A Dragon That My Cat Brought Home

“The fantasy story that you were talking about is a cat story? Is that even a writing? It’s totally going to sell a lot of copies.”

The atmosphere quickly became awkward as Kyung-suk put down his beer mug and said it sarcastically.

“Han Kyung-suk, isn’t fantasy a writing as well? I know you like pure literature but watch your mouth.”

“Kang Hae-in, don’t just defend him because he is Myung-hoon, honestly speaking, is fantasy really a writing? It’s not realistic, the grammar is a mess, and most of them are all similar, it’s always regression, hunter, status window. If one is successful, then a near identical copy will drop.

As Kyung-suk poured out his words as he was worked up, Yuri, who was listening next to him, slapped him.

“You know them quite well. For someone who says they don’t read that kind of stuff.”

“········”

Hae-in burst out laughing.

“Oh, it was. Ha Kyung-suk, who acknowledged only pure literature and said that he could not read fantasy or web novels because he was cringing, when did you read those fantasy novels you were talking about then?”

"Hey! stop it! Why would I read something like that?! I only did it to see what kinds of stuff kids were reading now adays, it was just some market research!”

Kyung-suk got angry with his face red, and Hae-in teased him a little more, and only stopped when hit him on his back to stop.

I am not in a position to say anything to Kyung-suk, and I used to think the same way as he did. In fact, when I first started reading web novels, I dropped most of them because of spelling mistakes, childish lines, and inconsistent context.

Then I saw one or two interesting writing, gradually realized the trick to picking out well-written works and was able to find sparsely shining writings even amid a flood of similar clichés.

It was only after reading some fantasy novels that I thought I might be able to write it myself, and then I realized that it was not as easy as I thought, and I was reflecting on how I had looked down on the genre of fiction.

Since I started writing fiction, I want to write well. I want to write something that readers could read, enjoy, and feel happy. I also felt the joy of finding a pearl in a pile of garbage when I found a well-written novel while reading. I hope that my writing will also give readers the joy of finding a marble, if not a pearl.

After eating with friends, I had a drink after a long time and came home late at night, and before I took off my shoes, Blue Dragon clung to me crying. His large eyes were emotional.

Come to think of it, it was the first time that I left Blue Dragon at home alone for so long.

“My little one, have you been waiting a long time? Did you think that hyung wasn't coming home?"

“Piyaang”

“Yeah, okay, I’m not going anywhere. Let me go for a while. I want to change."

Although the Blue Dragon is still young, it is very expressive. The voices are of various pitches, so they convey emotions well. Holding Blue Dragon who was crying and not wanting to fall, he barely took off his coat. Seeing Baek-ho feeling like he can finally relax, rubbing himself on my legs, he seemed to have struggled to appease Blue Dragon while I was away. Both of them are so cute.

******

A few days later, while I was writing, I had a question about animals, so I called my sister to ask something.

– Hello. Is this Myung-hoon?

“Yea, noona, it’s late, do you have time to talk? What about brother-in-law?”

– He is at home with the kids. I didn't get off work today. I'll sleep in the hospital tonight.

"Why? What's going on?"

– Sky isn’t feeling so well and I can’t leaver him here. I’ll watch over her.

“Oh no, is her condition bad? Noona did you have dinner?”

– No.

“Then I’ll buy you something to eat and visit you. To see Sky as well.”

– Yes, thank you.

I heard that the hospital cat, Sky, has been suffering from anxiety for some time without knowing the cause, but he seems to be in a bad condition. Sky is a really gentle and pretty cat, and he gets along well with Baek-ho and Blue dragons.

At first, when he fell ill and was abandoned by the original owner, he was quite depressed, but with the love and comfort of the hospital family, he regained his bright and easygoing original appearance.

Sky is now the mascot of Cloud Animal Hospital. Because he has a painful past, I want him to live that much happier now.

I'm about to put on the coat, but Blue dragon rushes to me and clings on to me. This started happening after returning late from the bookmark meeting a few days ago.

“Blue dragon, it’s too cold outside, so you should stay at home.”

“Piya piya piyaang!”

The blue dragon squealed like he didn't like it, raised small claws and pecked it into my coat, clinging to it.

“Ah really… what should I do with this boy?”

Reluctantly, I wrapped the blue dragon in a warm blanket and put it in the carrying case. I also put a few hot packs on the bottom of the mobile station to avoid him getting cold. After the horns on his head started to stand out, I couldn't take him to the hospital during the day, so I'll go with you to show my sister. It’s definitely not because I lost to Blue dragon’s cuteness.

There is a restaurant with delicious sandwiches near the cloud animal hospital. It is open until late at night, and you can order from the outside window without entering the store, so it is a favorite place for veterinary hospital customers.

“It’s been a while, student Myung-hoon, is your sister working overtime today?”

“Haha, I tell you every time I come, but I’m not a student anymore. It’s been so long since I graduated. Ahjussi you’re staying healthy right?”

TN: I don’t know about western culture, but in Korea people tend to ask if you’re healthy to ask how you’re doing.

“As the days are getting colder, my limbs are aching, but it’s still bearable. Is Baek-ho in the bag?”

“Oh, no. It’s a new kitten.”

“Oh really? Looks like Baek-ho got a younger brother. Head in now. I also added handful of fries. It’s on the house.”

"Thank you so much."

Sky was receiving sap in the hospital room. He just looked like he had no energy and was in poor condition. The white hair, which was as soft as silk, looked weak, and there was no strength his the eyes. In the cabinet, Sky’s favorite snacks and wet food were placed in a bowl, but there was no sign of him touching it.

“He’s not eating. I'm worried."

“He’s lost a lot more weight than the last time I saw him. How's the blood test result?"

“There is no clear cause, but there are high levels of inflammation and anemia. I wish it wasn’t for peritonitis.”

Feline peritonitis is scary. Diagnosis is difficult because the cause or treatment is unknown, and in wet peritonitis filled with pleural effusion or ascites, the fatality rate is close to 100%.

“He doesn’t try to eat anything, so I force feed every three hours, and he spits out almost everything. I’m upset because there’s nothing more I can do other than getting him the sap.”

“Noona, let’s eat some sandwiches. Noona you need to eat and replenish your strength to take care of Sky and see other patients.”

I took my sister to the waiting room and opened a sandwich bag. My sister grumbled that she had no appetite but still managed to eat a sandwich.

“Did you bring Blue dragon? He must be feeling cramped, take him out.”

“Yeah take a look at Blue dragona as well. Umm?"

There are no blue dragons in the mobile station. Obviously the door was closed well, but the door was open and the carrier was empty. There are a lot of hot packs on the inside and it's still hot inside, but where did the blue dragon go?

My sister and I got up in bewilderment and looked around the waiting room. I can't find him no matter where I look. Could it be that the door was open outside the hospital? No way. By the time I came in, he was definitely in the mobile station. Did you follow Sky into the patient room?

I opened the door to the patient room. The blue dragon was there. He was standing on his hind legs in front of the patient room, with his front feet on the door, his nose pressed against the door, and facing Sky with the door in between.

The Blue dragon's horns were shining.