Chapter 32: Selling Vegetables

The Association called me in, and they said that a Grade C dimensional gate opened near the Association.

The Association staff came into the dimensional gate with me to verify my rumored abilities firsthand. So, I explored the inside of the gate with the staff.

"Hmm, it's just an ordinary forest."

"Low-grade dimensional gates aren't usually special. It means there's little mana floating in the air."

"...You're even giving explanations in place of my mentor who's off shooting commercials."

Han Ji-soo couldn't come today because of an advertising shoot. Honestly, I'm jealous. She must make good money from those commercials. So, I asked the staff members in their neat suits.

"I'd like to do commercials too. Has anything come up?"

The Association staff looked at me with half-closed eyes and spoke.

"No."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Not even one?"

"Your appearance is rather sharp, and your personality doesn't seem particularly pleasant. It's better not to expect anything."

"..."

That's sad. I heard that heroes affiliated with the Association get lower performance bonuses because they're government employees. That's why they supplement their income through advertising and selling monster trophies, or they make more money working for corporations or as hunters after completing their service.

'Is selling monster trophies my only option to make more money?'

The cockatrice eggs I sold last time did bring in good money. Alright. This time's goal is to break the dimensional core and collect various monster trophies.

And I immediately put my plan into action.

‘Just show yourself. I'll pull out every tooth except your gums.'

Come out right now, Wolf Dog! I roamed the dimension with determination. However, I couldn't achieve any meaningful results.

"Stop running away, you bastards! Fight me!"

Keeng- Keeng-

"Ah geez, why are they so fast!?"

I need to get trophies from the monsters, but they won't fight me and run away with their tails tucked. They're even too fast to chase. The Association staff watched me while seriously recording something on their tablet PCs.

"Lee Ha-jun. Age 23. Confirmed ability to frighten monsters into fleeing. Combat ability assessment impossible. Shows exceptional ability in resolving dimensional gates."

"Not suitable as an advertising model, but possesses unique abilities that others don't have."

My evaluation as a dimensional gate solver kept rising, though I didn't want that. I'm not sure how it ended up like this.

***

After finishing another day of dimensional gate walking, I returned home and asked the dragon kids.

"Kids, monsters keep running away when they see me. What should I do?"

I needed to hunt monsters to get the trophies from their bodies, but the monsters won't fight me.

"I want to fight monsters! But I can't!"

Sob sob.

I cried from frustration. However, Suryeon didn't seem to sympathize. She put down her smartphone and said to me:

"Are you a Red Dragon too, Dad? Why do you want to fight? You've changed after being with Hwaryeon."

"No, that's not it..."

"Dad, that's greed."

"..."

She has a point.

Originally, I didn't even have the strength to fight monsters, so I should be grateful they just run away. As Suryeon said, I realized I might be getting greedy. It felt like cold water being poured on my head.

"Hmph, what greed! If you've gained power, of course you should fight!"

Hwaryeon, who had been quietly listening, jumped in shouting.

"If you can win, you should win! Why stay still! Fighting is the best!"

"Oh."

Come to think of it, maybe she's right?

My head heated up again at Hwaryeon's words. I asked Hwaryeon, who shared my opinion:

"Hwaryeon, is there a way to stop monsters from running away?"

"Of course! It's the basics of dragon entertainment! Just hide your dragon mana!"

"How do you do that?"

"Well, you see-"

Just as Hwaryeon was about to explain, Suryeon quickly cut her off.

"It's impossible. Dad's not a dragon, so he can't hide dragon mana."

"Really?"

"Dad, are you doubting what I'm saying?"

"Ah, no. Of course I believe what my daughter says."

I just asked casually, but her reaction is scary. Anyway, according to Suryeon, I can't hide the dragon mana flowing through my body.

"Unless you learn dragon language."

"Dragon language..."

"That's still too early for you, Dad. If you force it, the mana will explode inside you."

"That sounds scary."

I guess there's no choice. I wanted to control this overwhelming dragon aura, but it seems impossible realistically. I gently squeezed Choryeon's chubby cheeks as she stood quietly in front of me.

"I'll have to give up monster hunting for now."

"Hehe-"

"This is right. I should take it slow like before."

After visiting the center of District 09, I thought we needed to escape this area quickly. This wasn't a good place for children to live, unless they're with me. They'd surely get caught up in trouble.

In that sense.

"Kids, want to go outside together?"

"The rooftop? I'd love to!"

"No, not the rooftop."

Going a bit further, I thought it might be nice to take a walk with them.

"Let's just harvest the vegetables from the rooftop first."

All while making some money, too.

***

I walked the streets with the dragon kids. I wondered if Choryeon's friends were working hard growing trees. The sprouts around us seemed to grow a bit bigger every time I saw them.

'Just having trees makes the street feel so different.'

I walked a bit more and sat in front of the subway station, a safe area. Then, I placed black bags filled with various vegetables in front of me.

"I guess this price should do."

I roughly wrote prices on a box and set it up. The kids poked their heads out of the bag. They were in their lizard forms, like when I first met them.

"Hiss-!"

"Hiss-"

"Hisss-!"

I haven't heard that in a while. I stroked them with my finger and said,

"Don't go anywhere else. Just watch from there. If you need to say something, you know, send it directly to my mind."

Nod-

They all nodded simultaneously. Then, I called out to passing people.

"Fresh vegetables for sale! Home-grown and delicious!"

The lettuce grew too fast, and there was plenty left even after Choryeon ate some. I thought it might be good to make some money selling lettuce at this hour.

'Even if it hurts my pride as a hero, can't be helped.'

I displayed the vegetables while waiting for customers. Then, a hunched grandmother walked toward me.

"Everyone hide."

"Hiss-!"

Hwaryeon quickly stuffed her sisters into the bag. The grandmother who approached was quite familiar.

"Hey grandma, want to buy some?"

"Why would I buy what was grown on my rooftop, you fool?"

"That's true. But since you're my first customer, here's one for free."

To commemorate my first customer, I handed her a bag of lettuce. She clicked her tongue but took the lettuce.

"A hero selling lettuce like some old lady... Just hurry and pay your rent."

"I'll pay it soon after selling all this. Take care going home."

I waved as the grandmother walked away. She disappeared into the distance with slow steps. Seeing this, Suryeon asked me.

-Dad, who was that?

"First time seeing her face? She's our building's owner. She's kind despite her way of talking."

-Hmm, a kind human. I'll remember that.

Suryeon said that and went back to looking around. We passed time waiting for customers while they stared intently at their surroundings and asked questions about things they didn't know.

"These look fresh. I'll take one."

"Here you go."

Maybe because there were quite a few people passing by, I managed to catch the attention of some passersbyers, though not many bought anything.

"...It's getting dark."

-Are we going home, Dad?

"I'm thinking about it."

I wanted to go back after selling everything. It was disappointing that there was still so much left. If only word of mouth could spread, maybe sales would improve.

'Can't be helped. Let's close up for today.'

I stood up to pack everything away. Just then, I saw some familiar faces coming out of the subway.

'Good timing.'

They approached me with friendly faces.

"Nice to see you, Hero!"

"Thank you for last time!"

It was Fatty and Weakling. They appeared at just the right time. I asked them as they bowed 90 degrees.

"Good to see you. Lucky you're alive and well."

"Haha, thanks to you, Hero!"

"By the way, don't you need some lettuce?"

"Lettuce?"

They noticed the black bags in my hands.

Fatty laughed and answered.

"I don't eat vegetables, Hero!"

Then, Weakling immediately jabbed Fatty in the waist.

"Ah, no! We love vegetables! We'll take all of them! Thank you for the food!"

"Ah, right. Enjoy. And spread the word to normal people. Tell them there's quality lettuce sold here sometimes."

"Yes, Hero! Understood!"

Weakling's quick on the uptake. I'm glad I could finish selling everything today. Then, I stuffed the money in my pocket and left with a bright face, taking care of the dragons.

On our way home, Hwaryeon asked me.

-Dad, who were those guys?!

"Fatty and Weakling."

-Are they your subordinates?

"Not subordinates. Just neighborhood residents."

Neighborhood residents...

I had a feeling we'd run into them quite often.