Chapter 11
As usual, I opened the iron door covered in bills and set off for work.
"Inhale, exhale- The morning air always feels good no matter when you breathe it."
Although the fog and smog mixed in a 5:5 ratio made it hard to see ahead, the moisture in the morning air was enough to put me in a good mood.
"Nice. Well then, shall we work hard again today?"
I hope I can save money quickly.
I moved my legs quickly to arrive at work as soon as possible and to avoid getting into trouble with nearby homeless people.
"One-two. One-two."
Recently, my condition has been quite good.
Even though I go to work every day, I don't feel the muscle pain and fatigue I used to always feel.
Lately, I've even been told my skin looks better.
But…
"...My body feels a bit strange today. What's going on?"
My mood seems the same or even better.
Usually, I would have reached the subway quite easily by now.
However, today, unlike usual, sweat is trickling down my forehead.
Compared to my body yesterday,
It seemed clear that something was wrong with my body today.
"My body feels heavier somehow... Is it just my imagination...?"
Feeling something different from usual,
I barely managed to board the subway heading to my work area.
"Haa... Haa..."
A body more tired than usual.
I wiped off my sweat and caught my breath.
As I lowered my head for a moment, the bag on my back weighed down on me.
Only then did I clearly notice the identity of what was bothering me.
"I didn't think this would happen to me. You guys cause trouble almost every day. What, are you showing off how young you are?"
These kids.
I brought the bag I was carrying on my back to the front.
Then, I opened the zipper and made eye contact with the one inside.
My prediction was spot on.
"To think you, who seemed the quietest, would end up causing trouble."
"...Hiss-"
"Suryeon."
The blue-eyed dragon.
Suryeon was crouched and hiding in the bag.
It seems she was peeking at the outside world through the small gap in the zipper.
I rubbed my forehead while making eye contact with her, who was looking at me expressionlessly.
"Ah, I should have noticed this before getting on the subway. I can't go back home now. Really, what should I do with you?"
"Hiss-"
"What are you crying for? Don't cry. I'm the one who wants to cry..."
"...Hiss-"
Suryeon made a small crying sound as if she was sorry.
But it didn't seem like she would go back home.
And we can't go back in this situation anyway.
'She's sorry, but she thinks she's right.'
Suryeon's deep blue eyes and straight chin seemed to say that.
Sigh-
'We can't go back, and we've come this far, so there's no choice.'
For now.
"Why did you follow me? Can you tell me the reason first?"
I decided to listen to the reason why she went through all this trouble to follow me.
***
In the corner of the subway, Suryeon explained earnestly.
"Hiss- Hisss- Hisssss-"
"Hmm. Yes, yes. I see."
"Hiss-"
I nodded along to Suryeon's cries.
Of course, I don't know what Suryeon was saying.
I was just fulfilling my duty as a parent to listen to my child's story.
'Well, even without her explaining, I can pretty much guess why she did this.'
If she wanted to go for a walk, she could have appealed to me when I got home, saying she wanted to go outside.
She could have wagged her tail, or stood quietly in front of the door in protest.
There are various ways to express opinions through body language.
Suryeon, being a dragon, would surely know this.
'But the fact that she specifically hid in my bag probably means she wanted to see the outside world.'
If she wanted to run away, she could have left the house without saying anything.
Hiding in my bag means she wants to see the outside and return home safely.
It was clear she followed me out of curiosity about how her parent lives.
Reaching that conclusion, I couldn't help but admire myself out loud.
"Ha, where can you find a parent who understands their child's heart so well? I think I'm too excellent a parent. Right, Suryeon?"
"...Hiss."
See?
Even Suryeon seems to agree.
"Well then, Suryeon."
"Hiss-"
"I'll tell you what I can about the outside world right now."
Since we're on the subway, I'll keep it as quiet and inconspicuous as possible.
It's rush hour anyway, so she won't be easily noticed in the crowd.
Even if someone sees her, they'll probably think she's a pet lizard, not a dragon.
I pulled Suryeon's head out of the bag so she could see outside properly.
Peek-
"Hiss-"
Now Suryeon could see outside.
With the bag in front of me, I pointed my finger towards the subway window.
"First, you need to know where we live and where we're going. We're currently heading to Seoul-07 District. We live in Seoul-09 District."
The Seoul-09 District where we live is famous for being a slum.
If you go a bit further from the villa where I live, there's a high chance of witnessing illegal activities like drug dealing and organ trafficking.
And the Seoul-07 District where I work is formed of various industrial areas.
It's an area with many low-barrier jobs compared to other regions, and the appearance rate of gates is also high.
"Generally, you can think of it as the environment getting better as the number after Seoul increases."
"Hiss-"
Suryeon nodded, looking at the half-finished buildings quickly passing by the window.
It seems she understood well with her sharp mind that takes after me.
"We can go to other areas outside of Seoul too... but that's for heroes and hunters who go on expeditions to make money. You can learn about that later. Want to see that person, Suryeon?"
"Hiss-"
Suryeon followed my finger and fixed her eyes on a person sitting in a seat.
There was a reason I pointed out that person.
"See that person's arm? The metal arm."
"Hiss-"
"It's becoming popular these days. People who haven't awakened to magic power are starting to modify their bodies to become stronger."
"Hiss-?"
"Just remember this. If you see a person with a metal body, it means they've modified their body to become stronger."
"Hiss-"
Suryeon nodded again as if she understood.
By the way, I envy that metal arm.
If I modified my body with metal like that, could I earn a lot of money and become a hero who saves people?
Honestly, I'm tempted and even feel a bit jealous.
"Maybe I'll get some modifications when I earn money..."
"...Hiss-"
Slap-!
As I was thinking that, Suryeon's tail struck my cheek.
It didn't hurt, but I was just confused.
"What's wrong, Suryeon?"
"..."
Suryeon just looked at me pitifully.
She didn't say anything in particular.
For some reason, she seemed to be against that body modification.
As I was holding a class for Suryeon on the subway, we finally reached our destination.
I pushed Suryeon's head, which was peeking out, back inside.
"Now go back inside."
"Hiss-!"
"Don't resist and stay quiet!"
"..."
She resisted at first but went inside without further complaint.
At least she can breathe through a hole and peek outside.
There shouldn't be any problems until we reach the workplace.
"Here's where I work."
It feels strange that I came to work with a big secret.
I entered the container, unpacked, and changed into work clothes.
Then, I spoke to the Blue Dragon peeking her face out of the bag.
"Suryeon."
"Hiss-"
"Do you plan to stay quiet and rest?"
"Hiss- Hiss-"
Suryeon shook her head vigorously.
Having come this far, she didn't seem to have any intention of staying still and resting.
'At times like this, it might be better to let her loose.'
Tying up a restless child doesn't make them any less noisy.
Rather, she'll probably make more of a fuss saying 'Give me freedom!'
So, I thought it would be right to give her some freedom while still maintaining control.
"If you don't plan to stay quiet and rest, let's decide on this."
"Hiss-?"
"I have to work, so I can't keep checking on you. So, every hour, come into my sight and let me know you're playing well."
"Hisss..."
Hmm.
The reaction isn't good.
Suryeon had an indifferent expression as if saying, 'Why should I do that...?'
'At times like this, I guess I have no choice but to use that method.'
From what I've seen of Suryeon so far,
She has one fatal weakness.
That is...
"Is even that difficult for a dragon...?"
"Hi, Hiss-! Hiss-!"
No matter how cool she tries to act on the outside, she's very easily provoked on the inside.
"It's something a human could easily do..."
"Hiss-! Hiss-!"
"For a dragon... is it difficult...?"
"Hiss-!! Hiss-!!"
This is the most emotional I've seen Suryeon.
As if to say it's easy for her, she went into the bag herself and crouched down.
"That's right. A dragon should be able to do at least that much."
"Hiss-"
"Then I'll go work. Stay quiet until I finish today."
"...Hiss."
I should quickly escape before she realizes she's been tricked.
I left Suryeon in the container and went out to work.
Suryeon's safety is important, but working is how we get delicious food and a safe home.
"I'm here. I'll start now."
And so, I began working hard today for myself and the dragons.
***
-If I just follow the reporting system, he'll give me freedom.
This is a satisfactory proposal.
Even if I can't see many places, I should be able to get a decent amount of information.
-The information I got on the subway was satisfactory. But this might be the last opportunity, so I should gather as much information as possible.
Pop-
Suryeon jumped out of the bag and explored her surroundings.
The inside of the container was cold and bore traces of many years.
-There's no interesting information here. I should go outside.
Pat pat-
Suryeon crawled on the floor, checking if she could get out.
The window was slightly open, probably for ventilation.
-I can get out through there.
Suryeon went out through the window to the outside.
She came to the place where Lee Ha-jun was working, strewn with spoils from monsters that came out of the dimensional gate.
Those monster spoils looked quite good to Suryeon.
-They all contain magic power. The purity is quite high.
All living beings store magic power in their hearts.
The higher the purity of magic power, the more effectively one can use abilities.
From that perspective, human hearts only contained the lowest grade of magic power.
-Lee Ha-jun. That human doesn't even have magic power.
Still. If he keeps drinking the water I create with my magic power, he might start storing high-purity magic power.
Suryeon crawled towards the direction where she sensed Lee Ha-jun, remembering how his physical condition had been improving recently.
-Hmm.
"Move this to A-3. B part will be coming soon, so everyone keep that in mind."
There, Lee Ha-jun was busy moving monster spoils, not shying away from even heavy spoils.
Lee Ha-jun was working hard, sweating profusely and enduring pain.
Unlike the expression she saw at home, he looked serious and without a trace of a smile.
Suryeon quietly observed this scene, recording it through her blue eyes.
-Compared to TV, this man is very shabby. So he was working this hard to prepare that dinner.
If it were me now, I could move all those spoils in three tries, if not one.
Even though this human has no strength, he moves objects so diligently.
-...Unlike how he looks, he has a serious side.
Lee Ha-jun initially tried to sell the dragons.
So Suryeon thought about leaving that house as soon as she grew enough to be independent.
Because he might have such thoughts again.
But.
-...It seems he was taking us quite seriously.
Maybe it might not be so bad to stay in that cramped house a bit longer.
-...I don't like the title of a temporary parent, but…
It might not be bad.
Suryeon quietly watched Lee Ha-jun while deep in such thoughts.
She felt like her sea of knowledge was gradually expanding.