Chapter 11: Nureoguman Appears
Time flew by, and the day of Dongmul Nara's premiere broadcast arrived.
The waiting room at Hanmaum Animal Hospital was a bit noisier than usual.
"Oh my, what's going on with that? Did it really hate its name that much?"
"Choco—no, look at Reka's ears perking up. It seems like it really loves the new name."
"Ohoho. Even if our director is amazing, this seems a bit much... But it looks good. Seeing how lively it's become from that droopy state."
"Right? Aww, look at that tail spinning like a windmill. So cute I could die."
Kim Mi-so's lips curved into a faint smile as she surveyed the bustling waiting room.
Hehe. Good thing I did that pre-promotion.
Even though it was the premiere day, patients had been pouring in steadily for the past week because Kim Mi-so had casually spread the word to regular pet owners.
"How have you been, ma'am? Is Mongshil doing well?"
"It's been a while, Director. Say hi to the director, Mongshil."
—Hey, long time no see. My ears have been itchy. Let's dig in good and deep.
"……."
The sudden influx of patients.
Pet owners who were far more friendly than before.
Meanwhile, Min-hyeok—the center of all this attention—felt pleased yet a little dazed by the abrupt change.
"You look even cooler on TV. You shine even next to celebrities."
"Haha... such excessive praise. Anyway, let's check Mongshil first. Your ears are itchy, right, Mongshil?"
"Oh my? How did you know?"
"Because... I'm Mongshil's primary vet. I know at a glance now."
Not just because of the Dongmul Nara Veterinarian title, but with his ability to communicate with animals, treating patients had become even smoother for Min-hyeok.
It was a Sunday when everyone else was resting.
After treating the steady stream of patients from morning like an incoming tide, the sky had already turned red.
"Director, the last owner just left."
"Ugh... today was really hectic."
Min-hyeok stretched his back with a groan, and Kim Mi-so smiled brightly.
"It's because it's your premiere day on TV, right? I casually mentioned it to Mimi's owner, Mongshil's owner, and Saetbyeol's owner."
Mimi the Chihuahua's owner was the apartment complex representative.
Mongshil the Yorkshire Terrier's owner was a licensed real estate agent.
Saetbyeol the Bichon's owner was the neighborhood café owner.
Kim Mi-so's judgment had been spot-on.
They were all influential people in their respective fields.
"I'm truly impressed. Excellent choices. Thanks to you, Mi-so."
"Hehe, no big deal. Now that the show has aired, we can ramp up promotion on our homepage and SNS. Maybe put up a signboard or banner out front—what do you think?"
"Sounds good. But... do we have SNS accounts?"
Kim Mi-so gaped in surprise.
"Director? You asked me to make Nuteube and Seolstar accounts. I've been managing them."
"Ahh?! Right, of course. Haha, I knew that. With all the patients lately, I just blanked for a sec... ."
In truth, he had no memory of it, but admitting that would be awkward.
Min-hyeok quickly changed the subject.
"I think we could hire another vet now. What do you think?"
"Really?! Absolutely! I'll post the job ad right now!"
"Uh... no, it's quitting time, so you can do it after coming in on Tuesday... ."
"I want to do it now. It'll be easier for me if we post it sooner."
Just as he thought he couldn't stop Kim Mi-so, who was fired up to post the ad, Ssal-i trotted over with the leash in his mouth.
—Dad! Walkies! It's walkies time!
"...You never forget."
—Huh? What?
"Nothing. Let's go."
Ssal-i's walks were twice a day.
Before Hanmaum Animal Hospital opened and after it closed.
Thanks to Ssal-i, Min-hyeok was getting healthier every day.
* * *
—Hey, Dad. Ddoli says there's a dog park! We can run around off-leash there!
"Sounds fun. Want to check it out next time?"
Ddoli was a recent visitor.
He'd secretly eaten chicken bones and ended up hospitalized, keeping Ssal-i company for a while.
—Whoa! Really? That'd be great... but I like walking with you like this too. Hehe, you've been so busy lately, Dad.
Like his growing body, Ssal-i was remarkably mature and reliable for his age.
"No, let's definitely go next time. I'm planning to hire a new vet soon."
—Hire? What's that?
"It means working together. Then I'll have more time, so we can play more... ."
—Sniff. Sniff sniff. Huh? What's that smell?
"Ssal-i?"
Mid-conversation, Ssal-i shook the white fur around his eyes and bolted off somewhere.
—Sniff sniff! This way! Over here!
Dogs relieve stress by sniffing scents and identify passersby from other dogs' markings, among other activities.
"Ssal-i! Slow down!"
—Ooh! What a weird smell! So mysterious!
Unlike the enthusiastic Ssal-i, I was in a pathetically weak and tired state.
But as a pet owner, it was my duty, leaving me no choice. All I could do was try to calm Ssal-i a bit.
"Ssal-i! Don't just look at the ground—watch ahead too. What did I say about walks?"
—Sniff sniff, almost there, Dad! For real!
He'd never acted like this on any walk before. I was curious too—what had Ssal-i so excited?
"Ssal-i. Staring only at the ground isn't good. You have to look ahead too, or you won't notice people or bikes coming. Otherwise, you'll get sca—"
—Here!
Ssal-i completely ignored the path, his snowy white fur flying as he leaped into the bushes.
Just as I thought he wasn't listening at all, a fairly large rock—about the height of an upper elementary schooler—appeared. And then.
—Ugh... h-help... .
A human voice from the rock.
Chills ran down my spine.
What the...? Can I talk to inanimate objects now too?
It felt completely different from the first time I'd heard animals. If my ability had advanced to communicate with non-living things, even swallowing water might bring cries for help... .
—Dad! Over here! There's a weird-looking guy here!
Thankfully, it was a false alarm.
Following Ssal-i's lead behind the rock, I saw something emaciated lying limply under the brush.
—Not a dog... smells different from a cat too. What the heck is this...?
"Careful. Don't touch wild animals carelessly."
I scooped up Ssal-i, who was poking at it with his front paw, and said,
"Especially wild ones like raccoon dogs."
—Raccoon dog? This is a raccoon dog?
Raccoon dogs were medium-sized mammals native to East Asia, including Korea. With food shortages lately, they'd been appearing in urban areas more, but I never expected to encounter one on a walk—something I'd only seen on the news.
—Ugh... h-help... help... .
—Dad? This raccoon dog's in bad shape. It looks really sick!
As Ssal-i said, the raccoon dog's condition was dire.
If it were just skinny, I'd have given it some treats I'd brought for Ssal-i, but clumps of fur missing down to the pale skin, patches of skin hardened like stone.
"This won't do. Ssal-i."
—Yeah, Dad?
"I'm taking it to our animal hospital, so follow close. And absolutely stay away from it."
I couldn't just walk past it—not as a vet.
—Why can't I go near?
"Looks like mange."
—Mange?
"Little bugs burrow into the skin. Get too close and you could catch it—your fur would fall out in patches."
—N-no! I don't want my fur falling out!
"I'm putting you down now. Stay away from it. Follow from a distance. Got it?"
—Y-yeah... o-okay.
Whether human or animal, the thought of hair loss was shocking.
"Down now. Stay back and be careful."
—Okay... .
At the mention of baldness, Ssal-i backed away, leash taut with shock.
I slipped on latex gloves, pulled out spare poop bags, and carefully bagged the unconscious raccoon dog.
Lucky I have these trash bags.
The black trash bag didn't fully contain it, but mange was a zoonotic disease transmissible to humans and animals. Minimize contact.
—D-Dad, are you okay? What if your hair falls out too!
"Humans don't lose fur. Just itches. Let's head home."
—O-okay.
Hearing Ssal-i's still-trembling voice, we hurried to the hospital.
Good. Almost there.
Just a brisker pace than usual.
But my city-softened stamina was already gasping at my limit.
Leash in one hand, bagged raccoon dog in the other arm, I burst into the hospital.
"Oh, Mi-so?"
"Back from your walk? I posted the job ad and was about to head out... Huh? What's that in your arm? A raccoon dog?"
Mi-so was still there.
"Mange-infected raccoon dog. Found it by chance on the walk, no other way to carry it. It's late—go home."
I wanted her help, but couldn't force overtime on her.
But Mi-so smiled and set down her bag.
"Don't say that. Patient's here—how could I leave? I'll set up now."
"Sorry. I'll pay overtime for today."
"Hehe, wasn't expecting that. I'll prep. Tomorrow's a holiday anyway, nothing to do at home."
"...Thanks. I'll cover your taxi too."
TV exposure had boosted revenue, so time for a salary renegotiation soon. Ditch the blanket wage system unfit for a clinic.
—Ugh... where... am I...?
—Eek! D-Dad! The raccoon dog! The sick one's awake!
While Mi-so prepped the exam room, the bagged raccoon dog stirred with a faint voice.
"You awake? I'm a vet who treats animals. Saw you collapsed by the stream and brought you."
—Hngh... .
Conscious but weak, it couldn't speak much.
"Hang in there. I'll help without hurting."
"Director, setup's done!"
"Coming."
Wild animals like raccoon dogs could turn aggressive upon waking.
"Sedative injection."
"Here."
Swish—
Anesthetized first, then examined.
"Condition looks... really bad."
As Mi-so worried, under the bright lights—not dim outdoors—the raccoon dog's state was severe.
Swipe—swipe—
Examining the skin closely with the medical camera, sure enough!
The monitor filled with mange mites crawling over the skin.
Mange burrows into skin, eating mucosa, causing rot and cracks.
"Medicated bath, Director?"
"Yes, I'll help."
Top cause of raccoon dog deaths alongside roadkill, but unlike its notoriety, simple baths and treatment cured it cleanly.
Scrub scrub scrub—
Black gunk.
The whole bath reeked of sour sewage, pus streaming nonstop.
After the thorough bath.
Applied ointment, dried the damp fur.
"Whew... drying takes forever. Mi-so, rabies shot please."
"Yes, Director."
Living by the stream, it might've eaten city-bait rabies feed, but shots were more effective, so we finished with that.
"You worked hard, Mi-so. I'll wrap up—you go home."
"Rest well, Director. Good luck with tomorrow's shoot."
After seeing Mi-so off, I admitted the fluffy-clean raccoon dog to the ward. Now, one thing left.
"Ssal-i, come here."
—Huh? Why?
Instinct?
Ssal-i backed away stealthily at my low call.
"Bath time. You went near it—might've caught something."
—Hmm? I feel fine?
"Fine my foot. Are you the vet? I am. No arguing—come here."
—R-really! No itchies! I'm Haetae!
"Yeah, Haetae needs baths too. Come on!"
Finally bathed the sulking Ssal-i and fluffed him dry, feeling a decade older. What a long day.
—Hehe, bath feels great.
"Listen to Dad next time. Go up and rest first. I'll check on the raccoon dog and come right up."
—Okay!
Ssal-i bounded upstairs cheerfully, and I dragged my weary feet to the ward.
"Huh?"
The raccoon dog was awake.
Somehow recovered, it was wolfing down the food I'd set out.
—Oh, you're the human who saved me, right?
"Yeah, looks like you're better."
Noticing me, it wiped its mouth with a front paw and spoke.
—Thanks for saving me. Name's Nureoguman.