Chapter 73
Chapter 73
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 73
Chapter Title: Worship the Dragon (5)
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Helping the elf elder had paid off.
I got my hands on a watering can.
"Yahoo!"
Choryeon raised the watering can high into the sky, cheering in delight.
But the other kids, excluding Choryeon, weren't thrilled.
"What even is that? It's not cool at all! I can't use that as a weapon!"
"I think there's already a watering can on the rooftop. Do we really need another one?"
Hwaryeon and Suryeon stared at the watering can with dissatisfied expressions.
I shot the elf elder a look, feeling just as unhappy.
"Elder."
"Yes?"
"You're giving us this as a reward? What the hell are we supposed to do with that watering can?"
It was way too useless for a relic.
The elf elder shook his head as he looked at my dissatisfied face.
"It might look unimpressive at first glance. But if you see what it does, you'll change your mind."
What was this, a home shopping pitch?
The elf elder picked up the watering can and walked over to the window.
Then he sprinkled water outside.
Splash, splash, splash—
About ten seconds after he sprayed the water.
I could see a tree rapidly growing outside the window.
Choryeon witnessed the watering can's power and shouted with sparkling eyes.
"Oh, Dad! We have to take that! With just that watering can, we could restore Earth to normal!
Slurp—
Choryeon stared at the watering can, swallowing hard.
She must have thought it was essential for her Earth restoration plan.
"Elder. What's the watering can's exact ability?"
"As you saw, it promotes growth. The magic engraved inside it helps plants grow."
"It's not much for something befitting an elf's reputation as a reward. But Choryeon likes it, and it seems somewhat useful."
Let's take a look.
I took the watering can from the elder and examined it.
It looked like an ordinary watering can, but it could make plants grow quickly.
'...I could sell more veggies in front of the school.'
Perfect.
I'd find a use for it later.
I decided to be satisfied with this reward.
"Alright, we've got our reward and we're happy. Shall we all head home?"
It was about time to go home.
I grabbed the watering can and started to leave the elder's house.
But then.
"Dad, wait!!"
Suddenly, Hwaryeon jumped in front of me, spreading her arms to block my path.
Starting a protest out of nowhere.
I was a bit flustered but asked calmly.
"I was about to head home. What's up, Hwaryeon? Something wrong?"
"Yeah! There's a ton wrong! Dad, I don't like that watering can!"
"Then what do you want, Hwaryeon?"
"A powerful weapon! A cool weapon!"
So it was just that she didn't like the watering can.
I asked Suryeon, who was standing quietly beside me.
"Suryeon, are you okay with the watering can?"
"Yeah, I'm pretty satisfied. I want to get home quick and check out how it works."
If Suryeon had refused, I would've said something to the elf elder.
Too bad.
I turned to Hwaryeon, who was gearing up to throw a tantrum.
"I don't care if you don't like it. Stop whining and let's go home."
"No way! I want a cool reward too! That one's only good for Choryeon! I'm not into plants!"
Thud thud thud—
Hwaryeon flopped onto the floor and started throwing a fit.
"...Don't embarrass me, Hwaryeon."
"Give me a reward too! Something cool!"
"Quiet. Let's go home already."
Whoosh—!
I picked up Hwaryeon and tucked her under my arm.
"Waaah! Put me down! Put me down!"
Hwaryeon screamed to be let down.
But I ignored her and left the elder's house.
Giving in to these tantrums all the time would just create bad habits.
"We're really going home now, right?"
"Let me go! I'm gonna get a weapon no matter what!"
"...Fine, I just want to get home quick."
"I think staying a bit longer is fine, Dad...!"
But.
We needed to head home.
Where the hell was the dimensional gate core?
'...Ugh, what a hassle.'
The elves said they didn't know where it was.
So we had no choice but to set out on a journey to find the core.
"It better not take too long..."
"They say rushing makes you miss what's right in front of you, Dad. Let's take it easy!"
Only Choryeon, who didn't want to go home, was super excited.
***
The journey to find the dimensional gate core wasn't easy.
It wasn't just the rough terrain or how hard the core was to find.
The biggest problem was.
"Great Dragon Lord! We just harvested some potatoes—please try them before you go, even if they might not be to your taste!"
"Ah, Dad. Can't we eat those before we go? I'm curious what they taste like!"
The elves kept coming up to us and getting in the way.
I glared murderously at the male elf running toward us with a basket of potatoes.
'Elves are supposed to be graceful, and he's not even a girl. Why do they keep bothering us? If he comes closer, I'll hit him. If he comes closer, I'll beat him. If he comes closer, I'll kill him.'
I cursed the approaching male elf with all my might.
Maybe that's why.
"H-Hiiiik...! I-I'll leave the potatoes here...!! P-Please enjoy!"
Terrified, the male elf dropped the basket on the ground and fled.
I picked up a potato from the basket and took a bite.
"It's warm. And tasty. You kids take one each too. Careful, it's hot."
I handed out potatoes to the kids.
'No, this isn't the time for this.'
Let's find that dimensional gate core quick.
We munched on the hot potatoes as we trekked through the forest.
Naturally, the elves kept popping up every so often.
"Great Dragon Lord! I can't get down from this tree! Please save me!"
"Why can't an elf get down from a tree?"
An elf asking for help because he was scared to climb down.
"I'm praying to the World Tree for the forest's peace. Please go around the other way."
"Suddenly? Right here?"
Elves suddenly praying to the World Tree, and so on.
The elves pulled all sorts of stunts to disrupt our journey.
But even disruptions have their limits.
"We're almost at the end of the forest."
"We found it! Let's go home!"
We overcame the elves' annoying interference and located the core.
'Whew, that was annoying as hell.'
Time to head home quick.
I reached out to destroy the core.
At that moment, about ten elves burst out from the bushes and shouted at us.
"P-Please, great Dragon Lords!! Don't leave us behind!!"
"Stay with us, Dragon Lords!!"
Thud—
The elves dropped to their knees, pleading desperately.
I figured they'd spout some pointless sob story, so I smashed the core before they could speak.
Crash—!
"You elves can live on your own. Why drag us into it?"
"Yeah, elves. Why make things hard for us? No internet here either."
The elves sighed as they saw the shattered core.
But they weren't giving up yet. The elder spoke up as their representative.
"We need you, Dragon Lords. Elves serve nature, but we also revere the great Dragons. So..."
The elder hesitated for a moment.
He swallowed dryly, mustered his courage, and continued.
"You don't have to stay. We'll come to your world instead."
"What?"
"We want to serve you up close! Please! Even just a few of us! We're begging you!"
Bang—!
The elves slammed their foreheads into the ground, pleading earnestly.
Curious about the kids' reactions, I glanced at them.
"Take them as subordinates? Hmph, no thanks!"
"Too annoying. I'm against it."
"Among creatures that love nature, there are no bad ones! Having elves around would be convenient too, right? Am I the only one who thinks so?"
The responses were all over the place.
That left the final decision up to me.
'Elves, huh... Those trash around me have been a nuisance. It'd be nice if they cleaned up for me.'
Of course, I couldn't take them all.
A few might be okay.
I looked at the elves with their heads bowed and replied.
"Fine. A few of you can come to our world."
"R-Really?!"
"But on one condition."
I counted off on my fingers as I spoke.
"First off. What was that fruit Nidhogg wanted?"
"The fruit of Yggdrasil?"
"Yeah, that. Bring it."
I could eat it, sell it, or grow more.
Honestly, just the watering can felt a bit skimpy, so I was getting an extra reward.
The elves pondered my condition briefly but nodded in agreement.
"And second. Bring some female elves too."
"...Dad?"
"...Father?"
Suryeon and Choryeon's stares burned.
But the elves nodded to this condition as well.
'Sorry, kids. But Dad needs to get married too.'
Dreaming of marrying a beautiful elf.
I laid out my two conditions.
The elves accepted immediately, and a total of four elves—two males and two females—decided to follow us to revere the dragons.
"Two guys and two girls. Perfect balance."
Clap clap—
I clapped happily, pleased.
"Hmm..."
"Um..."
Suryeon and Choryeon looked pretty miffed.
Anyway.
Somehow, we ended up escaping the dimension with the elves in tow.
Before entering the dimensional gate, I asked the two lovely female elves.
"By the way, how old are you two?"
"I'm 100."
"I'm 150."
...
Quite the age gap.
But they didn't look much different outwardly.
Should be fine.
Thinking that, I extended my hand for a handshake.
"Let's get along. Elves."
"Yes."
The female elves cheerfully reached out to me.
I went to grasp those slender hands.
But for some reason.
'...They're wearing rings?'
Do elves wear rings?
Just to be sure, I asked.
"By the way."
"Yes."
"Are you two married?"
"Yes, to the elves coming with us."
"Oh, I see?"
"Yes."
"..."
A couples' trip, huh.
Married elf women.
Disappointed, I slumped my shoulders and headed for the dimensional gate.
"Sigh, marriage whatever. I'll just raise you kids..."
Suryeon and Choryeon seemed amused by my reaction.
They hummed little tunes as they came up beside me.
"Dad, I like things as they are."
"Me too! I don't think we need a mom!"
Got it.
Guess I'm fated to be single for life.
Anyway.
I walked toward the dimensional gate with the kids to escape the dimension.
Together with the elves we'd met in this new dimension.
'Well, it's their choice. They'll manage.'
Since Choryeon got along with them so well.
The elves should adapt fine to the human world.
As long as they didn't start some environmental protection campaign with Choryeon.
Still, for being forced into a dimensional gate, we'd scored quite the haul.