Chapter 54
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 54
Chapter Title: Dragon Knight (4)
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“Hello?”
A long silence stretched out from the other end of the phone.
I checked the screen, thinking the call might have dropped, but it was still connected.
“Hello?”
Only after I called out again did a response finally come.
“...Ah. Um, Miss Da-yoon. I think I must have misheard you. Could you say that one more time?”
“Sure. I’d like you to take my little sister into the dungeon with you.”
“......”
Huh? Why the weird reaction?
Maybe it’s a hassle? Well, asking a top guild like Azure Rose to look after a total newbie might be a bit much.
I hurriedly added some conditions.
“Oh, of course, I’m not asking you to do it for free! I’ll pay you properly. I’ll craft any A-Rank or higher item you want!”
“Even so, taking your little sister into a dungeon is a bit...”
Aha.
That’s when I finally understood why she was hesitating. She must think Il-ho is as weak as I look, judging by my appearance.
“Oh, you’re worried she might be weak! Don’t worry, she’s super strong!”
I puffed out my chest confidently. Il-ho, standing beside me, gave a small nod in agreement.
“She just got her B+-Rank hunter license yesterday!”
“Pardon...?”
Even after I said it, Lee Ji-young’s voice was full of doubt.
“But... if she’s your little sister, Miss Da-yoon, wouldn’t she be... pretty young?”
Hmm. True, Il-ho is one year old. Or zero if we go by her actual age. But she’s definitely strong. I confirmed it at the Management Bureau earlier.
“She’s really young, sure, but she’s genuinely powerful! I’ve even equipped her with top-notch gear!”
“Hmm...”
She still seemed deeply troubled. Well, it’s hard to believe over the phone.
“If you’re okay with it, how about meeting her in person tomorrow? Once you see her, I bet you’ll change your mind.”
After some deliberation, Lee Ji-young finally spoke.
“...Alright. Let’s meet at the guild tomorrow morning, then.”
Her voice was still skeptical, but at least we had an appointment.
“Great! See you tomorrow!”
After hanging up, I took off my armor and saw Il-ho with a slightly pouty expression. Her face screamed, ‘Do I really look that weak?’ I stroked her head to comfort her.
“It’s okay. Ji-young hasn’t seen you yet, that’s all.”
Tomorrow, everyone would see Il-ho’s true potential.
Since I had meetings with others too, we should prepare thoroughly. Miss So-jeong and I sat Il-ho down and taught her the essentials of modern life.
From how to use the remote to the fridge’s mechanics and watching YouTube on a smartphone. Il-ho soaked it all up like a sponge.
Somehow, it ended up looking like So-jeong was teaching both of us. She can be a bit overzealous in these things. Even when I said I already knew, she wouldn’t listen.
Oh, and among what we taught Il-ho was essential modern culture: magical girl anime. The importance of transformation sequences, the aesthetics of finishing moves, and the unspoken rule where villains wait for the protagonist to finish transforming before attacking.
To be a cultured person, you have to know these things.
Once the lessons wrapped up, I asked Il-ho what she wanted to do.
“Il-ho, we’ve got some time until tomorrow. What do you want to do?”
She pondered for a moment, then pointed at the TV in the corner of the living room.
- I want to watch that.
“TV? Sure, sounds good!”
I grabbed the remote and turned it on. Right on the VOD main screen was the movie version of Twinkle Twinkle☆Princess Heart! I’d been saving it for a special day, and here the perfect chance was.
“Wanna watch this? It’s my favorite anime.”
Il-ho nodded.
This one was praised for being accessible even without prior knowledge of the series. Made for adults like me and kids like Il-ho, so we’d both enjoy it.
We sat side by side on the sofa, munching popcorn as the movie played. I worried she might not like it, but as expected from my... daughter? Sister? She watched with sparkling eyes, totally engrossed.
The film ended with the protagonist returning to everyday life with her friends.
Having such a fun time with Il-ho made my stomach growl before I knew it. The scenery outside had turned red, and night was falling.
“Il-ho, you hungry too?”
She tilted her head, then nodded twice.
Not craving food exactly, but it’d be nice to eat, maybe.
“Then let’s go to Miss So-jeong!”
I’d planned on delivery tonight, but we couldn’t have Il-ho’s first meal be takeout.
Before we could go ask her to make dinner, she approached us first.
“It’s dinnertime. Miss Da-yoon, Miss Il-ho. Any requests?”
Il-ho tilted her head and shook it. No preferences since she hadn’t tried anything yet. Deciding tonight’s menu fell to me.
What sounds good?
It’s Il-ho’s first day alive, so something celebratory.
Wait, isn’t today Il-ho’s zero-year birthday?
Menu decided.
“Miss So-jeong! Seaweed soup tonight!”
Yu So-jeong glanced at me, then nodded.
“A fine choice for postpartum recovery. Understood.”
“Huh? Postpartum?”
The random word caught me off guard. Why postpartum out of nowhere?
“Just kidding.”
Even hearing it was a joke, I puzzled over it. Some wordplay on postpartum? Then it clicked.
“Aha!”
I didn’t birth her, but she came from my tooth, so I made her. Does that make me... mom? Dad? Something like that. With a strange feeling, I looked toward the kitchen.
Yu So-jeong was pulling ingredients from the fridge—soaked seaweed, fresh beef, minced garlic—like she’d prepped them ages ago.
The savory smell of sesame oil filled the house, drawing me and Il-ho to the kitchen like moths to a flame. But our short stature made it hard to see the cooking.
Even on tiptoes, I couldn’t peek into the pot. Damn, why is everything in this house so tall?!
As I strained on tiptoes beside her, Yu So-jeong said softly,
“It’ll be ready soon. Please sit at the table, and I’ll bring it over.”
True to her word, in under ten minutes, steaming seaweed soup and side dishes covered the table.
“Let’s eat!”
“......”
I said it loudly; Il-ho just mouthed it. We each picked up our chopsticks.
I went to grab a side dish as usual, but Il-ho stared blankly at her chopsticks, unsure what to do.
She gripped them in her fist, but clearly didn’t know how to use them.
Time for me to step in and teach her.
But Yu So-jeong beat me to it.
“Like this.”
She gently took Il-ho’s hand and showed her the proper grip. Il-ho watched intently for a few seconds, then naturally held them perfectly.
...Did she just learn chopsticks on the first try?
Il-ho casually picked up some braised soybeans and ate them flawlessly.
Seeing that sparked my competitive side. If she can do it, so can I. I tried mimicking Yu So-jeong’s grip, but my fingers wouldn’t cooperate. Every attempt ended in an X shape.
...I’m the only one in this house who can’t use chopsticks.
I’m way older than Il-ho, and I made her, yet she’s better? A wave of defeat washed over me. Then the rich aroma of the seaweed soup hit my nose.
Shaking off distractions, I scooped some broth, blew on it, and took a sip.
“......!”
Deep beef broth blended with tender seaweed. Umami flooded my mouth, warming me to the core.
“So good...!”
Who cares about chopsticks when the food’s this tasty? I mixed rice into the soup and dug in properly.
Watching me, Il-ho tried the broth too. Her eyes widened, and she started devouring her food.
Yu So-jeong, observing us, said,
“Glad it suits your tastes.”
Thus ended the celebratory dinner for Il-ho’s birth. After brushing teeth, drowsiness set in.
Il-ho’s eyes were drooping more than before.
I headed to my lair first. The bedroom had pillows, but Il-ho needed one too.
Grabbing a fluffy pillow, I went back to the bedroom. I climbed onto the bed and settled in; Il-ho hesitated, then carefully lay beside me.
Sharing a bed with a newborn sister felt oddly surreal.
The bed, usually too big for one, felt just right tonight. Comfortably full, in a good way.
Then came soft footsteps. Yu So-jeong approached, looked down at us, and tucked the blanket up to our necks meticulously.
“Sleep well.”
Her low voice lulled me as I closed my eyes. The blankets were warm, and beside me lay my new family member.
I reached out and took Il-ho’s hand. She looked at me, then smiled silently.
“Whoa? She smiled!”
First smile I’d seen from Il-ho. Her smile lifted my spirits, and I grinned back.
The change that came into my solitary life didn’t feel so bad after all.
In the quiet room where everyone slept, Yu So-jeong opened the door to Lee Da-yoon’s bedroom.
There lay two girls, embracing in sleep, smiling happily as they shared warmth. Sisters at peace.
Watching them, Yu So-jeong gave a bittersweet smile tinged with joy. An old memory overlapped in her mind.
Standing still with eyes closed for a moment, she soon walked carefully to the bed.
She gently stroked Lee Da-yoon and Il-ho’s heads, then left the house.
Time to visit her own family.