Chapter 18
"Good work today."
After finishing another hard day's work, I went into the container to change clothes. Then I spoke to the office manager sitting in the chair.
"Manager, I'll only be working until this week."
Office Manager Jo Hyun-gyu stood up, pushing his chair back.
"You've been doing so well lately, so why are suddenly quiting? Our workplace will collapse without you!"
"It won't collapse."
"Well, that's true. But let's hear the reason first. Why are you quitting?"
If it's anyone, I can tell the manager. I decided to answer honestly.
"Manager, I've awakened. Magic power has appeared in my body."
"Magic power? Let me see."
Hyun-gyu poked my arm with his finger, looking suspicious.
"Your body is harder than someone who's been in this field for 30 years. You really have awakened, haven't you?"
"Yes, since I've awakened, I want to become a hero. That's why I'll only work until this week."
"Ah, do that then. If you've awakened, I acknowledge it. Congratulations, you punk."
Pat pat-
Hyun-gyu patted my shoulder, smiling brightly. He seems to be genuinely congratulating me on my awakening.
"Since you've awakened, how about a celebration party today? I'll pay for everything."
"I can't. I need to get home quickly."
"Is that so? Then at least buy something delicious on your way home. You should feed your kids something good."
50,000 won. There's a bit of a misunderstanding, but I don't refuse when offered. I quickly pocketed the bill Hyun-gyu handed me.
"Thank you."
"Alright, go on home."
Hyun-gyu bid me farewell with a bright face. I worry his kind personality might become his downfall, but since he's survived long in this industry, I think it's an unnecessary concern. In this collapsing world, those who survive are the strong ones.
"I should buy meat with this 50,000 won."
I had planned on ramen for dinner tonight, but the kids will be surprised if I suddenly bring home meat. As usual, I put pork shoulder in a black bag and headed home. As I was carefully making my way home, being wary of people around...
"...When did the building get so big? Did they do an expansion?"
I witnessed the building's appearance change in just a day.
"What is this? Anyone can see it's strange."
I quickly ran into the building and opened my apartment door.
Bang!
"Dad's home!"
Then I grabbed the rooftop key from the dining table and came out.
"Dad's going out!"
I tightly gripped the key and climbed the slightly crumbling stairs to reach the rooftop. There, a botanical garden unlike anything in today's world was spread out.
"Wow-"
First, I had to admire it. It's a spectacular view that I can't help but applaud.
"To use such wood magic in a place without soil. Whoever did this is really amazing."
Giant cherry tomatoes growing from lush stems in small planters. Red peppers rivaling my height. Super lettuce that seems to have someone's personal touch. They all blended with the green-painted rooftop to form a blue forest.
"The vegetables are in good condition. They'd fetch a good price if sold."
It's a problem because it's too noticeable from outside. I sighed and looked at the rooftop door where I could sense presences. The dragons were peeking out, chatting with each other. Come to think of it, I didn't close the door when I came up.
"What's with this hideous green color! Get it out of my sight!"
"Hmm, this kind of noticeable behavior isn't good. When did this happen?"
Glare-
Hwaryeon and Suryeon side-eyed the culprit of this incident. The suspected culprit, Lee Choryeon, scratched her head and said with a sheepish grin.
"Hehe, I got caught?"
Her clear green eyes showed no sign of remorse.
***
Choryeon shed tears watching the plants being mercilessly cut by scissors.
"Sob sob, that's too cruel."
"What's cruel is you betraying Dad."
I thought she wouldn't cause trouble, but in the end, even Choryeon causes problems.
Snip-
Choryeon desperately cried out watching me prune.
"Please be gentle! The cherry tomatoes say it hurts!"
"How can they say it hurts?"
"I can hear them all! They said it hurts if you cut too much!"
Suryeon chimed in from the side:
"Green Dragon special trait: ability to hear plants' voices."
"Seems it's true."
"Of course! I don't lie!"
That's what she says. Anyway, it seems the plants are saying it hurts. I tried pruning more carefully than before.
"By the way, when did you grow these? They weren't like this in the morning."
"Ah, about that! Yesterday...? No, today! I secretly took the key and came up to the rooftop when everyone was asleep at dawn! That's when I shared my breath with them!"
"..."
She's so brazen that I'm at a loss for words. I'm too dumbfounded to even get angry. However, Hwaryeon and Suryeon seem a bit heated.
"You can't just say that! Now I won't be able to go out later! Just you wait!"
"This is hopeless..."
The two shake their heads at Choryeon. But Choryeon, seemingly unaffected, just keeps smiling with clear eyes.
"I'm sorry! But I can't help it! We have to protect the Earth!"
"Protect the Earth?"
"Yes, we must protect the Earth! We must protect nature! Otherwise, the Earth will be doomed!"
Protect the Earth? What does she mean? After tidying up all the plant stems, I asked Choryeon for an explanation.
"The Earth is doomed?"
"Yes, the Earth will soon be doomed!"
"When you say soon, when exactly?"
"At this rate, in 10,000 years! No, 20,000 years later, the Earth will naturally be doomed! There's not much time left!"
"?"
Wait. This is hard to understand. Thinking I might have misheard, I asked.
"Not much time left means 20,000 years?"
"Yes! Not much time left! It'll be doomed soon!"
"By then, I could die 200 times over?"
"Huh?"
Blink blink-
Perhaps because Choryeon is a dragon living a near-immortal life, she didn't understand what I was saying. It seems her concept of time is different from humans.
"You could die 200 times over in 20,000 years?"
"Yes. Humans live up to 100 years at most. Some die even before that."
"Hmm, humans live for such a short time?"
"Compared to dragons, yes."
"I see..."
She didn't know. Choryeon seemed to fall into deep thought, chewing her lips as she pondered.
"Hmm, humans don't live long... I see..."
She must have learned something new. But I can't just wait for Choryeon to finish contemplating. We can't be discovered by other residents, and the old lady mustn't find out what happened to her planters.
"Let's all go back home for now. We've been here too long. And Lee Choryeon."
"Yes?"
"You need to be scolded when we get back."
"Why? I was just trying to protect the Earth... to protect the environment..."
Choryeon followed, pouting as if feeling wronged. Regardless of anything else, what Choryeon did today was very dangerous. Actions that can draw attention from others are not good, especially in Seoul-09 where I live.
***
"Hic, it's unfair..."
"Just stand facing the wall quietly. You made a very big mistake."
Choryeon stood facing the wall with slumped shoulders. This solo action was extremely dangerous.
"Many people probably saw what you did today."
"Isn't it good if many people saw...?"
"It's not good. Especially not for you dragons."
The security outside is quite bad. Just look around - there's a butcher shop growing drugs. They don't just grow drugs, they deal in other meats too. And if you go a bit further down from our building, there's an area where homeless people gather. They'll do anything for money.
"Just looking at the surroundings, it's not good. And people are currently crazy about dragons. If they were to see you kids who aren't fully grown yet..."
Even if it's not the homeless people, anyone who sees a not-yet-fully-grown dragon would go wild. There are rumors that eating a dragon's heart gives strength and immortality. They say drinking dragon blood cures all diseases. Until you kids can handle dangers on your own, such attention-drawing actions must be prohibited.
"Even though Dad is strong, there are many people in this world stronger than me. I can't protect you all. Do you understand?"
"We all know Dad is weak..."
"...Dad is strong. That's incorrect information."
Choryeon subtly hits where it hurts. But it seems Choryeon has fully reflected on her mistake. She stopped looking at the wall and spoke.
"I understand... I won't do anything that might draw people's attention from now on..."
"Good, you've thought it through, Choryeon."
"I'll take care of nature well... secretly at home..."
"?"
It seems she's misunderstood something. But as long as she's not discovered outside, I guess it's fine. Anyway, Choryeon says she needs to live with nature, so I decided to let that much slide.
"Well, since that's settled, let's eat. I bought meat."
"Meat!"
"Um, vegetables for me! Dad!"
Dad. It's a heartwarming word. I smiled and patted Choryeon's head.
"I'll bring some lettuce. Enjoy your meal."
Maybe if I pass the hero qualification exam, I'll be able to feed them even better food. With that thought, I opened my phone and checked the email subject:
[Hero Qualification Exam Guide]
It's not long until the day I become the hero I've dreamed of. I just need to pass first.
"Eat a balanced meal, kids."
"How can we eat a balanced meal when there's only rice and meat?"
"Forget balance, just enjoy your meal."