Chapter 78
Chapter 78
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 78
Chapter Title: The Season of Roasted Sweet Potatoes
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The weather was starting to get chilly.
The sweltering summer had passed, and it seemed like autumn was on its way.
‘Even if it’s autumn, it’s no different from winter.’
South Korea used to pride itself on its distinct four seasons.
But now spring and autumn had been deleted, leaving only summer and winter.
These days, spring and autumn felt like they lasted barely a month.
The term “four seasons” was becoming more of a nostalgic memory.
“Never thought cherry blossoms and fall foliage would become this rare. What a shame.”
Tsk-
It was a pity the dragon kids couldn’t properly experience spring and autumn.
They would’ve surely loved the mild weather of those seasons.
Especially Chorun.
“She would’ve gone absolutely nuts for it. But on second thought, maybe it’s a good thing they never got to experience spring and autumn…”
If Chorun had properly experienced them,
She probably would’ve thrown a fit to stop global warming, which was blamed for this mess.
“We have to plant trees! We have to restore the Earth to normal!” she might’ve said.
Pfft-
An image of Chorun causing a commotion automatically played in my head.
With a smile tugging at my lips, I opened the door to the kindergarten and stepped inside.
“Gu Bong-gu, I’m here.”
Gu Bong-gu popped out of the director’s office at the sound of my voice.
“What, you’re early.”
“Yeah, work wrapped up quick today since I got lucky. The kids?”
“They’re napping right now. I’ll go wake them.”
Gu Bong-gu headed upstairs to wake the kids.
I followed behind him.
“What’s up, Ha-jun? Why are you following me?”
“Wanted to see what they look like sleeping.”
What did they look like napping at kindergarten?
It was only natural to be curious about my kids’ kindergarten life.
Following Gu Bong-gu, I arrived at the room where the kids were sleeping.
They were lying on the floor covered with blankets and quilts, fast asleep.
“Maybe it’s because they’re young, but they all sleep so soundly. There’re my girls… Found them.”
The dragon kids were huddled together, napping comfortably.
I gently shook them and whispered softly.
“Hey, kids. Daddy’s here. Time to go home.”
Whisper whisper-
Hwarun reacted first to my voice, slowly opening her eyes.
“Mm… What? It’s Daddy… Why are you interrupting my dream… I was playing in meat heaven…”
“It’s not a dream. It’s really me, your daddy.”
At that, Hwarun rubbed her eyes hard to shake off the sleep.
She looked straight at me and her eyes went wide in surprise.
“What? It’s Daddy! How are you here at this hour?!”
“Work ended early today. Let’s go home.”
“Yay! Awesome!”
Patter patter-
Hwarun dashed to the classroom with an excited face to grab her bag.
Taking the chance, I shook Suryun and Chorun awake.
“Suryun, Chorun. Wake up. Daddy’s here.”
The dragon kids, curled up in balls, slowly opened their eyes.
“What… Daddy…?”
“Father… Why are you here at this hour…?”
They were still half-asleep.
I kneaded their soft cheeks and said.
“Work ended early. Came to pick you up. Hwarun’s gone downstairs to get her stuff. You two hurry and do the same.”
“Home good. Wanna go quick.”
“Yes… I’ll get ready, Father…”
Stagger stagger-
Still groggy from sleep, they wobbled out.
“…”
Everyone except Chorun, who suddenly stopped.
Chorun turned around, grabbed a permanent marker from the shelf, and headed somewhere.
Her target was a girl with freckles all over her face.
“Time to pay for insulting my father…! Get ready…!!”
Chorun’s face turned fierce as she started doodling on the girl’s face.
In an instant, the freckles were covered by the marker.
I was amazed by her delicate touch.
‘Does Chorun have a talent for makeup? She could be a beauty YouTuber someday.’
Hmm.
Looks like Chorun found a new talent.
That’s my girl.
Ignoring the now doodle-covered kid, I patted Chorun’s head.
“Looks like you’ve got a knack for art, Chorun.”
“Hehe, thanks for the praise, Father!”
Delighted by the compliment, Chorun swung the marker wildly in the air.
If she kept making noise, she’d wake the other kids, so I took her outside.
Hwarun and Suryun were already waiting, wearing their yellow kindergarten hats.
“What’re you doing, Daddy! Why so slow!”
“Let’s go home, Daddy.”
They seemed eager to get home.
I slung all their bags over my shoulder and headed out of the kindergarten.
“Kahaha! I’m first out! I’m the best!”
“Hwarun sis, so childish.”
“I don’t wanna agree, but yeah, kinda childish…”
The kids looked thrilled as they stepped out.
‘Early dismissal does feel great.’
Watching them frolic under the high autumn sky lifted my spirits too.
***
On the way home, yellow ginkgo leaves littered the ground.
Chorun looked at them sadly and spoke up.
“The trees are going bald… They’re all turning bald and shedding tears…”
Even trees valued their foliage.
Suryun cut into Chorun’s sentimental words.
“Trees don’t cry. Chorun, don’t lie just to get Daddy’s attention.”
“It’s not a lie! Trees really are crying! You know nothing! Don’t act like you do!”
Grrr-!
Suryun and Chorun glared at each other.
If I left them like that, they’d fight again, so I moved to intervene.
But there was no need.
“Sniff sniff, what’s that smell! Daddy! Something yummy over there!”
“Yeah, smells hearty.”
The kids stopped fighting, drawn by a savory scent wafting from afar.
It had been ages since I smelled something so hearty.
Was Hwarun lured by it? She bolted toward the source.
“Yummy smell! I’m gonna eat it!”
Patter patter-!
Hwarun chased the scent.
I sighed, grabbed Suryun and Chorun’s hands, and followed.
“Jeez, that glutton. Kids, hurry up.”
“Don’t wanna run…”
“Me neither…”
Were they dragons or what?
They dragged their feet, whining about it being a hassle.
Soon we caught up to Hwarun at the smell’s source.
Hwarun was savoring the aroma from a burning drum can.
“Mmm, yummy smell! Daddy! What food is this!?”
“Roasted sweet potatoes. They’re popular in fall, but didn’t expect someone selling them already.”
And in this district, no less.
I called out to the owner of the roasted sweet potato machine, who had his back turned.
“You selling roasted sweet potatoes here?”
The vendor turned around.
“Of course I’m selli— Huh, Bro?!”
“…Skinny?”
“Long time no see, Bro! Let me greet you properly!!”
Bow-
Skinny bowed 90 degrees.
His greeting skills were still top-notch.
I looked at Skinny and asked.
“Why’re you suddenly selling roasted sweet potatoes?”
“Bro, fall means roasted sweet potatoes, right? Gotta make money now!”
“You live an honest life despite your looks.”
“Hehe, thanks for the praise, Bro!”
Such a kiss-up.
Chorun, standing beside me, eyed Skinny’s tattoos and asked.
“Father, did that guy doodle on himself too?”
“Doodle… yeah, kinda. But that’s called a tattoo.”
“Oh, it’s kinda cool! Should I get one, Father?”
Chorun with a tattoo?
I gave her a serious look.
“Absolutely not, Chorun. If you get a tattoo later, Daddy’ll sell you off the family registry.”
“Sell me off the registry…? What’s that mean?!”
“Means I won’t recognize you as my kid.”
“…!!”
Shocked, Chorun clung desperately to my arm.
“I-I’ll never do it…! Tattoos…! Never ever…!!”
“Good. Promise you won’t? Got it?”
“Yes!!”
Good.
Please grow up as a Confucian dragon.
I patted Chorun’s head approvingly.
Then, looking at Hwarun drooling over the roasted sweet potato smell, I said.
“Hwarun, want some?”
“Yeah, want it! Gimme! I’ll eat this!”
Whoosh-
Hwarun boldly stuck her hand out toward Skinny.
Skinny, with his sly look, smiled, took out a roasted sweet potato from the machine, bagged it in paper, and handed it over.
Hwarun grabbed the bag and jumped for joy.
“Yahoo! All mine! I’ll eat it all!”
“Eat it all and your farts’ll stink, Hwarun.”
“D-dragons don’t fart! Don’t say weird stuff, Daddy!”
Farts were embarrassing, huh.
Hwarun’s face turned red.
I pulled out my smartphone to pay.
But Skinny waved it off.
“Bro, money between us? No need!”
“Still gotta pay. Give me your account.”
“No way, Bro! Raising three kids in times like these! Gotta give it free! Won’t take your money!”
Skinny, you rascal.
He’d become an impenetrable shield.
With no piercing spear, I had no choice but to back off.
“Alright, thanks. We’ll enjoy it with the kids. Good luck with business.”
“Yes, Bro! Take care!”
Bow-
Skinny bowed extravagantly as we left.
On the way, I pulled out the roasted sweet potatoes and handed one to each kid.
“Hot, so eat slow.”
“Hmph, not hot to me!”
Confident, Hwarun grabbed hers and started peeling.
Meanwhile, Suryun and Chorun blew on theirs—fuh fuh—to cool them.
I helped peel for Suryun and Chorun, who struggled.
“There, good?”
“I can do it myself.”
“Hehe, thanks, Father!”
Hwarun puffed her cheeks watching,
But soon focused back on her sweet potato.
“Gotta eat first! Rawr!”
Hwarun chomped a big bite.
Nom-
Then suddenly panted like a dog.
“H-haah…! H-hot…!”
“Told you to eat slow.”
How hot those things were.
Even for Hwarun, roasted sweet potatoes burned.
Suryun couldn’t hold back a laugh.
“Pfft, what’s that? Hwarun sis. Not very dragon-like. Like a TV comedian.”
“D-don’t laugh! Haah…! Damn…!”
Chorun burst out laughing too.
“Hehe, Hwarun sis looks just like a dog!”
“Shut up! Hngh…! You’re dead when we get home…!!”
Defeated by the heat, Hwarun hopped around.
Who knew one roasted sweet potato could be this fun.
Amazed by Hwarun’s talent, I clapped.
“Hwarun’s got comedian potential.”
“D-Daddy too, shut up…!!!”
We walked the street, laughing heartily.
It was a short autumn, but we enjoyed it fully, making a precious memory.
The kind of happy childhood memory that stays deep in the heart, even after many years.