All I Did Was Pick Up a Baby Dragon
<Side Story 2 – Chapter 1>

(An IF side story that assumes Sora did not travel to another world.)

Ten days had passed since my exhausting but rewarding daycare practicum ended.

‘There’s no better place than a kids’ café if I want to meet a variety of children.’

With that thought, I started a part-time job at a kids’ café. I had decided to spend the rest of my break preparing properly to become a teacher.

I stood at a spot where I could see the entire play area and darted my eyes around. Sand play zone, all clear. Giant slide, all clear. Jungle gym, the manager was stationed there like a fortress. Trampoline…

‘Found one!’

I spotted a child playing dangerously and shouted, widening my eyes.

“Hey, the kid with the hat. Climbing up the panda’s face is dangerous.”

“Aww, but it’s fun.”

“If you fall from there, you’ll hurt the younger kids bouncing on the panda’s belly. How about you try the climbing wall over there instead? That one’s even more fun.”

After I calmly explained, the child nodded and waved as he ran off toward the climbing wall. I waved back.

The panda trampoline loomed right near the entrance, massive and eye-catching. It was one of the most popular spots for kids but also a frequent source of accidents, so it always required attention.

‘Nice. One problem solved.’

I was feeling proud when a cough sounded right next to me.

“Sora.”

I turned toward the voice, my expression stiffening slightly. A large, burly man. Not a stranger.

‘Oh no, not again.’

I forced a polite smile and bowed slightly.

“You’re working hard again today. Kids these days love to slack off, don’t they?”

“Haha.”

“My Jinsoo keeps saying how much he likes playing with the pretty noona. I should treat you to a meal to say thanks. Let’s go.”

This man was the father who kept hitting on me.

“I’m working right now. I should go start the train ride soon.”

I cut him off firmly and walked away quickly.

Technically my job was safety management, but I also played with the children during downtime. And every time, that man hovered around me, hitting on me.

‘He said he’s lonely or something.’

He should have just played with his kid, yet he kept circling me.

I wanted to confront him and ask if he really wanted to act like that in front of his child, but I held it in.

The manager liked him because he was a regular.

‘Ha… my life.’

At least my shift was almost over.

‘I’m in a bad mood anyway, maybe I should grab dinner before heading home. I’ll go see Jiho.’

Yes. That sounded good. Just thinking of my new friend lightened my mood.

* * *

I got off the bus and hurried down the street when raindrops suddenly began to fall.

“Seriously, what kind of day is this? Now it’s raining too.”

I looked up to see dark clouds thickening, and then the rain poured down hard. Catching a cold now would be a disaster.

I dashed into Kimbap Nation.

“Phew.”

But because of the rain, every seat was taken. And Jiho was nowhere to be seen…

“Hey, want to share a table?”

A familiar voice reached my ears. Jiho.

“Jiho!”

“If you were coming for dinner, you should’ve called me. We could’ve eaten together.”

“It’s your work hours. I was just planning to eat while saying hi.”

I sat down at his table as I spoke.

“Well, good timing then. It’s my dinner break.”

“Yeah.”

I glanced at Jiho. His dark brown hair and slightly drooping eyes gave him a relaxed look. He was from the same university as me.

‘I met him at the department office when I had issues with my practicum paperwork.’

Turns out the TA from Early Childhood Education and the TA from Philosophy were friends. Their conversation dragged on forever, and while we waited, Jiho and I became friends too.

“You’re really enjoying that.”

Jiho slurped up his ramen enthusiastically. Watching him eat was like watching a live mukbang.

“It’s good. Oh, order something too. You must be hungry.”

“One ramen, please.”

“Sure.”

I ordered ramen too. I wasn’t even that into ramen, but watching someone else eat it made it irresistible.

“Want some tteokbokki? The kitchen unnie gave me some, but it’s too much to eat alone.”

“Then just a little…”

I picked up a rice cake with my chopsticks.

‘Delicious.’

The chewy rice cake was soaked perfectly in spicy sauce. I couldn’t stop.

“The fish cake here is good too.”

“Yeah, but…”

I started to pick up a piece of fish cake, then glanced at Jiho.

“Is this job alright for you? Honestly, I’ve never seen anyone our age working at Kimbap Nation.”

“It just worked out that way.”

He grabbed a piece of pickled radish and continued.

“I actually applied to a fried chicken place.”

“Yeah?”

“I got accepted, but then the previous worker came back. The owner felt bad and recommended me here.”

“I see.”

“Surprisingly, it suits me well, so I decided to stick with it. And it’s kind of late to look for another job now anyway.”

Classic Jiho. With his outgoing personality, he could befriend anyone in an instant. That was how we’d become friends too.

“It suits you?”

“Yeah. My kimbap never bursts when I roll it.”

He shrugged proudly, then asked me,

“And your job? How’s it going?”

“I love the kids but…”

“The adults are the problem?”

“How did you know?”

I was startled by how accurately he guessed, but Jiho looked calm.

“No one loves kids as much as you do. If it were the kids, your face would look way more serious.”

“Wow, sharp.”

“So who’s the problem? Someone bothering you? Just say the word, and I’ll feed them stale kimbap ends.”

I burst out laughing. Jiho might have been a philosophy major, but he was clearly thriving as a Kimbap Nation worker.

“It’s a regular dad. He keeps hitting on me, and I don’t know how to deal with it.”

Clang.

Jiho dropped his chopsticks.

“Jiho?”

“This won’t do. I should pour boiling kimchi stew over his head…”

He spoke quickly, clearly fired up.

“Did you tell your manager? No wait. Should I pretend to be your boyfriend and wait for him?”

“That’s way too much trouble for you.”

“This world’s crazy these days. You need to push back hard if some creep latches on.”

He wasn’t wrong. I nodded in agreement.

“But he hasn’t actually done anything beyond being annoying, so if it gets worse, I’ll ask for help.”

“Promise?”

“Yeah.”

Only then did Jiho relax and pick up his chopsticks again.

Right then.

“Hey Jiho! Three rolls of kimbap.”

“Yep. Coming.”

Jiho jumped up and turned back to me.

“You don’t have an umbrella, right? Take that big one. It’s a golf umbrella, super sturdy.”

“What about you?”

“I live right nearby. I’ve got to get back to work. Enjoy your meal.”

He waved casually and headed off to roll kimbap.

“Sorry for the wait. I’ll sneak in some tuna for you, don’t tell the boss.”

“Really? Jiho, you’re the best. I come here just for you.”

“My honor. I’ll treat you like royalty.”

His exaggerated response made the waiting customer clap and laugh.

‘Yeah. This job really does suit him.’

The reason Kimbap Nation was so crowded probably wasn’t the rain. It was Jiho’s customer service.

While I was thinking that, I finished every drop of ramen soup. I got up to pay.

“Thanks for the umbrella.”

“Call me next time. If we time it right, we can eat together. Oh, and the cheesy sweet potato cutlet here is amazing.”

Wow. He really had the salesperson vibe down. Smiling at that, I hurried home.

The rain, which I thought would stop soon, only grew heavier.

“The weather’s nuts. Thank goodness Jiho lent me this umbrella.”

I gripped the umbrella tightly as strong gusts threatened to snatch it away.

After a brisk walk, my house came into view.

It was a small semi-basement one-and-a-half room, shabby but precious to me.

‘I can’t wait to get inside and rest.’

But then I noticed something by the utility pole near my house.

“Huh?”

A black lump curled up tightly.

I thought it was a stuffed toy, but then it moved.

“An animal?”

As I got closer, it opened its eyes.

Gem-like purple eyes blinked and then focused on me.

‘It’s alive.’

It was a lizard with black scales.

It looked pitiful, drenched by the rain.

If even humans catch colds when wet, a tiny thing like this might get sick and die.

“Don’t tell me someone abandoned you in this weather. That’s so cruel.”

I couldn’t take responsibility for it long term, but at least I could get it out of the rain.

“No time to waste. Let’s get inside.”

I picked up the black lizard and brought it home. I had no idea what I’d just picked up.

* * *

I washed the soaked lizard in warm water and gently dried it with a soft towel.

Maybe that was why it suddenly looked quite regal. Its black scales gleamed.

‘But…’

I hadn’t noticed in the downpour, but looking closely at home, something was off.

“You’re a lizard, right?”

I stared at it carefully.

It was the size of the neighbor’s dog.

And it had wings on its long tail.

‘It looks like a dragon.’

Just like the dragon illustrations I’d seen in romance-fantasy novels.

“No way you’re actually a dragon, right?”

I poked its side. The smooth scales were unexpectedly firm.

‘What do lizards even eat?’

I tried to think, but nothing came to mind. I grabbed my phone and searched.

“Let’s see. Lizards eat… wait, insects or worms?”

The rain outside was still pouring down.

“I can’t go hunting for bugs right now.”

All the insects were probably hiding from the storm anyway.

“What about those little gnats?”

I pointed at one flying nearby, but the lizard sharply turned its head away.

Almost like it understood me.

“Alright, sorry. Let’s find something else.”

I held the lizard and opened the fridge. Maybe something inside would catch its interest.

Its purple eyes scanned the shelves, then its tiny front paw tapped the container of napa cabbage kimchi.

“Kimchi? Of all things? Well, let’s try it.”

I took out the container, opened it, and placed it on the table. I bent down to set the lizard down, but…

Whoosh.

It flew up and landed on the table.

‘It… it flew.’

While I was still stunned, it grabbed a piece of kimchi in its little mouth and…

“Kyak!”

Spat it out with a splat.

Then it stomped its front paws on the table angrily.
 

<To be continued>

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