Chapter 10
Chapter 10
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 010
Chapter Title: Dragon Guarding the Store
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'Sorry... I couldn't be eaten...'
The hamburger that had fallen to the floor, forever out of reach, seemed to be apologizing to me.
"...Ugh."
Tears welled up fluffy and soft in the corners of my eyes, then streamed down my cheeks.
Farewell, my burger.
I'll never forget you for the rest of my life...
"I'll... go get another one."
"The hamburger is already dead! There's no more! Waaah!!"
I'd been looking forward to eating a convenience store burger.
But reality was just the burger lying cold and dead on the floor.
There was no way I could pick up the dirty mess and reassemble it.
The fluffy steam rising from it looked just like its soul departing.
Attain enlightenment, my burger... I'll come eat you after you're gone...
"Sniff..."
"If I bring the exact same burger... would that work?"
Grandpa said he'd get the same burger again, but my hopes were utterly shattered.
"No need! This burger was one of a kind in the whole world!"
"...Ahem."
Even as an anomaly, my crying face was that of an innocent girl, so Grandpa awkwardly scratched the back of his neck and glanced around.
He shot a desperate plea for help—not really help—to his granddaughter glaring fiercely at him.
"Grandpa, stay out of it. I'll calm her down."
"...Sorry."
"There, there, is our Lua sad?"
Mi-ra Owner approached me as I wailed and scooped me up, patting my back as she carried me into the shop.
"My burger..."
"Yeah, yeah. I'll make you a burger, so forget that cheap junk!"
"Huaaaang...!! Bleh!"
Since the owner couldn't see my face, I stuck my tongue out at Grandpa while crying.
"...?"
Grandpa spotted my taunt and made a weird face for a second.
"Pbbbt~."
Ptoo—spit flew from my tongue.
My crying vanished, replaced by a cat-like scowl, and Grandpa realized too late he'd been tricked.
"You little punk, mocking me right now?!"
Blood pressure rising, Grandpa moved to give me a proper scolding.
"Grandpa! Clean up the hamburger mess in front of the shop!"
Perfect timing—Owner glared at him and ordered him to clean.
"Yeah, yeah, our Lua~. I'll make you a burger, so stop it!"
"Hwaaaang...!"
The moment we entered the shop, the dragon girl started bawling again seamlessly.
The side of me Grandpa saw was pure innocence, like a child.
"Wowm... Ehehehe..."
As compensation for losing my precious convenience store burger, I got to eat one from Lua's Hamburger. My cheeks puffed out as I kicked my legs back and forth.
Iru-a from Lua's Hamburger eating a Lua Burger...
"...Uwing."
Now that I thought about it, it felt weird.
If Iru-a eats a Lua Burger at Lua's Hamburger shop... does that mean I'm eating myself at my own shop?
"Anyway."
Lost in silly thoughts, I chomped away at the burger. Grandpa scowled from the corner of the shop, glaring at me.
"...Ahem."
When our eyes met, he'd awkwardly look away.
Do you have something to say?
I wagged my tail and pointed at the seat in front of me with my claw, but Grandpa pretended not to notice, playing it cool.
Guess he didn't want to talk.
I shrugged, munching on the bun.
"All done, Lua?"
"Yes! All gone!"
As I finished the burger, Owner came over and patted my head.
"Thanks for today. You saved my life several times."
"Just doing what I had to!"
I puffed out my flat chest proudly, and Owner smiled faintly.
"Sigh... you little lizard."
"Kyung!"
Whack! She lightly karate-chopped my crown, and I let out a cute squeak.
"Don't fight so recklessly next time. Even if you're a strong anomaly, danger is danger."
"I'm way stronger than I look..."
"You could still get hurt."
Like with that hanger anomaly I took down easily, I could dispatch most anomalies in one go with my power.
Flames? Just a flick of a finger.
I'm only using about 2-3% output right now, so at full power, I could probably live up to the dragon name.
...Though I've never really tested it, so it's just a guess.
Anyway.
As Owner cleared the tray and headed back to the kitchen, I blinked at being left alone in the lobby... well, with Grandpa.
Being quiet was boring, so I stared intently at him.
"...".
Grandpa ignored my gaze as best he could, but it stung, and he finally shot up.
"Fine! Now you're showing your true colors, you punk!"
"Grandpa, tell me some old stories."
"Let's settle this here... Huh? Old stories?"
My eyes sparkled like a kid's, and Grandpa awkwardly stowed the weapon he'd pulled out.
"Might not be fun for an anomaly to hear...?"
"Still wanna hear it."
"Hah..."
I clearly had zero intention of fighting, leaving him dumbfounded.
"...Fine."
Yielding to the momentum, Grandpa sat in the front seat and began recounting old tales.
"25 years ago, the day the meteor fell... In Mapo-gu, monsters called anomalies..."
"Owner already told me that."
"Oh? Then how about the all-out war in 2036?"
All-out war! Sounded exciting just from the name.
I flapped my wings and tail, eyes gleaming, and Grandpa recited it like a fairy tale.
"Ahem... 40 years ago, anomalies were on the verge of destroying Korea."
"...Ooh!"
"But humans developed tech to harness their power."
"...Oh?"
"They succeeded in breaking anomalies down to the cellular level and reconstructing them into weapons called Numbers."
"...".
"Even the motorcycle I ride is made from dismantling a giant spider anomaly..."
"S-Stop!!"
Hearing about anomaly dissection chilled me to the bone. I jumped off the chair and waddled to the kitchen.
Grandpa, mid-explanation, was left alone at the table, scratching his cheek glumly.
"I hate the Management Bureau..."
"Lua? What's up with her suddenly?"
I clung to Owner's leg while she washed dishes, rubbing my cheek against it. Her surprised voice rang out.
The Management Bureau was scarier than I thought.
Dissection was bad enough, but reverse-engineering at the cellular level into weapons?
If they caught me... I'd become a dragon tail rapier!?
Shivering at the thought, my tail flicked.
"Kihyung?!"
"Don't bother me while I'm working. Wait in the lobby."
Whack—hit on the head with a ladle, then evicted.
Left in the lobby were the glum Grandpa and the dragon.
Iru-a of Lua's Hamburger. Ranking: Second from the bottom confirmed.
The shop was fully closed, night had fallen.
"Thanks for today, Owner!"
"Going alone?"
"Yep!"
As I spread my wings to head to my hideout, Owner called me back.
"If you want, come to my place... Nah, drop by anytime you're hungry. I'll make you a burger."
"Got it! As your unofficial bodyguard, I'll come every day!"
"Hehe? Iru-a, bodyguard of Lua's Hamburger... Sounds good."
"Grrr..."
I purred at her gentle hand stroking my hair.
I thought my job hunt failed, but it was half-successful after all.
She acknowledged my usefulness.
"Time to go, granddaughter. Hop on the back."
Grandpa revved the bike—vroom! The engine roared thrillingly.
"Lua, get home safe."
"You too!"
After goodbyes, I spread my wings and soared high.
"Iru-a of Lua's Hamburger sets off!"
Success in unofficial employment! I cheered.
Any villains messing with the burger shop would get smashed.
P.S. Customers always welcome!
"...Grrr."
The next morning dawned.
As Lua's Hamburger's official unofficial bodyguard, I'd claimed a utility pole near the shop, maintaining ironclad security.
Any anomalies passing by?
Suspicious folks lurking?
Smokers around?
"My cigarette? I swear I was holding it..."
No anomalies, so the villains were mostly street smokers.
"Ah, damn... It was lit too..."
Clueless smokers grumbled as they left down the alley, cigs snatched.
"Ufufu... No blind spots escape my eyes..."
Your friendly neighborhood!
Dragon girl!
"Oh, a flower! Hehehe!"
"Huh? Did the wind bring it?"
I secretly tucked a flower into the hair of a kid holding her mom's hand.
"Am I a princess, Mom?"
"Yes! My daughter looks just like one!"
Seeing the delighted kid made me curious about my own look.
Do I look like that?
I'd glimpsed my reflection in glass, but never properly seen myself.
Should check a full-length subway mirror sometime.
I know I'm cute-ish, but knowing exactly how cute would be nice.
...Every little boy dreams at least once of being a magical girl from cartoons.
Like snatching a girl's wand and waving it around for fun.
"...Or not?"
Whatever.
"Magical beam~."
I lounged on the pole, shooting tiny finger-sized fire puffs lazily.
"No anomalies means the shop's booming."
Certified tasty by a real dragon like me—way more customers than before.
Owner's ever-glowing beauty was a bonus.
Of course, some guys tried flirting, drawn to her looks.
"Um... could I get your number?"
"Sorry, no."
"Ah, okay."
Owner rejected advances firmly—super cool.
"Seriously, I'd regret leaving without trying once more for your number..."
Some persistent guys wouldn't quit.
"May I take your order?"
"Gah?!"
"Lua Burger?"
"Y-Yes! That one!"
When 190cm Grandpa loomed, they tucked tail and ordered meekly.
Peaceful, so peaceful burger shop.
"Sniff sniff... Haaah..."
The never-tiring burger scent whetted my appetite endlessly.
Drooling blankly, a guy below shielded his head from my sudden spit bombs with his bag.
"Grr... Can't hold back much longer, gonna hit the shop..."
Unable to bear the smell, I soared high to escape the assaulting aroma.
"Haa... Finally livable."
My keen nose still caught it faintly, but less violently now.
Keeping eyes on the shop, I looped in figure-eights.
"...Sniff. Achoo!"
A sudden fishy iron tang hit—cute sneeze.
"What the... Tsu, achoo!! Atchoo!"
A scent strong enough to overpower the greasy burger.
I knew exactly what it was, unwillingly.
...Blood.
Freshly spilled blood.
I tore my gaze from the shop, pupils narrowing vertically, scanning around.
Might be someone attacked by an anomaly in broad daylight.
"...What."
I checked the strong scent's direction closely—no anomaly, no injured person.
"Hetchoo... Ung..."
Soon, the intense blood smell tormenting my nose vanished completely.
"Sniffed wrong...?"
With the scent gone, I concluded and returned to the shop.
Business as usual there.
"...".
Focusing on bodyguard duty, surveilling customers—
Click—
A faint flash from a phone camera in the corner guy's hand.
The lens pointed at Owner.
"That bastard..."
Seizing an unseen moment for crime.
Instinct screamed to spread wings and pounce, but I halted.
"...Hoo."
I wanted to blast him with breath, but it'd only backfire on me.
"Deal with humans yourself..."
I pulled a pebble from my pouch and chucked it at Grandpa sweeping leaves out front.
"Ow?"
Hit by the tiny stone, he spotted me on the pole.
"What's with the beef? Want a burger?"
"...".
I gestured wildly to explain, pointing at the corner guy with my tail.
"...That punk. Daring to target my granddaughter!!"
Face twisting ferociously, Grandpa stormed into the shop.