# Chapter 44
“Does the poison not work on it?”
“No. And it seems that it… actually likes the poison.”
As if to prove Dohyuk’s words, the cat was now making pleasant purring sounds while licking his index finger. Never having felt such a rough sensation before, Dohyuk held his breath. He was afraid of accidentally crushing this tiny creature if he moved. Though it clearly wasn’t an ordinary animal, given how it showed no adverse effects from drinking poison, he still couldn’t help but worry.
“What’s the possibility of other monsters appearing in Hochangui’s Forest?”
“Recently, there have been unusually frequent incidents inside dungeons. Even in the Chwiak Cave last time, an A-class monster appeared. Normally, no monsters other than Changgwi can establish territory in Hochangui’s Forest, but given the recent situation, it’s hard to say for certain.”
“What kinds of monsters are immune to poison?”
Dohyuk almost missed Sangjun’s words as the cat rubbed its face against his hand. Still carefully controlling his breathing, Dohyuk answered. Memorizing monster characteristics and knowing which monsters were immune to one’s ability was one of an Esper’s duties. This was because they would have to rely on physical abilities instead of their special powers for hunting in such cases.
“Only the B-class Homunjoh (Tiger-patterned Bird) and C-class Hongaekchung (Red Liquid Insect).”
Sangjun looked down at the cat again. It didn’t look like either a Homunjoh or a Hongaekchung. Unaware that Sangjun and Dohyuk were busy trying to deduce its identity, the cat had now curled up comfortably in Dohyuk’s arms.
“Any similarities?”
“None.”
Dohyuk also came to the same conclusion.
“It really does seem like Esper Choi Dohyuk said—not just immune to poison, but actually enjoying it.”
It was unmistakable how the cat purred happily whenever Dohyuk released even a hint of poison. Having never encountered such a creature before, Dohyuk couldn’t even think about composing his bewildered expression.
“…Yes.”
“So far it doesn’t seem particularly dangerous, but since it’s an unidentified creature, we shouldn’t let our guard down. Once we get back to base, we’ll have to keep it docile by administering drugs regularly.”
Dohyuk hesitated.
“Are we capturing it alive to send to the lab?”
“We’ll report to headquarters through the communicator when we get back to base and follow their orders.”
Since it showed no aggression so far, headquarters would likely lean toward capturing it alive. Monster research had been stagnating, contrary to the increasing incidents of dungeon rampages. If this cat-like creature was indeed a monster, it would be used as a fairly important experimental subject. Sangjun, who had been responding casually, looked quizzically at Dohyuk’s suddenly stiffened face.
“Esper Choi Dohyuk?”
“Yes.”
Maybe it was just his imagination. Dohyuk just looked down at the cat calmly as usual. Even his gaze upon Sangjun’s call showed no particular emotion. Dohyuk easily lifted the cat that had made itself comfortable in his arms.
Meow! After letting out a brief sound of annoyance, the cat made itself comfortable again on Dohyuk’s arm. The way it blinked its crimson eyes was elegantly imperious, as if saying that it would tolerate such rudeness only once.
When Dohyuk stood up, Sangjun used the radio.
“Target capture complete. Please scan the surrounding 500m radius again. Over.”
[No other life form reactions detected. Over.]
“Returning to base. Over.”
They couldn’t track the core based on an unidentified cat that wasn’t even a Changgwi. Dohyuk also thought that returning to base was the most appropriate decision at this point and followed behind Sangjun.
With each step, the sound of twigs and grass being crushed could be heard. After walking in silence for a while, Sangjun casually broached a topic.
“Does Esper Choi Dohyuk feel sorry for it?”
Judging by his shift back to formal speech, it didn’t seem like he was speaking as a superior. Dohyuk realized that the “it” Sangjun was referring to was the cat warming his arms, and he replied slowly.
“I’m not sure. It’s likely to be a monster, after all.”
Despite saying this, the way he adjusted his hold on the cat showed his anxious movements, as if afraid of hurting even a single hair with the wrong pressure. His thoughts and actions were quite different for something he claimed was likely a monster.
“Hmm.”
Sangjun felt a sense of déjà vu as he quietly observed Dohyuk and the cat.
This scene feels familiar somehow. Why don’t I want to remember?
“Still, it’s a bit awkward since it’s small and shows no aggression for now.”
“Ah, you like cute things, don’t you?”
Sangjun had seen many times how this man with the cool demeanor would hopelessly melt whenever Yu Junseo acted cutely like a dog. When Sangjun asked casually, Dohyuk made a small laughing sound.
“Do you know why animals look cute when they’re young, Esper Ji Sangjun?”
“Is there a reason for that too?”
“I’ve heard there’s something called the ‘kewpie effect.’ It’s a social psychology theory that says the weaker and cuter something is, the more likely it is to be loved and cared for by others, increasing its chances of survival.”
“That’s interesting.”
“I don’t know if it’s a real term, but ever since I heard that, I think about it whenever I see something cute.”
“Now that I hear it, it feels like a manipulation tactic, which makes me dislike it even more.”
Sangjun replied as he cut through the vines obstructing their view with a sharp wind. Dohyuk avoided the falling vines and protected the cat from being brushed by branches, calmly adding:
“Isn’t it touching how the instinct to survive is so strong that it would even borrow others’ sympathy?”
“Everyone has that level of survival instinct.”
Sangjun responded lightly, and without answering, Dohyuk hesitantly tried to stroke the cat in his arms. The feel of the fur under his fingertips was smooth. When his hand touched it, the cat suddenly lifted its head, startling him, but it just gazed at Dohyuk quietly with its bright crimson eyes.
Swoosh, there was the sound of leaves swaying in the wind. It was the kind of sound that should have been accompanied by a fresh scent, but there was still no forest smell.
***
Jaesik gritted his teeth.
He never imagined that he would be cooped up in a tent all day. Especially with Jihun and Junseo actively preventing him from getting anywhere near Hayeon and Hansol—it was clearly the kind of treatment given to a provisional criminal.
With so much work to be done, such treatment was unacceptable. It was undoubtedly a ploy to aggravate him. Concluding that the more he stayed still, the more he would be dragged into the situation, Jaesik, who couldn’t just watch anymore, went outside the tent. Before he could even properly open his eyes after squinting at the bright sunlight, someone greeted him.
“You listen better than I expected. I’ve been waiting a long time.”
Junseo, who had been sitting alone outside the tent reading a book, looked up at the sound of movement and murmured softly. It was natural to get more and more disheveled as time passed in a dungeon, yet somehow that face positioned in the midst of the white night remained unnaturally clear. It was incomprehensible. When everyone was gathered, he would pretend to be pitiable, condemning Jaesik as if he were a vicious criminal, but now he was looking down on him like something trivial.
Jaesik stood crookedly in front of Junseo with his arms crossed.
It was a disrespectful attitude he would never show in front of Sangjun.
“Let’s stop playing around. I’m the only combat Esper left here, so what are you, a mere Guide, relying on? If I don’t come in contact with that weird guiding of yours, it’s fine, isn’t it?”
Jaesik believed that most of the various rumors surrounding Junseo were exaggerated. There were too many absurd stories. The fact that he had shot a B-class Esper with a .38 caliber pistol, cleanly making holes in the left hand and right shin with impeccable skill, had been confirmed as true, but even so, it was only meant as a threat.
Espers had considerable healing abilities. That level of injury would heal in three days for a B-class Esper, and for an A-class Esper like Jaesik, he could either dodge bullets or easily protect his body through his abilities.
Jaesik deliberately looked down at Junseo who was sitting. At that blatant gaze, Junseo finally brushed back his hair and closed the poetry book he had been reading.
Like a lazy predator stretching languidly, Junseo rose. A small voice escaped between his plump lips, sounding drowsy like a monologue.
“The older people get, the more they seem to recognize their place…”
Thanks to his tall height, despite being a Guide, the direction of their gazes was instantly reversed. The way he looked down at Jaesik without any particular effort seemed to assert that this difference was natural. It was the kind of arrogance only someone born to rule could possess.
“Why can’t Esper Seo Jaesik do that?”
Junseo lifted the corner of his mouth. His dry lips revealed an even drier smile.
Soon after, a voice that was clearly imitating Jaesik’s tone from earlier seized the back of his neck. It was gentle yet forceful.
“A mere Esper.”
With a voice that dropped at the end as if putting a period, Jaesik growled through gritted teeth.
“Guide Yu Junseo, you really have no fear. Don’t you know that I could use my ability to blow you up and kill you? I have plenty of places to go even if I leave headquarters right now.”
Even faced with an A-class Esper openly displaying anger and threatening him, Junseo remained calm and composed. His innocent face shone white through the greenery, making him look like a child simply walking along a garden path.
