Chapter 120: The Unchanging

We moved our nest to Seoul-04.

The surroundings are nice, and it's a good area for children to live in. Unlike District 09, which is classified as a slum, it's urban with robust infrastructure.

Even the dragons, who value territory, seemed quite satisfied.

'It seems moving was the right decision after all.'

To think I've achieved my dream of owning a home, which once felt distant and dark. It still feels like I'm living in a dream.

"I wish my loan was a dream too."

I wonder how much is left. 

I opened my smartphone to check the loan details.

"Hundred... thousand... million... ten million..."

I rubbed my eyes, wondering if this was a dream.

No such luck. The amount of the loan I had to repay remained unchanged.

"Is this for real?"

I paid off my debts only to end up with a new loan.

I thought I'd live a more relaxed life after leaving District 09.

Instead, I've ended up with an even busier life.

'Is this the weight of being a parent?'

It's heavy, but I can bear it.

My beautiful daughters are growing every day-

"Dragon Punch!"

Whoosh-

Suddenly, Hwaryeon's fist comes flying at me. I jumped up from the sofa and quickly dodged Hwaryeon's fist.

"W-What! Lee Hwaryeon! What are you doing all of a sudden?! You almost hurt Dad!"

"Hmph, it's a surprise attack! This is training too!"

Hwaryeon withdrew her fist and proudly called it training.

It doesn't look like it at all.

"Aren't you just throwing punches because you're bored?"

"N-No, I'm not!"

Hwaryeon looked startled, as if she'd been caught. It seemed she had just thrown a punch at me out of boredom.

'To think my daughter would attempt such disrespect. I take back thinking of her as my pretty daughter.'

After fighting with the Dragon Slayer, I've come to know myself very well.

I may look sturdy on the outside, but I lack reinforcement, like those easily collapsible apartments.

Even if my physical abilities are excellent, it means I lack technique. That's why I'm learning martial arts from Hwaryeon, who has superior technique despite still being in her growth phase and lacking strength.

'I hate to admit it, but being a Red Dragon, her athletic ability is outstanding.'

She seems to enjoy it when we exercise and play together. Anyway, I flicked Hwaryeon's forehead for her surprise attack.

Flick-

"Ouch! Why did you hit me!"

"It's punishment for the surprise attack."

"I'll punish you too, Dad! You have to take a hit from me too!"

She's not one to just take it.

Hwaryeon charged at me to get revenge for the forehead flick. Of course, I wasn't going to just stand there and take it.

I got up before Hwaryeon's fist could reach me.

"Try to hit me if you can!"

"Dragon Punch! Dragon Punch!"

Crash bang-!

Pitter-patter-!

Hwaryeon and I ran around the spacious living room that was still empty of furniture. I guess this is one of the good points of moving.

'The old house was too cramped to run away. It's great for teasing the kids and running away.'

Hwaryeon was trying her best to get revenge on me. I couldn't lose to my daughter, so I desperately ran away to avoid getting hit.

"Hmm."

Suryeon, who was sitting quietly on the sofa looking at her A-pad. She stared at us for a while, then sighed and said.

"Sigh, even at that age. Why are they acting like that? So childish."

Shake shake-

Suryeon shook her head and sighed. After calling us childish, she focused her attention back on the A-pad screen. Then she started controlling her character to mine blocks with a pickaxe.

"Today's task. Mine diamonds and display them in my house."

Who's calling who childish? It was quite amusing.

"Dad, over there! If I catch you, you're dead! Roar!"

"Oh, right."

I need to focus.

I ran hard to avoid getting caught by my daughter because a dad shouldn't lose to his daughter.

***

A week after moving.

Finally, all the furniture we've been waiting for arrived. The delivery was so late that I thought it might have been sucked into a dimensional gate somewhere.

It was just a bit late, but it arrived safely at home. I carried the boxes containing the furniture and placed them in the living room.

"Shall we start assembling now?"

"Assembling?"

"Yes, there's furniture inside these boxes. We need to assemble it."

"Hmm..."

Choryeon looked closely at the cardboard boxes made from wood. It seemed she couldn't believe that big furniture could be inside these boxes.

At times like this, it's better to show them directly.

I opened one box and took out the contents. It was a metal assembly-type desk, not solid wood.

I read the assembly instructions and said to Choryeon.

"Dad's going to assemble Lego now."

"It's a really big Lego, isn't it?"

"That's right. Watch Dad's cool performance."

It's time to show my fatherly side.

I started assembling the desk according to the instructions. I inserted rods and tightened screws.

"If I do this..."

Ta-da-

Complete!

I confidently showed the desk I had assembled.

"How is it, Choryeon! This is the desk Dad assembled! Those small parts became this desk!"

"Wow!"

Choryeon's eyes sparkled like emeralds as she looked at me.

"The desk was made so quickly, Father! As expected of Father! You're amazing!"

"Ahem, it's nothing much. I'm Dad after all. It's natural."

"Mangmung, look at this too! Isn't it amazing?"

"Woof-!"

Mangmung nodded, agreeing that I was amazing. It's nothing special, just following instructions to assemble, but it felt good to be looked at with such admiration.

"Well then, shall we continue? Lee Hwaryeon! Lee Suryeon!"

"What, Dad!"

"What is it, Dad."

"Come help too! It's just like assembling Lego!"

Hwaryeon, who was watching TV, and Suryeon, who was fiddling with her A-pad.

They came over, grumbling. Then they opened the boxes and started assembling the furniture together.

"This goes here! Get in there! Yah!"

"...Hwaryeon. That's not where it goes."

"Really? Then it goes here! Yah!"

"...That's not right either. Wait, not there either- ...Can't you please just stay still?"

Suryeon seemed to be suffering a bit from Hwaryeon's tyranny, who dislikes complex problems. And Choryeon paired up with Mangmung to assemble furniture.

"Mangmung! Bring me part A3 please!"

"Woof-!"

"Very good job, Mangmung!"

Pat pat-

...Mangmung seemed to be a bit more helpful than Hwaryeon.

Anyway, the children all worked hard together, helping each other assemble the furniture. I personally carried and moved the completed furniture.

As a result,

"Finally, it's all done."

"The room is complete!"

"Not bad."

"Wow! Mangmung has a home too! I got a room too! Even though I'm sharing with Suryeon! Wow!"

We completed the two small rooms as the children's rooms.

Hwaryeon, the oldest, got her own room, while Suryeon and Choryeon would share a room. Due to limited space, Suryeon and Choryeon's room used a bunk bed.

"There's a desk, shelves, and a wardrobe. This should be enough. Do you need anything else, kids?"

"Dad, I do."

Swish-

Suryeon raised her hand with an expressionless face and said.

"I need a computer."

"Why?"

"...To study the human world."

"Can't you do that with the A-pad?"

"...Advanced studies can only be done on a computer."

Suryeon said this and slightly turned her head. It looked like a lie to anyone watching.

'It just looks like she wants to play games.'

In the past, I used to say the same thing to get a new computer, saying the internet was too slow to study properly.

My parents would smile knowingly and get me a new computer. Looking back now, I wonder if they knew I wanted to change it for gaming.

'...So this is how it feels.'

Grin-

I smiled slightly and answered.

"I'll think about it."

"...Really?"

"I don't think you're at an age where you need a computer yet. I might get you one a bit later."

"Age again? But you'll get me one later, right?"

"Yeah."

"Then that's fine."

Suryeon's lips curled up slightly.

She seemed happy that she'd get a computer, even if it was later. Promising for later, I turned to Hwaryeon and said.

"Well then, Hwaryeon, this is your room alone."

"Yay! This is my room! Enter without permission and you're dead!"

Jump-!

Excited about having her own room, Hwaryeon dove onto the bed. I left Hwaryeon to enjoy herself and went to the other room.

"This is Suryeon and Choryeon's room. It's a bunk bed, who wants the top bunk?"

Swish-

The two dragons glanced at each other.

Then they spoke simultaneously.

"I'll take the top."

"I want to sleep on top!"

Is it because they're dragons? They both wanted to be at the highest place.

At times like this, I had to make the choice.

"Since Hwaryeon, the oldest, got her own room. I think Suryeon should choose the bed."

"Heh."

I won. Suryeon looked at Choryeon with that expression. Choryeon looked slightly disgruntled.

"Then Suryeon takes the top bunk, and Choryeon the bottom. Understood?"

"Fine."

"Yes, since it's Father's decision. I understand..."

Choryeon seemed a bit disappointed, but it can't be helped.

This kind of hierarchy is necessary for them to become Confucian dragons that can adapt to the human world.

"From today, everyone can sleep comfortably in their own beds. Use your rooms well and don't make a mess. You'll be in trouble with Dad if your rooms get dirty!"

"Okay!"

"Got it."

"Yes!"

They answer well. And so, I gave each of my daughters their own bed.

Now I too can sleep comfortably alone.

"I thought I was going to die from the weight when the kids put their feet on me. Finally, I can stretch out and sleep comfortably."

Ah, this is nice.

I lay down on the bed, thinking I'd spend the night comfortably alone. But late in the evening, the tightly closed master bedroom door opened.

Bang-!

"Dad! I'm sleeping here!"

"What?"

"Dragon dive!"

Hwaryeon, hugging a pillow, launched into a dive towards my body lying on the bed.

"Oof-!"

"Dive successful!"

"What success... I'm dying of pain..."

"Hehe-"

Hwaryeon straddled my body and grinned. 

They say you can't spit on a smiling face. I wonder if that's true.

"Anyway, why aren't you sleeping in your room? Why did you come to Dad's room?"

"It's no fun sleeping alone! It's boring!"

"It's not because you're scared, is it?"

"Hmph, I'm Red Dragon Lee Hwaryeon! There's no way I'd be scared of anything!"

"What about vegetables?"

"V-Vegetables are just something I dislike!"

From what I can tell, she's not used to sleeping alone.

I lifted Hwaryeon off me and laid her down beside me.

"Alright. Then sleep next to me."

"Okay!"

Hwaryeon said this and used the pillow she brought.

I was thankful the bed was big enough. It might be cramped if more kids come, though.

'Surely the other kids won't come too?'

At that moment,

Creak-

"Dad, I'm sleeping her- What, Hwaryeon is here?"

"Suryeon, welcome! Want to lie down next to us?"

Swish-

Suryeon glanced at the space next to me and threw her pillow there.

"That's my spot."

"...Suryeon, you're planning to sleep here too?"

"Yeah. Why? Not allowed?"

"No, that's not it..."

"Then there's no problem."

Jump-

Suryeon said this and lay down next to me, closing her eyes and starting to sleep in a straight posture.

And before the storm Suryeon brought had even ended, the master bedroom door opened again.

Creak-

"Father, are you asleep? It's Choryeon, I came with Mangmung. I want to sleep with Fath... Father?"

Chill-

Choryeon's expression froze when she saw the full bed. She put Mangmung down on the floor and said.

"Mangmung, rest for a bit. I need to have a word with Father."

"W-Woof..."

Mangmung lowered his tail and retreated to the edge of my bed.

Choryeon glared at Hwaryeon and Suryeon sleeping next to me. Somehow, I felt like dark clouds were forming behind Choryeon.

"Father, what is this about? Leaving only me out."

"I-I don't know. These kids suddenly said they wanted to sleep in my bed."

"I should have noticed when Suryeon's bed was empty... I guess I'm too late."

"I-It seems so?"

They say the anger of someone who rarely gets angry is the scariest. It seems that saying is true. The aura Choryeon was emitting felt ominous.

Choryeon looked at my bed with serious eyes for a moment, then closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and said.

"But there's still space for me. Father didn't exclude me! I can let this much slide!"

Phew-

Thankfully, she returned to her usual self. Choryeon climbed onto the bed and lay down on my stomach, saying.

"My bed is Father himself! I can hear Father's heartbeat too! It's the best spot! I think I'm super lucky! Right?"

"Y-Yeah, seems so."

Thankfully, Choryeon's positive mindset took over. Choryeon used me as a bed and tried to sleep.

'Is this right?'

We got new rooms and new beds, but the kids wanted to sleep with me just like before.

'They love Dad too much. What's the point of buying beds if they're going to do this?'

I wondered if I should return them now, but I decided to endure.

They'll leave my bed when they grow up.

'If I leave them alone, they'll use their beds later, right? Surely they won't keep trying to sleep in my bed. Dragons have strong independent tendencies.'

They'll sleep in their own beds someday. 

Believing this, I closed my eyes, lying in bed with them just like usual.

"Mmm... hmm..."

"..."

"Hehe, it's such a fluffy bed..."

It was a bit cramped, but it felt like I could sense the family's closeness.

Though it might be a bit too close.