Chapter 68
Chapter 68
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 68
Chapter Title: Letter from the Heart
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To minimize conflicts among the kids.
I decided to introduce a state-of-the-art system into our home.
"Everyone, listen up!"
Clap-!
I clapped my hands to draw the children's attention.
Once I had enough of their focus, I dove straight into the main point.
"Dad thinks you each have some complaints that are hard to voice. So, I've prepared something for that. See this little wooden box in my hand?"
Nod nod-
The kids looked at the small box and nodded.
I placed the box on the dining table and continued the explanation.
"This is the Heart Letter mailbox, where you put letters containing feelings that are hard to express in words."
Heart Letter.
A policy to mediate conflicts among the children.
I planned to listen to their complaints as much as possible.
'This way, complaints won't build up, and things between Suryeon and Choryeon should improve too.'
No matter how I thought about it, it seemed like a great policy.
The dragon kids apparently agreed.
"You just write your honest complaints on paper, right? I'm all for it!"
"We can handle things quietly. Even I think it's a good policy."
"I like it too! To come up with something like this! Dad really is amazing!"
Fortunately, they were satisfied with the Heart Letter policy.
Now, if they had any complaints, they wouldn't bottle them up—they could resolve them through me.
And so, I implemented the Heart Letter policy in our home.
As a result, the kids started pouring out their complaints to me without hesitation.
"Today's complaint is... from Hwaryeon, I guess..."
Hwaryeon's handwriting was wild and crooked, making it hard to read.
But I sat in a dining chair and read the Heart Letter.
-Sausage side dish is insufficient!! Bring more! No, bring it all!!
"This kid writes a complaint, and it's just whining about side dishes?"
I even make plenty of meat side dishes.
I felt a surge of annoyance for a moment, but I calmed myself and held back.
"Whew, no. This is cute-level stuff. Technically, it is a complaint. I should accommodate it."
I'll provide generous sausage side dishes.
My back bent a little, but I decided to accept Hwaryeon's opinion.
"Let's see, next is Suryeon."
Neat handwriting, like it was typed by a machine.
I unfolded the neatly folded letter and checked the contents.
"Ugh, what is this."
It's a long one.
The letter was packed full of text.
-Dad, I always speak the truth. But lately, you've been favoring the youngest, Choryeon. You give Hwaryeon unnie immense power, cherish the baby like a jewel, and I'm stuck in the middle in this awkward spot. So first off, I want unofficial power. And...
...It was so long I gave up halfway through.
She listed complaints and solutions, making it quite lengthy.
'Next time, summarize in three lines, please.'
Regrettably, I decided to skip Suryeon's complaint.
Then, I opened another letter from the box.
Choryeon had used cute handwriting and polite language.
-Father, I don't really have any complaints. But if I had to say, this seems like a waste of paper. It might have a bad impact on the environment. Also, I don't dislike Suryeon unnie, but I think she relies on Father too much. For Suryeon unnie's sake, maybe some distance would be good?
"Choryeon. You say you have no complaints, but yours seems the biggest?"
It wasn't as long as Suryeon's.
But the content was the same.
They were jealous of each other.
"Still, I get the feeling now."
Rip-!
For confidentiality, I tore up the letters and threw them in the trash.
Then, still sitting at the table, I called out.
"Suryeon, Choryeon. Everyone, come to Dad."
It was time for a meeting.
"What a hassle. Got it."
"Yes, coming!"
Pat pat pat-!
Suryeon and Choryeon ran to the table.
Choryeon, who arrived first, took the seat next to me.
"Hee hee hee."
I looked at the giggling Choryeon and said,
"Not the seat next to me—sit across."
"Oh, okay..."
Downcast-
Choryeon sat across with a disappointed look.
With the two dragons in front of me, I opened my mouth.
"I read all the complaints you wrote today. I understand what you're trying to say."
Glance-
At the words that I'd read them, Suryeon and Choryeon exchanged worried looks.
However, the thing they were worried about would never happen.
"First, Suryeon."
"...What, Dad."
"Next time, summarize in three lines. It was too long."
"...Got it."
"And I get what you don't like, so no need to worry."
And then.
"Choryeon, listen well too. I have no intention of favoring anyone. You're all my daughters. I'll treat you fairly. There might be differences between older and younger sisters, though."
This should be a sufficient response to what they wrote in today's Heart Letters.
After hearing me, Suryeon and Choryeon nodded as if they fully understood.
"I'm smart, so I get it perfectly."
"Me too, I understand Father's words. Sorry for being a bother for no reason..."
"Good that you understand. Now go do whatever you want."
Grumble-
The kids immediately got up from their chairs and headed to the living room.
They resumed their activities as if nothing had happened.
'...One issue resolved, I guess.'
Heart Letter policy.
Success!
They might fight later.
But not right now.
'I did something pretty parental.'
Hah-
I was proud of myself.
However, Hwaryeon soon shouted, ruining my moment.
"Dad! My Heart Letter! I asked for more sausage side dish! No, all of it!"
"...Got it, I'll make it."
That sausage ghost kid.
And so, our family's Heart Letter policy ended in success.
The mailbox would stay in place anyway.
Even if I was away from home for long periods, I figured it could control complaints to some extent.
"Because they're daughters, I'll treat them fairly. They should trust Dad's words."
"You said you understand... I'll trust and wait, Father."
Of course.
If I couldn't resolve their complaints, bad results would follow.
But I'm Dad.
I resolved to bear this weight on my shoulders.
It was what a dad had to do.
***
Roll roll-
An afternoon rolling around the house with my daughter, no summons in sight.
I was playing fairly with the dragon kids, without favoring anyone.
"Choryeon belly fart!"
"Ahaha! Father, that tickles, I'm dying!"
Choryeon laughed brightly at the belly fart.
Then, suddenly, a thought struck me.
'If I only do belly farts to Choryeon, won't the others feel left out?'
So, to be fair, I approached Hwaryeon.
"Hwaryeon. Dad will do a fair belly fart—"
"Uwaaak! Belly fart monster! Get away!"
Thud thud thud-
Hwaryeon quickly fled to avoid being caught.
"Hwaryeon, I was trying to be fair. You refused?"
"Hmph, I don't need it! Absolute refusal!"
Well, can't be helped then.
I approached the next target, Suryeon.
Normally, she would run too, but for some reason, today was different.
"Come here, Suryeon... What's this, why aren't you running?"
"..."
Suryeon just stood there looking at me.
Normally, she'd freak out at belly farts and flee to the bathroom.
But Suryeon just blushed and stared at me.
"This isn't the Suryeon I know...?"
"...What nonsense, Dad. I'm just me."
Suryeon turned her head away in embarrassment.
To treat her fairly, I approached Suryeon for a belly fart.
But suddenly, the smartphone Suryeon was holding started vibrating.
Vrrr-!!
"...Looks like a summons."
"...Oh."
Suryeon let out a slight sigh of regret.
I had no choice but to pick up the smartphone and check the summons details.
"I thought I'd get a break today. Now I know why they called me at this hour."
The address was nearby.
A Dimensional Gate had appeared near home.
Right in front of the house, practically.
I quickly got ready and opened the door.
"Might be late. But since it's close, I'll be back soon."
Gotta handle it fast and return.
I stepped out.
But for some reason, I couldn't move forward.
"...What?"
"Don't go! Take me too! That magic power from above! I'm curious too! I wanna see!"
"I hate going out, but with Dad, I wanna see."
"I'm curious too, Father!"
The dragon kids were all clinging to my legs as a group.
I shook my legs, but they wouldn't let go.
I was troubled, but since it was right outside, I thought it might be okay.
"Just looking from in front of the house? No fussing, straight back home after?"
"Okay!"
"Sure."
"Yes!"
With everyone's agreement.
I went outside with them to see the Dimensional Gate.
The Dimensional Gate had formed next to a tree near the playground, already as tall as me.
"That's the Dimensional Gate! The magic power is twisted in such a fascinating way!"
"Hmm, I wanna analyze it. Let's get closer."
"Wow, the Dimensional Gate likes my tree too! It appeared right next to it!"
The kids each reacted in their own excited ways.
Good thing no one was around.
"Seen enough? Time to head back slowly."
Association staff would arrive soon.
I turned to send the kids home.
But suddenly, Hwaryeon stopped and looked back.
"...Hm?"
"Hwaryeon, why'd you stop suddenly?"
"The magic flow is weird, Dad. This is... Dad, dodge!!"
Whoosh-!
Hwaryeon suddenly leaped into the air.
I couldn't understand why she did that.
Until the Dimensional Gate's magic extended out and wrapped around Hwaryeon's body.
'Crazy, it's a trap type?! The Association didn't say anything?'
Erosion type, trap type, etc.
Normally, when the Association's satellite detects a Dimensional Gate's magic, it informs the type during the summons process.
Trap types, unlike normal Dimensional Gates, forcibly drag nearby people into the gate.
'Damn, the Association said nothing. Should I have been more careful?'
Hwaryeon was pulled in first.
Then, me and the kids started getting dragged in after.
I never dreamed this would happen.
"This is insane."
"So intriguing. The Dimensional Gate used magic of its own will to grab my body. What kind of structure is this?"
"Is this okay, Father...?"
And so.
Me and the dragons were caught by the Dimensional Gate's magic and forcibly transported to another dimension.