Chapter 116
Chapter 116
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 116
Chapter Title: Happy Birthday to You (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Morning at kindergarten.
The dragons arrived at kindergarten today, yawning just like always.
However, the atmosphere at the kindergarten felt off today, unlike usual.
Suryeon was the first to notice the strange vibe and spoke up.
"It's not like usual. The kindergarten is too quiet."
Mornings were always filled with the lively sounds of children running around.
But today, there were no thumping footsteps from kids dashing about, not even the usual noisy chatter.
"Something's weird. It's not like usual."
Chill—
Suryeon sharpened her gaze, scanning the surroundings warily.
In contrast, Hwaryeon snorted and charged ahead.
"Hmph, maybe everyone's just being quiet today! No need to make a fuss!"
"Hwaryeon unnie, I said it's dangerous today, unlike usual—"
"I don't feel any danger at all!"
Dash dash dash—!
Ignoring the warning, Hwaryeon ran forward.
Suryeon and Choryeon could only blink in place.
"Red Dragon Yi Hwaryeon. She's gonna die first like that. She should be more careful. If she wants to get herself killed, I won't stop her."
"That's right. Hwaryeon unnie has way too little caution!"
Sigh—
Suryeon and Choryeon let out sighs and followed the path Hwaryeon had taken.
At least it was good that Hwaryeon went first and confirmed it wasn't dangerous.
The dragons walked down the unusually quiet hallway and reached the door.
Hwaryeon placed her hand on the doorknob and asked.
"I sense presences beyond this door! Should I open it?"
"It'd be better to watch a bit longer before—"
"Oh, whatever! Gotta open it!"
"...Why even ask then?"
Creak—
The door swung open due to Hwaryeon's solo action.
At that moment.
Pop—! Bang—!
"Happy birthday!!"
The children's voices, unheard until now, burst out along with the confetti poppers.
The confetti remnants settled on the dragons' heads.
The dragons were so startled by the sudden celebration that they lost their words for a moment.
"Huh?"
"What?"
"Hmm?"
A sudden birthday celebration.
What on earth was going on?
Even as party hats were placed on their heads, the dragons couldn't comprehend the situation.
"Why are they celebrating us?"
An incomprehensible situation.
Suryeon grabbed a nearby kindergarten friend and asked.
"You, what the hell is this?"
"S-Sorry... D-Did I do something wrong...?"
The kindergarten friend cowered at Suryeon's expressionless face.
Suryeon released her grip and asked a bit more kindly.
"So... what exactly is going on here? Why are you celebrating us?"
"I-Isn't today your birthday?"
"Birthday? What's a birthday?"
"W-What? You don't know what your own birthday is?"
"..."
That stung her pride for no reason.
Suryeon answered confidently.
"I know. Birthday."
"You just said you didn't—"
"I know now. I know everything. Got it?"
"Y-Yeah... Okay..."
The kindergarten friend decided not to say anything more.
It wasn't just because Suryeon was scary; the conversation didn't seem to be going anywhere.
And so, the dragons received birthday wishes from their kindergarten friends and even learned in class what a birthday was.
"The day you were born is called a birthday!"
"Hmm, dragons don't particularly celebrate the day they were born. We don't die anyway. Is this a human custom?"
"They say if you blow out the candles on a birthday cake, your wish comes true! Mangmung! Let's make a wish for Dad together today!"
"Mang mang—!"
Surely Dad would celebrate our birthday today too, right?
The dragons looked forward to kindergarten ending quickly, their hearts excited.
And then, as kindergarten ended and it was time for Dad to pick them up like usual.
"Yi Hwaryeon, Yi Suryeon, Yi Choryeon. Come down. I've come to pick you up."
"Dad's here!"
Dash dash dash—
The kids ran down excitedly because of their birthday.
They met the person waiting for them on the first floor.
"I've come to pick you up, oh great dragon lords."
It wasn't Yi Ha-jun; it was an elf hiding his long ears.
Hwaryeon pouted and shouted loudly.
"What? It's not Dad! Where's Dad?"
"He has urgent business today, so I came to pick you up. He'll be back late tonight."
"No way! Call Dad!"
"Please come with me today, oh great dragon lords."
"Raaah—!"
Hwaryeon threw a tantrum, but...
There was nothing they could do.
And so, the kids had no choice but to go home with the elf.
"Hmph, it's our birthday today! Where the heck did Dad go!"
"I wasn't expecting much from a birthday anyway. But Dad's choice is disappointing."
"Still, Father will come back before it's too late. I hope he does since it's our birthday."
Holding onto expectations for their birthday.
The dragons headed home, feeling a bit disappointed.
Even after arriving home, they stared at the firmly shut iron gate, waiting for Dad to return before the birthday ended.
It couldn't be helped that they felt upset because it was their birthday.
***
Today is my daughters' birthday.
But of all days, I have something important today.
Still, I can't be a lousy dad to the kids.
"Cake hidden by the door... and clothes too..."
Once I finish the job later and get back.
I can celebrate the girls' birthday right away.
With all preparations complete, I headed to the heroes' assembly point.
Dozens of heroes were already gathered there.
'Including me, three B-rank heroes. The other twelve are all C or D-rank.'
Higher-rank heroes were busy with schedules.
Still, this was decent; the association chairman must have put in some effort.
I wasn't thrilled showing that unpleasant guy my daughters' photos, but I was genuinely grateful.
With that thought, I addressed the assembled heroes as their representative.
"Today, we will uproot the criminal organizations here. So the poor in this area won't live in fear. And so children can grow up safely. We are responsible for this district's future! Understood!"
Wasn't that pretty cool?
I got a bit carried away, admiring myself.
'Hurry up and clap for my speech!'
But.
For some reason, no applause came after my speech.
Instead, they were whispering while looking at me.
"But who's that guy?"
"I heard he shot up to B-rank super fast. Doesn't look that strong for the hype."
"Woo Jin-su, the B-rank next to him, is way more famous. No idea why this guy's leading the mission."
Damn it.
I've closed who knows how many dimensional gates on my own.
Maybe because they haven't seen me fight.
They were severely underestimating the not-so-famous me.
'I'll show them properly this time.'
Grit—
I clenched my teeth.
So my daughters wouldn't be ashamed of me, I resolved to be a father they could be proud of.
'I'll show my skills. Finish quick and get home.'
Ahem—
This time, more seriously.
I unleashed a bit of Dragon Fear.
The faces of the low-rank heroes who had ignored me changed instantly.
Riding that momentum, I shouted confidently.
"Now, everyone move out. Take out all the criminals without getting hurt. Begin!"
"Y-Yes, sir!"
Dragon Fear really works.
The guys who ignored me scattered quickly.
I overtook them, pulling out the map that Ttungttung-i and Bi-sil-i had sent on my smartphone.
It was a map with several buildings circled.
"The building right ahead on this side! Go in now!"
"Yes!"
I bulldozed ahead to the second floor.
Then, I lightly kicked the locked door.
Boom—!
"W-What!? Which gang is this?"
Five criminals gathered in a small office on the second floor.
Loan sharks who ran a debt collection business and sold defaulters into human trafficking.
I smashed my fist into their faces and said.
"I've gotta get home quick. Be good and come quietly."
Crack—!
One punch each, and they were done.
Without breaking a sweat, I turned to the heroes standing idly behind me.
"What are you doing? Move it. Tie them up outside with rope. The kind that won't come loose no matter what."
"Yes, got it!"
Only then did the heroes respond briskly to me.
Looking closely, their gazes toward me had changed.
It felt like heroes were starting to recognize me bit by bit.
'The closest one seems to be that scientist's organization's building. Won't be easy.'
To celebrate the kids' birthday.
I hustled to wipe out the criminals before the day ended.
***
Regardless of the primitive era, medieval times, or modern age, dragons indulge in amusements for their own entertainment.
When it gets boring, they end the fun, take the most memorable item, and return to their personal nests.
In the nest, they undergo hibernation, slowly reliving and forgetting the events of their amusement over a long period.
After that long hibernation, the awakened dragon moves to another dimension to enjoy new amusements.
Dragons live solely for their own interests and pleasure, excelling at deceiving others during their games.
It's their way of alleviating the curse-like laziness and boredom of near-immortal lives.
"Dragons are a selfish breed who care only about themselves. As long as they're satisfied, that's it. They don't give a damn about the humans they fool."
There are humans who have been deceived, harmed, and had their lives ruined by such selfish dragon amusements.
They harbor immense vengeance against dragons and dedicate their lives to killing them.
The world calls such humans this.
'Dragon Slayer.'
Solely to kill dragons.
They infiltrate the human world to slay the repulsive dragons enjoying their games by deceiving humans.
Beings who cross dimensions hunting dragons.
"So, there are dragons in this dimension?"
The question came from the Dragon Slayer with a massive sword on his back.
The man hiding in the shadows answered.
"Yes, there are. A ton of them, in fact. Even that mighty dragon sees Earth as a very fun playground for amusements."
"How did you know to summon me from another dimension?"
"Well, we used pure, untainted mana for that. It was quite the ordeal gathering it."
Smirk—
The man said that with a light smile.
The Dragon Slayer frowned but decided not to dwell on it.
His interest was solely in dragons.
He trudged toward the door.
"The deal is I kill the dragons. You handle the bodies."
"Yes, exactly. Deal with any interfering humans as you see fit."
"Got it. The bodies might not stay intact, but since you summoned me here, I'll manage that much. And..."
He paused.
The Dragon Slayer turned back and asked.
"What's your organization's name?"
The man stepped forward from the shadows, revealing his masked face, and said.
"We are 'Weaponless'."
"Weaponless, huh. Tch, disgusting name for a group—wanting to become dragons."
The Dragon Slayer showed his discomfort and headed outside.
After walking the long corridor and exiting the building.
He caught the scent of the dragon he'd been seeking.
"It's faint, but I found it already. Guess that's how it is."
A human steeped in the faint smell of dragon.
Yi Ha-jun.
The Dragon Slayer firmly imprinted Yi Ha-jun's appearance in one eye.
His other eye had been blind for a long time anyway.