Chapter 50: The Scent of Watermelon

After passing the C-rank test, I got a week's paid leave from the Association.

I decided to enjoy healing time playing with the children. But before enjoying that healing life…

"Kids."

"What, Dad."

"Those who don't work shouldn't eat. Time to work."

Harvest time had come. I led the children to the rooftop.

Hwaryeon and Suryeon showed their annoyance while climbing the stairs.

"I don't eat vegetables! Why should I harvest vegetables?!"

"Agree. Think we should just make Choryeon do it. Too bothersome for us."

These ones already trying to dump work on their younger sister. I firmly told them as they grumbled about farming in the hot sun.

"You can eat meat because Choryeon harvests vegetables directly. If we don't grow vegetables, your meat portions will decrease too."

Hearing that, Hwaryeon and Suryeon seemed to change their minds.

"If that's the reason, I accept!"

"You should've said so earlier."

Though still grumbling, they seemed to understand Choryeon's sacrifice. Choryeon gave me a thumbs up in thanks for my action.

"Dad's the best!"

It feels like getting vitamins without needing photosynthesis. So, I went up to the rooftop with the children.

Maybe because we gave dragon water daily, the crops had grown abundantly before we knew it.

"It makes my mouth water."

Slurp-

I wonder how much that's all worth. I wiped my drool and gestured, saying.

"Let's go kids. Work hard!"

"Whatever!"

"..."

"Yes!"

The children charged toward the grown crops. Green onions, carrots, peppers, lettuce, cherry tomatoes. Various crops started filling black bags.

"Everyone's working well. You could be farmers later."

"What are you doing there, Father?! Work quickly! Does Father not want to eat too!"

Such a sharp one. I had no choice but to help harvest.

"Phew, Dad's old and tired. My back's killing me."

"Dad just said you were young before. You're exaggerating."

"Oh, my back. Dad's dying."

Heave ho-

I held my not-actually-hurting back while earnestly harvesting crops into bags. We worked hard under the hot sun. And after about an hour harvesting all the garden's crops…

"We’re finally finished."

"Yay! Done!"

"Let's go home now..."

"So many vegetables! So happy!"

Waaah-!

We cheered, celebrating the finished harvest. I held the harvested vegetables in both hands and headed to the stairs.

"Dad's hands are full so each of you carefully carry one down."

Grip-

The children hugged black bags and headed to the stairs.

Step step-

We carefully carried the freshly harvested vegetables down home. Today, we had a bountiful vegetable harvest too.

'Such precious ones.'

I should give them an airplane, belly raspberry, and cheek combo when we get back. I thought this while opening the door.

Creeak-

When the door opened the children immediately went inside…

"Yay, home!"

"What do we do after going out everyone?"

"Wash hands!"

"Everyone wash hands in order."

"I know without you telling me!"

Pitter-patter-!

The children headed to the bathroom to wash hands in order. While they washed hands, I started organizing the vegetables.

"Hmm, they’re good quality this time too? I’ll put ones for eating here, and the ones I’m selling there."

That should do for organizing. Since we’re tired, we should rest. I thought this and tried to lie down in the living room. However, I heard someone knocking at the door.

Knock knock-

"...Who is it at this time?"

It’s not yet time to repay Gu Bong-Gu's money.

It might be dangerous people, so I carefully put my eye to the small hole in the door.

'...Oh, it's Granny.'

Why's she coming at this time? I opened the door and asked Granny.

"What brings you here at this time, Granny?"

"I heard sounds going up to the roof. Have you finished harvesting?"

"All done. I set aside yours too."

"Hmm, I see. Well done."

I wonder why Granny's praising me. I think it's almost my first time getting praise.

'Could she be changing because she's about to die?!'

But maybe not, because Granny immediately snapped at me.

"You rotten fellow! You should've told me first if you had kids! I could've lowered your rent!"

"W-why are you suddenly scolding me, Granny? The atmosphere was nice."

"Because you act so frustrating! Sigh, raising three children must be so hard. Tsk."

Granny clicked her tongue and picked up something from the ground, holding it out to me.

"What are you waiting for?! My back's breaking!"

"What's this, watermelon? Where'd you get it?"

"Stop talking nonsense and quickly take it to feed the kids!"

Since Granny's back seemed about to break, I quickly took the watermelon.

Oof-

It’s heavier than expected. I put the watermelon on the table and looked toward the bathroom.

"What is it Dad, who's outside?"

"How long do we have to stay here?"

"Can we come out now, Father?"

Peek-

The ones with horns and tails were looking at me. I gestured 'stay inside' and turned to Granny.

"That looks delicious. Thanks, Granny. We'll enjoy it."

"Good, eat well. Don't eat much yourself, and feed the kids lots. And don't be late on this month's rent."

Granny said this and turned to leave.

After the storm passed, I happily closed the door.

Bang-!

"The watermelon looks delicious."

I wonder how long it's been since we had watermelon. I gestured for the children hiding in the bathroom to come out. Only then did they burst out and rush toward the watermelon.

"Dad! What's this? It sounds nice when hit!?"

Thump thump-

Hwaryeon curiously kept knocking on the watermelon. As the force grew stronger, I grabbed her arm to stop her.

"It's watermelon. Stop hitting it Hwaryeon, don't."

"Why are you stopping me?! What did I do?!"

"It'll break. Stop now."

"Why do you always say don't!? I don't like it! Hmph!"

Hwaryeon thrust her lips forward dramatically, strongly appealing 'I'm sulking'.

I spoke gently to her.

"I'll cut it for you soon. It's delicious."

"Then I like it!"

"Phew."

Fortunately, it seems her mood improved.

I brought a knife from the kitchen and placed it on the watermelon's center, then pressed down to cut it in half.

Slice-!

Suryeon and Choryeon clapped together.

"Not bad. It looks juicy so it should be tasty."

"That's right! There’s lots of seeds so it looks like good fruit!"

Though their perspectives differ, they seemed to like it. But one thing bothered me.

"By the way Choryeon."

"Yes?"

"You said you hear what plants say right?"

"Yes!"

"Did the watermelon say anything just now when it was cut in half...?"

The watermelon cruelly split in two, and the red juice flowed deliciously. I was worried that Choryeon might protest after seeing this but, unlike my expectations, Choryeon showed no reaction.

"Trees aren’t good, but watermelons are okay?"

"Hmm, about that!"

Choryeon smiled brightly and told me.

"Plants I eat become spirits! Rather, plants look forward to being eaten by me!"

"Ah."

"After being eaten by me and becoming spirits, they come back to world and spread seeds!"

"There was such a secret."

"Yes!"

I thought she was dealing with a huge contradiction but, it seems that plants are happy to be eaten by Choryeon.

Though no one knows the truth, since Choryeon says so, decided to think that way. Anyway it's a virtuous cycle.

"I should cut more watermelon."

Slice-!

For the children to eat easily, I cut, and cut, and cut the halved watermelon. Finally, countless triangular watermelon pieces were ready.

I put them on a plate and set it in the living room center.

"Dad will demonstrate first. See, eat it like this. Leave the rind, just this red part. You can eat the seeds."

Crunch-

I showed the children how to eat watermelon, and Hwaryeon immediately started eating.

"Sweet! This is delicious!"

Munch munch-!

Hwaryeon inhaled the watermelon, seemingly liking it. But maybe because she didn't like the seeds…

"These are annoying to eat!"

Ratatatat-!

She shot seeds like a machine gun right at Suryeon's face.

"...You want to go, unnie?"

"T-this wasn't on purpose! An accident!"

"...You think I can't do it?"

Munch munch-

Suryeon held watermelon in her mouth for revenge and seeming to quickly get the hang of it, she sprayed the seed machine gun at Hwaryeon.

Ratatatat-!

"Aaah! You really want to fight?! Fine! I never refuse a challenge!"

Hwaryeon and Suryeon started a seed machine gun war jumping around the studio.

"Dragon breath!"

Ratatatat-!

"I can do that too. Don't act special."

Ratatatat-!

They fought like children, getting seeds on each other's faces. Meanwhile, Choryeon and I sat quietly, watching and talking.

"They're playing fun. Right, Choryeon?"

"Yes, my unnies always seem to have fun! It's fun to watch!"

Certainly. It seems like it would never be boring being with them every day.

"The watermelon's tasty."

"It is, Father!"

Though it's summer and hot, today felt especially refreshing.

Crunch-!