Byeol had been exceptionally well-behaved recently. After finishing her meals, she would put her bowl in the sink without being told, and she also neatly put away her sketchbook and crayons after drawing.
Watching her, Do-Jun felt proud and decided to reward her.
“Here,” he said, handing her a thousand-won bill with Toegye Yi Hwang’s face printed on it.
Byeol typically received her allowance from Yoon-Hee in the form of hundred-won coins given to her one at a time. This was the first time Do-Jun had ever given her money.
Byeol held the bill, turning it over and examining it closely. It was her first time handling paper money, yet she didn’t seem particularly happy about it.
While folding the laundry with Karsiel, Byeol decided to ask her about the thousand-won bill.
“What’s this, Sieh?” she asked while holding the bill.
Karsiel looked at the piece of paper with the number “1,000” on it, along with a picture of an old man in a hat.
She smiled and replied, “Byeol, that’s money.”
Seeing Byeol’s dry response, Karsiel added, “It’s worth the same as ten one-hundred-won coins.”
Byeol froze while casually putting the bill into her coin purse. Her hand holding the bill began to tremble, and she looked up at Karsiel with a worried expression.
“O-oh no, Daddy’s bwoke now!”
“Daddy gave me all his money. Now he has none left! I have to gib it back!”
Listening to their conversation, Yoon-Hee couldn’t help but burst out laughing.
It took Karsiel ten minutes to explain to Byeol that a thousand won wasn’t a significant amount of money for Do-Jun. Even so, Byeol seemed overwhelmed by what she considered an enormous sum, as if her brain had short-circuited.
“Oh!” Suddenly, Byeol’s face lit up as she realized something. “I can buy taiyaki[1] with this!”
The nearby street food vendor sold three taiyakis for a thousand won. Byeol couldn’t forget the taste of the taiyaki she had tried a month ago.
Meanwhile, Yong-Yong visited Hakase’s nest for the first time in a while. Watching Hakase always surrounded by mechanical parts and working on something, Yong-Yong thought that he led quite a busy life.
Hakase spoke after a brief contemplation. “I don’t understand, Lord Izaas.”
“Hm? What don’t you understand?”
Hakase paused his work and looked seriously at Yong-Yong. The fearsome Dragon Lord Izaas, whom he remembered, was truly formidable with a striking appearance—brilliant red hair, sharp, piercing eyes, and thick eyebrows. His mere gaze was enough to make one’s knees tremble.
However, the Izaas standing before him now was unrecognizable—his large, round eyes and soft, dog-like features with reddish skin were a far cry from his formerly cold and ruthless demeanor.
“Lord Izaas, how long do you plan to stay in that form?” Hakase asked.
“As long as I’m living under Master’s roof,” Yong-Yong answered as he recalled his first meeting with Do-Jun.
He had been ordered to act cute. At first, transforming into this form had been humiliating, a choice made purely for survival. However, after months of living on Earth, it had become second nature, even comfortable.
“You call him ‘Master.’ Do you really think it makes sense that you’re serving a mere human?”
Yong-Yong smirked as if he had heard something bizarre.
A mere human? He felt relieved that Do-Jun hadn’t heard those words. At the same time, Yong-Yong thought Hakase could use a bit of discipline. Calling his master a “mere human” was unacceptable.
“I’ll prove it to you,” Hakase said with a serious look.
“I can’t stand by and watch a human mocking a dragon any longer.”
“W-wait, what are you thinking?”
With a Crackle! a Fissure to Earth opened, and Hakase stepped through, saying, “I’ll settle this once and for all. I’ll show him who the real superior kind is.”
“H-hey, d-don’t do it!”
The Fissure closed, and Yong-Yong swept a paw over his face, muttering, “I tried.”
After 9 PM, the streets had grown dark in sharp contrast to the bright daytime. Thankfully, the streetlights illuminated the roads enough to make the walk comfortable.
Do-Jun walked along the path near their home with Byeol.
“Almost there,” she said.
“Right.” Do-Jun chuckled softly, following her.
Byeol was in a great mood, thinking about buying taiyaki with the thousand won she received as allowance. Especially since it was just the two of them enjoying their father-daughter time, she couldn’t have been happier.
“We’re here!” Byeol stopped in front of the taiyaki stall.
However, the taiyaki machine was gone, replaced by an empty stall covered with a tarp labeled “3 taiyaki for 1,000 won.” There was no one in sight. Just as they thought the vendor might have closed for the day, they noticed another note taped to the tarp.
Byeol read it carefully. “We are closed during the summer season. Thank you for your support over the winter.
“But I... bwought money...” Her shoulders drooped, and her face clouded with disappointment. She had been so excited to eat taiyaki with her dad, but now her hopes were dashed.
Do-Jun didn’t feel too great watching Byeol so dejected.
“How about ice cream instead?” he suggested.
“Okay...” Byeol replied with a small nod.
Within the Changshin Villa complex, a man in a white coat hid in a shadowy corner of an alley, carefully observing someone. Of course, the man was none other than Hakase, the fifth dragon.
Is that him? Hakase thought, watching Do-Jun enter a store.
To Hakase’s eyes, Do-Jun looked like any other ordinary human, with no unique energy radiating from him. According to Karsiel, Do-Jun rarely revealed his strength on Earth.
Do-Jun exited the store carrying a plastic bag filled with ice cream, snacks, and drinks. Following closely behind him was a child, licking a popsicle as she trailed him.
That must be the resident of the Core, Byeol... she really is adorable.
Karsiel had sung endless praises of Byeol’s cuteness, but seeing her in person exceeded all expectations.
“Byeol, do you want to take this upstairs first?” Do-Jun said, handing her the plastic bag.
“What about you, Daddy?”
“Daddy has a visitor, so I have to see them for a second. Can you go up by yourself?”
“Yes! I can take the elevator awone now.”
Hakase overheard their conversation.
Byeol took the bag from Do-Jun and headed inside, taking the elevator up to their apartment.
Do-Jun watched her with a satisfied smile, then turned and said, “Can I help you?”
It seemed Hakase had been caught.
Hakase led Do-Jun into a temporary Fissure—barren, with not even a single blade of grass in sight.
Do-Jun had a vague idea of who had been tailing him. The man wore a white lab coat over a faded blue T-shirt with a loose collar. The number “5” was clearly visible on his collarbone.
Hakase, was it? He recalled Karsiel mentioning a dragon who was skilled with machines.
The moment they stepped into the Fissure, Hakase’s power became far stronger than it had been on Earth. This place appeared to be connected to some part of the Core.
“Now is your only chance to beg for forgiveness, human,” Hakase said as a dense killing intent filled the air. His threat was anything but subtle. The qi radiating from his entire body seemed ready to explode.
Do-Jun sighed, finding the sudden hostility and demand for forgiveness absurd.
“I don’t understand,” he replied to Hakase.
“You insulted a dragon.”
“You dared to treat Lord Izaas like a mere servant. That is an insult to all dragons!” Hakase roared, his voice echoing, and Do-Jun nodded slightly in understanding.
The dragon in front of him seemed outraged at the way their Dragon Lord had been treated so casually.
“If you apologize now, I’ll spare your pitiful life.”
Do-Jun rubbed his chin in thought. Then, as if struck by a good idea, he smiled and said, “How about this? If I win, you gotta do something for me.”
“Hah! Ridiculous. There isn’t even the slightest chance that you’ll win.”
Hakase had heard Izaas refer to Do-Jun as “Master,” so he had wondered if the human might possess some extraordinary power. However, his senses told him that Do-Jun was utterly ordinary.
“So, you’re insisting on going through with this, huh... Fine. I’ll give you three moves,” Do-Jun said.
“What?” Hakase asked in confusion.
“I’ll let you attack me three times before I do anything.”
Do-Jun’s words reflected an old habit from his days in the Central Plains, where he often gave his opponent a chance during duels.
Hakase’s eyebrow twitched in irritation. “You truly wish for death, human.”
A long spear of light formed in Hakase’s hand. It was the Dragon Spear, a skill exclusive to dragons. Using such a skill against a human felt somewhat humiliating, yet it also demonstrated just how angry he was.
The Dragon Spear flew toward Do-Jun, exploding on impact. The ground caved in, and clouds of dust billowed into the air. Without even confirming the outcome, Hakase turned his back.
No living creature had ever survived being struck by a Dragon Spear.
But just as he was about to walk away, he heard Do-Jun say, “That’s one.”
Whipping around, he stared at Do-Jun, who emerged from the dust cloud without so much as a scratch.
How could this be possible?
Hakase blinked, struggling to comprehend.
Moments later, Hakase was panting from exhaustion and utter incredulity. Even after unleashing the dragon’s ultimate skill, Dragon Breath, twice in a row, Do-Jun stood completely unscathed.
“T-this can’t be real! Tell me I’m dreaming.” Hakase’s face turned pale.
That’s when Do-Jun took a single step forward, slowly drawing internal energy from his dantian.
Pancake batter sizzled as it was poured into the fish-shaped mold, spreading evenly. A spoonful of red bean paste was added before more batter was poured on top.
“You’re still selling taiyaki? Can I get three, please?” a woman in her forties said as she handed over a bill.
Hakase placed three taiyaki in a paper bag and handed it to her.
“Thank you. Sell lots!” the woman said before departing.
The cash box was steadily filling, now holding over 40,000 won.
“To think I, the great Hakase, am selling taiyaki out of a taiyaki machine I made myself...”
It was absurd. Even more infuriating was the fact that he had sold over forty thousand won’s worth.
“Why are they even eating this? It’s summer!” Hakase cried.
It was the time of the year when even standing still made one sweat buckets. Of course, dragons were unaffected by seasons, but humans were far more sensitive to such things.
Small, hurried footsteps approached the stall.
“Wow! It’s weally here!”
A child with long black hair cascading to her waist—so cute she could be mistaken for an angel—came running excitedly. It was, of course, Byeol.
“Daddy! It’s the taiyaki guy! He’s here!”
“You’re right.” Do-Jun walked up casually, feigning curiosity.
“Ah, w-welcome...” Hakase stuttered.
Do-Jun glanced at the cash box, overflowing with money, and smiled.
1. Taiyaki is a Japanese fish-shaped cake, often served as a street food. It’s typically filled with red bean paste, but other fillings like custard, chocolate, or even savory ingredients are available. The batter is similar to pancake or waffle batter and is cooked in fish-shaped moulds. ☜