Chapter 38

“It’s okay since we’re alive. Can you move? We fell rather fall.”

Haon pointed to the steep waterfall in the darkness.

Kim Jeongwon muttered,

“It’s a miracle we even survive…”

“Yeah…” Haon also agreed wholeheartedly with that thought.

“Can you get up?”

“Yes, I think I’ll be okay.”

Kim Jeongwon struggled to get up, shaking his wet head. He almost collapsed twice but managed to hold himself up. Haon was relieved that Kim Jeongwon had regained consciousness. If Kim Jeongwon had remained unconscious, Haon would have had to wander around inside the gate, carrying his limp body.

Considering that the gate was a place where even saving one’s own body was difficult, the thought of having to take care of an unconscious person was truly daunting.

While Haon let out a sigh of relief, he heard rustling sounds from the forest. Kim Jeongwon also heard the sound, and the two of them briefly locked eyes.

Then, holding their breath, they peered into the forest. Haon gripped a dagger, while Kim Jeongwon cautiously approached the direction of the sound with a gun in hand.

“Meow.”

Contrary to their expectation of encountering a threatening monster, there was a small black cat. The cat, with a round white spot on its chest, was grooming itself.

“Cait-sith…?”

Haon immediately recognized the identity of the monster. It was the first time they had seen Cait-sith in person, but they had heard about Cait-sith a few times before.

Cait-sith was a relatively harmless monster. Moreover, judging by its size, it seemed to be still a kitten. That made it even less dangerous. There was no need to fight unnecessarily.

“Hmm… What a surprise.”

Kim Jeongwon also seemed relieved at the sight of a Cait-sith. Nevertheless, the Cait-sith looked at Haon again and meowed softly.

However, upon closer inspection, the Cait-sith seemed to be in an unusual state. It had a long scratch on its right hind leg, with blood sticking to it.

“Meow.”

“Are you hurt?”

“Meow.”

As if responding to Haon’s question, the Cait-sith let out a weak meow. After a moment of hesitation, Haon rummaged through his hip bag.

“What are you doing?”

“It seems hurt.”

“And?”

“It’s pitiful.”

“Hmm…”

Kim Jeongwon was puzzled by Haon’s response, but Haon didn’t pay him any mind. Eventually, Haon found a small medicine in his bag and approached the Cait-sith. Then, the Cait-sith revealed its small fangs threateningly as if to warn Haon. Of course, being so small, it posed no real threat.

“I got it. It’ll be over soon.”

“Meow!”

Gently soothing the sensitive Cait-sith, Haon sprayed the medicine on the Cait-sith’s injured leg. It wasn’t as effective as the medicine given by Cha Yugeon before, but it was still sufficient for treating wounds like this.

“Meow.”

Fortunately, as soon as the medicine touched the Cait-sith’s wound, it began to heal. While the fur that had fallen out due to the injury didn’t grow back, it seemed that the Cait-sith would be fine for the time being.

“Does this how you usually act?”

“Huh?”

Haon tilted his head at Kim Jeongwon’s question. Then Kim Jeongwon gestured toward the Cait-sith with his chin.

“It’s a monster.”

“And?”

“We don’t have to treat monsters.”

“It’s just a kitten. It doesn’t seem like it will attack us.”

Despite Haon’s explanation, Kim Jeongwon still seemed puzzled. Of course, Haon had no intention of trying to make him understand. It seemed that Kim Jeongwon didn’t feel any pity for this small Cait-sith. After all, everyone perceives things differently, and explaining wouldn’t change that fact.

Instead of answering, Haon turned away from the Cait-sith. Kim Jeongwon, too, stopped asking questions and was about to follow Haon.

“Park Haon!”

Cha Yugeon, who had been in the air, spotted Haon and descended to the ground. It seemed he had been searching for Haon. Haon was relieved that he didn’t have to climb up the tall waterfall.

“Cha Yugeon…?”

Cha Yugeon hugged Haon.

Haon’s eyes widened in surprise at Cha Yugeon’s unexpected gesture. While Haon’s eyes were wide with incomprehension at Cha Yugeon’s actions, Cha Yugeon stepped back from Haon and examined Haon’s body.

“Are you hurt?”

“Uh, no.”

“Any pain?”

“I’m fine. Not sure if it’s thanks to the medicine you gave me or not.”

His concern felt unfamiliar and somewhat awkward. Haon scratched his cheek awkwardly in response. Cha Yugeon let out a long sigh of relief as if finally reassured. It was evident that he genuinely cared about Haon.

Though his concern was bewildering, Haon didn’t dislike it. It was a good thing for someone to worry about you, even if it was Cha Yugeon, even if it was a bit awkward.

“…Sorry. For what I said before.”

“…It’s okay.”

With Haon confirming he was fine, Cha Yugeon apologized earnestly with a hoarse voice. Although Haon had received apologies from him before, it felt different this time. It was probably because of the sincerity in Cha Yugeon’s voice that seemed like he might cry.

“I was scared I could never say it.”

“Cha Yugeon.”

“I’m sorry, really sorry. I thought you were gone and there was no one to apologize to.”

“…It’s okay.”

Finally, a sense of relief washed over Haon. He thought everything was okay after Cha Yugeon’s apology, but it wasn’t really. If only human emotions could be resolved and everything returned to normal with just one apology, but reality was different.

So, even after receiving Cha Yugeon’s apology, Haon still harbored resentment and bitterness toward him in a corner of his heart. He tried his best not to show it, though.

Perhaps he thought it was okay now, but at any moment, he might recall what Cha Yugeon had said and feel hurt and resentful again. But that was just a natural feeling. Over time, he could pile up gratitude for Cha Yugeon who saved him on top of those negative feelings.

Having only positive emotions in a relationship was good, of course. But how could such relationships exist in human life? Sometimes, negative feelings were inevitable.

Before being entangled with Cha Yugeon, Haon didn’t know this fact. If he didn’t like something, he would just leave it at that and wouldn’t bother continuing the relationship.

But as he became involved with Cha Yugeon and experienced various things, he realized that cutting off a relationship wasn’t the only solution. Haon didn’t particularly like this newfound knowledge, but he didn’t dislike it either.

“…Let’s go.”

“Yeah.”

“Meow.”

Turning his gaze downward, Haon saw the Cait-sith rubbing its forehead against his shin.

“…What’s this?”

“…a Cait-sith?”

“No, I know it’s a Cait-sith, but why is it acting friendly toward you?”

“It got injured, so I treated it… I don’t know why it’s like this either. …But didn’t it growl at me earlier?”

“Meow.”

Feeling something was off, Haon spoke to the Cait-sith. Unlike before, the Cait-sith meowed cutely. Moreover, it crawled up Haon’s leg.

“Why, why is it like this?”

“It seems to like Mr. Park Haon.”

“What?”

Surprised by Kim Jeongwon’s casual remark, Haon asked back. Meanwhile, the Cait-sith, resembling a small black cat, climbed up Haon’s body with its tiny paw as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

“What should we do? Should we take it with us?”

“Well, that’s…”

“Meow!”

Just as he was about to answer Cha Yugeon’s question, Haon was interrupted by the Cait-sith’s meow, which sounded like it was urging him to take it along. At the same time, it dug its tiny claws into Haon’s shoulder, as if refusing to let go.

“Should we keep it…?”

While pondering over the Center’s regulations on keeping pets, Haon absentmindedly stroked the Cait-sith’s head, and the Cait-sith purred happily in response.

“…What about that bastard? Should we take him too?”

“Are you talking about me?”

At Cha Yugeon’s question, Haon blinked in surprise and retorted. Cha Yugeon’s ‘that bastard’ referred to Kim Jeongwon. It seemed that Haon’s resentment toward Kim Jeongwon hadn’t completely dissipated yet.

Although he was the target, Haon wondered why Cha Yugeon was acting like that on his behalf. Nevertheless, he couldn’t help but feel grateful toward him.

“Tsk.”

At the sound filled with displeasure, Haon sneakily glanced at Kim Jeongwon’s reaction. Luckily, Kim Jeongwon seemed unperturbed. There was even a somewhat dull aspect to him.

“Uh, uh?”

“Meow!”

Just then, Cha Yugeon wrapped his arm around Haon’s waist and soared into the air with a kick. Behind him, Kim Jeongwon was casually lifted by Cha Yugeon’s telekinesis. The Cait-sith, which had somehow ended up in the air, meowed strangely. Haon, fearing that the Cait-sith might fall, cautiously held it close to his chest.