Chapter 66
Chapter 66
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: Chicken Dragon
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Work hard, pay off debts, come home, and play with the kids.
The repetitive daily routine passed by in the blink of an eye.
I was so busy that I couldn't even feel the time slipping away.
'They say time flies when you're raising kids. Looks like that's true.'
I never thought I'd experience it firsthand.
Anyway.
I was doing my absolute best as the head of the household.
"Ugh, I'm gonna die of exhaustion. That dimensional gate today was way too big."
My legs are killing me.
Gotta slap on some pain relief patches when I get home.
Dragging my shaky legs, I exited the dimensional gate.
The staff waiting for me approached to check my condition.
"Good work, Hero Yi Ha-jun. Glad you're safe again today. How's your body holding up?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. It was just walking, after all."
Overlord Aura.
Thanks to steadily consuming dragon-related foods lately, the monsters wouldn't even approach me.
Because of that, the association was treating me pretty well.
"Day 100 accident-free. No injuries yet. This kind of record might be worth reporting to the higher-ups. You handled it quickly and safely, so we'll deposit a higher performance bonus than usual."
Nice.
At this rate, I might pay off all my debts by the time winter ends.
Imagining a future where I'm rich, I headed home.
"Kids' education environment... a house with a city view... a modest and pretty wife..."
I had given up on marriage this lifetime.
But if things keep going like this, I can dream of a bright future.
First things first, the dragon kids need to grow up.
"They grew fast physically. Mentally, they're still babies. Wonder when they'll mature and leave the nest."
A house without dragons.
It's noisy and chaotic, but full of laughter.
If they were gone, it'd feel empty.
Still, raising them only goes until they're adults.
'I made a promise. After that, they'll have to fend for themselves. Can't stay in the nest forever.'
Lost in such random thoughts, I returned home.
Opening the door, Chorlyun greeted me with a big grin.
"You're home, Dad! I was waiting!"
"Yeah, were you good while playing, Chorlyun?"
"Yes! I played nicely watching TV!"
One of the recent changes.
Usually, under Hwaryeon's dictatorship, the tired kids ignored the TV.
But once Hwaryeon started sharing the remote, they got interested again.
'Now society is functioning properly.'
From dictatorship to a sharing society.
I couldn't help but praise Hwaryeon.
After washing up, I spoke to Hwaryeon, who was sitting in front of the TV with her mouth agape.
"Hwaryeon."
"It's an important scene, Dad! Game Ranger Red is about to beat the bad guy! Talk later!"
She waved me off, eyes glued to the TV.
'This kid doesn't know a good thing when she hears it.'
I turned around and said,
"I was gonna praise you. Never mind if you don't want it."
"Hmph, I don't need praise! But what were you gonna praise me for? I'm curious!"
"...You just said you didn't need it."
"That's different from being curious! Tell me quick! You're giving me a headache!"
Hwaryeon clutched her forehead, staggering like she was dizzy.
Her obvious acting was ridiculous, but I decided to give the praise anyway.
"I heard you're letting the others use the remote now too. Is that true?"
"Of course! It's no fun watching alone! So I let my siblings watch what they want!"
"You're doing great, like a big sister should. That's what I wanted to praise you for. Good job."
I gently stroked her head in praise.
Hwaryeon allowed it for about three seconds.
"Okay, stop touching! That's enough praise!"
After that, she swatted my hand away, of course.
She strictly enforced her own three-second rule.
'Simple yet weird kid.'
Even though she's my daughter, she's fascinating.
Sometimes she seems the most normal.
Thinking that, I headed to the kitchen and opened the small fridge.
"Hmm..."
Nothing good for dinner.
All just simple frozen foods.
So, I decided on something special for tonight.
I approached Suryeon, who was on her smartphone, and said,
"Suryeon, give me your phone for a sec."
She frowned.
"Why? You going out, Dad? If it's for no reason, no way."
She hid the phone behind her back.
Like, come take it if you can.
'Does she hate me going out that much? Still has PTSD, huh.'
Too dependent isn't good.
A bit worried, I answered her question.
"Not going out. Need to make a call."
"Hmm, okay then."
She obediently handed over the phone.
I took it and searched the internet right away.
"Nearby... chicken place that delivers... just one."
One chicken means high delivery fee.
Two, and it's almost free.
'The kids eat well, but two should fill them up.'
One chicken per person is too much anyway.
Thinking that, I called the chicken place and ordered.
One fried, one seasoned.
A classic combo.
"Should be here soon."
In the meantime, I lay on the living room floor to watch TV.
As I lay in the center, Suryeon, who was in the corner on her phone, lay next to me and started gaming.
"Urgh..."
Chorlyun seemed uncomfortable with that.
She immediately snuggled right up to my side and said,
"Dad, arm pillow please!"
"It's not hard, but..."
No idea why suddenly, but I gave Chorlyun the arm pillow as requested.
Suryeon glanced sideways and muttered,
"...Fun."
The game was fun?
Or the situation?
Not sure.
'Did Suryeon and Chorlyun fight...?'
Something felt off in the air between the two dragons.
Sandwiched between them, I endured the awkward time.
Until the chicken delivery arrived.
Knock knock.
-Chicken delivery.
"Finally."
Escape at last.
Rubbing my stiff arm, I went to the door.
I opened it to get the chicken.
"Huh?"
"Eh? Bro?"
A familiar face stood there.
"Pudgy. You do deliveries?"
"Yeah, when I'm short on cash. Bro, you ordered chicken, right?"
"Yeah. Already paid, so hand it over."
"Yes, bro. Enjoy."
Pudgy bowed 90 degrees to me.
As he turned to leave, he remembered something and handed me something.
"Oh, right! Here, bro, take this."
"What's this?"
"Coupon. Collect 10, get one free. Good luck collecting. Their chicken's great."
Coupons, huh.
Useful if you collect them.
I thanked Pudgy and stuck the magnet coupon on the fridge.
Then, holding the chicken, I yelled to the kids.
"Kids! Chicken time!"
"Chicken...? No idea what, but smells good!"
"...Yeah, smells delicious."
"Hmm, curious what it is...!"
They rushed to the table, drawn by the chicken smell.
Amid expectant gazes,
I carefully opened the packaging to reveal the glistening chicken.
"There, that's chicken."
The kids' eyes sparkled as they stared.
"Meat! Smells good, looks tasty! I want some!"
"Fried food, not healthy. But seems delicious."
"N-Not veggies, but... still... maybe okay once... "
They gulped, chicken right in front of them.
I got plates and divided it fairly for the eager ones.
"One drumstick each. Guaranteed tasty, dig in."
Wearing plastic gloves, they picked up drumsticks and bit in.
Crunch.
Tender drumstick in mouth, tearing off the meat.
Crispy fried and spicy-sweet seasoned.
First time eating chicken, they widened their eyes and said,
"Spicy!"
"This is high-quality food. Well-made. Dragon-approved."
"This... isn't just meat-eating...! Not violence, it's art...!"
They were blown away.
The kids chomped away happily.
Alternating fried and seasoned to their tastes, enjoying bliss.
Then Chorlyun handed me a meaty breast piece.
"You eat too, Dad! This part has lots of meat, super tasty!"
"You first, Chorlyun."
"Ehehe, I'm good! You first, Dad!"
As expected.
Only Chorlyun thinks of me first.
I ate the seasoned breast she gave me.
Suryeon watched quietly, then smirked and murmured,
"Acting all good."
Chorlyun caught it and coldly retorted,
"...Suryeon sis, you don't like me?"
Tension crackled.
Suryeon and Chorlyun glared.
After a while, Suryeon turned away first like nothing happened.
"Hmm, chicken's good."
Pretending not to hear to defuse.
Watching the exchange, I thought,
'Why are they fighting over good chicken?'
Rift between the two dragons.
I needed to resolve it before it worsened.
That vibe spelled trouble.
'Still, they're all eating the chicken happily.'
Hope they don't demand chicken every day.
Tastes differ, but
Chicken seemed universally loved.
"More! Where's the chicken!"
Enough to order more.
'Damn.'
Why do they eat so well?
Didn't expect this.
No choice, I ordered soy sauce and garlic chicken too.