020 – Old Rookie Haildo and Mysterious Animals #2
Hop, hop-.
The Squirrel Beast Kkungkkungi bounced around the office as if it owned the place.
“Kyah!”
“What’s going on!”
I was taken aback to see the women who had been quietly tapping away at their computers scream or push their chairs back to stand up.
The government official in glasses, in charge of me, shouted urgently.
“Hey, do something!”
Do something?
That was the right story.
I had to somehow deal with Kkungkkungi, who was jumping around right now.
I had to prove that I could control Kkungkkungi here to show that we could help each other and act in a C-level crack.
So, holding peanuts in my hand, I whistled sharply.
“Kkungkkungi, come here. Onto my palm.”
━ Kkungkkung…!
The Squirrel Beast, which had been running around the office wildly, climbed onto my palm as if to say it had never done such a thing and ate the peanut.
Honestly, I was a bit surprised and even touched that such a wild Squirrel Beast would calmly climb onto my palm.
It felt like we really connected.
However, the government official was looking at me with a gaze of disbelief, with the corners of their eyes raised behind the glasses, which was quite unsettling.
As I was tensing up, thinking they might shout again, the woman adjusted her glasses and calmly organized her surroundings while speaking.
“So, does that mean this is a Squirrel Beast? Not just a regular squirrel, but a Squirrel Beast?”
They were surprisingly calm.
I had thought that today’s government officials would be those who were overwhelmed by complaints and tasks, just waiting for quitting time, but it seemed I was wrong.
I created a pen-like enclosure with both hands around Kkungkkungi to prevent it from bouncing around easily and answered calmly.
“This little guy is probably a new type of squirrel that escaped from a crack. It barks like a dog, so it’s called a Squirrel Beast.”
━ Kkungkkung…!
As Kkungkkungi barked again, the government official’s expression became a bit more colorful.
Soon, people who had been startled by the Squirrel Beast began to gather around us one by one to take a look at Kkungkkungi.
“How cute.”
“Look at those stripes. Should I try giving it a snack?”
Most of the women liked squirrels.
And even the men in their 40s were watching the squirrel with curiosity, saying, “Wow, this squirrel really follows people well.”
Looking back now, isn’t the squirrel an animal everyone likes?
When Kkungkkungi was jumping wildly around the office, I was also dizzy, but thinking about it now, Kkungkkungi was running around on the desk without dropping anything or breaking any cups.
Swish, swish-.
Kkungkkungi was now climbing onto the arms and shoulders of the people around, moving curiously.
“I want to touch it too, Ina! Come here!”
“It’s so soft and warm!”
“Look at its fluffy tail!”
Everyone seemed to love Kkungkkungi.
I figured it was a good time to say this.
“This Squirrel Beast Kkungkkungi is my weapon equipment. I’d like to test its power, so could I borrow a testing area? It would be even better if you could check it out yourself.”
Usually, institutions handling Awakened individuals had at least one open space, whether indoors or outdoors, where the powers of Awakened could be lightly tested.
There was an open space near the outdoor parking lot here, and it was quite cozy with a scarecrow made from stacked tires.
“Using a squirrel as a weapon?”
“How could a squirrel become a weapon?”
“I don’t know either. Let’s go check it out.”
The government officials began to gather at the outdoor testing ground. There were easily over ten of them. The Awakened who were in the test area also stopped what they were doing to watch the commotion.
“There are a lot of people.”
━ Kkungkkung…!
How long has it been since I showed my power in front of many people?
I’m now called D-class, but back when I first became the world’s first additional Awakened—.
I had shown all sorts of things to people in such testing grounds.
I felt a little shy, but perhaps it was nostalgia that unlocked a part of my mind that I hadn’t used in a long time.
It felt like rusted machinery was starting to creak and turn as I applied oil to it.
“Phew.”
I calmly took a deep breath with my trembling body.
On the chests of the scarecrows placed in front of me, metal plates labeled F, D, C, B, A were attached like armor.
Step, step-.
A government official, with half of his head shaved and visibly sticking out, approached me.
“The F-class is made from the material of a hybrid beast, the D-class is made from the shell of a Basquir wasp, and the C-class is made from the leather of a two-headed crocodile.”
Each material was sturdy.
For example, F-class Awakened’s weapons couldn’t pierce the D-class shell and D-class Awakened’s weapons couldn’t easily pierce through the C-class leather.
In other words, if I could pierce through the C-class leather and damage the scarecrow, it would mean that Kkungkkungi’s power combined with mine was worthy of a C-class weapon.
“Kkungkkungi, come here.”
I whistled for Kkungkkungi, who was bouncing around in the wide outdoor area. When Kkungkkungi climbed from my foot to my knee and then onto my palm, I granted it magical power and petted it.
Swish, swish-.
The shining fur of Kkungkkungi.
Soon, I heard murmurs like “Whoa” or “Did you show something?”
I focused on the scarecrow in front of me, without paying attention to those around me.
About three seconds later, I shouted.
“Go!”
━ Kkungkkung…!
Pat-
Kkungkkungi dashed across the ground with its unique squirrel speed.
Soon, Kkungkkungi collided with the C-class scarecrow.
Bang-! Crash-!
The C-class scarecrow, reinforced with tires and two-headed crocodile leather, split apart with a horrifying sound.
Such intense power!
Those watching, including myself, were greatly surprised!
“Wow, a squirrel can really be used as a weapon. There’s still amazing stuff left in the world!”
“How the heck did that happen? What’s the principle behind it?”
“Ina, did you get it on video!?”
# # #
After transferring from subway to bus several times, I finally arrived home after quite a walk. While I liked the move, it was somewhat of a downside that the neighborhood was in quite a remote area, making transportation inconvenient.
“Inoi, are you still doing that?”
As I stepped into the yard, I saw that Inoi was still spinning around where the seeds were planted. It seemed too focused to even hear my voice, showing no signs of responding.
I approached Inoi and noticed that strange sprouts were growing in the spot where the seeds were planted.
Can a tree seed grow this quickly?
“Ah! The master of the house has returned…! This Inoi didn’t even realize the master came back due to being too absorbed in its work…!”
Inoi finally realized it was me.
I had gifted Inoi a yellow tracksuit, which it loved very much.
“This tracksuit is exceptionally Nymph-friendly clothing…! No nymph has surely worn such comfortable, active, and sturdy clothing before…!”
It really liked it.
I stepped inside the house.
Since the relocation boxes inside were unpacked and organized by the Ant Ahn Ahn, the house was exceptionally neat and beautiful.
I sat down in front of my computer and, as always, searched my name on the Awakened individuals’ SNS.
“Haildo”
“No search results.”
I see.
Well, that’s not surprising.
Then, out of curiosity, I searched for one more thing.
“Squirrel”
About two seconds passed.
Words appeared on the white screen.
“Title: Today, someone brought a squirrel as a weapon to the testing ground, lol.”
“Content: Someone surprised everyone by bringing a squirrel as their weapon, and it actually was a weapon, lol. It ripped a C-class scarecrow in half, lol.”
What the heck does that mean? How could a squirrel become a weapon? Throwing it by its tail?
“It seemed like the principle of loading magic into a living creature.”
“Wasn’t it impossible to load magic into living beings? Wouldn’t a small animal like a squirrel explode from the rebound?”
As expected.
It was such an amazing scene that I couldn’t avoid mentioning it.
Thinking that, I secretly left a comment on an anonymous site.
“It’s not just any squirrel; it barks like a dog, so it’s called a Squirrel Beast. They say it’s a special animal that can hold magic in its fur without worrying about rebound.”
I was very satisfied.
Soon, comments like “Living biological weapon lol” and “Have you heard where to get that squirrel? Where does it live?” started flooding in.
I felt good receiving attention after a long time.
Of course, it was attention towards Kkungkkungi, not towards human Haildo.
“If I had brought Ahn Ahn along, everyone would have been really blown away.”
Anyway.
It was proven today that the Squirrel Beast Kkungkkungi has at least C-class potential. Now I could take on plenty of C-level crack requests and make a lot of money.
Just when I was thinking that.
━ Kkungkkung…!
I heard Kkungkkungi barking in the yard.
Thinking it might be calling me, I went out and saw the sun setting, and Kkungkkungi was playing with a brown-furred squirrel.
━ Kkungkkung…!
━ Kkungkkung…!
“Is there two Kkungkkungi?”
I was quite flustered.
To see two Kkungkkungi playing in the yard! Perhaps Squirrel Beasts had a dividing property? While I was imagining that, Inoi smiled mischievously.
“I can sense that another Squirrel Beast came to meet Kkungkkungi…! I feel that there are currently more than five Squirrel Beasts in this village…!”
“Really? Were they living here from the start?”
I wondered as I asked.
The elders in this village were amazed, saying they had never seen such a peculiar squirrel when they saw Kkungkkungi.
That reaction proved that there had never been a Squirrel Beast living in this village.
“It seems that they are being led here by the top Squirrel Beast Kkungkkungi…! I believe that over time, the number of Squirrel Beasts in this village will surely increase…! An Nymph-friendly village is very good for animals to live in…!”
It was completely strange.
A village where Squirrel Beasts spontaneously breed like monsters in a game.
In amazement, I saw that the Squirrel Beasts had now become three, bouncing around and playing with each other. Are real Squirrel Beasts spawning!?
In that moment, I felt a surge of greed.
Could I tame all the other two squirrels besides Kkungkkungi?
“Hey, you guys—.”
━ Gruuung…!
━ Kkungkkung…!
Feeling curious, I opened my palm, but the other Squirrel Beasts sensed my presence and quickly scurried away into the distance.
They were too quick for me to do anything.
“…Can’t I tame the Squirrel Beasts further?”
“Originally, Squirrel Beasts are wild animals that do not depend on humans…! Since Squirrel Beasts are territorial animals, they might play together, but it’s clear that they wouldn’t be able to be tamed together…!”
I see.
Since the top Squirrel Beast Kkungkkungi has already occupied my home, it’s likely that taming other Squirrel Beasts is impossible.
Anyway, it’s a pleasant story that Squirrel Beasts are increasing in this village. They’re cute and can chase away the insects, which are a major hassle of rural life.
If all goes well, this neighborhood might become a “Squirrel Beast hot spot,” revitalizing the local business too, just like when Pugimon GO came out and Sokcho became popular.
“Hiyaek…!”
Just then, Inoi made a strange sound.
I wondered if it had suddenly caught a cold, but Inoi dashed into the house.
What could it be?
While I was thinking about that, I saw a taxi sliding with its lights on, coming from the entrance of the village.
Brrrmmm-.
The taxi soon stopped in front of our house, and soon a long leg popped out, revealing a rather familiar face.
“Senpai, is this the house you moved to? The air is so good!”
It was Yu Ara, wearing a long white padded coat.
With a large plastic bag full in her hands, I was surprised in many ways.
“What are you doing here? How did you know where I lived?”
“I asked Ye-rim! I called to catch up with my friends from the second season after a long time, and your name came up in the conversation.”
I didn’t know why my name came up, but if it was something from Seo Ye-rim’s mouth, it probably wasn’t good news.
While I was thinking that, Yu Ara shook the plastic bag and said.
“By any chance, you’re not busy tonight, are you? If you haven’t unpacked all your moving stuff, I can help you with that. I brought dinner too, so if you haven’t eaten, let’s eat together!”
