Chapter 13
Chapter 13
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: Face the Wall and Stand!
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13. Face the Wall and Stand!
The next day.
Suryeon had slept soundly and woke up stretching refreshingly.
“Aaah—”
Not a ‘Shaa—’ sound, but a human voice.
She had perfectly transformed into a human.
I waved at Suryeon, who had her eyes half-closed, and said,
“Good morning, Suryeon.”
Still sleepy, Suryeon greeted me with obvious annoyance.
“…Yeah, morning.”
Her words said morning, but her face didn’t look morning-like at all.
Come to think of it, her nearly pale white skin was slightly flushed.
‘Is she remembering what happened yesterday?’
Maybe she was embarrassed about needing my help.
Not being honest, huh.
I looked into Suryeon’s blue eyes and asked,
“How’s your body? You okay?”
Suryeon clicked her tongue and replied.
“…Who’s worrying about who here? I’m a dragon. No problem.”
“You sure you’re really okay?”
“Yeah, yesterday I used a lot of power to regulate my body temperature and got exhausted. I’m fully recovered now.”
“I see. Glad you’re safe.”
Suryeon frowned, clearly displeased at being worried over.
Her face was mostly expressionless with a consistently flat tone.
It’d take some serious focus to read her emotions from now on.
Anyway.
“So you’re saying your body’s fine now?”
“That’s what I said.”
“Then get over there quick and face the wall.”
“?”
“You did something really wrong yesterday? Everyone was worried you disappeared.”
Sneaking into my bag without a word, wandering the workplace, getting stuck in the warehouse.
Leaving home without saying anything and worrying everyone else.
Family squabbles could get a warning pass, but making others worry like this? No way.
Couldn’t let it happen again.
Had to punish her properly this time.
“Right now. Face the wall. Suryeon.”
Gotta do what needs doing.
Time for a scolding.
***
According to experts, dragons could wipe a whole country off the map if they wanted.
Even machines built to analyze magic power explode when trying to measure a dragon’s.
And the heir to such nation-destroying power was currently.
“Why do I have to face the wall? What’s the point of this?”
Grumbling nonstop.
While staring at the wall.
I looked at Suryeon’s small back as she faced the wall of reflection and said,
“Reflect on it.”
“On what.”
“Your mistakes.”
“…”
She shut her mouth tight again.
Whenever she was at a disadvantage, she’d clam up and stop talking.
She probably knew she was wrong deep down.
Just too proud to admit it.
Suryeon finally opened her tightly shut mouth.
“…It was just a mistake. And the result was good, wasn’t it?”
“What if I hadn’t found you? You’d be the first dragon to freeze to death in a freezer.”
“…But I succeeded at polymorph in the end.”
“You could’ve failed and died.”
More importantly.
The real issue was.
“You moved without a word and worried the family. If you were going far, you should’ve said so.”
No excuse, even if the outcome was good.
Shouldn’t have made anyone worry.
For the sake of the other family members too.
“Yeah, you should’ve said something—!!”
Hwaryeon yelled, agreeing with me for the first time.
“What if you just leave without a word! I wasn’t worried! But Choryeon suffered because of you!”
“Shaa…”
Choryeon hung her head sadly, clearly distressed.
She must’ve been worried sick when Suryeon vanished without a trace.
How hard it must’ve been for such a delicate little thing.
Hwaryeon kept pouring words at Suryeon’s back.
“The house owner might not care, but you should’ve told your family! We’re not even human—we’re dragons like you!”
“…Hey, Hwaryeon. I’m family too. And it’s Dad, not house owner.”
“No way! I’ll call you whatever I want! House owner! House owner!!”
Hmph—
Hwaryeon spat out what she wanted and turned her head away in a huff.
That innate stubborn streak wasn’t changing anytime soon, probably not till I died.
I picked up the downcast Choryeon and placed her on Suryeon’s shoulder.
“Think about it facing the wall for 30 more minutes.”
“Ends after 30 minutes?”
“If you’ve reflected enough, I’ll stop the punishment.”
True reflection comes from within.
Dragons are smart.
Give her time, and she’ll figure it out herself.
As long as she didn’t suddenly get hyper like a kid and act up.
“And apologize to Choryeon separately for worrying her.”
“…I’ll handle it. Quit nagging me.”
“Got it. Got it.”
“…I’m only listening because you saved me. Don’t get the wrong idea.”
Suryeon said that, then stroked Choryeon’s head on her shoulder with a finger.
Choryeon looked every bit like an S-rank living air purifier.
Exceptional at changing the air around her.
‘Speaking of, when will Choryeon take human form?’
Choryeon didn’t seem ambitious at all.
Maybe content with her dragon self.
If I told her to stay like that forever, she’d probably just ‘Shaa—!’ and grin happily.
‘Wonder what Choryeon would look like. No way she turns into a son all sudden here.’
Even if she did become a son, I could love her.
But it’d be harder to treat her just cute then.
I finished talking with Suryeon, picked up Choryeon, and met her eyes.
“Choryeon.”
“Shaa—!”
“What do you want to be, anyway?”
“Shaa—?”
Choryeon tilted her head, not getting it.
Yeah, that’s Choryeon alright.
Never thought too deeply about it, huh.
“Still, one request… don’t become a son…”
Not sure if my sincerity got through.
Choryeon beamed back innocently.
“Shaa—!”
That smile made me unable to hold in a belly laugh.
“You adorable thing! C’mere!!”
“Shaa—!!”
Hwaryeon watched us with disgust.
“Eww, gross!”
If you’re jealous, just say so.
Kids these days just aren’t honest.
***
Dragon wall-facing reflection time over.
Suryeon approached me, bowing her head ever so slightly.
“…I reflected. I worried you.”
“Yeah, now you get it? Why I made you face the wall.”
“…Yeah.”
Suryeon coolly acknowledged the meaning of self-reflecting by facing the wall.
“That wasn’t pointless at all. Process might be annoying, but the result’s good.”
“See? Not making you do it for nothing. Listen to Dad from now on, got it?”
“…”
No answer? Not worth responding?
Guess I’m still not accepted as a parent by Suryeon.
‘Dad’s feeling hurt.’
Still.
Living together like this.
Someday she’ll accept me.
“From now on, I’ll use ‘Dad’ a lot till you all accept me. Any objections?”
“?”
“None, huh. Dad’s happy.”
Suryeon gave me an incredulous look.
Then, wanting to watch TV maybe, she turned and left.
“…Thanks for saving me.”
Leaving those small words behind.
Suryeon left at a speed that seemed like fleeing in embarrassment.
I chuckled watching her go.
“Dragons, every one of them, so dishonest.”
Pride of the race maybe.
They all seemed far from honest.
“The only honest one’s Choryeon.”
“Shaa—?”
“Yeah, you. Choryeon. Don’t end up like those big sisters, okay?”
“Shaa—!”
Choryeon nodded vigorously like she got it.
Not human yet, but the most human of them all.
“Looks don’t matter after all. You’re better than those human-shaped dragons, Choryeon.”
“Hey! I heard that!”
She was listening.
Hwaryeon screeched at me.
“Hey! I’m better! I’m the strongest! So I’m the best!!”
“Best, not birth. And no ‘hey’ to Dad. Hwaryeon. Wanna get punished too?”
“Hmph, not scared at all! Anyway, what’s for dinner? I want something tasty for once! Meat!”
“Meat?”
“Meat!”
Hwaryeon appealed strongly for meat.
Just imagining it made her mouth water—her bright red tail spun like a helicopter propeller.
Ready to take off any second.
“Meat, huh… Been a while.”
Money was piling up a bit.
One day of meat should be fine.
But.
“With what?”
“Huh?”
“Call me Dad. Then I’ll go buy meat.”
“Ugh, so sneaky!! Where’s that fair!!”
“World’s sneaky like that. What comes around, goes around.”
“Sh-, shucks…”
Hwaryeon bit her lip in frustration.
Meat or pride first?
Hwaryeon sweated bullets, agonizing deeply.
After long deliberation, she announced her decision.
“Dad! Gimme meat! Happy now!?”
“That’ll do.”
Kids weaken before food after all.
Keep making her say Dad.
She’ll get used to it eventually.
I left the fuming Hwaryeon, slipped on shoes, and headed out—hat on too.
Couldn’t risk running into the loan shark flush with cash.
“No trouble while I’m gone. Be good.”
Repeated the usual.
And dashed to the nearest butcher.
Not the best, but I bought pork shoulder there.
“See you again.”
“Wait, take this.”
The butcher uncle stopped me and handed over a small plastic bag.
Not one to refuse gifts easily, I took it without hesitation.
“What’s this?”
“Homegrown lettuce. Eat with the meat.”
“Hmm.”
Lettuce, huh.
Lettuce is good.
But the guy giving it? Not so good.
“Uncle, you growing other stuff too?”
“Yeah, side gig vibe. Had extra land, so lettuce too. Don’t like it, give it back.”
“Nah, thanks for it. Just curious.”
Gotta take what’s given.
I headed home with meat and lettuce.
But I forgot one thing.
Click- click-
“Oh right. Gas is cut off.”
Such a mistake.
As I stood dumbfounded, Hwaryeon approached.
“Idiot! How do you forget that!”
“Busy raising you all.”
“Take it out! I’ll do it!”
No way?
I put the meat in the frying pan as Hwaryeon said.
“Ahem.”
Hwaryeon cleared her throat and opened wide toward the pan.
And.
“Rooaaar—!!”
Whoosh—
She spewed flames so intense you could see them, grilling the meat in seconds.
“Kuhahaha! That’s me! You dumb human!”
“Ooh, gotta admit that. You’ve got skills.”
Clap clap clap—
Couldn’t help applauding Hwaryeon’s fiery show.
Solved plumbing and now gas too.
She earned her keep with all she ate.
“…A bit burnt, but edible. Alright, kids, dinner time.”
I set the meat on the table and added the lettuce.
Hwaryeon scowled at the lettuce.
“Eww, don’t even wanna eat that! Pass!”
Carnivore genius rejecting veggies on instinct.
But Suryeon, curious, sniffed the lettuce.
“Hmm. Just grass. House owner, this safe to eat?”
“I’ll answer if you call me Dad.”
“…”
Suryeon popped the lettuce in her mouth without a word.
Better to eat poison than call me Dad, huh.
Munch munch—
“Guess it’s edible grass.”
“Of course. Wrap it in meat—tastier that way.”
“Like this? Hmm, yeah, definitely better.”
Suryeon learned something new.
Didn’t hate wraps apparently.
I picked a lettuce leaf and put it on Choryeon’s plate.
“Choryeon, wanna try?”
“Shaa—?”
“Same color as you. Bet you’ll like it.”
“Here, Dad’ll feed you. Ahh.”
“Shaa—”
Choryeon’s mouth wide open.
I slipped in a fresh lettuce leaf.
Munch munch—
“Shaa—!!”
Likes it, huh.
Choryeon tapped the table lightly with her front paw for more.
“Got it. Meat this time. Here.”
“Shaa—”
Munch munch—
Choryeon devoured the lettuce again.
Seemed tastier with meat—
Ptooey—
“Huh?”
“Shaa—”
Looked like it…
But the leftover meat rolled across the table.
Why?
“Choryeon?”
“Shaa—?”
“Why spit out the meat?”
“Shaa—”
“Hate meat?”
“Shaa—!”
Choryeon grinned wide, saying yes.
Then urged for more lettuce.
Unlike her smile, I couldn’t smile.
“Veggies are so expensive these days… Food budget’s gonna kill me…?”
This Choryeon.
Went vegetarian!
Bad news for me, in charge of meals.
‘Gonna have to farm myself?’
Mountains of worry.