Chapter 96: The Pied Piper (1)

I visited the mountain behind our house to meet the elves after a long time. The elves had prepared well for winter as I had warned them.

"You've set up the tents well, and you're using the heater properly. Are you managing okay?"

"Yes, we're doing well thanks to you. The forest spirits have also protected us from the wind."

That's a relief. It seemed the elves wouldn't freeze to death.

"We're not sleeping alone, but staying with our wives. We can share body heat, so it seems fine."

"...I didn't really need to know that information."

Rather than freezing to death, they looked like they might die from overheating. And from my perspective watching this, I felt like I might die from the heat rising to my head.

'It's even more infuriating because they're such a good-looking couple. Those elf bastards. Who comes over as a family?'

I thought at least one young elf would come. But husbands and wives came over and are being lovey-dovey with each other.

Seeing them being affectionate makes my blood boil.

'I want an elf wife too!'

The dragon kids watched the cuddling elves and evaluated.

"Hmph, typical of weak elves to stick together! A true strong one stays alone!"

"Does marriage give you the right to do whatever you want with your body? I should remember that."

"Will I become like that if I marry Father? I'm looking forward to becoming an adult!"

Even looking at the same thing, they all think differently. As expected of dragons, the difference in perspectives was huge.

As I was analyzing my daughters like this, an elf approached me and gestured towards Mangmung who was playing around.

"By any chance, what's that white dog?"

"Ah, that's Mangmung, our new family member."

"Then that fellow is very lucky."

"Why?"

"Because he can be near dragons during his growth period and smell the lingering magic. That dog will likely become a spiritual beast later."

Is he saying Mangmung could become a genius dog? Well, my body has gotten stronger from living with the dragon kids, so there's no reason Mangmung can't.

As I was imagining a smart Mangmung, the elf whispered in my ear.

"By the way, there's one thing I'd like to tell you."

"What is it?"

"We've been cleaning consistently, but recently the atmosphere around here hasn't been good."

"What do you mean by not good?"

The elf's face turned serious as he answered my question.

"It's similar to the atmosphere I experienced in the elf village. The atmosphere we experienced just before humans invaded our village..."

The male elf's face was solemn as he said this. He was unnecessarily handsome, making it feel like a scene from a movie.

I nodded to the elf and replied.

"The calm before the storm. You mean it feels like that?"

"Yes, that kind of feeling."

"I understand what you mean. I'll be careful for a while."

If it's what the elves with good intuition are saying, it's probably close to the truth.

Thinking this, I watched the dragon kids running around on the snow-covered mountain.

'If anything happens to my daughters... I'll kill them without hesitation...'

I had no intention of sparing anyone who messed with my children who have a bright future ahead.

Not even a little bit.

***

Kindergarten after lunchtime.

The children deliciously ate their school lunch and packed lunches, then lay down on the floor, covered with blankets, and took a nap together.

"Raaah... Mmm... Meat is floating in the sky..."

Hwaryeon, like the emperor of the kindergarten, lay on the sofa and sleep-talked. In contrast, Choryeon lay on the floor, hugging Mangmung with her eyes closed.

"Hehehe... You're giving me a ring... Father must have wanted to marry me too...!"

"Woof... woof..."

Hwaryeon and Choryeon was sleeping on the warm floor in winter.

As everyone fell asleep, Suryeon left the room and went up to the library on the third floor.

"I'm not sleepy. There's no reason for me to sleep just because others are sleeping."

It was a result based on a purely personal judgment. So Suryeon entered the small library and explored the books inside. It was full of old, used books rather than new ones.

"Hmm, which book would be the most interesting?"

Suryeon took out the book that looked the most difficult and opened it.

"Hmm..."

After about a minute of looking, Suryeon boldly closed the book.

"...I'll have to read this later. I don't want to read it now."

She put the difficult-looking book back on the shelf. Then she focused her attention on the children's book corner below.

Among them, Suryeon opened and read the simplest-looking fairy tale book, "The Pied Piper".

"This is more readable now."

Grin-

Suryeon started reading the fairy tale book with a satisfied expression.

"Hmm, the Pied Piper. This man uses strange magic. He can call rats and even children. Could he be a dragon?"

Surely a mere human couldn't use such wide-ranging magic unless it's a dragon.

"The Pied Piper must be a dragon. Or maybe he has an artifact created by a dragon."

Suryeon nodded as she said this to herself. Just then, the tightly closed library door began to open.

Creak-

Here's my translation of the excerpt.

"...Are you here?"

Gu Mingu.

Suryeon looked at the boy who opened the door and entered, saying.

"Get out now. This is my spot."

"Th-That's not fair! The library belongs to Teacher Bong-gu! Besides, what are you doing here alone?"

"Hmm, was your name Go Min-go?"

"It's Gu Mingu!"

"I see."

Huff-

Suryeon immediately turned her head after hearing Mingu's name. She wasn't particularly interested.

However, Mingu seemed very interested in Suryeon.

"What were you doing here?"

"I question your intelligence. It's a library, so obviously I'm reading a book."

"What are you reading?"

"Why do you need to know?"

"..."

Mingu frowned at the sharp words.

'I just want to be friends. Does she not want to be friends with me?'

Sulk-

Mingu lowered his head dejectedly. After staying still for about 10 minutes like that,

"...Sigh."

Thump-

Suryeon closed the fairy tale book she had finished reading. Then, giving Mingu about 1kg of attention, she asked.

"What do you want to say to me?"

At this, Mingu's face brightened.

"I'm just curious about what you're doing! You seem different from the other kids! Especially compared to your older and younger sisters!"

"Of course. I'm on a different level from them. I'm a much more amazing being."

Suryeon looked at him as if saying something obvious. This reaction rather flustered Mingu.

"You, I can't get used to you every time I see you. Your hair color, and your eye color is so strange."

Mingu stared at Suryeon's blue eyes. Eyes like beautiful lakes, but those eyes quickly darkened like the deep sea.

"Don't look at me like that. I don't like feeling like I'm being gawked at."

"S-Sorry..."

"Is that all you have to say? I'm leaving."

Swish-

Suryeon quickly passed by Mingu and left the library. Mingu followed behind Suryeon, saying.

"W-Wait! Let's go together!"

"...How annoying. Why do you keep following me? I don't like humans much."

It's uncomfortable.

Suryeon glared at Mingu, who kept bothering her. However, Mingu just tilted his head as if asking why.

"Why?"

"..."

Suryeon decided to go down the stairs without saying anything. She decided to think of this as a fate that dragons must endure.

'The problem must be that I'm too great. I'm just too outstanding a dragon.'

It's natural for insects to be drawn to flowers.

With that thought, Suryeon went down the stairs with her shoulders puffed up.

'Everyone should be awake by now.'

Thinking the children would be up by now, she opened the door to the room where everyone had been napping.

Creak-!

Then white smoke leaked out from inside the room.

"Cough cough- What's this?"

Suryeon coughed and entered the room, parting the smoke. Though it was hard to see because of the smoke, she could tell one thing.

"...All the sleeping children have disappeared. But why are these ones still here?"

Suryeon looked down at her feet. Below, Choryeon was hugging Mangmung, deep in sleep.

"Hehehe... Father... Are you giving me a kiss...?"

"Woof woof woof..."

"..."

Gross.

Suryeon kicked Choryeon lightly with her foot. Then, Choryeon rubbed her eyes and sat up.

"Mmm... What are you doing, Suryeon... Have you finally lost your mind...?"

"Do you know where the kids who were lying here went?"

"Hmm...? Where did all the friends go...? And what's this white smoke...?"

Sniff sniff-

Choryeon looked around earnestly. However, there was no sign of the children.

At that moment, Suryeon understood what this situation was.

"The Pied Piper."

Just like in the fairy tale book, all the children had disappeared. Except for the dragons.

At this, Suryeon smiled slightly.

"Interesting."

It was perfect timing as she had been bored. She had a feeling something fun was about to happen.