Chapter 101
Chapter 101
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 101
Chapter Title: Dad, You Haven't Changed?
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101. Dad, You Haven't Changed?
101. Dad, You Haven't Changed?
We busted a criminal organization hiding out in the slums.
The group didn't have an official name, so we decided to dub them the "Child Hunters."
These guys hadn't limited themselves to my 09 District—they'd stirred up trouble in 08 District too.
"Over 130 kindergarteners went missing in total. We've confirmed the Child Hunters ground them all up to use as mana sources."
A total of 130.
The exact number of kids stuffed into that scientist's robots.
Hearing the report, I bit my lip hard and clenched my fist under the table.
'Filthy scum.'
How could anyone grind up children to fuel their own mana?
As a father raising kids myself, it was impossible to stomach.
My own daughter could easily have been one of their victims.
"And judging by the precision and tech in those machines, it's highly likely they had help from someone else. This level of crime is beyond what a ragtag criminal outfit could pull off on their own. And to Hero Lee Ha-jun, who resolved this incident..."
"...Yes."
"Hero Lee Ha-jun stopped what could have been a massive disaster. Let's give him a round of applause, everyone."
Clap clap clap clap—
The briefing wrapped up with applause.
Normally, I'd be grinning ear to ear and soaking it in, but my mood wasn't exactly celebratory.
'130 kids...'
If anything, it just left a bad taste.
Still, since they were applauding, I bowed my head in thanks.
"...Thank you. I'll keep working hard."
And with that...
The briefing on the incident was over.
I left the heavy atmosphere of the meeting room and headed down the hall.
At the vending machine, I rummaged through the pockets of my ratty tracksuit.
"Ah, no coins."
Coins are a rarity these days anyway.
I was about to give up on the vending machine coffee when I spotted a woman walking down the hall.
"Oh, Han Ji-su!"
"Senior."
"Han Ji-su senior! Coffee?"
"You got coins?"
"Nah, no coins. You're buying, right?"
"...Weren't you the one who said age rules?"
Sigh—
Han Ji-su let out a sigh and fed coins into the machine.
A woman carrying coins in this day and age.
Made me wanna restart my love life.
"Here."
"Thanks, Han Ji-su senior."
Free coffee always tastes better.
I warmed my belly with hot coffee against the chilly weather.
Han Ji-su sat beside me and sipped hers too.
"I heard. Child Hunters, was it? You took them down?"
"Yeah, caught 'em. Rescued all the kidnapped kids too. Got thank-you texts from their parents."
"Then why the long face?"
Guess it shows.
She knows I raise kids.
I decided to be straight with her.
"Just... as a dad, hearing so many kids died hits weird."
"Yeah, makes sense. You caught the villains, but it doesn't feel good."
Slurp—
Han Ji-su stared straight ahead as she sipped her coffee.
I found the sight kinda surprising.
"Kinda unexpected, Han Ji-su senior."
"What?"
"Didn't think you'd empathize with stuff like this. Figured you were ice cold."
"That bad?"
She said it with a finger tugging up the corner of her mouth.
Up close like this, she looked like your average early-twenties gal.
"Anyway, not in the best mood. Though I did get paid handsomely."
"Glad to hear it, at least."
"Why?"
"First time I met you, thought you were all about the money. Now you're seeing other stuff too."
Whoosh—
Han Ji-su stood, tossed her empty cup in the trash.
Then she looked at me and said,
"Still a material girl, though. But you've changed. For the better."
Heh—
She flashed a small smile, waved, and walked off.
Watching her go, I mulled it over alone.
"Have I changed since raising kids...?"
Maybe.
Maybe not.
With those thoughts, I tossed my empty cup and stood.
"She said I changed for the better... How? I don't get it... Should I ask the kids?"
Lost in that new idea, I'd already forgotten my worries about the Child Hunters.
***
After the briefing, I headed home.
The kindergarten had shut down temporarily due to the nasty incident, so the dragon kids were rolling around the house.
I approached them with a serious face.
"Suryeon."
"Ugh, don't shove your face in mine, Dad."
"Do I seem a lot different, Dad-wise?"
"?"
Suryeon gave me a blank look at the question.
Like a girlfriend hearing, "What about me looks different?"
"Don't I seem way different, Suryeon?"
"Dad."
"Yeah?"
"What exactly?"
Do I have to spell it out?
I listed my thoughts slowly.
"First off, I feel nicer."
"Delusion, Dad."
"And a bit handsomer."
"That's a no, Dad."
"More manly, maybe."
"Overinflated ego, Dad."
"..."
Suryeon must have no eye for this.
Can't spot her dad's changes.
Not the answer I wanted, so I got up, disappointed in her.
And approached Choryeon for the next question.
"Choryeon! Dad, any changes?"
"Father?"
"Yeah."
"Hmm..."
Choryeon closed her eyes, thought, then popped them open with a bright smile.
"Doesn't seem like you've changed at all!"
"...Really?"
"Yes! Father hasn't changed a bit! Mangmung thinks the same! Right, Mangmung?"
"Mang mang—!"
Mangmung answered her instantly.
Their combo attack left no room for rebuttal.
I sighed and walked away.
'Does no one notice my changes? Or have I really not changed?'
I started spiraling into paranoia that Han Ji-su was getting revenge.
Finally, I approached Hwaryeon, who was lying there rolling around.
"Hwaryeon, any changes in Dad?"
"Cough—!"
Maybe from overusing her breath last time.
Hwaryeon coughed and answered.
"Dad's changed in one way! Cough—!"
"What?"
"It's just..."
She whispered in my ear.
"Dad, you've got a beard! Super scratchy!"
Hwaryeon stroked my beard as she said it.
She seemed to love the prickly feel.
'...Not the answer I wanted. Am I really unchanged?'
After my daughters' confirmation kill, I realized Han Ji-su had just been teasing me.
Guess my "changes" were all in my head.
I stopped Hwaryeon from yanking my short beard and stood up.
"I could've pulled one out!"
"...No, Hwaryeon. That hurts Dad."
Heart hurts enough—no need for physical pain.
Feeling a bit deflated, I headed to the kitchen.
'My cooking's definitely improved, though. They'll admit that, right?'
I couldn't even chop properly at first.
Now I can whip up simple stews.
'Not the answer I wanted, but at least praise for cooking.'
Still young.
Craving compliments.
I opened the fridge, pulled ingredients for lunch.
'Grandma's kimchi, green onions, canned ham—kimchi fried rice sounds good.'
Perfect to show off my growth.
I finely chopped the kimchi, prepped green onions, cubed the ham bite-sized.
"Ingredients done. Can't ask Hwaryeon... throat's sore."
Dragon breath cooking tastes better.
Oh well.
Fired up the gas stove for once.
Whoosh—!
"Heat the pan, scallion oil first..."
Scallion oil amps up kimchi fried rice flavor.
Then fry the chopped kimchi in it.
When sour-sweet aromas rise, toss in the ham cubes.
Hwaryeon sniffed the ham scent amazingly and came sniffing over.
"That's ham! Cough—! Dad, what's for lunch!?"
"Dad's kimchi fried rice. Go wait nicely. It'll be tasty soon."
"Okay!"
Clatter clatter—!
Hwaryeon bolted to the living room without complaint.
Alone in the kitchen, I kept at the fried rice.
"Little sugar... when ham's evenly cooked..."
Dump in white rice.
Then stir-fry like mad...
"Done! Kids, lunch!"
"Yeah!"
"Got it."
"Yes, Father!"
They rushed to the table, stomachs growling.
"Mang mang—!"
"You too, Mangmung. Here's your food."
I fried eggs sunny-side up in the still-hot pan, filled Mangmung's bowl with kibble.
Tailored to their tastes: Hwaryeon's loaded with ham, Suryeon's balanced, Choryeon's extra kimchi no ham.
Plated nicely, topped with fried eggs...
"All set. Enjoy your lunch."
Glossy kimchi fried rice under golden fried eggs.
Kids grabbed spoons before their plates.
"Let's eat!"
"Gonna eat well."
"Eat well, Father!"
Nom nom—
They shoveled in the still-hot fried rice.
Seeing them blow on spoons and eat eagerly, clearly hooked on my cooking.
I watched fondly and dropped the key question.
"Kids, how's it? Dad's kimchi fried rice good? Dad's cooking leveled up big time, right?"
Gulp—
I stared expectantly.
Hwaryeon, scarfing fastest, answered.
"Tasty! Dad's food always is!"
"Good it's tasty. How's Dad's cooking skill?"
"Cooking skill? Dunno! It's tasty!"
"..."
Nom nom—
Hwaryeon just kept eating happily.
No real praise for my skills.
"Not what I wanted... Suryeon!"
"Dad, eating here."
"Oh, right. Won't bug you. Sorry, Suryeon."
"Fine then."
Prickly kid.
Gave up on Suryeon, cautiously asked Choryeon last.
"Choryeon, Dad's cooking? Big improvement?"
"Hmm..."
Choryeon pondered deeply over her plate.
Then slowly looked up at me.
"I think Father hasn't changed much."
"...Yeah?"
Kinda down.
But then she continued.
"Because Father was always an awesome dad! Father was always the same! Hasn't changed!"
"...!!"
Oh.
That deep.
'How does Choryeon say such pretty words.'
Forgot we were eating, lunged at her cheeks.
"Come here, Choryeon!"
"Eek, hee hee— F-Father! We're eating! This is bad!"
"Cheeks, come here!"
"Ahaha—!"
I stretched and tugged her cheeks with my mouth.
Must've bugged Hwaryeon and Suryeon.
"I'm eating! What're you doing!"
"...Wanna flip the table."
They glared daggers.
But I didn't care.
'No need to fish for "changed" praise. They see me positively always.'
No need for dad's petty whining.
Realizing that melted away my unease and stress.
Learning your kids' honest hearts always feels great.