Chapter 47
Morning came.
Suryeon rubbed her eyes and got up.
The huge empty space between Hwaryeon and Choryeon was clearly visible.
"...Dad's still not back. I thought he'd return by morning."
Crinkle-
Suryeon frowned and headed to the bathroom. Getting up first and washing up first was Suryeon's routine.
"...I'm the only one up in the morning. It’s nice and quiet."
Suryeon squeezed out toothpaste and started brushing.
Brush brush-
Neatly, up and down, and properly in every corner like she saw in videos.
Munch munch-
Spit-
Suryeon finished brushing cleanly and looked at herself in the mirror.
'That's me alright.'
I am the perfect dragon itself. Suryeon smiled at her reflection, but one bothersome thing caught her eye.
"...What's this. Why are there dark circles under my eyes?"
Being naturally pale, the dark circles were very noticeable. Suryeon didn't like it. Like a black dot on white paper, it wasn’t perfect.
"Why did my face get like this?"
Suryeon started thinking. To identify a problem, you need to find the cause. And there was only one possible cause.
"This happened just because I slept late without Dad?"
Is the human body this weak?
Suryeon's pride was hurt seeing herself change this much in just one day. And she grumbled at the cause.
"...If Dad hadn't gone to take the test, this wouldn't have happened."
What's so great about a test? Is it more important than us? Well, he's not our real dad so maybe that's possible.
"I should wake the others."
Suryeon approached the sleeping Hwaryeon and Choryeon.
Unlike usual, they were lying in uncomfortable positions. Suryeon started shaking them awake.
"Everyone get up and wash. It's morning."
Hwaryeon opened her eyes first at Suryeon's touch. Shaking her messy hair to wake up, Hwaryeon said.
"Dad's not back yet?"
"No, not yet."
"Hmph, I didn't expect him to anyway."
Hwaryeon pouted and headed to the bathroom.
Thump- Thump-
Her footsteps to the bathroom were full of anger. Suryeon watched quietly and thought.
'We're all the same, waiting for Dad.'
Though Suryeon didn't want to admit it, she had to acknowledge that Dad had become an inseparable existence among the dragons.
The difference between having Dad and not was stark.
"...I'm a dragon but… I feel bad. Why should I care about Dad?"
After Hwaryeon finished washing, Suryeon poked the still-sleeping Choryeon with her foot.
"Get up quickly, Lee Choryeon."
"Mmm... is Father back...?"
"I'm not Dad, I'm your sister. Get up quickly."
"Suryeon unnie... Father's not back yet...?"
"No."
"I see..."
Squeak-
Choryeon got up with disappointment and headed to the bathroom, dragging her tired body like Suryeon.
Brush brush-
After everyone finished brushing, the children gathered in the living room and looked at each other. They all had light dark circles under their eyes.
Hwaryeon opened her mouth and clicked her tongue.
"...What, why are you staring at my face?"
"Just thinking we're all the same."
"What's the same?! I'm the boss! I’m different from you!"
Graaah-!
Hwaryeon breathed fire, threatening Suryeon, but Suryeon lightly splashed cold water on Hwaryeon's face.
Splash-
"Ah-! My eyes-!"
Hwaryeon covered her face after getting hit with water. Choryeon blocked them, shouting.
"Don't fight, unnies...! There's no one to stop us with Father gone...!"
"Hmph, then that's good! You're dead, Lee Suryeon!"
Just as Hwaryeon was about to charge at Suryeon with clenched fists.
Knock knock-
A knock came from the front door. Then, the children all turned their heads toward the door.
"Is it Dad?!"
Hwaryeon's face brightened from her about-to-punch expression, but Suryeon judged coldly and said.
"Dad doesn't knock. He just comes in. That's the old lady bringing food."
"Hmph, I knew that...!?"
Gloom-
Hwaryeon pouted. Knowing who was outside, the children immediately prepared their perception interference magic.
"Everyone's ready. Opening the door."
Suryeon took the lead and opened the door.
Creeak-
The old lady was waiting with a food tray. She headed to the table with the tray and immediately frowned.
"What, you kids didn't clean the table yesterday?"
Hwaryeon crossed her arms and proudly declared.
"Why should I clean?!"
"This little one's already got attitude? This is what happens without discipline. Sigh."
The old lady sighed and started cleaning the table.
"Why's there so much rice and side dishes left. Tsk tsk, kids these days don't know food is precious."
Clatter- Clatter-
The old lady kept sighing while putting new side dishes on the table and gathering yesterday's dishes. Suryeon watched and asked lightly.
"Human. What's your name?"
"This tiny thing’s talking funny. Just call me Granny. Everyone around here does."
"How old are you, Granny?"
"Old enough to forget counting. About 80 I guess."
"Then, I'll call you Granny. How do you know Dad?"
Suryeon was curious what relationship this elderly Granny had with Dad.
Granny looked at the curious Suryeon cutely and answered.
"Your dad and I go way back. We met about 10 years ago. When he was a bit older than you."
"Really? What was Dad like then?"
"An arrogant, unpleasant fellow. Looking now, you seem a bit like him."
Crinkle-
Suryeon frowned at being compared to Dad.
"...I'm not like Dad."
"Your personality's just like his. Anyway, to tell you more..."
Granny explained about Lee Ha-jun's past.
In his childhood, Lee Ha-jun lost his parents and wandered the streets. While living through digging through trash, he met Granny.
Feeling sorry for him, Granny helped him make money through Gu Bong-Gu then let him live in this room.
"He didn't pay proper rent when young. He only started paying properly after becoming an adult."
"Granny took care of Dad?"
"You could say that, in his childhood."
"Why? Wouldn't it be better for Granny not to help? Why did you do that?"
Looking at it coldly, Suryeon thought Granny had no reason to help Dad. It seemed far from beneficial no matter how you looked at it. Granny answered as if it was natural.
"You can’t not help when a child's on the street like that."
"...Is that so?"
"This old woman will die soon, but young ones have long lives ahead. I had to help even if I didn't want to."
Suryeon stared at the deeply wrinkled Granny and asked.
"...Why do humans care so much about age? Child, adult, elderly. I don't understand."
"Not understanding that means you're still young, little one."
Tap-
After finishing cleaning the table, Granny looked at Suryeon and said.
"Though seems pointless telling a young one. Be good to Dad while he's here."
"What does that mean?"
"Means be good while he's here, what else?"
Granny said this and headed to the door. And before leaving, she shot sharply at the children.
"And just you try leaving food! You rotten kids! You don't even know how precious food is! I'll tell Lee Ha-jun everything if you leave food! Eat it all!"
Bang-!!
Granny left like a storm after firing those words. The children stared at where she'd been then went to the table. Except for the thoughtful Suryeon, the children picked up their spoons.
"Hmph, who tattles to Dad?! That monster Granny! I really hate her!"
"I don't want to make Father worry..."
Munch munch-
Maybe because Granny's words helped somewhat, unlike dinner, the children ate properly without picking.
And Suryeon, who'd talked with Granny, was lost in thought and couldn't easily pick up her spoon.
"Be good while he's here... Granny said she's 80... Will Dad get wrinkles like that when he ages...?"
According to transmitted knowledge, Dragons have no lifespan limit. If dragons die, it's only from being hunted by dragon slayers, or choosing to end their own lives.
But humans can barely live 100 years compared to dragons' eternal lifespan.
"...So, does that mean Dad will die someday in the future."
Someday, Dad will die.
Suryeon murmured quietly, repeating those words.
"That seems... like I wouldn't like it..."
Early morning.
Suryeon couldn't lift her spoon to eat breakfast.