BCGWR Chapter 51 Part 2

Seeing the appetizing meat, Toto left his own plate and approached Jung Ha-jin’s. Han Ji-su was surprised and tried to stop him, but Jung Ha-jin first cut a piece of meat, placed it on Toto’s plate, and spoke.

“I intentionally didn’t season it separately so I could eat it with Toto.”

“…Ah… Thank you for looking after him. Uh, um… Toto? You should say thank you~.”

Telling a companion monster to say “thank you” was a reaction that would make anyone laugh.

Han Ji-su, too, felt sorry, grateful, and flustered by Jung Ha-jin’s thorough care, so the words came out spontaneously, but before he could realize something was strange, Toto, with his front paws politely gathered, looked up at Jung Ha-jin and chirped vigorously.

“Squeak!”

“Alright. If you need more after eating, let me know.”

“Squeak!”

“…”

Han Ji-su, watching Toto neatly eat his meat first, only then realized something was strange and inadvertently glanced at Jung Ha-jin.

“…”

“…”

Watching him indifferently slice meat with his usual stoic expression, Han Ji-su wondered if he was the only one who found this conversation strange.

Han Ji-su, who had calmly picked up his spoon and was about to put porridge into his mouth, involuntarily let out a small, stifled laugh, “Keuh…”

Toto, not missing the small sound, perked up his ears and looked at Han Ji-su, but Jung Ha-jin, as if nothing had happened, focused on his meal and added in a low voice.

“Han Ji-su Guide, if you need more, please say so.”

“…Keuh, yes, yes. Thank you. I will definitely let you know if I need more.”

“Yes.”

“Squeak!”

“…Eugh!”

Instead of stopping Han Ji-su from lying down right after eating, Jung Ha-jin brought a blanket and covered him. After additionally advising him to lie on his left side if he was going to lie down immediately after eating, he began to supervise Toto’s exercise.

“Toto. You need to put more strength in your belly.”

“Squeak… Squeak…!”

“If your belly touches the ground, there’s no exercise effect.”

“Squeak…!”

“Maintain that position. Your belly is coming out again. Put strength in your belly. Good. That’s right.”

Han Ji-su, watching Toto strenuously hold a plank with his short legs on the bare living room floor, and Jung Ha-jin lying prone beside him, involuntarily pressed his lips together.

Lying flat, his handsome face almost pressed to the floor, he seriously stroked Toto’s back with his finger and said.

“Straighten your back.”

“Squeak, squeak…!”

“Lower your hips. You need to exert force as if using your shoulders and waist.”

“Squeak!!!”

Given a hamster’s physical structure, its belly was bound to touch the ground eventually, but Jung Ha-jin looked utterly serious.

Han Ji-su gazed blankly at Toto, who was living much more diligently than himself, then gently closed his eyes.

Having eaten plenty of porridge, his stomach was warm, and the blanket covering him was incredibly cozy. Perhaps because an S-rank monster and an SS-rank Esper were right in front of him, there was nothing to fear.

As he surrendered to weariness, the absence of the person who used to scold him not to lie down right after eating, forcibly make him get up, or carry him out for a walk, became particularly palpable.

Han Ji-su, recalling his precious one without any interference, tried to cover his face with the blanket but then sat up.

Toto and Jung Ha-jin, who had been lying on the floor, glanced up, but Han Ji-su didn’t meet their gaze and said with a faint smile.

“I’ll go rest in my room for a bit.”

“Yes.”

“Squeak.”

Han Ji-su casually picked up the blanket and shuffled into his room.