Chapter 47
Chapter 47
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: A Home Without Dad (3)
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Morning.
Suryeon rubbed her eyes and sat up.
A massive empty space between Hwaryeon and Choryeon stood out starkly.
"...Dad still hasn't come back. I thought he'd be here by morning."
She scrunched up her face.
Suryeon headed to the bathroom, frowning.
Waking up first and washing up first was Suryeon's routine.
"...I'm the only one up in the morning. It's nice and quiet."
Suryeon squeezed out some toothpaste with a *thwack* and started brushing her teeth.
*Scrub scrub.*
Up and down, neatly.
Just like in the videos, textbook perfect, every corner.
*Chomp chomp.*
*Spit.*
Suryeon finished brushing cleanly and stared at her reflection in the mirror.
'Yep, that's me.'
The perfect dragon incarnate.
Suryeon smiled at herself in the mirror.
But one bothersome thing caught her eye.
"...What's this? Why's there black under my eyes?"
Her skin was naturally pale, so the dark circles stood out sharply.
To Suryeon, it was like a black dot on white drawing paper—imperfect, and she didn't like it.
"Why's my face like this?"
Suryeon started racking her brain.
To solve a problem, you had to find the cause.
And there was only one possible culprit.
"Is it because I went to bed a little late last night since Dad wasn't here?"
A human body this fragile?
Suryeon felt her pride wounded at how she'd changed after just one day.
She grumbled at the cause.
"...If Dad hadn't gone to take that test, this wouldn't have happened."
What was so great about that test anyway?
Was it more important than us?
Well, he's not our real dad, so maybe.
"Time to wake the kids up."
Suryeon approached the still-sleeping Hwaryeon and Choryeon.
Unlike usual, they were sprawled in uncomfortable positions.
Suryeon started shaking them awake.
"Everyone, get up and wash. It's morning."
Hwaryeon was the first to open her eyes at Suryeon's nudge.
Hwaryeon shook her messy bedhead to clear her mind and said,
"Dad still not back?"
"Nope."
"Hmph, I wasn't expecting him anyway."
Hwaryeon pouted and headed to the bathroom.
*Thud thud.*
Her footsteps toward the bathroom were filled with anger.
Suryeon watched quietly and thought,
'We're all the same, waiting for Dad.'
Suryeon hated to admit it.
But she had to acknowledge that Dad had become indispensable among the dragons.
The difference with and without him was stark.
"...I'm a dragon. This annoys me. Why should I care about Dad?"
After Hwaryeon finished washing up.
Suryeon nudged the still-sleeping Choryeon with her foot.
"Get up already, Choryeon."
"Umm... Is Father back...?"
"I'm not Dad, I'm your sister. Get up."
"Suryeon sis... Father still not back...?"
"Yeah."
"I see..."
*Creak.*
Choryeon sat up, full of disappointment.
Then, dragging her weary body just like Suryeon, she headed to the bathroom.
*Scrub scrub.*
Once everyone finished brushing.
The kids gathered in the living room and looked at each other.
They all had faint dark circles under their eyes.
Hwaryeon opened her mouth and grumbled.
"...What? Why are you staring at my face?"
"Just wondering if we're all the same."
"We're not! I'm the boss! I'm different from you!"
*Grrr!*
Hwaryeon bared her teeth and threatened Suryeon with a puff of fire.
Suryeon lightly splashed cold water on Hwaryeon's face in response.
*Sizzle.*
"Ow—! My eyes—!"
Hwaryeon clutched her face after getting splashed.
Choryeon stepped between them and yelled,
"Don't fight, sisters...! There's no one to stop us since Father's not here...!"
"Hmph, suits me fine! You're dead, Suryeon!"
As Hwaryeon clenched her fist and lunged at Suryeon.
*Knock knock.*
A knock came from the front door.
The kids all whipped their heads toward it.
"Dad!"
Hwaryeon's face, fist outstretched, lit up brightly.
But Suryeon judged coolly and said,
"Dad doesn't knock. He just comes in. That's our grandma bringing breakfast."
"Hmph, I knew that too...!"
Hwaryeon pouted, deflated.
Knowing who was outside, the kids quickly prepared their perception interference magic.
"All set. Open the door."
Suryeon stepped forward as representative and opened the door.
*Creak.*
Grandma stood there with a tray of food.
She headed straight to the table with the tray.
Then, she immediately frowned.
"What? You kids didn't clean the table last night?"
Hwaryeon crossed her arms and declared boldly,
"Why should I clean?!"
"You little brat, already so full of yourself? That's what happens when things don't fit right growing up. Sigh."
Grandma sighed and started clearing the table.
"And why's there so much leftover rice and side dishes? Tsk tsk, kids these days don't know the value of food."
*Clatter clatter.*
Grandma kept sighing as she set out new side dishes, then packed the leftovers from dinner into containers.
Suryeon watched and asked lightly,
"Human. What's your name?"
"You tiny thing, talking all funny. Just call me Grandma. Everyone around here does."
"How old are you, Grandma?"
"Old enough I've forgotten how to count. Around 80, I suppose."
"Okay, Grandma it is. How'd you meet Dad?"
Suryeon was curious.
What was this old lady's relationship with Dad?
Grandma looked fondly at the curious Suryeon and answered.
"Your dad and I go way back. Met about 10 years ago. Around when you were a bit bigger, I guess."
"Really? What was Dad like then?"
"Cocky little punk, annoying as hell. Looking at you now, you kinda remind me of him."
Suryeon scrunched her face at the comparison to Dad.
"...I don't look like Dad."
"Attitude's spot on. Anyway, long story short..."
Grandma explained Yi Ha-joon's past.
As a child.
Yi Ha-joon, having lost his parents, wandered the streets.
While rummaging through trash for survival, he met Grandma.
Feeling sorry for him, she got Gu Bong-gu to lend him money through her.
And let him live in this room.
"He didn't even pay rent properly as a kid. Only started after he became an adult."
"So Grandma took care of Dad?"
"You could say that for his childhood."
"Why? From your perspective, it would've been better not to. Why help him?"
Coldly speaking.
Suryeon saw no reason for Grandma to help Dad.
It seemed far from beneficial no matter how she looked at it.
Grandma answered Suryeon's doubts as if it were obvious.
"A kid out on the streets like that? Couldn't just leave him."
"...Is that how it is?"
"This old bag's gonna croak soon anyway, but kids have their whole lives ahead. Had to help, like it or not."
Wrinkled old Grandma.
Suryeon stared at her and asked,
"...Why do humans care so much about age? Kids, adults, old folks. I don't get it."
"You don't get it 'cause you're still a kid yourself, pipsqueak."
*Tap.*
After finishing the table, Grandma looked at Suryeon and said,
"Not much point telling a young'un, but treat your dad right while he's around."
"What’s that mean?"
"Means make the most of him while you got him."
With that, Grandma headed to the door.
Before leaving.
She sharply scolded the kids.
"And if you leave any food! You rotten brats! Don't know how precious rice is! I'll tell Yi Ha-joon everything! Eat it all!"
*Bang!!*
Grandma stormed out after her tirade.
The kids stared at the spot, then headed to the table.
Except for thoughtful Suryeon.
The kids picked up their spoons.
"Hmph, snitching to Dad? That monster grandma! I hate her!"
"I don't want to worry Father..."
*Nom nom.*
Maybe Grandma's words helped.
Unlike dinner, the kids ate without picking at their food.
Suryeon, who'd talked with Grandma, was lost in thought and couldn't pick up her spoon easily.
"Make the most while he's around... She said she's 80... Will Dad get all wrinkly like that when he ages...?"
According to the knowledge she'd been given.
Dragons had no limit to their lifespan.
If a dragon died, it was either hunted by a Dragon Slayer.
Or ended their own life.
But humans, compared to a dragon's eternal life, barely lasted 100 years.
"...So someday in the future, Dad will die?"
Someday.
Dad dies.
Suryeon repeated it to herself and muttered softly.
"That... doesn't sound good..."
Early morning.
Suryeon couldn't bring herself to pick up her spoon toward breakfast.