Chapter 14
Chapter 14
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: A Matter of Time
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There's a saying like this.
Once you get a taste for meat, you can never go back.
Animals that have tasted meat are hopeless.
"Oh no, this is bad..."
Not meat, but vegetables.
But ever since Choryun got a taste for vegetables,
she hasn't spared the meat a single glance, endlessly devouring the lettuce instead.
"Shaaah-! Shaaah-!"
"Ch-Choryun. Eat some meat. Should I wrap it up in a leaf for you?"
"Shaaah-!"
Choryun growled "No!" at me, vehemently refusing the meat.
She used to eat meat just fine before she tasted vegetables.
But now that she knows vegetable flavor, meat doesn't even cross her mind.
Her body seems to have become one that can't be satisfied with ordinary meat anymore.
"You're eating like you've been deprived of half your dragon life."
"Shaaah-"
"So it really was a deprivation?"
"Shaaah-!"
A fact-check confirmed it was true.
Choryun's dragon life is now divided into before and after tasting vegetables.
I sighed, thinking of the old Choryun who would never return.
"Haa... Parents alike, tastes alike. Why are you all so different?"
"Different species. On TV, humans are divided into white, black, Asian, right? Same thing."
"Not race, but dragon breeds. Something like that?"
"You could say so."
Nom-
Suryun used her chopsticks like a fork and put meat in her mouth.
Unlike Choryun, Suryun occasionally wrapped meat in leaves and ate it with relish.
"One carnivore. One omnivore. One vegetarian. This ain't easy."
"House owner. Not omnivore—says she eats everything well. Feels bad."
"So sensitive. Got it."
"..."
Suryun glared at me with her blue eyes, shooting lasers.
When did her language skills improve so much?
Kids grow fast, and it seems true.
Though it feels too fast.
"Choryun."
"Shaaah-?"
Munch munch-
Choryun blinked her green eyes, wondering why I called.
She had been pinning down the lettuce with her front paws and tearing into it vigorously.
"No more meat from now on, ever?"
"Shaaah-!"
She replied with a bright cry.
Choryun's resolve seemed firm.
'Feels kinda guilty.'
But for practical reasons, I had to break her will.
"Honestly, we can't eat just lettuce every day."
"Shaaah..."
"Don't be disappointed yet. There's a way we can eat tons of lettuce and veggies sometimes."
"Shaaah-?"
"Curious what it is?"
"Shaaah-!"
Choryun's eyes sparkled, snorting eagerly as if to say tell me quick.
I grinned and whispered in her ear.
"Look forward to tomorrow."
"Shaaah-?"
"I'll bring that method."
It might not work.
But you have to try.
'If it succeeds, food costs drop a lot. If it fails...'
If it fails, oh well.
No reason not to try.
That's how I promised Choryun I'd bring results tomorrow.
Then, Hwaryun, who had her nose buried in her plate, spoke up.
"House owner!"
"Yeah?"
"Give Choryun more green grass!"
"Why suddenly."
"So I can eat more too!"
"..."
Hwaryun's pretty greedy.
Is that a dragon trait too?
Hard to tell yet.
***
The building I live in is called 'Happy Villa.'
Seems misnamed since it's full of unhappy folks.
Anyway.
The villa has five floors above the basement.
Floors 1 through 4 are regular units, two households per floor.
People above ground live in much better conditions than me, without sunlight.
'A bit better off than me. Looks the same to others.'
And.
The most important part: the building owner lives by knocking down the wall on the fourth floor, merging two units.
She makes good money but keeps living in Seoul-09 District, which isn't safe.
Probably her cranky personality keeps her here.
Self-isolating vibe.
"Hope I can talk to that cranky granny."
I checked the weighty black bag in my hand.
Their fate depends on granny's response.
Returns possible within three days of purchase.
"Haa, let's go."
Knock knock-
"Granny. You in?"
Not home?
I knocked again and pressed my ear to the door.
I heard someone moving.
Just slow from age.
After about 30 seconds, a sharp old voice came from behind the door.
-Who is it at this hour?
"It's me. Lee Ha-jun from the basement."
-You little shit. Finally showed up?
Creak-
The door opened with curses.
But it wasn't granny who appeared.
"You bastard!"
I easily dodged the wooden cane that shot out.
"Oof."
Thud-!
The sturdy cane hit the floor harmlessly.
Still strong despite the age.
"Granny. Good arm strength. You'll live long."
"You rotten punk. My lifespan shortened a year because of you. Why come at this hour?"
Granny stepped out slowly, cane forward.
White hair, face full of wrinkles showing her age.
But her expression was lively, saying death was far off.
"Same personality even after ages."
"Shut it. Get to the point. Why here? Pay back rent?"
"No, not that."
"Then scram. Nothing to say to you."
Granny turned to go back in without hesitation.
"Wait!"
Thud-
I gently grabbed granny's shoulder as she turned.
Fail the strength control, and it'd be bad.
"Granny. Hear me out first."
"Pay the back rent first."
"Can't pay six months' worth."
"Should've paid steadily without falling behind. You rotten punk."
Can't beat experience.
This must be how dragons feel against me.
Feels grand for no reason.
"I'll pay slowly from now on. But first, one favor."
"...Say it."
"Can we share the rooftop?"
Fifth floor.
Need granny's permission to go up.
She has the only key.
"For my veggie garden. Got this too."
I showed granny inside the black bag.
"See. Soil and lettuce seeds."
"...Why buy seeds assuming I'd say no."
"Bought 'em to make it hard to refuse."
"Sigh, you rotten punk. Wait here."
Granny went inside.
Thought she'd ditched me when it took long.
Then she came back slowly, extending her hand.
"Key. Empty plots there. Use one."
"What, granny so nice. Something happen?"
"I'm same as always. You changed."
"Me?"
"Tsk-"
Granny clicked her tongue.
"Gu Bong-gu was looking for you. Save money unless you want a beating."
"..."
Collection day already?
Time flies.
I gripped the key tight and waved to granny.
"Thanks. I'll use it well."
"...Show your face often."
"Yeah, when I have time."
Slam-
Granny watched me leave and shut the door.
Maybe because we've known each other long.
Seemed worried while I was gone.
We've known since before the debts.
"Alright, up to the rooftop then."
My first time up close.
I inserted the key in the rooftop door, about to step into the villa's highest spot.
But I just opened it, didn't go up.
"...Should bring the kids."
Felt wasteful to see alone.
***
My studio is true basement, not semi.
No light, full of mold and damp.
So I wanted the dragon kids to see outside without leaving the building.
Staying in the room all day would bore them.
"How's the outside feel, kids?"
Hwaryun stared piercingly at the moon in the sky.
"Awesome! I wanna come out lots!"
Woooow-
Hwaryun's red eyes glowed fiercer in the moonlight.
Looked happy escaping the stuffy room.
"Suryun. You?"
Suryun answered with her usual blank face.
"Not bad. Would be better alone."
"...Daddy hurts?"
"Not daddy. House owner."
"..."
Feels slighted.
But wonder if "better alone" is true.
Suryun stood apart, eyes closed.
Feeling the breeze quietly, enjoying her solitude.
"Middle school syndrome over there."
"Shaaah-?"
"Choryun, don't end up like that?"
Up you go-
I lifted Choryun and toured the rooftop.
Traces of granny's dried peppers, garden plots with nameless trees and flowers blooming.
"Shaaaah..."
Choryun gaped at the plants.
Deep impression on her.
"Choryun. Which one do you like best?"
"Shaaah-!"
Choryun pointed right away with a front paw.
There sat green cherry tomatoes, not fully grown.
"Spot on for tasty stuff."
"Shaaah-!"
Obvious to dragon eyes.
That's how we finished the rooftop tour.
And started the important seeding.
"Heard roughly when buying seeds. Like this, they said."
"Shaaah-"
"Spread compost on soil, scatter seeds at intervals here and there..."
Done.
Lettuce is super easy to grow.
Felt really simple.
"Ends just like that?"
"Shaaah-!"
Choryun stomped the soil flat.
Then closed eyes, breathed on the plot as if praying for growth.
'Praying?'
No idea what.
Anyway.
We finished the wrap-up perfectly.
"Good job, Choryun! High five!"
"Shaaah-?"
"High five!"
Clap-
Like soulmates.
Me and Choryun nailed the high five.
Perfect dad-daughter work.
"Ew, what's that. Hey Choryun, don't play with house owner. Makes you weird."
"Childish."
Jealous much.
I ignored the jealous dragons, put Choryun on my shoulder.
"Time to head in. Might get caught."
"I'll go first! Move!"
"Enjoyed it plenty."
"Shaaah-!"
The dragons, refreshed, smiled satisfied and turned home.
How those planted lettuces grow.
"Choryun. We'll eat 'em tasty later. Good?"
"Shaaah-! Shaaah-!"
Time will tell.
Choryun's current state too.
Choryun's more laid-back than the other dragons.