Chapter 16: Visiting Neighbors with Family

Weasel.

Incredibly cute, with white fur in winter that blends perfectly with Canada’s snow, it’s an animal the country takes pride in.

But despite its adorable appearance, the weasel is a pest.

It sneaks into livestock pens, hunting chicks, rabbits, and even piglets in extreme cases.

Not only that, but it has a habit of storing food, so it kills all the livestock in a pen and then leisurely disappears.

Because of this, people often hunt weasels for their fur.

-Weee?

“What are you?”

-Weeee?

“I said, what are you!”

Weeeng!

There was no way they could understand each other.

Weasels are usually wary and flee from humans, but this one didn’t run, perhaps sensing Jiyu was harmless.

It even came right up to the porch.

-Weeeng…

After staring at Jiyu for a while, the weasel burrowed into the snow and vanished instantly.

“Wow…”

Jiyu stared blankly at the spot where it disappeared.

The lingering awe from seeing such a cute creature for the first time didn’t fade.

“What’re you doing, Jiyu?”

Yongsu’s voice came from behind her.

“Uncle! I just saw a super cute animal!”

Huh? Cute animal?

“Yeah! It was this big! Really long!”

Jiyu pointed to her wrist.

It was a thin, small wrist, so it didn’t give a clear sense of size.

That size… probably a weasel.

Since she said it was long, it was likely a weasel.

While other animals hibernate in winter, weasels often stay active.

A weasel… that’s dangerous.

Usually, weasels avoid humans, but when cornered, they can attack.

They’re ferocious creatures, so it’s best to steer clear.

“Uncle! Smells yummy!”

Oh, breakfast is almost ready. Jiyu, why don’t you wake your sisters…

“Wake them up?”

No, no, I’ll do it.

I quickly changed my words, remembering how Jiyu tried to wake her sisters yesterday.

And so, the morning began.

***

Marcello Leone was born on the docks of Naples as a child.

Now known for its abundant seafood, delicious food, and scenic beauty as a tourist destination, it wasn’t like that in the past.

Back then, the streets were filled with crime, filth, and exhausted workers.

I did whatever it took to survive.

Marcello was an orphan and did anything to get by.

His greatest regret was joining the mafia.

Regret…

But even if he could go back to that day, Marcello would likely join again.

It was the only way he could’ve survived back then.

Still, his life wouldn’t have spiraled into such tragedy.

Back then, I thought that’s how I had to live.

During his mafia days, he extorted money, trafficked weapons, and sold drugs.

With no family or money, he thought it was the only way to survive as himself.

But a long tail gets caught eventually.

Marcello was arrested and sent to prison.

That’s when I realized… I was living wrong.

Prison was full of criminals.

Most planned to live the same life after release, but some, like Marcello, regretted their actions.

No, originally, Marcello planned to keep committing crimes after getting out.

But in prison, he saw clearly the lives he’d ruined with his actions.

The organization collapsed, so I thought I could live a new life.

Yes, he believed that.

He thought everything would turn out fine.

Marcello became the chef he’d dreamed of since childhood and later married a restaurant coworker.

He thought happiness would follow him forever, but tragedy was lurking in the shadows.

Sin… it comes back.

The dark world he’d stepped into kept holding onto him.

The organization, which he thought had collapsed, suddenly came for him, smashing up his restaurant.

His wife, feeling betrayed, left with their beloved son, leaving Marcello alone again.

If the tragedy had ended there… it would’ve been better.

Happiness has an end, but tragedy doesn’t.

Left alone, Marcello tried to pick himself up.

But then came news like a bolt from the blue—his wife and son had died.

Marcello could never forget that shock.

No, he couldn’t forget.

The news that his own organization members had killed his wife and son.

Thinking they were out of his life and fine, he realized how foolish he’d been, regretting endlessly in front of their bodies.

He felt the truth that sin comes back.

“Hoo…”

Having dreamed a bad dream from the morning, Marcello quietly sipped his coffee.

Thirty years had passed since that day.

Yet the nightmare lingered in his mind, never fading.

Thirty years.

Marcello had done much to atone for his past.

But he never felt absolved.

The more he lived, the more his regrets consumed him, trapping him in one place.

He’d immigrated to Canada to escape, but he was still struggling to break free from those memories.

“Hoo…”

After finishing his coffee, he looked out the window.

The yard was covered in snow from last night’s fall.

Seeing the pristine, untouched snow calmed his troubled heart a little.

As he gazed outside, he noticed someone approaching his house.

That guy…

Yongsu Kwon.

A guy who usually stayed holed up at home, drinking.

But behind him, waddling like penguins, were three figures.

Seeing the kids, a smile spread across Marcello’s face.

“Kids…”

In a small village, rumors spread fast.

Especially since Ryan spread the word, everyone knew.

“Hope they enjoyed the food… heh.”

Marcello smiled as he watched the kids approach his house.

***

After a light breakfast of toast and omelets, I took the kids out to explore the village.

Our first stop was Marcello’s house.

It was close by, and I wanted to thank him for the food yesterday.

“Jiyu really saw it! It was this big!”

Jiyu hadn’t stopped talking about the weasel since breakfast.

It was her wrist earlier, but now it was up to her shoulder.

At that size, it might as well be a snake.

“Uncle, did you see it? The animal Jiyu saw?”

No, I didn’t, but it’s probably a weasel.

Jiyu seemed fascinated by the new animal.

It was cute on the outside.

A weasel…

Hye-yeon seemed surprisingly calm about it.

“I saw them sometimes in Korea too, so I guess they’re here as well?”

Yeah, makes sense.

The area their mom lived in was somewhat rural, so they’d seen small wild animals like weasels before.

A huge animal like a moose was new, but weasels weren’t unfamiliar.

Oh, we’re here.

While talking, we arrived at Marcello’s house.

Whoosh.

I was about to ring the doorbell when Marcello suddenly opened the door.

“You came?”

You knew we were coming?

“Saw you through the window. Come in quick, the kids must be cold.”

Even though they were bundled up, they looked cold to him.

The kids hurriedly bowed to Marcello.

“H-Hello! My name is Hye-yeon! Nice to meet you!”

“My name is Yuri!”

“I’m Jiyu! Hello!”

Bow!

Marcello’s face lit up with a big smile at their greeting.

“Oh mio Dio… It’s cold. Come inside quick.”

English, please?

When Marcello was in a great mood, Italian slipped out.

I didn’t understand, but it was clear he wanted us to come in.

-Woof woof!

As we entered, huge dogs came bounding out.

The kids’ eyes widened at the sight of the massive dogs with snow-white fur.

“D-Dogs?”

“Wow, they’re huge!”

“Puppies!”

But the surprise wasn’t over.

Along with the two big dogs, a bunch of puppies came tumbling out to greet the kids.

-Whine whine!

-Woof woof woof!

-Yip…

As the dogs surrounded them, the kids stomped their feet, unsure what to do.

“Sedersi!”

Just as the big dogs seemed about to pounce, Marcello muttered something in Italian.

-Woof!

The adult dogs immediately sat down.

But the puppies kept wagging their tails, sticking close to the kids.

“Wow! So cute!”

Jiyu petted a puppy’s fur.

Hye-yeon and Yuri cautiously followed suit.

Samoyeds, right? When did they have puppies?

“About three months ago. Take one if you want.”

Pass. Raising dogs is tough.

I hadn’t visited Marcello’s place much, so I didn’t know about the puppies.

The first time I saw them, they were huge, fluffy dogs, and now they were full-grown with pups of their own.

“Uncle! Uncle! They’re so cute!”

Yuri hugged a puppy and looked at me.

Her eyes reminded me of Jiyu begging for chocolate yesterday.

No way.

“Huh? I didn’t say anything!”

You want to take one home, don’t you? Absolutely not.

Their long, thick fur was obvious.

Cleaning up after them at home would be a nightmare.

“Come on, take one. They’re three months old, ready to leave their parents.”

No thanks. Dogs are a lot of work.

I looked at the kids.

Their eyes sparkled as they hugged the puppies, but I firmly shook my head.

Taking responsibility for a living creature is no small task.

Come here to see them whenever you want. But no taking them home.

Toys are one thing, but I couldn’t allow a living animal.

The kids looked disappointed but kept petting the puppies.

“Come on, take one. They’re great for security.”

No way… security?

His words made me think of the weasel Jiyu mentioned this morning.