Chapter 54: A Scent Beyond Understanding

“I have something else to do, so I’ll leave first.”

” Make sure you learn properly and don’t come crying later saying your ears are itchy.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

As Jinhyang exited the hospital, I waved at her, holding onto my tail.

The faint jingling of the bell on my tail sent her off. It was then that the nurse, Seo Subin, called out to me.

“Manager, could you come this way?”

Following her, I was led to a small area with a modest-sized table.

“Um, this…?”

I glanced at the table and then back at the nurse with a perplexed expression.

Judging by the situation, I was expected to lie on it, but the table was so tiny that either my head or feet would hang off.

“Ah, my apologies. Now that I think about it, this is all we have available.”

“Can’t we do it while I’m standing? Or maybe sitting on a chair?”

The idea of climbing onto something designed for cats or dogs was embarrassing.

As a human, my pride resisted the thought. Besides, the table really was too small.

“If we do it standing, the cleaning solution might drip down. Is that okay?”

“…It’s not.”

That would end up ruining my clothes—expensive, branded clothes bought with Jinhyang’s card.

‘I guess I have no choice.’

Resigning myself, I nodded and looked at the nurse.

“Fine, I’ll climb up. Should I lie down or just prop myself up?”

“Lying down would be better.”

“Alright then.”

As I was about to climb onto the table, someone lifted me and placed me gently on it.

Since Raxy Bora was nearby, it must have been Yoon Bora.

“Thanks, Bora.”

“No need to thank me.”

As I settled on the table, Raxy Bora leaned in and lightly lifted my head with her hand.

“Huh?”

I glanced up at her from my reclined position, and she smiled softly.

“I’ll be your pillow.”

“Are you sure? Won’t it be tiring?”

“Nope. You’re light as a feather, Harang.”

She wasn’t wrong. I was so light that even my own neck rarely felt the strain of supporting my head.

“Thanks for being my pillow, Raxy Bora.”

“No problem.”

I expressed my gratitude and then looked downward.

Because the table was so small, part of my tail and my legs below the knees were dangling off the edge.

Bored, I began swinging my legs back and forth, only to pause when Seo Subin approached with a tray.

“Shall we begin?”

“Yes, please go ahead.”

At my reply, she set down the tray and asked, “Before we start, would you like to clean your ears yourself?”

I was about to say yes, but Yoon Bora spoke up first.

“We’ll take turns doing it for her.”

“Oh, then will the guardian… learn how to do it?”

“Yes.”

Yoon Bora nodded with a bright smile.

“There are two basic ways to check the condition of the ears.”

“Yes,” Yoon Bora and Raxy Bora responded attentively, focusing on the nurse’s explanation.

“The first is by visual inspection, and the second is by checking the smell.”

With that, Seo Subin leaned in toward my ears, sniffing delicately.

Yoon Bora and Raxy Bora followed suit.

As the three of them sniffed around my ears, an overwhelming sense of embarrassment crept over me.

I instinctively covered my face with my hands.

“Well, the smell of the little one’s ears is perfectly healthy.”

“Little one…?”

I peeked through my fingers and glanced up at Seo Subin.

“Oh! I misspoke! I’m sorry, it’s just a habit from my job…”

“It’s fine.”

It wasn’t the first time someone called me “little one.” Besides, it wasn’t worth getting upset over.

“S-Sorry again!”

“Really, it’s okay. Please continue.”

“Ah, yes!”

She swallowed nervously and extended her hand toward my ears.

“You see, when air can’t circulate or moisture builds up around the outer ear, it creates an environment for bacteria to thrive.”

“Bacteria?”

At her words, I instinctively touched my ear.

It felt clean and soft, though softness probably wasn’t an indicator of whether bacteria were present.

“Yes, so we spray a cleaning solution around the outer ear.”

Drip, drip.

She applied the cleaning solution, explaining that because my ears were larger than an average cat’s, she needed to use more of it.

“After spraying the solution, you massage the ear to distribute it evenly.”

Squish, squish—

The gentle pressure of her hands was soothing, her touch so skilled that I felt myself on the verge of drifting off.

“Would one of you like to do the other side?”

“I’ll do it!”

Yoon Bora eagerly raised her hand, taking the cleaning solution from Seo Subin.

Watching her enthusiasm, Raxy Bora sighed.

“Yoon Bora, I’ll do it next time, okay?”

“Okay, sorry.”

I couldn’t help but think how much the twin sisters genuinely enjoyed helping others.

It wasn’t a bad thing, especially since I was benefitting from it.

“Harang, shall I start?”

“Mm, go ahead.”

Following Seo Subin’s instructions, Yoon Bora sprayed the solution, then gently massaged my ear.

Her hands, too, were surprisingly adept, making the process just as comforting as before.

“Lastly, wipe off the cleaning solution with some cotton,” Seo Subin said.

Soft swiping sounds came from both sides as they carefully cleaned my ears.

The gentle motions were so relaxing that my body grew heavy, and my eyes began to close.

This level of comfort would lull anyone to sleep.

At the Hunter Research Institute, Jinhyang stood with her arms crossed, speaking with a researcher.

“So, any results yet?”

“Yes, we detected a faint trace of magical energy.”

“Magical energy, huh…”

The magical energy in question belonged to Harang.

It was something Jinhyang had somewhat anticipated when Harang cleared the dungeon.

‘The key is figuring out what kind of magical energy it is.’

Magical energy typically manifested according to a person’s deepest desires, granting them strength or enabling them to use magic.

If not that, then perhaps the emergence of superhuman abilities or some other extraordinary power.

Although the desires differed from person to person, the goal was the same: to become stronger.

This left Jinhyang with a headache.

She had no idea how Harang’s newfound magical energy would manifest or what effects it might have.

Clicking her tongue, she furrowed her brows.

“So, what kind of magic are we talking about?”

“Well… that’s the thing…”

The researcher looked flustered by her question, as though something unexpected had occurred.

“What’s wrong?”

“It’s just… I’ve never seen this kind of magic before.”

“Never seen it before?”

“Yes. The magic seems to emit something similar to pheromones.”

At those words, even Jinhyang was momentarily taken aback.

It wasn’t normal for someone as experienced as this researcher,

who had dealt with thousands, even tens of thousands of Awakeners, to encounter something unprecedented.

“Pheromone magic? That’s a first.”

“Yes. It’s still faint, but it’s likely pheromones.”

“So, you’re saying this magic could lure people in?”

The researcher rubbed his chin, deep in thought.

“In a way, yes. It’s akin to a form of allure.”

“Allure, huh…”

The idea was absurd.

‘What am I, a nine-tailed fox?’

I couldn’t help but chuckle at the sheer ridiculousness of it.

“So, just walking around might make everyone fall for Harang?”

“It’s not that strong yet. At most, it likely triggers protective instincts.”

“Well, that’s a relief…”

The keyword, however, was “yet.”

As Harang grew stronger, so would the allure.

“This could become an incredibly dangerous ability.”

“Agreed.”

Abilities that were “unprecedented” were always risky.

No countermeasures existed. Such powers could grow boundlessly strong, monopolizing any situation.

Jinhyang, herself one of the first-generation Awakeners, knew this better than anyone.

‘I’ll need to be firm with her education.’

In Jinhyang’s mind, Harang charming as few as three people was already more than enough.

“Hmm?”

When I opened my eyes, I found myself cradled in someone’s arms.

Oddly, I didn’t feel groggy, which struck me as unusual.

It was as though I hadn’t even been asleep—everything felt so clean and refreshed.

“Bora?”

“Wrong. It’s Raxy!”

Raxy Bora tilted her head and rubbed her cheek against mine.

I couldn’t tell if the softness I felt was hers or mine. Maybe it was both.

“Why do I like you so much, Harang?”

Raxy playfully swayed my body back and forth as though riding a wave.

“I like you too, Raxy.”

“Aww, Harang!”

Delighted by my response, Raxy hugged me tightly, squeezing me against her chest.

The pressure was intense, making it hard to breathe.

“Urgh…”

As a signal of distress, I shook the bell on my tail vigorously.

Jingle, jingle, jingle~!

“Oh no! I’m sorry! Harang, are you okay?”

“I’m fine. Just a little startled, that’s all.”

“I’m sorry. Harang just smells so good—I can’t help myself.”

“G-Good smell?”

It wasn’t just Raxy Bora.

Jinhyang and Yoon Bora often asked me what kind of perfume I was wearing.

The problem was, I had no idea.

‘What kind of smell do I even have for them to say that?’

Sniff, sniff—

Using my keen sense of smell, I tried detecting the supposed fragrance.

Nothing. It was either odorless, colorless, or just an ordinary scent of skin.

But it seemed Raxy didn’t think so.

She had her nose buried against my ear, taking deep whiffs.

“I feel like biting you.”

“You can’t, Raxy—”

I was about to protest when she bit down on my ear without warning.

Chomp.

She was nibbling on my ear.

It didn’t hurt, but it left me feeling very… strange, in more ways than one.

“Tastes good.”

“Raxy…?”

If she eats too much fur, she’s going to end up coughing up hairballs.

All I could do was stare at her with worried eyes.