“Tsk…!”
Spotting a small spring in the distance, Haram began hopping in place, unable to contain his excitement. His throat dry, he swallowed hard at the sight of water trickling from a long hose and immediately bolted toward it.
He lowered his head to follow the thin stream and spotted a stone basin filled to the brim with spring water. Without hesitation, he dunked his face in.
Slurp, slurp, slurp!
The water was so cold it made his skull ache. He lapped it up with his tiny tongue for a long while until his thirst was finally quenched. Lifting his head, he was soaked from chest to belly—he’d drunk so greedily that his entire front was dripping.
Shaking the wet fur off with his paws, Haram hopped down from the basin and stared toward the entrance of the spring.
Was this the direction that guy told me about? He said if I go down past the spring, I’ll reach a village.
He peered down the well-maintained mountain path. Not a single rock was out of place—almost as if people used it often. But a sudden owl hoot made his shoulders flinch.
“T-Tsk…”
I need to get moving. I can’t stay here.
Earlier, his thirst had been so overwhelming that he hadn’t noticed how creepy this place felt. Now that it was gone, dread began to creep in. Haram glanced warily at the stone toad statue standing at the entrance of the spring.
Honestly, it had been easier when thirst and hunger dulled his senses. Now that he’d quenched his thirst, his mind was clearer—and that wasn’t necessarily a good thing.
As he made his way down the clean path, he was seized by a sudden, ominous feeling that something might leap out at any moment. In the end, he climbed up a tree instead. Flying would drain more energy, but it seemed safer.
Haram crept to the edge of a branch and leapt into the air.
Spreading his patagium and lifting his forepaws, he glided—but as soon as he landed on the branch across from him, a strange, unfamiliar scent hit his nose.
Sniff sniff.
“Tsk?”
What’s that smell?
The further down the mountain he went, the more pungent it became—a briny scent he’d never encountered before.
It reminded him a little of the salted cabbage used during kimchi season.
Tilting his head, Haram sniffed the air again, then threw himself into the air for another glide.
***
“Tsk, Tsk.”
Fishing shop, fishing shop.
Repeating the Sky Squirrel Beastfolk’s directions over and over in his mind, Haram paused as the village came into view.
It was even smaller than the rural town he’d lived in.
He took in the sight of the few scattered houses and swallowed nervously. A part of him desperately wanted to rush in and ask for help.
If I could just make one phone call to Tae-yi…
Sighing deeply, Haram forced himself to remember the Sky Squirrel’s warning.
In a village this small, the people would definitely be wary of outsiders.
He glanced around reluctantly—and then froze.
A vehicle sat parked at the village entrance. Not a tractor. Something that didn’t fit this quiet countryside at all.
Sure enough, when two large men stepped out of the car, Haram dove into the leaves for cover.
They’re already here?!
The men weren’t wearing suits, but their black t-shirts and pants still clashed sharply with the rural surroundings.
Haram narrowed his eyes, watching them carefully—until he caught sight of what they were carrying and immediately dropped down from the tree.
“T-Tsk…!”
That’s…!
They weren’t holding toy binoculars.
Even from a distance, he could tell they were expensive, high-performance models.
Swallowing hard, Haram quickly pressed himself against a thick tree trunk for cover.
There was no way he could risk flying now.
If he tried gliding between trees, he’d be spotted in seconds.
One of them even had something that looked like a hunting rifle—probably not for wild boars. More likely, they were here to hunt him.
“T-Tsk…!”
This is insane…!
He’d figured they wouldn’t come looking for him with open arms—but a gun?!
First kidnapping, now murder?
Whether it was a shotgun or a tranquilizer, getting hit by either would mean death.
Compared to these guys, Tae-yi showing up with a butterfly net had practically been a loving gesture.
As the men wandered through the village and began approaching the rear mountains, Haram panicked and bolted.
He fled along a forest path behind the village.
The salty scent hit him again—stronger this time—and he tilted his head in confusion. And then—
As soon as he stepped out of the forest and onto the road, his eyes went wide.
An enormous stretch of ocean opened up before him.
Now it made sense. That briny smell from earlier—he was near the sea.
He had never even imagined he’d been taken this far, to a place with the ocean.
“Tsk…”
It’s beautiful…
Even in the middle of this mess, the ocean—his first ever—was breathtaking. Taking in the shimmering blue waves, Haram finally turned and continued down the road.
***
Yoon Ji-seok, who’d been flopped across the couch and rambling non-stop, suddenly sat up when he realized the room had gone quiet.
“You listening?”
He hadn’t expected Kang Tae-yi to respond. But at the very least, he’d hoped to hear another annoyed sigh.
Now that even that was gone, being completely ignored stung more than he cared to admit.
“Why don’t you either go to the hospital or crawl back into your room?”
Running an irritated hand through his hair, Kang Tae-yi snapped at Ji-seok without even looking at him.
Honestly, it would’ve been better if Tae-yi had stayed alone, mourning Haram in silence or staring off in a daze.
Instead, Ji-seok had followed him to work, yammering on and on—and it was driving Tae-yi insane.
“And you? If you’re just gonna do whatever Kang Tae-jin tells you like some pathetic pushover, why are you even at the office? Didn’t you say you were giving it all up?”
Ji-seok scowled, glaring at Tae-yi with full irritation.
It didn’t make sense. He didn’t seem focused on work, yet he’d still shown up at the office.
Out of everyone in the Kang family, Tae-yi was the one he tolerated most—yet even he was being unbearably difficult now.
“You go to the hospital. Send Yoon Min-ho instead.”
Still not sparing Ji-seok a glance, Tae-yi flipped through a mountain of documents before letting his gaze drift back out the window.
All he could see were tall buildings and the hopelessly clogged roads below. The sight made him feel even more suffocated, and he exhaled deeply—
Right on cue, Ji-seok sneered.
“What, you think your Sky Squirrel boyfriend’s gonna fly back to you?”
Tae-yi furrowed his brow, but Ji-seok didn’t care.
Even now, Tae-yi spent more time staring out the window than reading paperwork. It was like he was hoping his Sky Squirrel lover would flap back through the sky. If he believed in miracles like that, he’d be better off in a church than an office.
Ji-seok clicked his tongue in disbelief and pulled out his phone when it buzzed in his pocket.
“Speak of the devil—Yoon Min-ho’s calling.”
He glanced at the screen, then flung his phone at Tae-yi, who’d been grimacing silently. Startled, Tae-yi caught it mid-air, then shot Ji-seok a glare before answering. Ji-seok collapsed back onto the couch, but when the call dragged on, he butted in again.
“What’s going on?”
Tae-yi ended the call and placed the phone on the desk with a thud, then stared directly at Ji-seok.
“…What?”
Tae-yi’s expression was unreadable.
Calm? Pensive?
Ji-seok squinted, irritated.
“What’s your plan, exactly?” Tae-yi finally asked.
***
Yoon Min-ho rushed into the office, his voice bubbling with urgency. He brushed past his brother and made a beeline for Tae-yi.
“Something’s off.”
He’d just finished feeding lunch to their father and was about to head to the office when Secretary Kim called.
The man had said he would follow all instructions—as long as Min-ho could guarantee his and his family’s safety. Then he hung up.
It had been a one-sided call, no room for questions, but his shaky voice told Min-ho everything he needed to know.
Tae-yi, deep in thought, gave a faint nod.
Secretary Kim had been loyal to Kang Tae-jin for a long time.
For him to betray Tae-jin like this—and contact Tae-yi directly—meant only one thing.
Something irreversible had happened.
