Chapter 8
Chapter 8
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: Part 4. Autumn (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Ajusshi. I didn't come just because of the bread. I'm not that simple, you know."
"Yeah."
"Of course, the sausage bread was delicious. Way better than Ascalifa's top-grade sausages... Anyway! I didn't follow you because of the bread. Got it?"
"Sure."
"And it's not because of the macarons either. Of course! Crispy on the outside, moist inside. The cream filling is so sweet and tasty that before you know it... But, but...!"
"Got it."
Gangnam-gu, Nonhyeon-dong. On the way home with the regressor and the dragon. 'Anyway, that's not it! Okay?' The Gold Dragon kept mumbling those words over and over.
Clutching bags full of bread in both arms.
"...Yeah."
As Yoo Ji-tae agreed, the chick grinned broadly. With cream smeared on her lips.
Well, if you say so, then that's that.
*
"Welcome back, my lord."
When Yoo Ji-tae returned home, his clone, Spring, and Summer were there.
Spring was lounging in the prime spot on the sofa where Yoo Ji-tae usually lay. She blinked alternately at him and the clone, then her eyes widened at the sight of the Gold Dragon.
Standing on the veranda next to the sofa was a red-haired girl he was seeing in person for the first time.
That was Summer.
Smoke wafting around her suggested she was smoking. From what he knew, the Red clan was crazy about things like that. Booze, gambling, drugs...
"Wow, Green! Red!"
Finally, the Gold Dragon entered the house with a bright smile, bags of bread in hand. 'Gold.' Spring smiled and hugged her.
Summer flicked her cigarette butt away and returned to the living room. He'd wondered if she'd be controllable, but surprisingly, she stayed quiet. Her downcast gaze suggested she was feeling glum.
So when's this 'operation' happening?
Yoo Ji-tae glanced at Spring. Sensing his look, her green eyes met his. No words were exchanged, but somehow, he felt there was no need to worry.
Meanwhile, the blonde approached the redhead.
"Red, Red. How've you been?"
"..."
"Huh? Huh? What's wrong? It's me. It's been exactly a year since we last saw each other. How have you been?"
Ignored, the chick kept trying to talk. But Summer silently entered Yoo Ji-tae's room and shut the door.
Damn, that's smooth.
"Red. Something wrong? I got something tasty. Let's eat together!"
Knock knock. As the Gold Dragon rapped on the door.
"Gold."
Spring called to the chick. And shook her head. That simple gesture calmed the Gold Dragon like magic.
"Then, Green, wanna eat this with me?"
"Yeah, sure."
The two ate bread together.
And chatted. About how they'd been, what experiences they'd had. At first, the Gold Dragon chattered away, but soon it was just Spring's stories continuing.
"Wow, really? That street musician was that amazing?"
"Yeah. Pretty cool, right?"
"Didn't the sirens play in Green's lair? Was it better than that?"
"I think so."
They were talking about Florence street musicians now.
Spring, who had traveled a lot, had seen, heard, and felt so much in that one year. Her stories flowed naturally, leading up to how she ended up here. Then the Gold Dragon asked.
"Spring?"
"Yeah?"
"You just called Green 'Spring'?"
"Oh. That's the name Ajusshi gave me."
"...?"
The Gold Dragon's eyes widened.
"Like, an alias or something?"
Spring shook her head.
"No. It's my name."
"Huh? How? Why? We're hatchlings, right? We haven't had our coming-of-age yet. How can someone name us? And it's not even an alias?"
"Well... it just happened."
To Yoo Ji-tae, it was a conversation that made no sense.
Why? What changes if someone gives you a name?
"Wow. I see. So Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter... Guess that makes me Autumn?"
"Why think that?"
"Summer's red, and Winter's blue?"
The chick giggled.
"Nah. No way he'd name something so precious so simply."
In truth, that was exactly right.
*
That evening.
Yoo Ji-tae gathered the dragons in the living room.
And asked their ages.
"Twenty."
"Ten!"
"..."
"She's fifteen."
Spring answered for the still sullen Summer. Perfect timing. The names matched their ages perfectly.
"Spring, Summer, Autumn. And when that one hatches, Winter."
Yoo Ji-tae said that toward the necklace hanging on Autumn's chest. Autumn's eyes went wide as she asked back.
"You knew?"
Of course. The blue gem embedded in the necklace was actually the polymorphed form of a dragon egg. The Blue Dragon hadn't hatched yet, but it would soon.
In other words, Yoo Ji-tae had already collected all four dragons.
After that, he talked about life here. Just like what he'd told Spring before. Don't hide your tracks from me. That was the regressor's only wish.
And while at it, he taught basic rules on honorifics based on seniority and human relationships. Thinking hierarchy would make things easier. And they picked it up quickly.
As dusk fell outside the window on a weekend evening, Spring and Autumn began chatting as sisters.
They say cows and chickens don't mix, but apparently not.
"No crime allowed, Summer unni."
"..."
Summer hadn't said a word until then. Her posture and gaze were off. She felt detached. As Autumn started to look dejected after repeated attempts to talk, Spring approached Yoo Ji-tae and gave him a look.
Time to start.
The plan was surprisingly simple.
Yoo Ji-tae steps in to sort things out. Then Spring consoles Summer.
According to Spring, Summer's wounded pride wasn't something that could be fixed right away. But her bad mood was separate from pride, and could be mended.
And add a spoonful of Yoo Ji-tae to that.
Hatchlings on their first outing get thrilled easily by little things. And Spring, with her relatively rich worldly experience, seemed to know what they wanted and how to provide it.
Possible because the Green clan excelled at empathy more than others.
Her green eyes brushed past Yoo Ji-tae's.
Passing him, Spring went between the two and linked arms.
"Girls. Wanna step out for a bit?"
"Yeah! But where?"
"There's a great place nearby. Let's go have fun."
"...Pass."
"Come on, let's go."
'Spring.' As planned. Yoo Ji-tae called to her.
"Yes?"
And tossed her his wallet.
"Huh?"
Her eyes widened as she caught it. Spring, usually so dry in reactions, made that face when genuinely surprised.
"Go have fun."
"Really? Thanks, Ajusshi. But how much can we spend?"
"As much as you want."
*
The regressor stared blankly at the holographic display.
"..."
Left alone, Yoo Ji-tae was reading a book.
When he had nothing else to do, he read or watched movies. They didn't resonate much, but it was effort to blend into daily life.
Even with eyes closed, he could sense their presences clearly. So he wasn't worried.
Occasionally, texts came to his watch. At first 5,000 won, 10,000 won. Figured they were buying snacks.
The amounts kept growing.
What the hell are they buying?
Did they buy a car or what?
The final notice arrived.
The moment his entire pre-regression savings, painstakingly gathered over years, were wiped out.
But it didn't matter much. Things you can get anytime hold no value. That's why he never missed material wealth or fame.
Soon, the three dragons returned from their outing, arms full of shopping bags. Spring approached first and handed back the wallet. 'Sorry, Ajusshi. Spent too much.' Then whispered, 'Did it work?' At the regressor's question, Spring smiled faintly and nodded ever so slightly.
"Ajusshi, look at this. I got one too!"
Next, Autumn ran up, showing off her latest smartwatch. So that's where the 2 million won went.
"You bought all this for us, right, Ajusshi? Thank you so much. This is awesome! Epic! You're the best, Ajusshi! Woo!"
She suddenly threw her arms around Yoo Ji-tae. The regressor was momentarily flustered but gently hugged her back.
And behind her, Summer entered the living room, still looking unwell.
The same watch as Autumn's was on Summer's wrist. That wasn't all. A new sword hung at her waist—an artifact. He instantly realized where the 40 million won had gone. Level 1 artifacts usually cost about as much as a car.
As Autumn pulled away, Summer slowly approached him.
Avoiding his gaze, she suddenly drew the sheathed sword and held it out.
"Bought this while messing around. I lost my sword..."
He'd tossed that one somewhere in the desert.
"Your money, right?"
"Yeah. Like it?"
"Eh, whatever... Tried it out a bit earlier."
Summer paused. As if about to say something, her brows furrowed.
"...Nothing special."
She left those words and went to her room.
Gripping the artifact sword tightly.