Chapter 140
Chapter 140
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 140
Chapter Title: Summer, Choryeon's Protest
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Living room.
Choryeon was rolling around on the floor with Mangmung.
“Mangmung! How’re you feeling today!?”
“Mang-hang-hang-hang-!”
“You seem happy! That’s a relief!”
Choryeon stroked Mangmung’s belly vigorously.
Mangmung twisted its body back and forth, grinning ear to ear.
The living room during summer break was peaceful and full of happiness.
“School’s fun and all! But home’s the most comfortable! You think so too, right, Mangmung?”
“Mang-mang-!”
“Then how about we tackle our remaining summer homework together?”
“Ma, mang-mang…”
Mangmung turned its head away at the mention of homework.
Choryeon’s face hardened, and she said,
“You wouldn’t rather not do homework with me, would you?”
“Ma, mang-mang…?”
“I thought we were friends, Mangmung. I’m disappointed.”
“Ma, mang-mang!!”
Mangmung jumped in surprise!
It quickly grabbed onto Choryeon’s leg.
Then, looking up with big, sparkling eyes, it barked.
“Mang-mang-!”
“Are you saying sorry to me?”
“Mang-mang!! Mang-mang!!”
“Hmm, in that case, I’ll forgive you! Finish the homework, and I’ll give you a special snack as a reward!”
“Maaang-!”
Mangmung finally let out a sigh of relief.
From Mangmung’s perspective, it couldn’t afford to upset Choryeon, the snack officer.
“Then Mangmung does math! I’ll do the spelling problems!”
“Mang-mang-!”
Scribble scribble—
Choryeon and Mangmung lay down in the living room and started on their simple summer homework.
Mangmung might be a white Shiba Inu, but it had grown by consuming dragon mana.
Simple math problems were a breeze even with a pencil in its mouth.
“Wah, all done!”
“Mang-mang-!”
“Good job, Mangmung! I’ll give you a yummy snack!”
“Mang-hang-hang-hang-!”
Mangmung grinned in delight.
Mangmung chomped on the snack in its mouth and munched on a tasty dog treat on the sofa.
Watching this, Choryeon beamed with satisfaction.
“Today feels like another fulfilling day! Such a happy day!”
But.
“It feels a little lacking, though!”
Choryeon picked up the field trip report that had fallen on the floor.
Staring at it, she pouted.
“I wanted to go on the field trip with Dad before Suryeon sis! Ugh, my chest feels so tight!”
Thump thump—
Choryeon pounded her flat chest in frustration.
But only for a moment.
She clenched her fist and shouted.
“This time, I won’t be late! I’ll go on the field trip before Hwaryeon sis!”
Choryeon resolved firmly and headed to the kitchen.
Lee Ha-jun was there, washing the lunch dishes.
“Dad!”
Choryeon grabbed Lee Ha-jun’s sleeve and said,
“Let’s go protesting!”
“…Suddenly?”
“I want to protest for my field trip! We have to raise awareness among the humans!”
“…”
Lee Ha-jun took off his rubber gloves and asked seriously,
“Is that for real, Choryeon?”
“Yes! I want to protest!”
“It’s not the best idea… but if that’s what you want…”
Scratch scratch—
Lee Ha-jun scratched his head, looking conflicted, and replied in a dazed tone.
“Well, shall we try…?”
“Yay! Dad! I love you!”
Choryeon cheered and ran around the house excitedly.
No parent can win against their child.
***
Somehow or other.
I ended up going protesting with Choryeon.
‘Not just out playing with my daughter. Out protesting with my daughter.’
It felt kinda weird.
But my daughter wanted to protest.
I had no choice but to come along, though I was a bit hesitant.
‘Will writing about protesting count for the field trip homework?’
No idea how her homeroom teacher would take it.
But since my daughter wanted to do it.
I decided to join Choryeon for a protest.
“Ready, Choryeon?”
“Yesss!”
“Then let’s go.”
Creak—
I opened the door with Choryeon and stepped outside.
The sweltering summer heat already made my body feel like it was melting.
“Wonder if we can even protest in this…”
“Dad, you don’t get it! Protesting in weather like this is what makes it effective!”
“Really?”
“Yesss!”
Choryeon sounded like a pro protester.
The weather was hot, sure.
But Choryeon and I left the apartment and headed for the bustling streets.
“Keep that straw hat on tight. Sunburn’s no joke.”
“Yesss, Dad! More importantly, there’s trash over there! Hurry and pick it up!”
Pat pat pat—
Choryeon scampered over on her hamster legs, picked up the trash, and smiled brightly.
“Dad! I got the trash!”
“Good job.”
“I’ll restore the Earth to normal!”
She’s still dreaming of fixing the planet.
I picked up trash with Choryeon as we walked toward the bustling area.
Soon, we reached an alley with quite a few people gathered.
Choryeon snorted at it and said,
“This looks perfect! Ideal spot for protesting!”
“…Everyone’s gone indoors, streets are empty. You sure?”
“Yesss! It’s fine! Easier to work this way!”
For some reason, Choryeon shouted confidently.
‘What kind of plan does she have up her sleeve?’
The moment that question crossed my mind.
“Hmm, I’m sure I put it in the bag…”
Grunt grunt—
Choryeon started rummaging through her bag.
“Found it!”
She pulled out something that answered my question.
A protest essential.
“Heave-ho! With this, I can send a powerful message to the world!”
“Spray paint…?”
Spray paint.
An essential for protests, yeah.
“But where’d you even get that…?”
Choryeon shook the spray paint innocently and answered.
“I asked Suryeon sis for it!”
“Suryeon made it for you because it looked fun?”
“…”
Her intentions seemed a bit shady.
Probably just my imagination.
“Then I’ll spray it! Starting with ‘Meat-eating is violence!’…”
“No, hold on, Choryeon.”
I took the spray paint from her hand.
Before she could cause trouble, I infused it with mana.
Swoosh—
“Dad, what’re you doing!? It turned back into mana!”
“…You can’t use this, Choryeon.”
“Why not?”
“…Might have to sell the apartment again.”
I could see money vanishing in an instant with that magic.
Better to avoid using spray paint.
“Let’s move to another protest, Choryeon.”
“Hmm…! If Dad insists, I guess I have no choice!”
Phew.
Luckily, Choryeon started rummaging in her bag for the next protest.
She pulled out a sketchbook with something written on it in green crayon.
“There’s a burger joint right nearby! Let’s go there, Dad!”
“…Gotta capture this historic moment on camera.”
I took out my smartphone and followed Choryeon.
Oblivious, Choryeon entered the burger shop, held up the sketchbook high, and shouted.
“Hello! I’m Choryeon! I go to elementary school!”
Eyes instantly turned to Choryeon’s voice.
Undeterred, she continued her protest.
“I came here today with something to say! Just look at my sketchbook!”
People’s gazes shifted to the sketchbook.
It read: ‘Meat-eating is violence!’
“Meat-eating is violence! Everyone! Put down those burgers! You’re committing violence right now!”
Bounce bounce—
Choryeon jumped up and down, holding the sketchbook high to express her opinion.
“For our environment, ban meat-eating! Protect the planet by eating only veggies!”
Choryeon protested earnestly.
How did she look in people’s eyes?
As I started to worry a bit.
A college girl approached and spoke to her.
“Cutie, you’re adorable. How old are you?”
“I’m in elementary school!”
“An elementary kid so passionate about the environment?”
“Yesss! ‘Cause the Earth’s really sick! We have to heal it!”
“Smart and cute for your age. Want sis to buy you some ice cream?”
“…!!”
Ice cream.
Choryeon gulped at the word.
It was hot outside, so she wanted something cool.
“B-but I won’t fall for that!”
“It’s ice cream made from milk squeezed from cows at the farm. Want sis to get you one?”
“U, ughhh…”
Choryeon wavered.
The people in the shop watched her fondly.
Not a single malicious glance.
‘Well, who’d look badly on a kid protesting? Everyone just thinks it’s cute.’
Adults babbling nonsense? Annoying.
Kids babbling nonsense? Cute.
And even if the kid’s saying something right.
“D-don’t come near me! I’m protesting!”
“Don’t like ice cream? How about uncle buys you a burger?”
“B-burgers are violence too!”
“Order a set, you get fries too.”
“I-if it’s vegetable oil, I’ll eat it!”
To adults, she just looked cute.
I approached the diligently protesting Choryeon and patted her head.
“Choryeon.”
“…Yes, Dad.”
“We’re already here. How about we just eat some burgers and ice cream before heading back?”
“…”
Choryeon slowly looked up at my words and glanced around.
She’d come to protest, but people only looked at her fondly.
“…”
She nodded slightly and replied.
“…I’ll eat it without the patty. ‘Cause I want fries, get the set.”
“Good thinking.”
“And ice cream too!”
And so.
Choryeon and I sat down and started eating our order.
“Meat-eating is violence, though…! I don’t get why we’re eating it…!”
Choryeon grumbled, still unsatisfied.
Watching her, I thought.
‘Hope she learns someday that others have different views.’
With her dogmatic dragon personality.
It’d be tough.
“Next time, I’ll protest at a farm…! Gotta live happily with Dad on Earth for a long, long time…!”
Nom—
Choryeon bit into her patty-less burger while plotting her next protest.
‘How long does Choryeon plan to keep me alive?’
It was a bit absurd.
But even that was cute.
I just watched her eat her burger quietly.
Sweltering summer.
In a cool burger shop.