I vowed not to use magic…
Shiver shiver-
In embarrassment, I wrapped myself in a blanket and timidly stepped out of my room.
Cheon Saetbyeol… This one’s reactions are making me even more anxious.
“Daddy! Saetbyeol wants the cat doll!”
“Hahaha!”
“Ah, please don’t!”
Still, I wonder if my sincerity reached Professor Cheon.
He attempted introductions with Luri, holding a translator.
“Do you understand English?”
“She probably understands it a bit. Well, I’m not really sure.”
“I’m Cheon Kyu-jin, your dad. Just call me Cheon or Uncle. What’s your name?”
“…”
“I guess you’re still shy. That’s okay. No need to force yourself.”
“Luri…”
“?”
“Luri.”
“Is your name Luri?”
Nod-
“Actually, it’s a name I just gave. You didn’t tell me your name…”
“Aah, then can we just call you Luri?”
Nod-
“Okay. Then, since Na-me is being stubborn, let’s all think about it together.”
To cut to the chase, I couldn’t adopt Luri right away.
I needed to report to the Chinese authorities to obtain birth records or proof of parents’ death or disappearance, and if those weren’t available, I’d have to get temporary guardianship from an international organization.
Then, we’d need to designate a legal guardian and review it for a month, get adoption approval from China in half a year, and then proceed with international adoption procedures in Korea for another half a year.
That’s the official process.
“Taking a year is too much.”
“At least a year; it could take up to two if it gets prolonged.”
Considering I’m a dragon, I couldn’t even get the timing for hatching right.
Maybe sensing my thoughts, Luri’s head was filled with question marks.
Once Luri comes to Korea, I might get adoption rights through my father’s military mage clout, but…
“Smuggling her into Korea…”
Professor Cheon shot me a sharp glare.
“That’s out of the question, right? Hehe, right?”
Wait a minute.
Have I been overthinking this all along?
“Can we go to Korea through a company invitation?”
The reason the country restricts immigration is that if social or economic issues arise, there’s no one to take responsibility.
But if a company guarantees it, that’s a different issue.
If she lives in Shangyang, refugee status would be granted right away.
If we create a contract-based job through a company, she could even get her visa.
“Are you talking about Janjeol?”
“No, Janjeol gets too much attention; it’ll become noisy. But there’s a decent planning agency.”
I had established NoName Entertainment last summer and made Lee Bo-reum the CEO.
Streaming profits had exploded astronomically over nearly a year.
All content creation and editing for NoName and Adella channels was handled by them.
I heard she was busy lately, billing the Chinese middlemen for profits.
I called Lee Bo-reum right away.
“Hello.”
[Hello? Na-me! Are you feeling okay? Everyone’s been quite worried!]
“Ah, I’m fine, sister. I called to ask something, do you have a moment?”
[Sure, just tell me.]
“I’d like you to create a simple temporary job. She’s about my age.”
[Huh? If she’s around your age, that makes her 10?]
“About that.”
[I’m not quite understanding, could you explain a bit?]
As I explained the situation, I could vividly picture Lee Bo-reum’s shocked expression.
[It’s not difficult, but… We were thinking of venturing into kids’ content since the things you made are doing really well.]
“Then, discuss with the staff and send me the labor contract form by tonight. Thank you for your constant efforts, and I’ll give you a bonus today. Fighting!”
[By tonight? Na-me? Na-me!]
Click-
I gave a thumbs up.
“I’ve solved the problem.”
“No, I think the problem is just starting, Na-me…”
Professor Cheon pushed his bangs back.
It was one of those days where his uncolored white hairs stood out.
*
As I ascended higher, the mana thinned.
It was common sense carried over from my past life.
The Luri I created in Kaizen World soared through the sky with magnificent wings, but—
In reality, her wings had been shredded by the dark wizard Kaimdal, preventing her from flying.
I guess that’s why.
Luri, who had never experienced such an environment where mana was almost untraceable, was now…
Huuuh… Ugh… Urgh.
“Are you okay?”
[……]
As the chartered plane took off, she trembled in fear, pouring cold sweat.
The dragon’s proud language was useless at an altitude of 10 km.
“78 over 55, completely low blood pressure. Don’t look outside, just keep taking deep breaths while lying down. Let’s hold on for another hour and a half.”
I laid Luri, whose face had turned pale, flat on the floor and lifted her legs.
I had intended to teach her some Korean on the way, but the printed Kumon worksheets I brought were wholly useless.
“Is she very sick?”
Saetbyeol bent down to check on Luri’s condition.
“It looks like neurogenic fainting. I didn’t know she had acrophobia.”
While I repeatedly wiped her sweat with a cold wet towel…
“Oh dear… Na-me, could it be that Luri was one of the children from a place like this?”
Professor Cheon cautiously suggested, showing me a news article.
[Shocking ‘Group Child Slave Labor’ in China’s Hubei Province… Children escape after factory collapses in earthquake.]
As police conducted a thorough investigation of the refugee camp, an article reported that over 200 children had been sold by human traffickers and were forced to work.
“Maybe that’s possible…”
It was a disheartening thought.
The article itself garnered little attention and faded from search trends.
Instead, the visit of China’s top actor to the earthquake disaster site was sensationally covered.
“No, let’s not feel powerless in a situation like this.”
I clenched my fists in determination.
I’m not a god, and believing I could make the world perfect is possibly the delusion of a dictator who’s gone too far.
In my past life, I endeavored to eliminate erosion for a better world, and largely, it was achieved.
[Mother, why did you sacrifice your life for that vile emperor? He took all your accomplishments! Everything we built together!]
But even in that world, Luri had no place to stand.
It seems I must accept that my way has gone wrong.
Clutch-
“?”
Luri grabbed my finger with her delicate little hand.
She opened her eyes slightly and smiled.
A poor creature sacrificed to a witch’s greed and obsessions.
‘You’ve suffered a lot in your past life. You don’t have to suffer here.’
Now, I must take good care of those around me.
Instead of radically changing the world, I should slowly cultivate a beautiful garden and expand it bit by bit.
Nevertheless, the goal of revenge…
It seemed deeply embedded in the depths of my heart like a thorn that wouldn’t come out.
*
“Wow, home! How long has it been!”
Saetbyeol shouted, bouncing around the living room.
“Isn’t it a bit too cold?”
The living room was as cold as a freezer.
“Oh, it’s so cold. I need to turn on the heating. Let me see. Hey, kids, is takeout okay for dinner?”
“I love chicken! Chicken chicken chicken!”
“I agree, grilled chicken.”
“Are you kidding? Chicken has to be fried.”
“Then let’s order one of each.”
“Ugh, do we really have to? I wanted to have some seasoned chicken too.”
Even while complaining, they immediately started placing an order.
Saetbyeol and I were so happy to be back home after almost two months.
On the other hand, Luri felt everything was strange and had to concentrate on not getting surprised.
For instance…
[Why are there so many magic towers in this world?]
‘Apartment.’
[There’s a whale flying in the sky!]
‘Hologram advertisement.’
[Look, there’s a large demon beast… Mother? Eomeoni!]
‘Tower crane.’
You get the picture.
If there hadn’t been any language, it would’ve been just a matter of time before she figured it out.
“Luri.”
[Yes, Eomeoni.]
“Come here. I’ll give you some clothes.”
[?]
Oh right. She doesn’t know Korean, does she?
Wiggle wiggle-
I beckoned her to my room with my finger.
Chills ran down my arms, giving me goosebumps.
I opened the closet and pondered which clothes to give Luri.
‘Still, she’s a dragon, so…’
I handed her a dragon pajama from my beloved zodiac animal pajama collection.
It might not match because it was green, but it’s fine since we share the same species.
I picked a pink pig pajama for myself and stripped down.
[Um, Eomeoni, wait a minute.]
“Why? Just put it on, Luri. If it’s hard to zip it up at the back, let me know.”
[How can I be in the same space as you…?]
“Eh? Is it because you’re shy? Okay, I’m sorry. I won’t see. I’ll look this way. Is that good?”
[No, that’s not it… Ah, no, it’s fine, Eomeoni. I’ll wear it.]
Soft fabric enveloped my skin.
If I had known they would be discontinued, I should have bought a few more.
By the way, seeing Luri be so shy makes me think she’s truly a teenage girl.
After all, she was 15 in her past life. She was really so young.
The rustling sound died down.
After a while of staring at the wall, I asked Luri.
“Are you done?”
[Eomeoni, it smells.]
“It smells? No way, Dad said he washed everything.”
No matter how much I sniffed, I couldn’t smell anything but fabric softener.
Is she perhaps someone who dislikes those scents?
[Was it your clothes, Eomeoni?]
“Yeah. They’re in my closet, so they’re mine.”
[!%#@#!#]
Luri muttered something nonsensical.
“Wow! It’s already here!”
Before I knew it, the chicken had arrived.
We spread out the meal on the living room floor and began setting up.
With a bang, the door swung open, and the pig and dragon charged in.
“Wow! You guys look great together! If someone saw you, they might think you’re twins. I have to take a picture!”
Professor Cheon smiled widely for the first time in ages.
I struck a pose, wiggling my pig tail.
“Your sister kind of looks like… I don’t know, a North Korean pig?”
“Oh, really?”
Grunt-
“Ekk! That’s a bone! Ouch, ouch!”
Saetbyeol stomped on her thigh with her foot and sat down hard on her.
Our weak backs couldn’t hold up, and we both fell backward.
“Luri can sit here. I wonder if she’ll like chicken.”
“She will definitely like it. By the way, I remember the first time she came to Dad’s house, and we often ordered chicken.”
“Back then, I was busy with college… I’m really sorry for not taking care of you.”
“No, I only have good memories.”
“I’m grateful to hear you think that way, my daughter.”
“Sis, were you always this heavy… No, what’s with this aura? Hurry up and put it away!”
We each took a corner of the square seating arrangement.
There was one spot left where the TV was least visible.
We urged Luri, who was standing awkwardly.
“What are you doing? Come on, sit down.”
“Luri, do you want a plastic glove, chopsticks, or a fork?”
“Luri, welcome to our home. It may be modest, but this is our welcome party.”
“It’s a welcome party?”
“Something like that.”
Even though she probably wouldn’t understand what we were saying now…
In time, we would get to know each other better.
But can’t you tell by looking? There’s a friendly atmosphere around.
“Thank you!”
“Oh? When did you learn that?”
That was the moment Luri officially became a new family member.
“I’m going to eat well!”
