Chapter 64
Chapter 64
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 64
Chapter Title: 드래곤을 유괴하다-64화
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 64
Chapter Title: 24. Uncle Is a Child (2)
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Yoo Ji-tae looked at Yeoreum. One second stretched like a full minute. “Waaahn-duuuaaa~.” Gaeul’s voice rang out like sticky stretched candy syrup. Of course, he had no intention of indulging her. He’d just placate her appropriately.
That’s what he thought.
At that moment, Winter—nestled in Yoo Ji-tae’s arms—snapped her eyes wide open.
Winter glared at Yeoreum with bulging eyes. She’d known this would happen eventually. That red lizard was finally throwing a tantrum.
The cake drew steadily closer. To Yoo Ji-tae…!
—Protect.
The old man’s words lingering in her tiny head.
Winter reached out her hand.
Dark water-attribute mana converged in one spot, wrapping the flying cake in a sphere and flinging it backward.
Yeoreum’s eyes widened. The cake was hurtling toward her face.
But the quick-on-her-feet Yeoreum ducked her head.
The cake sailed past her—straight toward Gaeul’s face.
“Ado-re-bum!”
Gaeul thrust out her hand with a bizarre yell.
“...!”
The next instant, Gaeul’s eyes went wide.
The mana-shielded cake landed perfectly in her grasp. Pure coincidence.
“Gaeul. You okay?”
“...”
“...Ah.”
Bom, Yeoreum, and Winter stared at Gaeul in astonishment.
Sensing their gazes, Gaeul puffed out her chest and presented the cake with both hands.
“Ta-da!”
Only then did Bom and Winter breathe sighs of relief.
That was when Yeoreum approached Gaeul, eyes round.
“Hey. You okay?”
“Of course! I’m a dragon, after all!”
“Let me see, where...!”
“Huh? Sure?”
“Phew. Cream’s fine.”
“Yeah...?”
Yeoreum eyed the cake in Gaeul’s hands with genuine worry. ‘Not me...?’ Gaeul shot Yeoreum a disappointed glance.
“Anyway, I can’t trust you, unni! Scram!”
“What’re you saying. Hand over the cake.”
“No way! I’m giving it to ajusshi!”
“I said give it here?”
The kid dodged Yeoreum’s grabby hands and backpedaled.
Her foot caught on the string of mini Christmas tree lights draped around her.
“Huh...?”
Tension released, perhaps.
“Kyaang—!”
Flailing wildly, she toppled over and smack—head-planted into the cake.
“Kyaha haha!”
Yeoreum cackled like a witch.
“Ugh... sorry, ajusshi.”
After cleanup.
“Felt like we’d need it.”
Bom produced the second cake she’d prepared ahead.
“Happy birthday. To our beloved ajusshi~.”
“Happy birthday. ...To Ji-tae~.”
They sang a half-hearted birthday song.
“Yap.”
Gaeul popped mana like fireworks—crackle.
Snap—
Yeoreum snapped her fingers to light the candles.
“...Fuu.”
Yoo Ji-tae blew them out.
“...Fuu.”
Winter mimicked Yoo Ji-tae.
Next came photo time. No idea when they’d prepped, but Bom and Gaeul produced party hats and elephant trumpets amid giggles.
Inevitable. In a flash, a conical hat perched on the regressor’s grim head. Winter chomped the elephant trumpet.
Pbuu—!
To him, still an ill-fitting scene. Yet the kids passed photos around, cracking up.
Bom calmly sliced and shared the cake.
The regressor glanced around.
Under bright lights. Smiling dragons everywhere.
What an alien sight.
Post-regression, he’d stopped tracking holidays or ceremonies.
Like it or not, ‘commemorating’ holds meaning because it never returns. For him, looping regressions made special people routine, unique days endless repeats.
Maybe that’s why. Even now, the regressor felt little.
But not the kids.
“Wah, ajusshi, that hat looks so wrong on you! This photo’s horror movie material!”
“This one’s like Animal Kingdom.”
“Huh? Why! What’s wrong with my solo shot?!”
The kids were sincerely marking his birthday.
Utterly delighted faces.
Even prepping stuff.
“Ajusshi! How’s it feel?”
“...”
“Best ever, right? First time I’ve ever done this for anyone’s birthday!”
“...”
“Well? Huh? How’s it how?”
Yoo Ji-tae realized something.
For them, celebrating someone’s birthday was likely a first.
Even if not, this iteration of his—definitely their first. Today was special for them. Commemorable.
His birthday, yet theirs too.
Yoo Ji-tae replied slowly.
“Good.”
Gaeul and Winter clapped, giggling wildly.
“Now.”
Cake nearly gone, Bom spoke.
“Time for the gift-giving ceremony.”
“Yeees!”
Gifts?
“What gifts.”
“Don’t like?”
“Eh. Not a kid.”
Yoo Ji-tae waved dismissively; Winter planted hands on hips.
Eyes: Objection.
Whatever.
“No, ajusshi...! You’re a kid.”
What now.
“You’re only 27, right?”
“...”
“Mm, looks way older, but... anyway. Dragon terms, 27’s a kid? Like me.”
“’Cause you’re dragons. Human-wise, not young.”
“Mm, but gift’s from dragons?”
“Receiver’s human.”
“Mmm..., no. You’re a kid......”
Gaeul, logic crumbling, sweated bullets, eyed Bom.
Bom rescued the chick.
“Even young, weak, protected folks can give gifts.”
Bom nailed Yoo Ji-tae’s core.
‘Receiving from someone’—unfamiliar sensation.
An obsession. Always dictating distances, permitting exchanges only on his terms. Tyrant trait.
“Just accept it then.”
Bom offered a small box.
‘Me too!’ Gaeul followed with wrapped box. Winter proffered tiny one, yanked back slyly as he reached.
Yoo Ji-tae unwrapped Bom’s on the spot.
Round, thick metal pendant thing.
Button press: lid pops.
Lovely pocket watch.
Why this out of nowhere.
Ah.
Right, around 4th loop, it got jealous of a wristwatch.
“Ah. But not all.”
“Hm?”
“Press the top button.”
As Bom said—top button. Pressed: inner lid on lid opens.
Their Fountain of Life group photo. Marker-scrawled date, place. ‘Fun times ^^~’
Bom’s handwriting, probably.
“Thanks.”
Subtle smile tugged Bom’s lips.
“Next, mine!”
“Yeah.”
Gaeul’s box light. Unwrapped: slip of paper. Letter? Unfolded—cute script:
[Wish Voucher ♥]
“Wish voucher?”
“Hehe.”
“What’s this.”
“Well, unni and I puzzled a week? No clue what you need.”
“So.”
“Made this. Anything! Anytime! Ask me.”
“Anything?”
“Yep. Whatever!”
“Money too?”
“M-money? Uh, how much...?”
Joke.
“This month’s allowance...” Chick muttered dead serious.
“Thanks.”
Post-Gaeul, Winter fidgeted tiny box, hyper tense.
No knot, unlike others.
“Giving?”
“...”
Hand out.
Winter shook head, retreated.
No idea why—glanced Bom-wards. Bom nodded encouraging.
Meanwhile, eyed Yeoreum.
“What. What.”
“Nothing.”
“Gift? Prepared one.”
Yeoreum fished neatly folded socks from pocket.
White.
“What.”
“Worn.”
“...”
No wonder grubby.
“Washed ’em myself.”
Yoo Ji-tae baffled; Yeoreum slyly dodged gaze.
Shocked reactions: Bom, Gaeul, Winter.
“Eeeh? Real worn ones?”
Gaeul plus Bom, Winter—all stared Yeoreum.
“Yeah.”
“Whoa. Unni...? Epic!”
“Quit fussing, monkey.”
Something he missed.
Dragons. Socks.
Winter sniffed his socks sometimes.
“What’s the big deal.”
“It’s like..., y’know...! Th-that......”
“...?”
“Ah, yeah. There is!”
“Nah, nothing much. Vacation good-luck charm.”
Yeoreum waved; Gaeul gawked endlessly.
Beyond him.
Anyway, no prank. Pocketed Yeoreum’s worn socks.
“Thanks.”
Winter’s turn—no dodging now.
Tiny box gripped, tense face.
“Hm. Actually.”
Bom.
“Helped with Winter’s gift.”
“Together?”
“She insisted. Go on, Winter. Yourself?”
“...”
Winter nodded.
Eyed Yoo Ji-tae, held box to eye.
What.
Late realization—set box floor-wards. Hands-covered eyes again. Still clueless. “What.”
Winter stomped, mouth cracked slow.
“...Close.”
Close?
“...Please.”
Eyes closed, probably.
Yoo Ji-tae shut eyes quiet. Tweaked optic nerves—true blindness, ages since. Felt world anyway, mana receptors locked. Sixth sense hyper-local still, so sealed that too.
Rustle. Rustle.
Rustle rustle.
Rustle...
Something neared, stood before seated him.
Stepped slow onto thigh. Weight felt.
Click. Box-open sound.
Silence then.
Sensation: something neck-wrapped. Skin-brushed—soft.
Winter’s arms?
Winter full-neck-hug, nape-fiddled.
Click.
Off leg.
“Eyes okay?”
No reply. Nodding? Nah.
“Yes.”
Bom.
Checked neck.
Necklace. Water-hued string, blue scale pendant.
Dragon scale.
“Winter’s scale, on Winter’s hair.”
Bom explained.
Winter wore matching—gem swapped for tiny vial.
Black hair strand inside.
“Ajusshi’s hair. Won’t lose.”
“...Meaning to hair swaps?”
“Nope. Nothing.”
Winter ecstatic tho.
Beaming ear-to-ear.
Received—standard thanks. Scooped Winter, grateful.
“Thanks.”
Vigorous happy nod.
Cautious then.
“...Lose, no.”
Of course.
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