Chapter 25: Nostalgic Side Dish

Rain poured heavily from a cloudless sky. Suryeon gently collected the raindrops in her palm.

"The magic power that extends from the heart has its own unique properties. In my case, I can convert magic power into water solely by my own power."

"Oh, that's a more impressive ability than I thought?"

"Not really, it's nothing special."

Despite answering modestly, Suryeon blushed, seemingly embarrassed. Both the first and second kids were still not being honest.

'She probably has other abilities besides making it rain from the sky. Dragons seem to have the ability called dragon language too.'

Anyway, it's better to be careful with that ability. While it might look like a very efficient watering can to my eyes, it would look different to other countries experiencing climate crises.

"Suryeon, whatever it is, don't use that ability often."

"...I know that now. That we shouldn't draw humans' attention."

"You understand well. That's good enough."

You've grown. I patted Suryeon's head. Suryeon immediately swatted my hand away with a cold face.

"Don't touch me as you please."

"That's harsh... Dad is sad..."

"An emotion like sadness isn't helpful in life. It's just cumbersome."

She must have been quite embarrassed about crying last time. As I looked at her with pitying eyes, Suryeon stood up from her chair, agitated.

"...Why are you looking at me like that?"

"It's nothing. Just remembering old times."

"...I don't like it. I want to go."

Did I tease her too much? Suryeon tried to leave the rooftop, pouting and grumbling. I shouted loudly before she disappeared:

"Suryeon! Tell Choryeon to come up!"

"..."

Glare-

Suryeon glared at me and disappeared. Although her reactions aren't big, Suryeon is surprisingly fun to tease. I was a bit uncomfortable with my clothes damp from the light rain, but as I waited patiently, Choryeon appeared on the rooftop.

"It's nice weather, Dad!"

Choryeon greeted me with a bright smile, waving her hand. She seemed to like the moist air after the rain. Before sitting in the chair, Choryeon headed to the planter to observe the plants first.

"The cherry tomatoes are growing well... The lettuce leaves are growing back too...! They're all growing well! I'll make sure to eat them deliciously later!"

Smile-

Choryeon smiled at the plants. After greeting the plants, she sat in the chair and faced me.

"Last in line. Green Dragon. Lee Choryeon."

"Yes!"

"How's life these days?"

"I like it! I'm satisfied!"

"That's good then."

She doesn't seem to have any major complaints. Then...

"Is there anything you'd like to do?"

"Umm, I have something!"

"What is it?"

"I said the air around here isn't good, right! So-"

Is she planning to make a botanical garden again like last time? I almost died trying to explain to the old lady about the plants that suddenly grew then. That kind of thing shouldn't happen again.

"Environmental protection activities are not allowed. Rejected."

"No, Dad! Listen to a dragon's words to the end! It's different from last time!"

"Different?"

"Yes!"

Stand up-

Choryeon stood up and started explaining her plan. It's called the 'Right to Breathe Movement'.

"The outside air is too bad! It's dirty air mixed with metals and unpleasant magic! To solve that, we need to plant trees!"

"Planting trees in this desolate area..."

"Yes, that's right! Planting trees! But this time, I won't plant them directly!"

Is she asking me to plant them directly? As I was thinking about searching the internet for how to plant trees, Choryeon held out her palm to me.

"These friends will plant trees on my behalf!"

There was nothing on Choryeon's outstretched palm.

"You don't have friends either, Choryeon."

I don't have friends either. But Choryeon didn't mean it that way, shaking her head and correcting her words:

"That's not what I meant! You might not see them, Dad, but there are forest spirits in my hand right now!"

"Spirits?"

"Yes, spirits!"

I understand the concept of spirits well. Invisible beings that live hidden in nature, and when they gather, they emit great power. I know what spirits are like because one of the S-rank heroes active in South Korea uses the power of spirits.

"You're saying you can handle them, Choryeon?"

"Yes!"

"How?"

"The spirit friends like me! I have many friends!"

It's good that you have more friends than Dad. Although I can't see these friends, Choryeon headed to the rooftop railing with her friends.

"I'm going to scatter my friends to the outside world! Then my friends will plant trees on their own!"

"It might not be good if too many grow..."

"It's okay! My friends are weaker than me, so they can't plant too many!"

"Hmm, I guess that might be alright...?"

Remembering what the dragons have done so far, I develop a prejudice that dragons should be filtered out. But no matter what, shouldn't I trust my daughter when she's given a good suggestion rather than rejecting it? I put my hand on Choryeon's shoulder.

"Choryeon, give it a try."

"Yes!"

Choryeon threw her friends that she had gathered in her palm far away from the rooftop. Like scattering flower petals.

"...They won't grow strangely, right?"

"Don't doubt! My friends are smart like me!"

"..."

When you say it like that, I'm a bit worried. Although I was slightly concerned, I decided not to think too deeply about it. According to Suryeon, dragons don't make the same mistake twice. I have to trust them for now. Even though our species are different, we're family.

"Grow well and purify this rotten world!"

***

I successfully completed the interviews with the dragon kids. It was an informative time to understand what abilities they have. To conclude...

'No matter how I think about it, dragons are specialized for farming.'

It was strange to use dragon abilities just for farming, but I felt that these excellent abilities shouldn't be left to waste. They could become excellent primary industry workers. For that reason...

"Kids. Our future is in farming. Let's farm."

I declared this in front of them while eating breakfast. Let's work hard and earn money through farming. Hearing this, Suryeon let out a sleepy sigh.

"Yawn... Dad. Why are you saying strange things from the morning..."

"Suryeon, we need to farm, okay? Not using those abilities for farming would be a national loss!"

"Of all the many things to do, why farming... I find farming troublesome... I won't do it..."

Whoosh-

Suryeon left about half of her meal and stood up. She often leaves her food, using the excuse that she's too lazy to eat breakfast. I couldn't just watch this.

"You're leaving breakfast during your growth period? No. I'll wrap some rice in seaweed, so eat just one bite."

"No. I won't eat."

"Eat quickly! Dad has to go to work!"

"So annoying from the morning..."

Suryeon grumbled but opened her mouth.

"Aah-"

Nom-

She ate the rice wrapped in seaweed deliciously.

"Acting difficult while eating well. Dad's going to work."

"...Tch."

"Don't cause any trouble and stay quiet, all of you."

Today is my last day working at the labor office. I left the kids at home and went outside with a strange feeling. As I was heading to the workplace where I'd work for the last time, I saw a small sprout growing on the side of the asphalt road.

"It's been a while since I've seen something like this blooming on the road."

It's hard to see in this area. Just one thing changed, but it felt like walking on a new path.

***

"Good work."

After finishing work for the last time, I changed clothes and approached Office Manager Jo Hyun-gyu, who was sitting in a chair. It was to express my gratitude.

"Thank you for everything, Manager."

"Yeah, good work. Today's your last day, right?"

"Yes."

"Being a hero is definitely better than this job in many ways."

Creak-

Hyun-gyu got up from the old leather chair and headed to the shabby refrigerator. Then, he took out several food containers and put them on the table.

"You said you have kids, right?"

"It feels that way."

"Not feels, you punk. You're raising kids, right? Whatever they are, they're your kids."

Swoosh-

Hyun-gyu handed me the containers.

"I asked my wife to make some side dishes. Take them and eat together."

"No, you didn't have to..."

"You can't feed the kids properly. They're in their growing period. You should feed them a balanced diet. There's kimchi in there too, so take it. How can a Korean live without kimchi?"

Hyun-gyu said this and gestured to me.

"What are you doing not taking it quickly? Aren't you going home? You should go see the kids."

"...Yes, thank you."

"Go on. Do well in your new job."

I headed home with the side dish and kimchi containers Hyun-gyu prepared, my hands heavy.

"...He gave too much. His heart is unnecessarily warm."

I'm worried he might get scammed by someone else again like this. I hope he lives well without incidents. I walked along the empty street, gripping both hands tightly. And when I got home, I said:

"Dad's home. You didn't cause any trouble, right?"

"I didn't cause trouble!"

"...I don't cause trouble anymore either."

"Me too! Me too!"

The kids each welcomed me cheerfully. Among them, Hwaryeon seemed curious and asked, looking at the containers in my hands:

"What's this, Dad?!"

"I received it."

"From who?!"

"...There's a grateful person you don't know."

This will probably remain in their memory for a long time. After changing clothes, I opened the containers and ate with the kids.

"..."

Those side dishes were quite delicious. It's probably because it's been a long time since I've eaten homemade side dishes.

"...Dad, are you crying?"

"Why would I cry?"

There's no reason to cry just because I ate homemade side dishes after a long time. I didn't cry. ...Really.

"Just eat, Suryeon."

"Hmm..."

Maybe I should try making homemade side dishes later. I had such thoughts while eating. Homemade side dishes always leave a sense of nostalgia.