Chapter 96
Chapter 96
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 96
Chapter Title: The Pied Piper (1)
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I visited the back mountain for the first time in a while to meet the elves.
As I had warned them, the elves had prepared well for winter.
“You’ve set up the tents nicely and got the heaters going well. Livable?”
“Yes, thanks to you, we’re doing fine. The forest spirits protected us from the wind, too.”
Good.
The elves didn’t seem like they’d freeze to death.
“We’re not sleeping alone—we’re with our wives, so we can share body heat. It’s not bad.”
“…I didn’t really need to know that.”
If anything, they looked like they might overheat to death.
And from my position watching them, I felt like my head was about to explode from the heat.
‘They’re such a handsome couple, it pisses me off even more. Those elf bastards. Since when do families cross over together?’
I’d expected at least one young elf to come.
But a husband and wife came over and were cozying up to each other.
Watching them flirt made my stomach boil.
‘I want an elf wife too!’
The dragon kids watched the flirting elves and gave their assessments.
“Hmph, weakling elves huddling together as expected! A true powerhouse stands alone!”
“Marriage gives you the right to do whatever you want with their body, huh. Gotta remember that.”
“If I marry Father, will I end up like that? I can’t wait to grow up!”
Even looking at one thing, they all thought completely different stuff.
As expected of dragons, their perspectives were worlds apart.
While I was analyzing my daughters like that, one elf approached me and gestured toward Mangmung, who was frolicking around.
“What’s that white dog, by the way?”
“Oh, that’s Mangmung, our newest family member.”
“Then that little guy is extremely lucky.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s growing up around dragons and can absorb the lingering mana. That pup’s definitely got a high chance of becoming a spirit beast later on.”
A genius dog, huh.
Well, my body got stronger from hanging around the dragons, so no reason Mangmung couldn’t.
As I pictured Mangmung smartening up, the elf whispered in my ear.
“By the way, there’s something I’d like to ask of you.”
“What?”
“We’ve been keeping things clean steadily, but lately the atmosphere around here hasn’t been great.”
“Not a great atmosphere?”
At my question, the elf’s face turned serious as he replied.
“It’s similar to the vibe I felt in the elf village. The atmosphere right before the humans invaded our village…”
The male elf saying that looked stern.
He was unnecessarily handsome, like a scene from a movie.
I nodded at the elf and replied.
“The calm before the storm. Something like that?”
“Yes, that kind of feeling.”
“I get it. I’ll be careful for a while.”
When elves with good instincts said something like that.
It was probably close to the truth.
Thinking that, I looked at the dragon kids running around the snow-covered back mountain.
‘If anything happens to my daughters… I’ll kill them without mercy…’
I had no intention of letting anyone who touched my bright-future kids off the hook.
Not even a speck.
***
After lunchtime at the kindergarten.
The kids devoured their lunches and packed meals, then lay on the floor under blankets for a group nap.
“Raaawr… Hmnya… Meat’s floating in the skyyy…”
Hwaryeon, true to her kindergarten emperor status, sprawled on the sofa spot and mumbled in her sleep.
In contrast, Choryeon lay on the floor, hugging Mangmung with her eyes closed.
“Ehehe… To give me a ring… Father must’ve wanted to marry me too…!”
“Mang… mang…”
Hwaryeon and Choryeon lay on the warm winter floor, seeking sleep.
The moment everyone fell asleep.
Suryeon slipped out of the room and headed up to the library on the third floor.
“I’m not sleepy. Just because everyone else is sleeping doesn’t mean I have to.”
It was a purely personal judgment.
And so Suryeon entered the small library and browsed the books inside.
Not new releases, but packed with old used books.
“Hmm, which book looks the most fun?”
Suryeon pulled out the thickest-looking one and opened it.
“Hmm…”
About a minute in.
Suryeon boldly closed the book.
“…I’ll read this later. Not in the mood right now.”
She put the difficult-looking book back on the shelf.
Then focused on the picture book corner below it.
Among them, Suryeon opened the simplest-looking one: The Pied Piper.
“Now this is readable.”
Smirk.
Suryeon started reading the picture book with a satisfied expression.
“Hmm, The Pied Piper. This guy uses some amazing magic. Calling rats, calling kids. No way he’s a dragon?”
No mere human could use such wide-range magic.
A dragon, maybe.
“The Pied Piper’s gotta be a dragon. Or at least has an artifact made by one.”
Suryeon nodded to herself as she said that.
Just then, the firmly shut library door began to creak open.
Creeeak—
“…You’re here?”
Gu Min-gu.
Suryeon looked at the boy entering and said.
“Get out right now. This is my spot.”
“W-where does it say that! The library belongs to Teacher Bong-gu! More importantly, what are you doing here alone?”
“Hmm, your name was Gu-something, right?”
“Gu Min-gu!”
“Oh.”
Whoosh.
Suryeon turned her head away right after hearing Min-gu’s name.
She just wasn’t interested.
But Min-gu seemed very interested in Suryeon.
“What were you doing here?”
“Your intelligence is questionable. It’s a library, so obviously reading a book.”
“What book?”
“Mind your own business.”
“…”
Min-gu frowned at the sharp words.
‘I just want to be friends. Does she have no intention of getting close to me?’
Downcast.
Min-gu drooped his head gloomily.
About ten minutes of that.
“…Sigh.”
Thud.
Suryeon closed the finished picture book.
Then, sparing Min-gu about 1kg of attention, she asked.
“What do you want to say to me?”
At that, Min-gu’s face lit up.
“I’m just curious what you’re doing! You seem different from the other kids! Especially your big sis and little sis!”
“Of course. I’m on a whole other level from them. Way more amazing.”
Suryeon looked at him like he’d asked something obvious.
At that sight, Min-gu got flustered instead.
“You’re so hard to get used to every time I see you. Your hair color, and your eyes are so unique.”
Min-gu stared straight at Suryeon’s blue eyes.
Eyes like they held a beautiful lake.
But those eyes quickly darkened like they held the deep sea.
“Don’t look at me like that. Makes me feel like a sideshow.”
“S-sorry…”
“That all? I’m leaving.”
Swish.
Suryeon swiftly passed Min-gu and left the library.
Min-gu followed after Suryeon and said.
“W-wait! Let’s go together!”
“…Annoying. Why do you keep following me? Humans suck anyway.”
Irritating.
Suryeon glared at Min-gu, who kept pestering her.
But Min-gu just tilted his head like, “Why?”
“Why?”
“…”
Suryeon decided to head down the stairs without a word.
She figured this was just another fate a dragon had to endure.
‘It’s because I’m too outstanding. I’m just too exceptional a dragon.’
Bees are drawn to flowers naturally.
With that thought, Suryeon shrugged her shoulders proudly and descended the stairs.
‘They’re probably all awake by now.’
Thinking the kids would be up, she opened the door to the room where everyone had been napping.
Rrrroll—!
Then white smoke billowed out from inside.
“Cough cough— What’s this?”
Suryeon coughed and parted the smoke as she entered the room.
Visibility was low from the smoke, but she grasped one fact.
“…All the sleeping kids are gone. But why are you two just sitting there?”
Suryeon looked down at her feet.
There lay Choryeon, hugging Mangmung in deep sleep.
“Ehehe… Father… giving me a kiss…?”
“Mang mang mang…”
“…”
Gross.
Suryeon nudged Choryeon with her foot.
At that, Choryeon rubbed her eyes and sat up.
“Uuum… What’re you doing, Sis Suryeon…? Have you finally lost your mind…?”
“Do you know where the kids who were lying here went?”
“Hm…? Where’d all my friends go…? And what’s with this white smoke…?”
Whisk whisk.
Choryeon looked around vigorously.
But not a single kid was in sight.
In that moment, Suryeon understood what was happening.
“The Pied Piper.”
Just like in the picture book, all the kids had vanished.
Everyone except the dragons, that is.
At that, Suryeon gave a slight smile.
“Interesting.”
Perfect timing—she’d been bored.
She had a feeling something fun was about to happen.