Chapter 78
The weather is gradually getting colder. It seems autumn is coming after the hot summer has passed.
'Though autumn is hardly different from winter these days.'
South Korea used to be known for its distinct four seasons, but spring and autumn have been erased, leaving only summer and winter. It feels like spring and autumn now last only about a month.
The phrase "four seasons" is gradually becoming a word of nostalgia.
"I never thought cherry blossoms and autumn leaves would become so rare. It's a shame."
Tsk-
It's a pity the dragon kids can't properly experience spring and autumn. They would have surely loved the mild weather of spring and autumn, especially Choryeon, who would have loved it the most.
"She would have gone crazy for it. But maybe it's better they don't experience spring and autumn..."
If Choryeon had properly experienced spring and autumn, she might have gone wild trying to eliminate global warming, known as the cause of this situation.
"We need to plant trees! We need to return Earth to normal! She might have said something like that."
Snicker-
The image of Choryeon going wild automatically plays in my head. I smiled and opened the kindergarten door.
"Gu Bong-gu, I'm here."
Hearing my voice, Gu Bong-gu popped out of the principal's office and said.
"Oh, you're early today."
"Yeah, I got lucky and finished work early. How are the kids?"
"They're napping now. I'll go wake them up."
Gu Bong-gu headed upstairs to wake the kids, so I followed behind him.
"What's this, Ha-jun? Why are you following me?"
"I want to see how the kids sleep."
I wonder how they look sleeping at kindergarten?
It's natural to be curious about my children's kindergarten life. I followed Gu Bong-gu to the room where the children were napping. The children were sleeping on the floor covered with blankets.
"They all sleep well, probably because they're young. My daughters... found them."
The dragon kids were sleeping comfortably gathered in one place. I gently shook them and said quietly.
"Kids, Dad's here. Let's go home."
Whisper, whisper-
Hwaryeon reacted to my voice first and started opening her eyes.
"Mmm... What, it's Dad... Why are you interrupting my dream... I was playing in meat paradise..."
"It's not a dream. I'm the real Dad."
At those words, Hwaryeon rubbed her eyes hard to wake up. She looked at me clearly and opened her eyes wide in surprise.
"What, it is Dad! How did you come at this time?!"
"Work finished early today, so I came early. Let's go home."
"Okay! Great!"
Pitter-patter-
Hwaryeon ran to the classroom with an excited face to pack her bag. I took the opportunity to shake Suryeon and Choryeon to wake them up.
"Suryeon, Choryeon. Wake up. Dad's here."
The dragon kids, who were sleeping curled up, slowly opened their eyes and said.
"What, Dad...?"
"Father... Why are you here at this time...?"
They're still not fully awake. I kneaded their soft cheeks and said.
"Work finished early. I came to pick you up. Hwaryeon went down to get her stuff. You two go down quickly and pack your things too."
"Home is good. I want to go quickly."
"Yes, I'll get ready, Father..."
Stumble, stumble-
They walked out staggering, still not fully awake.
"..."
Except for Choryeon, who paused for a moment. Choryeon suddenly turned back, grabbed a marker pen from the shelf, and walked somewhere. Her destination was a girl with a face full of freckles.
"It's time to pay for the crime of insulting Father...! Prepare yourself...!!"
Choryeon started scribbling on the girl's face with a vicious expression. In an instant, the freckles on the girl's face were covered by the marker.
I was surprised by the delicate touch.
'Did Choryeon have a talent for makeup? She might do well as a beauty YouTuber later.'
Hmm. It seems Choryeon has found a new talent. As expected of my daughter.
I ignored the child covered in scribbles and patted Choryeon's head.
"Choryeon seems to have a talent for art."
"Hehe, thank you for the praise! Father!"
Choryeon was so happy to be praised that she waved the marker pen wildly in the air. Fearing that making more noise might wake the other children, I took Choryeon outside.
Hwaryeon and Suryeon were already waiting for me, wearing their yellow kindergarten hats.
"What are you doing, Dad! Why are you so late!"
"Let's go home, Dad."
They seemed eager to go home quickly. I shouldered all the children's bags and headed out of the kindergarten.
"Hahaha! I came out first! I'm the best!"
"Hwaryeon, you're childish."
"I don't want to agree, but it does seem childish..."
The children stepping out of the kindergarten looked quite happy.
'It does feel good to leave early.'
Seeing the children running around under the high autumn sky, I felt good too.
***
On the way home, there were many yellow autumn leaves fallen on the ground. Choryeon looked at those leaves and spoke regretfully.
"The trees are going bald... They're all crying because they're becoming bald..."
It seems trees value their "hair" too.
Suryeon interrupted Choryeon's sentimental words.
"Trees don't cry. Lee Choryeon, don't try to get Dad's attention with lies."
"It's not a lie! Trees are really crying! You don't know anything! Don't pretend to know!"
Growl-!
Suryeon and Choryeon glared at each other. If left alone, it seemed they might fight again, so I tried to quickly intervene. But there was no need.
"Sniff, sniff, what's this smell! Dad! There's a delicious smell coming from over there!"
"You're right, there's a savory smell."
The children stopped fighting because of the smell wafting from the distance. It was a savory smell we hadn't smelled in a long time. Hwaryeon, perhaps drawn by that smell, started running towards its source.
"Delicious smell! I'm going to eat it!"
Pitter-patter-!
Hwaryeon dashed off to chase the smell.
I sighed, took Suryeon and Choryeon's hands and followed.
"Geez, that glutton. Kids, let's follow quickly."
"I don't want to run..."
"Me neither..."
Is it because they're dragons? They ran sluggishly, complaining it was bothersome.
Soon we caught up with Hwaryeon, who had reached the source of the smell. Hwaryeon was savoring the smell coming from a burning drum.
"Mmm, delicious smell! Dad! What food is this!?"
"Roasted sweet potatoes. They're often sold in autumn. Someone's already selling them."
To think someone would sell roasted sweet potatoes in this area. I spoke to the owner of the roasted sweet potato machine, who had his back turned.
"Are you selling roasted sweet potatoes?"
The sweet potato vendor turned around and said.
"Of course I'm sell- Oh, isn't it Big Bro!"
"...Weakling?"
"It's been a while, Big Bro! I'll greet you properly!!"
Bow-
Weakling bowed 90 degrees in greeting. His greeting skills are still world-class. I asked Weakling, curious.
"Why are you suddenly selling roasted sweet potatoes?"
"Big Bro, autumn means roasted sweet potatoes, right? Gotta make money at this time!"
"You live quite diligently, unlike your appearance."
"Hehe, thank you for the compliment, Big Bro!"
He's so polite. Choryeon, standing next to me, asked about Weakling's tattoos.
"Father, did that person scribble on his body too?"
"Scribble... well, yes. But those are called tattoos."
"I see, they look kind of cool! Should I get one too, Father?"
Choryeon getting a tattoo? I looked at Choryeon with a serious face and said.
"You absolutely must not, Choryeon. If you get a tattoo later, I'll sell you from the family register."
"Sell from the family register...? What does that mean!"
"It means I won't recognize you as my child."
"...!!"
Surprised by those words, Choryeon desperately grabbed my arm and said.
"I-I absolutely won't do it...! Tattoos...! I absolutely won't do it...!!"
"Okay, I understand. You absolutely won't do it, right? Got it?"
"Yes!!"
Good. Please grow up to be a Confucian dragon.
I patted Choryeon's head, finding her admirable. Then, looking at Hwaryeon who was drooling at the sweet potato smell, I said.
"Hwaryeon, do you want to eat this?"
"Yeah, I want to eat it! I'll eat this! Give me!"
Stretch-
Hwaryeon boldly reached out towards Weakling. The sly-looking Weakling smiled, took out a roasted sweet potato from the machine, put it in a paper bag, and handed it over.
Hwaryeon received the sweet potato bag, jumped up and shouted.
"Yay! This is all mine! I'm going to eat it all!"
"If you eat it all, you'll get terrible gas, Hwaryeon."
"D-Dragons don't fart! Don't say weird things, Dad!"
Is farting embarrassing? Hwaryeon's face turned red.
I took out my smartphone to pay for the sweet potatoes. But Weakling waved his hands and said.
"Big Bro, you don’t have pay for it! I don't need it!"
"Still, we should pay for what we eat. Quickly, tell me your account number."
"No, Big Bro! You're raising three kids in these times! I should give it for free! I won't take money!"
This guy, Weakling. He's become an impenetrable shield. Since there's no spear that can pierce everything, I had no choice but to back down.
"Okay, thank you. We'll enjoy it with the kids. Good luck with your business. Hang in there."
"Yes, Big Bro! Take care!"
Bow-
Weakling bowed deeply as we left. As we were leaving, I took out the sweet potatoes and distributed them to the children.
"It's hot, so eat slowly, everyone."
"Hmph, it's not hot at all for me!"
Hwaryeon confidently held the sweet potato and started peeling it. On the other hand, Suryeon and Choryeon blew on their sweet potatoes to cool them down.
I helped Suryeon and Choryeon, who were having trouble eating, by peeling their sweet potatoes.
"There, is that better?"
"I could do it myself."
"Hehe, thank you, Father!"
Hwaryeon puffed her cheeks seeing this, but she started focusing on her sweet potato again.
"I'll eat first! Raaah!"
Hwaryeon opened her mouth wide and took a big bite of the sweet potato.
Chomp-
And then she suddenly started panting like a dog.
"Ha, haaah...! H-Hot...!"
"I told you to eat slowly."
Sweet potatoes can be very hot, even for Hwaryeon. Suryeon couldn't hold back her laughter and chimed in.
"Pfft, what's that? Hwaryeon. That’s not very dragon-like. You look like a comedian on TV."
"D-Don't laugh! Haaah...! Damn..."
Choryeon also burst into laughter seeing this.
"Hehe, Hwaryeon looks just like a dog!"
"Shut up! Sniff...! You're dead when we get home...!!"
Hwaryeon jumped up and down, defeated by the heat of the sweet potato. To think they could have so much fun with just one sweet potato.
I applauded, amazed at Hwaryeon's talent.
"Hwaryeon seems to have a talent for comedy."
"D-Dad, you shut up too...!!!"
We walked down the street, laughing heartily.
Though autumn was short, we enjoyed it and made a fun memory, a happy childhood memory that remains deep in the heart even as we age.