Chick 253

253

In On Groo’s mind, billowy clouds transformed into a chubby baby bird.

The baby bird was about to be roasted golden-brown and eaten by the wolf!

Yet the Spy Ladybug, meant to deliver the message to Mephisto, was floundering far off in the distance!

=>Then what if—make the ladybug move faster!

Eyes sparkling, On Groo sprang to his feet.

“…!”

Just then, Sergey and Gidan sensed movement outside and quickly turned their heads toward the door.

Outside, Seo Yeojin, the head of the Management Team, was pounding on the door with heavy steps.

“Guildmaster! We had a salary negotiation scheduled today!”

“Guildmaster!”

A herd of team leaders began clamoring to get into the guildmaster’s office.

They had been told that Joorim would recover his memory as soon as his abnormal status was resolved, so it wasn’t believed to be a big problem…

But who would have thought everyone would try to take advantage of this situation to chase their own interests?

With his back pressed against the door, Sergey muttered,

“This is enough to make you disillusioned with humanity.”

“Grown-ups, honestly…”

At Gidan’s sigh, On Groo pursed his lips.

‘This is it. Now is the time for Supreme Groo to act…’

With everyone’s attention focused on the amnesiac guildmaster,

On Groo slipped out of the guildmaster’s office unseen.

He darted pell-mell down the hall, slipping into the elevator.

Bouncing nervously as he rode down to the first floor, On Groo checked his tablet while crossing the lobby.

He had just issued a recall command to the Spy Ladybug, and it was now heading back toward the office.

Since it hadn’t gotten far, it didn’t take long for it to return.

“Groo, are you heading home?”

“Did your sitter come to pick you up?”

“Yeah~!”

“All right—take care~”

“Bye-bye!”

Standing at the revolving glass door, On Groo pulled his alien hat down low.

As his transformation into Black Groo began, the boy sprinted for the bushes next to the building.

There, basking in the sunlight atop the shrubbery, the Spy Ladybug was recharging.

Already running low on battery?!

‘The efficiency is terrible!’

With more functions came greater energy consumption.

On Groo leapt up and snatched the ladybug, then pulled a bicycle from his inventory.

He loaded the baby rabbit, the Spy Ladybug, and Bailach into the snug basket on the front of his tricycle.

“Fer, hold on to Mumu.”

Shaking its head vigorously, Lucifer wrapped its arms around the Spy Ladybug from behind.

With Lucifer acting as its power source, the Ladybug’s eyes glowed and its antennae perked up.

Meanwhile, On Groo climbed onto the seat, feet poised on the pedals.

“Let’s go! Mumu, show us the way to Mephi!”

Perk!

The antennae pointed like a compass.

‘Let’s ride! Groo the Hero—off on an adventure to rescue Mephi!’

In On Groo’s imagination, his little white tricycle became a proud steed.

Hmph! Foolish grown-ups.

Groo the Hero would save Princess Mephi, and find his real dad, too.

Snorting, Groo rode boldly toward the busy downtown.

“Bwah-ang!”

Making a motor sound with his mouth, Groo stomped the pedals with gusto.

His tricycle raced down the bike lane.

Just then, the white hamster woke, rubbing his eyes, and clung to the edge of the basket.

“Myut?!”

What the—? Startled, Bailach grabbed the basket and—jarred by the brisk speed—teetered unsteadily.

Lucifer, hugging the Ladybug, caught Bailach with one arm.

“Kyu!” (Careful!)

“Bayi! Hold on tight, it’s dangerous!”

“…Myu?”

Bailach stared blankly, unable to grasp the situation, until Groo read his confusion and explained,

“We’re going to rescue Mephi right now!”

Fearing the worst, Bailach glanced around, but none of Groo’s guardians were anywhere in sight.

“Myuuuu?!” (Just us?!)

Did this little master really think this was a good idea? Did he even know where they were headed? Bailach wouldn’t be able to take human form until at least tomorrow!

“Myu!” (You should have stopped him!)

Fuming, Bailach gave Lucifer a smack on the head.

Sniffling, Lucifer sucked in a string of snot, his lower lip trembling—but still, the baby rabbit’s grip on the Spy Ladybug never wavered.

“Kyuung…” (We’re going to rescue Mephi-hyung.)

“…!”

Whatever Bailach felt inside, the tricycle was already picking up speed as it zoomed past the front of a downtown shop—

Creak, creak, creak, creak—

And then reversed.

Groo’s mouth fell open as he was drawn, as if hypnotized, to a shop decked in pink character merchandise.

“Myut?”

Sensing something was off, Bailach followed Groo’s gaze.

A sigh of awe barely escaped Groo’s lips.

“Tiny Ping…!”

Boom—!

Up on Groo’s head, Bailach saw thunder and lightning crash in a hallucinatory storm.

A collaboration between a famous franchise novelty shop and Tiny Ping.

‘This is a trial no five-year-old could resist.’

As he feared, Groo gaped, drooling at the sign: ‘Limited Edition Figure Gift!’, eyes fixed longingly on the entrance.

Children, holding their families’ hands, stood in a long line.

Another beaming child exited, clutching a Tiny Ping figure. Groo’s lips trembled; his knuckles whitened on the handlebars.

“Myut!” (Hmph!)

Huffing, Bailach stubbornly folded his arms and plopped down in the basket.

Let him wait at the end of that long line—today’s adventure would end right there.

He’d be waiting all day, and the sun would be down before he got anywhere.

Musing on this, Bailach munched idly, his attention drifting, even as Lucifer beside him whimpered anxiously for Groo.

But then—

“…!”

‘The tricycle’s moving forward?’

Groo tore himself away, eyes squinting into triangles, furiously pedaling to put as much distance as he could between himself and the store.

‘The strength of a five-year-old, indeed.’

Yet—

Bailach reached out a hand.

“Myu!”

Could he avoid this one, too?

Toomtum-toomtum~ ting-tong-tang-tong~

“Saurus Kids World is now open!”

A mascot in a dinosaur suit wandered down the street, handing out promotional flyers as loud music blared.

It was advertising a kids’ cafe with a dinosaur theme.

Groo swallowed hard.

“S—Saurus Kids World…!”

Bailach quirks up one lip.

Downtown was packed with things designed to ensnare a curious child’s gaze.

Resisting them all would be a feat.

“J-just wait a second, okay?”

Groo stopped at the curb, parked his tricycle, and strode purposefully away.

‘Of course. I knew it.’

A child is a child.

If he spent a while with Tiny Ping or the dinosaurs, the guardians would soon notice he was missing and come looking for him.

So Bailach thought—

“Sicnyang!”

Groo returned sooner than expected.

A castella cake in hand.

“A real meal is essential for any adventure.”

Groo divided the castella into four pieces.

He pushed two pieces into the mouths of the baby rabbit and the ugly hamster, then took a big bite himself.

“We’ll give the rest to Mephi.”

Crumpling the bread wrapper and placing it in a corner of the basket, Groo checked the Spy Ladybug again.

Lucifer chewed his share contentedly; Bailach simply swallowed without tasting, then shouted,

“Myu!” (That’s not the point!)

“Mm?”

Confused, Bailach gestured at the dinosaur-mascot and Tiny Ping shop.

Groo shook his head as if to say he needed no explanation.

Sure enough, downtown was more than enough to dazzle any lone child.

But still—

“I care more about Mephi and Daddy than Tiny Ping… or dinosaurs…”

Groo’s voice was determined, a stubborn little bulge forming in his chin.

He wiped the dampness from his eyelids with the back of his hand and busied himself readying the tricycle.

Avoiding the adults who asked where his mom and dad were, and steering clear of the dark alleys full of scary teens, Groo wound his way through the city.

Night fell before he’d gone far. The first raindrop splashed upon his nose.

“Oh…!”

Pitter, patter.

A few more drops fell.

‘Rain!’

Groo quickly dashed under an awning for cover.

He’d wait out the rain, then move again.

But…

Plink. Plunk. Platter—

What began as a few drops soon became a torrent.

Swaaah—

Rushing down in sheets, the rain sliced through the darkness.

“…”

Huddled with his tricycle under the awning, Groo looked up at the sky.

He’d thought it would only be a minute… but the downpour showed no sign of stopping.

Instinctively, Groo glanced at the watch on his wrist.

On days like this, if he called Dad, he’d have come with an umbrella.

“…hmph!”

The sorrow and frustration stifled him, so he held his breath and pressed his lips tightly together.

His chin wobbled; tears rimmed his eyes.

And then—

“Where are you off to?”