Chapter 66: An Unfamiliar Voice
—3rd platoon, form up in line abreast. 3rd platoon... Nah, forget it. Just gather together, everyone...
I stopped swimming and tried to call them to order.
—Kehhehe, I'm faster, right?
—Splinter... Where the hell... where the hell are you!
—Oho. I see a dragonfly nymph over there. Perfect, my mouth was getting bored anyway.
It was no use with the turtles. They didn't buy it one bit.
Haa... These damn guys.
The reason I was swimming around in turtle form underwater was because of the conversation I'd had with Donatello the day before.
Donatello woke up from anesthesia and was moved to the second-floor recovery room.
In the empty second-floor ward with no other patients, our conversation continued.
"So... the rest of the turtles have all scattered to their own hiding spots? Because you got caught?"
—That's what I've been saying. If even one of us gets nabbed, we each head straight to our secret spots that very day and stay hidden until fall, then regroup back at our original home.
"That doesn't make sense. You don't even know where each other's secret spots are?"
—That's what makes it a secret. No one tells anyone. Leonardo, Raphael, Michelangelo, Splinter—we all have no idea where the others' spots are.
"......"
Special forces or what? Do turtles really need to go to such extremes to hide?
That thought crossed my mind, but given how the native turtle population was dwindling year by year, losing even one from the group must have felt like a major threat.
Still, this was a big problem I couldn't just ignore.
"...Anyway, we can't leave it like that. If they ate something similar to you, the others could be in serious danger too. We need to examine and operate on them quickly."
Even Donatello had swallowed so many coins that they were clumped in his stomach, throwing off his balance completely.
If the other turtles had stuffed their bellies full of coins too, we couldn't wait months until fall.
It was too risky to leave it to chance.
—Instead of this, just take me back to where I was right now. It's not even been a full day, so they might not have gone far. I could go find them...
"Go where? It'll take a year for the sealant in your shell cracks to dry properly. Focus and think hard. Even if it's secret, you must have some idea which direction they'd head."
Frustrated, I raised my voice a bit, and Donatello shook his elongated neck side to side like taffy.
—I told you, nothing like that. We won't come back until the autumn leaves are floating on the Cheonggyecheon surface.
"......"
After my talk with Donatello ended, I immediately called PD Nam Gyu-won.
"Director, what brings you to call at this hour? I heard from Unseon. The surgery went well, right?"
"Ah, yes. The junior PD already got in touch. Anyway, 32 coins came out of Donatello's stomach."
"Whoa, that's a lot. I heard it was quite a few, but not that many."
"Right? That's why I figured I should mention it. If that many came from just Donatello, the other turtles nearby probably need checkups too. Yes, yes, I'll make time. Then tomorrow at 1 PM..."
PD Nam Gyu-won readily agreed to the additional filming.
As I finished the call and turned to tell Donatello, a heavy cotton ball slammed into me from behind.
—Daddyyy~
"Whoa! Nearly knocked Daddy over. You just got back?"
The massive fluffy bundle hugging me from behind with enough force to make me stagger was none other than Ssal-i, who'd been out since the crack of dawn.
—Ung! I came in a bit ago and waited 'til your call ended! Actually, I got back earlier to surprise you, but then you got a call, so I waited!
"Really? Since when?"
I stroked his cotton-candy curls as I asked, and Ssal-i grinned wide.
—Hehe. Ung! From when you said the turtles don't know each other's secret spots!
"You were here super early?"
—Hehe. Ung! But Daddy, won't we be late if we go tomorrow? We should go now before they scatter more. We could find them easier!
He wasn't wrong.
Just like you have to search for lost items as soon as possible.
But with Donatello's surgery done, it was already dusk.
Pushing a search now seemed risky in many ways, but with Ssal-i, it might be possible.
"Hm. I'm a bit tired, but shall we rest a little and go? You feeling okay, Ssal-i?"
—Uung? Ssal-i can't go?
"...Huh? You can't go?"
Surprised, I asked again, and Ssal-i nodded, his fluffy fur swishing.
—Ung! Ssal-i has to track the smugglers! I think I found some suspicious people!
"Oh, good... I mean, wait. So Daddy goes alone? To Cheonggyecheon?"
—Umm. Daddy... Are you scared to go alone?
"What? Haha. Daddy's never been scared in his life."
—......
Half-joking, but seeing Ssal-i's cold stare, I figured I'd better get to the point.
"Not scared, just seems dangerous. No Ssal-i, can't call the Animal Kingdom crew this late. It's dark, won't see well underwater."
—Then just go in the water!
"Ssal-i. If I slip and fall in shoes..."
—Nooo. Not as human—Daddy turns into a turtle too! Go right in the water!
"...A turtle? Me?"
—Ung! Ssal-i can help!
Until now, I'd only transformed into flying creatures like owls or white-tailed eagles, or quadrupeds like dogs and cats.
Aquatic like a turtle? First time.
Without Ssal-i, will it be okay? And fully aquatic is brand new...
No matter the animal, transformations come with instinctive movements baked in.
Wingbeats feel natural for birds, running on four legs for dogs.
But my first bird form, I had to learn to catch thermals by flapping awkwardly. Cat form, I extended claws to climb trees.
New forms always need adaptation training at first. No choice today.
"Yes, you can drop me off here."
"Thanks. Drive safe now."
Flying transformed would be faster, but my mind was too jittery about aquatic form, so I took a taxi to Cheonggyecheon.
No one's nearby for now. Alright then...
Late evening? Or just a quiet spot with few traces?
This path and the opposite one, bustling with people during morning filming, now wrapped in eerie silence. I counted to confirm no human signs.
...Three, two, one. Now!
I can't transform freely like Ssal-i, unbound by place or time.
Yet here I was, body shrinking under thick grass by the walkway, glowing bright—thanks to Ssal-i's pre-cast transformation magic on my wrist.
Swish—
Mystical every time, no matter how many.
Watching others transform is fun, but that fleeting glow, my body compressing instantly? Indescribable thrill.
Claws and webbed feet... Amazing. Totally different from bird form.
Hidden in grass, my body was now a soft-shelled turtle.
Turtle instincts made me cautious compared to soaring skies as a bird.
But innate wariness doesn't mean sluggish movement.
Turtles are nocturnal.
Bright full moon? Prime activity time.
Good. Let's go.
They wouldn't have strayed far by tonight, Donatello said.
Head to where I found him first—
"Yeah, coming soon, Mom. Just clearing my head. No, didn't drink much. Gotta work tomorrow. Team dinner, just chatting about this and that..."
A pedestrian staggered from the darkness.
...Crap. Might bump into him.
Our lidded-shell look is odd, but like most mammals, turtles have ears.
Just recessed in long faces, not as sensitive as birds or dogs.
That's why I let him get so close.
Ancient wisdom: Avoid drunks.
"Yeah, heading home soon. Sobered up, I'll bike... Whoa?!"
Splash!
"Wah?! ...No, Mom, not hurt. Something just plunged into the water. Super fast. Looked like a turtle, but no way. Insane speed. Rabbiting full tilt. Damn, if that's a turtle, no rabbit stands a chance. Taking a cab, Mom."
Fable tells: Public thinks turtles are slowpokes.
Faster in water, maybe.
But turtle sprint speed on land? Shocking, terrifying agility.
Phew. Didn't get caught.
Out of grass, straight dive into Cheonggyecheon. Water soaked me like a nerve calmer.
The guy bolted up the stairs in panic.
Cute turtle looks hide power surprises?
"Turtle shock, then lid shock"—maybe that's the saying.
—Shall we go before it's too late? Hoo...
I retracted my long neck and slowly sank below the surface.
Back when I couldn't believe Ssal-i was a haetae. He asked what animal I'd be.
No hesitation: Bird, free in blue skies.
Flying cleared the mind beyond dreams. Now I enjoy it.
But sinking into water now? More tense than first flight.
Glug—
Flights routine now, no mystery.
First bird form, I adapted quick comparing to planes.
Breathing should be fine. Eyes first? Okay?
Whole body submerging? Rare without scuba.
Only way: Experience it.
Fears: Can I breathe? Eyes open okay? But no time for doubt.
I was a turtle now, not human.
Blink—
Heart pounding calmed, I cautiously opened my eyes.
Whoa... Wow...
Before me: Rippling currents, lazy leaves drifting.
Full moonlight painting the underwater like a masterpiece.
First flight: Overflowing exhilaration.
Now...
—Whoa... Fish? Crucian carp?
Pure wonder.
Like first overseas trip... Or alien planet.
Underwater: Close yet distant frontier.
Sleepy fish snorting with eyes open—made me swallow dryly.
80% Earth life aquatic, humans know 1%. Felt real.
Just centimeters deeper, yet so wondrous...
Gripping my racing heart, I swam leisurely—then realized.
—Whoa. I'm breathing?
Not "breathing"—respiring.
Turtles hold breath long, unlike tortoises. Months hibernating without surfacing.
Not just lungs: Skin respiration supplies oxygen.
Theory vs. living it: uncanny thrill.
—Really amazing. No discomfort at all?
Respiring underwater more wondrous than flight—then.
—What've you been muttering to yourself about?
—...?
An unfamiliar voice intruded.