Chick 264
by Cristae264
‘I have to show Dad the magic-rich, super-muscular Groo…!’
At that moment, the red aura spilling out from the filial cake caught her eye.
Wavering~
‘The filial cake… looks dangerous.’
Hmm.
Groo brought up the information window for the filial cake and reread the warning that children should exercise caution when consuming it.
Suddenly, she recalled a time when she’d introduced her invention, the “Puffy Cotton Candy” item.
‘At that time, Dad definitely said…’
Groo slipped her discarded oven mitt onto her left hand. Crossing her arms and putting on a grave expression, she imitated Joorim in a stuffy, adult tone.
“Even if you think it’s a good item after simulating it at your desk… huh? Once you actually use it, it might be different, that’s what I’m saying.”
Lucipher gaped, mouth open, staring at Groo, then nodded vigorously.
Satisfied.
Groo felt even happier, as though she had just said something very mature.
“So, maybe I should test just a little before bragging?”
“Kyu-hm!”
Lucipher nodded again.
“Alright! First, let’s go to Groo’s dungeon.”
[Activating skill: ‘The Dungeon is an Open Door.’]
After entering the private dungeon sponsored by her grandfather, the first thing Groo did was check that the Filial Piety Factory was running smoothly.
She made a round of the factory, where plush dolls were busily working, then stood side by side with Lucipher, hands on hips.
There were two things she needed to check.
The effects of the status effect “Loner’s Fury,” which she had unintentionally created.
And whether Lucipher had grown strong enough not to collapse even when its cradle was opened.
“Will the filial cake work on dolls too?”
She needed to test the status effect, but couldn’t try it on a person…
As she stood in front of Doll No. 1, filial cake in hand, pondering—
Ssslk—
A handful of the ground sank down, and just then, a mole stuck its head out.
“Squeak!”
[Burrow Mole (F)]
S-rank only for crops. Poses no threat to humans.
“Oooh…”
Found one. A test subject.
Groo carefully approached and offered a cake to the mole poking its head up.
“Sniff, sniff…”
The little black bean-shaped nose at the tip of its snout twitched, ever sniffing the treat in Groo’s hand, its tiny rice-grain eyes apparently barely functional.
Snap!
The mole quickly realized it was food, grabbed the cake with its wide forepaws, and began eating.
Thump-thump-thump!
Groo and Lucipher watched in tense silence as the scene unfolded.
Fweeee~
Suddenly, a halo of light gathered around the munching mole.
“…!”
The light was so strong she could hardly keep her eyes open.
After a moment, the brilliant glow faded, revealing the mole.
“It’s gotten bigger!”
Once only as big as Groo’s sneaker, the mole now reached to her ankles.
That wasn’t all that had changed.
Muscles swelled. The bulked-up mole bared its claws threateningly at Groo and Lucipher, growling deeply.
“Drrrrrrr…!”
“Eek!”
“Kyu-hit!”
Both leapt back in fright.
Checking the info window, Groo found that “Burrow Mole (F)” had become “Mole Possessed by Fury (S, Berserk).”
‘Did I just make the mole S-rank?!’
The mole glared at Groo and Per with beady eyes. Sensing danger, Groo drew her fork.
“Drrrrrr…!”
The monster, licking its sharp foreclaws, began to approach menacingly.
Grip!
Lucipher clung trembling to Groo’s leg, while Groo gripped her fork tightly with both hands.
If it came to it, she was ready to swat a mole home run.
Just then—
Ffffssh—
Plop.
As the mole advanced menacingly, white steam erupted from its body, and its once-bulging muscles shriveled as it collapsed right there.
“Huh?”
It passed out on its own?!
With Lucipher clinging to her leg, Groo inched forward.
She prodded the limp mole with her fork—no response at all.
“Is… is it dead?!”
“Kyu-uut?!”
As Groo and Lucipher panicked and made a fuss—
Twitch, twitch.
The mole convulsed.
“Whew~ Thank goodness. It’s not dead.”
“Kyu~”
Perhaps it had collapsed because the effect wore off.
Right then, Lucipher too seemed to lose the effect, letting out a soft puff and returning to a cute baby rabbit.
“Kyu-uung…”
Lucipher, seemingly overcome by sudden fatigue, started to keel over, and Groo hurriedly caught him in her arms.
Likely the mole had collapsed faster because it couldn’t withstand its newly increased strength.
But in any case—
Recalling the sight of the growling, rampant mole, Groo shrank her shoulders, eyes blazing with energy.
It had been terrifying.
An item that grants power but causes berserk rage.
‘Feels like a villain’s tool!’
Super dangerous! Groo quickly stuffed the rest of the filial cakes deep in her bag.
‘Seal them away…’
Her urge to show them off prickled painfully in her chest—
‘But… I might get scolded…’
The fear of being reprimanded was stronger.
After looking around, Groo tucked the exhausted mole amidst some leaves to let it rest, then departed the dungeon.
Whoosh—
She failed to notice the mole’s shadow stirring ominously.
After Groo left the dungeon with Lucipher—
From that shadow, black tendrils and leaves slithered with a chilling energy.
[Penbraum (S)]
A plant-type monster that parasitizes the shadows of plants and animals. It has a very gentle temperament and almost never attacks first.
The roots of Penbraum, rising from the shadow, began to wrap around the mole.
The roots quickly burrowed into the mole’s body, and the leaves of Penbraum gleamed with newfound vitality as they absorbed the red aura.
At the same time, the status effect “Loner’s Fury” began to eat away at it.
Fist clenched.
A strange rage and power wrapped themselves around Penbraum.
It wanted more of these empowering items.
It wanted to unleash its anger.
Under the sway of this urge that filled even its roots, Penbraum began to track the scent of the item, stealthily traversing other shadows.
The next day at lunch.
Today was finally the day the prince showdown would be settled.
While the children of the Chick class clustered together, eating their lunches in groups—
Mephisto clung to Wooju’s shoulder with dagger-sharp eyes.
He had to wait for the moment when Wooju would hand Bailach the blood.
Just then, one of their friends eating with them asked a question.
“Why is Groo’s bird with Wooju?”
The bird usually perched on Groo’s head was now with Wooju—it seemed quite unusual.
At the question, Wooju’s eyes widened in panic, while Groo pouted her lips.
“Mephi says he doesn’t want to be Groo’s bird anymore.”
“Beep!”
Shocked, Mephisto protested but Groo turned her head away.
He had to clear up this misunderstanding!
Just as Mephisto tried to fly to Groo, Bailach appeared at the classroom door, gesturing with Park Geonwoo in tow.
Eyes wide, Wooju grabbed his bag and stood up.
“I’m done eating, I’ll be back in a bit.”
Mephisto, having been heading to Groo, instead settled back on Wooju’s shoulder.
Groo watched, her face stricken, as Wooju and Mephisto left.
Mephisto, with tears in his eyes, kicked at Wooju with his tiny feet.
Unbothered, Wooju led the others to a quiet end of the hallway.
From his bag, he produced a tiny bottle containing a drop of blood, along with the photocard and merchandise.
‘Blood…!’
Mephisto’s eyes sparkled.
The instant Wooju handed Bailach the bottle, Mephisto planned to snatch it and flee.
He flexed his claws in anticipation.
Park Geonwoo, pleased with the photocard and merch, nodded in satisfaction, and Bailach reached out his hand.
Now was the time—Mephisto soared upward.
“So you were aiming for this all along.”
With lightning speed, Bailach smashed the bottle, flashing his shark teeth in a grin.
“Pit?!” (How?!)
“You really thought I was that naive?”
“Pit!” (But whoever drinks first owns the blood!)
Mephisto darted in at blinding speed, aiming to lick up the drop oozing from the broken bottle.
But—
“Pit?” (Is this… jam?)
“I took the blood yesterday. Today, knowing your plan, I filled it with jam instead!”
“Pi!” (This can’t be!)
“Ku ku ku. This is revenge, Mephisto!”
As Bailach cackled wickedly, Mephisto tore at his wings in dismay.
Park Geonwoo pushed up his glasses.
“Seo Wooju, can your friend talk with birds?”
“…Don’t know.”
Wooju looked away.