Chapter 126: Nostalgic Snack Shop

Elementary school drop-off time.

As usual, I took the children to school.

"Everyone, listen carefully in class today and obey your teachers!"

"Got it!"

"Okay."

"Yes, Father!"

Bye bye-

After saying goodbye to the children at the school gate, I returned home to do some cleaning.

"Sigh, don't these kids understand when I tell them not to make a mess?"

I cleaned the house messed up from getting ready for school, washed the dishes used for breakfast, and tidied up the children's dirty rooms.

"...Why are my underwear here?"

I put my underwear found in Suryeon and Choryeon's room back in its place. I sat down next to Mangmung, who was quietly watching TV.

"Mangmung. Is the TV fun?"

"Woof hah hah hah-!"

"I'm glad you're enjoying it."

"Woof-!"

This smart guy.

I stroked Mangmung's fluffy white fur.

Whether he was born smart or grew up with dragon magic, I thought Mangmung was really intelligent.

"You'll never go hungry wherever you go."

"Woof woof-?"

"Just keep watching TV, you. I have work to do."

"Woof woof-!"

Leaving Mangmung to watch TV quietly, I started preparing for work. I just heard news that a dimensional gate appeared in District 07.

"It's fortunate there's only one today, though."

Currently, I'm not under contract with the Hero Association. More precisely, I'm working as a freelance hero. So, I've gained more free time and can spend quite a lot of time on housework.

"The house is bigger now, so it takes more work. It would be nice if Mangmung could help with cleaning."

"W-Woof woof-?"

"But what cleaning could a dog do?"

"Woof woof-!"

Mangmung nodded, agreeing with what I said. He seemed to know that dogs can't clean.

"...Can he really not do it? I feel like he could at least run the vacuum cleaner."

"Whine..."

Shake shake-

Mangmung shook his head, saying he absolutely couldn't do it. I exchanged looks with Mangmung for a while.

"..."

"..."

After staring at each other silently, I sighed and looked away.

"What am I thinking, Mangmung cleaning? It's better if I just do it myself."

"Whine~"

Phew-

Mangmung sighed in relief.

After playing and chatting with Mangmung for a while, I decided to head out to the location where the dimensional gate opened.

"Mangmung, guard the house well."

"Woof woof-!"

"Don't bother the downstairs neighbor unnecessarily. She seemed sensitive because of exams. It's been quiet lately though. Anyway, I'm off!"

"Woof-!"

With Mangmung's farewell, I left to work hard today too.

A life balancing being a dad and a hero. It couldn't be anything but a satisfying life.

'I wonder if the kids are doing well in their classes at school. They should be doing well.'

Can dragons really adapt well to the human world?

I was worried, but I decided to trust them. 

No matter what anyone says, they're my daughters.

***

Break time.

The children spent their class time (relatively?) quietly. For 10 minutes, they chatted with their friends.

Of course, Suryeon rejected everyone who tried to talk to her. Hwaryeon and Choryeon were different.

"Lee Hwaryeon. Are you really that strong?"

"Hmph, of course! Want to take a hit from my fist? That guy got a nosebleed when I hit him!"

Hahaha-

The boys laughed. Mingu stood up, blushing.

"Hey, that was in kindergarten! Why are you bringing that up!"

"The loser always becomes the winner's plaything! Just accept your position! You loser!"

A few girls liked Hwaryeon, but Hwaryeon was mainly popular among the boys.

"And you guys are my subordinates, right?"

"Why would we be your subordinates?"

Hwaryeon raised her fist at the rebellious boys.

"If you're not my subordinates, I can't protect you!"

"Sorry, we'll be your subordinates from today."

"Ha, more subordinates! World domination isn't far off!"

A fiery and straightforward personality, and strength and skill to back up that personality.

Combined with her pretty looks, Hwaryeon won the hearts of the boys.

But,

"I'd appreciate it if you could be quiet over there. You're too noisy."

Except for Kim Si-hoo, the son of an S-class hero. The blunt Si-hoo didn't get along with Hwaryeon.

He was mainly popular among the girls, partly due to his somewhat handsome looks.

A girl next to Si-hoo shouted at Hwaryeon.

"That's right, Lee Hwaryeon! Our Si-hoo says you're noisy! He says you're a disturbance!"

"Huh? It's break time and I'll speak with my own mouth! What's it to you? Who are you! If you have a problem, fight me!"

"You don't even know my name? I'm Yoo Ji-yeon! And fighting is barbaric! I won't do it!"

"Hmph, if you're too scared to fight, don't even speak!"

Hahaha-!

Hwaryeon and her subordinates laughed at Ji-yeon as she backed away. Ji-yeon's face turned red.

"M-Making fun of me! This is why boys are stupid!"

Her face reddened.

Just as tears were about to form in her eyes,

"Stop teasing her."

Like a chaebol riding a Rolls-Royce, Si-hoo, who had been quiet, stood up. And looking directly into Hwaryeon's eyes at the center of the group, he said.

"You'd better be careful."

"Huh? Me? Why?"

"Because you're no match for me. By the way, I train after school. After that, I study until bedtime. I'm different from you."

Si-hoo said this and returned to his seat. Then he spoke gently to Ji-yeon.

"Don't mind what they say. It's not particularly helpful to you."

"U-Um... Thanks, Si-hoo..."

Ji-yeon had already fallen for him, and Hwaryeon had also snapped.

"What do you mean different! I'm a dragon! This is ridiculous!"

Hwaryeon, being of a different species altogether, was furious. And she decided to crush him next time.

"I'll show you my real skills in the next PE class!"

She decided to crush that high nose that was trying to pierce the sky because he's the son of an S-class hero.

'There's no one who can stand above me! ...Except Dad. But I'll make Dad submit to me later too.'

A Red Dragon with strong ambition and desire for dominance. Hwaryeon had a personality that wasn't satisfied unless she had someone beneath her.

"Roar!"

...

Meanwhile, unlike the fiery atmosphere of the boys, Choryeon was engaging in small talk with the girls.

"Choryeon, do you like plants?"

"Yes, I love plants. They're my friends!"

"Then, do you like the small grass by the roadside too?"

"Of course, I consider all plants equally. Whether big or small, they're all precious friends to me!"

Smile-

The girls shielded their eyes from Choryeon's sunflower-like smile.

"So cute!"

"Dazzling!"

"Pretty!"

The girls liked Choryeon for her uniquely friendly and kind personality and appearance. She was easy to talk to, and she smelled nice when you were next to her.

One of the girls asked Choryeon.

"Choryeon, is there anything else you like besides plants?"

"Hmm, besides plants, I like Father!"

"Me too!"

Nod nod-

All the girls nodded. It's really hard to dislike your dad at such a young age.

"My dad would be great if he wasn't bald!"

"Right! And if he didn't have a beard!"

"What about your dad, Choryeon? I bet he's handsome!"

Swish-

"My Father?"

Choryeon's expression changed at the question about her father. Unlike her usual smiling face, it became slightly sharp.

"Why are you asking that?"

"W-Why, Choryeon...?"

"Why are you curious about my Father? You don't like my Father, do you? Even if we're friends, I think there's an appropriate line. Don't you agree?"

Choryeon's atmosphere suddenly changed. Her friends quickly nodded.

"O-Of course! We're friends!"

"I asked the wrong question, I'm sorry!"

Bow-

When a good kid gets angry, it's scary.

Choryeon demonstrated this directly, and her friends lowered their heads. Choryeon then relaxed her expression and smiled as usual.

"Yes, I accept your apology! Hehe!"

The children sighed in relief at Choryeon's face smiling as usual again. And they all thought the same thing internally.

'Let's not bring up Father in front of Choryeon.'

Something doesn't seem right. Survival instinct warned them.

'Choryeon is a good kid as long as you don't mention her father.'

Thinking this, Choryeon's friends narrowed the distance with Choryeon through questions.

Of course, Choryeon was also slowly getting closer to her friends, learning about them.

'My friends seem really nice!'

As long as they don't show interest in her father.

Except for that, Choryeon sincerely thought about getting along well with her friends.

'Only I need to know about Father. Others don't need to know!'

...

Lastly, Suryeon had earphones in her ears, looking out the window.

Break time enjoyed with music.

'Hmm, humans make pretty good music for being humans.'

Suryeon just closed her eyes gently, feeling the wind from the window and listening to music.

'I might be pretty cool.'

Suryeon was lost in self-admiration.

***

After all classes ended, it was time to go home. The group of elementary school students excitedly left the school gate.

"To think I have so many potential subordinates!"

"There are too many humans no matter how I look at it. We could reduce them by half."

"No! My friends could die!"

The dragon sisters whispered to each other as they returned home.

Today, Dad wasn't at the school gate, so the children started walking home by themselves.

"We should go this way!"

"That's not it, Hwaryeon unnie! Go straight!"

"Really?"

The dragon sisters went straight as Choryeon said.

Whether that was true or not, they saw the snack shop they had seen before.

"That looks delicious! Tteokbokki!"

Drool-

Hwaryeon drooled at the sight of the spicy and sweet tteokbokki from the snack shop. Hwaryeon quickly turned her head and asked Suryeon and Choryeon.

"Hey, do you have any money?"

"Are you trying to extort us now, Hwaryeon unnie?"

"Extortion is bad!"

"No, I'll eat with you! Anyway, do you have money!?"

Rummage rummage-

Suryeon rummaged through her pocket and frowned.

"Tch."

"Do you have any?"

"Unfortunately, I do."

I don't want to give it because it's my money, but Suryeon reluctantly handed over the money.

1000 won.

Hwaryeon, having obtained the money, handed the bill to the snack shop ajumma.

"Ajumma! Give me one tteokbokki!"

"Okay, wait a moment."

With a kind smile, the tteokbokki ajumma filled a cup with tteokbokki. Then, handing over the paper cup full of tteokbokki, she said.

"Enjoy your meal. I gave you a bit extra because you're pretty. Come again next time."

"Okay! If it's delicious, I'll come again!"

Hwaryeon said this and received the cup of tteokbokki. Then, she picked up one with a skewer and put it in her mouth.

"Yum!"

Munch munch-

Gulp-

"Delicious! I want to eat this every day!"

A snack shop with 40 years of tradition. The cup tteokbokki from that snack shop boasted quite a taste.

Although slightly reluctant, Hwaryeon handed skewers to Suryeon and Choryeon.

"You eat too!"

"I'll just have one."

"Okay!"

Munch-

Suryeon chewed the tteokbokki and said.

"It tastes good."

"Right?!"

"It was a somewhat unique dish. But I'll pass."

"Why!"

"I don't like spicy food."

It was a purely personal opinion.

After Suryeon's review ended, Choryeon also put the tteokbokki in her mouth.

"Wow-"

Munch-

Not long after Choryeon chewed the tteokbokki,

"It's, it's spicy!"

Jump-!

Choryeon stuck out her tongue saying it was spicy and started fanning herself. Hwaryeon burst into laughter at this sight.

"Pfft, how is that spicy! Lee Choryeon, you're hilarious!"

"I-I can't eat spicy food well! I'm dying!"

Choryeon running around frantically saying the tteokbokki was spicy. Hwaryeon and Suryeon burst into laughter at this sight.

It was a trivial but unforgettably funny moment.

"You're so weak, Lee Choryeon! Are you really a dragon?!"

"You're disqualified as a dragon."

"Ugh... What am I supposed to do about spicy food! W-Water please! Water!"

"I'll give you some."

"That's saliva! I don't want it!"

"Hahaha!"

It was a memory to be recalled as a good past experience under the name of nostalgia.