Chapter 22
Hmm.
"I should look at the search history."
Suryeon pressed the smartphone screen without hesitation. It was to understand what Lee Ha-jun usually thinks about.
'They said search history can show what a person usually thinks about and what they're interested in.'
Humans leave traces through their smartphones. Following these traces should lead to the true nature of that human. Thinking this, Suryeon pressed the internet app with her small finger.
Ding-
"How do I check the search history...? If I press this... and then this... that's not it... then, if I press this here..."
Found it. Search history.
"This much is only natural."
Smirk-
Suryeon smiled slightly as she skimmed through the search history. That smile quickly disappeared.
"Latest photo book... Violently shaking D-cup...? Cups shake?"
Even looking at the search history, she couldn't understand what it meant. Should she check directly? Suryeon clicked on "Violently shaking D-cup". Then, surprised by the image that appeared, she threw the smartphone.
"W-what... is that...! W-why is a woman standing there wearing only thin clothes..."
A woman with seductive eyes tempting males. She emphasized her chest and occasionally shook her upper body. Suryeon was quite shocked by this sight.
"S-so this is the true form of human women... I understand why the homeowner told us to wear clothes..."
Somehow, looking at that makes me feel strange. It feels like I'm seeing something I shouldn't. Suryeon noticed that her body temperature had risen overall.
"H-human women become like that when they grow up..."
Will I become like that when I grow up? Suryeon looked down at her own body. The body of a small child where everything is small. She felt bad, feeling like she had lost to humans somehow.
"Hmm... Looking again, that human woman's body isn't efficient. The large chest would only be a hindrance."
It's totally awful. A smaller body is much more advantageous for survival. I, a dragon, am far superior to that human. Suryeon made this assessment and checked the search history again.
-Idol fancam.
-Latest photo book collection.
-How to raise dragons.
-20s female vlog.
-How to get a girlfriend.
-What do dragons eat? Real dragons, not game ones.
"It's good that he's searching questions about dragons. But why does he keep looking for human women in between?"
I don't like it. It feels like I'm losing to human women I don't even know. But I think I understand what kind of human the homeowner is.
"A kind human who cares about us. But a pervert who likes women with large chests."
She wanted to know what kind of human Lee Ha-jun was, but she unnecessarily learned a lot about Lee Ha-jun's preferences. Suryeon sighed and handed the smartphone back to Ha-jun.
"I'm done playing with it. Take it."
"Already? You can play with it more if you want."
"...I have something to think about. I'm done for now. I'll play with it later."
"Well, if you say so."
Ha-jun reached for the phone in Suryeon's hand. Suryeon quickly pulled her arm back.
"Wait. Before that, I have something to ask."
"What is it now, Suryeon?"
"Is the homeowner's preference women with large chests?"
"W-what?"
"It's exactly as I said. Is that your preference?"
"..."
Oops-
Ha-jun closed his eyes tightly in embarrassment.
'...Did she look at my search history?'
He was debating whether to delete it or not. Why did she have to look at that? Ha-jun sighed and answered Suryeon's question. He decided to be an unyielding dad.
"That's right. If I had to say, that's my preference."
"...Aren't you being too brazen, homeowner?"
"What's wrong with that? Is it wrong for a person to like another person!"
Burst-
Ha-jun got angry. Suryeon pouted her lips in response.
"...It's not wrong. Never mind. I understand what kind of human the homeowner is now."
"What? What kind of human am I?!"
"A poor, money-saving loner with only 3 contacts who's a pervert chasing women."
"..."
"But a human who thinks deeply about us dragons and has a strong sense of responsibility."
Suryeon turned her head to hide her expression and said.
"Know that it's thanks to you showing us how hard you work, Dad."
"...Dad? Did you just call me Dad, Suryeon?"
"...Yeah."
Although he's poor and seems like a pervert, Suryeon decided to trust Ha-jun a little because he showed a responsible side. She judged him to be a somewhat reliable human.
"You cute little thing! Come here! Give me those cheeks!"
"...I shouldn't have called you Dad. Pervert human."
It's too late to regret now, but Suryeon understood why Hwaryeon acknowledged him as a temporary dad. Because Ha-jun was always sincere about dragons.
"Suryeon! Dad will give you an airplane ride! Come here!"
"...I don't like that side of him though."
Pitter-patter-!
Suryeon ran away desperately to avoid being caught.
***
Should I say it's fortunate in misfortune? Although my search history was discovered, I felt relieved inside.
'If she had turned one more page, it would have been a disaster. I was lucky.'
Phew-
I wiped off my cold sweat and deleted all the search history. Now she won't be able to find my traces.
'From today, I am a clean human without any shame.'
Recently, I haven't used my smartphone much because I've been busy raising the dragon kids. If she had turned one page, she would have seen the records of a 20-year-old whose life was ruined before I met the dragons.
"Phew, that's really fortunate."
I sighed in relief.
"Except for the search history, I didn't cause any trouble. This much is fine."
I'm willing to lend it without hesitation if Suryeon asks to borrow it again. Unlike other dragons, Suryeon has a great thirst for knowledge. It seemed better to give her a smartphone instead of books.
"These days, everyone takes classes on smartphones too. I should raise Suryeon that way as well."
After organizing my thoughts, I lay down in the living room.
"Ah, I finished organizing the fridge too. Now it's time to rest."
Plop-
I sprawled out in the center of the living room. Choryeon climbed on top of my stomach. She looked down at me with a bright smile and said:
"Dad, I'm bored!"
"Choryeon is bored? Should Dad give you an airplane ride?"
"An airplane ride is good, but... I want to play in a different way today!"
"A different way to play..."
What good method could there be? I searched my mind to remember what I used to play when I was young.
"Hmm..."
"If there's nothing, should we just lie down and breathe?"
"That's a good method too, but wait a moment."
In this small one-room apartment, an interesting game that would satisfy Choryeon.
'First, hide-and-seek and tag are impossible.'
A game that meets those conditions...
"I guess there's only that."
"What is it?"
"A very fun game you can play with Dad."
I picked up Choryeon who was sitting on my stomach and put her on the floor. Then, I clapped my hands to get my daughters' attention.
Clap!
"Everyone, focus. We're about to start a game."
"I don't want to!"
Immediately, Hwaryeon expressed her dissatisfaction.
"Hmph, why should I play with Dad? I don't want to. I won't play!"
"Then don't play."
"T-that's not what I want! I'll play!"
She objects first before anything else. I looked at Suryeon, the next potential source of trouble.
"What about you, Suryeon?"
"I'm curious, even though I don't know what it is."
"So you'll do it?"
"..."
Nod-
Suryeon coolly nodded her head. Well, if everyone agrees. Let the game begin.
"We're going to play 'The Eternal Flower Has Bloomed'."
"Wow, the eternal flower has bloomed? When did it bloom? I want to see it too!"
"No, Choryeon. That's not it. 'The Eternal Flower Has Bloomed' is the name of the game."
It's a simple game where you move until I shout "The Eternal flower has bloomed" and shouldn't move when I turn around. After hearing this explanation, Suryeon expressed some doubt.
"But Dad, why do we have to stop when the eternal flower blooms?"
"That's... well, good question...?"
I've never thought about it before. Why do we have to stop when the Eternal flower blooms? I don't know the reason either.
"I'd understand if it was 'A dragon has appeared'. I can't accept stopping because a Eternal flower bloomed. Why should I stop for a flower? Dragons don't stop for flowers."
Suryeon gave a speech on 'Why Dragons Don't Stop' with the most serious face of all. It might be good enough to submit as a thesis if polished.
"Alright then. Let's change it to 'A dragon suddenly appeared'. Is that okay with you, Suryeon?"
"Yes."
Suryeon finally accepted the reason for stopping. After such a simple conversation, we started the game. I stood against the wall of the one-room apartment, and they stood by the front door. Then, I started speaking slowly:
"A dragon... suddenly... appeared!"
Whoosh-
I quickly turned around. The kids seemed to understand the rules well, as they were standing still without wavering.
"Grrrr! Hurry! Look forward!"
Hwaryeon was trembling, finding it difficult to stand still. I looked forward a bit more slowly to make her practice patience.
"Let's go again. A dragon... suddenly... appeared!"
Whoosh!
"Caught you red-handed, Lee Choryeon."
"Hic."
"Your reaction was too slow."
Choryeon, who had stopped her body leisurely. Choryeon came to my side and held my hand. Unless someone comes to break us apart, Choryeon has to stay with me.
"By the way, there's a penalty."
"What?!"
"...You didn't mention that before."
Hwaryeon and Suryeon's eyes sharpened like dragons'. I explained to them without any burden:
"Penalties usually come up suddenly. If you lose, you have to grant one of my wishes each."
"Then, if we win?"
"Hmm, I'll grant one wish each for you too."
It's more fun if there's something at stake. Did the mention of wishes become a stimulant for them? Hwaryeon and Suryeon's eyes noticeably changed. Unlike Choryeon, they hated losing and were quite competitive.
"Alright, here we go. A dragon suddenly appeared!"
Halt-
They stopped at the perfect timing.
"I said it quickly, but you're quite good?"
"Hmph."
Then this time...
"A... dragon... suddenly... appeared..."
Whoosh-
When I turned around, I saw Suryeon who looked like she had turned to stone. She didn't move much to begin with, but now she looked like she had stopped all life activities. But perhaps because I spoke too slowly:
"Aaaargh! I quit!!"
Hwaryeon's mouse-dropping-sized patience exploded. She stood next to Choryeon, huffing and puffing. Now only the final battle between Suryeon and me remained.
"Here we go. A dragon! Suddenly! Appeared!!"
Whoosh-
I turned my head to check Suryeon's position. Suryeon had stopped while reaching out her hand towards my arm. If Suryeon didn't move now, my defeat was all but certain.
'...Did I lose?'
No, Dad doesn't lose. I absolutely can't lose.
'I set a penalty, but who knows what they'll ask for...'
If I lose here, what kind of trouble might they cause? I couldn't lose because of that worry. So, without opening my mouth, I just stared at Suryeon silently.
"..."
"Ugh, that's unfair! Do you want to beat dragons that badly? How ugly!"
"Dad seems to want to beat young dragons by any means necessary! As expected of Dad!"
Hwaryeon and Choryeon stabbed at my heart. Still, I didn't stop the battle of wills. As we were staring at each other for about 5 minutes, suddenly an unexpected thing happened.
Bang bang bang!!
-Hey Lee Ha-jun! Do you want to die?!
"What's Gu Bong-gu doing here? It's not even collection day yet?"
Why did he come to the house? I looked at the entrance in confusion. And when I turned my gaze back to Suryeon:
"Okay, Lee Suryeon down!"
"..."
Perhaps because of Gu Bong-gu's sudden visit? Suryeon, whose posture had crumbled, was sitting quietly on the floor. She seemed quite tired physically, even sweating from her forehead. She must have been very exhausted.
"I'm sorry, Suryeon. Dad was a bit ugly-"
-A bastard who doesn't even pay back money makes prank calls in the evening! Are you picking a fight with me?!
"...Prank call?"
Swoosh-
I focused my gaze on Suryeon again. Looking closely, that sweat didn't seem to be from exhaustion.
"Suryeon."
"...Yes, Dad."
"Did you by any chance call Gu Bong-gu?"
"...Yes."
Suryeon nodded. Only then did I realize what Suryeon's sweat really was. It was cold sweat from doing something wrong. Suryeon spoke timidly while sweating profusely:
"It was a mistake."
"Oh, this precious child, really."
There's not a day without some incident. I had to head to the entrance to face an angry Gu Bong-gu.