Chapter 35
After buying children's underwear sets for the dragons, I pulled the cart with the hidden dragons and looked around the nearby stores.
"Where's the children's clothing section...?"
I found it. It was right nearby. So, I steered the cart toward the children's clothing section.
Then, Hwaryeon said excitedly.
-Dad, now's the time! Speed up! Ram it!
Ram what?
I slowly guided the cart into the section. There were no employees inside to ask questions. They probably didn't even assign staff due to low birth rates.
'Well, who would buy children's clothes these days?'
I can’t get recommendations, then. Guess I'll have to let them choose directly. I asked the dragons who were peeking their faces out of the bag.
"Kids, what kind of clothes do you want? I'll specially let you choose your own clothes."
"Hiss-!"
At that, Hwaryeon popped out of the bag and shouted.
-I want that one! That looks the most comfortable!
"You mean this?"
-Yes!
Nod nod-
Hwaryeon bobbed her head up and down. I picked up the clothes Hwaryeon chose to check them. They looked quite cool and airy.
"It suits you well, Hwaryeon."
-Hmph, there's no clothes that doesn't suit me!
A sleeveless shirt and short pants. Hwaryeon seems to like thin clothes. I put her chosen clothes in the cart. She must like them more than expected as she kept staring at them.
'They all said wearing clothes was annoying, but they seem to like it more than I thought.'
They're all girls who like dressing up after all. They probably want to wear clothes that match their taste.
Next.
While pushing the cart around the section, Suryeon spotted clothes she liked and told me.
-Dad, stop for a moment.
"Did you find something nice?"
-I like those clothes.
Suryeon stared at the hanging clothes, so I followed her gaze and held up the clothes to show her.
"These ones?"
-Yes, those are the most efficient clothes.
"Is that so? They look a bit big to me."
Suryeon chose an oversized shirt and sports jumper. They seemed too big and likely to slip off, but Suryeon showed no intention of changing her mind.
-Clothes should be worn big. That's more comfortable and better.
"Okay, got your taste."
Next was Choryeon. She spoke up immediately without needing to look around much.
-Dad, I like that one the best!
"The white dress. This one?"
-Yes!
A white dress. It was simple, just like Choryeon. It looks clean and should suit her well. I put Choryeon's chosen clothes in the cart. Now there was no reason to stay in this section anymore.
"Let's go, kids."
-Where to?
"To eat."
I pushed the cart toward the basement where various foods were prepared. It was about time to feel hungry.
***
The basement of large marts sells various foods, and there’s too many types to explain. There's also a food court where you can pay for meals. However, I didn't come here to buy food.
"Hmm, smells good."
Actually, I came to enjoy the free sample corners because they're free.
'Where should we start?'
The sample corners are a poor man's buffet.
I looked around to check what menu would be good. There happened to be a sample corner nearby.
"Where else could I eat such expensive fruit?"
It was the perfect menu for an appetizer. I picked up a banana on a green toothpick and carefully brought it to the bag.
"You eat first, kids. Quickly eat when no one's around."
-What's this?
-I’ve never seen it before.
-It looks interesting!
Come to think of it, they've eaten lots of vegetables but probably never tried fruit. I’m not sure if they'll like it, but...
First, I dropped the banana into the firstborn Hwaryeon's mouth, who was waiting with her mouth open like a baby bird.
Munch munch-
"Hiss-!!"
"What's that reaction? Is it good?"
"Hiss-!"
It seems so. Hwaryeon opened her mouth again, asking for more. So I put another piece of banana in her mouth.
"Looks like you like fruit."
-It's delicious! More! Give me more!
"Wait, Suryeon and Choryeon need to eat too."
Here, share nicely with everyone. I fed the dragons who had their mouths wide open like baby birds with pieces of banana. Suryeon and Choryeon also munched happily on their banana.
'...They eat better than I expected.'
I originally planned to come empty-handed and just fill our stomachs. But seeing their reaction, I had to buy bananas. I cleaned out all the samples and bought two bunches of bananas.
"Was the banana that good?"
-Yes, delicious! I want to eat that now!
"There's lots more to eat now. Eat when we get home."
-Tch.
Ignoring Hwaryeon's tongue click, I moved the cart toward the next sample corner. Then, I found items we absolutely had to buy.
"Eggs, soy sauce, and sesame oil."
For when I'm short on time, it’s good for making soy sauce egg rice. I put eggs and soy sauce in the cart.
-...Those are eggs, Dad. So many eggs.
Choryeon spoke in a gloomy voice looking at the eggs, but we were in a hurry and I couldn't pay attention to everything. More accurately, I was too scared to address it.
Anyway.
"Here's sausage. Does anyone want to try? It's tasty."
Just then, Hwaryeon immediately popped out of the bag.
-Me!
"Okay, get back in and open your mouth. Here comes the sausage!"
"Hiss-"
I put the octopus-shaped sausage in Hwaryeon's mouth.
Nom nom-
Hwaryeon silently opened her mouth again.
"Hiss-"
"Hwaryeon, aren't you eating too well?"
The Red Dragon's descent is definitely the nightmare of the sample corner.
-More! Give me more!
Hwaryeon kept demanding sausages, so I had no choice but to feed her all the sausages at the sample corner.
By the way, Choryeon didn't even touch the sausage. She's vegan, after all.
Anyway. Even after feeding her numerous octopus sausages, Hwaryeon's enthusiasm didn't diminish.
-More! More!
"Okay, just stay still! If you move like that, we'll be caught!"
-More! More!
Graaah-
Hwaryeon kept demanding sausages, so I had no choice but to put two packs of Vienna sausages in the cart.
"...I'll make them at home. That okay?"
-Good!
Phew.
Thankfully, Hwaryeon stopped her sudden protest. I felt relieved and checked the cart's contents. It was starting to look quite full.
'Feels like I'm spending too much money...'
Even though I'm earning more now, this is getting a bit burdensome. I started to fear the results of helplessly giving in to tantrums. Unaware of my concerns, Hwaryeon moved restlessly in the bag and said:
-Dad! I smell something! Let's go there!
"...Hwaryeon, I think you've eaten too much."
-No! I want to eat that! I'm curious! Let's go right now! Let's go!
Graaah-
Hwaryeon roared. So, I moved toward the source of the smell.
-Go! Go! Go faster!
"Is this why you shouldn't take kids to the mart?"
It's nice to see Hwaryeon happy but, it's draining. Very draining.
"Dad's dying, Hwaryeon..."
-You won't die! Faster! Let's eat more!
And so, we went around all the sample corners in the basement, finishing all the prepared food. And with each food we finished, the cart got fuller and fuller.
The cart's contents were far from my original spending plan. Next time, I should come alone.
***
Where did my planned spending go? After checking out, my mind went blank.
"I didn't plan to buy this much..."
I got caught up in their pace.
Damn.
While putting items in paper bags, I made a resolution. Next time I'll definitely come alone, or only buy what was planned no matter what.
'Though I doubt there'll be any dramatic change.'
From the start, K-mart is their home ground. It's full of items that spark curiosity, and when they throw tantrums, the stares from others make it hard to resist. While thinking this and putting items in paper bags, Choryeon muttered complaints.
-This is wood, Father! Why do humans make precious trees into such cruel forms!
"Are you talking about these paper bags?"
-Yes! Father, this is unacceptable!
Are paper bags that serious?
I was curious why Choryeon was so angry.
"I heard paper bags actually help the environment?"
-I don't know about that! But what's the use of cutting trees to make paper bags in the name of protecting the environment! You're still using trees!
"That's true."
-I'm disappointed in humans today, Father!
Choryeon was thoroughly upset, maybe because we used paper bags due to lack of good plastic alternatives. Environmentalist Lee Choryeon seems uncomfortable. I patted her head to comfort her.
"Bear with it, Choryeon. Let's eat tasty vegetables at home. You'll feel better after eating vegetables."
-I'll endure it today because it's you, Dad!
Yes, please endure it. Dad's exhausted, too. I never knew shopping could be this tiring.
Sigh-
I returned the cart and got back my bill. Then, I headed to the exit with the paper bags.
"Good work everyone. Let's go home!"
-But I want to stay here! Let's make this our home, Dad!
-I want to stay longer too. There's so much I'm curious about.
-I need to plant trees here for all the sacrificed trees!
To return home, but...
The dragons didn't want to go home. Maybe because they're still young, they seem crazy about the large mart.
"We still have to go. The subway will stop running if we're too late. Let's hurry back."
-Tch.
I put the bag with the dragons on my front and slowly walked toward the distant exit.
Just then, as if someone heard the dragons saying they didn't want to go home...
"Nobody move-!! Move and you die-!!"
Bang bang-!!
Masked men shooting guns into the air appeared. These reckless villains were causing trouble in K-mart. They pointed guns at citizens and shouted.
"We've planted bombs!! Everyone get down if you don't want to die!!"
And...
"Tell those precious heroes. If they want to save the citizens, come to K-mart right now."
I don't know their purpose, but they caused an incident and directly called for heroes.
In this sudden situation, Hwaryeon asked me.
-Dad, what's a bomb?
"It goes boom-"
-So will this building collapse?
"Probably, if it explodes."
-That’s exciting! When will it explode? I have to watch from outside! I'm going to watch!
"..."
This dopamine addict.
While everyone else was terrified, only Hwaryeon was excited. That's so like her. Following their orders, I lay on the floor and thought.
'...I don't know what their purpose is, but.'
One thing's for sure these villains picked the wrong day to attempt terrorism on a day when dragons are here.
They're really unlucky.