Healing in the Country Side with a Baby Dragon - CHAPTER 29 (Crybaby Puppies)

After that, James continued to rant and rave, calling the whole thing absolute nonsense.

"America’s scientific prowess is the best in the world! So how on earth did you grow so many crops that even America couldn't manage?"

"Because that’s K-agriculture."

"That’s K-farming for you!"

The two of them kept mumbling "K" as if it were some kind of magic word.

"K-!"

Even Seol-ah, who used to be so shy, chimed in, mimicking the word.

"As expected, Miss Seol-ah has also fallen for the majesty of K!" Oh-sik barked proudly.

"Oh—"

"No, that’s not it! Go away! Shoo! Shoo!"

When Oh-sik and James tried to corrupt Seol-ah with their weird "K" obsession, I quickly chased them off. It was only after Seol-ah followed my lead, waving her tiny hands and shouting "Hwi, Hwi!" that the commotion finally ended.

"Hmm, ahem. Well, I was just so surprised. How did you do it? It’s truly remarkable." 

James coughed awkwardly, clearing his throat as if he finally felt embarrassed by his outburst.

Meanwhile...

"Bya-bya—"

Seol-ah was completely mesmerized by the red bead—or rather, the red orb. Her mouth hung wide open as she stared intently at the jewel resting inside its case. She looked entirely possessed.

Actually, Seol-ah has always had a soft spot for shiny toys. Is it because she's a dragon?

"Seol-ah, is this pretty?" I asked.

"Yes!"

"Do you want it?"

"Yes!"

Seol-ah nodded rapidly, her eyes still glued to the glowing marble. If Seol-ah liked it, that was all that mattered. Anything for her.

"I’m glad you like it, Seol-ah." James said, smiling. 

"You’re much better than a certain someone who doesn't even know its true value."

"Hey, I said thank you earlier." I grumbled.

"That’s that, and this is this!"

Ouch, my eyes. It was genuinely hard to watch a massive, muscular, middle-aged man snort so sarcastically.

In the end, Seol-ah claimed the red bead.

[A bead of unknown identity.]

[A jewel of unknown identity. Extremely elegant and beautiful.]

[A faint warmth lingers within it.]

It was beautiful to look at, and it was even better because it came with special options. This was worth way more than just treating someone to ramen and 'budae-jjigae' (army base stew).

[A Beginner Father’s Parenting Life]

[Seol-ah’s favorite accessory!]

[Seol-ah has found a favorite bead. Make sure she always carries it with her so she doesn't lose it. Seol-ah will definitely love it.]

"Thank you. I'll take good care of it." I told James.

I figured it would be perfect if I turned it into a necklace for her. When I tried to hand him some of our Golden Bell Tomatoes and Apples of Life in return, James firmly shook his head.

"No, I can't accept those."

"Why? We have plenty, so please take some."

"There is no way I could steal crops that your earth fairies grew."

"Stealing? I’m gifting them to you."

"You young folks talk too lightly of it. If I take these back, people will try to cultivate them in the States. They'll just end up taking them away from you."

Ah. So he was worried that if he accepted them, the US government would try to mass-produce them.

"They wouldn't be able to grow them anyway." I replied smoothly.

James’s eyes widened at my unexpected answer. He probably thought I was just being naive and handing things out without a care in the world. But this wasn't naivety; it was pure confidence.

Ever since we started selling Golden Bell Tomatoes and Apples of Life, there wasn't a single person in the country who hadn't dreamed of replicating them. But it was close to impossible. For starters, they didn't have the EX-grade iron farming tools and any benefits we received from the earth fairies and dwarves.

"To be precise, there is no one else who can raise them the way I do."

Even if someone miraculously succeeded in sprouting them, they would never be able to consistently harvest Grade-A crops like I could. And besides...

"I’ve already applied for variety protection."

There was no way Hanseong would just sit back and watch. We were already in the process of securing intellectual property rights for the crop varieties, registering them both domestically in Korea and internationally. Just in case.

"Then take this instead." I said, bringing a sleek box out from the house.

The last time Oh-sik had collapsed, I got the idea to blend and feed him a mix of Golden Bell Tomatoes and Apples of Life. Inspired by that, this was a prototype healing potion created by combining our raw ingredients with the top-tier technological prowess of Hanseong, a massive corporation.

"It’s Apple-Tomato Health Juice."

Of course, that wasn't its official name. Originally, I wanted to call it the 'Infinite Golden Elixir Containing the Source of Life', but when Han Ga-ram heard that, her face turned dead serious for the first time in her life. So, for now, I was stuck calling it something normal. It’s strange—why doesn't anyone appreciate my naming sense?

Inside the luxurious box were twenty neatly packed vials filled with a glowing golden liquid. This was the very first result of our new pharmaceutical development efforts. Though it wasn't a commercial product yet, its efficacy was undeniable. Since it couldn't be manufactured without my specific tomatoes and apples, exporting this was perfectly safe.

"Oh my goodness, I can't thank you enough! Now this is a proper Korean gift set!"

James happily accepted the health juice set. It would undoubtedly be an incredible asset for him when conquering Dungeons and Gates.

"Jin-sol, you run a truly wonderful company." James looked back and forth between the box and me, deeply moved.

"I will never forget this kindness." he continued, his tone turning solemn. 

"I will absolutely remember this. Jin-sol, you are officially my friend now. I will fly over to help you whenever you are in trouble."

"Thank you, James. It’s great to have you as a friend."

"By the way, Jin-sol, are you married? Where is your wife?"

"No, I’m still single."

"My daughter is incredibly beautiful. Do you want me to set up a meeting?" James suggested with a subtle wink.

Right at that exact moment, I felt a heavy weight anchoring my leg. Before I knew it, Seol-ah was clinging tightly to my pants, staring up at me with massive, teary eyes. Her gaze practically screamed, 'Are you really going to leave me behind for another woman?'

I chuckled and shook my head, gently stroking her round, silver hair. Where could I possibly go while leaving this adorable kid behind?

"Hahaha, I haven't really thought about marriage yet."

"You’ll regret it later! Don't come crying to me when it's too late!" James grinned, turning around to head out. 

"I had a dreamlike time here."

"I'm glad you enjoyed your stay."

*Swish.*

Right before stepping through the dimensional gate, he whipped out a pair of sunglasses and put them on.

"I’ll be back,." he said, giving me a thumbs-up and quoting the famous movie line.

Wow. I never thought I’d see that iconic scene re-enacted right in front of my eyes. But what surprised me even more was something else.

"His vibe completely changes when he switches from Korean to English." I murmured.

"Indeed." Oh-sik agreed.

When James spoke Korean, he sounded like a slightly witty, neighborhood old man. But the moment he spoke English, he transformed into an absolute macho action hero. This bizarre contrast was a secret known only to me.

"Uaaaaah—!"

I stretched my arms over my head and clapped my hands together. It was time to wake up from the daydream and get back to reality.

"Shall we get to work today, then? Come on, everyone! Gather 'round!"

"Great Master, you called?"

"The Great Master is looking for us!"

As I walked over to the garden and called out to our earth fairies, they came rushing out from the soil as if they had been waiting for me all morning.

"Bya—"

Seol-ah was still clinging tightly to my leg. She was a total daddy's girl, stuck to me like glue.

"Alright everyone, let’s get started!"

And just like that, another day of labor began at our farm where happiness grows.

It’s true that the earth fairies handle the bulk of the farming, but that didn't mean I just sat around doing nothing. In fact, because the earth fairies were so busy, Oh-sik and I had to keep up the pace.

"The lettuce has grown a lot." I noted, inspecting the rows.

"The lettuce plants were in an excellent mood because the sunlight was perfect today!" an earth fairy squeaked back.

"Hey, look at this pumpkin over here. It's massive!"

"Tang-tang-tang-tang! We are overjoyed that you recognize the hard work of the earth fairies!"

There were so many crops to tend to and harvest. We carefully pulled out the fully ripened vegetables and pruned away the unnecessary branches. Fortunately, we didn't have to worry about a single pest. I had actually asked them why a while back.

'There is no insect foolish enough to dare step foot into the Young Master's domain!'

'No bug could ever endure the wrath of the Young Master!'

Apparently, even common pests knew better than to invade a Dragon's Lair.

"Bya-bya—"

"Eek! Is that yours, Young Master? It’s so beautiful!"

"Blah-blah-blah—"

"Can we touch it? Wow, thank you!"

Seol-ah, the tiny dragon who technically owned this entire Lair, was proudly showing off her new red orb to the earth fairies. They were all huddled together like little fluffballs, staring at the bead and giggling happily.

I suppose she looked incredibly cute from a peaceful farming perspective, but to the bugs, she must have been a terrifying apex predator. Honestly, a country house like this usually swarms with insects, but even when I left the porch lights wide open at night, not a single moth came near us. It was a massive blessing.

"My lord, over there."

Lately, Oh-sik had been doing an incredible job. It felt like he had learned a lot about security by helping out the village elders.

"Heh-heh-heh-heh—"

"Over there! There’s an intruder over there!"

These days, our three resident puppies were also doing their part. Following the direction Oh-sik was pointing, Nurungji dashed forward with an earth fairy riding securely on his back, furiously digging into the dirt with his front paws. They were pulling up weeds.

"The intruder has been successfully eliminated!"

"Woof!"

The earth fairy and Nurungji barked in shared victory after winning their fierce battle against a stubborn weed. Nurungji's bark was still a bit raspy since his throat hadn't fully developed yet, but it was adorable nonetheless.

"Sniff, sniff, sniff—"

Meanwhile, Siru was digging up weeds entirely on his own without needing any instructions from the earth fairies. It looked like he had figured out how to distinguish weeds purely by scent. Siru’s eyes were bright and clear with focus.

"And what about... Seol-gi?"

"Haaam—"

Seol-gi was currently sprawled out on the ground, letting out a massive yawn. It looked like he was planning to use the soft, tilled dirt as a bed for a morning nap. Well, that was typical of him.

"Good job, boys."

Even though they all did things in their own unique way, they had helped out with the gardening, so it was time for a reward. I handed each of them a fresh leaf of lettuce.

Nurungji sprinted furiously toward a lettuce leaf that was practically as big as his entire body and began crunching away. Siru held his leaf politely with his front paws, eating gracefully. Seol-gi just lay on his side, munching lazily as if he were eating in his sleep.

They all looked completely different, but the crunching noises they made were perfectly synchronized. Seriously, how are puppies so cute even when they make a mess while eating?

"Bya—"

Of course, Seol-ah munching on a small piece of lettuce right next to me was the cutest sight of all. I patted her head gently and got ready to head out. I had scheduled an appointment to take the three puppy brothers to the animal clinic today.

"Take good care of the house while I'm gone." I told Oh-sik.

"Do not worry, Master! I will eliminate any and all enemies who dare approach!" Oh-sik declared, standing guard at the front gate in his shiny armor.

"If a guest comes, don't attack them. Welcome them politely."

Leaving the house in Oh-sik's capable hands, I climbed into the truck. Seol-ah rode in a seat next to me, and the three puppies were nestled safely in a box on the seat. Throughout the entire drive to town, Seol-ah still couldn't take her eyes off that red bead.

"Seol-ah, do you really like that bead?"

"Yes!" She smiled brilliantly, nodding her head. I was just glad she loved it so much.

"Hello there."

"Oh, if it isn't the handsome young bachelor!"

When I opened the door to the 'Sarang Animal Hospital' and stepped inside, the neighborhood women’s association president, Ms. Kim Soon-ja, was sitting at the front desk. She immediately cooed at Seol-ah.

"Hello, President Kim."

"Ah, you're here?"

The head veterinarian, Director Ham Sa-rang, came out to greet me. 

"Seol-ah, welcome! Oh, how have you been?"

"Bya—!"

"Oh my? What a gorgeous bead. Is that yours, Seol-ah?"

"Byaa—!"

Seol-ah hopped onto a chair and engaged in a very pleasant "conversation" with Director Ham Sa-rang, who practically had honey dripping from her eyes. Seol-ah smiled warmly, chattering away to the vet who always showed her so much affection.

Then, Ham Sa-rang’s smile grew even wider when she spotted the three brothers peeking out from inside the box.

"Hey, little guys! How have you been?"

At the sound of her voice, the three puppies stood up on their hind legs, furiously wagging their tails. She genuinely loved animals, and the feeling was entirely mutual.

Director Ham Sa-rang gently lifted Nurungji out first, preparing a syringe for his vaccination. Nurungji, completely oblivious to his impending doom, stood proudly on the examination table with his tail held high.

With practiced skill, Ham Sa-rang gave him a soothing pet and injected the needle.

"......?"

Nurungji’s body stiffened at the unfamiliar, sharp sensation. It was only after the needle was completely withdrawn that he realized what had happened.

"Kyang! Kyang!"

A beat too late, he let out a dramatic yelp of pain.

"All done! Our brave Nurungji is all done—"

Even though Director Ham Sa-rang gently rocked and comforted him, Nurungji’s tiny body wouldn't stop trembling. The look of pure betrayal in his eyes as he stared up at me was intense. 

'There's nothing I can do about it, Nurungji. It's for your own good.'

"Alright, next batter."

Siru’s body went rigid as if he had already deduced what was happening, but resistance was futile.

"Phew—"

He let out a heavy sigh, seemingly resigning himself to his fate as I placed him on the table. He just quietly accepted the injection. Though his legs shook slightly when the needle went in, I was deeply impressed that he didn't make a single sound.

"Oh my, Siru is such a brave boy. How can he be so well-behaved?"

At Ham Sa-rang's praise, Siru raised his head high, adopting a haughty expression as if to say he was on an entirely different level from Nurungji. But despite his stoic face, his rapidly wagging tail completely gave away how happy the compliment made him.

Finally, it was time for the last one.

Seol-gi still wore a completely blank, clueless expression. He was just wagging his tail happily, looking back and forth between me and the vet.

The moment the needle pierced his skin, his sleepy eyes snapped wide open. He couldn't even manage a proper yelp; instead, massive tears immediately began pooling in his eyes.

"Oh, Seol-gi, I'm so sorry! Did it hurt a lot? You're okay, you're okay." Director Ham Sa-rang crooned apologetically, gently patting his bottom.

Phew. I let out a sigh of relief, glad that we had somehow managed to get through the vaccinations safely.

Just then, Seol-ah’s wide eyes met mine. I flashed her a reassuring smile to show her everything was fine and that we were in the clear.

"Heuk—"

Suddenly, Seol-ah’s large eyes began to tremble with sheer shock, and tears welled up along her eyelids.

"Waaaaah—!"

She burst into a full-blown sob.

It turned out she had completely misunderstood the situation and thought it was her turn to get a shot next.

"No, no! Seol-ah, you aren't getting a shot! Don't cry, sweetie, you're fine!" I panicked, waving my hands.

"Byaaaaang—!"

With Seol-ah crying at the top of her lungs, the three puppy brothers—who had been barely holding it together—built up a chain reaction and burst into tears as well. For a good while, we had no choice but to desperately console a frantic chorus of four crying babies.