Chapter 112
Chapter 112
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 112
Chapter Title: B-Rank Hero Promotion... Picnic (3)
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We wandered around the jungle city.
Every now and then, we used Peony Fire Beam to burn the plants to ash, or explored the urban areas collapsed by the foliage.
Until the sky darkened and visibility dropped to zero.
"We should find a spot to crash soon."
"What! I wanna keep walking!"
"We played a ton today. Time to rest, Hwaryeon."
"Tch!"
Hwaryeon clicked her tongue at the suggestion of sleep.
She was still young, so she didn't seem tired no matter how much we roamed.
I took her hand and led her to the least damaged building around.
"Stay quiet and follow me. It'll be more dangerous in the dark."
"Hmph, if I burn everything, it'll be bright and safe!"
"Burning the whole place down would be way more dangerous, you little rascal."
I figured Hwaryeon could protect us with her flames, no problem.
But the other heroes searching separately from us would probably get roasted in her fire.
Her flames weren't normal fire—they were dragon breath.
"This looks safe enough. We'll bunk here tonight."
"Fine!"
Thud—
I dropped my gear on the floor and started prepping for the night.
I unrolled the sleeping bag I'd packed, lit a portable lamp to brighten the surroundings.
Then I pulled out some simple dinner food.
'...I only packed enough for me.'
It'd be a bit short, but oh well.
I cut a round onigiri in half and handed one to Hwaryeon.
"Let's split it, Hwaryeon. Here's your onigiri."
"Rice!"
Drip—
Hwaryeon drooled at the sight of the onigiri.
She snatched it up and opened her mouth wide.
"Bon appétit!"
Chomp—!
Hwaryeon stuffed the entire onigiri into her mouth in one go.
I pinched her puffed-up cheeks and said,
"You rascal. I told you to eat slow so you don't choke."
"Mmph, it'sh goob!"
"Here, water if it gets stuck."
She really was a handful.
I couldn't help but smile as I watched Hwaryeon chew with her mouth stuffed full.
She looked less like a dragon and more like a chipmunk.
"Hwaryeon."
"Mm?"
"Don't go around calling yourself a dragon anywhere. You'd ruin the whole reputation of dragons."
"What're you talking about! I'm a super scary dragon!"
Rawr—!
Hwaryeon bared her claws at me in a mock threat.
But to me, she just looked like my adorable daughter.
We chatted like that to pass the time until my eyes started drooping.
After checking in with the other heroes via radio, I tucked Hwaryeon into the sleeping bag.
"Stay put and sleep here. If you need the bathroom, wake Daddy up."
"I can go by myself!"
"I know. But it's dangerous, so wake me. I'll be sleeping outside."
I zipped Hwaryeon into the sleeping bag.
Then I stroked her forehead, leaving just her face peeking out.
"Go to sleep quick. Staying up late stunts your growth."
Hwaryeon's face flushed as she nibbled her lip.
"You too... sleep well or whatever... watch your back..."
She was subtly worried about my wound.
Even in this unfamiliar place, Hwaryeon fell asleep in no time.
I only closed my eyes once I confirmed she was out.
My back stung a little where the thorns had pierced, but I was just relieved Hwaryeon was unharmed.
***
Morning came.
Hwaryeon and I munched on hot bars as we roamed the city center.
"Hwaryeon."
"Yeah?"
"Where's the core, anyway?"
"How should I know!"
Hwaryeon yelled.
Fair enough—she wouldn't know.
'If it were easy to find, they wouldn't have let the city turn into a jungle like this.'
I'd heard they just trimmed the vines whenever they crossed the boundary line.
They didn't want to waste manpower closing the dimensional gate, and they hadn't bothered reclaiming Bupyeong-gu.
But now the government had asked the Hero Association to take it back.
"Ugh, annoying. I wanna go home and fart on Choryeon already."
"Ew, gross!"
Jealous for no reason again.
I found Hwaryeon's jealousy cute and turned my head.
For some reason, she glared at me with a look of contempt.
'...She's faking it, right?'
She definitely liked her daddy but was too shy to show it.
Thinking that, I scanned the area to hurry home.
That's when it happened.
—Static... There...! Anyone there...!?
"I'm here."
—Quick response...!!
A sudden burst from the radio.
I answered the frantic voice.
"What's up?"
—Problem in B3 sector...! Need backup...! Who's this...!?
"It's Lee Ha-jun."
—A C-rank hero...! Of all the luck... Damn it...!
"..."
Maybe I shouldn't help.
Hwaryeon seemed to agree, muttering beside me.
"Wanna punch him!"
"Same, Hwaryeon."
But still.
An adult could forgive a little attitude like this.
I didn't want to act petty in front of my daughter.
I pocketed the radio and unfolded the map.
"It's pretty close. Let's go. Hwaryeon, transform into lizard mode now!"
"Not a lizard! I'm a dragon! And it's not transforming—it's going back to my original form!"
"Whatever. Just do it!"
"Hmph!"
Hwaryeon snorted in annoyance.
But she quickly released her polymorph and reverted to lizard form.
I hoisted her onto my shoulder and raced toward B3 sector, map in hand.
"Running to help even without being asked—that's what makes a hero. Got it, Hwaryeon?"
—Dad, that's cringy!
"..."
I'd just wanted to say something cool.
Cringy, huh.
I felt hurt before the fight even started.
"Wah."
—You said men don't cry! Don't cry, Dad!
My daughter could be harsh.
***
B3 sector.
Not an official name—just a coordinate marked on the map.
As the radio said, when we neared the area, sounds of battle echoed from afar.
"They're fighting over there."
—Let's go! Love fights! Go go!
With fight-crazed Hwaryeon on my shoulder.
I reached the escalating battle zone.
There, a massive plant like the rose from before was clashing with heroes.
The weary hero Kim Chang-su spotted me and bellowed,
"Hey, newbie! Fall back! What're you doing!"
"Trying to fight too."
"You're in the way! Get lost!!"
Boom—!
A huge bite mark scarred the asphalt where Kim Chang-su had stood moments ago.
A trace from the battling plant.
I pointed at it and said,
"Hwaryeon, that's a Venus flytrap."
—Venus flytrap? Cool name!
"Right? But it looks gross."
—Kinda does!
As I shared plant facts with Hwaryeon.
Kim Chang-su yelled at me again.
"Get lost!!"
What a hothead.
People these days have no chill, they say. Spot on.
I set my backpack down and faced the gaping-mouthed Venus flytrap.
"Looks vicious."
I glanced at Hwaryeon on my shoulder.
"Hwaryeon."
—Yeah?
"You can handle that, right?"
She replied excitedly.
—Obviously! I wanna fight! Burn it up!
Perfect.
I lifted Hwaryeon up.
Heave—
Then thrust her forward, mouth agape.
And.
"Peony Fire Beam—fire!"
—Raaawr!
Whoosh—!!
Hwaryeon's overwhelming firepower steamed the carnivorous Venus flytrap.
The other heroes stared at me in shock.
"W-What... that firepower...!!"
"Can't see it well... but emitting that much from his hand...?"
Her flames lit up the area.
The flytrap lunging at us with jaws wide recoiled.
—Kieeeek!!
"Ew, nasty."
The flytrap shrieked and ignited.
Hwaryeon spun her tail like a propeller, cranking up the heat.
—Raaawr!!!
Result.
Crumble—
The flytrap threatening us reduced to a pile of ash.
I petted Hwaryeon's head as she exhaled smoke after her fiery blast.
"Good job, Hwaryeon. I'll buy you something tasty when we get home."
—Chicken! Chicken for dinner!
"Got it. Any flavor you want, all yours."
—Yay!
Hwaryeon looked relaxed and happy.
The heroes we'd saved approached.
I quickly hid Hwaryeon behind my back.
"Anyone hurt?"
"Nah. Thanks to you."
Even Kim Chang-su, who'd been hostile at first, answered awkwardly.
He eyed me and asked,
"But weren't you holding something in your hand earlier?"
"Nope?"
"So that firepower's your ability?"
"Y-Yeah, you could say that."
Couldn't say it was Hwaryeon.
Kim Chang-su eyed me suspiciously but bowed his thanks.
"Thanks. You saved our lives."
"Really? I saved you?"
"We'd have been in deep trouble without you."
Hmm.
My mood still wasn't great.
The memory of being dissed lingered.
To shake it off, I extended my hand reluctantly.
"W-What? High five?"
No.
I pulled my hand back as he reached.
"Not that."
"Then what?"
"Life debt."
"Huh?"
"You said I saved your lives. Pay up."
"..."
Kim Chang-su gave me a 'what kind of guy is this?' look.
Hwaryeon, hidden in my pocket, transmitted,
'Dad. Lame.'
Quiet, you.
Ignoring my daughter, I pressed,
"So, what're you giving me?"
"Ahem..."
Kim Chang-su glanced at his team, then pointed at the flytrap ashes.
"That flytrap had a seed. Take it."
"That's mine by right. What else?"
"...This too."
He handed over a fist-sized, sparkling magic stone.
A rare drop from monsters sometimes.
'Not bad for a life debt.'
My bad mood lifted.
I pocketed the stone, waved, and left.
His team was searching this sector, so better hunt the core elsewhere.
"Flytrap seed... Choryeon might like it as a gift?"
As I examined the tiny seed.
Hwaryeon had polymorphed back to human form and blocked my path.
She thrust out her hand.
"Dad! Gimme that pretty gem!"
"Typical dragon. Obsessed with shiny rocks."
"Gimme!"
First, clothes.
I dressed her.
Then pondered the stone.
'Can sell it later anyway. Might as well.'
Magic stone prices were low now.
Sell when they rise.
I tossed it to Hwaryeon blocking my way.
"Here."
"Yesss! Gem! Hehe!"
"Don't lose it. Treasure it."
"Got it! Won't lose it!"
Hehe—
Hwaryeon grinned ear to ear, clearly thrilled.
Dragons loved shiny things like gems.
"Let's find that core, Hwaryeon."
"Okay!"
Hwaryeon trailed happily behind me, clutching her gem.
We roamed the ruined jungle city searching for the core.
Our daddy-daughter picnic in the collapsed urban jungle was nearing its end.
"Dad! Look!"
"?"
"Dinosaur!"
In dinosaur form, amid the jungle city.
—Kieeeek!!