Healing in the Country Side with a Baby Dragon - CHAPTER 31 (Territoriy War)

I had a beautiful dream.

I saw a country house with an orange roof, where a baby dragon was flying happily around the yard. Every time she flapped her small wings, the sunlight caught her silvery scales, scattering brilliant sparkles across the grass. Golden butterflies fluttered and played all around her, while fluffy earth fairies swarmed below, and our three puppies joined in, wagging their tails with sheer delight.

A butterfly gently landed right on one of the puppy’s noses. The pup stared at it cross-eyed for a moment before dizzily flopping onto its side. The butterfly flapped its wings as if laughing and soared back up into the sky.

'It’s so peaceful.'

If a dream garden truly existed in this world, it had to be right here. Whenever I used to dream in the past, I would recall my old hardships and wake up feeling melancholic. But a sweet dream like this? I would welcome it any day.

Then, I noticed a white dragon wearing a sky-blue dress. Seol-ah was absolutely adorable in her dragon form. But because it was a dream, did she look just a little bit bigger than before? The red bead necklace I had made for her hung elegantly around her neck, serving as the perfect focal point.

Soon, Seol-ah’s eyes locked onto mine. Spotting me, she chirped happily, swooped down from the air, and slammed right into my chest.

"Oof!"

I gasped from the sudden, heavy impact. 

'Wait a minute. This is a dream, right? If it’s a dream, it shouldn’t actually hurt this much, should it?'

Seol-ah clung to my arms, rubbing her head wildly against me. After a good, affectionate nuzzle, she rested her little chin directly on my chest and peered up at me. Her warm breath tickled the underside of my chin, making me burst out laughing.

"Bbulrur—" Seol-ah let out a happy dragon giggle.

Only then did the truth hit me. This wasn't a dream at all; it was reality.

I smiled and began to gently stroke Seol-ah from her head down to her back. She closed her eyes tightly and let out a soft, purring sound, clearly enjoying the touch. Then, a soft white light enveloped her form, and she shifted back into her human mode.

"Hehe—"

Still resting snugly in my arms, Seol-ah smiled bashfully up at me. With her chubby, pinchable cheeks and sparkling eyes, she was incredibly cute in her dragon mode—but baby Seol-ah in human form was easily the prettiest and most adorable thing in the universe.

I lifted her high into the air, laughing brightly. But as I did, a sudden realization struck me.

'Huh? Seol-ah, have you actually grown a bit?'

Somehow, she felt noticeably heavier than when we had walked out to the town earlier. I immediately carried her over to the wooden pillar inside the house. It was the designated spot where I had been marking her height.

"Seol-ah, let's stand you up here for a second, okay?"

I set her feet firmly on the ground against the pillar. The notch that had remained completely unchanged until yesterday was now entirely covered by the top of her head!

"Seol-ah! You really did grow taller!"

"Yes!"

She had shot up by a few solid centimeters. It wasn't just my imagination. Hearing the news that she had grown, Seol-ah raised her hands to her head multiple times in pure wonder. I quickly grabbed a pen and drew a fresh mark on the wood.

People always say that children grow bigger every single day, but closing my eyes for a brief nap and waking up to a taller child felt entirely surreal.

'Kids grow up overnight, dear. Buy one size bigger!'

The wise words of the clothing store owner echoed in my mind. Thank goodness I listened to her!

"Seol-ah, you're going to keep growing super fast from now on, aren't you?"

"Uh-huh!"

"Our precious Seol-ah, just how big do you want to get?"

"Byaa—!"

Seol-ah spread her arms as wide as they could possibly go, even standing on her tiptoes to maximize her stretch. Judging by her intense focus, she clearly wanted to grow into a massive, magnificent being.

"Alright, grow as much as you want."

"Yes!"

Delighted by my permission, Seol-ah began bouncing up and down as if she might hit a growth spurt right then and there. Then, grabbing my hand tightly, her little feet pattered rapidly as she dragged me out into the yard.

Once outside, she carefully cradled a tiny butterfly in her palms and showed it to me. The butterfly resting against her pale, delicate hand was a striking golden color with a deep tint of red. The shifting patterns on its wings looked exactly like flickering flames.

"Blah blah blah—"

Come to think of it, I had caught a glimpse of this exact creature during my half-asleep haze. I had completely forgotten about it because I was so focused on Seol-ah's height.

"A butterfly?"

"...Fly." Seol-ah attempted to mimic my pronunciation. "Nyabi!"

She proudly raised her hands, introducing the creature to me. Right on cue, the butterfly sitting on her palm slowly folded its wings as if bowing in greeting.

*Whzooooom—*

(Greetings, caregiver of the Great Being. We are the fire fairies who govern warmth and flame. We have manifested at the direct call of the Great Being.)

"Oh, hello. Nice to meet you. My name is Baek Jin-sol."

*Whzzt.*

(It is an absolute honor to meet you.)

It was a fascinating method of communication—they didn't speak words, but instead embroidered glowing letters in the air using tiny sparks of fire. When they referred to a 'Great Being,' they obviously meant Seol-ah. Had she accidentally summoned them?

Right as the thought crossed my mind, a massive swarm of other fiery butterflies flocked over to us.

*Whoosh, crackle, whoosh!*

They dynamically embroidered a flurry of glowing messages in the air. Most of them were warm words of welcome, and the soft, crackling sound of their tiny flames created a strange, beautiful harmony.

'What should I call these guys?' I pondered. 

'The moths to a flame? No... that sounds like they're going to get hurt.' 

I immediately erased that terrible thought from my brain.

"Can I just call you all fire fairies?"

*Crackle—*

(You may bestow upon us whatever title pleases you.)

"Great. How about... 'butterflies from another world that flutter around carrying a gentle, warm flame'?"

"..."

The entire swarm of butterflies went completely still. The silence was deafening.

'Ouch, okay. That hurts my feelings a little bit.'

"I'll just stick to fire fairies."

*Crackle!*

(We thank you, O Gracious One, who protects the Great Being.)

Only then did the butterflies resume flapping their wings in perfect, relieved unison. It felt like they were letting out a collective sigh of relief. 

'Man, when will someone finally come along and appreciate my brilliant naming sense?'

"Where do you guys plan on staying?" I asked. 

Now that our household had expanded, I needed to figure out their living arrangements.

*Whoosh, hiss.*

(We see a place over there overflowing with lush green leaves. We intend to reside within it.)

If they meant the place with lots of leaves, they were talking about my farm crop garden.

'Wait, is that actually safe?'

"I'm just asking to be sure, but... you won't accidentally burn my crops or anything, right?" 

I asked, laying out my concern. If my hard-earned garden or, heaven forbid, the house burned down, it would be an absolute disaster.

*Sizzle, giggle, hiss!*

At my question, the moths—pardon me, the fire fairies—burst into a crackle of laughter.

Great. First the earth fairies laugh and tease me, and now the fire fairies are doing it too. My knowledge of magical creatures was expanding in the worst way possible.

*Whzooooom—*

(We are primordial entities who manifest and control fire. We possess the profound wisdom required to distinguish between what should be consumed by flame and what must be preserved.)

To prove its point, one of the fairies slowly fluttered down and landed right on the back of my hand. I flinched initially, terrified that it might scorch my skin, but it didn't burn at all.

"Wow, it's warm."

In fact, it felt incredibly cozy. I extended a finger and gently stroked its wings, an automatic smile spreading across my face. It had a remarkably soft texture, akin to touching warm, premium silk. It was so soothing I didn't want to stop. The fire fairy giggled, fluttering through my fingers as if my touch tickled its wings. It was a surreal feeling to hold literal fire in the palm of my hand.

But when I pulled my hand back, I blinked in surprise.

"Uh?"

There was a fine, glowing red powder coating my skin. It must have shaken loose from its wings.

[Fire Fairy Dust]

[The fine powder that falls from the wings of a fire fairy. It warms up any targeted object, allowing it to retain heat for an extended duration. It is deeply imbued with a rich, savory fragrance of open flame.]

'Oh? This item comes with some pretty unique options.'

But wait, looking at this description...

'Wouldn't this be absolutely incredible for cooking?'

If I used this, I wouldn't even need an insulated lunch box anymore. Just a light sprinkle of this fairy dust on any food would keep it piping hot for hours. Not only that, but out of curiosity, I dabbed a tiny speck of the powder from my finger onto the tip of my tongue.

'Whoa! It's pure fire flavor!'

The distinct, smoky aroma of a high-end Jjamppong restaurant instantly exploded across my palate. On top of that, there was a deeply savory, rich undertone that I had never tasted in any ordinary seasoning before. Is this what fire actually tastes like?

'This isn't just fairy dust—it's a legendary culinary enhancer!'

Suddenly, my eyes locked onto the glowing trails of dust scattering beneath the wings of the fire fairies as they flew around the yard. I was absolutely certain that if I harvested and stored this powder, it would become the ultimate secret weapon for my kitchen. The current volume was a bit small, but it wouldn't hurt to ask.

"Hey, how much of this powder can you guys produce?"

*Crackle!*

(As much as your heart desires.)

'Jackpot.'

I had struck literal gold yet again.

And as it turned out, the fire fairies' utility didn't stop at seasoning. They possessed another staggering ability.

*Whoosh— crackle, hiss—*

(O Apple of Life, you are a fruit born to be cherished, an existence heavily showered in warmth and adoration. Showcase your magnificent beauty to the world.)

The fire fairies began landing on the Apples of Life one by one, singing a harmonious, crackling melody. Instantly, the solid green apples began to blush into a vibrant, fiery red right before my eyes. This meant that a maturation process that would normally take an entire week was being completed in a matter of seconds!

It wasn't just limited to the apples either; the effect spread rapidly to the other crops, including the golden cherry tomatoes. Wherever the fire fairies flapped their wings, the surrounding produce turned incredibly luscious and perfectly ripe. The fire fairies proudly explained that fire represents hot, accelerating life force, so it was only natural for crops exposed to it to ripen instantly.

'Wait... if this keeps up, I'm going to hit a major crisis!'

A profound sense of dread washed over me. I had explicitly harvested every single ripe crop just this morning, yet the garden was already overgrown and practically bursting with a fresh batch of fully mature produce. The raw, unstoppable vitality was suffocating the fields.

If things continued at this rate, the earth fairies’ hyper-efficient farming combined with the fire fairies’ instant-ripening abilities would turn my backyard into an infinite crop factory operating on a brutal, 24-hour continuous shift!

This was, without a doubt, the greatest threat to my peaceful, slow-paced rural healing life. If I didn't intervene, I was going to accidentally become an multi-billionaire agricultural tycoon!

"Stop! Everyone, stop right there!" 

I yelled, frantically intervening as if slamming my hand down on a massive emergency shutdown button.

The fire fairies let out a series of crackles, expressing their deep disappointment at being cut short, but I remained firm. I had to resolutely block their terrifying work ethic. They might be eager to grind away 24/7, but I certainly wasn't.

"For now, could you guys please focus on gathering that fairy dust and shaking it into that large storage container over there?"

*Crackle!*

(Understood!)

Thrilled to have a new task assigned to them, the entire swarm eagerly rushed over to the container. Finally, a fragile peace returned to the garden.

"Geez... and here I thought I was totally done for the day."

I let out a weary laugh, forced to grab my basket for an unexpected second harvest.

I let out a deep, exhausted sigh, walking into the garden with Seol-ah happily piggybacking on my back.

Behind us, out of my line of sight, the fire fairies huddled together and continued to shake out their glowing dust.

(Pour it out, pour it out! Unleash the raw essence of life force!) 

They chirped, feeling incredibly proud of themselves for giving vitality to the plants. Of course, if I had known they were still doing it, I would have had a total heart attack.

As the fiery butterflies emitted their intense, concentrated heat, the native residents of the garden began to notice.

"Thump, thump, thump! Look over there, the flame butterflies have invaded!"

"The fire butterflies are glaring at our holy agricultural workshop!"

The earth fairies of the garden quickly mobilized, marching over to surround the newcomers.

*Hiss, whoosh—*

(Oh look, the flightless dirt-puppies have arrived. Poor, wretched creatures who can only crawl upon the mud.)

*Whzzt? Crackle—*

(Did you layout this garden? The layout is in utterly pathetic condition. Surrender the territory to us immediately.)

The earth fairies exploded with rage at the blatant provocation. In the hierarchy of the spirit realm, fire fairies and earth fairies were historical, textbook adversaries. A perpetual rivalry existed between their elements. As the old saying goes, enemies always meet on a narrow log bridge—and since they had crossed paths in the exact same backyard, an explosive conflict was inevitable.

"You arrogant fire moths! You are absolutely no match for our earthen might!"

"Those who don't even know the basic mechanics of planting seeds dare to speak down to us!"

"We are fundamentally superior to a bunch of brainless fools who only know how to burn out brightly!"

The earth fairies were so furious that the tiny hairs on their round heads stood completely on end.

"Pfft-crackle—!"

(What utter nonsense! How dare you insult our glorious flame with such derogatory words!)

*Whoosh!*

(You are nothing but muddy ground-puppies!)

One of the fire fairies actually shed tiny tears of shock from being called a brainless fool, while another spread its wings wide, fiercely buzzing to threaten a counterattack. They were putting everything they had into looking terrifyingly angry, but to any human observer, it just looked like a tiny butterfly widening its wings at a fluffy, puffed-up cotton ball.

Furthermore, because they were arguing in their native elemental languages, all that echoed through the yard was a chaotic chorus of adorable babbling, crackling, and gurgling sounds.

"Ground-puppies?! You will pay dearly for insulting the great earth fairies! Taste the wrath of the earth fairy's stone fist!"

Unable to contain her volcanic rage, one of the earth fairies lunged forward, swinging her tiny, cotton-ball-like fist and smacking the fire fairy's wing.

*Boop.* 

A minuscule, soft sound echoed.

*Hiss!*

(Gasp! A cowardly, unprovoked surprise attack! You want to taste the burning fury of my flame wings, don't you?!)

This time, the fire fairy launched a counteroffensive. It flapped its wings aggressively, generating a tiny gust of wind that sent the earth fairy tumbling backward onto the grass.

"Ow, ow, ow! You actually hit me!"

The fallen earth fairy scrambled to her feet, tears welling in her eyes as she charged back at the fire fairy, and the two rolled into a chaotic, tangled mess.

"This is total war!"

*Whoosh, crackle!*

(I shall teach you to fear the absolute majesty of the fire fairies!)

With that battle cry, both factions charged into each other like baseball players clearing the benches for a massive brawl. They flapped their wings, flailed their tiny arms, and rolled around the dirt in a wild frenzy. They were locked in what they perceived to be a brutal, life-or-death struggle, but to the outside world...

*Pat, pat, boop, tumble.*

It looked exactly like they were giving each other gentle fist massages and soft wing caresses.

Right at that moment, a thunderous, majestic command echoed across the yard.

'Everyone, halt immediately!'

Standing at the edge of the porch, looking down upon the battlefield, was Nurungji. With his fur blowing wildly in the wind like a proud lion's mane, he let out a fierce, commanding roar. Of course, to any human ear, it just sounded like a puppy yipping.

'It seems we have no choice but to intervene.' 

Siru sniffed the air, quickly assessing the tactical situation and proposing a deployment strategy.

'Do we seriously need to get involved? It’s just a petty fairy squabble.' 

Seolgi grumbled, letting out a massive yawn.

'Hmph, youngest, that lazy attitude is your worst habit.' 

Nurungji barked right back, letting out a heavy sigh at Seolgi's apathy. 

'Our sacred duty is to maintain absolute security over this paradise, and we cannot afford to tolerate a single breach of the peace.'

Spouting lines worthy of a legendary, loyal knight, Nurungji nimbly charged down the porch steps. Seolgi reluctantly followed behind, with Siru trotting slowly to bring up the rear.

To anyone watching, it simply looked like three tiny puppies awkwardly navigating the stairs step-by-step with their stubby legs. At the very last step, Seolgi even tripped over his own paws and went rolling like a ball.

Regardless, Nurungji maintained his fierce dignity as he breached the frontline of the battlefield.

'Disperse, you troublemakers!' 

He barked, leaping directly between the two warring factions to forcefully separate them. Siru walked in circles around the groups to herd them apart, while Seolgi simply plopped down on the grass, giving up entirely.

"Nurungji! Siru! You guys are supposed to be on our side! Why are you stopping us?!"

*Crackle—*

(This is an absolute injustice! Watchdogs, open your eyes! We didn't start this!)

'Our watchdog coalition prioritizes the absolute peace and tranquility of this sanctuary above all else. Our ultimate loyalty belongs solely to the Master!'

Despite the passionate protests from both factions, the three watchdog brothers remained completely resolute. It was truly an inspiring, majestic sight.

Right then, Oh-sik returned home after finishing his tasks for the day.

"Huh?"

He tilted his head in complete bewilderment at the bizarre spectacle unfolding in the yard. From his perspective, a bunch of butterflies and fluffy cotton balls were rolling around in the dirt together, while three puppies frantically ran around them in circles.

"My lord... what exactly is going on here?"

Having walked over to the gate to greet Oh-sik, I looked over at the commotion and smiled.

"Oh, them? Those are the new fire fairies I told you about. I guess they're just playing around and getting to know the earth fairies."

I shrugged, completely misinterpreting the historic, brutal war of the elements.

"Look at them go. It’s nice to see that they’ve already become such close friends."

And thus, the catastrophic, apocalyptic war between the earth and fire spirits—mediated only by the legendary intervention of the three watchdog brothers—was beautifully summarized in a single, peaceful sentence.

"Aaaah—" 

Seol-ah squealed with joy, running out into the yard to join the pile.

Watching her go, a warm, profoundly satisfied smile spread across both my face and Oh-sik's.