Minjun’s ability, Sharing.
“What does it do?”
“It’s this and that. It lets party members share things among themselves.”
That explanation was way too vague.
After pestering him persistently enough to get on his nerves, I finally received a proper explanation following a few disdainful looks.
First, it allows the party to collectively share the sum of their total defense.
It was definitely overpowered for a growth-type ability—the maximum number of party members it applied to had increased from 4 to 6.
Second, it enables damage sharing.
If you designate one party member, a faint line connects to them, and the damage they receive gets distributed and mitigated among the linked members.
It was a skill specialized for tankers.
Usually, by linking it to a melee damage dealer, it creates an environment where that player can go wild, greatly strengthening the party’s overall combat power.
“That’s a very Hunter-like and useful ability…”
“…What about you, hyung?”
Minjun cautiously asked, sensing my mood.
It was probably because of the resistance I showed three years ago.
“I have ‘Sympathy.’ As the name suggests, it lets me empathize with other living beings.”
“I see. Well, let’s just eat now. I’m hungry.”
He seemed like he was about to ask something else but then shook his head, and I felt a sudden pang of guilt.
He was clearly trying to be considerate so I wouldn’t be troubled by past events.
“You’re curious about the effect, aren’t you? It’s an ability that gains favor from all living things. The closer you get, the easier communication becomes.”
“I said I’m hungry.”
He pretended not to be curious, but being twins, I could see the curiosity sparkling in his eyes.
Such an obvious guy.
“Oh, by the way, I have a friend I want to introduce to you. His name’s Goldie.”
“Goldie? You’ve even made friends here?”
I wasn’t sure if he was free of prejudice or just naive.
Surprisingly, upon hearing the name ‘Goldie,’ he immediately thought it was a person.
“Let’s eat first. I’ll introduce him after. Help me set the table.”
“I’m a guest, you know?”
“There are no guests between us. If you don’t want to eat today, then don’t help.”
Minjun grumbled, “Tch, can’t be helped,” but skillfully gathered the bowls and chopsticks in the kitchen and set the table.
“Not there. Outside. There’s some barbecue equipment in the Feed Storage. Bring it out.”
Not long after moving to the countryside, I had indulged in barbecues a few times for nutrition management.
I regretted it after my savings dwindled, but now that I could barbecue Korean beef, those regrets disappeared completely.
Minjun pulled the brazier out of the Feed Storage.
I put a little cooking oil and some tissue paper into a prepared paper cup, placing it at the center inside the brazier.
I stacked leftover firewood from when I built the Poultry House around the cup and lit the tissue with a torch.
“…Don’t worry. I even barbecue alone sometimes.”
“Uh, no, it’s not that I’m living the good life—I just prepared it to grill meat when you came. I’ll grill it perfectly.”
Flame roared!
The fire shot up instantly, burning the firewood black.
“The fire’s good enough. If you cut a little fat and rub it on the grill, the meat won’t stick.”
Beef doesn’t need to be cooked thoroughly.
I grabbed a piece of lightly seared meat, still faintly crimson, with tongs and offered it to Minjun.
“Here, try it. It’s perfectly cooked.”
“What?”
“Come on, eat it.”
Minjun’s expression stiffened instantly.
Time to stop joking.
Though he was the type to tease easily, pushing it further here would definitely make him angry.
Knowing his limits was key.
He snatched the meat, chewed, and his face softened.
“You grill meat well.”
“Right?”
As we ate the meat, a slight emptiness crept in.
Was the beef too greasy?
“Wait a moment. I’ve got some amazing liquor I brewed.”
Wild Ginseng wine leftover from when I gave some to Kim.
“Ta-da~ Wild Ginseng wine! Have a glass~”
A while later.
The twins, looking exactly alike, happily caught up over beef after three years.
Since there was no one else around.
(Owner.)
“Huh…?”
I was too tipsy to notice, but the space wasn’t empty after all.
Outside the house, I had completely forgotten that Goldie and the other chickens were there.
(Owner, is it over now?)
“Hmm? Goldie? You’re not asleep?”
(Owner two are so loud no one could sleep. So I came to check.)
“Oh! Sorry, sorry! Dad’s just in a good mood~ Minjun, check out reliable Goldie. Isn’t he cool!”
I should have stopped at the Wild Ginseng wine, but after adding canned beer, I was totally out of it.
Even Minjun was starting to misunderstand me.
“He’s completely lost it now. Talking to chickens…”
“What do you mean? I’m telling you, I understand them! How can I prove it?”
“Let’s visit a big hospital in Seoul tomorrow.”
“I’m telling you it’s not true. Phew… you don’t believe me. Right, Goldie? We talk, don’t we?”
(Owner is right. Anyway, we’ll go to sleep now. Please keep quiet so we can rest.)
Goldie nodded in agreement and waddled off coolly.
Even his rear view was adorable.
“You’re just clucking and not talking, though. Get a grip.”
“I’ll show you tomorrow. You won’t have a choice but to believe me.”
Confidently, I said that, and Minjun’s expression creased further.
‘I should have sent him to a psychiatric hospital long ago…’ he muttered.
At that moment, a sharp gaze pressed down on the back of my head.
I turned around and saw Goldie standing a little ways off, his feathers raised as he pecked the air.
“What… what’s that chicken doing? This can’t be real…”
Minjun shook his head vigorously, trying to clear his head.
“Denying it won’t change the truth. He’s not just a chicken—he’s Goldie! How smart he is.”
“Am I drunk? Yeah, I did drink quite a bit.”
“Goldie! Come here for a moment!”
Goldie, who was getting ready to sleep with his head down, waddled over at my call.
Then, suddenly, he crossed both wings like arms—well, crossed wings—and nodded as if to say, “Speak.”
That sight was too cute; I couldn’t help laughing.
What chicken ever crosses its wings and nods like that?
“Hahaha! Goldie always surprises me. Oh, right. Uncross and come closer.”
Goldie uncrossed his wings and moved nearer.
Seeing that, Minjun’s eyes went wide.
“He doesn’t believe Goldie and I can communicate.”
(But why two owners? The owner who can talk to him is the real owner, so who’s the other?)
“Minjun and I are identical twins. We look exactly the same, right?”
“I’m way better looking than you.”
He’d said that since we were kids.
Even though we’re identical, he insists he’s more handsome.
“Anyway, Goldie, can you help me for a moment?”
(I’m tired, but I don’t want my owner to be a liar. I’ll help. What should I do?)
“Good boy. Then spin around twice on the spot.”
Goldie spun twice on the spot and stopped.
But that wasn’t all.
“Now, peck Minjun’s foot until he says he believes you.”
Goldie lunged at Minjun, who jumped back, startled, moving his foot this way and that.
“Hey?! What’s this!”
“That’s right, that’s right.”
Minjun carefully avoided kicking him by accident.
“St-stop it!”
“You can stop now~”
Goldie stopped pecking.
Minjun looked at me and then at the stopped Goldie, completely confused.
He pinched his cheek to confirm the reality.
“It’s real…”
“Isn’t it amazing? Haha. Maybe life is finally starting.”
Only then did Minjun ask about the past when I’d awakened and about my ability, nodding after hearing it all.
He then lifted Goldie up and hugged him tightly.
“What a fascinating chicken… Yeah, take good care of him from now on.”
(They look so alike. That’s why the little owner is nice. And I knew the little owner would like me.)
Goldie nodded as if it was obvious.
At the same time, a chime rang, and an information window popped up.
[‘Goldie’ who has shared Sympathy with Do Minho and ‘Do Minjun’ are now empathizing with each other.
The unique ability ‘Sympathy’ is strengthened.]
Gains favor from all living beings.
Allows communication by sharing the heart with other living beings.
Minimum favor rating with species sharing Sympathy increases.
A seemingly insignificant ability line was added.
[Bond: Enables communication connections between targets sharing Sympathy.]
“Oh? How does that work?”
It looked like a perfect ability to use now.
“All I have to do is think about it? I hope Goldie and Minjun can communicate…”
(I’m going now. It’s late. The wives are waiting.)
Minjun stared wide-eyed at Goldie in shock.
Goldie seemed to have heard his words.
“Huh? What? The chicken actually talked…”
(I heard it too. It’s the first time I talked with anyone other than the owner. Amazing.)
Success.
I only wished they could talk according to the method that came to mind, and it happened.
There was no sign of magic draining or time limits.
Watching Minjun and Goldie look at each other, I was certain.
This was huge!
This was a business idea.
Anyone with a pet must have wanted to talk to their pet at least once.
And now this ability could fulfill that desire.
Watching Minjun and Goldie converse in amazement, I pondered.
Should I reveal this ability to the world?
Or become a pet trainer and make big money?
But I wasn’t ready to face people yet.
Though I had improved a lot, trauma doesn’t vanish easily.
Images of swimming in a pool filled with money flashed, but I shook my head to clear it away.
“Hyung, do you think you could talk to monsters too?”
I hadn’t realized Minjun was calling me, so absorbed in my thoughts.
“I think so. Since it’s Sympathy with other living beings. And… I’ve felt emotions.”
“Emotions?”
“Yeah. In that dungeon before… I touched the Boss Monster’s body and I could feel it.”
“I see.”
The mood immediately sank after mentioning the past.
Dawn was breaking.
“It’s okay now, so don’t be down! It’s time to sleep. It’s late.”
“Yeah, let’s just sleep for now.”
“Yaaawn~”
“Yaaawn~”
Without any cue, we yawned lazily at the same time.
We were so tired that we left the barbecue gear outside and fell into a deep sleep, snoring.
“Hyung! Wake up! Hurry!”
I had just fallen asleep, so why was I being woken?
Squinting, I saw Minjun’s urgent face through my eyelids.
“…What’s wrong… Ugh!”
Feeling sluggish from tiredness, I hesitated, but Minjun suddenly hoisted me up.
“There’s no time! We have to escape now! It’s a Dungeon Break!”
I was instantly alert.
“Put me down!”
I followed Minjun outside.
Thump!
Only then did I feel the magical aura radiating from the Magic Orb.
Dungeon Break was when monsters poured out from an abandoned dungeon.
Moreover, it’s a special dungeon that suddenly appears without warning.
What kind of special dungeon and Dungeon Break could be happening at the Feed Storage I visit every morning?
Outside, beyond the open door of the Feed Storage, a Magic Orb was growing, taking the form of a portal.
“O-our kids!”
Ignoring the owner’s burning worry, I rushed toward the chickens sound asleep in the Poultry House.
Could they not sense the magic at all?
“Hyung! What are you doing! Where are you going! This way! We have to get out quickly!”
“I can’t leave my kids behind! They’re my children!”
“…That idiot!”
I opened the Poultry House door and shouted.
“Emergency! Emergency! Everyone get up and come out here!”
(Cock-a-doodle-doo! The owner called! Everyone wake up!)
Goldie’s eyes snapped open, and following my words, he woke the hens.
While the chickens poured out in perfect formation, Goldie counted them, rounding up even the drowsiest hen before coming out last.
A reliable leader.
“Let’s go too, Goldie!”
At that moment, a beautiful voice called out from the Feed Storage, stopping us.