Chapter 85
The dragons learned about the human world as they attended kindergarten. They learned about table manners, how to cross the street, and what heroes do.
"So Dad's been doing the same job as the Masked Rangers!"
Hwaryeon developed a bit of respect for her dad.
As the kindergarten teacher was explaining the human world in a gentle tone, a topic that caught the children's interest came up.
"When men and women grow up, they get married. That's how you were born between your dad and mom. In the old days, they used to get married in fancy wedding halls like this."
Click-
The projector screen on the blackboard.
On the screen, a woman in a white wedding dress and a man in a black suit were walking hand in hand. People were sitting beside them, applauding and congratulating. And at the end, they shared a kiss of love in front of everyone.
Hwaryeon clapped her hands watching the screen and said.
"That's cool! So cool!"
Hwaryeon liked the atmosphere of people blessing just the two of them. Suryeon also watched and muttered her analysis.
"Men and women must get married. That's how they become dads. But Dad became a dad without getting married. Is marriage essentially a place to celebrate the couple?"
Mutter, mutter-
Suryeon analyzed marriage in her own way. On the other hand, Choryeon couldn't take her eyes off the screen, watching the wedding scene with sparkling eyes.
"It's so beautiful! A white woman and a black man! Like a prince protecting a princess! I want to do it too!"
Flash-!
Choryeon raised her hand and stood up.
"Teacher! How do you get married?!"
The kindergarten teacher smiled kindly at Choryeon's innocent question and answered.
"Well, when a woman and a man love each other, they have a wedding ceremony. They can do it after dating for a long time, or even after a short time if their hearts match."
"Long-term dating...! Short-term hearts...! I must take notes!"
Choryeon took notes in her notebook with an apologetic heart. Then, she raised her hand again and stood up.
"Teacher! Please tell me in more detail how to get married!"
"Hehe, it seems Choryeon is curious about marriage. Then teacher will explain in detail."
"Yes!"
Choryeon listened carefully to the kindergarten teacher's explanation. The kindergarten teacher was just treating Choryeon as cute, not knowing how serious Choryeon was about this marriage.
'Marriage! I wish I could have such a beautiful wedding with Father!'
Choryeon listened to the explanation about marriage more intently than ever before.
"What's up with Choryeon? Why is she like that?"
"...Hmm?"
Hwaryeon and Suryeon just looked at Choryeon strangely.
***
After finishing work, I stopped by the kindergarten and came home with the dragon kids. After showering at home and coming out, for some reason Choryeon was waiting for me.
"Father, are you done showering!?"
"Oh, yeah. I'm done. Choryeon, are you going to shower too?"
"No, I'm fine! More importantly, Father!"
"Yeah?"
Choryeon grabbed my hand and said to me.
"Marry me!"
"...?"
What is she suddenly saying? This is embarrassing.
I asked while drying my hair with a towel.
"Suddenly talking about marriage, Choryeon. Did you hear something strange at kindergarten today?"
"No! I'm always serious! I want to marry Father!"
"Dad's an expensive person, so he doesn't marry just anyone."
I threw the wet towel in the laundry basket and sat in the living room. Then, Choryeon followed me, pitter-pattering, and shouted at me once more.
"Marry me, Father!"
"First, sit down, Choryeon."
"Yes!"
Plop-
Choryeon immediately knelt down and sat in front of me. I made eye contact with Choryeon and asked simply.
"Choryeon."
"Yes!"
"I don't know what you're thinking, but do you know what marriage is?"
"Of course! I know very well!"
Choryeon nodded her head up and down quickly and said.
"Marriage is something that a woman and man who love each other do! The two people who get married become a couple and live happily!"
"You know well."
"Yes, of course! I'm preparing for marriage!"
Puff-
Choryeon had a confident expression, but reality is often colder than ideals. I had to tell Choryeon, who was expecting marriage, the truth.
"Choryeon. Marriage is good, but."
"Yes!"
"Marriage is between a man and a woman, you see."
"Yes!!"
"A dad and his child can't get married."
"...What?!!"
Jump-!
Choryeon was shocked by my statement and opened her eyes wide. It seems she didn't know this fact at all.
"How can a dad and child get married? We can't become a couple, Choryeon."
"B-But! We love each other, Father! So we should be able to get married! This doesn't make sense!"
Choryeon shook her head vigorously, denying reality. But reality is cold.
"No. You and Dad can't get married."
"Sniff..."
"We're dad and child. We can't become a couple. Go back."
"I was imagining wearing a white dress... This is sad..."
Sulk-
Choryeon pouted her lips like a duck. She seemed to be in a bad mood because her fantasy didn't work out.
"You can marry someone else besides Dad later. It's okay, Choryeon."
"Sniff, but I wanted to do it with Father..."
Well, whoever takes my children away, they'd have to pass my test first.
Is this what a father's heart feels like?
As I was thinking that to myself,
"But, Dad."
Suryeon spoke from behind me, as if stabbing me.
"We're not blood-related, Dad. Strictly speaking, we could get married."
"What are you saying, Suryeon?"
"I asked. They said it's possible."
Swish-
Suryeon turned her smartphone to show me the screen. On the screen was a Knowledge OUT site.
[Super Strong Dragon]
[Got a question. Answer me, inferior humans. Can I marry my dad? FYI, we're not blood-related]
[QWER1234]
[Nice bait. Of course it's totally possible if you're not blood-related]
[Super Strong Dragon]
[What's 'totally possible'?]
[QWER1234]
[It means it's possible. Go for it]
[Super Strong Dragon]
[Oh, thanks]
…
It seems Suryeon had become quite familiar with the internet. She seems to be gradually learning strange words too.
Anyway, Suryeon used this answer as evidence and presented it to me.
"They say I can marry Dad. They say there's no problem."
"..."
"So let's get married, Dad. A smart Blue Dragon is better than a slow Green Dragon, right?"
Suryeon said this and looked at me expectantly, fidgeting her mouth. To this, I thought to myself.
'...Why are they suddenly so fixated on marriage? Did they learn this at kindergarten?'
What's with this marrying me? Is it because I'm the only man they know? It seemed like they were just clinging to me because marriage looked beautiful.
I said to Suryeon.
"Suryeon."
"Yes."
"We might not be blood-related, but I'm your dad."
"That's right."
"So we can't get married. When you grow up, you'll meet better men than Dad. So get married then."
Is this explanation enough?
I looked at Suryeon with a feeling of relief. However, Suryeon's expression was full of dissatisfaction.
"There's no human better than Dad. All humans except Dad are trash."
"Here we go again, Lee Suryeon."
"I'm right, Dad."
This stubborn kid.
Suryeon exuded a righteous atmosphere. I sighed while looking at Suryeon like this.
"Sigh, I wonder if there will be someone to take her away later."
"Who's taking me away as they please? I'm not an object, Dad."
"Oh boy."
I looked at Suryeon with a pitying expression. Then, Suryeon had an outburst and rushed at me.
"Don't look at me like that, Dad!"
"Ugh."
"I'm right! So marry me!"
I teased her too much. I dodged Suryeon as she rushed at me and ran away. Suryeon chased after me, shouting to marry her right now.
Did this scene get caught on Hwaryeon's radar?
"Why do you keep talking about marriage without me! I don't like it!"
Bang-!
Hwaryeon, who had been quietly watching TV, got up and ran towards me. And then she declared to me.
"Shut up! I'm watching TV! And why are you talking about marriage without me?!"
Did she feel left out because we were having a conversation only we understood?
Hwaryeon puffed her cheeks like a pufferfish and said to me. I calmly answered Hwaryeon.
"No."
"Why not!"
"How can a dad and daughter get married? You should say things that make sense."
"Why can't a dad and daughter get married?! Why not!"
Damn.
She's not listening to reason. Hwaryeon was never one to be confined by social norms in the first place.
"Let's just get married! There's nothing impossible in this world!"
"I said no."
"How can that be! Shut up and marry me!"
Hwaryeon pushed forward relentlessly. Attracted by that aggro, Suryeon and Choryeon also joined in and started bothering me.
"Marry me!"
"Let's get married, Dad."
"Father, I'm first! It should be me!"
"Oh..."
I tried to escape to the bathroom, but they clung to me like leeches and wouldn't let go. I had no choice but to say something to get past this situation.
"Okay, fine. I'll do it when you all grow up. But not if Dad marries another woman."
"You said you'd do it when we grow up!"
"I remembered."
"I'm going to write it down in my notebook, Father!"
Only then did they let me go.
'They probably won't even remember when they grow up. Don't all kids say they want to marry their dad when they're young?'
They'll surely forget all about this later. Thinking this, I savored the freedom that had finally come.
What's the big deal about marriage anyway?
'...I should do it someday too. I wonder if there's a decent woman around.'
Even if I do, it should be after they've all grown up. It would be hard for them to accept it now.
Thinking about my later years, I watched TV together with them in the living room.
Perhaps because they got a promise about marriage, they seemed to be in quite a good mood, even though they'll ignore Dad later.
It really felt like they were young.