Chapter 42
Chapter 42
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: Don't Read Books. Your Constitution Will Change (2)
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Environmental activist.
Choryun.
Shouting from the center of the library.
"This isn't knowledge...! It's violence...!!"
Choryun pointed at a book neatly shelved on the bookshelf and yelled.
"Dad...! How many trees had to be sacrificed to make this...?"
"I've never thought about it, so I don't know. More importantly, you should be quiet, Choryun. People keep staring at us—"
"I can't tolerate this...!"
Choryun cut me off and headed toward the bookshelf with determined eyes.
Then, she started pulling out books one by one.
"I'll save you...! Let's go back to nature together...!"
Rumble—
The books organized on the shelf poured down to the floor.
I was startled and grabbed Choryun's body, pulling her back.
"W-What are you doing all of a sudden! Choryun!"
"Dad, let go! I'm doing what I have to do!"
Choryun flailed her arms wildly, reaching for the bookshelf.
She must have lost her mind upon seeing books made of paper.
'I didn't expect Choryun to act like this...'
I thought Hwaryun would be the one to cause trouble.
Who knew the usually well-behaved Choryun would do this.
To calm her down, I covered Choryun's eyes with both hands and said.
"Don't stop me, Dad...!!"
"Choryun, let's calm down for a bit. You're too worked up."
"How can I not be excited...? So many trees have been massacred...! My friends are crying...!"
Was Choryun hearing the voices of forest spirits?
Tears welled up in her green eyes.
It seemed bookstores weren't the right place for Choryun after all.
"This place reeks of the blood of trees... I can't stand it..."
"...Choryun, stay in the bag."
She looked really upset.
I checked my surroundings and took her to a secluded spot.
Then, I transformed her into dragon mode, shrank her down, and put her in the bag.
"Choryun, rest in there."
-...Okay, Dad. Sorry for causing a scene.
The downcast Choryun curled up in the bag and closed her eyes quietly.
I covered her with the clothes that had fallen to the floor and returned to where I was.
There, I made eye contact with the employee who was picking up the fallen books.
"..."
"..."
The employee glared at me without saying a word.
I could sense killing intent in that gaze.
"...Sorry. My daughter caused some trouble. I'll clean it up."
I put the books Choryun had dropped back on the shelf.
The employee watched me silently, then returned to her spot without a word.
But her expression at the end made me feel a bit better.
"Whew, that was close to a disaster."
Lucky.
As I caught my breath, Hwaryun asked lightly.
"Dad, I don't get it. Why does Choryun love trees so much? Trees just go up in flames if I roar rawr—! They're super weak!"
Hwaryun couldn't understand why Choryun liked trees.
That made sense.
Hwaryun liked strong things like dinosaurs and didn't care for small, weak ones.
I crouched down to meet Hwaryun's eyes, gently stroked her head, and said.
"You might not get it now, but someday you'll understand what it feels like to start liking things weaker than yourself."
"What does that mean?"
"It means you're still young."
"I'm not young!"
Hwaryun let out a shrill squeak.
I hurriedly plugged her mouth with my finger.
"Anyway, that's how it is."
"...Hmph."
Hwaryun snorted, clearly displeased.
But she seemed to roughly get what I meant.
After finishing up the tidying, I took Hwaryun's hand and wandered around looking for Suryun.
"What book did she want so badly that she asked to come to the bookstore?"
"I don't know! I don't get what she's thinking most of the time either!"
"Yeah, true."
Unlike Hwaryun, whose thoughts were plain as day.
Suryun's expressions were so subdued it was hard to tell what she was thinking.
Like she had unfathomable depths.
But whenever that happened, she was usually thinking something utterly trivial.
"She's probably just browsing books aimlessly right now."
With that thought, I scanned the area.
Then, in the middle of it, I spotted someone unexpected at the bookstore—not Suryun.
Why is this person here?
"Hey, it's Senior Han Ji-su."
"...Lee Ha-jun?"
Han Ji-su, standing quietly reading a poetry book.
She really is pretty.
It felt like looking at a photoshoot spread.
She closed the poetry book, widened her eyes in surprise, and asked me.
"...You don't seem like the type who'd fit with books. Fancy running into you here. Who's the kid with you?"
"Oh, this is my cousin si—"
Just as I was about to say cousin sister.
Hwaryun jumped in front of me and said.
"Don't talk to Dad!"
"...Dad?"
Ah.
I could hear the faint possibility of romance slamming shut.
Hwaryun was blowing up my love life too.
Han Ji-su asked me with a serious expression.
"Junior Lee Ha-jun... you already have a kid. And she's pretty grown."
"Yeah, something like that."
"...Your mom must've had it rough."
"No mom. I raised her alone."
"...Sorry. That was insensitive. I sincerely apologize."
No need to apologize.
Han Ji-su bowed 90 degrees to me.
"...Junior Lee Ha-jun, you've been through more than I thought."
"Yeah, kinda..."
"Does the Association know?"
"Nope."
"...I'll keep it a secret then."
Such thoughtful consideration.
But her treating me like this felt burdensome.
Now I was the one feeling awkward.
'This is such a huge misunderstanding.'
Oblivious to my inner turmoil.
Hwaryun snapped sharply at Han Ji-su.
"Who are you! Don't talk to Dad! Get lost!"
"Sorry, Senior. My kid's a bit feisty."
"Dad, don't apologize!"
Han Ji-su glanced back and forth between Hwaryun and me, then stepped away.
"...You two look a lot alike. Sorry for interrupting. I'll get going."
"Ah, no, it's not like that."
"See you at the promotion exam."
Whoosh—
Han Ji-su used her A-rank Hero physique to dash away quickly.
It felt like a massive misunderstanding had been born.
"...It's not a total misunderstanding, I guess. But her saying she'll keep it secret is a relief?"
Things got complicated.
Scratching my head in unease, Hwaryun poked my body and asked.
"Dad! What's that female!"
"Not female. She's a coworker from work. A-rank Hero Han Ji-su."
"I hate that female! Acting all friendly with Dad! Makes me mad! Do you meet that female when you go to work, Dad?!"
"If there's no schedule, yeah. And it's not female, it's woman."
"Dad, quit your job! I hate it!"
Hmph—
Hwaryun pouted.
Her first impression of Han Ji-su wasn't great.
Hwaryun didn't mesh well with that type anyway.
"How can I quit a job I finally got? If Dad becomes unemployed, we're in big trouble."
"I said I hate it! Hate!"
"Quiet down. The 30 minutes are almost up. Pick a book quick and let's go."
Meeting Han Ji-su had eaten up some time.
Where the heck is Suryun?
Dragging the sulking Hwaryun along, I searched diligently for Suryun.
"There she is."
Suryun was in the corner full of classic novels.
She held two books in her hands.
I approached and called her name.
"Suryun."
"Dad."
"Done picking books?"
"Yeah."
Suryun gave a short reply and showed me the two books.
One was a picture book, the other a classic novel.
"The Little Prince? The Stranger? I know The Little Prince, but what's The Stranger?"
"It seemed like a book about dragons."
"Really?"
My bag strap wasn't deep into books.
But I knew classics labeled as such were usually tough.
I asked Suryun, who handed them over confidently.
"These aren't too hard? You sure you'll be okay?"
"Yeah, it's fine. I'm a dragon."
"...Not the most reassuring thing, but I'll trust you."
I put the books Suryun gave me in the basket and headed to the checkout.
The employee from earlier said bluntly.
"100,000 won."
"..."
Damn expensive.
It didn't used to be like this.
I carefully handed over my Hero ID and said.
"I'm a Hero."
"...80,000 won."
Maybe because of my shabby workout clothes.
The employee eyed me skeptically.
Still, saving 20,000 won was a win.
I paid by card and left the bookstore.
"Expensive, but good picks. Satisfied, Suryun?"
Suryun's lips curved up slightly as she replied.
"Yeah, I like them. Satisfied. Gonna read them all when we get home."
"Good to hear."
Once home.
I put the kids in the bag and boarded the subway.
Suryun, inside the bag, clutched the two books tightly with her front paws and fell asleep.
A very satisfying day.