It’s been a while

It’s been a while

The one who was rather surprised by my refusal was the Elder Dragon.

As if he hadn’t expected me to reject the gift, he paused for a moment.

Then, in a very kind voice, he asked me the reason.

“Would you prefer something other than ice cream?”

To this question, I shook my head and gave a common-sense answer.

“No matter what, I can’t accept something like that…!”

Being human, I naturally felt a bit of greed when someone offered an incredibly expensive gift.

But I knew well that from the moment I accepted such a gift, the relationship would become awkward beyond just being complicated.

For my own sake, it was right not to accept it.

‘Besides, given my personality, I’d feel obligated to repay it.’

I didn’t want to accept it if possible, as I had no idea how to repay something so expensive.

I shook my head quickly to indicate that it wasn’t okay.

My tail seemed to have similar thoughts as it wagged vigorously from side to side.

“Then… hmm, how about a free ice cream pass?”

Wondering what that could be, I blinked and looked up.

Grandfather patted my head and explained.

“It’s a pass that lets you eat ice cream anytime, anywhere. How about it? Isn’t that good enough?”

It was much better than before, but I was certain it was still too expensive an item for me.

I shook my head again towards grandfather and spoke as politely as I could.

“I don’t want to develop bad habits.”

It was a bit funny to say that my habits would become bad if I received such things.

But honestly, I felt that if I kept receiving things like this one by one, my threshold would unknowingly lower, and at some point, I might start accepting things recklessly without shame or conscience.

Thinking it would be better to be careful from the beginning, I bowed my head deeply.

“I’m sorry…!”

As I was bowing at the waist to apologize for refusing the next gift.

Grandfather looked at me, chuckled heartily, and with a very kind smile.

He patted my head and said to me.

“Then how about I promise to always be on Ha-eun’s side no matter what happens? Is that okay?”

I wasn’t sure exactly what that meant.

But since being able to become close with other people was a very happy thing for me, I nodded my head vigorously.

“… Yes!”

“Then let’s take a selfie with grandpa.”

“……?”

 

Something felt odd about the combination of the speech style and the word “selfie,” but

Thinking it wouldn’t be a big problem, I stood in front with Chae-a.

 

“Ahem, ahem.”

“This grandmother is also good at taking pictures. Won’t you take one with grandmother too?”

 

“It would be nice to have a granddaughter who takes pictures.”

Voices mixed with lament are heard from here and there.

 

In response to these reactions, although I felt shy about taking pictures,

I decided to take pictures with all the elder dragons as I wanted to repay the people who had welcomed me.

 

Perseus swallowed nervously as he looked at Phillips Lecia, who was staring out the window expressionlessly.

On the surface, she seemed to show no emotion.

 

However, having observed her for many years, he could tell that she was actually very angry.

Therefore, while he was contemplating how to resolve this situation,

 

Lecia turned her face and calmly began to speak.

“My child. It seems there’s a problem in the spirit realm.”

 

“The spirit realm, you say?”

“Yes. Otherwise, it doesn’t make sense that a newly born spirit would be wandering around starving like that. Moreover, to hear that she even suffered violence… It seems there’s quite a big problem.”

 

Certainly, something was strange, just as she said.

Spirits are beings that originally live on ‘mana,’ not food.

 

Yet the child named Chae-a was said to have been rummaging through trash cans because she couldn’t get mana supply.

 

‘Considering that she didn’t return to the spirit realm even when she was starving to the point of feeling sick.’

It could be vaguely understood that she was in a situation where she couldn’t return to the spirit realm.

Of course, this was because I had already figured out that other spirits could easily return to the spirit realm.

Although it might be unreasonable to assume that there was a problem with the spirit realm itself, as it was only Chae-a’s issue.

Considering that the Spirit King never abandons spirits, and that Chae-a was a newly born spirit, equivalent to a one-year-old baby in human years.

It was clear that something was seriously wrong.

So, just as I was filled with questions.

Lecia briefly spoke to me.

“It would be best to eliminate anything that could be problematic for the children’s sake.”

An order to eliminate all problems if there were any.

I nodded to such an order.

* * * * *

“Chae-a can do a forward roll too…!”

As I continued taking pictures, it seemed Chae-a had become quite close with the grandpas and grandmas.

She shows off her ultimate forward roll, which she only shows to friends, and grins proudly.

While I’m clapping my hands, amazed at Chae-a’s skill, suddenly the grandpas and grandmas take out their wallets to give her pocket money.

“Chae-a, buy some snacks with this.”

“Here, take grandpa’s first.”

“Hey now, even cold water has its order, of course I should go first…”

A commotion breaks out as they argue over who gets to give pocket money first.

But Chae-a doesn’t seem interested in that, as she stretches her hands high, saying she’ll now demonstrate a cartwheel.

Then she stands there very proudly.

She lies down on the floor and starts rolling from side to side.

‘Ah, so this is how you roll.’

This is also well done, so.

While I’m patting Chae-a’s head as she lies on the floor, praising her, Han A-rin watches us and smiles softly.

“Aren’t you tired?”

Since there was actually nothing tiring, I nod.

Han A-rin looks at us and says.

“Tell me if you’re tired. I’ll give you a massage.”

Isn’t it usually the opposite?

While I’m wondering if it’s not normal for me to give Han A-rin a massage.

One of the Dragon Elders approaches Han A-rin and speaks.

“A-rin, it’s been a while.”

“Professor…?”

“Yes… I’m sorry to say this, but could you perhaps post the photos of Ha-eun and Chae-a in the chat room…”

Judging by the term “Professor,” it seems they know each other.

I was about to greet him, but remembering that we just took photos together, I hesitate.

Han A-rin suddenly bursts into laughter, then crouches down and looks at me, saying.

“Ha-eun, can you look here?”

Wondering why she’s asking, I look at the screen.

Profiles covered entirely with photos of me and Chae-a caught my eye.

“… ?”

Feeling quite embarrassed, I was rubbing my cheeks with both hands.

Han A-rin, seeing me like this, ruffled my hair wildly and continued speaking.

“I guess the Elder Dragons set Ha-eun and Chae-a as profile pictures because they’re so pretty. Oh, what should I do? Should I set it too?”

I shook my head to indicate that it was too embarrassing and she shouldn’t do it.

But Han A-rin, seemingly not intending to listen, just smiled and completed the settings right away.

……?

Although I was extremely embarrassed, I was a little happy that so many people liked me enough to do that, and my tail was wagging slightly.

Chae-a, fiddling with my hand, whispered something softly.

“Chae-a put this much tasty stuff in her pocket…! I’ll give it to you at home!”

I looked with sparkling eyes at Chae-a’s squirrel pajamas that were bulging out.

Surely, with that much packed, I wouldn’t have to worry about snacks for a few days.

I had been wondering what to do, feeling sorry for getting snacks from Seo-rin and Han A-rin all this time, but Chae-a had eased that worry.

‘But taking it secretly doesn’t feel right.’

Deciding to ask for permission when the surroundings became less crowded, I was praising Chae-a profusely.

In the distance, I saw Perseus with a stern expression and Grandmother Lecia with a blank face walking out.

Seeing this, I grabbed Chae-a’s hand and approached them to thank them for inviting us today.

“Little ones. Did you come because grandmother arrived?”

She greeted us with a very bright expression.

I nodded in response, confirming that was the case.

Grandmother Lecia hugged me and Chae-a, beaming with joy.

I wagged my tail vigorously while looking at such a grandmother.

Soon after, I decided to set a good example as an adult by composing myself.

As that thought occurred to me, I was trying my best to calm down and control my expression when Grandmother Lecia raised a question.

“So, did you have a good time playing with the grandmothers and grandfathers?”

“Yes! I ate this and this too…!”

Chae-a, nestled in her arms, enthusiastically showed off the snacks given by the grandparents.

Seeing this, I smiled softly and cheered on Chae-a’s explanation.

After listening to everything Chae-a had said, Grandmother Lecia made a request to me.

“Sweetie, would it be alright if this grandmother visits your lair later?”

… To my lair?

At that moment, the image of my lair flashed through my mind.

I had created a lair much more sturdy and impressive than when I first made it.

But compared to this place, it was so shabby it was no different from an abandoned house.

So I wasn’t sure if it was right to invite her.

‘But since she’s looking forward to it so much, I can’t just say no…’

Just as I had been invited and welcomed by Grandmother Lecia.

I decided to invite her to my lair and welcome her, so I nodded.

“Yes!”

Of course, I couldn’t invite her as things were.

I wracked my brain, determined to reinforce and beautify my lair as much as possible before inviting her.

‘First, since the lair is empty, let’s try placing some furniture.’

While I’m thinking hard about what to do and how to do it,

 

I notice that Han A-rin, who was behind me, is showing signs of being very flustered.

Seeing this, I realize that Grandmother Lecia coming to my lair is essentially the same as her coming to the association, so I smile awkwardly.