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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Mod7
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I tried to crush the chihuahua’s skull.
But the clever little bastard immediately ran to Hye-ji and snuggled into her arms.
It showered her with affection, unlike when it bit me.
That horny little dog.
‘Time for some dominance training.’
[Are you seriously going to beat up a dog?]
‘I’m not going to hit it.’
[…You were just about to turn it into chihuahua paste.]
I might be crazy, but I was still civilized.
I couldn’t just resort to violence.
‘I’ll establish dominance through conversation.’
[What nonsense are you spouting?! How is that even possible? Are you some kind of interdimensional dog whisperer?]
Piece didn’t seem to understand.
That there was a way to communicate with any dog.
‘I become a dog when I drink.’
[So?]
‘So, I’ll be able to communicate with it after a few drinks.’
[…Right. Have a nice chat with your fellow canine.]
My mom called us just as dinner was ready.
“Hye-ji, it’s getting late. Why don’t you have dinner with us?”
“R-really? Is that okay?”
“Of course. You’re the first friend Shinwoo has brought home.”
“Thank you!”
My mom said it was only natural to offer a meal to a first-time guest.
And she sounded strangely relieved.
“I can’t believe that idiot actually brought home such a cute girl. I’m so relieved.”
“Mom, why are you suddenly hitting me?”
The difference in her treatment of Hye-ji and me was jarring.
And I’m a guy too.
Of course, I also prefer cute girls to guys.
She then gave me a cold look and said,
“I cleaned your room while you were away, you know?”
“…What?”
“Do you know how shocked I was when I saw what was inside?”
“…No, don’t tell me…”
“I thought you were into that kind of stuff-”
She was about to unleash a forbidden memory.
I quickly interrupted her.
“No, damn it! That’s from the crazy old man next door! He tricked me into taking it!”
“That’s a relief. I was seriously considering removing you from the family registry.”
[…Your mother must have seen it.]
‘Ryu Kang-hyuk, that bastard.’
Hye-ji, clueless about the situation, tilted her head and asked,
“Shinwoo, what is she talking about?”
“…Sometimes, pure evil exists in the real world too.”
I ignored her persistent questioning and sat down at the table.
It was a feast.
My mom must have gone all out because Hye-ji was here.
But…
“…Mom, something’s off about this menu.”
“What’s wrong? Isn’t it all nutritious?”
[It seems like a very targeted meal, dear.]
‘Extremely targeted.’
There was a wide variety of dishes.
Nothing seemed nutritionally unbalanced, but…
It was definitely skewed towards a particular purpose.
Grilled eel, black garlic, asparagus, oysters, kelp, grilled abalone with butter, abalone porridge, and chive pancakes.
With raspberry wine.
And almonds and bananas for dessert.
It was blatantly obvious.
As if they were trying to force someone to consume as much… energy as possible.
And that someone was…
My dad, who was sitting across from me, a forced smile on his trembling face.
“D-dear? This is a lot of food.”
“Your son brought home a cute girl, it’s the least I could do.”
“Ha… haha.”
Even Hye-ji seemed to have figured out the purpose of the meal, her face turning red.
She must have thought my mom mistook her for my girlfriend.
I had to clear up the misunderstanding, and fast.
“Um… um…”
“…Mom, just so you know, Hye-ji is just a friend.”
“Oh, is that so? My apologies for the misunderstanding. Just a moment.”
“Ah… right… a friend… right… fuck.”
[You’re truly a bastard, dear.]
‘What the hell, why are you calling me a bastard?’
My mom and Hye-ji’s gazes shifted.
My mom looked disappointed, while Hye-ji looked utterly crushed.
But my mom didn’t press the issue any further. She hurried back to the kitchen.
She started cooking steak.
Being a pyrokinetic, she cooked our steaks quickly.
Two pieces of steak were placed on our plates.
The savory aroma of butter made my mouth water.
“I already reverse-seared them, so you can eat them right away.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
“…Thank you.”
Hye-ji, her face still gloomy, cut a large piece of steak and shoved it into her mouth.
Her movements were rough, as if she was taking out her frustration on the steak.
But her gloom didn’t last long.
She seemed to like the steak, and her expression softened as she started savoring the taste.
There was a lot of food.
I was worried we wouldn’t be able to finish it all, so I asked my mom,
“Mom, what are we going to do with all this food?”
“Honey, you’re going to finish it all, aren’t you?”
“O-of course.”
She spoke as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Most of the food on the table had already been transferred to my dad’s plate.
Now, I was more worried about him than the leftover food.
The number above his head increased.
And a shard appeared.
[Shall we take a look, dear?]
‘Of course.’
I saw his future before he regressed.
He was playing video games late into the night and then falling asleep peacefully on the sofa.
But when he returned to the present, the number above my mom’s head increased.
I looked into the shard that appeared from her regression.
And I saw my dad getting thoroughly… dominated.
[They were traveling when you enrolled in the academy. Was she pregnant then?]
‘She must have failed, that’s why she’s still trying so hard.’
[Your father’s life force is fading.]
‘Dad’s going to die soon.’
The meal continued peacefully.
After we finished, Hye-ji started clearing the table.
“Thank you for the delicious meal, Mom! I’ll do the dishes.”
“Oh, I’m glad you liked it! But you’re our first guest, so maybe next time?”
“Of course! I’ll help next time.”
“Thank you! You’d make a perfect daughter-in-law.”
“D-daughter-in-law… hehe…”
Hye-ji, her face completely relaxed, sat next to me.
But I didn’t hear their conversation.
I was too focused on my dad, who was fidgeting nervously.
After a while, Hye-ji stood up.
It was time for her to leave.
“Mom! Dad! Thank you for dinner!”
“It was nice meeting you too. Come again.”
“Yes, get home safely.”
“Thank you! Good bye!”
I followed Hye-ji out the door.
“Hye-ji, are you sure you don’t want a ride home?”
“Are you worried about me because it’s late?”
I was worried, yes.
“No, I’m worried that someone will die if they mess with you.”
“…You’re right, I can’t argue with that.”
It wouldn’t be her who dies, though.
I decided to walk her to the first floor.
We got into the elevator.
As soon as we reached the first floor, she turned and started walking away.
“Don’t worry! It’s right around the corner, I’ll be there in five minutes!”
“Okay, text me if anything happens.”
“Can I call you when I’m giving my statement at the police station?”
“…I’ll be a witness for you.”
She turned and waved goodbye.
I waved back.
“Thanks for inviting me over! I’ll invite you to my place next time!”
“Okay, I look forward to it. Good bye.”
“Bye! See you later!”
I watched her go and then returned to my apartment.
But the door was locked.
I knocked and said,
“Mom, can you open the door?”
Click.
I heard the sound of the chain lock.
I was about to call her when I received a text message.
From my mom.
Mom: [If you interrupt, you die.]
It seemed the domination session was about to begin.
I couldn’t go inside yet.
‘Dad’s red number must have increased.’
[What are you going to do? Call Hye-ji back?]
‘She already left. I guess I’ll have a few drinks.’
I went to a nearby bar and started drinking alone.
I kept pouring the bitter soju down my throat.
When I came to my senses, it was 3 AM.
I started with just the basic bar snacks and soju.
Then, the owner started giving me free side dishes.
And when you have free food…
You drink more.
[You’re just looking for an excuse to drink!]
‘You have to drink when there’s free food!’
I was getting drunk.
But my phone remained silent.
[Are you going to be locked out all night?]
‘Damn it, should I grab some cardboard boxes to use as a blanket?’
My phone vibrated.
It was my mom.
I nervously checked the message, wondering if I’d be able to go home.
Mom: [It was a short session today. Come home quickly.]
That was a relief.
I wouldn’t have to sleep on the streets.
[At least you have a bed tonight.]
‘…Is this what life is?’
It was time to go home.
As I was paying, the owner and all the staff members suddenly came out and bowed to me at a 90-degree angle.
The owner even had tears in his eyes.
‘Ah, I “saved” this bar.’
[Go save something useful for once!!!]
My phone vibrated just as I reached my apartment.
I quickly checked it, worried that my mom had changed her mind.
Thankfully, it was the door passcode.
I entered the code, and as I opened the door…
The chihuahua greeted me.
Baring its teeth, of course.
[It’s going to bite you again.]
‘Don’t worry. It’s time for a conversation.’
I was drunk.
Drunk enough to have a conversation with a chihuahua.
At first, it growled and snarled at me, but after a heartfelt conversation, we came to an understanding.
And that day…
The pet dog disappeared from our family.
Instead, I gained a new brother.
The chihuahua.
His name was Choco.
He was my older brother.
[How the hell did you even have a conversation with a dog?!]
*‘I told you, I become a dog when I drink.’ *
[Is that something a human should say?!]
‘Why not? Politicians spew nonsense all the time.’
They do it without even drinking. How impressive.
I still had a long way to go.
[You just drank yourself into becoming a dog!!!]
‘Watch your language. He’s my older brother now.’
[And why did you become the younger brother?!]
‘He’s been living here longer than me, that makes him my older brother.’
I exchanged a brofist with Brother Choco before heading to the room that was used as a storage room.
It was filled with junk.
I shoved everything into a corner to clear some space. And then I saw it.
My blanket, buried deep inside.
Grateful that I didn’t have to sleep on the floor, I spread it out and lay down.
‘I finally made it home.’
[…This isn’t the kind of family this one envisioned.]
Even if it was far from a typical family…
It was still my family.
‘That’s how families are.’
With those words, I drifted off to sleep.
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the chihuahua was just a chill guy