Healing in the Countryside with a Baby Dragon

One day, I found a magic stone lodged in my head.

That was when I decided to quit my job and move to the countryside.

Finally, the long-awaited first day of my heart-thumping healing life in the countryside had arrived.

[Congratulations! You’re now the father of an SSS-Rank Dimensional Dragon!]

I’d awakened as the father of a dragon!

“What the heck is this?”

I blurted out in sheer disbelief.

Wasn’t this a completely nonsensical development? A dad? Without any joy, just pure responsibility?

And not just any dad, but a dragon’s dad? Did we cross-species and have a child?

In the midst of my bafflement, a small creature tugged on the hem of my pants with its tiny mouth.

As I looked down…

“Bba-”

A little dragon smiled up at me with bright eyes.

My lips instinctively curled into a smile.

It was unbelievably cute.

In a moment, I picked it up, feeling the warmth and unfamiliarity of its small, delicate body.

When had I last held someone like this?

I couldn’t remember any such memory after turning five years old.

‘Ah, this is how it feels.’

A part of my heart, long left empty, began to fill.

As I teared up for reasons I couldn’t understand…

Lick.

The little dragon, who was now staring at me, licked my cheek.

Too much licking on the first meeting, don’t you think?

I jumped slightly.

“Bbarurururu!”

The dragon giggled, as if it found my reaction amusing.

I let out a laugh myself.

Ah, it’s warm.

The warmth of the little dragon in my arms, and the countryside breeze that gently brushed against us…

For a moment, I lost myself in the dragon’s sparkling eyes that mirrored the clear sky.

Its pure white scales and transparent horns glistened softly.

‘A duty without joy, eh? Maybe it’s not so bad?’

The sudden responsibility of being a father weighed on me, but gazing at this cute little creature, my heart began to soften.

Living alone in the countryside could get lonely, so why not raise a dragon?

Especially when it was this adorable.

How could I refuse?

Besides, abandoning it? That would be a crime.

I didn’t want to deal with the dragon’s wrath.

“Do you want to live with me here?”

“Bba-bba-bba!”

The dragon enthusiastically nodded.

Its little tail wagged with excitement, and I found myself nodding along.

Alright, healing life with a dragon, here we go.

At that very moment…

[A New Dad’s Parenting Journal]

[Let’s give our adorable dragon a name!]

[Please select a name that your dragon will love.]

A message appeared.

Was this some kind of quest?

I thought for a moment.

What name would suit a dragon?

“Klaus Aiman von Einter III.”

I said in a deep, noble tone, as if bestowing an elegant name upon it.

“Bbi-”

The dragon shook its head with a frown.

Apparently, grandiose names weren’t the way to go.

How about something Eastern?

“Mireu?”

“Bbi.”

The dragon tilted its head, unsure.

No matter how many names I tried, the dragon kept adorably tilting its head.

Then, I noticed its white scales and transparent horns again.

An idea struck me.

“How about Seol-ah? Baek Seol-ah.”

Baek Seol-ah, which means “Child of White Snow.”

It was simple, yet fitting.

Also, I could give her my last name. We could be father and daughter in name too.

After a moment, the dragon—no, Seol-ah—nodded her head in approval.

Her eyes twinkled as she smiled.

The moment I gave her a name…

[You have taken your first step as a father.]

[You have named your Dimensional Dragon. Now, the dragon can adapt to this world with its true name.]

Before I could comprehend the message, a blinding light began to radiate from Seol-ah’s body.

Panicking, I held her tightly in my arms.

What if I dropped her?

Could dragons get hurt?

Regardless, Seol-ah was still a baby.

And babies needed protection.

As the light subsided…

“Bba!”

When my vision cleared, I was holding…

A small girl with platinum blonde hair and sparkling blue eyes.

She looked about three years old.

Although she had transformed into a human, her horns and the tail peeking out revealed her true nature.

Just like that, she’d turned into a human without any magical herbs.

As expected from an SSS-Rank Dragon, born exceptional.

“Bba-bba!”

Seol-ah, now in her human form, grabbed my cheeks with her tiny hands.

“Seol-ah.”

“Bba!”

“Say it after me, Seol-ah.”

“Bba?”

“Seol, ah.”

Seol-ah clumsily moved her small pink lips, attempting to mimic my pronunciation.

“Seol, ah.”

She was trying her best to say her name.

Seeing her attempt, I couldn’t help but laugh.

“That’s right, Seol-ah. Your name is Baek Seol-ah.”

“Baaek Seol Ah.”

“You’re doing so well, Seol-ah.”

I lifted her up, and she let out a bright, infectious giggle.

She’s smart, too. Already knows her name. Maybe she takes after me?

As we played and laughed together, I introduced myself.

“My name is Baek Jin-sol.”

“Bba?”

“Baek Jin-sol.”

But Seol-ah shook her head and pointed at me.

“Bba-bba!”

“No, it’s Baek Jin-sol.”

“Bba-bba!”

Apparently, I would always be “Bba-bba” to her.

But who cared?

As long as she was happy.

In just ten minutes, I was completely won over by my dragon daughter.

While Seol-ah, dressed in my oversized t-shirt, toddled around, a new message appeared.

[A New Dad’s Parenting Journal]

[Show your child the house!]

Now that Seol-ah had a name, the next step was introducing her to our home.

“Let’s take a look around the house together!”

“Bba!”

Seol-ah’s enthusiastic response made me chuckle, and we began exploring our home, starting from the front yard to the bedroom and bathroom.

Out of all the rooms, she seemed to love the closet, especially the piles of blankets.

She jumped into them and rolled around.

“Seol-ah!”

I rushed over to her.

“Bba!”

From within the blankets emerged Seol-ah, back in her dragon form.

“Why did you change back all of a sudden?” I asked, laughing.

Our house tour quickly turned into a playful inspection, with Seol-ah biting and touching everything in sight.

I couldn’t help but think:

‘She’s a dragon, right? She’ll be fine.’

Seol-ah happily explored, her energy contagious.

After a long time spent exploring, both of us collapsed onto the front porch, exhausted.

“Ah, I’m beat.”

“Bbaaa.”

A synchronized grumble echoed from both our stomachs.

“Are you hungry?”

“Bba?”

What could we eat? Typically, people order black bean noodles on moving day, but in this remote location, that wasn’t an option.

I had a sudden thought.

“I’ll cook us some black bean ramen.”

Soon, the fragrant aroma of ramen wafted from the kitchen.

We sat on the porch, each slurping down the noodles from the pot.

“Ah, this is the life!”

Next to me, Seol-ah sniffed the unfamiliar scent and tentatively took a bite of the noodles I offered her.

Her eyes widened in surprise.

“Good, right?”

“Bba!”

Her enthusiastic response brought a smile to my face, and I gave her more.

After our meal, we lay side by side on the porch, gazing at the peaceful countryside.

“Ah.”

“Bbaa.”

There was nothing but the sounds of the breeze and distant seagulls.

This was true peace.

Seol-ah snuggled closer, resting her head on my arm, her eyes fluttering shut.

As she dozed off, she transformed back into her dragon form, her soft snores filling the quiet air.

I gazed down at my new little family, still unable to fully comprehend it all.

A dragon, fast asleep beside me.

‘Day one of my healing life: a success.’

With that thought, I too drifted into sleep.

[A New Farmer’s Healing Life]

[Let’s start a garden!]

A new message flashed as my vision dimmed.

What would Seol-ah like to grow? Lettuce? Cabbage? Strawberries?

‘Whatever she wants, I’ll plant it.’

But first…

‘Let’s get some sleep.’

And so, father and dragon daughter slept soundly together.

In that tranquil moment, Seol-ah’s head rested on my chest, her small heartbeat syncing with mine.

A faint wave of mana shimmered around the house.

In one corner of the garden, something small began to sprout.