Reminisced League of Nine, part 8 (after battle)
……
Young-ji hasn't shown up for this conference as well.
I heard he's been officially invited by a Wing. This is probably the second time.
You don't happen to know which Wing it was, do you?
No one seems to know.
Why are you displeased about it? You're the one who turned down Brother Young-ji's offer to go with him, Dongbaek.
……
There's no need to be so fixated on the number nine. What if there are eight or five of us?
Say, Dongrang... How long are you gonna stick to your vet routine?
I made precious time in my packed schedule to check out what Young-ji's group was like... and all I see are children's playthings.
Oh, it's been a while, Nul-in. It's a pleasure to see a fellow from my hometown here.
You arrived here later than we did, but it looks like you adapted much faster.
But I must say... It's a bit disheartening to hear you call them children's playthings.
You won't be saying that once you learn that animals feel pain exactly like we do.
Well, I'll take my words back if those animals start repaying the kindness by bringing money or something~
Nul-in, do you take this for a gaudy auction where technology is sold for cash?
You didn't even care to cast a glance at us mere months ago, calling illuminators' conferences out of fashion... Have you come now to rake off a piece of the profit you're smelling?
Dongbaek...
Don't mistake it for covering for you. I just don't want to see her face, that's all.
By the way... What made you so passionate about curing animals? They can't pay the bills or anything. How are you gonna make a living?
You like to nag a lot. Well, I suppose I could run a chicken restaurant?
What?
Hear me out for a second. I could make chickens grow tons of wings... and cut them off without inflicting any pain.
They only need a single pair to fly. That way, humans get more meat to eat, while chickens lose nothing for it.
Pshaw...
What name do you plan to give to the chicken?
Let's see, how about Plumpy Chicken?
Dongrang, never try naming things again. Got it?
I may have heard a faint sound at that moment.
It was the sound of a crack.
Knowing well what consequences a minuscule crack could bright about, I chose to look past it...
Perhaps I wanted to pretend that I did not hear it...
Alas, I was careless in my assumption that I could simply observe slantwise as it comes to pass until it has seeped...
Realization comes too late.
You know, Dongbaek?
Your words weren't particularly reassuring, either.
It was actually what Nul-in said that gave me an important lesson.
That no matter how hard I try, if technology doesn't have an immediate use... no one will give it a passing glance...