Chapter 122
Chapter 122
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 122
Chapter Title: Dragon IN Elementary School (2)
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A refreshing morning heralded the start of a new day.
I opened my eyes in bed, surrounded by dragons.
"Yawwwn—"
"..."
"Mmmph—"
"Why do these kids insist on sleeping in my bed instead of their own rooms...?"
Sigh—
What time was it?
I shoved aside the legs and sleek tails of the dragons weighing down my body.
Then, I reached out and checked my smartphone on the shelf.
"7:50..."
The alarm was set for 8:00.
But I woke up naturally at 7:50.
About ten minutes early.
It was only natural.
Today was a very important day for my daughters.
"Time to get ready. Elementary school entrance ceremony."
I shook the bodies of the kids who were sleeping soundly, oblivious to the world, and shouted.
"Everyone up! Time to go to school!"
"Uuuugh... I wanna sleep more..."
"..."
"Mmm yaaawn—"
These guys?
No matter how much I shook them, they just groaned and refused to get up.
'No choice. Time for the last resort.'
First impressions matter.
We couldn't be late for the entrance ceremony.
I grabbed a frying pan and ladle from the kitchen.
Then, I slammed the ladle against the frying pan with all my might.
Clang clang clang—!
"Everyone up!!"
"Kyahaaah—! I'm dying—!"
"...Too loud, Dad."
"Ugh, Father... I'm up... Stop it..."
"Ma, Mang..."
Did we really have to resort to this to wake them up?
The kids who had been sleeping now had their eyes wide open.
I took the still-dazed Hwaryeon to the bathroom.
"Come on, Hwaryeon. Let's wash up quick."
"Ughhh..."
"Face first."
I turned on the faucet and splashed water on Hwaryeon's face.
Splash splash—
"Torturing me like this... Game Ranger headquarters will never find out..."
"It's not waterboarding, Hwaryeon."
"Ughhh..."
Starting with Hwaryeon's face wash.
I wiped the kids' faces, put toothbrushes in their mouths.
The kids diligently brushed their dragon teeth and began changing into clothes for the entrance ceremony.
"Dad! Where are my pants!?"
"In the closet, far left."
Thud thud thud—!
"Suryeon, cut the posing. Leave the A-Pad at home."
"...Tch."
Crash bang—!!
"Father, what about Mangmung?"
"Kindergarten and elementary school are different. Mangmung stays home."
"Our poor Mangmung... Guard the house well even without me! Got it?"
"Mang mang..."
As always, morning prep time was chaotic and rushed.
While the kids changed in their rooms, I prepared a simple breakfast.
"Hurry and eat your cereal so we can go to school."
I poured fresh milk over bowls of corn cereal.
The cereal softens just right after soaking in milk, losing its crunch but becoming easier to eat.
The milk, nearly overflowing, gets sweetened by the sugar from the cereal.
"Why no meat with the cereal!?"
"Haaah... Too much hassle to eat..."
"I love cereal, Father! The milk's delicious!"
Good appetite.
Hwaryeon grumbled a bit about the lack of meat side dishes.
But overall, the kids ate their morning cereal well.
"Haaaah..."
Except for Suryeon, who yawned sleepily and moved slowly.
I brought a spoonful to Suryeon's still-half-asleep mouth.
"Suryeon, ahh—."
"...I'm not a baby. I can feed myself."
She turned away, face flushing red.
Looking closely, there were dark circles under her eyes.
"Suryeon."
"...What?"
"You were playing games late last night, weren't you?"
"..."
Suryeon clamped her mouth shut and fidgeted.
Even though I told her to sleep early, she stayed up late gaming.
'I need to give her a stern talking-to.'
I spoke firmly to Suryeon.
"Suryeon."
"..."
"If you keep gaming late and it affects you the next day, no more A-Pad."
"...!!"
Nom nom—
Only then did Suryeon's spoon speed up.
She clearly didn't want to lose her A-Pad.
I immediately turned to Choryeon sitting beside her.
"Choryeon."
"Yes, Father!"
"Why are you eating so slowly again?"
"Hmm... Am I sleepy too?"
Her eyes sparkled; she didn't look sleepy at all.
To avoid being late, I fed Choryeon a spoonful of cereal.
"Choryeon, ahh—!"
"Ahhh—"
"Vrooom— Airplane incoming!"
Suryeon shot us a jealous glare, probably envious of the airplane game.
But we finished breakfast leisurely and left the house.
"Mangmung! We'll be back soon! Guard the house, fighting!"
"Mang mang—!"
And so.
Leaving Mangmung, who barked bravely, alone at home.
We stepped out, took the elevator down.
'My daughters are starting elementary school already.'
Time flies.
We left our old apartment and walked the ten minutes to the nearby elementary school.
Blending in with the kids coming from the new apartments next door.
The dragon kids commented on the elementary students they saw.
"Hmph, way more humans than kindergarten! I'll get tons of minions!"
"...Too many humans. Half could disappear."
"I bet I'll make lots of friends! Totally different from kindergarten, Father!"
They were right.
Dragons would surely experience a completely different group life from kindergarten.
I just prayed my kids would adapt well to the human world.
So they could safely enjoy it even after I was gone.
"School's almost here, kids. Everyone, stay sharp."
"Hmph, I'm always sharp!"
"Dad, you stay sharp. You're all tense."
"Yup, I'll stay sharp! Fighting!"
And so we passed through the elementary school gate, adorned with entrance ceremony banners.
Maybe because my daughters had such unique looks.
For some reason, it felt like all the parents were staring at us.
***
First, the kids had to complete enrollment procedures.
"Please fill out the forms here."
"Yes, yes, like this, right?"
I roughly signed the papers.
Then the kids' physical exams began right away.
"We're measuring overall physical stats and mana capacity today. It won't take long."
"Yes, go ahead."
They said it measured automatically once you stepped on the thin plate.
I stood in front of the machine and told the grumpy kids.
"It'll be quick, so relax your faces."
"Judging me, a dragon, like some human! I hate it!"
"Same here."
Grrrr—
Hwaryeon and Suryeon glared at the enrollment supervisor.
The supervisor looked flustered, so I picked up Hwaryeon.
"Hwaryeon, come here."
"Uwaaah, put me down—!"
"Quiet and get examined. You wearing the ring?"
"Hmph, you think I'm dumb? Of course!"
Hwaryeon's middle finger had the yellow ring on securely.
I tossed Hwaryeon onto the exam platform, and after about ten seconds, the results came out.
The supervisor looked at the printout and said to me.
"Height's above average for her age. Good muscle mass too. Healthy kid."
"And mana?"
"Mana capacity is above average, but not awakened. Seems to have an attribute too. If she awakens later, she'll make an excellent hero."
Phew—
Good.
The ring had successfully hidden the dragons' massive mana.
Without it, she'd have set a world record.
And she was just a first-grader.
'I owe Yellow Dragon a thank you.'
The rings on the kids' fingers came from the Association Chairman via Yellow Dragon.
My daughters' magic skills were still lacking, so they couldn't hide their power.
That's why Yellow Dragon enchanted the rings with 'Mana Concealment' and sent them.
'It came in a box full of fireworks—scared me half to death.'
Still, despite the prankster side, she's a good dragon.
Hwaryeon's exam done, I picked up pouty-faced Suryeon.
"Suryeon, come here."
"I-I can walk myself. Put me down quick. Humans are watching."
"Hey, stay still."
"I hate humans examining me... and I hate Dad..."
This was Suryeon's fault for not cooperating quickly.
I lifted her up and placed her straight on the platform.
Results came soon.
"Average height, but low weight. Needs more exercise and better eating. Mana... high again. Promising kid."
"Like you humans know anything— Mmph!"
I quickly covered Suryeon's mouth.
Then we started Choryeon's exam.
Choryeon wore her ring on her left ring finger.
'She was thrilled when I gave it to her, asking if we were finally getting married.'
After getting it, she excitedly declared, 'We're married!'
She was disappointed when she learned otherwise.
But Choryeon still wears it on her left ring finger, insisting it's her wedding ring.
"Hehe, this is my engagement ring. I'm marrying Father soon. Hehehehehe."
Choryeon grinned slyly(?) as her exam finished.
All exams done.
"Height and weight both below average. Needs more meat."
"Meat is violence! I won't eat it!"
"Mana above average. Sisters have natural talent."
It's because they have a great dad.
I wanted to say that, but held back, mindful of the stares.
No need to reveal I'm a hero.
'But why isn't anyone asking for an autograph? Don't they recognize me?'
No.
They must recognize me.
They're just being polite, not asking.
Thinking that, I moved with the kids.
"What a considerate society."
"Nah, Dad's just not popular."
"Hey, Suryeon, watch it. Dad's popular."
"Hmm, is he?"
Really.
I was a bit miffed Suryeon didn't acknowledge me.
But I headed to the auditorium with the kids for the ceremony.
Parents watched from the back, kids sat in their seats up front.
I pointed to the kids' seats.
"Your names are on seats 8 to 10 in class 1-1."
"Hmph, my eyesight's great—I see it!"
"Go sit. Dad'll watch from back."
Parents had their section.
Students had theirs.
The kids slowly walked away to their seats, glancing back anxiously.
Each time, I smiled and waved reassuringly.
Meaning everything's fine.
"I'll watch from back, so hurry and sit! It's starting soon!"
"..."
Only then did they relax and head confidently to their seats.
Knowing I was watching, they didn't look back anymore.
They sat down, then turned to wave at me.
"Dad, I'm here! Watch or not, your choice!"
"...Entrance ceremony's no big deal. Don't need to watch."
"Father! I'm enrolling! Look at me!"
Waaaah—
The kids waved and smiled at me.
Their striking looks already stood out; this made them even more noticeable.
"Oh my, whose daughters are those pretty girls?"
"Mana attribute changes hair color? Parents must be heroes."
"Triplets that cute? Parents hit the jackpot."
Ahem—
Hearing my daughters praised made me feel great.
'Feels good, but kinda awkward too. Everyone else has moms except me.'
Some dads around, but.
All parents around me were moms.
'First time surrounded by so many women.'
Too bad they're all taken; no dating prospects.
Awkward, but I stood tall without shrinking.
And so, after waiting.
The long-awaited entrance ceremony began.
Boring sponsor speeches, then a famous hero's son did the pledge.
'I can tell whose son right away.'
Son of a hero I remember.
S-Rank Hero, sword user, son of a big corp chairman.
Handsome too—naturally inspires inferiority.
'Can't recall his name since he's a guy.'
Anyway.
The black-haired, smart-looking son of the S-Rank Hero raised his hand and said.
"Pledge. We, Kim Si-hu and 150 other first-graders of Future Elementary School, pledge to study hard and become the light of Korea's future."
Clap clap clap—
Thunderous applause.
Choryeon joined in enthusiastically.
Hwaryeon and Suryeon didn't budge.
After the boring principal's address.
The ceremony ended.
'Hope they have fun at school.'
Watching my daughters' distinct silhouettes amid over a hundred kids.
I just hoped they'd enjoy elementary life happily.
Regardless of grades, no trouble, stay healthy.
"Dad's going. Bye, kids."
Kids headed to classes.
Parents left for their own lives.