PRSR | Chapter 8.1

One year ago, there was a dimension that fell into despair, unable to handle the increasing number of monsters.

As time passed, humanity faced extinction at the hands of these monsters, and the world was on the brink of collapse due to resource shortages. After much deliberation, humans and some other species decided to send the monsters to a different dimension.

Earth turned out to be the perfect place to send these monsters. There were few places capable of accommodating so many monsters like Earth. Most importantly, Earth had no magic, which meant it lacked the power to send the monsters back.

Filled with hope, they cast a spell to create a passage to Earth. It was no easy feat. After countless sacrifices and dozens of failures, they finally succeeded in connecting the passage.

However, the passage was too narrow to send monsters through.

“One more year! Just one year, and we can complete the passage!”

A great mage declared with confidence. Trusting in that promise, they abandoned the incomplete passage and left.

And that very night, a small rat slipped through the gap.

* * *

The night before he was to officially be recognized as a full-grown rat, the little rat wandering through the forest was struck by a strong blow to the head and fainted.

When he opened his eyes, he found himself sprawled out in an unfamiliar place.

“Where is this, jjik?”

No matter how much he looked around, it wasn’t the place he used to live.

“Is anyone here, jjik?”

The rat ran and ran, searching for other beastmen. He greeted every cat or dog he came across, but not one of them was a beastman. Some cats even raised their claws and lunged at him. It was strange—ordinary cats didn’t usually attack the higher species, the beastmen.

“Jjik!”

Without the ability to transform into a human, even a beastman was no different from an ordinary rat. The rat ran away with all his might.

After wandering around for several days, he finally realized it: this wasn’t his original world. It was an entirely different dimension, one devoid of beastmen.

“What should I do, jjik….”

For now, survival was the priority. He moved tirelessly, searching for food. Back in the forest he used to live in, finding food was as easy as breathing, but here… there was nothing edible.

He tried biting into a strange, long, white object, only to burn the roof of his mouth. Then he grabbed something shiny, but it cut his hands. His once-soft fur had become matted and grimy, and a sour stench clung to his body.

“Jjiik…”

He was cold and starving. His small body trembled. Desperate for warmth, he crawled into a random place.

And there, he locked eyes with a human.

“Hey! A rat! Kim Geonho, there’s a rat in your house!”

“What? A rat? Where?”

“It just ran behind the desk!”

“Here?”

“No, there! It’s running away!”

He ran as fast as he could, but he didn’t get far before he was caught. He hadn’t eaten properly for days and had no energy left to escape.

‘So, this is how I die.’

The rat whimpered quietly. He hadn’t had enough water, so not even tears came out.

“This isn’t just a rat; it’s a ratton.”

“A ratton isn’t a rat?”

“Not exactly. This is a species classified as a pet rat. It’s a bit grimy, but it’s in good condition. Must’ve escaped from a house or something.”

“How can you tell just by looking?”

“Hey, I used to have a hamster, remember? I know my rodents. Hold on.”

The human called ‘Kim Geonho’ brought over a damp towel and scrubbed the rat clean.

“See? Looks different from a sewer rat, right?”

“Yeah. Kinda cute.”

The other human, who had short hair, stared at the rat and then extended a finger to stroke its head.

The rat didn’t like being touched by humans, but he didn’t have the strength to push them away, so he stayed still.

“So cute.”

“Look at how calm it is. Must’ve been well-trained.”

“Looks hungry. What do rattons eat?”

“Probably fruits or something.”

“Got any fruits at home?”

“Do you think I’d have any?”

One of the humans went to a place they called a ‘convenience store’ and bought some fruits. Holding the scruffy little furball, the human fed it piece by piece.

‘A kind human….’

The rat dozed off in the arms of the kind human. It was the first time since falling into this dimension that he felt safe enough to sleep soundly.

Before he drifted off completely, fragments of the humans’ conversation brushed faintly past his ears. The rat didn’t understand a single word of their language, but he did pick up one thing.

“Look at that. It’s asleep.”

“Seems to like you. Even a rat likes you. Lucky you, Soul.”

Soul. The name of the kind human.

* * *

For the next few days, the rat stayed in Kim Geonho’s tiny studio apartment. It wasn’t exactly to his liking, but at least here he didn’t have to deal with stray cats attacking him or choking on discarded cigarette butts. Nor did he have to worry about cutting his paws on shards of glass.

While Kim Geonho was home, the rat would hide in the crevice of the bed, only coming out to explore the room when the house was empty.

Then one day, the kind human visited again.

“Kind human, jjik!”

Excited to see the familiar face, the rat scampered to the front door to greet Soul.

“Look at that. It’s always hiding, but as soon as you come, it runs out to see you.”

“Hello, little rat.”

During his stay here, the rat had picked up bits and pieces of human language by listening to the noises coming from the “TV.” He understood enough to realize that Soul was greeting him.

“Hello, Soul- jjik,” he replied courageously, though Soul didn’t seem to understand him. Instead, Soul gently scooped him up with both hands and patted his back. Soul’s hands carried a warm, comforting scent.

“Did you find the owner?”

“No. I put up flyers and posted all over social media, but no one’s reached out. I think it was abandoned.”

“Why would you say that in front of the little guy?”

Soul covered the rat’s ears with his hands. The soft warmth wrapped around his head, and the rat suddenly felt drowsy.

“What if you can’t find the owner?”

“Then I’ll have to find it a new one. I even gave it a name—how about Leopold?”

What an awful name.

“That’s weird.”

“Then Leonardo.”

“That’s no better.”

“I don’t like it, jjik…”

“What’s the big deal? If it gets a new owner, they’ll probably give it a new name anyway.”

The idea of becoming a beastman and serving a human as his owner was humiliating. The rat resolved to escape that very night.

“Or you could take it in and raise it yourself.”

“Me?”

The escape plan was postponed.

“It clearly likes you.”

“How can I take care of it? I don’t know the first thing about rats. No, I can’t. I’m not confident. You raise it.”

“But I’m… I’m going to the army soon.”

“Oh…”

The atmosphere turned somber for a moment.

“Rats aren’t exactly popular pets, and since this one’s already grown, no one’s going to want it. Honestly, I’d love to keep it myself.”

“I don’t want that, jjik.”

“But their lifespan is a bit short, so I can’t ask it to wait until I finish my service. You just came back from the army, so you’re the perfect candidate. There’s no one else I can trust with this.”

“I….”

The rat’s tiny paw clasped Soul’s finger. His shiny black eyes welled up, gazing at Soul with desperate earnestness.

With all the longing he could muster, the rat cried out, “I want to live with Soul, jjik!”

“…I’ll think about it.”

Two days later, the rat moved into Soul’s house.

That was the day he was given the name Jjikjjiki for the first time.

“Strange. Why won’t he eat the food?”

“Why are you giving me something animals eat, jjik? It looks weird, jjik.”

“Jjikjjiki, try this. I ordered this specially for you. Here.”

“Jjiik!”

Jjikjjiki scratched his head furiously to show his disdain for the food. In response, Soul would pick up the kibble one by one and feed it to him directly. Each time, Jjikjjiki had no choice but to accept the food, and to his surprise, it actually tasted good.

“Tasty, right? Go on, eat.”

“Feed me, jjik.”

“Still not eating, huh? Why’s your mouth open? Are you feeling unwell?”

Jjikjjiki poured all his energy into explaining that he wasn’t just a rat but a beastman. Unfortunately, the message didn’t get through.

Soul diligently studied rats every single day. Soon, his small studio apartment was filled with a large rat cage and all sorts of related supplies.

He even tried introducing Jjikjjiki to other rats, but the attempts always failed. In the end, Jjikjjiki claimed the spot next to Soul for himself.

“They say rats get lonely and need to be kept in groups….”

“I only need Soul, jjik.”

“Why do you keep squeaking? Do you like me that much?”

“I do, jjik.”

“Cute little thing.”

Jjikjjiki truly loved spending time with Soul.

As a month passed, then half a year, and finally a year, he found himself growing fonder of Soul with each passing day.

Soul always smelled comforting, his hands were warm, and his words—now understandable thanks to Jjikjjiki’s efforts to learn the human language—were filled with kindness. He loved climbing onto Soul’s chest when he lay down, feeling his embrace.

As he drifted off to sleep in that warmth, Soul would often whisper softly,

“I love you, Jjikjjiki.”

“I love you too, jjik.”

Soul always said he loved him. He kissed him on the head, promised they’d live together happily and healthily for a long time, and patted his back at night, wishing him sweet dreams.

He said he loved him.

He said they’d be together forever.

He said Jjikjjiki was his favorite in the whole world.

But then Soul said those words.

“I don’t love you anymore.”

The coldness in Soul’s expression was unbearable. His icy gaze was like a blade that pierced Jjikjjiki’s heart.

Thud.

As Jjikjjiki ran wildly, his foot caught on a tree root, and he tumbled to the ground.

His small body lay sprawled on the dirt.

“…Jjik….”

He sobbed, his cries stifled and ragged. Tears mixed with dirt, staining his white belly black, but he didn’t care.

After all, the only reason he had groomed himself so diligently every day was to look good for Soul. Now that Soul hated him, it didn’t matter if his fur was dirty or if it all fell out.

“Jjiik… Soul- jjik… Soul- jjik….”

If only he hadn’t spoken.

If only he had kept pretending he couldn’t talk when Soul first heard his voice.

If only he had acted like an ordinary rat forever, he could have continued to be loved.

‘If only… I was just a rat.’

If he had been just a rat, maybe Soul would still love him.