Chapter 24: How?

Leon eagerly chomped on the meat, savoring it with relish.

After wandering unfamiliar lands for so long, returning to his native territory made him bound with boundless energy, as if he’d sprouted wings.

Watching Leon, Sang-woong couldn’t help but smile.

He’d already sensed Leon’s free-spirited nature, but seeing him express such joy with his entire body was infectious.

“Not bad, your lively spirit,” Sang-woong thought, quietly looking forward to the days ahead with Leon.

Though he looked every bit like a dog, Leon was undeniably a divine beast.

Since he loved to socialize and play, there was no need to curb his vibrant energy.

As Sang-woong turned to leave, Leon darted forward, blocking his path.

His dark eyes sparkled with mischief.

Despite just devouring a large chunk of meat, Leon wagged his tail and pawed at Sang-woong’s leg, as if shouting with his whole body, Play with me!

“Leon, I’m busy. Go play by yourself,” Sang-woong said, gently patting his head.

But Leon circled him persistently, agile and quick despite his size.

Like a game of tag, he teased Sang-woong, darting around playfully.

“This guy!” Sang-woong exclaimed.

As if waiting for it, Leon nimbly dodged and licked his hand.

The warm, ticklish sensation made Sang-woong burst into laughter.

“Alright, you win!”

Raising his hands in surrender, Sang-woong conceded.

Leon wagged his tail even more excitedly, looking up as if asking, Ready to have fun?

Giving in, Sang-woong paused his tasks to play with Leon.

Leon’s sudden arrival brought new life to the land.

Aria and the Afua children quickly became his biggest fans, following him around, laughing, and chattering.

The problem was Leon’s constant demands to play, regardless of the time.

“Leon! Can’t you see I’m plowing the field? Don’t rub your muddy paws on me!” Sang-woong grumbled, pushing the plow.

But Leon, undeterred, wagged his tail and nuzzled his arm.

Mud from his fur smeared Sang-woong’s arm, as if Leon was whispering, Master, play with me!

Sighing, Sang-woong picked up a short stick and threw it hard.

The stick flew fast, but Leon was faster, snatching it mid-air and trotting back proudly, like a triumphant general.

“Woof!”

With the stick in his mouth, Leon wagged his tail, his sparkling eyes seemingly asking, Aren’t I the best?

Sang-woong marveled at Leon’s skill but shook his head at his relentless playfulness.

He threw the stick a few more times, but Leon kept circling, begging for more.

“I’m busy, go play alone, okay?” Sang-woong said, genuinely exhausted.

Only then did Leon lower his tail slightly.

As time passed, Sang-woong prepared to return to the restaurant.

Leon darted over, his wet eyes questioning, Where are you going?

“I’m going home, so stay here and behave,” Sang-woong said.

As he approached the dungeon gate, Leon stuck close by.

Sang-woong didn’t think much of it, knowing only he could pass through the gate.

Even Aria couldn’t, and tests with the Afua confirmed they couldn’t either.

But as he stepped through, unbelievably, Leon appeared before him.

Stunned, Sang-woong watched as Leon curiously scanned the new environment, his expression brimming with excitement.

“You can’t be here!”

Sang-woong grabbed Leon to drag him back, but Leon resisted with his whole body, refusing to budge.

“This troublesome guy,” Sang-woong muttered, shaking his head.

Instead, he issued a firm warning: “You have to stay quiet here, or I’ll really get mad.”

As soon as he spoke, Leon wagged his tail slightly and placed a paw on Sang-woong’s hand, as if understanding.

Worried Leon might be mistaken for a stray, Sang-woong put a collar on him and tied him up temporarily.

But Leon, like a ghost, slipped free and ran off.

After several failed attempts to restrain him, Sang-woong gave up.

“Don’t let people see you, and don’t go too far,” he instructed.

Leon flashed a wide grin, as if agreeing.

Thus, unexpectedly, Sang-woong began living with Leon on Earth too.

True to his word, Leon avoided people’s notice, romping happily.

But he made an exception for those carrying Sang-woong’s scent, which is why he approached Ji-an so readily.

“Leon, let’s go,” Sang-woong called, opening the restaurant door.

From the darkening forest, Leon’s large silhouette bounded toward him.

His soaked fur suggested he’d been swimming in a nearby stream or pond.

“This guy loves water too much. I should save points to build a proper pond on the land,” Sang-woong thought.

The land had only a small stream, vital for drinking and farming, so he couldn’t let Leon play in it freely.

As Sang-woong entered the restaurant, Leon trotted closely beside him.

Passing through the dungeon gate, Leon, as always, dashed off alone.

“Lucky guy,” Sang-woong muttered to himself.

Leon played energetically with Aria and the Afua children.

“Leon never gets tired, hua!” the kids exclaimed, exhausted.

Leon quickly found something else fun and scampered off.

“Woof, woof!”

He took a deep breath.

The dungeon’s fresh air, forgotten for so long, invigorated him just by breathing.

Then, his sharp nose caught an unusual, savory scent.

Unlike the familiar smells of grass and soil, this enticing aroma tickled his nose.

Sniff, sniff.

Drawn to it, Leon quickened his pace, bounding through dense trees and thick bushes.

The rustle of leaves underfoot, the scent of grass carried by the breeze, and the intensifying savory smell made his heart race.

Finally, beyond the bushes, his sharp eyes spotted something moving quickly.

It was small, agile, and covered in colorful feathers—a horned chicken.

He’d eaten a few when hungry in the past.

Its sharp gaze and nimble movements spoke of a creature toughened by the wild.

Wagging his tail gently, Leon approached cautiously.

The horned chicken, spotting him, squawked loudly, “Kkokkio!” and flapped its wings, darting into the bushes.

In that moment, Leon’s dormant hunting instincts surged awake.

He charged after the chicken with vigor.

The wild horned chicken was surprisingly fast, weaving through bushes to evade him.

But Leon wasn’t just fast—he was clever.

Predicting its movements, he plowed through the undergrowth, using his keen nose to track the faintest traces—its scent on leaves, faint footprints in the dirt.

A thrilling chase unfolded in the forest.

Panting with his tongue out, Leon didn’t stop, driven by the savory scent.

His tenacity was another facet of his intelligence.

Finally, the chicken’s movements slowed.

Seizing the moment, Leon pounced, pinning it down.

The soft feel of its feathers, the faint smell of dust, and the prize in his mouth—he’d caught the elusive horned chicken.

Growling softly, he held it gently, a victorious roar.

But he soon set it down.

Having eaten plenty, he wasn’t hungry.

Yet letting it go felt unsatisfying.

Then, a brilliant idea struck.

Carefully holding the chicken in his mouth, Leon trotted back to Sang-woong.

Sang-woong was selling harvested crops at the shop window, humming cheerfully, pleased with the tidy profit.

A large shadow loomed over him.

Turning, he gaped at the sight.

Covered in dirt, Leon stood before him, delicately holding a large horned chicken.

“Is that… a chicken?”

Sang-woong hurriedly took it from Leon’s mouth.

His appraisal skill activated:

• Horned Chicken. Known for its docile nature and rapid growth. Its meat is delicious, and its eggs are equally tasty. Currently, its growth is stunted due to this world’s foul air. –

“A horned chicken?”

Examining it, he noticed a small protrusion on its forehead, unlike Earth chickens.

Reading the message, Sang-woong smiled with satisfaction.

Eggs were a fundamental and vital ingredient in cooking.

As the saying goes, “The number of pleats in a chef’s hat symbolizes the number of egg dishes they can make.”

Though the chicken looked tired, it had no major injuries.

Breathing the land’s purified air would soon restore its vitality and growth.