Chapter 48
Chapter 48
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 48
Chapter Title: A Home Without Dad (4)
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How much longer until I can pass this test?
I lay on the floor, staring blankly at the sky.
"Just how much time has passed...?"
I had no idea.
The sun signaling morning showed no sign of setting, and the moon heralding evening had no intention of rising.
In this dimension, only the sun existed.
Because of that, none of us taking the test—including me—could tell how much time had gone by.
"What is this, some kind of mental ward or time chamber? I'm seriously going crazy."
Sigh—
I let out a deep breath and pulled myself up from where I was lying.
Then I stood before the black sphere I'd been punching at all day.
It was completely unscratched and intact.
"What the hell is this thing even made of? Not a single mark on it."
Could it even be broken in the first place?
I called over Examiner Han Ji-su and asked.
"Senior, it feels like a ton of time has passed. Can't you at least tell us what this is? We need to know what we're supposed to break."
Han Ji-su responded coldly to my question.
"That's against the rules. If you want to know what that black object is, break it with your own hands."
"You won't tell us anything."
I wanted to call it unfair.
But she probably had no choice since it was her job.
While I was chatting briefly with Han Ji-su like that, the young man next to me who'd been swinging his sword diligently shouted.
"Argh, screw this! This thing won't break no matter what! Calling this a test! I'm out!"
The guy, who looked tough at a glance, yelled in frustration and headed toward the dimensional gate.
Without any hesitation, he stepped through and left the dimension.
At that sight, one of the other test examiners spoke in a cold tone.
"Any other applicants who want to forfeit?"
"..."
"..."
"I'm out."
Whoosh—
The woman behind me, who had been shooting mana-infused bullets at the black object, raised her hand.
Seeming to think she had no chance, she let out a deep sigh and headed out.
I watched her go and let out a sigh of my own.
"Tsk tsk, kids these days have no patience. Giving up so easily."
If I gave up now, I could go see the kids.
Honestly, I was barely holding back even now.
'Did they cause trouble? Feels like they definitely did. No doubt about it.'
The worry was killing me.
Even so, I managed to calm myself and stood before the black sphere again.
"Whew, still gotta do what I gotta do."
Maybe because I'd been punching nonstop since yesterday.
My fists were already covered in wounds and trembling uncontrollably.
I bit my lip hard and thrust my fist toward the black sphere.
Boom—!
'Should've listened and bought a weapon.'
Boom—!
'This hurts like hell.'
Boom—!
'Why do I have to use my fists? So unfair.'
A grumble for every punch.
Grimacing in pain, I endlessly hammered the black sphere with my fists.
But maybe it was having some effect after all.
"Huh?!"
Little by little.
Scratches began to appear on the black sphere.
I kept up the momentum and hammered away even harder.
Not Hwaryeon's Dragon Punch.
"Dad Punch!"
A dad's fist is stronger than a dragon's.
Even as the wounds on my fists split open more and the numb pain surged.
The faster it hurt, the quicker I thrust toward the center.
'I'm coming soon, kids.'
To see them as fast as possible.
I couldn't bear worrying about the kids alone at home.
***
After breakfast.
The kids spent their time waiting for Dad to return.
"Isn't there anything fun to do? I'm bored!"
What would be fun?
What could they do to pass the time without Dad?
After pondering, Hwaryeon came up with one idea.
"Maybe I should go see those guys who call me Boss."
It'd be fine to head to the playground for a bit.
Hwaryeon turned her head and scanned her surroundings.
"Yi Suryeon! She's too lazy to stop me. Yi Choryeon! I can ignore her. Decided!"
Hop—
Hwaryeon jumped to her feet.
Confidently, she headed to the front door and flung it open.
Bang—!
Hwaryeon threw the door wide and declared to the kids.
"You idiots! I can't just sit still until Dad gets back! I'm heading out!"
Bye—
Hwaryeon waved to Suryeon and Choryeon as if telling them to stay put.
Suryeon and Choryeon waved back together.
"Yeah, have fun."
"Yes, sis. Be careful!"
"..."
Why aren't they stopping me?
Hwaryeon suddenly felt annoyed.
So she slammed the door shut and confronted Suryeon and Choryeon.
"Why didn't you guys stop me? I said I'm going out!"
"Am I supposed to stop you, sis?"
"No one can stop me, so you can't!"
"That's why I said have fun. Can't stop you."
"That's...! True, but...!"
Sending her off coolly made her mad.
Blocking her made her mad too.
Hwaryeon bluntly vented her complicated feelings at Suryeon.
"I just feel bad! Next time, stop me! Got it!?"
"Why should I—"
"Listen to your sis! TV said this place has Confucian culture! You're Confucian dragons! Got it!?"
"..."
Hwaryeon bulldozed ahead unreasonably.
Suryeon sighed and replied.
"...You just hatched a little earlier, that's all."
"What did you just say to your sis!"
"...Fine. I'll listen to you, sis."
"Hmph, you better! Society's working perfectly!"
Shrug—
Hwaryeon shrugged her shoulders, puffed up with pride at asserting her big-sis authority.
Choryeon was busy clapping from the side.
Clap clap clap—
"You're right! This place needs polite speech! It's essential!"
Confucian Dragon No. 1.
Environmental activist Yi Choryeon agreed with her big sis.
"Confucian Dragon! I agree with Hwaryeon sis too!"
"Yeah, Yi Choryeon. That's a good little-sis attitude, listening to sis!"
"Wooow—!"
Clap clap clap—
Hwaryeon and Choryeon got excited and high-fived.
Suryeon's sighs grew deeper.
"...Unbelievable."
Why should dragons follow Confucian culture?
We're dragons.
'Why should perfect dragons follow human culture? Dragons set the culture.'
These idiot dragons.
Red Dragons or Green Dragons can't think deeply.
That's why I'm the only one worrying deeply.
"...Sis or little sis, you're both idiots."
"Why are we idiots!"
"Yeah, Suryeon sis!"
Haa—
Suryeon sighed and said.
"Do you know how long humans live?"
"Lifespan?"
Hwaryeon shouted confidently at the question.
"How would I know that!"
"...Figured you didn't. I'll tell you. Humans live up to 100 years max. Unlike dragons, humans have a fixed end."
"That's true!"
"Dad's human too, Hwaryeon sis. Know what that means?"
Freeze—
Hwaryeon's excited face stiffened.
"Figures you never thought that far."
I've been the only one thinking about it.
Suryeon felt superior but also anxious.
Because she now knew how humans end.
"Eventually, Dad will get old and die. Wrinkles on his face, physical abilities weaken."
"Then that wrinkly monster grandma we saw—"
"She got old. 80 years old. Humans aren't guaranteed 100 years. She said herself she didn't have much time left."
"..."
Rarely.
Hwaryeon shut her mouth at Suryeon's words.
Stuff she'd never considered sank in, complicating her mind.
'Dad dies?'
She learned the concept of 'human death' she'd never imagined.
That concept naturally brought anxiety.
Because there would be an end someday.
Dad wasn't a dragon; he was human.
"That's... really awful..."
Choryeon whimpered softly.
"Dad won't always be with us, he'll leave us, right sis...?"
"Yeah, he said he'd come back this time. But next time, he might not come back forever."
"That sounds so sad..."
Choryeon's mood plummeted.
Hwaryeon yelled.
"Then Dad might've died already?! Maybe he died and can't come back! Dad's weak!"
"..."
"..."
That possibility existed too, of course.
Maybe that's why.
Anxiety began to settle in the kids' hearts.
What if the next time Dad leaves, he dies and doesn't return.
What if he's dead now and that's why he hasn't come back.
The kids, ignorant of the world, let their imaginations fill with anxious thoughts.
"If Dad doesn't come back... I-I'd be so sad..."
Plop plop—
Choryeon started dropping tears on the floor.
The other kids' eyes naturally welled up too.
"Dad... he'll come back, right...?"
"Who knows..."
"I wish he'd come back soon..."
Sniff—
In an instant, the kids turned into crybabies.
As they shed tears and wallowed in sorrow.
Maybe because enough time had passed.
Knock knock—
A knock came from the front door.
"...Sniff, must be food delivery."
Suryeon quickly washed her face and prepared to greet grandma.
She cast perception-blocking magic and went to the door, opening it.
Creak—
There stood not grandma, but the person the kids had been desperately waiting for.
"What, Yi Suryeon? Why are your eyes so puffy? Did you guys fight?"
"Dad...?"
Blink—
Suryeon blinked in shock, speechless.
Then she quickly turned her head, pretending nothing was wrong.
"...What, Dad's back?"
"Yeah, Dad's back. Missed me, huh? Were you good?"
"...You could've just come in. Why knock?"
"Wanted to tease you guys?"
"...Hate you, Dad."
Thud—
Suryeon bowed her head slightly and planted a fist on Yi Ha-jun's thigh.
Yi Ha-jun lightly stroked her head and said.
"Missed you, kids."
At those words, Hwaryeon and Choryeon charged and body-slammed into Yi Ha-jun, shouting.
"Dad, you came back alive without dying!!"
"Ah, Father, don't die! You can't die!"
"W-What the heck's with you kids?! Why would I die?!"
Waaah—
Hwaryeon and Choryeon clung to Yi Ha-jun, bawling.
Yi Ha-jun, back after passing the test, couldn't comprehend the situation.
"What the hell's wrong with them?! Did grandma feed them something bad? Suryeon, what happened?!"
"...No idea."
Turn—
Suryeon turned away, acting like nothing happened.
But deep down, she was thrilled Dad was back.