Devil’s Music

Geon's life at the zoo was surprisingly simple. After completing the sheet music, he didn't leave the zoo, waking up early to clean the animal enclosures in the morning, and taking care of Pie and Ricky during the day. After dinner, he would climb up the hill in the forest, singing songs and enjoying the scenery, sometimes sitting in front of the cage, and other times spending time with the animals while they sang.

However, unlike Geon, who led an ordinary and happy daily life, there was someone troubled.

Emma, the zoo director, was in the office, looking at documents with a happy expression. Emma sometimes smiled happily and sometimes looked troubled again. Olivia, who came in with an empty feed bin, asked her when she saw Emma like that.

"Director, what's wrong?"

Emma, who didn't notice Olivia come in because she was concentrating on the documents, said, slightly surprised.

"Oh! Olivia. When did you come? You surprised me."

Olivia chuckled and approached Emma, asking, "Why are you laughing and then looking troubled again?"

Emma said, holding up the documents.

"Um... It's the health indicators of our zoo animals... The indicators for this week are a bit unusual compared to last week."

"What? What's wrong? Are there sick animals?"

Emma, sitting at her desk, looked up at Olivia and said.

"No. It's the opposite. There are no sick animals, and in fact, they've become healthier."

"Yes? How is that strange? It's good if the animals are healthy, Director."

"Yes, it's a good thing. But, Olivia..."

When Olivia looked at Emma, who was hesitant, Emma said with a troubled expression.

"We can't predict the health status of animals from countries with different climates. If we don't know the reasons for sudden improvements or deteriorations, even the current good health status can change in an instant. While it's good that they're healthy, not knowing the reason is worrying."

Olivia nodded and looked at the documents again.

"That could be true. But, 'Ellen,' one of the Arctic foxes, had a high fever all of last week, but now it says she's completely normal? It's not my responsibility, but I heard last week, the keeper complained that they might need to prepare themselves mentally."

Emma crossed her arms and said.

"That's right. Ellen was in a severe condition, and the veterinarians made a lot of effort because of that. She couldn't even eat and had to be given intravenous fluids."

"Yes. The veterinarians couldn't even guess the disease."

"Yes, but strangely enough, after two days, she started eating on her own, and on the third day, she was completely fine, running and playing with the other Arctic foxes. It's good that she's gotten healthier, but it's still worrying."

"Hmm... That's really strange. There hasn't been any change from the usual."

The two of them discussed for a long time, but they couldn't come to any conclusion. After Emma, who had continued to discuss even after the zoo's closing time, left for home, Olivia, who had cleaned up the office alone, walked to her dormitory lost in thought.

'This is strange. From the director's perspective, it's understandable that she'd be worried.'

Thinking to herself, Olivia went up to her dormitory, ate dinner with Alisa, Taylor, and Geon, and then, even after late evening, she couldn't find an answer despite thinking deeply. Feeling frustrated, she took Ricky for a walk in the zoo. As it was well past 10 o'clock, the zoo was deserted except for the security guards.

While watching Ricky running around and chasing butterflies, Olivia's ears caught a faint singing voice. The singing voice, accompanied by quiet guitar playing, whispered like a murmur.

"Everybody's looking for that something"

"One thing that makes it all complete"

Unknowingly, Olivia moved her steps towards where the singing was coming from. Baby bear Ricky also followed Olivia, twitching his ears. Passing the polar bear enclosure, the wolf enclosure, Olivia approached the hill where there was a large aviary. The size of the aviary was similar to a small apartment, with benches lined up around the circular-shaped aviary. As Olivia approached the aviary, the singing became slightly louder.

"You find it in the strangest places"

"Places you never thought it could be"

Looking up, Olivia saw the birds inside the aviary. Instead of flying away as they usually did when people approached, the birds were perched on branches or sitting on the ground, nodding their heads as if dozing off despite Olivia approaching. As Olivia looked around the aviary, she saw Geon sitting on a bench playing the guitar.

A beautiful boy closed his eyes and sang quietly, even more quietly than before, calming the heart like a lullaby.

"Who can deny the joy it brings"

"When you find that special thing"

"You're flying without wings"

Olivia watched Geon singing, her expression distant. She couldn't help but admire Geon's joyful singing and beautiful demeanor as he smiled widely with closed eyes. Olivia stood there, unable to take her eyes off Geon for quite some time. After a while, when Olivia regained her senses, she looked around to find Ricky, wanting not to disturb Geon.

As Olivia scanned the area, she spotted Ricky lying asleep in the grass nearby. With a smile, Olivia carefully picked up Ricky to ensure he didn't wake up and silently descended the hill with a birdcage in hand, muffling her footsteps. As she listened to Geon's beautiful singing, a sight she hadn't noticed before emerged: the animals, previously unseen, came into view.

With surprised eyes, Olivia looked around at the animal enclosures. Squirrels and monkeys, usually pestering for food or jumping around trees, were either sprawled out on branches with sleepy eyes or already asleep. Without making a sound, Olivia observed the animals and then turned her gaze elsewhere.

Polar bears, either sprawled out as if feeling hot or panting as they submerged themselves in water to cool off, were sleeping soundly, emitting contented grunts. Wolves, still retaining their wild instincts, gathered in corners, sleeping with rounded bodies while keeping watch over their surroundings. Olivia held Ricky and surveyed all the animals in the zoo. Not a single one seemed anxious or restless. With astonished eyes, Olivia glanced towards Geon's direction. From afar, faintly, Geon's singing could be heard carried by the wind.

"You're the place my life begins,

And you'll be where it ends.

I'm flying without wings,

And that's the joy you bring.

I'm flying without wings..."

As Olivia briefly fixed her gaze towards where Geon's singing could be heard, she chuckled.

"Oh... Could it be..."

Carrying the sleeping Ricky, Olivia headed back to the dormitory as the peaceful night at the Bronx Zoo deepened.

The next day, news spread about the birth of a new baby at the zoo. Zookeepers, bustling since dawn, hurried to finish their work and rush to the delivery room. Geon, who had been standing alone, put down his cleaning tools and headed back to the dormitory. As Geon walked alone towards the dormitory, Olivia, who was passing by in a truck, rolled down the window and leaned out.

"Geon, where are you going?"

Geon replied hesitantly, "Oh, everyone has gone to the delivery room. I'm going back to the dormitory."

Smiling, Olivia gestured, "Come on, you're in the sterile room now, so it's okay to see outside."

"Wow! Really? I really wanted to see it! Thank you, Olivia!"

With a smirk, Olivia, with Geon in the car, set off. After about three minutes, they arrived at the sterile room attached to the animal-exclusive delivery room. Through the window, a small, cute baby gorilla, its eyes not yet open, was fumbling its fingers and moving its hands. Seeing the zookeepers gathered around the window, celebrating the birth of the baby gorilla, Geon approached the window and looked at the adorable baby.

The birth of life was always mysterious. The baby gorilla, lying alone in the incubator, constantly moved its tiny body, announcing the beginning of a new life. Geon smiled, placing his finger on the window.

"Have you given the baby a name yet?"

Olivia, who was watching with her arms crossed, said, "Not yet. Usually, the director decides."

"I see. It's really cute."

After staring at the gorilla for a while, Geon suddenly laughed heartily, raising his hand high.

"It looks alike! Yes! Shiwa! Let's name her Shiwa, Director!"

>

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