Chapter 75
Chapter 75
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 75
Chapter Title: Dragon Goes to Kindergarten (1)
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The kids' reactions to kindergarten were all different.
"Hmph, I don't wanna listen to some weak human who's weaker than me!"
The eldest sister.
Hwa-ryeon yelled that she didn't want to go to kindergarten.
Her reason was that she didn't want to listen to a human weaker than her.
'She says that, but if I drag her along, she'll end up having fun anyway.'
Hwa-ryeon had this habit of refusing everything except food.
She'd start off acting all sulky about not wanting to do something, but once she got into it, she'd enjoy it the most.
I handed Hwa-ryeon a red backpack and said,
"Here, Hwa-ryeon. It's a gift. Wear it on your back when you go to kindergarten."
"Red! I like it! But I said I'm not going to kindergarten! Get that away from me!"
Hwa-ryeon tried to throw the red bag away.
Before she could, I quickly said,
"There's a Game Ranger pencil case inside."
"Hmph, you think I'd like something childish like that? I gotta check if it's really there first! I'll think about going to kindergarten!"
Hwa-ryeon didn't throw the bag and immediately checked inside.
Maybe she saw the Game Ranger pencil case, because she pulled it out and burst into a happy laugh.
"Yahoo! It's really Game Ranger!"
Hwa-ryeon swung the pencil case around wildly, then caressed it like a precious gem.
She really liked it.
'Persuasion successful.'
Hwa-ryeon was done.
I looked at the next target, Cho-ryeon, and said,
"Come here, Cho-ryeon."
"Yes!"
Thud thud thud—
Cho-ryeon came running straight to me.
'Cho-ryeon was already leaning toward being okay with kindergarten.'
No real persuasion needed.
I handed her the green backpack.
Cho-ryeon immediately put it on and spun around like a magical girl.
"How do I look, Dad? Does it suit me?"
"It suits you perfectly. You look just like a kindergartener, and I love it."
"Really? Good! Hehe!"
She had a bit of a mischievous, frog-like vibe overall.
Perfect for a kindergartener.
After giving Cho-ryeon her backpack, I glanced at Su-ryeon, who was sitting quietly in the corner.
"Yi Su-ryeon."
"..."
"Come here."
"..."
She glanced sideways.
Su-ryeon just peeked at me from the corner without any intention of coming over.
No choice but to use the power only parents have.
"If you don't come, Dad's gonna come get you, Su-ryeon."
"..."
"I'll count to three. One... two... th..."
Just as I was about to say three.
"...Just come get me then."
She shot up—
Su-ryeon stood from her spot and walked over slowly on her own.
I looked down at Su-ryeon, who was glaring daggers at me, and said,
"You still don't wanna go to kindergarten?"
"...Yeah, I don't wanna go."
"I even bought a blue backpack. Don't you need this?"
"..."
Su-ryeon stared blankly at the backpack and replied regrettably.
"...I don't need it. That's not something I need."
"Why?"
"If I just stay home, I never have to go out. So I don't need a bag."
"Oh..."
A genius, huh?
Her brain really worked in amazing ways.
Su-ryeon kept explaining why she didn't need kindergarten.
"I'm a dragon. I don't need to learn anything from humans. It's more efficient to learn what I want to know through the internet."
"No, Su-ryeon. There's something you need to learn from humans."
"...What's that?"
"Social skills."
Blue Dragon Yi Su-ryeon needed to learn how to get along with other humans.
If this kept up, she'd turn into a full-blown shut-in dragon with middle school syndrome.
I couldn't let my daughter end up like that.
I firmly said to Su-ryeon, who was frowning in displeasure.
"Yi Su-ryeon."
"What, Dad."
"You're going to kindergarten tomorrow no matter what. Now go grab your backpack."
"...No."
Dash dash dash—!
Su-ryeon didn't take the bag and ran off to the bathroom instead.
"You little rascal! Hey, come out right now! Yi Su-ryeon!"
"No, if I come out, you'll drag me to kindergarten. I'm never coming out."
Bang bang—!
I pounded on the door and yelled for her to come out.
But Su-ryeon absolutely refused to leave the bathroom.
'How much does she hate kindergarten?'
My daughter refusing to go to kindergarten.
How was I supposed to get Su-ryeon to kindergarten?
My head hurt, and I felt dizzy.
***
Kindergarten drop-off morning, day one.
I had to bustle around preparing to send the kids off.
"Everyone, change your clothes! Grab your bags! Hats! Put on the yellow hats too!"
"I don't like yellow hats! Give me a red one!"
"No one puts a red hat on a kindergartener! Hurry up and put on your hat!"
"Hmph, this is annoying!"
Hwa-ryeon put the yellow round hat on her head.
Finally, she looked like a proper kindergartener.
"Now that you've got your hats on, eat breakfast. And where's Cho-ryeon again?"
"That one? She was in the bathroom just a minute ago."
"She's still in the bathroom?!"
How long does it take to wash up?
'I have a summons too, so I need to head to work soon.'
I quickly ran to the bathroom to check on Cho-ryeon.
"Hmm... yawwwn..."
"What're you gonna do brushing your teeth half-asleep? Wake up a bit. Dad'll do it for you."
This was making me dizzy.
I took over the toothbrush for the sleepy Cho-ryeon.
"Yawwwn... Sorryyy, Daddyyy..."
"Start with 'ahh'."
"Ahh..."
I held the water cup to her mouth and poured some in.
Gulp gulp—
Cho-ryeon rinsed her mouth and spat into the cup.
"Ptooey..."
"Now hurry and get dressed. No more sleeping!"
"Yesss..."
Cho-ryeon staggered out of the bathroom.
I left the bathroom and scanned for targets.
"Hwa-ryeon's eating... Hey, Yi Hwa-ryeon! Don't eat all the sausages! And Yi Su-ryeon... where's she hiding now...?"
The house was small anyway, so she'd be found quick.
Hiding wouldn't help; she'd get caught no matter what.
'...Found her.'
Hiding here, huh.
It didn't take long to find Su-ryeon.
She was curled up under the dining table like a cat.
"Su-ryeon."
"..."
"What're you doing? You got caught already."
"...Ahem."
Su-ryeon blushed in embarrassment and uncurled herself.
Then she looked at me like nothing happened and said,
"What's up, Dad? Something wrong?"
"Of course there's something wrong. What're you doing, Su-ryeon? Hurry up and get ready for drop-off."
Kindergarten drop-off prep.
At those words, Su-ryeon scowled and yelled,
"N-No...! I said no...! I said I'm not going to kindergarten...!"
"Su-ryeon, Dad told you. Kindergarten's a place you have to go even if you don't want to."
"I hate the outside...! I don't wanna leave the house...! I'm staying home...!"
"If you refuse this hard, Dad has no choice but to get tough too, Su-ryeon."
No helping it.
I scooped up Su-ryeon, who was still in her pajamas.
"P-Put me down, Dad...!"
"If you won't get ready, Dad'll make you."
Bathroom first.
I stood Su-ryeon in front of the mirror, forced her to brush her teeth, and splashed water on her face to wash it.
"This is water torture...!"
"Dad's getting tortured by you too. Be good and go to kindergarten, Su-ryeon."
Next, I changed her clothes, put on her backpack, and plopped a hat on her head.
Then I sat her at the table and shoved rice wrapped in seaweed into her mouth.
"Food torture too...! I trusted you, Dad...! You're just like the other humans...!!"
"Quiet and eat, Su-ryeon. Tastes good, right?"
"...It does taste good."
Munch munch—
Su-ryeon ate her rice happily once I added kimchi.
She even had some sausages occasionally.
I fed them a hearty, balanced breakfast of simple foods.
"Now that you're done eating, let's go. It's almost 9."
I put on shoes with the kids and tried to head out the front door.
"Yahoo! Kindergarten!"
"Kindergarten! This'll be fun!"
Hwa-ryeon and Cho-ryeon bounded energetically out the door.
But Su-ryeon was still hesitating, not leaving the doorway.
I reached out to her gently and said,
"Come on, hold Dad's hand. Let's go, Su-ryeon."
"..."
"You'll have fun once you're there. You're curious about the human world, right? They'll teach you better than the internet."
"...Fine. I'll go."
She reached out her small hand to me.
I took Su-ryeon's hand and set off for drop-off with the kids.
'...Never thought the day would come when I'd be taking my daughters to kindergarten.'
Walking to kindergarten holding their hands.
It was an indescribable, strange feeling.
'I hope they all adapt well. Especially Su-ryeon.'
Su-ryeon held my hand and kept turning her head, scanning the surroundings.
Going every day would fix that soon enough.
While walking to kindergarten holding Su-ryeon's hand.
Cho-ryeon grabbed my free hand and said,
"I wanna hold Dad's hand too!"
"Yeah, let's all go together. That's better."
Holding Su-ryeon and Cho-ryeon's hands.
Controlling Hwa-ryeon verbally as she ran ahead wildly.
It was a busier morning than usual, but I felt like we were all moving forward together.
***
"Around 4, some people I know will pick you up. They look kinda suspicious, but they know what my daughters look like, so no worries."
"Got it. Go make that money. The teacher and I will take good care of them."
After leaving the kids at Gu Bong-gu's Happy Kindergarten.
I looked back at the building with a slight unease.
'...They'll be fine without me, right?'
Suddenly, I was worried.
Should I take them back home right now?
'That won't help them grow at all. Toughen up. Kindergarten's the right choice, Yi Ha-jun.'
Don't get soft.
I shook my head and started toward my summons location.
Then I caught sight of my daughters in the second-floor window of the kindergarten.
They waved at me wildly and shouted.
"Dad, see you later! I'll conquer this place while you're gone!"
"Have a good day, Dad...! Come early...! I wanna see you soon...!"
Whoosh whoosh—
The kids waving me off enthusiastically from kindergarten.
I smiled at them and waved lightly.
Then I shouted to Su-ryeon, who was looking at me with resentful eyes.
"I'll be back soon to pick you up! Have fun there, Su-ryeon! I believe in you! Fighting!"
"..."
Su-ryeon turned away from me without a word.
She seemed thoroughly pissed at me.
'I hope she does okay...'
It'd be great if a dragon could make human friends.
Wishing my daughters would make friends.
I headed off to work today as well.
'...Still, knowing they're at kindergarten instead of home puts my mind a bit more at ease.'
There were responsible adults nearby.
It eased my worries a little.