Chapter 101: Has Dad Changed at All?

We apprehended a criminal organization hiding in the slums.

The organization didn't have a specific name, so we arbitrarily called them 'Child Hunters'. Apparently, they caused trouble not just in my District 09, but in District 08 as well.

"A total of 130 kindergarteners went missing. It's believed that those Child Hunters ground them all up and used them for magic power."

130 children in total was the number of children contained in that scientist's robot. Hearing this report, I bit my lip hard and clenched my fist under the desk.

'These scumbags.'

How could they grind up children and use them for their own magic power? As someone raising children, it's completely unacceptable.

My daughters could have fallen victim to those bastards too.

"And judging by the precision and technology of that machine, it's likely they received help from someone else. This isn't a level of crime that an ordinary criminal organization could create and commit. And Hero Lee Ha-jun, who solved this case."

"...Yes."

"If Hero Lee Ha-jun hadn't stopped this incident, we could have suffered great damage. Everyone, please give a round of applause to Hero Lee Ha-jun."

Clap clap clap clap-

I received applause at the end of the case briefing. Normally, I would have grinned and accepted the thanks, but my heart wasn't very happy.

'130 children...'

Instead, only uncomfortable feelings lingered. Still, since I received thanks, I bowed my head in gratitude.

"...Thank you. I'll continue to work hard in the future."

And so. After the briefing on this case ended, I left the solemn atmosphere of the conference room and headed for the corridor.

Then, I rummaged through the pocket of my shabby tracksuit in front of the vending machine.

"Ah, I don't have any coins."

It's rare for people to carry coins these days anyway. I was about to give up on the vending machine coffee reluctantly.

But I saw a woman walking down the corridor from afar.

"Oh, Han Ji-soo!"

"Senior."

"Senior Han Ji-soo! Want to have a coffee?"

"Do you have coins?"

"No, I don't. Shouldn't you buy it, of course?"

"...I thought you wanted to go by age before."

Sigh-

Han Ji-soo sighed and put coins into the vending machine. A woman carrying coins in this day and age. It made me want to restart my dating endeavors.

"Here, take it."

"Thanks, Senior Han Ji-soo."

Free coffee always tastes better. I warmed my insides with hot coffee on this cold day.

Han Ji-soo sat next to me and sipped her coffee.

"I heard the news. Child Hunters, was it? You caught those guys?"

"Yeah, we caught them. We rescued all the kidnapped kids too. Their parents sent me thank you messages."

"Then why do you look like that?"

I guess it shows on my face. Han Ji-soo also knows that I'm raising children.

I decided to be honest.

"Just, as someone raising kids, hearing that many children died makes my feelings a bit complicated."

"I guess that's understandable. Even if you caught the villains, it's not a good feeling."

Sip-

Han Ji-soo stared straight ahead and sipped her coffee. I found that sight quite interesting.

"It's a bit unexpected, Senior Han Ji-soo." 

"What is?"

"I didn't think you'd empathize with this kind of thing. I thought you were a completely cold person."

"Am I that bad?"

Han Ji-soo said this and raised the corners of her mouth with her fingers. Looking at her like this, she looked just like an ordinary person in her early 20s.

"Well, anyway, I don't feel that good. Even though I got paid handsomely."

"That seems fortunate, at least."

"Why?"

"When I first met you, I thought you only cared about money. But now you're looking at other things too."

Swish-

Han Ji-soo got up and threw her empty coffee cup in the trash. Then, she looked at me quietly and said.

"But I'm still materialistic, that hasn't changed. You've changed a lot though. In a good way."

Smile-

Han Ji-soo flashed a slight smile, waved at me, and left. Watching her back as she left, I thought to myself.

"Have I changed a bit since raising kids...?"

It seems like I might have. But maybe not.

With these thoughts, I threw away my empty coffee cup and got up.

"She said I changed in a good way... How have I changed...? I can't really tell... Maybe I should ask the kids."

Perhaps because I was lost in this new thought, I had already forgotten about my worries over the Child Hunters.

***

After the case briefing ended, I returned home.

The kindergarten was temporarily closed due to the horrific incident, so the dragon kids were lounging around at home.

I approached them with a serious face and asked.

"Suryeon."

"Ugh, don't shove your face in mine, Dad."

"Do you think Dad has changed a lot?"

"?"

Suryeon's face showed a question mark at my question. It was like the face of a boyfriend being asked "Do I look different?" by his girlfriend.

"Don't you think I've changed a lot, Suryeon?"

"Dad."

"Yes?"

"Changed how, exactly?"

Do I have to spell it out for her to understand? I slowly recited my thoughts.

"First, I think I've become kinder."

"That's your imagination, Dad."

"And I think I've become a bit more handsome."

"That's not true, Dad."

"I feel I've become more manly."

"You're being self-conscious, Dad."

"..."

Suryeon seems to lack discerning eyes. To not notice her father's changes like this. Since it wasn't the answer I wanted, I got up, disappointed in Suryeon.

Then, I approached Choryeon for the next question.

"Choryeon! Has Dad changed anywhere?"

"Father?"

"Yes."

"Hmm..."

Choryeon closed her eyes for a moment to think, then opened them brightly and said cheerfully.

"I don't think you've changed at all!"

"...Really?"

"Yes! Father hasn't changed one bit! Mangmung would think the same! Right, Mangmung?"

"Woof woof-!"

Mangmung immediately answered Choryeon's question. That joint attack didn't even give me a chance to rebut.

So, I had no choice but to leave with a sigh.

'Is there really no one who noticed my changes? Or have I truly not changed at all?'

I was about to start having paranoid thoughts about whether this was Han Ji-soo's revenge on me.

As a last resort, I approached Hwaryeon, who was lying around idly, and asked.

"Hwaryeon, has Dad changed anywhere?"

"Cough-!"

Maybe because she overused her breath attack last time, Hwaryeon, with a sore throat, cleared her throat and answered me.

"Dad has changed one thing! Cough-!"

"What is it?"

"It's..."

Swish-

Hwaryeon whispered in my ear.

"Dad, your beard has grown! It's all prickly!"

With those words, Hwaryeon stroked my beard. She seemed to really enjoy the prickly sensation.

'...This isn't the answer I wanted. Could it be that I really haven't changed at all?'

Only after being thoroughly checked by my daughters did I realize that Han Ji-soo had been teasing me.

It seems my changes were just my imagination. I stopped Hwaryeon from trying to pluck my short beard and got up.

"I could have plucked one!"

"...You shouldn't do that, Hwaryeon. It hurts Dad."

My heart is already hurting, I can't have my body hurting too. So I got up, feeling a bit deflated, and headed to the kitchen.

'But my cooking skills have definitely improved. They'll acknowledge that, right?'

At first, I couldn't even chop properly. But now I can cook simple stews.

'It's not the answer I wanted, but let's at least get praised for my cooking skills.'

I'm still young. It's a time when I crave praise.

I opened the refrigerator, took out ingredients, and started preparing lunch.

'Should I make kimchi fried rice with the kimchi I got from grandma, green onions, and canned ham?'

It's a good menu to showcase my improved cooking skills.

I took out the kimchi and chopped it finely, prepared the green onions, and cut the canned ham into bite-sized cubes.

"Ingredient prep is done. Hwaryeon... her throat hurts, so I can't ask her."

Cooking with dragon breath does taste better, but It can't be helped.

I decided to use the gas stove to cook after a long time.

Whoosh-!

"First, heat the frying pan, then make green onion oil..."

Green onion oil enhances the flavor of kimchi fried rice.

Then, stir-fry the finely chopped kimchi with the green onion oil. When the sour and sweet aromas rise, add the cubed canned ham.

Hwaryeon, smelling the ham scent amazingly well, came to me sniffing.

"That's ham smell! Cough-! Dad, what's for lunch today!?"

"Dad's special kimchi fried rice. Go wait quietly. I'll make it delicious soon."

"Okay!"

Pitter-patter-!

Hwaryeon ran to the living room without a word. I continued cooking the kimchi fried rice alone in the kitchen.

'Add a little sugar... When the ham is evenly cooked...'

Add the white rice. Then, stir-fry the kimchi fried rice vigorously...

"It's done! Kids, come eat!"

"Okay!"

"Got it."

"Yes, Father!"

The kids, probably hungry, quickly ran to the table.

"Woof woof-!" 

"I heard you too, Mangmung. I'll give you food."

I cracked an egg onto the still-hot frying pan and filled Mangmung's bowl with dog food.

Then, according to the kids' tastes. lots of ham in Hwaryeon's kimchi fried rice, a balanced mix for Suryeon's, and lots of kimchi without ham for Choryeon's.

After plating it appetizingly and topping with a fried egg...

"It's all ready now. Everyone enjoy your lunch."

Golden fried eggs on top of glistening kimchi fried rice is complete. The kids picked up their spoons in front of the kimchi fried rice and shouted.

"Let's eat!"

"I'll eat well."

"I'll eat well, Father!"

Munch munch-

The kids put the still-hot kimchi fried rice in their mouths.

Seeing them eagerly eating with spoons despite the heat, they seemed clearly captivated by the taste of my kimchi fried rice.

I looked at them contentedly and asked the most important question.

"Kids, how is it? Dad's kimchi fried rice is delicious, right? My cooking skills have improved a lot, haven't they?"

Gulp-

I looked at the kids with expectant eyes. Hwaryeon, who was eating the most heartily, answered.

"It's delicious! Dad's food is always delicious!"

"I'm glad it's delicious. How about Dad's cooking skills?"

"Cooking skills? I don't know about that! I just know it's delicious!"

"..."

Munch munch-

Hwaryeon just kept eating the kimchi fried rice deliciously. There didn't seem to be any particular praise for my cooking skills.

"This isn't the answer I wanted... Lee Suryeon!"

"Dad, I'm eating."

"Oh, right. I won't bother you. Sorry, Suryeon."

"As long as you understand."

Prickly kid.

I gave up on talking to Suryeon and carefully asked Choryeon the last question.

"Choryeon, how are Dad's cooking skills? Haven't they changed a lot?"

"Hmm..."

Choryeon thought deeply with the kimchi fried rice in front of her. Then she slowly raised her head, looked at me, and said.

"I think Father hasn't changed much."

"...Really?"

I felt a bit dejected. 

But shortly after, Choryeon continued.

"Because Father has always been a wonderful father! Father has always been the same! You haven't changed!"

"...!!"

Such…. Such a deep meaning.

'How does Choryeon always say such beautiful things?'

Forgetting we were in the middle of a meal, I rushed towards Choryeon's cheeks.

"Choryeon, come here!"

"Eek, eek- F-Father! We're eating! It's troublesome if you suddenly do this!"

"Give me those cheeks!"

"Ahahahaha-!"

I stretched Choryeon's cheeks and pulled them with my mouth. This sight must have really bothered Hwaryeon and Suryeon.

"I'm eating here! What are you doing!"

"...I want to flip the table."

The kids glared at me and Choryeon, but I didn't mind at all.

'I didn't need to hear praise for changing. The kids always see me in a good light.'

There was no need to throw a little tantrum as a dad in the first place.

Realizing this fact, I felt like all my discomfort and stress had vanished. Knowing your children's honest feelings is always a good thing.