders, growing larger.
Snatched Kang-ho gently, hoisting him onto his back.
No matter what, I'll protect him.
Krreung!Trust me!
"You rascal."
Kang-ho petted his head, then glanced skyward.
Ziiiiiing—
High above, an unfamiliar sight unfolded.
Ziiing—
Black swarms blotted the sky, heading south over Cheorwon.
What the hell is that?