Episode 3: Butterfly, Alleyway, and the Endless Stone Steps

Episode 3: Butterflies, Alleyways, and Dark Stone Stairs Kongkongi, who enjoyed the sweet afterglow of victory on the bench by the lake, carefully held the meat in his mouth without swallowing it. No, to be precise, it would have been such a waste to swallow up and destroy this heavenly treasure in an instant. Just by gently rolling the smoky scent and subtle fat of beef jerky with the tip of my tongue and savoring it, new energy surged through my four short legs. As Kongkong came out of the forest path in the park, he heard the sound of the wind and the whispers of an unfamiliar alley in his ears.

Unlike the busy morning road, the eastern exit of the park led to a quiet and cute residential alley with old red brick houses tightly packed together. Ivy was climbing the walls like a green carpet, and the faint scent of red geraniums and purple lavender was rising from the flower pots placed in the yards of each house. On a cool morning, the shady alley floor was neatly paved with sidewalk blocks covered with moist sand, providing a pleasant coolness to Kongkong's pink jelly soles. Kongkong walked with his characteristic cheerful rhythm.

'Tap, click, click, click!'

The short, thick front legs were cheerfully kicking on the dirt road, and the plump buttocks were rippling from side to side. The round golden dog tag hanging on a blue leash reflected the sunlight and made a clear and elegant metallic sound, 'Jangle, Jangle'. The sound echoed through the quiet alley, like the background music of an adventure played by a little musician. The alleyways were full of things to explore. The delicious smell of boiling soybean paste stew seeping through the gap in the front door of a house, the 'flapping' sound made by the white blankets fluttering in the wind on the clothesline on the veranda, and even the gaze of a tabby cat dozing on the wall, secretly opening one eye when it heard Kongkongi's footsteps. Kongkong looked up at the cat on the wall and gave him a warm greeting. ‘Hello, Meow! I'm on a great adventure!'

However, the tabby cat on the high wall looked indifferently at the Welsh Corgi, which was pacing on short legs, as if it was insignificant, then yawned once, curled its tail and went to sleep again. Kongkong didn't care at all about the cat's cold reaction. Because the world was full of things much more exciting than chilly cats. It was right then. From the white hydrangea pot placed at the corner of the alley, a dazzlingly brilliant blue flash flew into the air. Flutter, flutter. It was a swallow butterfly with brilliant neon blue wings like a jewel deep in the mountains, something rarely seen in the city. The butterfly's wings, bathed in the morning sunlight, were like magic brush strokes that sprinkled blue powder into the air. "bruise?!"

Kongkong’s round black eyes widened. The sight immediately captured Kongkong's curiosity to the point that he almost dropped the meat he was holding in his mouth. Have you ever seen such a mysterious and beautiful blue light? It was bluer than the waves on the lake and clearer than the clear autumn sky. The butterfly landed gently 10 centimeters in front of Kongkongi's moist nose tip, as if telling Kongkongi a prank, "Follow me!" and then flew up into the air. The flame of curiosity that was dormant inside Kongkong burned fiercely.

The instinct to chase and guide moving objects is deeply imprinted in the bloodlines of corgis and other herding dogs. Although he is now not a shepherd herding cattle or sheep but a cute city dog, how could he remain still when faced with a mysterious creature flying in the wind? Kongkong fixed the meat in his mouth firmly with his molars inside his mouth. It was a sign of firm determination not to drop it. Then, he started stamping his front feet in time with the flapping of the butterfly's wings. The butterfly danced and flew leisurely into the maze of alleys.

It brushed against a red brick wall, passed through the spokes of a bicycle wheel, and passed in front of a wide open woodworking shop. Inside the woodworking shop, there was a faint scent of cypress wood and coarse sawdust. Kongkong was sniffing, but his eyes were only focused on the blue flash of light dancing in the air.

“Kongkong! Kongkong!”

The rhythm of my feet hitting the sidewalk blocks became faster and faster. The butterfly flew zigzagly and raised Kongkongi's medicine. When Kongkongi jumped up, the butterfly soared to a height that seemed almost impossible to reach, and when Kongkongi stopped to catch its breath, the butterfly also sat down gently on the low clothesline and rested, folding and unfolding its wings. It felt like old childhood friends playing tag. Kongkong twirled his tail and chased the butterfly excitedly. The alley became deeper and narrower. As we entered the old, sparsely visited alley, the air became even cooler, and the smell of moss and old stone on the walls became stronger.

Beyond the fence, long persimmon tree branches hung, and their light green leaves rustled in the wind. The butterfly whizzed around the last corner of the narrow alley. Kongkongi also turned a sharp curve with short legs. The center of gravity of the body was tilted outward and the hind legs slipped slightly, but the balance of the flexible waist and strong buttocks corrected the posture nicely. And the moment he turned the corner, Kongkongi's footsteps stopped.

"omg……!"

The sound of air rushing out of Kongkongi's mouth. There was a huge and long stone staircase that was incomparable to any staircase Kongkong had ever seen in the city. The stairs continued endlessly toward the top of the hill, high in the sky, along a steep hill with tunnels lined with old trees on both sides. At first glance, the number of stairs seemed to be over a hundred. Each stone staircase was carved out of rough, hard granite, and the edges were rounded due to the wind and rain over time, and green moss and wild grasses were growing in every crevice.

And the height of each step was a whopping 20 centimeters! It was only 20 centimeters, the height of an ordinary person's calf, but for Kongkong, a Welsh corgi with a leg length of about 15 centimeters, it was a huge wall higher than his own height and a series of rugged cliffs. The blue swallow butterfly, unaware of the speed of Kongkonggi, flapped its wings lightly and flew up the stone steps towards the high sky. The butterfly briefly landed on the yellow dandelion flower blooming halfway down the stairs, turned to Kongkongi, who was standing at the entrance to the stairs below, looking up blankly, and flapped its wings as if asking, 'Can you come this far?'

Kongkongi's field of vision, standing at the bottom of the dark stone stairs, was filled with huge gray stone walls. Looking up from below, the stairs looked like a sky ladder leading up to a castle where giants lived. Beyond the top of the stairs, dazzling morning sunlight was pouring down, forming a golden aura, but to get there, you had to jump over each and every cliff with your whole body. Two pigeons passing by sat on the stone stair railing and looked down at Kongkongi, cooing. The pigeons' eyes said, 'Are you going to climb up there with those short legs?

It seemed to contain a sad feeling of pity, saying, “It’s impossible, it’s impossible.” However, the word ‘giving up’ did not exist in Welsh Corgi Kongkong’s dictionary. Kongkongi was a courageous corgi who inherited the blood of his courageous ancestors who roamed the rough fields nipping at the heels of huge herds of cattle in the green pastures of England. The spirit of our ancestors, who never backed down even in the face of the sharp horns or heavy hooves of a cow, was revived as a hot surge in Kongkongi's heart. Moreover, isn’t Kongkong’s mouth now holding the most precious and delicious smoked meat in the world?

As long as he had this wonderful meat in his mouth, Kongkong was an invincible little hero who would not give in to any trials in the world. Kongkong took a deep breath. The cool air of the morning alley filled my lungs deeply, sharply awakening my entire body's senses. His two large ears were erect, and his sparkling brown eyes were filled with determination. He walked right up to the first step. The smell of cold rock wafted from the hard, rough granite surface. Since it had rained, the surface of the stairs was slightly wet in some places, but on the soles of Kongkongi's feet were thick, chewy pink meatballs (jelly) that were the strongest weapon for traction.

This jelly was the perfect cushion and brake that did not slip on any terrain, whether dirt or stone. “Hmm, wow!”

Kongkong tightened his molars and straightened his neck to prevent the meat from falling out of his mouth. Because he was holding meat, he couldn't regulate his body temperature by opening his mouth and panting like usual, but he was able to overcome that level of discomfort with the pride of a warrior. Kongkong slightly bent his hind legs and lowered his center of gravity. My thigh muscles were compressed like a spring. The target is the top of the first staircase right in front of you! 'One, two, three!'

widely! Kongkongi’s pink jelly kicked the floor vigorously. A small body soared into the air. The front paws first grabbed the edge of the first stone step, and in a split second, the hind legs were pulled up to the top of the stairs. 'Chak!'

It was a success! It landed perfectly on all fours on the first step. The feel of the cold rock against the soles of my feet gave me a thrilling sense of accomplishment. Kongkong lifted his head and looked up. There were still ninety-nine stairs to climb. But a brave smile spread across Kongkong’s lips. 'You've taken the first step, now you only have to run 99 more!'

That was a simple and clear positive mindset. Kongkongi's full-scale stair conquest operation has begun. 'widely! Good! widely! 'Good!'

Once I started to get into a steady rhythm, the climbing became more exciting. Like a mountaineering expert climbing the rugged Rocky Mountains, Kongkong keenly analyzed the terrain of each step as he took each step. The surface of the stone steps was never uniform. Some of the stairs had been carved out by rainwater and were concave in the middle, and some had green moss on the corners, so there was a risk of slipping if you stepped on them. Kongkong instinctively avoided the slippery areas covered in moss, picked the rough cross section of the dry stone, and hit the jelly on the soles of his feet with precision.

Fifth staircase. Tenth step. Fifteenth step! As I climbed the stairs, the scenery of the alley began to fade away. The sleepy face of the tabby cat he had seen earlier now looked like a small dot, and the clothesline on the other side of the fence had landed at Kongkongi's feet. However, as the altitude increased, the fatigue on the legs became significant. Continuously jumping heights exceeding one's own height with short legs was an extreme aerobic exercise that required tremendous strength and cardiorespiratory endurance. My heart was beating violently inside my ribs, like a small drum.

My thigh muscles were aching, and I felt beads of sweat forming down my spine. The weight of the meat in my mouth felt increasingly heavy. Although his jaw joints were sore, Kongkong never put down the meat. A gentle morning breeze blew through the gap in the stair railing, cooling Kongkongi’s forehead and earlobes. In that wind, there was a mixture of the smell of fresh grass waiting high up and the energy of the blue sky. The blue swallow butterfly that had been flying far ahead was now sitting on the railing of the twentieth staircase, cheering Kongkongi on by fluttering its small antennae.

It's like, 'Cheer up, kid! It seemed to whisper, ‘You can do it!’ "bruise!"

Kongkong gave a short sigh and strengthened his legs once again. ‘One, two! Zero car, zero car!'

Twenty-one, twenty-two, twenty-three! Kongkongi's lucky bread butt bounced up and down vigorously every time she climbed the stairs. The sight looked like a small shuttlecock covered in golden fur bouncing continuously on the stairs, or like a lively red bean bun dancing. A few sparrows passing by sat on the electric wire and chirped while watching Kongkongi's butt dance. To Kongkong, even the chirping of the sparrows sounded like passionate cheering songs for him. As I was about to get over the thirtieth step, a small difficulty arose.

Some of the stones on the thirty-second staircase had broken off, creating a deep crevice, and a small puddle of rainwater had accumulated in the crevice. The width of the stairs was narrowed by half, so it was a dangerous section where you could lose your footing and fall down if you jumped as usual. Kongkong stopped at the thirty-first staircase. I took a deep breath and closely observed the broken stone steps. The smell of meat irritated my nose and urged me to 'hurry up!', but a true adventurer must remain calm in times of crisis. Kongkongi found a solid rock ledge on the left edge of the crack.

Although it was narrow, it was wide enough for Kongkongi to stand on his two front feet. The problem was the landing angle. If you run in a straight line, you might fall into a puddle or trip, so you had to jump diagonally, step on the narrow rock ledge, and then jump straight to the 33rd staircase. The computer in Kongkong’s head quickly calculated the trajectory.

'Angle of 30 degrees, jumping power of 120%, continuous jump upon landing!'

After completing his mental preparation, Kongkong's eyes shone fiercely. I put all my weight on the trembling muscles of my hind legs. Shoo! Kongkongi’s body split the air diagonally. 'Chak!'

The pink jelly on the front paw accurately captured the narrow rock ledge between the broken stones without error. The rough friction of the rock made Kongkong stick tightly to the soles of his feet. And, taking advantage of the recoil, Kongkong immediately bounced his back without stopping and made a second leap towards the 33rd stair! 'widely!'

It was a perfect continuous combo jump! Kongkong, who cleared the dangerous broken stone stairs in one go, landed on the thirty-third stair and opened his chest wide. The meat in my mouth stayed in place without any movement. I was so confident and proud of myself that my tail twitched of its own accord. We have now reached the fiftieth step, which is halfway up the stairs. When I reached the top of the hill, I could see the roofs of the buildings surrounding the alley at a glance. There was an orange tile roof, a blue slate roof, and jars and trays for drying red peppers scattered across the rooftop, spread out like a cute mosaic. In the distance, the green trees of the park where Kongkong left in the morning and the silvery, sparkling surface of the lake came into faint view. 'I can't believe I came all the way up here from down there!'

The scenery seen from high above filled Kongkongi’s small heart with great emotion. But there is still a long way to go. There were still fifty more steps to the top, and the incline of the steps was getting steeper the higher you went. The fatigue in my legs was at its peak. Normally, even when jumping on the sofa at home, he would sometimes slip and hit his butt. But today, on this unknown hill road, Kongkong was surpassing his limits. The jelly on the soles of my feet was hot and tingling, and my tongue was drying out because it couldn't get any fresh air because I was holding the meat in my mouth.

Despite this, Kongkong had no intention of stopping. This is because the dazzling morning sunlight breaking high at the end of the stone stairs was calling out to me like a trophy of victory. The blue swallow butterfly was still flying three or four steps ahead of Kongkongi, claiming to be its guide. The butterfly's blue wings were like the flag of a pacemaker guiding a tired runner. Every time a butterfly flew over the flower beds on either side of the stairs, the sweet scent of wild roses and wild roses blooming in the flower beds carried through the wind and tickled the tip of Kongkongi's nose.

It was a magical scent that made you forget your fatigue. Kongkong gained strength once again. “Mmm, wow!”

He twitched his short nose and took a step toward the fifty-first staircase. Sixty, seventy, eighty! As the number went up, Kongkong's breathing became heavier, but his steps were filled with deep immersion and rhythm. Kongkong is no longer overwhelmed by the height of the stairs. Every time I jumped over a flight of stairs, I felt like it was not just a stone block, but a monument engraving my own challenges and courage. Every time the jellies on the soles of his feet felt the cold touch of granite, Kongkong felt with his whole body that he was truly alive, that all his senses were fully awake and that he was exploring this vast world.

When I reached the eighty-fifth staircase, a white-haired old man who was sitting on a bench in a small shelter next to the stairs and reading a newspaper found Kongkongi. My grandfather lowered his reading glasses slightly to the tip of his nose and widened his eyes when he saw the Welsh corgi jumping up the stairs on its short legs.

“Hehe, look at that guy! Did he climb these high stairs alone with those short legs? And with a big piece of meat in his mouth?”

My grandfather burst out laughing cheerfully as if he couldn't believe it. Kongkong waved his short tail twice to greet his grandfather, but never stopped walking. There could be no unnecessary delay in the warrior's advance. My grandfather slapped his knee and cheered loudly. “Cheer up, kid! The summit is just around the corner! Hahaha!”

The grandfather's warm cheering echoed pleasantly in the stone-stairs alley. Ninety, ninety-five, ninety-six, ninety-seven! Now there are only three stairs left! The wind blowing over the top of the stairs was completely different from the wind in the alley. It was an open, gigantic wind blowing across the entire city. The sky was a blinding blue, and the golden morning sunlight was shining brilliantly on the last stone step at the top of the stairs. The blue swallow butterfly finally passed the top of the stairs, spread its wings wide and soared toward the wide sky beyond the summit terrace.

The butterfly hovered high in the sky and looked down at Kongkongi. ‘Come up, Kongkong! 'This is the top of the world!' Kongkong took a deep breath as he approached the last three stairs. My heart was so full that it felt like it was going to burst. The four jelly legs gripped the edge of the stairs tightly.

'Ninety-eight!'

'Ninety-nine!'

And the long-awaited last hundred stairs! Kongkong poured all of his remaining energy into the muscles of his body and flew powerfully toward the sky. Golden fur fluttered brilliantly in the air, and the golden dog tag on the blue leash gave off a dazzling flash of light. 'Taang!'

Both front feet and strong hind legs landed perfectly on the flat top of the hundredth step. Finally, the huge stone stairs were completely conquered! The sight that unfolded before Kongkong's eyes at the top was truly breathtaking. It was an observatory terrace located at the top of a hill. The entire city stretched out endlessly beneath my feet like a huge panorama. The windows of high-rise buildings sparkling silver in the morning sunlight, the colorful cars running like toys on the road stretching out like threads, and even the calm horizon of the sea touching the blue horizon in the distance.

The city was dazzlingly shining like a huge orchestra of magnificent and beautiful life. The cool and refreshing morning breeze brushed Kongkongi’s golden fur without hesitation. The smoked aroma of the meat in his mouth was carried by the wind and enveloped Kongkongi’s entire body. Kongkong carefully placed the precious meat in his mouth on the wooden deck of the terrace. Then he stuck out his long red tongue and breathed happily, “Hehehehehehe.” His round face had a dazzling and proud smile that no one in the world could imitate.

“Woof! I did it!”

Although he couldn't bark loudly, the roar in Kongkong's heart was loud enough to shake the entire city. There was no reason why you couldn’t climb high just because you had short legs. Kongkongi has proven that as long as you have the heart to not give up and the patience to take one step at a time, any huge cliff can succumb to the feet of a little warrior. The piece of meat on the floor sparkled golden like a jewel in the morning sunlight. This meat, obtained after an arduous climb, was no longer just a snack, but the greatest medal in the world, symbolizing Kongkongi's courage and victory.

The blue swallow butterfly landed gently on the terrace railing, and slowly folded and unfolded its wings towards Kongkongi, seeming to say thank you. He was the best guide who gave Kongkongi such a fantastic scenery. Kongkong gently waved his tail and gave the butterfly a greeting. The wind blew once again, tickling Kongkongi's two upright ears. The morning at the summit was so brilliant and peaceful. But the great explorer's day was only halfway through. The alleys and streets of the city below were waiting for the little hero, Kongkongi, with other exciting stories.