Beep…

Beep…

Animal lover… no, Jung Jae-hyun.

He was researching animals and plants that inhabit dungeons, gates, and towers.

Normally, rather than conducting comprehensive research, one would typically delve deeply into studying a specific subject.

‘With an endless flood of things to investigate and a shortage of manpower.’

Instead of diving deep into one subject, he was conducting research by first grasping general information, then digging deeper into things that seemed valuable.

‘Judging from that perspective, this case is extremely unusual.’

Usually, due to time constraints, they don’t delve this deeply.

But this time, the captured ball of fur (which was hopping up and down trying to get to Ha-eun) had shown results indicating it possessed ‘special abilities’.

So they were in the midst of investigating it even more thoroughly than usual.

“Beep! Beep!”

Jung Jae-hyun alternated his gaze between the ball of fur rubbing itself against the glass window while beeping, and Ha-eun who was being disinfected.

He recalled the abilities of the ball of fur that were written in the report.

‘Item enhancement.’

And not just any enhancement, but permanent item enhancement.

 

‘To be honest, when I first heard about this, I didn’t believe it at all.’

There were reports of a hunter’s weapon becoming visibly stronger after they threw a treat to it because it was cute, and because I had the opportunity to actually confirm its performance, I had no choice but to believe it, even if it was hard to.

 

‘Anyway, about item enhancement…’

Originally, to enhance an item, you needed a very valuable item called an enhancement stone.

 

In addition to the immense value and rarity of enhancement stones, because you also had to request the service from one of the few blacksmith hunters to enhance it,

Even top-tier hunters couldn’t easily afford enhancements in the current situation.

 

‘Therefore, if we can tame that ball of fur and continuously perform enhancements,’

It would not only greatly strengthen the hunters’ forces but also significantly reduce the massive loss of life currently occurring.

 

So, hoping for a positive outcome, I was looking forward to it, when

Ha-eun went inside, picked up the ball of fur (Somteol), and said,

 

“Somteol says he wants to live with me.”

“Huh?”

 

“He said if not, he’ll go around undoing all the enhan… ced things.”

(“He said if not, he’ll go around undoing all the enhanced things.”)

 

At those words, Jung Jae-hyun couldn’t help but freeze.

 

I giggled as I looked at the fluffy Somteol in my arms.

It was like a warm pack that made me feel good just by holding it, being warm, squishy, and soft.

 

In any case, since the condition of the request was to heal this child, I was about to start the treatment when

 

“Beep beep… Beep!”

I could hear Somteol eagerly telling me something.

In fact, even if it spoke so passionately, I didn’t have the ability to interpret the “beep” sounds, so I was just blinking my eyes.

Somehow… I felt like I could understand what it was saying, so I unconsciously tried to guess the meaning.

‘Hug me? Like me?’

Since this was just my guess and I wasn’t sure, I tilted my head.

To confirm if what was coming to my mind was correct, I asked various questions.

“Did you just ask for a hug?”

“Beep!”

“Is that right?”

As it nodded vigorously in affirmation, I wagged my tail and grinned happily.

I had been envious of Chae-a talking to animals.

I was quite happy that I could now communicate with an animal(?) too.

‘Still, just to be sure.’

To confirm if we were really communicating well.

As I was asking various questions and having a conversation, suddenly Somteol said something to me.

“Beep beep, beep!”

Whining that it didn’t like it here.

Saying it wanted to live with me, and if it couldn’t live with me, it declared it would ruin all the enhanced items.

Thinking this might be the most compressed speech in the world, I blinked my eyes.

I relayed Somteol’s words exactly to Researcher Jung Jae-hyun.

“Oh, oh? That shouldn’t happen.”

I could see he looked extremely flustered.

Seeing this, I enthusiastically petted Somteol who was nestled in my arms.

I thought it was incredibly cute, like a small puppy or a doll.

“Me too…”

Chae-a stared at this blankly, then perhaps feeling envious of the petting.

She started to appeal to me by pushing her head towards me, asking to be petted.

As I was alternating between petting Chae-a’s head and Somteol, Researcher Jung Jae-hyun urgently spoke to me.

“Um… I’m sorry but that won’t be possible. That Somteol is also property of the association, and if Ha-eun took it, it could cause various problems, so that would be difficult. I’m sorry?”

Judging by his expression, it seems like it would really cause a big problem if I took it with me.

If I were a young child, I might have thrown a tantrum and insisted on taking it.

Since I was an adult, I tried to accept it firmly.

“……”

But unconsciously, my lips started to pout and I felt choked up, about to cry.

Greatly surprised by this situation, I lowered my face and tried to control my emotions.

Completely against my will, tears kept welling up in my eyes and my body started trembling.

‘… This shouldn’t be happening.’

If I act like this, it will be troublesome for him.

Trying my best to suppress my emotions, I poured out words saying it was okay.

“No. You don’t need to be sorry. *sniff* This can’t be helped… Please don’t worry about it too much.”

(No, you don’t need to apologize. This is unavoidable. So please don’t worry too much about it.)

It was quite difficult to speak because not only was I in tears, but my nose was also blocked.

Although I managed to say it all the way through and showed that I was really okay,

Han A-rin and Jung Jae-hyun seemed to judge that I was not okay at all, and they started to have some kind of conversation with each other, looking very flustered.

“Jae-hyun, can’t we transfer this to Ha-eun under my authority? I can cover all the costs incurred.”

“I’d like to do that, but… I can’t make that decision on my own. I think we’ll have to inquire upstairs.”

“Then I’ll ask directly. Can you tell me who…”

Various conversations went back and forth.

I felt wronged by the very situation of me crying, so I tried to hold back my tears by biting my lip or turning my face from side to side, but.

Tears kept falling to the point where I felt embarrassed.

“Ha-eun shouldn’t cry… Chae-a is sad.”

Chae-a, who was watching this, doesn’t know what to do and starts to cry along, sad that I’m crying.

Thinking that this might turn into a crying party, I calmed my heart and.

Decided to leave this place for now, and handed over the flowers I had brought while saying.

“This… if you put this here. It’ll be okay… If you put it next to… here, it’ll get better.”

And just in case, I quickly used my healing ability on Somteol.

I tried to go outside to avoid making Jae-hyun or A-rin uncomfortable anymore, but.

Seeing my actions, they both hardened their expressions even more seriously and said to me.

“Ha-eun, it’s okay, your sister will solve everything. And from now on, don’t try to endure alone, you have to tell your sister, okay?”

“I’ll try my best, so wait. And I’ve prepared candy and furniture to give to Ha-eun, so make sure to take them with you.”

I felt my eyes spinning from feeling so sorry.

I came to help, but instead of helping, I ended up just being a nuisance and leaving.

While I was scolding myself harshly in my mind, Somteol clung to my feet and started licking me frantically, begging me not to abandon him.

“Pii… Pii.”

My body trembled at that pitiful voice begging not to be abandoned.

But I knew better than anyone that I couldn’t even take responsibility for myself, let alone someone else.

I tried to close my eyes tightly and move my feet… yes, I tried to move, but my feet just wouldn’t budge.

“Piiiiii.”

Somteol crying pitifully, Chae-a whimpering while hugging her tail beside him, and my body going limp.

Everything was full of things that were difficult to accept as reality.

Just as I was about to go outside, showing resolute will, knowing well the fear of responsibility.

“Oh really? Then I’ll take him with me?”

Han A-rin had received an okay sign from someone.

“…?”

In that situation, I could only blink blankly.

I didn’t know much, but as far as I knew, wasn’t this kind of thing supposed to be decided after hours of meetings, writing contracts, and discussions?

While I was sniffling, wondering if this quick progression made sense, Han A-rin looked at me and smiled kindly, explaining why she was able to get approval so quickly.

“I heard this place runs on the sponsorship of the Elder Dragons. Ah, is this too difficult for Ha-eun to understand? Anyway, they said we can take him.”

With those words, Han A-rin placed Somteol on top of my head.

* * *

“Pii pii pi~”

“Three bears in one house…!”

As expected of the sociable Chae-a.

In no time, she became friends with Somteol and was singing and dancing together.

The scene was so cute that it made me smile just by watching, but… I couldn’t force myself to smile because of the embarrassing things I had done earlier.

‘How embarrassing…’

As an adult, not only did I throw a tantrum while crying in front of others, but I also caused all sorts of trouble.

Anyone in their right mind would probably be hugging their blanket tightly and shaking their feet frantically like me.

While I was trembling, thinking I might faint from shame at any moment, Seo-rin entered the hospital room.

“Ha-eun, your sister is here!”

Seo-rin’s voice was as lively as ever.

Startled by her voice, I carefully raised my face while hugging my tail.

Seo-rin looked at me and tilted her head.

“Did you cry?”

At those words, I momentarily lost my ability to speak and shook my head while biting my tail.