Chapter 256: There’s No Bad Dragon in the World (4)
“W-What does that mean?”
“I’m sorry, but please take what I said in a literal manner.”
“Ah…”
Anyone could see that Dialugia was shocked. It was natural for her to find it hard to accept her daughter’s deviation, seeing how much she loved her.
There were probably many things coming to her mind.
‘Now I think I know why it became like this…’
This was a family that had not been created in a normal manner. Dialugia and I didn’t have a common denominator, and we didn’t like each other very much.
If one were to ask me, I felt a little uncomfortable with her.
Of course, the impression of a bad first meeting was offset by a large nest and warm, high-quality food, but… Tol To-ri never seemed to have forgotten her first impression of us. Rather than being a couple, we just decided to raise a child together.
There was no physical contact, no sweet words, nothing. If Tol To-ri had indeed noticed this, then her behavior was definitely understandable.
After checking our expressions, Dr. Kang Hyun-wook once again prepared to speak. Dialugia, who at first had condemned me saying that an expert couldn’t solve this problem, was listening with full force.
“Of course, the diagnosis has not yet been completed, but at least this is what it looks like to me. Your daughter…”
“You can comfortably call her Dialuria.”
“Okay. You may already know that Dialuria is showing signs of excessive obsession with her father. We have to wait and see a little more, but it seems to be an early symptom of the Electra complex… She is likely being influenced by the bad relationship between you two.”
“Ah…”
“Usually, this kind of obsession is caused by the feeling that she doesn’t want her father to be taken away by her mother. Among them, a very rare case…”
“Yes. Please keep saying.”
“Well. Before I explain, it would be better to tell the background first. I heard in advance that Lee Kiyoung-nim doesn’t have enough time to devote to his family.”
“Ah… Yes, that’s true.”
“It’s natural to be this busy as you are the most famous person in Lindel these days. The problem is, thanks to that, you’re reducing the amount of time you spend with your daughter… Lee Kiyoung-nim may also think that this part cannot be helped. The problem is that Dialuria thinks that her mother is the reason why her parents are unable to devote time to her. Of course, the actual cause is a little different…”
“Ohhh…”
“I-Is it because of me?”
“Yes. Dialuria doesn’t know exactly what her father is doing outside. She has no idea what you do, how high Lee Kiyoung’s position is in society, and what responsibilities you have. Of course, you may have heard it, but what your daughter sees is just the fact that her father is never around.”
“I-I see.”
“Perhaps she may have concluded that the reason why the guardian doesn’t come home often is that Lee Kiyoung-nim does not value Dialugia. If she has ever seen Lee Kiyoung-nim with other women, this conclusion may be even more concrete. It may be rude, but I have seen a similar case after coming to the continent. Of course, it was a monster, not a human, but…”
Kang Hyun-wook seemed cautious about not comparing dragons to monsters. However, there was nothing bad about listening to him.
I could say that Dialugia was certainly a higher life form that surpasses most humans, but Tol To-ri was still in a period when instincts were ahead of reason.
“You can speak freely.”
“Hmm. Among the griffons living in a typical paternal society… I certainly remember that there was a case like this. It’s a case I’ve only seen once, and I’ve worked at the Griffon Training Center for a long time.”
“…”
“The situation was very similar. It was a male with many females, and he began to obsess over one female. Naturally, I remember that he didn’t pay attention to other females and didn’t even go to them, thereby neglecting his other children. Eventually, it seemed that one of the young griffons who hadn’t gotten their father’s attention started to think strangely.”
“W-What is it, Doctor?”
Now Dialugia was even calling him a doctor. Using the monster griffon as an example did not seem to make her angry.
“The child seemed to think, ‘My mother is not an attractive woman. That is why my father does not love me.’ Therefore, he seemed to think that she was not loved, either.”
“Huh…”
“In Dialuria’s case, the situation is a little more serious. The griffon in the case I explained did not seem to have an Electra complex. We need to find out a little more about why Dialuria is showing a severe obsession with his guardian…”
That was probably because of his unique characteristic.
“There is a high probability that she thinks that she should be a charming being and have her father in her hands. Of course, ignoring her mother is a similar context.”
“Then…”
“Perhaps she also finds her mother annoying. There is a high probability that she also has questions about why her mother is with her father. Of course, she becomes difficult to control. If her guardian is taking care of her with too much sincerity, this problem is only emphasized. It’s because, usually, the beast… no, the children rank up against everyone in this period. If you think you can overcome this with greater love, you are thinking in the wrong manner.”
“Then, the more we do, the more the symptoms will accelerate.”
“Lee Kiyoung-nim is correct. It just makes your child’s thoughts a little firmer. Of course, all of this is speculation. I can’t be certain that the diagnosis is correct, having seen her only once.”
However, what he said was very likely.
‘No… It was too accurate…’
I checked his attribute, but there was nothing that analyzed the behavior of people or monsters.
This meant this was a diagnosis that only pros who had seen and heard numerous cases could make. He was certainly an extraordinary person, seeing that he made a living with such talent.
‘It won’t be bad to get close to him…’
Perhaps he would be able to help me in the future.
Dialugia spoke up at this point.
“T-Then, is there no way? We have to keep going like this…”
She had even begun to cry.
From her point of view, it may be unfair. Tol To-ri, who she expected to grow up while reciprocating her love, was now ignoring her.
It was natural for her to feel shocked upon hearing that Tol To-ri saw her as the lowest ranker in the nest. Of course, the biggest emotion that encompassed all of that was the guilt for not presenting a normal family.
‘It’s a little pitiful…’
If I were to think about it, it was not an exaggeration to say that most of the causes are my fault.
Dialugia may think that things have come to this point because of her own fault, but in all actuality, I was the real culprit. Therefore, it was up to me to fix this situation.
“There must be some way.”
“Yes. Of course, there is a way. It’s actually very simple.”
“To regain my authority as a mother, uhm… it would be nice for us to have a good relationship.”
“Yes. Like Dialugia-nim, Lee Kiyoung-nim’s role is also very important. Lee Kiyoung-nim with Dialugia…”
“I see what you mean.”
I had to spend more time, not only with Tol To-ri, but also with Dialugia.
“If possible, it is important to express a lot of affection and draw a line with your daughter. This area is the mother’s, and it’s not where you can come in. You have to make her understand that her mother’s rank is not third.”
“Hmm… I see.”
“Of course, Dialugia’s role is also important. If you have generously poured out your love so far, it would be better to reduce that love a little from now on. It may not be easy, but it is a must. Likewise, show that you are spending a lot of time with Lee Kiyoung-nim.”
“Okay.”
“It won’t be easy to change the thoughts that are already fixed in her head. I hope for this to happen, but… at first, she will probably show a strong rejection reaction.”
“A strong rejection reaction? Then uh, what can we do?”
“You still have to keep going. You must be a firm guardian.”
“Ah… Okay.”
“I will tell you this once again because I think you have a soft spot with your child, Dialugia-nim.”
“…”
“You need to be firm.”
I knew that Dialugia had heard this a lot of times, but this seemed to be the first time that she had truly acknowledged it. Slowly, she nodded as if she had decided upon something.
I could predict that things wouldn’t change much even if she did that, but I wanted to praise her for being willing to show a little effort.
‘I will have a lot of work to act on.’
At this point, I would have to take some acting lessons from Ahn Ki-mo.
The next day, we put the plan to action. After asking manager Kim Mi-young to postpone all schedules, I went to the nest once more.
Naturally, I also had to soothe Jung Hayan, who expressed her desire to be together all day long.
I wondered if she would monitor me with that eye again, so I even came out with a small homework asking her to conduct research with Max.
This was because I thought that if she was focusing on other things, there was a high probability that she would not dare to peek.
For reference, Juliana, who had fallen asleep again, was sealed in a sword strap and then tied up and left in the room.
This was because I thought that Lindel wouldn’t be ready to face the sword anyway. Meanwhile, I had an important task ahead of me.
‘Tol To-ri Rehabilitation Project.’
It was the first day I decided to try Dr. Kang Hyun-Wook’s solution.
I was already ready, but I doubt that Dialugia was. Anyway, the bow had already been pulled, and the arrow was gone. Nothing would change if we didn’t try.
‘Phew…’
As I moved towards the nest, I could see Tol To-ri panting from afar.
“Kiee-ek! Haaa! Haaa!”
She may have already heard from her mother, but upon seeing her overly excited expression, I could tell that she hadn’t expected me to come twice in a row.
It was a spectacle seeing her tail swaying and even running towards me, drooling. She looked so cute that I wanted to hug her tightly. However…
‘You must be firm, guardian.’
After avoiding her, I immediately ran into the nest and hugged Dialugia, who had been waiting for me. Thanks to preparing this in advance, she hugged me back in a more natural fashion.
Anyone could still see that this was an awkward expression of affection, however.
“You came?”
“…”
“Ke-e-e-e-ee-eeeeeeeeee!”
This was when the screaming began.