In truth, the construction of the Livestock Shed was just as much of a mess as expected.
The materials didn’t fit together, and the finish was sloppy.
So the newly built Livestock Shed looked as if it had struggled through decades already.
What surprised Sang-woong, however, was their expertise in quickly grasping what the livestock they would raise wanted and setting things up accordingly.
The first guest of the first Livestock Shed built by the Kahuka Tribe was the Mud-Pit Pig.
While the frame of the Livestock Shed was being built, Leon, who had grown into his true form, appeared carrying a sturdy Mud-Pit Pig in his jaws.
“Wow, that fellow looks really tough.”
Sang-woong exclaimed in admiration.
Unlike the pigs Sang-woong knew, the Mud-Pit Pig had a solid, muscular physique.
Its body was thick and short, and its shoulders were high, making it look even more powerful.
“To survive in the wild, that’s the least you need to be. Come on!”
Leon growled.
When the Mud-Pit Pig was put into the Livestock Shed, the Kahuka Tribe members immediately scooped mud from the Pond and piled it up on one side of the shed.
While Sang-woong watched curiously, Sejar came up to explain.
“Mud-Pit Pigs like to rub their bodies in damp mud. Kahuka!”
Indeed, the Mud-Pit Pig, which had been tense in the unfamiliar environment, began to roll its body in the mud and gradually appeared more at ease.
Leon worked hard to bring various animals, and the Kahuka Tribe began to take care of them with sincere dedication.
They fed the animals proper food, kept their environment clean, and treated them warmly as if they were their own family.
At first, the wild animals acted out roughly, but gradually, under the skilled hands and gentle voices of the Kahuka Tribe, they became more docile.
“You’re being more helpful than I thought.”
What was amusing was the reaction of the Ahoa Tribe.
Stimulated by the activities of the Kahuka Tribe, the Ahoa Tribe couldn’t just sit idly by; they began to devote themselves even more to their specialty, farming.
They spent more time in the Fields than before, pouring all their effort into growing crops.
In turn, the Kahuka Tribe responded, showing through their actions what it meant to be true Rivals.
It got to the point where Sang-woong had to intervene, worried that both tribes would collapse from overwork.
“Wait, from now on, you’ll only do farming at set times each Day. Absolutely no more than that.”
No matter how much of a Rival they were, they couldn’t ignore the words of Sang-woong, the Owner of the Land.
So, they competed by doing their best within the set time.
What was interesting was how well they all got along.
The children were playing together within a Day, and the adults mingled during meals or after work, spending time together.
Sang-woong smiled contentedly at their joyful scenes.
***
In Sang-woong’s Field, there existed a being that experienced this vast world in its own way.
That was Minky.
“Meow~”
Minky’s Day always began with familiar scents and sensations.
Warm sunlight gently tickled its fur, and the sweet scent of milk at the tip of its nose gave it a sense of perfect peace.
Today as well, it dashed across the wide Field.
The gentle wind brushed through its fur, and the feeling of the earth beneath its paws was vivid.
There was no destination.
It simply enjoyed breathing the fresh air here and running.
After running for a while, its stomach began to grumble.
In the past, it would have had to search everywhere for food, but now that was no longer necessary.
There was a friend who always smelled warm and delicious, and that friend was very generous.
This place was Minky’s entire world.
The fresh air that filled the area and the crisp, gentle scent from its Human Friend were things Minky cherished deeply.
But one day, an unpleasant crack appeared in Minky’s perfect world.
A foreign scent that irritated its sensitive nose, and a large, menacing shadow, invaded its territory.
A huge dog with black, shaggy fur appeared suddenly, looking fierce.
The dog ran around here and there, dug into the earth, and acted as if this place was its own territory.
Minky’s small heart blazed with fierce anger.
‘How dare you covet this place, meow!’
This was Minky’s sanctuary and the sacred place where its friend stayed.
It was a precious kingdom that no one else could invade.
Minky could not tolerate any being that tried to shatter its peace.
But the dog was clearly much stronger than Minky, making it difficult to act recklessly.
Although instinctive fear wrapped around its whole body, Minky had no intention of backing down.
This place was everything to Minky, the last bastion it absolutely had to protect.
Minky summoned its courage, like a soldier heading to battle knowing it might die.
Today as well, the big dog was rampaging around, as if the world belonged to it.
Minky hated the sight more than anything.
With renewed resolve, Minky charged straight toward the big dog.
A small pebble was kicked aside by its paw.
Kicking up a cloud of dust, Minky arrived in front of Leon.
“Ka-aang!”
Minky puffed up its little body as much as possible, brandished its sharp claws, and let out a fierce growl.
The tension bristled its short fur like needles.
Minky and Leon stood face-to-face; Leon’s huge shadow loomed over Minky, but Minky did not take a single step back.
Finally, the huge dog took a heavy step forward.
Minky mustered up the last bit of courage, waiting for the moment to pounce.
Its plan was to leap high and mercilessly scratch that big, black nose.
But things went completely differently from what Minky expected.
Instead of charging with fierce momentum, the dog walked slowly and stopped right in front of Minky.
Its large eyes stared quietly at Minky.
And then, it did something unbelievable.
What had looked like a menacing mouth opened wide into a bright, innocent grin. Then, exposing its soft belly, it flopped down flat in front of Minky.
“Huff, huff,”
It stuck out its huge tongue and wagged its tail gently.
It was an unmistakable sign of submission.
A docile gesture, expressing it no longer had any hostility and was pleading for peace.
For a while, Minky was frozen, unable to move.
The threatening aura that had kept it on edge was completely gone, and only a docile, somehow silly-looking creature remained.
Minky couldn’t easily make sense of this unexpected situation.
Yet, seeing it lie there with its tail wagging meekly, Minky couldn’t help but feel a strange sympathy.
Well, fine.
Minky was the victor of this battle and could have easily kicked out this sudden intruder.
But the gentle glimmer in the animal’s eyes shook Minkys heart.
With dignity, Minky nodded its head.
“All right, from now on, you’ll be my subordinate, meow!”
And so, Minky welcomed another being into its little world.
In a corner of Minky’s heart, anticipation for a new friend began to sprout.
And as it turned out, Leon was more than expected.
This big dog was a more faithful subordinate than imagined.
Whenever Minky appeared, it would rush over like the wind and bow its head.
And it gazed up at Minky with eyes sparkling brightly.
‘Hmm, you’re quite a decent fellow, meow.’
So Minky ran and played across fields and forests together with Leon.
Time passed relentlessly, and Minky’s little body became noticeably rounder.
Once, when it had a fever, Minky unknowingly ran quite a long distance.
There, it met another cat, and soon small lives took residence in its belly.
As Minky anticipated the birth of new family, its heart was filled with excitement.
But it also felt a new sense of responsibility pressing on its shoulders, different from before.
It worried whether it could raise the kittens well.
But Minky didn’t worry too much.
It firmly believed that its beloved Human Friends truly cherished it.
Every day, they faithfully provided delicious food and played with it.
Moreover, they had prepared a sturdy Rest Area to keep it safe from cold rain and harsh winds.
As time went by, Minky’s belly grew heavier.
It was time to prepare for the arrival of new life.
Minky waited quietly for the happy days to come, nestled in its warm Rest Area.
“If only life could always be this way, meow.”
But one day, a small change began to be felt in Minky’s peaceful routine.
Its Human Friend, the woman Jian, who always brushed Minky’s fur, started behaving strangely.
She began bringing over odd items Minky had never seen before and made unfamiliar requests.
She tried to put on a small, cute hat made from soft yarn, or hung a necklace decorated with sparkling beads around Minky’s neck.
At first, it was bewildering, but Minky quietly accepted her whimsical requests.
In the end, she just wanted to give Minky tasty special snacks or see cute gestures and playful antics, so there was nothing particularly unpleasant about it.
Sometimes, the fickle ways of humans were beyond Minky’s small understanding, but Minky felt that all of it was an expression of affection for it.
After all, the Human Friend always smiled brightly.
Sometimes, her odd behavior was a nuisance, but knowing the warmth within, Minky patiently endured her mischief.
At last, tiny, precious beings arrived for Minky.
Little soft lives wriggling against its belly.
What unfolded before Minky’s eyes was a wondrous sight it had never felt before.
Finally, a new family had been born.
Minky’s small heart almost burst with overwhelming joy.
As it watched the kittens nestle and breathe their warm little breaths, Minky felt a deep and tender emotion it had never experienced before.
Minky was no longer alone.
A loving family was with it.
Minky nursed and cuddled the kittens day and night, vowing firmly to protect these little lives from all dangers in the world.
But happiness did not last long.
Once again, a dark shadow loomed over Minky’s comfortable world.
One day, a stranger’s shadow quietly approached Minky’s Rest Area.
That human, with menacing eyes, greedily eyed Minky’s precious kittens and reached out a dark hand.
With fierce anger, Minky bristled all its fur.
Minky could never forgive this wicked invader who threatened its most precious beings.
Its little body shook violently, and it bared its sharp teeth.
But it lost hold of one kitten.
Minky wanted to rush out immediately, but hesitated to leave the remaining kittens behind.
Just at that perilous moment, Minky’s loyal subordinate, Leon, who silently guarded its side like a shadow, charged in with ferocious momentum.
Leon’s massive form instantly blocked the stranger’s way.