SLC 22

“Do you want the lunchbox?”

“…….”

A panther wouldn’t eat cooked food.

“Then should I order room service?”

A gaze full of contempt turned toward him. Kim Jinkyung remembered that he didn’t eat food given by others when he was outside.

“Then should I go out and buy some beef or something?”

The panther’s tail smacked Kim Jinkyung on the forehead.

What should I do?

After hesitating, Kim Jinkyung opened his mouth.

“…Should I contact Secretary Kang?”

Kim Jinkyung’s voice trembled as he asked that.

Every time they went out, Secretary Kang always warned him to be especially careful so that nothing happened to the ‘young master.’ And his warnings always came with threats.

‘If something happens to the young master, someone will definitely have to take responsibility.’

‘Someone accompanying the young master must absolutely pay attention so that no problem arises with his safety.’

‘If an incident occurs involving the young master, the person who was with him will pay the price for failing to fulfill their duty.’

Every time he said those things, his ominous gaze was always fixed on Kim Jinkyung. If Secretary Kang found out that the ‘young master’ had suddenly turned into a black panther outside, there was no doubt he wouldn’t leave Kim Jinkyung alone. Even if he found out later that Kim Jinkyung had hidden the fact that the ‘young master’ had turned into a black panther, Kim Jinkyung was certain he would be killed.

But even so, the only person Kim Jinkyung could rely on in this situation was Secretary Kang. The black panther growled, showing his irritation.

“But I think I should contact him now.”

Kim Jinkyung steeled himself and started to get up to grab his phone. That was when it happened. The panther growled fiercely and instantly pinned Kim Jinkyung down by stepping on his shoulder. The strength was overwhelming. The panther’s sharp teeth grazed his neck in a threatening way. It had never happened before. Kim Jinkyung froze in shock. He couldn’t even breathe properly from the fear that he might be eaten alive.

The bathrobe slipped and Kim Jinkyung’s shoulder was fully exposed. When the panther saw that, he lifted his front paw off Kim Jinkyung’s body.

Only then did Kim Jinkyung release the breath he had been holding. The panther growled once more in warning, then lay back down on the bed.

…That was scary.

Kim Jinkyung rubbed his aching shoulder and stood up. It was the kind of fear he hadn’t felt in a long time. He had grown used to the situation and had briefly forgotten what kind of being the one in front of him was. He recalled the scene of the man standing over a bloodied body.

Why had he completely forgotten that those claws and teeth could be turned toward him?

Then he suddenly realized something. Kim Jinkyung realized that he was locked in a room alone with a starving beast. He didn’t know when the man would turn back into a human. And the beast was also a picky eater who didn’t even touch unfamiliar food.

…I’m going to get eaten.

Kim Jinkyung slowly slid down from the bed. No matter how much he liked him, he didn’t want to be eaten alive. At that moment, the beast noticed his movement and stretched out a front paw, pressing on Kim Jinkyung’s shoulder.

Kim Jinkyung let out a small yelp and covered his head with both arms.

“…Please don’t.”

His frightened shout confused the beast.

“…Don’t eat me. I really taste bad.”

A look of exhaustion passed through the golden eyes. The black panther’s long tail once again slapped Kim Jinkyung’s cheek, then the panther returned to his spot.

Kim Jinkyung rubbed his cheek and looked up at the black panther. He was lying still with his eyes closed.

“Aren’t you going to eat?”

A low growl rumbled from around the panther’s snout.

Thank goodness. It didn’t look like he was going to be eaten today.

The glossy black fur rose and fell in rhythm. Kim Jinkyung waited for the beast to open his eyes, but even after a long time, he didn’t move.

“Are you sleeping?”

In response to Kim Jinkyung’s question, the tail gently smacked the bed sheet as if annoyed. He couldn’t just sit here and wait for him to turn back.

Kim Jinkyung said “Just a moment,” then brought a towel and gently wiped down the panther’s body. There still wasn’t even a trace of moisture.

After thinking for a bit, Kim Jinkyung called the front desk and requested a dehumidifier. He repeatedly asked them to leave it in front of the door after ringing the bell.

Not long after, a hotel employee brought the dehumidifier. Kim Jinkyung set it up next to the bed and turned it on.

He thought that since he changed when it rained, it might be an issue with the humidity in the air.

“Is it okay if I dry you with a hair dryer?”

The tail tapped the floor once.

Kim Jinkyung brought the hair dryer and diligently dried the panther’s fur while waiting for water to collect in the dehumidifier. Even after doing that for a long time, the panther didn’t return to his original form. Kim Jinkyung turned off the dryer and carefully sat down beside him. The situation was different from usual, and he started to worry.

“Um. Are you okay?”

The panther opened one eye, then closed it again.

“Are you sick somewhere?”

The panther’s tail hit the floor once. It meant he was fine. But Kim Jinkyung still couldn’t let go of his worry.

“…What should I do for you?”

He was scared, however he had no choice but to ask. He was the only one who could help the man who had suddenly turned into a panther here.

A large front paw gently tapped Kim Jinkyung’s lips.

Be quiet.

Kim Jinkyung nodded silently. Only the beast’s low breathing and the sound of the dehumidifier filled the room. Kim Jinkyung prayed that the dehumidifier would suck up all the moisture in the room and that this nightmare with no clear cause would end.

‎

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Huh. Did I fall asleep?

His consciousness surfaced from sleep. As he blinked, unsure where he was, a thought flashed through his mind.

“…….”

Kim Jinkyung suddenly sat up. It was the hotel.

When did I fall asleep?

He clearly remembered checking that the dehumidifier was about one quarter full, then closing his eyes for just a moment.

He checked beside the bed. The beast was gone.

Where did he go?

As Kim Jinkyung looked around, he heard a loud crashing sound. He immediately got up and headed toward the noise.

He ran to the source of the noise. Mok Seongha was lying in the bathroom, and Kim Jinkyung had no idea when he had switched.

“Are you okay?”

Mok Seongha, who was leaning against the bathtub, lifted his head. Kim Jinkyung panicked and hurried over to him.

“What happened?”

“…Hot.”

“What?”

“I was going to go buy medicine, but it was too hot….”

Cold water was pouring from the showerhead, he probably had tried to take a shower. Worried that water might splash onto his barely stabilized body, Kim Jinkyung quickly turned off the shower. Then he took a towel and wiped the water off the man’s body.

“Hot….”

The man muttered in a voice that sounded like he was dreaming. Kim Jinkyung placed his hand on his forehead. He was burning.

“I think you have a fever.”

“…….”

At Kim Jinkyung’s words, Mok Seongha lifted his head and looked at him in the eye. His gaze was hazy, a little different from usual, and Kim Jinkyung felt even more worried.

“Can you stand up?”

Mok Seongha nodded. But as soon as he tried to push himself up while holding the bathtub, his body swayed and lost balance. Kim Jinkyung quickly supported him.

“I’ll help you.”

Kim Jinkyung put the man’s arm over his own shoulder. When Seongha leaned his weight onto him, the heaviness was far more than expected. It felt like a massive lump of metal pressing down on his shoulder.

How can he be this heavy?

Kim Jinkyung bit his lip and moved forward while supporting him. After only a few steps, Mok Seongha staggered. Kim Jinkyung wrapped both arms around his body, but he didn’t have the strength to hold up the man’s weight.

“……!”

He fell to the floor with Mok Seongha. A huge shock ran through his back.

“Ugh….”

The intense pain left him unable to move for a while. When he finally managed to come to his senses and lift his head, he saw the man sprawled on top of him.

“Are you okay, Seongha-ssi?”

He called out loudly, but Seongha didn’t move. Kim Jinkyung shook his shoulder once more.

“Seongha-ssi. Seongha-ssi….”

A low growl escaped from the man’s mouth. Kim Jinkyung realized that it was the same sound he made when he was in his panther form. The teeth visible between Mok Seongha’s slightly twisted lips were extremely sharp.

Mok Seongha slowly pushed his body up.

“…….”

Their eyes met. It was different from usual. Something felt wrong, and unnatural.

Kim Jinkyung flinched. Those were a beast’s eyes. Narrowed black pupils were fixed on him.

Why…

Faced with the sudden abnormality, Kim Jinkyung froze for a moment, then noticed that the man’s complexion looked seriously wrong.

“Does it hurt a lot?”

“…Hot….”

The man repeatedly mumbled the same word.

“It’s because of the fever. Let’s go to the bed and lie down first….”

“Hot… my body….”

His hot breath brushed against Kim Jinkyung’s neck as the man muttered with his head lowered. A shiver ran down his spine. Kim Jinkyung tried to lift Mok Seongha again, but he didn’t budge. No, it felt more like he was deliberately resisting and refusing to get up. Kim Jinkyung gave up on moving him.

“I’ll call a doctor.”

It seemed his consciousness was clouded from the high fever. Kim Jinkyung laid him on his side and tried to go get his phone. But Mok Seongha grabbed Kim Jinkyung’s arm and pulled him back.

“…Don’t.”

He muttered. His sharp teeth and eyes were still the same.

Kim Jinkyung understood what it meant. If they went to a hospital in this state, something terrible would definitely happen. Kim Jinkyung nodded.

“Then I’ll contact Secretary Kang. Please wait just a moment.”

“I said don’t!”

The man suddenly roared. It sounded like a howl that tore through the air. Kim Jinkyung froze on the spot. Mok Seongha tightened his grip on Kim Jinkyung’s arm and muttered,

“Don’t call. Anyone….”

“Okay. I won’t call.”

Calming him down was the priority. Mok Seongha was completely like an over sensitive beast.

“It’s hot, my body… it feels like it’s burning.”

He muttered and rubbed his body against Kim Jinkyung’s. He radiated heat wherever they touched, as if to demonstrate how hot he was. Then Kim Jinkyung felt something firm pressing against him below, and he swallowed dryly.

“I… I’m hot….”

Mok Seongha pressed his body against Kim Jinkyung while clinging to him. The latter came to understand that this heat was more than just a temperature.

“Seongha-ssi. Wait a second. Right now…”

Kim Jinkyung panicked and tried to push him away.

“…My body feels strange.”

I know it’s strange. I know better than anyone right now, so please.

Kim Jinkyung’s face went pale at the sensation of solid flesh rubbing insistently against his thigh.

“I… I’m too hot….”

It wasn’t just a fever. There was another reason his blood felt hot.

“Then I’ll go get medicine. You take it and then….”

He had to flee when the medication was administered. He would reach a point of no return if he didn’t. In that river, he would most likely drown.

“…Help me.”