OMH Chapter 62

62. Guide (7)

Cha Woojin, looking like an angel sculpted by a famous Renaissance artist, had a heart as beautiful as an angel.

He was too kind to wield the baton against me.

Even though I offered my neck, urging him to swing the baton at it, Woojin said firmly,

“No. I won’t use this kind of weapon on a person. And Hana-ssi, please don’t do this either.”

“Um… still, wouldn’t it be better to get a little familiar with it? I’m tough, so it’s okay. And it’s not like it’s a high-voltage current, so don’t feel pressured.”

“People can die even from a 220-volt shock. But this, you said it’s 1000 volts?! How can I swing something like that at someone’s neck? Please don’t make me do things like this!”

I wouldn’t die even if I were electrocuted with a high-voltage current… But I didn’t dislike Woojin’s concern.

So, I followed Woojin’s instructions.

I put my baton back in the storage case and went to Woojin.

“Woojin-ssi is right. You shouldn’t swing something like this at people~ Let’s only swing weapons like this at monsters who don’t listen.”

I chimed in with Woojin and stuck close to his side.

‘Will he be uncomfortable if I suddenly stick to him like this?’

Slightly worried, I watched Woojin’s reaction.

Woojin’s face turned slightly red, and he looked away from me.

Seeing that flustered expression, it seemed like he was okay.

I boldly linked my arm with Woojin’s.

“!!”

Woojin froze, but he didn’t shake off my arm.

Woojin completely turned his head away from me. Although his face was hidden by the direction, the tips of his ears turning bright red couldn’t be concealed. So cute.

Walking with Woojin, who is handsome, pretty, and cute, with my arm linked in his, made me laugh involuntarily.

“Hehehe.”

Feeling so good, I unconsciously squeezed Woojin’s arm tighter.

Woojin’s ears turned even redder. It was like painting white rose petals with red paint. How can Woojin’s ears be so handsome too?

We moved to the next pen with our arms linked in a friendly manner.

*

“…So, you just need to take this bucket to the monster and observe its behavior. Excuse me, are you listening?”

The researcher who was explaining pointed directly at Woojin.

I also turned my head toward Woojin.

Woojin was still standing there blankly with a slightly flushed face.

Worried about Woojin, I took his hand.

Woojin was startled by that.

“Ah, yes… I, I’m listening.”

“Woojin-ssi, are you okay?”

I touched Woojin’s forehead to see if he had a fever.

Then, Woojin was startled again, took a step back, and stumbled. Even his clumsiness is cute.

I was catching Woojin and checking if he was hurt when the researcher cleared his throat and drew attention.

“Ahem, you two over there. I understand that you’re close, but that’s enough. I’m counting on you to do your job well.”

The researcher turned around and strode forward.

I picked up the monster feed bucket for Woojin and me and followed the researcher.

I glanced at Woojin following behind me and, as expected, his face was red again.

*

This time, our job is to test the monster’s aggressiveness.

This monster is a bit different from the ones we saw at first.

The Association is researching ways to tame monsters, and these monsters are the subjects of that research.

These guys are monsters modified with the research institute’s technology, but because they are monsters, the feed distribution was done through machines.

However, the research institute said they would see how far the research has progressed this time and will experiment with ‘what happens when a person feeds the monsters directly.’

For that reason, Woojin and I entered the monster pen with the monster feed buckets.

Just the two of us.

[Everyone, don’t linger near the entrance and go deeper inside.]

The researcher’s voice came from the speaker on the pen wall.

Hearing the researcher’s voice, Woojin walked inside with a firm expression.

And even from inside the pen, he heard the researcher’s voice and reacted.

-Kiggigigigi

It was the sound of the monsters being raised crying.

Looking around, I saw the flickering eyes in the shadows that seemed to be huddled together.

Seeing that, Woojin hardened his expression and became very nervous.

I was about to pat Woojin’s back because he looked pitiful, but the monsters rushed at us.

*

The research institute’s modification was really amazing.

These guys, who would have torn human flesh outside, were now eating the feed that was thrown to them like livestock.

I scooped up a shovelful of artificial ground meat and sprinkled it on the floor, and the monsters gathered around, chirping.

Looking at them so engrossed in the feed, pecking at the floor, they sometimes looked like chickens rather than monsters.

At best, they only come up to my knees in height, and their tails and snouts are long, so the silhouettes are similar. The shape of their feet is also similar, and they even have wings, so if you look at them from a distance, you might confuse them with roosters?

Of course, these guys seem closer to reptiles than birds.

I threw another shovelful of monster feed while lost in thought. If I don’t give it to them, they chirp and make my ears hurt, so it seemed beneficial to give them what they wanted.

Although they chirp noisily, they don’t rush at me asking for feed, probably because they have been trained to some extent.

At least, that’s how it was for me.

“Heeak?! Don’t come! Go away!”

Next to me, I heard Woojin’s pathetic scream.

I wondered what was wrong and turned to the side.

The guys who were just chirping quietly in front of me were jumping at Woojin and causing a ruckus.

The monsters, which were only up to my knees, were jumping up, reaching Woojin’s face height.

Monsters jumping up near his face are definitely threatening. No wonder Woojin is scared.

I approached to help Woojin.

Then, an amazing sight unfolded before my eyes.

The monsters that were jumping, bumping, and causing a ruckus in front of Woojin suddenly became quiet as I approached.

‘What’s this? Why are these guys suddenly looking at me? It’s not like they’re wary.’

I was wary that they might change their target and rush at me all at once, but that didn’t seem to be the case.

They lowered their gazes to the floor and rubbed their heads. Judging by their actions, they obviously had no intention of attacking and seemed to be retreating.

I don’t know why, but if the monsters voluntarily retreat, it’s something to welcome.

I finished distributing all the feed for Woojin’s portion and left the pen.

*

“How was it? What are your impressions of meeting our ‘Mirnarae’?”

“Aren’t they so cute and docile? We also want to interact with them directly, but we haven’t gotten permission yet. You touched them earlier, right? How was it?”

I came to the control room dedicated to the pen, and the researchers gathered and poured out questions. Hey, I haven’t even cleaned up the feed bucket yet.

But the researchers’ interest was not in my convenience.

They were only interested in the monsters they were researching.

However, I have a great interest in my safety, so I wanted to get rid of them quickly.

So, to quickly achieve what they wanted and get rid of them, I asked an important question.

“So, what is ‘Mirnarae’?”

The researchers’ eyes widened like saucers. I think I asked the wrong question.

“You just met them! Our ‘Mirnarae’! Human-friendly monsters that our Korean branch created on its own!”

“It’s especially important that the EGA Association ‘Korean Branch’ created them on its own! We did it ourselves without the support of headquarters or the help or interference of other branches! They’re only here!”

“It’s so much easier not to be interfered with by other branches. It was hard because the Korean branch had to handle everything on its own, but it was worth it!”

The researchers got excited and started talking about this and that. I asked the wrong question again.

Everyone seemed to have great pride in the fact that the EGA Association’s Korean branch had modified the monsters on its own, but I knew why the Korean branch had no choice but to modify them on its own, so I wasn’t impressed.

Contact with other branches was cut off 5 years ago, so how would they receive support or interference?

Regardless of my personal thoughts, the researchers’ chatter continued.

“…So, we thought about it. It’s better to use small monsters to reduce the risk. And make the appearance as familiar to humans as possible. That’s how they were created! Doesn’t that appearance look small but dignified? They look like ‘dragons’ that appear in myths and legends!”

“We even added wings for mobility. If we tame them like the old falcons, they will be a great help to the field teams.”

“That’s right~ ‘Winged Dragons’ that will become the dream and hope of the EGA Association’s Korean branch! That’s why we named them ‘Mirnarae’~ Isn’t it really meaningful?”

“It’s very Korean and cool~”

The researchers cheerfully drummed and played the janggu among themselves and enjoyed themselves.

‘The Mirnarae that you named, saying it’s Korean, is a Galapagos lizard with wings and strong hind legs, but where exactly is it Korean? It looks Western at first glance. They are.’

And how long will it take for the researchers to realize that Woojin and I haven’t said a word?

I’m still holding the monster feed bucket in my hand. I’m glad that I’m holding Woojin’s too. Otherwise, Woojin’s arm would have fallen off a long time ago.

“……”

The researchers’ chatter showed no sign of ending.

I was thinking about when to cut in and stop them when Woojin opened his mouth.

“Excuse me, but can we go now? It’s almost time to pick up my sister.”

Ah, that’s right. I had to go pick up Cha Wooreen. I completely forgot.