Chapter 38: The Dragons' Playground

Among dragons, Choryeon is the only one with someone she could call a friend.

Forest spirits. Choryeon's friends are ones that ordinary humans can never see.

With Lee Hajun away on a call, Choryeon had gathered these friends together.

"Did everyone finish spreading trees in the outside world? Let's hear your reports today! Everyone line up!"

Short height, short body, and human-shaped beings the size of a finger, the forest spirits covered in green leaves hurriedly lined up.

Satisfied with this, Choryeon asked for their reports.

"Total reporting personnel: 10! What happened outside today?"

"Beep-! Beep beep-! Beep beep beep-!"

Whisper whisper-

The spirit whispered in the lying Choryeon's ear.

Hearing the report, Choryeon nodded with satisfaction.

"I'm so glad the trees are starting to grow! I can feel the air getting better when I go up to the rooftop! Well done!"

Choryeon smiled and stroked the spirit's head with her finger.

"Beep beep-"

The spirit smiled contentedly, enjoying the reward.

After giving some praise, Choryeon called out sharply.

"Next!"

"

Beep-!"

The next forest spirit stepped forward confidently and similarly whispered its report in Choryeon's ear.

"Beep-! Beep beep beep-!"

"Hmm, I understand."

Choryeon nodded and listened carefully to the spirit's words.

It was meaningful information from her perspective.

"So the air gets worse as you go from our neighborhood toward the center."

"Beep-!"

"Most of the bad air might be coming from there. Let's all work hard together to purify the air, friends!"

"Beep-!"

The spirits responded enthusiastically to Choryeon. Suryeon, focused on watching TV, seemed slightly annoyed. She spoke to Choryeon.

"Choryeon."

"Yes?"

"Play quietly. It's noisy."

"I'm not being noisy at all, unnie! unnie Hwaryeon jumping around over there is much noisier!"

Choryeon pointed at Hwaryeon.

"Swoosh swoosh-! This isn't wind! It's my fist!"

Hwaryeon was shouting while throwing punches in the air. She was practicing martial arts, copying moves she saw on TV.

"...You know she won't listen even if we tell her."

"That's true..."

"This is an important scene, so play quietly. Understand?"

"Yes, unnie..."

Although disappointed, Choryeon had no choice but to lower her voice.

"Well then, shall we continue...?"

"Beep..."

The spirits also lost energy along with her. Still, their situation reports continued.

"Beep, beep... beep..."

"Hmm, is that so. You say there are children our size at a place called playground."

"Beep..."

"A playground where children can play... that does sound interesting... Can trees grow there too?"

"Beep."

"Oh, they can't? That's too bad."

Still, Choryeon became interested in this place called a playground, a place where young children can play and have fun.

"Should I ask Father?"

Thinking this, Choryeon began waiting for Dad to return, to actually visit the playground rather than just hear about it.

***

As soon as I returned home, Choryeon ran to me, shouting.

"Father, welcome back! Can I go outside?"

"No."

"Hiing."

When I immediately refused, Choryeon's face fell. Maybe I refused too quickly.

"What's your reason, Choryeon?"

"My friend told me that there's a place called playground outside! I want to go there!"

"Your friends are quite well-informed."

"Of course!"

Choryeon brightened up when I praised her friends. However, going outside is still not possible. There are valid reasons for this.

First reason:

"Outside is dangerous. There are too many people targeting you."

"Is it dangerous because we're dragons?"

"No, it's dangerous because you're still young. It's fine if you go with me."

Second reason:

"You're too noticeable. Those horns and tails need to be hidden."

"Really..."

"Or you need to shrink into lizard form to go out."

"That's too uncomfortable..."

"Then hiding the horns and tail is the only way."

"Hmm..."

Choryeon fell into deep thought hearing my words. She must be curious about the outside too, especially wanting to go out in human form rather than the restricted lizard form.

"I'm curious about the outside my friends talk about... I want to see what they saw..."

"No. At least until you can hide your horns and tail."

Though Choryeon asked dejectedly, we need to be serious about this. It's a matter of the children's safety. Still, can't help feeling sorry for them.

"Isn't there some way? You're dragons after all. Smart Suryeon, do you know anything?"

When I asked, Suryeon, who had been pretending not to be interested, answered.

"I know. We can hide the horns and ears."

"What, you knew?"

"Yes, but strong humans might detect it. It's just perception interference magic."

Suryeon explained about perception interference magic. From what I understood, the horns and tail still exist but others can't see them. Simply put, it's partial invisibility magic.

"The duration is 30 minutes. After that, others can see."

"It’s good magic except for the short duration."

"It'll last longer when I master it. I was going to show you after perfecting it. Too bad."

As expected of the brain, Suryeon was even modest. I asked her one curious point:.

"Can you use it on me too?"

"...Of course. But why would Dad need it?"

"Just natural human curiosity?"

"...Something feels wrong. I won't do it for Dad."

"Tch."

That's too bad. Anyway, I learned there's magic to hide horns and tail. I asked Choryeon who desperately wanted to go out.

"Seems you can hide them. What do you want to do, Choryeon?"

Choryeon raised her hand and shouted:

"I, I want to go!"

"Okay, let's go to the playground."

Then, Hwaryeon and Suryeon also prepared to go out.

"I want to go too! I'm going!"

"...I'm curious about outside too. I want to go."

"Alright, let's all go together."

Going together is better. So, I headed to the playground with the dragons who had hidden their horns and tails.

It was the dragons' playground debut.

***

A playground has many pieces of equipment for children to enjoy according to their preferences. Extroverted children like powerful equipment like slides and spinners, while introverted children prefer static equipment like seesaws and swings.

'What did I play with? I think I rode the swing. The memory's a bit fuzzy.'

I wonder what these ones will play with.

I arrived at the playground with these thoughts and the dragons. Seeing the equipment, they made surprised expressions and said.

"Dad! What's that! It's so high up!"

"Designed intentionally to provide thrills. Is speed the essence? I should try it."

"Wow, so this is the playground my friends talked about!"

They each showed contrasting reactions, and they were all excited looking at the playground like dogs seeing treats in front of them.

I told them.

"Play carefully, and don't go where I can't see you."

"That's up to me!"

"Okay."

"Yes!"

Pitter-patter-

They ran to the equipment, stepping on the sandbox.

Hwaryeon was first to climb to the highest slide.

"It's a bit high!"

Hwaryeon hesitated slightly before the spiral slide.

I called up to her from below.

"You don't stand to ride it, you sit!"

"Like this?"

"Yeah, then use your hands to move your body down the slope."

"Hmph, you didn't need to tell me! I already knew!"

Though, she understood after I told her. Hwaryeon followed my instructions for her first slide ride.

"Waaah-!!"

That must be quite fun. She came down giggling. Then, she said with an undisguisable smile:

"This is fun! Humans are pretty good! They can make things like this!"

She'll probably enjoy amusement parks the most. Dopamine-soaked Hwaryeon ran back up the slide and kept repeating going up and down.

"She's enjoying herself. Wonder what Suryeon's doing."

There’s no need to look for Suryeon, she was clearly visible. She seemed to understand the swing's principle without me explaining. Moving her feet back and forth, she was swinging with an expressionless face.

"She's having fun by herself."

I approached and asked her:

"Suryeon, how's the playground?"

"It seems well-designed."

"Not that. How do you feel?"

"Good. Refreshing. The breeze is nice. Especially this swing is well-made. More thrilling than expected."

Whoosh-

Suryeon closed her eyes while swinging, enjoying the wind at speed.

I put my hand on her back and asked.

"Do you want Dad to push you?"

"No, I'm fine. This is enough."

I guess she prefers enjoying the gentle breeze over thrills. I told her to call me if she wanted to stop, and started looking for Choryeon.

"Choryeon, where are you?"

"Father, I'm here!"

I turned toward the voice.

There was Choryeon, waving at me while sitting on the seesaw. Why is she trying to ride the seesaw alone here? I was about to sit on the opposite end.

"No, Father! My friends are sitting there!"

"Friends?"

I can't see anything. Seeing my confused expression, Choryeon added.

"My spirit friends!"

"Ah, right."

Not imaginary friends, but real ones.

"They wanted to play with me, but they're too light to play together."

"Is that so?"

"Yes!"

"Then should Dad play instead?"

"I'd like that!"

After Choryeon's friends moved aside, I sat on the opposite end of the seesaw. To adjust the weight, I sat near but not at the very end, half-standing. Weight control was essential when riding with children.

"Now the weight matches. Shall we try?"

"Yes!"

I lowered my hips to put weight on my side.

Thump-

"Kyaa-!"

Choryeon rose high in the air. When I immediately released the force, the weight shifted to Choryeon's side.

Thump-

I watched Choryeon while almost standing. Her face showed she was expecting to go up again.

"No wonder you like airplanes, Choryeon."

"Hehe."

"Up you go, Choryeon!"

Thump- Thump- Thump-

I repeatedly went up and down. Choryeon's exclamations grew louder each time.

"Wow, more please! Father!"

Giggle-

Choryeon seemed to enjoy the seesaw. Maybe because her voice was too loud, Hwaryeon and Suryeon also came to the seesaw.

I said to the pouting ones.

"Want to ride too? All go to the other side!"

"Hmph, that's not it!"

"...I just came because I was curious. Don't misunderstand, Dad."

Despite saying that, they sat on the opposite side from me. Then the weight became perfect without me having to stand.

"This is the best. Here we go!"

Thump- Thump- Thump-

Without discomfort, we enjoyed going up and down on the seesaw.

I never thought I'd find such playground equipment fun as an adult. But playing with them, somehow I was enjoying the seesaw like a child too.

Though I’m not sure if I became childlike playing with them, or if the playground was making me feel like a child.

"Going big this time!"

"Wow, bigger!"

"..."

"I like it too!"

The empty playground was filled with children's cheers.