(EP-145.2) #5

145 – Pincer #5

It was a squirrel.

“Hey, there’s a bunch of dog squirrels over there.”

Elga pointed to a glass panel with about three or four dog squirrels inside. Looking at them, I was reminded of my own pet squirrel, Keongkeong, whom I raised in my room, and it made me feel quite happy.

“All but one are female.”

“How could you tell?”

“Females have fewer injuries on their bodies compared to the males. See, that one over there, that’s the only male.”

Indeed, upon closer inspection, one of the squirrels had various injuries, while the female squirrels had glossy fur.

“Why is there such a difference?”

“Squirrel populations have fewer males, so the females fight amongst themselves to claim them.”

I see, so there was something like that?

In fact, the females ran towards the male squirrel inside the cage, biting its tail and attacking it from all directions.

━Keureureung…!

The male squirrel resisted here and there, but being smaller in size and fewer in number compared to the females, it eventually gave in and ran into a corner.

It looked very pitiful with its fur falling out and started trembling in fear.

A man living in captivity with various women…

Having a lot of mates might sound good, but such a life was nothing but continuous suffering.

Which made me realize that squirrel and I were not much different from each other.

If I couldn’t hold the leash of Mirna, Elga, Stella and Aira properly, I might get ripped apart just like that.

“Hey, there’s a group of Michuri over there! Wow, there are so many!”

I was pulled out of my thoughts by Elga’s back smack.

* * *

Time passed, and it was lunchtime.

Elga and I had an enjoyable time at the zoo.

Contrary to my expectation that I would lead Elga, she chose where she wanted to go instead, and I just followed along.

“Shall we sit over there and rest?”

Elga suggested taking the shade and rest. Walking around in glass shoes all day long must have been hard.

I spreaded out a mat I brought with my bag and laid it under the tree. Then, I took out a thermos and a teacup, before pouring some tea into Elga’s cup.

As she settled down, Elga also fumbled with her bag and spoke quietly.

“So, we’ve been walking around, aren’t you hungry?”

“Hungry?”

Seureuk.

Elga took something out of her bag. It was a small box, with black paint on its wooden surface and adorned with silver lining.

It looked like a jewelry box, but inside were not jewels, but sandwiches made with bread, cheese and ham.

“Did Elga-nim make this herself?”

Elga actually cooked?

I was surprised even after asking the question.

Elga didn’t respond and maintained silence, simply urging me to eat it quickly.

The taste was ordinary, as expected. It was hard to make a sandwich taste bad.

But although it had an ordinary taste, it still held significance as it was Elga’s first attempt at cooking.

Perhaps she wanted to try it after seeing Mirna pack me lunch.

“It’s delicious. It tastes like—.”

As I was about to compliment the taste, Elga abruptly interjected.

“Okay, let’s head downtown after you’re done eating. You said you need to buy some books, right?”

It seemed that she didn’t want to hear an evaluation.

After finishing our leisurely meal, Elga and I headed to the city center, where numerous bookstores were gathered.

“Hey, look at this. ‘Alien Scammer In Another World.’ Why would they title a book like this?”

“If it gets scratched, you have to buy it, please put it back in.”

It was already evening after buying books and other necessary items. Unable to stay out overnight, I boarded a carriage back to Ark with Elga.

“It’s been a long time since I played like this. It was more fun than I thought.”

Elga seemed to be in a good mood, enjoying this rare break.

I had secretly hoped that expressing my affection to Elga today would go well, but I felt hesitant to ask her directly about it.

Then, Elga made a suggestion.

“Would you like a cup of tea before we part? Maybe then, we can talk about Mirna.”

Elga was sharp, as always…

So, we headed to the cafe in Ark.

We ordered two drinks and sat at a table. But instead of talking, Elga just watched as the large clock near our table ticked.

“It should be about time. Ah, there she is. Hey, over here.”

“No way-.”

Just as I noticed something and was about to open my mouth.

“Lady Lioness, what’s this about having something to say to me? Why did you arbitrarily make an appointment at 7 o’clock on a busy Saturday…!”

I heard a familiar voice coming from behind. Turning my head, I could see Mirna walking over from the entrance.

“I’m not as free as you, and loiter al—.”

Mirna stopped midway through and her eyes widened, her mouth formed an egg shape.

“Theo Gospel, why are you here?”

“Mirna-nim, that’s….”

Only then did I understand the situation.

Something…

Something was about to go down…