Chapter 75: Dragons Go to Kindergarten (1)

The children's reactions to kindergarten varied.

"Hmph, I don't want to listen to humans weaker than me!"

The eldest sister. Lee Hwaryeon shouted that she didn't want to go to kindergarten. Her reason was that she didn't want to listen to humans weaker than her.

'She says that, but she'll probably have fun once I drag her there.'

Hwaryeon has a habit of refusing everything except food.

At first, she stubbornly says she doesn't want to do something, but once she starts, she enjoys it the most. I handed Hwaryeon a red backpack and said.

"Here, Hwaryeon. It's a gift. Wear it on your back when you go to kindergarten."

"Red! I do like it! But I said I'm not going to kindergarten! Take this away!"

Hwaryeon was about to throw the red bag. I quickly said before she could throw it.

"There's a Masked Ranger pencil case inside too."

"Hmph, you think I'd like something so childish? I'll just check if it's really there! I'll think about whether to go to kindergarten or not!"

Hwaryeon didn't throw the bag and immediately checked its contents. She must have seen the Masked Ranger pencil case because she took it out of the bag with a pleased smile.

"Yay! It's really Masked Ranger!"

Hwaryeon waved the Masked Ranger pencil case around and then cradled it preciously like a jewel. She seems to like it a lot.

'Persuasion successful.'

Hwaryeon is done. I looked at Choryeon, the next target for persuasion, and said.

"Choryeon, come here."

"Yes!"

Pitter-patter-

Choryeon immediately ran towards me.

'Choryeon was closer to being in favor of kindergarten.'

I probably don't need to persuade her. I handed over a green backpack. Choryeon immediately put on the bag and twirled around like a magical girl.

"How is it, Father! Does it suit me?"

"It suits you. You look just like a kindergartener, which is good."

"Really?! I'm glad! Hehe!"

Overall, she gives off a frog-like impression. Just the feeling of a kindergartener.

After finishing giving Choryeon her backpack, I looked at Suryeon sitting quietly in the corner far away.

"Lee Suryeon."

"..."

"Come here."

"..."

Glance-

Suryeon just sat in the corner, glancing at me sideways. She didn't seem to have any intention of coming to me.

I had no choice but to use a parent's authority.

"If you don't come, Dad will go there. Suryeon."

"..."

"I'll count to three. One... Two... Th-"

Just as I was about to say three,

"...I'll come if I have to."

Stand-

Suryeon got up and slowly walked over on her own. I looked down at Suryeon, who was glaring at me, and said.

"You still don't want to go to kindergarten?"

"...Yeah, I don't want to go."

"I bought a blue backpack too. You don't need it?"

"..."

Suryeon stared at the backpack and answered regretfully.

"...I don't need it. That's something I don't need."

"Why?"

"If I just stay at home, I won't need to go out. So I don't need a bag."

"Oh..."

Is she a genius? As expected, her mind works amazingly well.

Suryeon continued to explain why she didn't need kindergarten.

"I'm a dragon. I don't need to learn anything from humans. It's more efficient to learn the information I want through the internet."

"No, Suryeon. There's something you need to learn from humans."

"...What's that?"

"Social skills."

Blue Dragon Lee Suryeon needs to learn how to get along with other humans. If this continues, she'll really become a chuunibyou hikikomori dragon.

I can't let my daughter grow up like that.

I firmly said to Suryeon, who was frowning in displeasure.

"Lee Suryeon."

"What, Dad."

"You're definitely going to kindergarten tomorrow. Hurry up and take your backpack."

"...No."

Pitter-patter-!

Suryeon didn't take the bag and ran away to the bathroom.

"This kid, really! Hey, come out quickly! Lee Suryeon!"

"No, if I come out you'll take me to kindergarten. I'm never coming out."

Bang, bang-!

I shouted for her to come out and knocked on the door, but Suryeon absolutely refused to come out of the bathroom.

'How much does she hate going to kindergarten?'

To think my daughter would refuse to go to kindergarten.

How should I get Suryeon to go to kindergarten?

My head felt very dizzy from the complexity of the situation.

***

The first morning of kindergarten. I had to busily prepare to send the children to kindergarten.

"Everyone change your clothes! Pack your bags! Hats! Put on your yellow hats too!"

"I don't like the yellow hat! Give me a red hat!"

"Who gives a kindergartener a red hat! Put on your hat quickly!"

"Hmph, it's annoying!"

Hwaryeon put the yellow round hat on her head. Only then did she look like a proper kindergartener.

"If you've all put on your hats, eat breakfast. And where's Choryeon again?"

"Her? She was in the bathroom just now."

"She's still in the bathroom?!"

How long is she going to wash?

'I need to leave for work soon because I have a call.'

I quickly ran to the bathroom to check on Choryeon's status.

"Hmm... Yawn..."

"How can you brush your teeth while dozing off! Wake up a bit, I'll do it for you."

This is making me dizzy. I moved the toothbrush for Choryeon, who was dozing off.

"Yawn... Sorry, Father..."

"Open wide."

"Aah..."

I brought a cup of water and poured it into Choryeon's mouth.

Gurgle, gurgle-

Choryeon rinsed her mouth and spat into the water cup.

"Bleh..."

"Now quickly go and get dressed. Don't doze off!"

"Yes..."

Choryeon staggered out of the bathroom. I left the bathroom and searched for my next target.

"Hwaryeon is eating... Hey, Lee Hwaryeon! Don't eat all the sausages! And Lee Suryeon... Where is she hiding now...?"

The house is small anyway, so she'll be found soon. Hiding is pointless; it's all the same.

'...Found her.'

So this is where she was hiding.

I found Suryeon shortly after. Suryeon was curled up like a cat under the dining table.

"Suryeon."

"..."

"What are you doing? You've already been found out."

"...Ahem."

Suryeon blushed as if embarrassed and uncurled herself. Then, looking at me as if nothing had happened, she said.

"What is it, Dad? What's the matter?"

"Of course there's a matter. What are you doing, Suryeon? You need to quickly get ready for kindergarten."

Getting ready for kindergarten. At those words, Suryeon frowned and shouted.

"N-No...! I said I don't want to...! I said I'm not going to kindergarten...!"

"Suryeon, Dad told you too. Kindergarten is a place you have to go even if you don't want to."

"I hate the outside...! I don't want to leave home...! I'm staying home...!"

"If you refuse this strongly, Dad has no choice but to be strong too, Suryeon."

There's no helping it. I lifted Suryeon, who was still in her pajamas.

"L-Let go, Dad...!"

"If you won't get ready, I'll make you ready."

First to the bathroom. I stood Suryeon in front of the mirror and forcibly brushed her teeth, then splashed water on her face to wash it.

"This is water torture...!"

"Dad is being tortured by you too. Let's go to kindergarten quietly, Suryeon."

Next, I changed Suryeon's clothes, put on her backpack, and placed the hat on her head. Then, I sat her at the table and fed her rice wrapped in seaweed.

"Food torture too...! I trusted you, Dad...! You're just like other humans...!!"

"Be quiet and eat, Suryeon. It's delicious, isn't it?"

"...It is delicious."

Munch, munch-

Suryeon ate the rice deliciously when I added kimchi. Occasionally eating sausages too.

I fed them a balanced, simple meal to ensure the children could fill their stomachs well.

"Now that you've finished eating, let's go quickly. It's almost 9 o'clock."

I was about to put on shoes with the children and leave through the front door.

"Yay! It's kindergarten!"

"Kindergarten! It sounds fun!"

Hwaryeon and Choryeon energetically left through the front door. However, Suryeon was still hesitating and couldn't leave the doorway.

I reached out my hand to Suryeon and spoke gently.

"Come on, hold Dad's hand. Let's go quickly, Suryeon."

"..."

"Once you're there, you'll find it fun too. You're curious about the human world, right? They'll teach you more accurately than the internet there."

"...Alright. I'll go if I have to."

Stretch-

Suryeon reached out her small hand towards me. I held Suryeon's hand and set off to kindergarten with the kids.

'...To think the day would come when I'd send my daughters to kindergarten.'

Holding my children's hands and going to kindergarten.

It gave me an indescribable, strange feeling.

'I hope they all adapt well to kindergarten. Especially Suryeon.'

Suryeon held my hand and kept looking around, turning her head. Going to kindergarten every day, that behavior should improve soon.

As I was walking to kindergarten holding Suryeon's hand,

Grab-

Choryeon took my empty hand and said.

"I want to hold Father's hand too!"

"Alright, let's all go together. That's better."

Holding Suryeon and Choryeon's hands. Controlling Hwaryeon, who was running around recklessly, with my voice.

Although it was a busier morning than usual, I felt we were all gradually moving forward.

***

"People I know will come to pick them up around 4 o'clock. They look suspicious, but they know what my daughters look like, so don't worry."

"Alright, go earn money quickly. The teacher and I will teach the kids well."

After leaving the children at Gu Bong-gu's Happy Kindergarten, I looked at the kindergarten building with a slightly uneasy heart.

'...They'll be fine without me, right?'

I'm suddenly worried. Should I take them back home now?

'Even if I did, the kids wouldn't grow at all. Be strong, Ha-jun. Kindergarten is the right choice.'

Let's not get weak-hearted for no reason.

I shook my head and was about to walk to the location I was called to. Just then, I saw my daughters reflected in the second-floor window of the kindergarten.

They waved at me and shouted loudly.

"Dad, take care! I'll conquer everything here!"

"Have a good day, Father...! Come back early...! I want to see you soon...!"

Sniff-

The children enthusiastically seeing me off from kindergarten.

I smiled at them and waved lightly. Then, I shouted to Suryeon, who was looking at me with resentful eyes.

"I'll come pick you up soon! Have fun there, Suryeon! I believe you'll do well! Fighting!"

"..."

Suryeon turned away from me without a word. It seems she was thoroughly upset with me.

'I hope they'll do well...'

It would be nice if dragons could become friends with humans.

Hoping that my daughters would make friends, I left for work again today.

'...Still, I feel a bit relieved that the kids are at kindergarten instead of home.'

There are adults nearby who can take responsibility for them.

I was able to ease my worries a bit.