There were unexpected twists and turns, but Jong-sik managed to achieve his goal.
He fed the “Mana Hearts” to his family, and then passed the ash-colored rune to Jong-pal.
When the dragon saw the ash-colored rune, it salivated uncontrollably.
“I, want to eat.”
“Tsk. You can’t have this.”
Jong-sik maintained a firm attitude about this one thing he couldn’t share.
The dragon expressed disappointment and followed Jong-sik’s words.
“This, can’t eat?”
“Yeah. This belongs to someone. So, don’t take it.”
“Tsk! This, can’t eat!”
It even shook its head.
“Aww, so cute.”
Seeing the dragon like that, Yeona giggled and shook her foot. Meanwhile, Jong-sik, whether it mattered or not, helped Jong-pal with the rune consumption.
Looking at the rune clenched in his hand, Jong-pal spoke.
“This, is the rune you mentioned, right? You want me to eat this now?”
Didn’t his brother mention it before he went on his business trip?
That he transferred the first-discovered ash-colored rune to the country.
And in passing, he said, “Wait a few days. I’ll get yours too.” Jong-pal didn’t think he was serious.
Jong-pal looked at Jong-sik with a puzzled expression.
“You saw it in the news, right? The news about undead monsters.”
“Yeah.”
“It’s a rune that can handle those guys. I think I mentioned it before.”
“Oh. I see. So, I shouldn’t eat it. How can I eat something like this? No, why should I eat it? Hyung, you eat it. I’m already full from eating that meat just now. I’m overflowing with energy even now.”
It’s not like they’re going to the dungeon or living a hunter’s life.
He had no reason to eat it.
It was only right for his precious brother, Jong-sik, to eat it.
“It’s not enough for that. And why eat it? If we want to protect the family, we have to eat it. Who knows what might happen in the future?”
“Still, you should… hyung…”
“I don’t have to eat it, so I’m giving it to you. It’s not just for you, but Yeona and Trigo will also have their turn.”
One, in response to Jong-sik’s continued words, Jong-pal could only nod his head. Protecting the family. There was no need to hesitate or question when it came to that. It just felt a bit guilty to always be the one receiving.
“Um, okay.”
“What are you waiting for? Are you not going to eat it quickly? Or should I give it to Trigo first?”
“I, I was about to eat it now! Thank you before, hyung.”
Finally, Jong-pal swallowed the ash-colored rune.
With the boiling energy, consuming even the ash-colored rune made Jong-pal’s insides feel precarious, as if they had encountered a rough storm.
“Cough!”
‘This is why too much is as good as nothing.’
Jong-pal suddenly thought of the saying about excess.
But such phenomena were quickly resolved by Jong-sik’s intervention.
“Make everything yours while you breathe. Waste nothing.”
Because Jong-sik guided mana to Jong-pal by reaching out his hand.
Jong-pal continued to breathe more comfortably with a relaxed expression.
Meanwhile, Yeona and Trigo were talking to the dragon.
“I’m Dok Yeona here, and this is Uncle Trigo.”
“Hehe. That’s right. I’m Trigo, but I’m not sure if I can introduce myself as uncle.”
Trigo seemed momentarily embarrassed by Yeona’s form of address. It’s understandable; even though he looked like a child, he was supposed to be a dragon.
A dragon, a creature that came down among the dwarves like a legend. And now he’s supposed to be the uncle of such a being? No wonder he’s trembling.
On the other hand, Yeona was different. If they were going to live together, they needed to establish a clear order. She willingly decided to yield the youngest position.
“Huh? But calling you ‘Trigo’ would be strange. Plus, you’re in the form of a child.”
“Is, is that so?”
“Yes.”
“Ahem. Then it’s right for me to be Uncle Trigo. I-I guess!”
“Right? Well then, little one. You can call me Yeona unni. Try it. I’m Yeona unni, and this is Uncle Trigo.”
The dragon looked at Yeona with curious eyes. Then, after pointing to Yeona and Trigo one by one, she finally poked himself.
“Yeona unni. Uncle Trigo. Then what about me? Am I the little one?”
He must be asking about his name. Upon hearing this, Yeona and Trigo said, “Uh, um… come to think of it, we don’t know your name.” and trailed off.
“Phew, Jong-pal’s done. Only Yeona and Trigo’s left. Oh, wait. Do I have to take care of that one now too?”
Jong-sik, who removed his hand from Jong-pal’s back, muttered. Just then, hearing this, Yeona urgently called out to her father.
“Dad!”
“Huh? What is it?”
Anyone hearing this would think it’s a big deal. Jong-sik looked at Yeona as if asking what was wrong. Finally, Yeona revealed the main point. The dragon also chimed in afterward.
“What’s the dragon’s, I mean, this child’s name? she seems not to know her own name.”
“Name, what is it?”
Finally understanding the situation, Jong-sik nodded.
“Not knowing is natural. she’s just awakened, so she doesn’t have a name yet.”
“Oh, that’s not good. Um, Dad, do you happen to have any names in mind?”
As if there would be such a thing.
Jong-sik quickly suggested a common name that came to mind. After all, it was said that anything classic was best in ancient sayings.
“Young-hee?”
But the response was lukewarm at best, if not chilly. Yeona’s firm expression was evidence of that.
“Young-hee from when they’re playing with Cheolsu? Dad!”
“Err… Hyungnim, I don’t think that name suits her. How about Ruby instead? Or maybe the trendy Giant Ruby? Young folks into hip-hop give names like that these days. Besides, why not use Ruby, a mineral known from ancient times?”
Ruby what. Whatever, Young-hee is better than Ruby. Jong-sik chuckled at Trigo’s suggestion, and Yeona shouted in frustration. He knew she would say something like that.
“Ack! Uncle Trigo, th-that’s enough! That’s a name that’s just asking to be teased. Once a name is given, it can’t be taken back… You have to think carefully and come up with it.”
“Cough. Ruby, no good.”
The dragon also shook her head vigorously. In the meantime, Jong-sik thought and thought again.
“Hmm. Maybe Younghee isn’t quite right? Then what about a Hessian name? What’s good? Hessian-hearts-ling, Hessian-heart…ling?”
Suddenly, a name came to mind. It didn’t have any special meaning. He just kept repeating Hessian-heart-ling in his mind, and it came up.
“Or what about Haeli?”
But this time, a noticeably different reaction emerged.
“Oh. Haeli sounds good?”
“Hmm. It’s a name that can rival Ruby.”
“Were you naming him? Dok Haeli… It suits him well, doesn’t it?”
Jong-pal, who had finished absorbing mana, also joined in the naming. The three of them, including Jong-pal, pondered over it.
“Me, Haeli? Hehe, Haeli, I like it.”
The dragon, or rather, Haeli, seemed to like it too.
And so, the dragon’s name was decided as ‘Dok Haeli.’
The next day.
It had only been a day.
It had been two days since she hatched from the egg.
But Haeli was speaking like any other seven-year-old child. She wasn’t like the Haeli from the day before, who couldn’t distinguish between good and delicious.
“What are you doing, Yeona unni? What’s that?”
Partly due to her naturally high intelligence, but also because of Yeona’s hidden efforts.
Yeona, who shared a room with Haeli, patiently answered the endless questions of the child without showing any signs of annoyance, which led Haeli to open up.
And it wasn’t any different now.
In response to Haeli’s question, Yeona naturally suggested tending to the flower bed.
“Oh, this? These are weeds. You have to pull them out so other plants can grow well. Do you want to come here and try it, Haeli?”
“Um. You just do it like this.”
Then Haeli shook her head and sprinkled mana. Suddenly, the plants in the flower bed began to grow rapidly. It was growth caused by magic.
“Huh? Ah-!”
Startled by this, Yeona screamed. The plant pot that Jong-sik had given her as a gift was growing endlessly. And at that moment, Jong-sik, who had just opened the front door, could see the scene.
He sighed once and swiftly collected the mana gathered around the plant stems. With this action, the growth of the plants stopped.
Meanwhile, Haeli dashed towards Jong-sik like an arrow. Her face was filled with laughter.
It was because Jong-sik was the first person Haeli saw after hatching from the egg.
And that’s not all. The one who gave her her name, the one who brought her here, and the one who gave her her first meal were all Jong-sik.
Therefore, Haeli naturally regarded Jong-sik as her parent. At least for now.
“I wondered what all the fuss was about from the morning…”
“Hehe. It was me!”
So she wanted to be praised. Interrupting Jong-sik’s words, Haeli shook her head eagerly. He seemed to be asking for praise.
So Jong-sik grabbed her shoulders and recalled the video she had seen the day before.
[Dad, when a child behaves like that, you should speak firmly to them. Hold their shoulders and look into their eyes…]
‘My precious child’ Dr. Oh said.
Incorrect behavior must be corrected on the spot. Eventually, Jong-sik, Dr. Oh’s online disciple, spoke up.
“You shouldn’t behave like that. Those plants in the flower bed aren’t yours. It’s bad to touch them without Yeona unni’s permission. Also, don’t use magic recklessly.”
Determined to properly educate her since he brought her here, Jong-sik made a vow. With that vow, last night, Jong-sik binge-watched all the videos related to childcare.
‘Like my golden child, and in the world of the dog father, called the Dog President, there are no bad puppies.’
And now, the parenting discipline learned through those videos was shining.
Haeli didn’t swear or spit like any other child in the video. She simply pouted her lips. And even that was just for a moment.
“Is this not allowed?”
“Yeah. It’s not allowed. When using magic, you must always ask me first. Or if I’m not around, ask the family members next to you. Got it?”
“Um, got it!”
“You should say ‘Yes, sir.’ What’s ‘Um’?”
“…Yes, sir!”
“That’s right. Well done.”
After disciplining her, Jong-sik hugged Haeli briefly as she had learned. Haeli’s lips formed a smile.
“Hehe.”
“Now, shall we go downstairs to eat? Is everyone still there?”
Having finished the discipline, Jong-sik called Trigo and Yeona.
“You should eat first, brother. It’s not time for me to eat yet.”
Trigo, who was still diligently intermittent fasting, answered with a nod.
Jong-sik nodded as if he understood.
“…Ah, you mentioned something about intermittent fasting or something?”
“Yes. Hehehe.”
It was then.
Something crossed Jong-sik’s mind.
He had forgotten to mention it as soon as he saw Trigo.
“Oh, right. Trigo, I have a favor to ask.”
“A favor, you say?”
“Yeah. It’s nothing else, just make one chair. For children.”
“You mean a chair for Haeli to sit on.”
As expected, he understood as soon as he mentioned it.
“Yeah. Make it a single-seater.”
“Hehe. There’s no need to ask for a favor. I’ll start working on it. Oh, and brother, it’s about the framework I made earlier. They called from the association today to pick it up.”
“Oh, really? But today, I also need to buy Haeli some clothes and stop by the real estate.”
“Hehe. I just mentioned it. Don’t worry and go. I’ll take care of it.”
Now, this is what it means to have a Korean vibe. With Trigo’s confident attitude, Jong-sik nodded with a satisfied smile.
Meanwhile, at the Dok’s Family Restaurant.
The head chef and owner, Dok Jong-pal, along with his staff, were in disbelief. It was all because of the food Jong-pal had made.
“Um, boss. I came to work today feeling under the weather, even took medicine before coming. But, uh, now suddenly I feel completely fine. I think it’s because of the food you made.”
