[No title provided]
A few weeks had passed since Shin Min-ji's article came out.
"Ttol-i's owner, please come into the exam room."
"Saecho-mi’s owner, are you here?"
"Mong-chi’s owner…."
Was it the effect of the interview?
He could definitely feel the number of patients surging.
Before, it had just been locals dropping in sporadically, but now people were coming from as far as Gangbuk and beyond in droves.
"Gonna give you a shot now. It's gonna sting a bit."
—S-scary….
"You think it hurts me more getting pricked by those quills? It'll be over quick, so relax 'em. There we go."
Unsure of any side effects from his newfound ability, he'd gone to a nearby university hospital for a full checkup.
Fortunately, his health was perfectly fine.
It still felt a little weird conversing with patients like he was a regular doctor rather than a vet, though.
But purely in terms of results, things were much smoother now.
He could talk a hedgehog into lowering its quills, or calm down those cat patients who used to lunge with claws out every time he tried to extract a nail.
Lunchtime aside, it was a nonstop frenzy of a day, but the thought that he wouldn't have to worry about rent this month kept him powering through without a second thought.
By the time he wrapped up the last appointment, the clock read 7 p.m.
"Good work today, Mi-so. Time for you to head home."
"You too, Director. I'll just finish tidying up and go."
"Leave it. You're already past quitting time."
Kim Mi-so chuckled softly.
"Nah, it's fine. Tomorrow's a holiday anyway, so I'll handle the cleanup."
Tomorrow was Monday, Hanmaum Animal Hospital's day off.
But he had no intention of pushing overtime just because it was a holiday.
They weren't paying extra for it anyway, and passion pay was the last thing he wanted.
"Seriously, it's okay. Go on home. Director's orders."
"Yessir?"
She widened her eyes at his half-joking, half-serious tone.
"Pfft, got it. I'll grab my stuff then. Oh, Director? Mind if I ask something real quick?"
Kim Mi-so paused mid-reach for her bag and turned back around.
This didn't feel good.
Seeing the usually bold and straightforward Kim Mi-so hesitate like this.
A raise?
No way… she wasn't quitting, was she?
He tamped down the rising anxiety and said,
"Sure, go ahead."
"Well… we've got so many more patients now…."
Chilling. Felt like a Bichon had slammed right into his chest.
The conversation's vibe was off from the jump.
He was already scheming how to keep her on board when she continued.
"I was wondering if you're thinking of hiring another animal health tech or vet. Not that I'm complaining or anything—honestly, it's fine now. But if it keeps up like this, with all the inpatients too, we might be short-staffed."
Thank god it wasn't a resignation talk. He'd braced for the worst.
He let out a quiet sigh of relief inside.
"I've been thinking about it. But the article just came out not long ago, so this could be a temporary spike, right? How about we watch for another month and hire then? Sound good?"
Kim Mi-so nodded vigorously.
"Totally. It's manageable now, but if it ramps up more, it might get tight, so I figured I'd mention it early."
"Thanks for speaking up. Get some rest and enjoy the holiday."
"Yep, see you Tuesday!"
After sending her off with her bright smile.
"Whew…."
A deep sigh escaped him.
She was right—smooth operations meant they needed more hands.
The problem was, after rent, loan payments, salaries, restocking supplies, and covering car and rice costs, there wasn't much left.
Hiring a first-year vet at 3 million won a month minimum, or an animal health tech at 2 million plus, would strain the clinic hard.
"Sigh… No wonder people talk about jumping off Hangang Bridge when life gets this tough."
As that grim thought branched out, he recalled the time he'd fallen into the Hangang.
And from there, his mind leaped to the puppy he'd rescued—like a chick pecking its way out.
I wonder how that little guy's doing?
Looking back, that's when it started: hearing animals' voices, right after meeting that Shiba Inu mix pup.
Perfect timing too—tomorrow the clinic was closed.
He'd always meant to track it down for clues to his change, and now seemed like the moment.
Strike while the iron's hot. No more putting it off.
He dialed the animal shelter where the pup was being cared for.
"Hello, sorry to call so late. I'm inquiring about a dog you're sheltering. Yes, it's a white mix…."
* * *
The next day.
He took an early bus and subway to the animal shelter near Suraksan in Nowon-gu.
As he reached the address, barking erupted loudly.
Back when his ability first kicked in, he couldn't distinguish animal speech from human at all.
Now, though? He could tell. Hard to explain, but he knew if a voice came from an animal or a person.
"Okay, over the hurdle! Good boy! Now the tunnel! Attaboy!"
Stepping past the shelter gate, he spotted dogs running an agility course—the kind called obstacle trials.
—Hey, new guy's here!
—Whoa, reeks of dogs… ack, cats too!
The pups, with their sharp noses and ears, wagged over eagerly, but he ignored them.
Dozens were out in the yard alone.
If word got out he could talk to animals…
It'd be hell.
Those windmill tails could swarm him any second from the chain-link fence.
Ignoring the approaching dogs as best he could, he scanned for staff.
—Who're you? Why're you here?
—Grr, sniff. Smells like hedgehog too? Or rabbit?
No reaction from him, so the dogs lost interest and scattered.
Except two windmill-tails, still yapping at the silent him.
Thanks to their racket, a middle-aged woman in her forties spotted him from inside.
She approached with a beaming smile and a slight bow.
"Hello, what brings you…? Oh! Director Baek Min-hyeok, right? You're even more handsome in person than in the article, ho ho. I'm Mo Hyun-ju, director of Ever Green Animal Shelter."
Perks of being a shelter director—she recognized him before he could introduce himself.
"Thank you, Director. I said I'd come on time, but I got here early."
"Ho ho, the earlier the better. Come on in."
She opened the chain-link gate for him.
Following her across the spacious yard, they entered the center's first floor through glass doors bathed in warm sunlight.
The cafe-like interior bustled with scampering dogs—mostly small breeds indoors.
The director gestured to a chair free of pups.
"Have a seat here, Director."
"Thank you."
A few curious dogs sniffed at him, but he kept his eyes fixed on her, avoiding any glances.
"We run agility programs on a schedule. Medium dogs are going now; these small ones are up soon."
"Doesn't Ssal-i do agility?"
Ssal-i was the name of the pup he'd come to see.
He hadn't known it until yesterday's call.
But at the name, the director's face clouded with concern.
"Ssal-i… that shock must've hit hard. He doesn't like activity much. Doesn't mingle with the others either."
The trauma wouldn't have been light.
Even he wanted to hole up in some quiet countryside for weeks if rent, salaries, and loans vanished.
If a human like him felt that way, imagine the pup—not even a year old.
"Mind waiting a sec? He won't even walk, so he's stuck in his cage all day."
Most shelter dogs were strays dumped by someone, yet they looked healthy enough.
Credit to the director's care, he thought—
—Grrr! What the hell are you doing here?!
A Chihuahua nearby snarled, pure hate and fear.
He let it slide.
Heard or not, Chis were like that anyway.
As he tuned out the yapping, the director approached cradling a snowball of white fur.
"Sorry for the wait, Director. He wouldn't budge, so I had to carry him… Oh my?! Ssal-i!"
The white fluffball in her arms.
It flung its floppy forelock and rocketed toward him.
Growth spurt?
Panting as it burrowed into his chest, Ssal-i looked at least twice the size from a month ago.
—Mister! You okay? It's me, me! Ssal-i! Remember I saved you? I was so worried!
To others, frantic barking—but to him, clear words punching into his eardrums.
"Long time no see."
—Yeah! I wondered how you've been! I waited, so why'd it take so long?!
I waited for you…
This might hold the key to understanding his ability.
"Oh my goodness? What's with Ssal-i? He hates walks and people… Incredible! He must remember you saved him!"
The director beamed at the chattering pup in his arms.
"If it's not too much trouble, could I snap a photo? It's just so rare for him to jump into someone's lap like this."
"Go ahead. Actually, Director."
"Yes?"
"Since I'm here for Ssal-i, mind if we take him for a quick walk? Bugs me that he's been cooped up."
She'd already whipped out her smartphone, snapping pics from every angle.
"A walk? Absolutely. He's been skipping them, so we've been worried. There's a rooftop course—no other dogs now, so you'll have it to yourselves. Heh heh, think I've got enough good shots."
Satisfied with her frenzy of photos, she pocketed her phone.
"This way, Director? Elevator goes straight up. Oh, need a leash? Fence is secure, but if you want one…."
Mid-sentence—
Ssal-i butt in.
—No leash for me! I can walk fine alone! For real!
He gave a subtle nod only Ssal-i would catch.
"No leash needed. We'll be back."
"Take your time—give him a good long one."
Heading to the elevator with Ssal-i in tow, questions poured out like he'd been holding them back.
What he'd been up to.
His name.
Even in the elevator ride up, the barrage didn't let up.
"We'll talk outside. Got questions for you too."
—Okay! Mister, we're here! Rooftop's new for me too….
Unlike the fluffball bounding out with tail flying, Ssal-i skidded to a halt at something.
"…Ssal-i?"
He pressed against Baek Min-hyeok's leg.
And started trembling.
Like he'd seen something he shouldn't have.