Chapter 7
Chapter 7
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: Brush Brush
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Chapter 7
Brush Brush
What is a dragon?
Most people would answer this question like so.
"Dragons possess enough power to annihilate an entire nation."
That's correct.
It's common knowledge that dragons wield strength capable of toppling a country.
Videos of dragons remain on X-Tube, so people know just how incredible they are.
But I know far more about dragons than they do.
"They're all falling for fakes."
Dragons are nothing like the legendary tales.
Unlike what people expect...
"So cute I could just die. My little Choryun!"
"Shaaah-!"
They're incredibly adorable.
Their appearance is no different from a slightly larger lizard.
But their actions and the way they express emotions are just so lovable.
Even coming home exhausted from a hard day's work fills me with energy.
I stopped stroking Choryun's belly and lifted her up with both hands.
"Shaaah~ Shaaah~"
Choryun let out happy chirps, clearly delighted.
Seeing that made it impossible not to feel excited.
I hoisted Choryun even higher and shouted.
"Choryun's flying!"
"Shaaah~"
"Yahoo!"
"Shaaah~"
Too cute for words.
She's not my real daughter, but I imagine this is what it'd be like playing airplane with one.
That's when, after playing with Choryun for a bit,
I spotted Suryun watching us from afar.
"..."
For some reason, she was giving me a pitiful look.
That gaze snapped me back to reality, which I'd momentarily forgotten.
'Lee Ha-jun. Age 23. Unemployed. Currently playing with Choryun, deluding himself into thinking he's a child frolicking with a dragon.'
Krah!
I felt a twinge of embarrassment about my earlier self.
To salvage my dignity as a dad, I tried offering Suryun a bit of an explanation.
"Ahem, Choryun likes it, so it's fine once in a while. Dad's not a weirdo, right?"
"..."
"It's okay to play like a little kid sometimes..."
Then it hit me.
I took a very objective look at myself.
'No, why am I even explaining myself?'
I didn't do anything wrong. Why should I have to justify it?
I refused to back down under Suryun's gaze, which seemed to crush my pride.
Instead, I decided to go on the offensive.
"Suryun, you looked like you thought it was fun too, huh? Want a turn? Is that it?"
"..."
"You wanna ride the airplane too? Come here! Dad'll give you a go!"
"...Shaa-."
Suryun immediately turned and bolted away into the distance.
It was the fastest I'd ever seen her move.
My victory.
"Huh, I win."
"Shaaah..."
Choryun hit me with a pitiful gaze of her own.
I ignored the attack and locked eyes with Choryun again.
'She really does look just like a lizard.'
The spitting image of one.
No standout features that screamed "dragon trait."
As I stared intently at Choryun, a sudden curiosity struck me.
Do they need to brush their teeth too?
"Choryun, open wide for a sec. Say 'ahh'—try it."
"Shaaaaaaah—"
"Good girl. You listen so well."
Choryun obediently opened her mouth wide, mimicking me.
I cautiously brought my nose to her mouth.
Sniff sniff.
"..."
"Shaaah-?"
"...You should probably brush them."
I'd been wondering if dragons needed to brush their teeth.
Yeah, definitely.
Worried she'd get hurt by my words, I held back and took her straight to the bathroom.
I pulled out a spare toothbrush set.
"Green one's perfect for Choryun."
"Shaaah-?"
"One more 'ahh.'"
"Shaaaaaaah—"
I propped Choryun on my hip and diligently brushed her teeth with toothpaste on the brush.
Brush brush.
She'd only just been born.
But being a dragon, her teeth were surprisingly sturdy.
Sturdy enough to wonder how much they'd fetch if sold.
'...Not that I mean it. Just saying.'
Can't a guy be curious?
I excused my naughty thought to myself.
With my broad mind, I forgave myself easily.
After about three minutes of thorough brushing,
It was time to rinse.
I went to fill the slightly chipped mug on the sink.
But.
"Ah, damn, water's cut off."
Crap.
It was fine yesterday.
Suddenly no water.
In my dismay, I glanced at my reflection with Choryun in the mirror.
"Shaaaaaaah—"
Choryun, clueless about the situation, still had her mouth open.
Foam filled it completely.
I hurriedly grabbed a bottle of lukewarm mineral water and poured it into her mouth.
Gurgle gurgle.
"Don't swallow! Rinse like this! Got it?"
Gulp gulp—pthoo!
After my demonstration, Choryun rinsed and spat out the water safely.
A quick sniff check: breath problem solved clean.
I'd gained new info: dragons need to brush just like humans.
"Other than being less hassle, they're no different from babies."
"Shaaah-?"
"Yeah, talking to you, Choryun."
I set Choryun down.
Refreshed, she ran around the tiny studio with her mouth open.
Then I turned and found my next target.
"Shaaak—!!"
Hwaryun, the most wary of them all.
She was out in the open, bold as brass.
"..."
Suryun, the shyest.
She was hiding under the dining table.
Their personalities were polar opposites.
Could I really catch them and make them brush?
'Yeah, right.'
As a dragon dad, I'm a wise guy.
I cleanly gave up on forcing them to brush.
So I chose a different approach.
I squeezed toothpaste onto my finger and approached them.
"Suryun. Eat this if you don't want bad breath."
"..."
"You're a dragon, aren't you? Bad breath would be a disaster, right?"
"...Shaa-."
Suryun swiftly licked the toothpaste off my finger.
Quick and nimble.
Next, the prickliest one: Hwaryun.
"Here, Hwaryun. Your turn."
"Shaaak—!"
Tough opponent, as expected.
Hwaryun bared her teeth at my finger, rejecting the toothpaste.
How to deal with such a prideful one?
I knew exactly.
"You really not gonna eat it, Hwaryun?"
"Shaaak—!"
"The others all did. You gonna skip? They weren't scared. You scared or what?"
"Sh, shaaak—!"
Perfect.
She was starting to waver.
'As expected, this works best on the prideful ones.'
I know, 'cause I'm prideful myself.
Though mine's all I've got.
Anyway.
Hwaryun slowly responded to the taunt about the others doing it.
She crept toward my finger.
Glancing warily at me, she finally brought her mouth to the toothpaste.
Slurp... no.
Crunch!
"Ow!! You damn lizard! Biting Dad again without recognizing him?!"
"Shaaak—!!"
"Told you I wouldn't let it slide! You lost to me today!"
Just you wait.
Dragon or whatever, I'll tan your hide if I catch you.
I chased the darting Hwaryun around the house.
She fled at speeds beyond normal, true to her dragon nature.
'Argh, looks like a lizard but moves like lightning?'
Panting hard in pursuit, I realized something about dragons.
Beyond being cute, add one more thing.
Dragons are cute, but the kind you wanna flick on the forehead.
"Haa... Just... catch... you..."
"Shaaak—!"
Let's see who wins.
Our game of tag lasted until the neighbors yelled to keep it down.
External interference meant a draw.
"Shaaak—! Shaaak—!"
Hwaryun protested the call, but I wasn't having it.
If you hate it, get born earlier.
Dad's prerogative.
***
"I'm off to work, so no mischief. Be good?"
"..."
"Suryun, rest well too. I'm heading out!"
Slam!
Lee Ha-jun left for work as usual, to earn money.
As always, Suryun saw him off.
Staring at the firmly shut iron door, she muttered to herself.
-Humans sure love going outside. What's so great about work?
Humans acquire roles called jobs and perform tasks accordingly.
Those tasks generate income, which determines their status.
Job trumps work, income trumps job, and income equals status.
Suryun viewed the human world with cold cynicism.
She'd simply judged the news reports objectively.
Still, better than doing nothing.
Suryun sat in front of the TV and looked up at the screen.
-Same boring crap as yesterday.
The same woman as always spoke in a crisp voice about the world.
Suryun felt curiosity at first, as usual, then quickly grew bored.
-As expected, nothing but repeats. Keep watching this, and I'll turn into an idiot.
Something.
She needed to do something besides watch TV.
Like.
-Imitate a human. Polymorph, was it?
This tiny body doesn't suit the human world.
It's inefficient.
Suryun pondered what she'd look like as a human.
What form would suit her best.
She posed the question to herself and began envisioning her human shape.
-Am I male? Female? What looks most like me? What am I? What do I want?
Suryun hurled these questions at herself, gradually forming a concrete image.
-Not easy.
Still.
Suryun figured it wouldn't take long.
Dragons can do anything, after all.