‘Hehehe. Success.’
Hong Woo-jin laughed triumphantly.
He was a veteran at monitoring his targets’ every move and reading all information.
The intelligence that Jin Tae-kyung’s sister was crazy about animals—especially cats—proved particularly useful.
“Meow, answer me. Isn’t it nice to be in the house?”
The infiltration was natural and successful. Hong Woo-jin, who had entered the kitten’s body, let out a roar of joy.
Meeoow.
“Kyaa, so cute! Oppa, did you hear that? Did you hear?”
“Yeah. I heard.”
“How can you be so indifferent about such an adorable creature? Are you even human?”
“What, am I a beast then?”
The problem is Jin Tae-kyung, that guy.
Even people with the driest emotions tend to soften before cute animals, especially tiny babies…
“Move aside a bit. You’re blocking the TV.”
But this guy has none of that. Jin Ha-yeon grumbled at his sensibility, drier than the Sahara Desert.
“Geez, there’s a limit to how cold a person can be. Right, Yeoreum?”
“Yeoreum?”
“Yes. Since it was born in summer, isn’t ‘Summer’ a pretty name?”
“Judging by its size, it looks about three months old, so it must have been born in late spring. Why not call it ‘Late Spring’ instead?”
“…Is that even talking? It’s just gas. Anyway, from today on, this one’s name is Yeoreum, right, Yeoreum?”
Meow.
From Hong Woo-jin’s perspective, Jin Ha-yeon was his greatest ally. Thanks to her, things were going smoothly.
“Kyaa! It answered! Did Yeoreum just answer unnie? Right?”
Meow.
“Ugh, my heart!”
Hehe, what an easy one to handle. Just meow a few times and she’s completely smitten.
‘This is why high school girls… No, my familiar choice was just excellent.’
Just as Hong Woo-jin was smiling contentedly, Jin Tae-kyung, who had been blankly watching TV, casually remarked:
“Isn’t it male?”
“Hm? Well…”
“You don’t know yet?”
“Come to think of it, I haven’t checked.”
“Let’s check. Let’s take a look.”
Huh?
Things are taking a strange turn. Though his body is a cat’s, Hong Woo-jin is a virile young man. As Jin Tae-kyung’s large hand approached, a sudden shame washed over him.
‘This filthy man is going to look at my private parts?’
Strictly speaking, it’s not Hong Woo-jin’s body. Being a different species, the body structure is different.
But familiar magic shares everything between the caster and the familiar.
As a result, the uncomfortable feeling was unavoidable.
‘Absolutely not!’
Hong Woo-jin hurriedly burrowed into Jin Ha-yeon’s arms.
Meeoow.
“Oh my, it seems to dislike that?”
“That’s how the world is. Who gets to live doing only what they want?”
“But Yeoreum is a cat.”
“Cats are the same. If you want warm cat food and some canned treats, you have to put up with this much.”
What a crazy bastard. Talking such nonsense just to check a cat’s gender. Hong Woo-jin ground his teeth and clung to his only hope, Jin Ha-yeon.
He rubbed his entire body against her arm and shot her a pitiful gaze, causing Jin Ha-yeon’s eyes to soften.
“Oh my. It’s so cute I could die.”
“Yeah, it’s cute, so let’s take a look.”
“Let’s do it later. The poor thing’s scared.”
“It’s just your imagination.”
“I’m telling you, Yeoreum seems to dislike Oppa.”
The key is to let out a whimper at the right moment.
Mewl. Mewwl.
“See? I told you.”
“…Then we have no choice.”
“Don’t try to force it. Kittens are sensitive and need special care.”
Success. The immediate crisis was averted. This Jin Tae-kyung, though he seemed like a loner living in his own world, was weak when it came to family.
Having already memorized all the preliminary information provided by the Sangdong Guild, Hong Woo-jin thought he was one step ahead.
‘This is why information is crucial. You’ve already fallen into my trap.’
However, there was something Hong Woo-jin didn’t know.
“Hey, sis.”
“Hmm?”
“Do you need more allowance?”
“…Are you trying to bribe me with money to abuse our Yeoreum?”
“Yeah. 100,000 won.”
“Deal. But you have to be gentle, so it doesn’t hate you too much, okay?”
“My wallet’s on the desk in my room. Go get it.”
“Kyaa!”
Meow?
Hong Woo-jin let out a cry of disbelief as Jin Ha-yeon disappeared like a bullet.
She said it was so cute she could die? Called it “our Yeoreum”?
‘I’ve never seen such a turncoat.’
She acted like she’d give up her liver and gallbladder for the cat, but she abandons our Yeoreum for just 100,000 won?
But there was no time to lament the reality of capitalist society anymore.
“Now, let’s play together.”
Grab.
Jin Tae-kyung’s creepy smile as he restrained all four limbs with lightning speed.
Hong Woo-jin desperately screamed.
‘Let go! Let go, you bastard!’
Hiss! Hisssss!
The only hope, who had been rummaging through Jin Tae-kyung’s wallet, responded to the hissing sound with raised fur.
“Oppa!”
“Oh, take another 100,000 won.”
“Thanks!”
Hey, hey!
The only hope has fallen as a slave to capitalism!
Before the shock could even subside, Jin Tae-kyung’s hot breath rushed in.
“Let’s check our Yeoreum’s little willy, shall we?”
A moment of life or death.
‘Link release!’
Meeoow!
With a sorrowful cry, all strength drained from the kitten’s body.
And Hong Woo-jin, who opened his eyes somewhere dark, exhaled hard.
“Haaa!”
He had handled around a hundred requests, big and small, since starting his hunter work, but this was the first time he’d felt such a threat to his life.
Looking down at his arm covered in goosebumps, he began to retch.
“Ugh.”
His stomach churned and his head pounded.
A side effect of the sudden link release. Only after gulping down a potion he’d prepared in advance like cold water could Hong Woo-jin finally catch his breath.
“Jin Tae-kyung, that son of a bitch…” It was the first time he regretted accepting a request.
[Lv.2 Cat]
“Gone, he’s gone.”
I clicked my tongue and let go of the kitten. Maybe around three months old?
The little one, smaller than two palms put together, backed away with a bewildered face.
Meow.
Ha-yeon, who was coming out of my room, spotted the scene.
“You didn’t do anything mean to our Yeoreum, did you?”
“Says the one who sold that Yeoreum for 200,000 won?”
“…Ahem. Hmm.”
“Enough. Geez, why did you have to bring home something like this?”
“What are you saying? It’s so cute.”
“That’s not what I… Never mind. Let’s drop it.”
It’s a long and complicated story to explain everything. And I have no intention of explaining.
Try telling her that some sinister guy has entered the cat’s body to observe us. It’s obvious how anxious she’d be. My family shouldn’t know what’s happening right now.
‘I did allow it anyway.’
The reason I let the familiar into the house wasn’t because Ha-yeon asked or Mom permitted it.
‘It’s because I wanted to.’
Whoever’s behind this, they’ll keep trying even if I chase them away immediately.
Whether the familiar takes the form of an insect like last time or a cat like today doesn’t matter.
What matters is that I already know the familiar’s identity and can repel it anytime.
‘It must be somewhere nearby.’
Within a maximum of 500 meters from the house. That’s where the magician controlling the familiar is. If I catch him, I’ll surely find a connection.
‘First, I need to punch him in the mouth and ask some questions.’
Since he illegally spied on civilians, he obviously can’t report me if I rough him up. My fist was already itching at the thought of teaching him a proper lesson.
‘How dare you sneak around in someone’s house?’
My long-awaited vacation was disturbed, and because of these guys, I’ve spent over 300 million won. In many ways, it’s a losing business.
As I sat watching TV with a very crumpled face, Ha-yeon cautiously opened her mouth, checking my mood.
“Oppa, are you angry?”
“No. What would I be angry about?”
“I’m sorry.”
“…What’s wrong with you? You’re scaring me.”
I’m not joking, it’s real. I was more surprised than when I first discovered the familiar. I didn’t know she could say such things.
I asked her seriously.
“Are you sick?”
“No, it’s just…”
“Then are you hungry?”
“It’s not that…”
Just as Ha-yeon was about to say something, her stomach growled.
It’s not me. And Mom went out on an errand.
“You are hungry.”
“Um, a little?”
“I see, you’re so hungry you’re talking nonsense. You know where my wallet is, right? Order whatever you want.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Within a limit of 100,000 won.”
“Wow, you’ve become so generous since you started earning. That’s my oppa.”
To hear “my oppa” after all this time. I got goosebumps—it’s the first time I’ve heard that since Ha-yeon was in middle school.
“You’re a familiar, you bastard!”
“What nonsense are you spouting? Anyway, I can order up to 100,000 won?”
“Oh, you’re not. Yeah, order whatever you want.”
“And the rest of the money?”
“…Did you deposit money with me?”
“More is better.”
Despite being annoyed at Ha-yeon’s audacity, I was also happy.
She’s never once asked for an allowance until now. Just looking at her clothes and overall appearance, she was much more modest than peers I occasionally met on the streets.
‘Such an old soul.’
Come to think of it, Ha-yeon has been like that since childhood. She rarely cried and seldom expressed her emotions honestly. If anything, her current personality developed after entering high school.
She could throw a tantrum once in a while… She grew up too fast.
‘Perhaps much more than me.’
Is that why? Not a single action or word of hers annoys me. Instead, I find her admirable and heartwarming.
“Fine, take it all, take everything.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
At my words, Ha-yeon smiled brightly.
“That’s a relief. I almost felt bad.”
“What would you feel bad about?”
“I took 300,000 won from your wallet earlier.”
“…Huh?”
“But since you’re saying I can have everything after eating within the 100,000 won limit, I feel better now.”
“Wait, didn’t I say you could take 200,000 won?”
“It was an impulsive accident.”
“…Isn’t that an impulsive crime?
I take back what I said.”
The sight of her humming as she goes back to her room is utterly infuriating.
The security team leader of the Sangdong Guild frowned.
“A cat familiar?”
“Yes, it’s confirmed.”
The person who answered with a firm voice was the only familiar magician in the guild, belonging to the security team. Though only a C-rank hunter, he was a core member of the security team due to his rare mental magic abilities.
“The target’s sister is apparently a cat enthusiast. They seized the opportunity well.”
“Can’t you read the room? Are you praising that bastard right in front of me?”
“I-I’m sorry.”
“Team Leader 1 told me that Hong Woo-jin called and complained that he almost got caught because of us.”
“Well, technically, he’s on our side. But can we afford to be outdone by a freelancer? Don’t you know the guild master is paying special attention to this?”
The personnel deployed for this operation totaled six, including himself. One was a familiar magician, four were close-combat hunters specialized in tracking and concealment, and the team leader himself was a B-rank hunter.
“I think you’re misunderstanding something… We’re not here just to deal with one C-rank hunter.”
The security team leader stared at his team members with a grim face.
This job was directly ordered by the guild master. They had to achieve results beyond what was instructed.
“Let’s do well. This goes straight to the guild master. Do you want to end your careers here? We should get bonuses and promotions.”
The team members silently bowed their heads.
The person most desperate for a bonus and promotion was the security team leader himself. The hysteria of a middle-aged breadwinner approaching retirement age was nothing new at this point.
“And you.”
The security team leader pointed at the familiar magician.
“You use a cat too.”
“A cat? But they already did that.”
“So what? Do you want to risk your life again like last time, putting on a poor act with an ultra-small familiar that you can’t even control properly?”
“Just do as you’re told. Didn’t you say the girl is a cat enthusiast?”
What choice did he have? After the security team leader had his outburst and left, the familiar magician immediately turned on his smartphone and began searching.
Tick. Tick. Tick.
[Ilsan Cat Adoption]
“…I wonder if they’ll reimburse this receipt too?”