Chapter 11
Chapter 11
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: Polymorph (4)
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I opened the rusty iron gate plastered with overdue bills and headed to work as usual.
"Sip, whoo—early morning air always feels great no matter when you breathe it in."
Even if the fog and smog were mixed in a 5:5 ratio, making it hard to see ahead.
The dampness of the dawn air was enough to put me in a good mood.
"Nice. Alright, let's work hard again today."
I hoped I could save money quickly.
I hurried my steps to reach the workplace even a second sooner, and to avoid picking fights with the nearby homeless folks.
"One, two. One, two."
Lately, my condition had been pretty good.
Even though I went to work every day, I didn't feel the usual muscle aches or fatigue at all.
People were even telling me my skin had improved recently.
But.
"…My body's feeling weird today. What's going on?"
My mood felt the same, or even better.
Normally, I'd have reached the subway easily by now.
But today, unlike usual, sweat was dripping from my forehead.
Comparing it to my body yesterday.
It was clear something was wrong with my body today.
"Feels kinda heavy somewhere… Is it just my imagination…?"
Feeling an odd sense of something off from the norm.
I barely managed to board the subway heading to my work area.
"Haa… haa…"
A more exhausted body than usual.
I wiped the sweat and steadied my breathing.
As I kept my head down for a bit, the bag on my back started pressing down on me.
That's when I finally pinpointed the culprit tormenting me.
"I never thought this would happen to me. You guys cause trouble every other day, huh. What, showing off your young age?"
These little punks.
I swung the bag from my back to the front.
Then, I unzipped it and locked eyes with the one inside.
My suspicion was spot on.
"The one I thought was the quietest ends up causing the most trouble."
"…Shaa—"
"Suryeon."
The blue-eyed dragon.
Suryeon, who had been curled up hiding in the bag.
Seemed like it had been peeking at the outside world through the small gap in the zipper.
I met the blank stare of the little guy and rubbed my forehead.
"Ugh, I should've noticed before getting on the subway. Can't go home now. What am I supposed to do with you?"
"Shaa—"
"What're you crying about like you did something good. Don't cry. I'm the one who wants to cry…"
"…Shaa—"
Suryeon let out a small apologetic cry.
But it didn't seem like it planned to go home.
And I couldn't go back either.
*'Sorry, but I'm right.'*
Suryeon's unfathomably deep blue eyes and lifted chin seemed to say as much.
Sigh—
*'Can't go back, and we're already this far. No choice.'*
For now.
"Why'd you follow me? Tell me the reason first?"
I decided to hear the reason for all this hassle just to tag along.
***
In the corner of the subway car, Suryeon explained eagerly.
"Shaa— shaaah— shaaaaaa—"
"Mm-hmm. Yeah, yeah. I see."
"Shaa—"
I nodded along to Suryeon's cries.
Of course, I had no idea what it was saying.
I was just fulfilling my parental duty of listening to my kid.
*'Well, even without it telling me, I can kinda guess why it did this.'*
If it wanted a walk, it could've appealed after I got home—wagging its tail or sitting by the door in protest.
There are plenty of ways to express opinions through body language.
No way a dragon like Suryeon didn't know that.
*'But it snuck into my bag specifically. Must mean it wanted to see the outside world.'*
If it was running away, it could've just left without a word.
Hiding in my bag means it wanted to sightsee and get home safe.
It was clearly curious about how I live my life as a parent and followed me.
Realizing that far, I couldn't help but voice my admiration.
"Ha, what parent understands their kid's heart this well? Even I think I'm an amazing parent. Right, Suryeon?"
"…Shaa."
See.
Suryeon agrees too.
"Alright then, Suryeon."
"Shaa—"
"I'll tell you what I can about the outside world right now."
Subway, so keep it quiet and unobtrusive.
Rush hour anyway, so crowds would hide us.
If anyone noticed, they'd think it's a pet lizard, not a dragon.
I pulled only Suryeon's head out of the bag so it could see properly.
Peek—
"Shaa—"
Now Suryeon could look outside.
With the bag slung in front, I pointed at the subway window.
"First, you need to know where we live and where we're going. Right now, we're heading to Seoul-07 District. We live in Seoul-09 District."
The Seoul-09 District we live in is infamous as a slum.
A bit farther from my villa, and you're likely to witness drugs and organ trafficking.
Seoul-07 District, where I work, is full of industrial zones.
Lots of low-barrier jobs compared to other areas, and high gate appearance rates.
"It's easy if you think the higher the number after 'Seoul,' the better the environment."
"Shaa—"
Suryeon nodded while gazing at the half-built buildings flashing by the window.
Seemed to understand well with its bright mind like mine.
"You can go to other regions besides Seoul, but that's for heroes and hunters on paid expeditions. Learn later. Wanna see that person, Suryeon?"
"Shaa—"
Suryeon followed my finger to someone sitting in a seat.
There was a reason I pointed that person out.
"See that arm. Metal arm."
"Shaa—"
"It's trending these days. People who can't awaken mana are modifying their bodies to get stronger."
"Shaa—?"
"Just know this. If someone's body is metal, they're someone who modified themselves to get strong."
"Shaa—"
Suryeon nodded as if it understood again.
Man, I'm jealous of that metal arm.
If I modded my body like that, could I make big money and become a hero saving people?
Honestly, I covet it and feel envious.
"Maybe I should get mods once I save up…"
"…Shaa—"
Smack—!
As I thought that, Suryeon's tail whipped my cheek.
Didn't hurt, just puzzled me.
"What's up, Suryeon?"
"…"
Suryeon just gave me a pitiful look.
Didn't say anything specific.
Seemed opposed to body mods, for some reason.
While holding Suryeon's outdoor class in the subway like that, we finally reached our destination.
I pushed Suryeon's peeking head back in.
"Now get back inside."
"Shaa—!"
"No fussing, behave!"
"…"
It resisted at first but went in without complaint.
As long as there were holes for breathing and peeking.
No problems until we reached work.
"Alright, this is my workplace."
Feels weird thinking I brought a big secret to work.
I entered the container, unpacked, and changed into work clothes.
Then, to the blue dragon peeking out of the bag, I said.
"Suryeon."
"Shaa—"
"Gonna behave and rest?"
"Shaa— shaa—"
Suryeon shook its head vigorously.
No way.
Since it came this far.
Didn't seem like it planned to just rest quietly.
*'Better to let it loose in this case.'*
Tying down a restless kid doesn't make it quieter.
It'd just throw a bigger fit demanding 'give me freedom!'
So, giving controlled freedom seemed right.
"If you're not gonna rest quietly, let's settle this."
"Shaa—?"
"I have to work, can't keep checking on you. So, come into my sight every hour. Show me you're playing fine."
"Shaaa…"
Hm.
Not a great reaction.
Suryeon had a bored look like 'why should I…?'
*'Guess I have to use that method.'*
From watching Suryeon so far.
It had one fatal weakness.
Namely.
"Dragons can't even handle that…?"
"Sh, shaa—! Shaa—!"
Act cool all you want on the outside.
Scratch the inside just right.
"Something even humans can do easily…"
"Shaa—! Shaa—!"
"Dragons… can't handle that…?"
"Shaa—!! Shaa—!!"
The most emotional expression from Suryeon yet.
As if it was a breeze.
It crawled back into the bag and curled up.
"That's right. A dragon should handle at least that much."
"Shaa—"
"Alright, I'll go work. Be good till end of day."
"…Shaa."
Gotta run before it realizes it got played.
I left Suryeon in the container and headed to work.
Suryeon's safety matters, but only work gets us tasty food and a safe home.
"I'm here. Starting now."
And so, today too, I started working hard for me and the dragon.
***
-Obey the reporting system, and it gives me freedom.
Satisfactory deal.
Can't see tons of places, but decent info intake.
-Subway info was good. But this chance might not come again. Gotta max out info.
Poof—
Suryeon popped out of the bag and scouted around.
The container held a chill, traces of long years.
-No fun info here. Gotta go outside.
Splat, splat—
Suryeon crawled the floor, checking escape routes.
Window cracked for ventilation.
-That'll do.
Suryeon slipped out the window to the outside.
The site where Lee Ha-jun worked, littered with monster spoils from dimensional gates.
To Suryeon, those spoils weren't bad.
-All hold mana. Pretty pure too.
All creatures store mana in their hearts.
Purer mana means more effective ability use.
From that view, human hearts held the lowest-grade mana.
-Lee Ha-jun. That human doesn't even have mana.
Still.
Drinking water I made with my mana might store purer mana someday.
Suryeon recalled Lee Ha-jun's improving condition lately, then crawled toward where it sensed him.
-Hm.
"Move this to A-3. B team coming soon, so think ahead, everyone."
There, Lee Ha-jun was diligently lifting and moving monster spoils.
Not shying from heavy ones.
Sweating buckets, enduring pain, working hard.
No trace of the home smile—serious, no humor.
Suryeon watched quietly, recording through blue eyes.
-Compared to TV, that guy's pathetic. Prepping dinner by working that hard?
I could move those spoils three times over with one go.
Even without strength, that human moves stuff that diligently?
-…Unlike appearances. Has a serious side.
Lee Ha-jun first tried to sell the dragons.
So Suryeon planned to leave once self-sufficient.
Who knows when he'd try again.
But.
-…Seems he takes us seriously in his own way.
Maybe a bit longer.
In that cramped house.
-…Don't like 'temporary parent' title.
But not bad.
Suryeon watched Lee Ha-jun quietly, lost in deep thought.
Felt like the sea of knowledge was expanding bit by bit.