Chapter 184
Chapter 184
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 184
Chapter Title: The Dragon Enrolls in the Academy (1)
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Students wear uniforms.
Adults wear suits.
It's an unchanging formula passed down since ancient times.
"You guys are already old enough to enroll in the academy."
"Dad, you're already old enough to have wrinkles."
"Facts are for cowards, Suryeon."
"No, facts are always right."
Not a single word of retreat.
"Eat this mackerel. I already deboned it."
"Delicious, Dad."
Suryeon took the plate with a satisfied smile.
By the way.
"How's the uniform? Does it fit okay?"
"It's uncomfortable. I don't get why they made something so annoying."
They'd ordered it loose since Suryeon seemed like she'd grow more.
Even so, she complained about the uniform.
Well, even my suit felt uncomfortable right now.
"Is this the weight of adulthood? Suddenly I don't wanna teach."
"No way, Dad! You have to go to the academy with me!"
Ta-da—
Choryeon stepped out, fully dressed in her uniform.
She came over, spun around once, and asked.
"Dad, how do I look in this uniform? Does it suit me? Am I cute?"
White dress shirt.
Black blazer.
Black skirt.
Red ribbon.
Choryeon bombarded me with questions as she showed off her uniform.
I answered honestly.
"It's a bit big, but you make it look cute anyway, Choryeon."
"Really? Yay! Dad looks great in his suit too! Super handsome!"
Swish—
Choryeon spun around me wildly, showering me with compliments.
"I'm a little worried other students might pay attention to Dad, though."
"…"
She showed a hint of iciness for a second.
But Choryeon seemed satisfied overall.
"I set out salad on the table. Put on as much dressing as you want."
"Okay!"
"By the way, where's Hwaryeon?"
"Hmm, Hwaryeon unnie's still in her room, I think? No idea."
Choryeon tilted her head, then headed to the table.
"Are you planning to be late on the first day, Yi Hwaryeon…?"
This girl.
What the heck is she doing in her room?
I headed to Hwaryeon's room to check on her.
"Yi Hwaryeon, what're you doing? Dad's coming in."
-W-Wait! Don't come in yet—
"Door's already open."
Too late.
Creak—
I opened the door and saw Hwaryeon's face.
Her face flushed red as she looked at me in panic.
And then.
"Oh."
Her hands, which had been buttoning her dress shirt, froze.
She was so bad at putting on the uniform that she was still in her underwear.
"Y-Y-Y-You…!!"
Her face turned as red as an erupting volcano.
"What are you doing, you pervert dad?! Get out of my room!! Raaah—!!"
"Hey, don't breathe on Dad like that!"
"Shut up—! Get out now—!!"
Raaah—!!
Hwaryeon blasted me with flame breath and chased me out of her room.
"Whew, that expensive suit almost went up in flames."
Close call.
I firmly shut Hwaryeon's door.
Next time, I should knock first.
"Kids, you done eating? Not much time left."
I went to the kitchen.
The kids were almost finished with their meals.
"Yeah, I'm done. Pervert dad."
"So bold, Hwaryeon unnie…! Seducing Dad like that…!"
Suryeon said she was done and wiped her mouth clean with a napkin.
Choryeon was mumbling something weird, so I decided not to pay it much mind.
"Sigh, even after enrolling in the academy, you kids never change."
They don't change no matter how old they get.
I turned to Mangmung, who was happily eating his food, and asked.
"Right, Mangmung?"
"Mang mang—!"
Nod nod—
Mangmung nodded like he agreed.
He was coming to work with me today and seemed to think the same.
"…Well, it'd be weird if they changed in just one day."
They're family we've always been with.
Sudden changes would be suspicious.
I thought that as I yelled toward the still-shut door.
"Yi Hwaryeon! Come out and eat!!"
-I know! I can handle it myself! Ugh, why is this ribbon so complicated!! Argh! I hate this uniform!!
***
After some twists and turns.
We made it to the entrance ceremony on time somehow.
"Gotta thank Biseul."
Thanks to the rental car he prepared, we weren't late today.
Good thing he got us a decent one.
'I should contact him later and buy a car. Can't keep renting forever.'
No time to sign a contract before.
Might need to do it when I get a chance.
Need my own car to commute daily to the academy in 01 District.
"Anyway, no causing trouble at your entrance ceremony, got it?"
"Hmph, not listening to pervert dad."
"I won't cause trouble."
"See you later, Dad! I'll be watching!"
I left the kids with a warning.
Then I headed to the instructors' area, while they went to the students' area.
'Gotta drop Mangmung off in my office after the ceremony.'
I sat in the instructors' seats with that in mind.
The academy instructors already there turned their attention to me.
"Heard rumors, but damn, you're young for an instructor. Good-looking too. Students'll love you."
"A-rank Hero means he's skilled, sure. But can he actually teach kids?"
Some praise mixed in.
Some worry about me too.
Most professors and instructors seemed to view me positively, though.
Of course, some looked at me negatively.
'Whatever, if they hate me, so what.'
As long as my daughters like me, that's enough.
Even if Hwaryeon was still glaring like she hated me.
'Raising kids is tough.'
I exchanged simple greetings with the professors and instructors and took my seat.
Then the long-awaited academy entrance ceremony began.
The chairman came out, droned on about the academy's ideals.
Introduced veteran lead professors.
Instructors gave brief greetings to the students.
"That idiot instructor's a pervert!!"
Murmur murmur—
Hwaryeon's shout stirred things up a bit.
But we got through the greetings safely.
"Pervert instructor?"
"Who's that?"
"…"
I couldn't say a word amid the baffled instructors.
'Feeling like confiscating side dishes…'
Next up: the pledge from new students.
The top-scoring new student stepped up as representative.
'Thought it'd be Kim Si-hu. Nope.'
Lost practicals to Hwaryeon.
Lost written to Suryeon.
Lost personality to Choryeon?
Instead of Kim Si-hu, son of an S-Rank Hero called a genius,
A white-haired girl came out as new student rep and gave the pledge.
Sounded like she'd work hard at this school.
"Whew, boring entrance ceremony's finally over."
Even as an adult, I can't stand boring stuff.
I sighed and headed to my private instructor office.
"Mang mang—!"
"Good boy, waiting for me, Mangmung."
Of course, with Mangmung in tow.
I took him to the building with professor labs and instructor offices.
"But this academy's huge."
Heard it's way bigger than a regular university campus.
They poured tons of money into it for the kids who'll shape the world's future.
Scale of the grounds proved it.
"Wonder how much a plot this size in 01 District costs."
"Mang—?"
"Telling you not to dream 'cause I could never afford it?"
"Ma-mang—! Mang—!"
Mangmung yelled that I was making stuff up.
I petted him and entered my private instructor office.
"Not bad, pretty comfy."
Sofa and small table.
Computer and desk.
Bookshelf for lots of books.
Didn't need the shelf much.
But a nice spot to relax in spare time.
"You like it, Mangmung?"
"Mang—!"
Mangmung was already lounging on the sofa.
He had this insane talent for turning any place into his living room.
"You can hang out here till I get off work, Mangmung."
"Mang mang—!"
"No TV? I'll ask later."
"Mang—!"
He seemed satisfied with the place anyway.
Could take him for walks around the academy later, so he'd be happy.
I checked my schedule for the day.
Right then.
Knock knock—
Someone knocked.
'Who at this hour?'
I called out to whoever was outside.
"Come in."
Creak—
The door opened without hesitation, revealing the knocker.
"Dad! It's Yi Choryeon, entering on stage!"
"…"
"Came to see you 'cause I missed you! Hi, Mangmung!"
Hehe—
Choryeon ran over with a sunflower smile and hugged me.
The vibe felt off, so I asked.
"…Choryeon."
"Yes, Dad!"
"Isn't class about to start for you?"
"Probably!"
"Then why're you here?"
"'Cause I wanted to see Dad!"
"…"
"Hehe."
Choryeon grinned dopily.
Her head must be full of flowers right now.
I knelt down, met her eyes, and said seriously.
"Choryeon."
"Yes, Dad!"
"You can't skip class. And at the academy, don't call me Dad."
"Why not!? Can't I call my dad Dad?! I'm Yi Choryeon, not Hong Gil-dong!"
"It's not that. Students might look at you badly."
If our parent-child relationship got out.
Could drag us into annoying stuff.
Better to keep it teacher-student at the academy.
"So from now on, call me Teacher when addressing me. Got it?"
"Okay… Got it, Fathe— Teacher… But when it's just us two, can I call you Dad…?"
Downcast—
Choryeon looked crestfallen, all wrinkled up.
But when it's just us…
"That… Yeah, sure."
"Yay, Dad! Then I'll only call you Dad when we're alone! Feels like we have a secret— so exciting!"
Choryeon brightened up again.
Good, she got what I meant.
"Tell Hwaryeon and Suryeon too. Okay?"
"Sure! Not sure if they'll listen, though!"
"Now head to class. You'll get in trouble if you're late."
"Yep, Dad! What about you?"
"Me?"
I'd been about to check the timetable when she showed up.
I pulled up the schedule.
"Let's see… Aptitude test. First period for me today."
"Starting right now."
"…"
"…"
Damn.
"Choryeon, stay right there!"
"Eek!"
"Let's go before we're late! You're in the aptitude test too, right?"
"Yeah!"
All new students attend the lecture.
Aptitude test.
Student and instructor sprinted down the hall to not be late on day one.
Academy life with my daughters.
Wasn't gonna be easy.