A street lined with detached houses. The neighborhood was spotless—not a single piece of trash in sight, the stone walls ticulously constructed, even the street trees spaced out in a perfectly orderly manner. But what caught Hwan-young’s attention the most were the two identical gates.
The wrought iron fras, the elaborate carvings on the wooden panels, even the placent of the handles—everything was an exact match, down to the milliter.
Staring at them in bewildernt, Hwan-young glanced left, then right. Then, just as he was narrowing his eyes at the seamless wall connecting the two properties, a familiar voice broke the silence.
"They’re separate houses."
It was Mu-ryeong. He casually pointed at the two hos while fishing out a key from his bag—once to the left, then to the right.
"That one’s Seung-joo’s house, and this one’s mine."
"You should co too."
That was what Mu-ryeong had said earlier, before Hwan-young even had ti to think. And before he could answer, Seung-joo had let out a scoffing laugh, muttering—
"I am coming, actually."
"Wow, didn’t see that one coming."
Seung-joo had given Mu-ryeong a look of exasperation, but as always, Mu-ryeong didn’t seem to care. He had simply smiled that easygoing smile and continued coaxing Hwan-young along.
"Co on, I’ll grill the at perfectly for you."
"As if you’re the one cooking it."
"Then let’s play with Seolgi after we eat."
"White Seolgi would love that."
"If it gets too late, you can just sleep over."
"Wouldn’t Hwan-young have a problem with that?"
Despite Seung-joo’s constant interruptions, Mu-ryeong remained unshaken. His bright eyes stayed fixed on Hwan-young, patiently waiting for an answer. Then, at one point, he crinkled his nose and said—
"You still have to tell
what you’re going to do once the monsoon season is over."
"..."
There was no excuse to refuse. No, he couldn’t refuse.
Once the rainy season ended, he had to see this through—to accomplish the reason he had approached Mu-ryeong in the first place.
"People always find the gates weird."
And now, here they were, standing in front of Mu-ryeong’s house. They had left imdiately after school, and Hwan-young had every intention of leaving right after dinner.
Of course, life rarely went according to plan.
"...Do people really build identical gates?"
Still staring at the two entrances, Hwan-young furrowed his brows. The gate was the first impression of a house—it was what set one ho apart from another. So why, of all places, were these two the only ones in the entire neighborhood that looked exactly the sa?
"Normally, they don’t."
Seung-joo, answering without much interest, visibly shuddered as if the thought disgusted him.
"It’s the adults’ doing. They’re all way too obsessive. Hey, Kim Mu-ryeong, why aren’t you unlocking the door yet?"
Hwan-young’s eyes narrowed. He suddenly recalled sothing Seung-joo had ntioned in passing.
"Their family’s been watching over mine for generations."
Certain thoughts connected in his mind. Like how bodyguards sotis dressed identically to the person they were protecting. Or how decoy cars were used to throw off pursuers.
"You’re not dropping your bag off?"
"Too much effort."
"It’s right next door."
"That’s what makes it different."
Mu-ryeong didn’t press further. He simply turned the key, and with a solid clunk, the heavy gate swung open.
"Co in. Watch your step."
Seung-joo walked in first, moving like he owned the place. Hwan-young, on the other hand, hesitated before following.
It was just a step over the threshold, and yet, an odd sense of tension crept over him.
"...."
Creaaak.
The gate shut behind them. And the mont it did, Hwan-young felt a complete separation between inside and outside. It wasn’t just because of the traditional hanok architecture—it was the sheer force of energy pressing down on him, wrapping around him from all sides.
"Seolgi isn’t out?"
"No, because of the parasites lately...."
It was nothing like Mu-ryeong’s presence. The spiritual energy that lingered beyond the gate was overwhelming, enough to crush anything that tried to cross it.
Like an invisible barrier—a silent warning that anything unwelco would be obliterated the mont it stepped inside.
"...."
Hwan-young took a shallow breath, focusing on his own heartbeat. Soone had once told him that this was a way to stay calm.
The energy wasn’t hostile, but the sheer scale of it made his instincts scream.
It was more than tension—it was the difference in power. His spine straightened, his nerves sharpened, and at ?? Nоvеl??g??t ?? (Official version) the sa ti, his mind felt startlingly clear.
Almost like a stimulant had kicked in, making every cell in his body co alive.
"This house... is really sothing."
The words slipped out before he could stop them, barely louder than a whisper. Yet, Mu-ryeong heard them perfectly and grinned.
"People say that a lot."
Hwan-young didn’t bother explaining that he hadn’t been referring to the appearance. He simply nodded, shifting his gaze toward the expansive yard.
The house truly was enormous.
The backyard stretched far beyond what he had expected. A stone pathway, neatly arranged like stepping stones, led deeper inside. There were no flowerbeds or ponds—just a quiet, tranquil space that felt untouched by the world outside.
To the right was a hanok-style main house, its dark wooden beams standing tall. To the left was a separate building, completely independent from the rest.
With a house like this, why had Mu-ryeong been so fascinated by his old, run-down ho?
What was there to love about a place that was falling apart?
"Seolgi might jump on you, but don’t be scared. He doesn’t bite."
Mu-ryeong led them into the L-shaped main house on the right. Despite its traditional exterior, the front door had a modern passcode lock. Now that Hwan-young was paying attention, other details stood out—frosted glass windows, sleek finishes—small but unmistakable traces of modern design woven into the hanok’s structure.
"Uh... I should’ve asked earlier, but you’re not allergic to dog fur or anything, right?"
Just before unlocking the door, Mu-ryeong glanced back at him. From inside, a faint woong! sounded, followed by a series of whines.
"So people don’t know they’re allergic until they actually touch a dog. If you start itching or feel short of breath, let
know."
He spoke so casually, but he was already prepared to grab dicine if needed. Slowly, he opened the door. The whines instantly grew louder.
Through the gap, Hwan-young caught sight of the fluffy dog he had seen on Mu-ryeong’s phone.
"Damn, that tail could launch her into orbit."
That was the first thing Seung-joo said upon seeing the dog. And he wasn’t wrong—Seolgi’s tail was wagging so furiously it looked like she might take off.
The only thing keeping her from bolting out the door was the security gate just past the entrance.
"Seolgi, sit."
The mont Mu-ryeong spoke, Seolgi dropped to the ground. Her tail, however, was still spinning wildly like a propeller. She gazed up at Mu-ryeong with large, glossy eyes, her expression full of eager devotion.
"...."
She was adorable. But more than that, she looked just like Mu-ryeong.
Especially those eyes—so unwavering, so direct.
"Hang on, Seolgi, let
wash my hands first."
"Is your aunt not ho?"
"She’s in the annex, but let’s not bother her. We can say hi later."
Mu-ryeong unlocked the security gate and stepped inside, motioning for Seung-joo and Hwan-young to follow. The mont the barrier was gone, Seolgi slowly got up and approached Hwan-young, sniffing the air.
It wasn’t aggressive—just curiosity. But Hwan-young instinctively took a step back.
"...."
"...."
Their eyes t.
Not Seolgi’s, but Mu-ryeong’s.
For a brief mont, Mu-ryeong simply observed him. Then, as if to reassure him, he softened his expression.
"It’s okay to pet her."
His voice was gentle. Like he already knew what Hwan-young was worried about. He even added a playful condition, crinkling his nose.
"Just wash your hands first."
"Hey, I’m using the bathroom."
Seung-joo, clearly uninterested in their mont, disappeared into the house. Seolgi, after hesitating for a second, perked up and trotted after him.
Watching her swishing tail as she followed, Hwan-young thought to himself—
If Mu-ryeong says it’s okay... maybe it really is.
Inside, Mu-ryeong’s house was completely modern. The sleek bathroom was spotless, the living room had both an air conditioner and a massive air dresser. After washing his hands and changing into more comfortable clothes, Mu-ryeong dumped their bags onto the couch and plopped down in the middle of the living room floor.
"Seolgi, co here."
With an enthusiastic woong!, Seolgi sprinted over. She was nearly the size of Mu-ryeong’s torso, yet she jumped into his arms as if she were still a tiny puppy. Mu-ryeong hugged her tightly, rubbing his face into her fur.
"What did you do today, Seolgi? Did you play with your ball?"
His tone was the sa one he used when speaking to goblins—but even softer. Almost like a kindergarten teacher speaking to a toddler.
After thoroughly ruffling her fur, Mu-ryeong lifted Seolgi and turned her toward Hwan-young and Seung-joo.
"Okay, let’s say hi to my friends."
Seolgi’s face, still beaming with excitent, was slightly more golden than her na suggested. But her belly was a soft, pale pink.
"Geez, look at that belly."
Seung-joo, clearly accustod to this, imdiately reached out and began rubbing Seolgi’s stomach. She curled up happily, trying to lick his hands, but Mu-ryeong held her back, keeping her from reaching.
Hwan-young, who had been silently watching, finally asked—
"Is she female?"
"She was female."
Mu-ryeong shrugged, finally letting go of Seolgi’s front paws. The mont she was free, she lunged at Seung-joo’s face. Seung-joo, neck stiffened in protest, tried to evade her, but with her paws braced against his shoulders, there was no escape.
"Ah, Seolgi, stop!"
Hwan-young watched the scene unfold with mild fascination. He had never been this close to a living animal before.
The way she moved, so playful and uninhibited—it was strangely foreign.
"Seolgi loves being petted."
How often did people get the chance to touch a living creature? For most people, probably all the ti.
But for Hwan-young?
Not even once.
So even as he hesitated, unsure, Seolgi turned to him, her tail wagging lazily.
"...."
Animals had sharper instincts than humans. Since Hwan-young had rejected her earlier, Seolgi didn’t imdiately rush at him. Instead, she just watched him, wagging her tail at a slower, gentler pace.
And then, cautiously, Hwan-young reached out toward her back.
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