Line Up!

Line Up!

Ha-eun woke up in the morning and Seo-rin told her about the plans for the future.

“Today we’re going to visit the Dragon Elders, and tomorrow I’m thinking of stopping by the academy in front. What do you think?”

As I was nodding my head because I didn’t particularly mind.

Chae-a, who was playing with Somteol and the worm, suddenly stood up and ran over to us, saying.

“Grandma!”

Her expression brightened immensely the moment she heard about the Elder Dragons, as if she had been very disappointed about parting ways last time.

I was smiling along with Chae-a as I watched her.

Chae-a hesitantly tells Seo-rin.

“But Chae-a doesn’t want to go… It’s scary.”

“Huh?”

“Somteol said he can’t go either. So I don’t want to go…!”

Seo-rin seemed a bit taken aback, not expecting Chae-a to refuse so strongly.

Then she nodded and said.

“Then let’s not go. It doesn’t really matter if we go or not anyway! And big sister doesn’t like the academy either!”

Hearing that she doesn’t have to go, Chae-a’s expression brightens and she becomes very excited.

Seeing this reaction, I thought that since Chae-a is a spirit, she probably didn’t need to go to the academy in the first place.

But considering the outcome, it became irrelevant now that it was decided she didn’t have to go.

“Anyway, we’re planning to see the Dragon Elders today. Let’s get washed up and ready to go. Okay?”

“Okay!”

Chae-a smiles brightly and quickly runs off somewhere.

I was staring blankly at Chae-a’s back.

Seo-rin patted my head and pointed to the bathroom.

“Then our Ha-eun should wash up too, right? Come on, come here. It’s been a while since your big sister gave you a bath.”

That was a bit embarrassing! I shook my head and quickly ran out.

Of course, even though I ran out, there was the unfortunate situation where I had to ask Seo-rin for help because the sink was so high.

Anyway, after washing up, I was in the middle of choosing clothes when.

“Ha-eun, wear this one.”

Yuna came and handed me a spare animal onesie.

“…?”

I was thinking it might be a bit odd to wear an animal onesie to meet adults.

Yuna patted my head just like Seo-rin did earlier and said.

“Ha-eun looks the cutest when wearing an animal onesie. You know?”

I was blinking, feeling the small palm on top of my head.

Seo-rin, who was watching this from behind, said with a laugh.

“Yuna knows what she’s talking about! That’s right, Ha-eun is really cute in an animal onesie. Of course, she’s cute in anything else too!”

“That’s right.”

With such strong recommendations from both of them, it was awkward to refuse, so I took it.

They both nodded with very satisfied expressions.

Looking at the two of them, I wondered if this was right, but it was awkward to say I wouldn’t wear it now, so I struggled to put it on.

*

After finishing all the preparations and gathering in the living room.

Perseus boldly opens the door and enters, greeting us.

“You came.”

It’s a bit embarrassing that the greeting is “You came.”

I blink my eyes and look up at the incredibly tall Perseus.

Perseus crouches down with an expression of trying to hold back laughter, and roughly pats my head while saying,

“Ha-eun, you seem to get shorter every time I see you.”

“…?”

What is this, is he picking a fight…!

Feeling wronged, I cross my arms and tell him about the things I’ve been doing every night to grow taller.

“At night, I raise my hands high like this, and do stretches every day.”

“Is that so? Then why aren’t you growing?”

Since I don’t know the answer to that either, I’m left opening and closing my mouth.

Perseus finally bursts out laughing and tells me,

“I’m just kidding. Hatchlings naturally grow very slowly, so it can’t be helped.”

Ah, I see.

Come to think of it, since half of me has ancient dragon blood mixed in, it’s natural that I would experience a different growth process than ordinary people.

I hug my tail and nod.

‘That means there’s a chance I’ll still look like this even after several years.’

Of course, it might not be the case, but judging from what he said about not growing at all, I think there’s a high probability.

As I’m feeling gloomy, thinking about Yuna and Chae-a who have grown much taller than me,

Perseus looks at me and says,

“But there’s no need to worry. Your physical growth may be slow, but your magical growth isn’t.”

Isn’t the opposite more important?

As I was wondering, thinking I didn’t really know.

The antenna… no, the silly hair? on top of my head started to flutter.

“It’s alive.”

“…?”

I decided to ignore Perseus, who was only saying strange things in front of me, and was about to turn around.

Perseus picked me up and spoke to Seo-rin.

“Then let’s get going. Hold Yuna and Chae-a’s hands tightly and follow me.”

“Ah, yes.”

With those words, he used teleportation magic and headed towards the building we had been to before.

 

* * *

It was still an incredibly splendid place even on second look.

As I was thinking that my eyes were dizzy and had a blank expression on my face.

Perseus pointed to a huge door and said.

“You’ll probably have a hard time. There are many elders who are preparing themselves, you see.”

Because he said something so tremendous that I couldn’t ignore, I hurriedly tried to ask again what he meant.

But before that, Perseus opened the door and said to us.

“We’re here.”

At those words, the numerous elders inside suddenly looked at us with the eyes of predators eyeing their prey(?).

I realized something was wrong and tried to run away.

But with my short legs, I was caught by Perseus and started to be dragged in.

What I saw as we went inside was.

[Ha-eun’s flower pose photo spot]

It was an incomprehensible banner.

While I was trembling in fear, thinking that the Elder Dragons really like banners.

One of the Elder Dragons came forward and spoke to me.

“Why is Ha-eun so thin? Are you not eating properly?”

Far from starving, I shook my head because I was actually eating too much.

The Elder Dragons, seemingly not interested in listening to me(?), sighed and said.

“We did well to prepare food, anticipating this.”

“It might not be enough, should we bring more? Yes, we should fatten Ha-eun up a bit while we’re at it.”

“Knowing this would happen, I gathered the most famous chocolates from around the world.”

Some scary words about turning me into a pig were heard from the side.

I pretended not to hear and slowly looked straight ahead.

I saw an enormous amount of food piled up, incomparable to before.

‘… That looks like enough to eat for a year.’

While feeling dizzy at the thought of whether it’s okay to prepare so much.

Chae-a stepped forward and greeted with a bright smile.

“Hello…! I! Am! Chae-a!”

Then she immediately flopped down on the ground and giggled.

Yuna, watching this, looked around left and right, then seemingly understanding, scurried behind Chae-a and flopped down in the same way.

“…?”

The problem was that they literally flopped down.

Ha-eun ended up in a lying position on the floor instead of bowing, looking as if she was rolling around.

I was startled to see the two of them like that and quickly tried to help them up.

“Oh my, they greet so well.”

“Here’s some pocket money.”

“Come here and have some snacks.”

Instead, their delighted reactions were heard extremely loudly.

I looked around with a bewildered expression as I was helping the two up.

Seo-rin smiled slightly and said to me.

“Ha-eun should greet too, right?”

“……”

At that voice, I kept hearing things like ‘We want to see Ha-eun greet’ from around us.

I was flustered by these reactions, blinking my eyes and fidgeting.

Thinking I wasn’t sure what to do, I prostrated myself on the floor just like Chae-a and Yuna had done, and everyone started laughing and enjoying it immensely.

“It really becomes lively when there are babies around.”

“It’s been a while since we’ve seen a hatchling.”

“We saw one last time, didn’t we?”

“No, that’s not what I meant…”

Numerous voices could be heard chattering in front of us.

As I was rubbing my face with my palms, embarrassed by what I had done.

Chae-a got up from her seat, grabbed my hand, and said.

“There are so many delicious things here…! Should we take some and have a party?”

The other day, it seemed they remembered the party we all had together, so they asked me with a very expectant expression.

I was nodding, thinking it would be fine if there was leftover food.

One of the Elder Dragons approached me and asked a question.

“Come to think of it, Ha-eun, ahem. Would you let us pinch your cheeks?”

Although he seemed a bit embarrassed to make such a request, clearing his throat unnecessarily, he still seemed to really want to do it, reaching out his hands to me little by little.

After pondering this request for a moment, I couldn’t coldly refuse someone who had shown me so much kindness, so I nodded and said I understood.

“Everyone, line up here!”

Suddenly, many Elder Dragons gathered in a line to pinch my cheeks.

“…?”

I was so surprised by this sight that I froze on the spot.

Seo-rin, who was watching from the side, picked me up and sat me on a nearby desk.

Then, while fixing my hair, she said.

“You have to do it for me too when this is over, okay?”

As even my only trusted ally had betrayed me, I looked to Chae-a and Yuna for help.

But they were already having their cheeks pinched elsewhere, only giggling from afar.

Sensing that all was lost, I had no choice but to close my eyes and offer my puffed-up cheeks.