Chapter 24: Want Some Churu?
Deeply pulled-down black cap.
Black mask.
The cats leaped back at the man's murmur from the discarded chair.
Haaak!
Haak!
Haaak!
Even as the cats arched their backs and puffed up their tails, the man just smiled.
"Oh, sorry. Didn't mean to startle you. You look hungry—want some Churu?"
The man stood up slightly and squirted Churu onto the ground in front of the wet food cans before stepping back again.
As if to show there was no need to be wary of him.
—W-what? Where'd he come from?
—Everyone, be careful! He looks like that guy. Same build, same height!
But no matter how hungry they were, the Korats didn't let their guard down. The mysterious man's sudden appearance without a sound, and his build matching that etched in their minds—it was too similar.
Sniff sniff— sniff sniff—
But after glancing at each other, the cats began to relax a little.
—N-no, wait. The smell's totally different. It's... good?
As Kaos said, nose twitching keenly, an oddly pleasant scent wafted from the man.
They'd been distracted by the food smell for a moment, but it was an irresistible, alluring aroma that had drawn them from the alley.
"I heard there's someone abusing cats around here lately. Probably why we don't see as many strays anymore. Even the cat moms are too scared to feed them."
Watching the cats gradually lower their guards, the man returned to his chair, far from the food cans.
—What do we do? He seems different from that guy. The smell's completely different.
—Yeah. That human reeked sour, like rotten decay. Disgusting.
—But the height's similar...
The "rotten smell" the cats mentioned was citrus.
In nature, distinguishing spoiled meat from fresh was a matter of survival for cats.
That's why they were hypersensitive to any new or sour scent resembling rot.
And the abuser had reeked of that nauseating citrus.
"You must be starving. Eat slowly. I'll just watch from back here."
By contrast, this man exuded a bizarre fragrance that irresistibly inspired goodwill.
By scent alone, he couldn't be the same vicious abuser.
—...How about we eat and bolt if he acts suspicious?
—Y-yeah? We need to fill our bellies first, right? Kaos, what do you think?
—......
With Neoro absent, Kaos led the group.
Staring at the distant man, Kaos had to decide.
—Let's eat. His smell's totally different, so not that guy. If anything fishy, we run. This distance—we can all make it, right?
—Yeah. Easy.
—Me too.
—Then go.
Kaos tensed his hind legs and cautiously led toward the food, with Cheese and Goet-eo following carefully.
"Haha. Yeah. I won't move. Eat without worrying."
After halting their steps repeatedly, the cats finally reached the pile of food, reassured by the man's repeated kind words and actions.
And then.
Nom nom nom.
Tentatively tasting the food, the cats' eyes widened, and they devoured it ravenously.
Was it because they'd starved all day?
Or because it was wet food they hadn't even glimpsed in months?
Once they tasted it, they crammed it into their mouths frantically.
—T-tasty... so tasty!
—How long since... om nom!
—Eat slowly... mmm. He's a good guy!
Maybe from hunger, they retched mid-meal, but plenty remained.
Dozens of cans—enough for three to gorge themselves.
Chomp chomp chomp! Chomp chomp chomp!
Eat, eat, eat some more.
Not the tough dry kibble, but the ecstasy of wet food bliss melted their wariness away.
"Good to see you eating well."
While they ate, the man stayed put, just watching.
Until they'd emptied nearly half the towering cans and licked up the Churu lines clean.
—Phew. Full. Can't eat more.
—Burp~ Me too. Take leftovers?
—Yeah. Can't carry all, one can each. Boss'll be back tomorrow. Hurry, move... huh?
As Kaos grabbed a can and stood, Goet-eo snickered at him.
—Kihihi, Kaos, why staggering? Ate too much?
—Kaos, Cheese—you're both wobbling? Ah... why do my eyes keep closing?
Kaos began stumbling like a drunk, and soon Goet-eo and Cheese, who'd mocked him, staggered too.
"Looks like digestion's kicking in."
The man smiled warmly at the sight.
"Mixed it in the food and Churu. Such a pain. How's it feel? Fuzzy and drowsy? Nerve calmer, sleeping pills, even my Zolpidem."
—Umm... Suddenly so sleepy...
—M-me too. Body won't move right... feels weird...
—Cheese, Goet-eo. S-stay alert... Can't sleep here... can't... sleeeeep...
"Alright, time to wrap up. Gotta finish quick with this cold coming on."
As the drugs hit, the cats staggered wildly before collapsing one by one. The motionless man finally stood.
"Oh, right—that cat abuser I mentioned?"
He stepped over casually and roughly grabbed Cheese's scruff, the nearest.
"That's me."
With a chilling laugh, he shook Cheese like laundry and tossed him like trash.
"Hunting alert ones is fun, but same method gets boring. Know what I mean? Even tasty side dishes bore if every meal. You furballs."
Shrrk— shrrk— shrrk—
His eyes gleamed coldly as he flicked the cutter knife blade in and out from his pocket.
"Amazing. Just changed cologne, and you drop guards. The musk component, huh?"
Grinning chillingly, he approached the limp cats.
Like sweeping street trash, he nudged Cheese and Goet-eo aside with his foot, then grabbed Kaos's ear and cackled.
"Long time, half-ear. Starting with your last ear. Know Dobermans? They crop ears at clinics. I'll do it free. Food and ear trim—bargain, eh?"
Shrrk—
The gleaming blade unsheathed, and he yanked Kaos's ear, pressing the edge.
"Whew. Nice and warm. Cutting live ones hits different."
As the blade dug into Kaos's ear—
Whoosh!
"What the— fuck!?"
A flapping like pigeon wings smacked his head.
Startled, he whirled, knife raised—then frowned in confusion.
"...Egret? No, heron? Not even pigeon—what the hell?"
Species unknown, but pure white feathers, long legs and beak—definitely not urban fare.
—First time seeing an egret? Technically, a little egret.
But his shock was just beginning.
—Looks nothing like it, idiot. Not egret or heron.
"Gasp? F-fuck. Birds... talking?"
—Full moon amps Haetae power each time. Or rather, regaining what should be. Perfect—full moon tonight.
"N-no way. Hallucination... no, dream!"
—Not a dream!
"Argh! Ow! Fuck! Hurts!"
The egret pecked his scalp after knocking off his cap. It was Ssal-i, transformed under the full moon's glow.
Almost too late. Gotta call Dad quick.
Min-hyeok and Ssal-i knew only the construction site nearby—no floor from Neoro.
Flying as egret, Ssal-i had finally found the cats first.
"Crazy bird! Die, you fucker!"
—Too slow. Can't catch. Arms shaking already.
Ssal-i flapped dazzlingly, subtly drawing the abuser away from the cats.
Once distanced, he stretched his long neck and howled fiercely.
A sound no egret could make.
Awoo~ wool! Wool wool wool! Awoo~!
Like a medium dog's howl.
Ssal-i's booming cry echoed through the skeletal abandoned building.
"F-fucking... dog noise?"
Dream, maybe?
Talking egret.
Barking egret.
Thundering heartbeat in his ears.
The abuser concluded: This scene was a dream.
"Yeah. Can't be real. So..."
His trembling hands steadied amid panic, a chilling smile forming.
W-what? Why's he taking off the mask? Dad, hurry! Come quick!
A bizarre dream-like event. But humans adapt, right?
Mask discarded, his eyes gleamed coldly. Ssal-i howled hoarser, rabid.
The abuser calmed.
Smirking sinisterly, he glanced back.
"Dream... even better."
Leaving the eerie murmur, he strode toward the sprawled cats.
—No! Stop!
"Dream. Doesn't matter. Do what I want."
Ssal-i pecked wildly to block, but the crazed abuser swatted him off his head and pressed on.
How! Can't revert to normal form now!
Full moon boosted Haetae power monthly.
But imperfect magic; he'd poured it all into egret form. A powerless bird against a 170cm+ human.
"Kuhuhu. Yeah! Wanted this!"
—No! Stop!
Ssal-i's cries ignored, the abuser halted at Cheese, gripping the cutter two-handed, raising high.
—Nooo!
"Kuhuhu. Bye!"
The moonlit blade plunged vertically at Cheese's scruff.
Crack—!
But crimson blood dripped—from a man's shoulder shielding the cat.
"...What the?"
The abuser's knife hand trembled faintly.
—Dad!
"I'm fine. Dad's okay."
Min-hyeok exhaled raggedly, gently patting teary Ssal-i.
Then eyed the man.
"What the hell are you doing? Lives aren't toys!"
"...Whoa. Animal Kingdom's Baek Min-hyeok? Kuk. Kuhuk. Krhahahaha!"
The abuser, briefly flinching, erupted in mad laughter instead of fear.
His trembling steadied; eyes chilled. Then—
"After furballs, dog bastard. Ends with human."
"What?"
"Thanks for practice! Dream's gift!"
He slashed fiercer at Min-hyeok.
—Dad!
"Ssal-i, back off!"
Min-hyeok kicked the charging abuser's gut, toppling him.
But as he rose with knife, Min-hyeok panicked.
This psycho. Lost it?
The abuser underestimated Min-hyeok.
Dogs, cats, raccoons, ferrets.
Through school and practice, raw beast attacks were familiar.
"Where you swinging that blade, punk!"
Crack!
The clumsy stab was nothing vs. feral claws.
"Guhh..."
Sidestepping, Min-hyeok loaded a left hook to the face. The abuser felt corn popping pain, sprawling starfished—out cold.
—D-Dad! Are you okay? Your blood...
"Fine. I'll handle here—go, Ssal-i. Dad's really oka—ow! Ssal-i, beak, not tongue!
—Right. B-but Dad! Bleeding—can't leave you!
Unable to lick, Ssal-i flapped pitifully.
"Dad's fine—home now. Remember? Humans handle human matters."
Min-hyeok patted Ssal-i, pulled phone, dialed 112.
"Help. Stabbed."
The crisp early autumn had passed, heavy winds now blowing the streets.
Thankfully, my wound from the abuser wasn't deep; Kang Ha-neul's from Neoro had healed too.
The cats' too.
"Okay, releasing now."
A month later.
Today, releasing Neoro's crew from our hospital to the streamside.
—Hurry, open.
—Kekeke. Comfy~ stay.
—Freedom!
Setting down the carriers heavy with front-back-hands, I opened—them. Kaos, Goet-eo, Cheese bolted out.
Even Dodger kid repaid with slippers.
Wow... cat loyalty. No thanks, just leave.
Fed, housed, treated—no word.
"You endured long. No more bullying Big Rock friends—be nice... Eh. Yeah. Go."
Before I finished, they vanished into brush like fugitives.
Not truly miffed inside.
Their wariness stemmed from abandonment and abuse by caregivers.
—...Human.
Neoro, trailing alone, glanced back with yellow eyes.
Least one thanks?
As leader, maybe.
Arms crossed, waiting awkwardly—he said unexpected.
—Big Rock other side. Willow tree spot—check.
"Willow? By the road?"
—Yes.
"Why?"
—......
Neoro hesitated oddly, then turned.
Showing tail, continued.
—Go see. What you seek might still be there.
"What I seek?"
—Said it. Under willow.
"What does that...?"
Vanished after cryptic words.
"Jeez. Understands me, but no clue what he means."
Communication not always smooth.
Wait.
What I seek...
Money?
Hidden gems or gold by Neoro?
Cat repayment! Believed in you, Neoro!
Can't today—carriers. Tomorrow, nettle tree side.
Tension soaring.
Imagining willow treasures, packing carriers—
Vibrate—
Phone buzzed.
Lawyer Koo Bon-seok, assigned for the complaint.
"Hello, Lawyer. Doing well?"
"Yes, Director. Kim Min-ho's lawyer contacted."
Kim Min-ho's name curled a smirk.
The abuser.
Not just animal cruelty—assault too.
"Wondered why quiet. Trial date, hires lawyer. Probably settlement—absolutely no... Pardon?"
I doubted my ears at Lawyer Koo's words.
"...Mutual fault?"