Chapter 128
Chapter 128
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 128
Chapter Title: Species Difference
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K Group Chairman and son of an S-Rank Hero.
Kim Si-hu.
First-year elementary school student.
"Young master, it's time to wake up."
"...Already?"
He begins his day around 6 a.m.
With his secretary's help, Kim Si-hu gets out of bed the moment he opens his eyes.
After a quick trip to the bathroom, he immediately changes into his prepared workout clothes and heads to the yard.
"What's the training schedule for this morning?"
"One hour of running. The remaining hour is weight training."
"Got it. And Father? He left early again today?"
"Yes, he did. Please have your drink first."
"..."
Father's always so busy.
Kim Si-hu felt a slight pang of disappointment but wordlessly downed the drink his secretary handed him without complaint.
Gulp, gulp—
'Bitter.'
It was incredibly bitter.
Even so, he drank it every day because it was good for his health.
Kim Si-hu forced himself not to grimace as he swallowed the thick drink.
"Whew, all done. Let's get started."
"Yes, good luck today as well, young master."
"Thanks."
With an expressionless face, Kim Si-hu began running around the spacious yard.
A life of early morning training and late-night studying.
It was tough, but Kim Si-hu endured it as best he could.
'Father does even greater things than me. I can't disappoint him.'
Someday, Father will praise me too.
My father is the greatest father of all.
"I'm different from ordinary kids. I'm special."
Unlike other kids, the burden on his shoulders is heavy.
With that thought, Kim Si-hu threw himself into today's training with all his might.
'I'm different. I have to work harder than anyone.'
***
Gym class.
The children changed into their comfortable gym clothes and gathered in the gymnasium.
There, a PE teacher who resembled a gorilla was waiting for the students.
"Nice to meet you all! I'm Ko Jin-su, and I'll be teaching you for about a year! Everyone, clap!"
Waaaah—!
The children welcomed him with applause.
Of course, the dragons didn't clap.
"Hmph, as if you could teach us! You're not even human—you look like a gorilla!"
"Why should I clap? No way."
"Gorilla! You look like you love nature!"
The dragons each reacted differently.
'Ha, some rude students here.'
Ko Jin-su felt a bit annoyed but decided to proceed with the class anyway.
"For today, we'll do a simple fitness test! The event is long jump!"
Long jump.
After Ko Jin-su gave a quick demonstration, the students slowly lined up.
And Hwa-ryeon thought this was the perfect moment.
"Ha, my time has finally come! Time to show 'em what I got!"
Whoosh—!
Hwa-ryeon pointed at Kim Si-hu and shouted.
"Hey, Kimchi Fry! Let's settle this today!"
"...My name is Kim Si-hu."
"Whatever! Anyway, you're competing with me today! The one with the lower score becomes the loser's subordinate! Got it!?"
Hwa-ryeon's bold challenge.
Kim Si-hu inwardly sneered at her.
'Is she seriously trying to beat me right now? Me, Kim Si-hu, son of an S-Rank Hero? After all my hard work. And she's a girl, too.'
A fight he couldn't lose.
If anything, her challenging him hurt his pride.
"For your information, I'm different from you."
"Of course you are! You think we're the same or something?!"
"...Not like that. Unlike an ordinary kid like you, I'm special."
Their efforts were different.
Their talents were different.
They were on a different level.
Kim Si-hu said it, convinced his special self would never lose.
"You can never beat me. I'll make sure you can't show off in class anymore."
"Hmph, I've never liked you anyway! I'll knock that smug nose down!"
And so began the showdown between Kim Si-hu and Hwa-ryeon.
Ko Jin-su didn't understand the situation but decided to let it proceed.
'What's the son of an S-Rank Hero like?'
He was honestly curious.
"Kim Si-hu! You're up!"
"Yes, Teacher."
Whoosh—
Kim Si-hu exhaled and charged forward.
Then, he powered his legs and leaped ahead.
Swoooosh—
He soared through the air for a moment before landing steadily on the mat.
"Whew."
"Waaaah—! He just flew through the sky!!"
"Amazing!! As expected of an S-Rank Hero's son!!"
"He went past the measurement line... G-get the tape measure!"
Ko Jin-su hurriedly ran over and measured the distance.
"8M?! An elementary student jumped 8M!? That's world-record level for teens!? Even with mana in his body, this is..."
Gulp—
Ko Jin-su swallowed dryly at Kim Si-hu's overwhelming talent.
He couldn't even imagine how it would manifest in the future.
"N-next up, Kim Ah-reum—"
"Outta my way!"
Shove—!
Hwa-ryeon, slightly heated, pushed the kids aside and stepped forward.
Honestly, she couldn't help but be angry.
'Ha, that's all he’s got!? Why does everyone acknowledge him! I'm way more amazing!'
Even the kids who used to be her subordinates were now siding with Kim Si-hu.
"As expected of an S-Rank Hero's son!"
"You're our Class 1 hero, Kim Si-hu!"
"You're on par with Lee Hwa-ryeon. No, even better!"
These cowardly traitors!
I'll kill them after this!
Grinding her teeth, Hwa-ryeon yelled at Ko Jin-su.
"Hey, Teacher!"
"Is 'hey' and 'teacher' supposed to go together...?"
"I'm starting! Watch closely! Even with my power sealed by this ring!!"
Hwa-ryeon clenched her molars and began running.
And then.
"This is what I've got!!!"
Letting out her frustration at having the spotlight stolen.
Swoooooooom—!!
She soared high into the sky.
Even without wings, she flew through the air, hovering in the void for a long time.
Far surpassing Kim Si-hu's record.
"Perfect landing!!"
Thud—
Hwa-ryeon landed with flawless poise.
Then, she turned around and proudly flashed a V-sign with her fingers.
"This is me!"
"Waaaah—!!"
"I believed in you! Lee Hwa-ryeon!! You're our only boss!!"
"Hmph, liar!"
About 16M.
She crushed Kim Si-hu with double the distance.
Kim Si-hu stared at her in a daze.
'...How? How did she do that?'
My talent is supposed to be different.
I inherited Father's talent, so it should be different.
I've put in the effort every day.
Why did I lose to such a graceless, noisy girl?
'T-this can't be. I've worked harder than anyone. I couldn't have lost. I'm special.'
Clench—
His expressionless face twisted.
Losing his composure, Kim Si-hu approached Hwa-ryeon and said.
"...Let's do it again."
"Huh, what?"
"...Again."
"What'd you say?! I can't hear you!!?"
"...Let's do another event."
"Ha!"
Hwa-ryeon let out a hollow laugh.
Even so, a smile crept onto her lips.
She was a Red Dragon who loved fights, after all.
"Bring it! What next!?"
"...Running."
"Sure!"
Challenges were always welcome.
"I'll show you what real difference is!"
Species are different.
Hwa-ryeon decided to show this naturally talented human the harsh reality.
And.
'This is my class.'
PE teacher Ko Jin-su stared blankly at Lee Hwa-ryeon and Kim Si-hu.
He had long since lost control of the lesson.
***
Running results.
"You're super slow!"
"..."
Lee Hwa-ryeon wins decisively.
"Whatcha challenging next?"
"...Push-ups."
Push-up results.
"100!"
"7, 70..."
Lee Hwa-ryeon wins big.
After that, Kim Si-hu kept challenging her.
"I win again!"
"..."
Of course, that only piled up more losses.
Hwa-ryeon ended up with a score of 11 wins, 0 losses.
Undeterred, Kim Si-hu said again.
"...Next, high jump."
"No way?"
"...Why?"
"You're no fun anymore!"
Winning nonstop gets boring.
Hwa-ryeon was starting to get bored without the tension.
"You'll lose again anyway! The kids left 'cause it's no fun watching me win everything! No thrill, no fun!"
"..."
"Recess now, so I'm off to eat snacks! You're my subordinate starting today, so remember that!"
Bye-bye—
Hwa-ryeon waved and tried to leave.
However.
"Hic."
"?"
"H-hic... Hiiiic..."
Suddenly.
The son of an S-Rank Hero.
Kim Si-hu, who seemed like he wouldn't shed a single tear.
Started crying pitifully.
"H-hic... Waaaah..."
Hwa-ryeon panicked at the sight.
"Hey, why are you crying!"
"I-I trained every day... Everyone said I was special... Why did I loseee..."
"'Cause you're weaker than me?"
"H-hiiiic."
"Hey, stop crying!"
Unsure what to do, Hwa-ryeon scratched her head awkwardly.
"Ugh, I'm bad at this stuff!"
"Hic..."
"Hey, sit down!"
Hwa-ryeon pushed his shoulders to make Kim Si-hu sit on the floor.
Then, she sat beside him and spoke as gently as she could.
"Don't cry! Cut it out!"
"H-hic..."
Unlike his usual mature expression.
Kim Si-hu cried like a real child.
'Argh, seriously! I didn't wanna give this up!'
No choice.
Hwa-ryeon rummaged in her pocket and pulled out a strawberry lollipop.
She shoved the stick candy into Kim Si-hu's mouth and said.
"I was gonna eat this! Here, have it!"
"Hic..."
"And losing to me is totally normal! So stop crying! Cut it out!"
"Hic... Why is losing to you normal...?"
"Uh, um, 'cause!"
She couldn't say it was because she was a dragon.
So Hwa-ryeon made something up.
"It's a dad difference!"
"Dad... difference...?"
"Yeah! My dad's more awesome! That's why I won!"
"Hic... M-my dad's an S-Rank Hero...? He's the K Group Chairman...?"
"Shut up! That doesn't matter! My dad's more awesome! Got it!? That's why I won! Have another candy!"
Shove—
Hwa-ryeon stuffed another lollipop into Kim Si-hu's mouth and stood up.
Then she quickly left for the classroom.
Left alone, Kim Si-hu sucked on the lollipop and reflected on the shocking events of the day.
"There are kids more amazing than me in the world... There really is a difference..."
To her, I'm just another human.
Effort, talent, whatever.
I'm just a regular human like the others.
I was arrogant, that's all.
"I don't get what 'dad difference' means... But the candy's good..."
He wasn't allowed sweets because of the sugar, but now.
Kim Si-hu sucked on the long-forbidden candy and let a small smile slip.
His adult-like expression gone, he looked every bit the first-year elementary student.
***
Dinner time with the family.
I asked Hwa-ryeon, who was stuffing sausages into her mouth.
"Hwa-ryeon, anything happen at school today?"
She answered confidently.
"I knocked his smug nose down!"
"?"
"I showed him the species difference!"
"??"
"I showed him the dad difference!"
"???"
I didn't understand, but.
From what the kids said, it seemed she properly showed off during gym class.
'Even with her dragon aura somewhat sealed, she can beat the other kids easily, huh.'
At least I don't have to worry about her getting hit.
If anything, I'm worried she'll hit someone.
"Hwa-ryeon."
"Yeah?"
"Don't hit people carelessly."
"Hmph, I only hit humans who deserve it! I don't hit randomly!"
"Then that's good."
Nom—
Hwa-ryeon chomped down happily on her sausage.
Seeing her eat so heartily made me think she was doing well in school.
"Dad, more food!"
"... "
Her portions need some cutting back, though.
She eats way too much.