Chick 277
by Cristae277
Just then, Joorim and Kazuki’s interview was drawing to a close.
The anchor turned the microphone to Joorim.
“A final word for our viewers, please.”
“Hyeonak has more outstanding craftsmen, not just Hunter Amakusa.”
Joorim looked over at Groo, whose eyes were sparkling, and gave a small smile.
“We’ll do our best to show you something impressive together.”
“Thank you for your kind words.”
As Joorim and Kazuki finished their interview, Seol Yeojin tensed up as she watched Gidan and Sergey rise for their turn.
The anchor’s gaze toward the children was as sharp as a hunter eyeing its prey.
After Germany’s heated interview, it was clear she expected provocative replies if she prodded these spirited boys with bold questions.
As the anchor and the kids exchanged formal greetings and introductory questions, Seol Yeojin happened to notice the Chick Drone in Gidan’s lap.
“Both of you are likely to be selected to represent the team in this exchange with Germany. Are you making any special preparations? Since this exchange is different from a standard raid, are you increasing your training or changing up your strategy?”
“No; we haven’t made any special plans. We’re training as usual.”
“Relying on routine training alone suggests you feel pretty confident about facing the German team. Is that a fair reading?”
“Haha, yes. We definitely think we have the upper hand over Germany. There’s no need to be nervous, right?”
“Right.”
Sergey responded simply to Gidan’s question.
With a broad grin, Gidan conspicuously patted the Chick Drone’s head.
‘That’s…?’
Isn’t that the thing Groo’s been carrying around all morning?
‘Why is he holding that?’
Seol Yeojin knelt beside Groo, whose mouth was hanging open with wonder, and asked,
“Groo, what were you and the boys talking about earlier?”
“Shh, can’t tell. It’s a secret.”
“Won’t you tell just me, please?”
Hmm. Groo clasped his hands behind his back and rocked from side to side.
While the child hesitated, the anchor cast out a baited, provocative question.
“Did you watch Germany’s interview? They had some remarks about Hyeonak.”
“Of course, we saw it.”
Gidan’s lips twisted into a smile, and Sergey nodded in agreement.
“It was just noisy, grumbling old talk. Sounded outdated and stale. Maybe because their leader is an old lion.”
He was taking a jab at Loewenherz, the German coach’s guild, the “Lion’s Heart.”
Gidan snickered, and the anchor looked deeply satisfied.
She’d gotten the very war of nerves she’d hoped for—no wonder she was pleased.
Unlike Seol Yeojin, who pressed a hand to her forehead, the anchor exchanged a pleased look with her cameraman and moved on.
“While lineup decisions are fully the coach’s prerogative, as members of Hyeonak, can you give us a teaser about the starting lineup?”
Gidan’s eyes sparkled, as if he’d been waiting for just this.
No way. Seol Yeojin’s eyes wavered in alarm.
Unperturbed, Gidan lifted the Chick Drone.
“Look forward to seeing our youngest out there.”
“Pardon? Your youngest?”
Gidan took the drone by its little wings and pantomimed it flapping.
“Yes. Our youngest—the Mephisto series. Set to take the field.”
Both anchor and Seol Yeojin’s mouths dropped open.
“Are you saying… you’ll be entering the competition with a drone?”
“Yes. That’s right.”
Gidan’s resolute reply left everyone dumbfounded.
Joorim shot Kazuki a look, questioning if this had been cleared; Kazuki shook his head subtly.
Joorim frowned and looked to Groo, who now gazed delightedly at Gidan, flushed with pride as he admired the drone’s moment in the sun.
“Wait. According to the rules, each participant is limited to one main weapon, isn’t that right? Would one of you be giving up your main weapon to take the drone onto the field?”
Gidan and Sergey exchanged glances, then laughed and shook their heads.
“No. As I said, the youngest is the last member of our lineup. While the drone can’t be registered as a player, Groo will take the drone out onto the field.”
“Are you saying… you’re giving up a player slot for this…?”
The anchor trailed off in shock. Gidan looked straight into the camera, smirking.
“As I said, we have a clear edge over Germany. A penalty like this will make it more interesting.”
He grinned.
Sergey folded his arms and chimed in.
“Since they told us to stick to playing house, we’ll happily oblige.”
It was pure, unfiltered provocation—the very toys Germany mocked would now confront them on the field.
Seol Yeojin hurried over to Joorim, swallowing the urge to shout.
“Guild Master! Are you just going to stand by and watch?”
It was a plea—sure, the children had been swept up by German provocation, but Joorim, as the person with final authority, could still overrule all of this.
“Hm…”
Joorim shifted her gaze toward Groo, looking rather displeased.
She, too, was uneasy about Groo entering the exchange.
But.
Unlike earlier, when he was drooping like a rain-soaked puppy, Groo was now beaming and red-cheeked with joy.
Joorim sighed deeply.
‘It won’t be dangerous…’
The exchange would be a raid, with teams hunting monsters in their own sectors while keeping the other side in check.
Directly harming opponents was strictly forbidden, so as long as he stayed at the starting point, there would be no danger at all.
In fact, supporters often simply stayed deep in their own base.
Gidan and Sergey no doubt planned to register Groo as a player with that in mind.
So Joorim could only shrug her shoulders.
“It’s the children’s game. Let the children handle it.”
At last, Gidan and Sergey, ending their interview with a promise to “show something great,” ran over to Groo.
Groo, delighted, showed off one item after another from his cart, laughing with the others.
But when Seol Yeojin approached with an expression like a yaksha demon, the children bolted in every direction.
Joorim, hands in her pockets, watched Groo’s glowing face and allowed herself a faint, private smile.
What’s making him so happy when he doesn’t know a thing?
Suddenly, she recalled a conversation she’d had not long ago with her father.
“It was for Groo’s sake. I’ll never let Groo find out.”
While searching for records of “Project Wilderness” to find out about Dr. Chloe Han, she’d discovered evidence that the data had been deliberately destroyed.
That decision had come from her father.
On Suhyeong said he’d ordered the destruction of experimental records for Groo’s own good.
‘What in the world is he thinking…’
A child who longs for mom and dad this much…
Whatever her father expected, she would not let it come to pass.
Groo as a test subject? Ridiculous.
If Chloe Han were alive, could she have given them an answer?
But for now, there was still no trace of her.
[Top News]
[In the Justitia Exchange, Korea’s Final Team Member Is a Kindergartener?!]
[Hyeonak Volunteers for a Handicap—Will Their Excess Confidence Bring Victory?]
[Did They Fall for the German Provocation? Hyeonak to Field a Drone!]
BlaBla
[Title: Are the Hyeonak guys for real?]
Why are we only fielding three players?
[Comments]
- It’s four, including Groo!
Including Groo, lolololol
- I—I believe, I believe in Hyeonak, they’ll pull it off, right?
Doesn’t sound convincing
Stop trembling, you’ll lose all your teeth
[Title: So the positions are?]
Gidan, Sergey, Lee Taemin (or Jeong Chaerin): damage
Groo: cuteness
[Comments]
- The real main unit is the drone, lol
- But you can only do follow-up attacks with a drone, right? So Groo’s going to attack for the drone to add extra?
There’s got to be more going on
What is the source of Hyeonak’s constant confidence?
Groo’s cuteness?
Cuteness saves the world, so why not Team Korea?
[Title: Here’s a life lesson]
At least it’ll be “interesting.”
[Comments]
- “Interesting” sounds like wailing in advance
- If Joorim weren’t the director, this disaster could have been prevented
- Winning makes anything “interesting”
But if they do win, it’ll be electrifying
If they lose after all this, Hyeonak will be national traitors, lol
[Title: Why is there nobody normal in Hyeonak]
From the guild master on down
[Comments]
- Don’t insult our Groo
Like father, like daughter?
How dare you say that!
Stop saying such harsh things about Groo!
- But to be honest, I feel strangely relieved, lol
For real, lol
Hyeonak, always a hotbed for drama
[Title: Aren’t you curious about the German team’s reaction?]
They tried picking a fight with Hyeonak—
And got hit back with, “three of us are enough for scrubs like you,” lol
[Comments]
- They gave as good as they got
- Now I’m curious too, haha
- They must be worried about actually losing, kekekekeke