Chick 295

295

Just then, a long shadow suddenly fell over Groo’s head.

A woman, her hair neatly swept back and dressed smartly in a suit, stood before them.

[Kwon Riyeong]

Groo read the name tag and opened her mouth in surprise. If she wore a name tag, she must be a museum staff member.

But there was something else—she could sense magic from the woman. Not an ordinary person? Someone in the same field?

The moment Groo’s eyes met hers, Kwon Riyeong gave a bright smile.

“Field trip kids, aren’t you?”

Then, without warning, she scooped up both Groo and Bailach.

“Eh!”

“Hm?”

Before they could protest, she set them down at the end of the chick class line, a few steps away.

Seeing Groo, Wooju quickly slipped to the back so he could stand close beside her.

“Where did you go?”

“That is…”

Should she explain that Bailach had smelled a kindred scent?

While Groo hesitated, the woman in the suit strode up to the chick class teacher.

The two exchanged quick greetings, and then the teacher turned to address the children.

“Friends, look over here. This is the docent who will help us explore the museum today.”

“Wow!”

“Hello!”

One by one, the children greeted her, and Kwon Riyeong waved both hands.

“Hello, little history explorers. I’m Docent Kwon Riyeong!”

The deer mask—Samantha—gave a beaming smile.

She had used a transformation item to take the form of Kwon Riyeong, daughter of Chief Secretary Kwon Honggyun and a docent at the National Museum, deliberately approaching the chick class for contact.

Targeting a child like this did leave a bad taste in her mouth, but she had no other option.

After their last debacle, Obsidian was nearly wiped out.

At the very least, the leader had to be rescued.

But to do that alone was impossible.

If this job was a success, though, Chief Secretary Kwon Honggyun would pull strings for her.

She steeled herself.

‘All right, let’s begin.’

As she focused on Groo, a dense magical energy radiated from her.

At that, Mephisto, perched atop Groo’s head, and Bailach—still in the teacher’s grasp—met her gaze with tension.

If she showed any intent to harm Groo, they would act immediately.

It would be awkward with so many witnesses around, but…

While they hesitated, Kwon Riyeong’s skill shot toward Groo.

[Skill ‘Fortune Reaper (SS)’ activated.]

At that instant, four cards materialized before Kwon Riyeong’s eyes.

[Fortune Reaper (SS)]

— Draw a card and steal another’s luck. For a set period, the luck is transferred to the caster, yielding the best possible outcome for her.

She drew the card at the center.

How much luck could be stolen depended on the card drawn.

But the outcome was always the same.

Misfortune for the target! The best luck for herself!

The only reason she’d escaped alone the last time her unit had been caught was this skill.

From small things like avoiding a stone underfoot, to barely sidestepping death in the direst moments.

She could invert her fate with that of her target.

It was an SS-grade special skill, barely known even to her comrades—Fortune Reaper.

‘Perfect skill for this mission.’

Yes.

It should have worked.

But then—

[Skill ‘Fortune Reaper (SS)’ failed.]

[Target’s luck is too high.]

[Some of the caster’s luck is taken by the target.]

What?

The card she drew was completely blank.

There was no such thing as a blank card in her deck. Impossible.

‘This can’t be…’

It was an SS-grade skill. No matter how lucky a person was, it should be impossible to completely block her power.

But she had.

And worse—the effect had reversed, and Groo had siphoned some of Riyeong’s luck instead.

Staring in disbelief, Kwon Riyeong looked from Groo to her empty card.

No matter how often she looked, she couldn’t believe it.

[Skill ‘Fortune Reaper (SS)’ activated.]

[Skill ‘Fortune Reaper (SS)’ failed.]

[Target’s luck is too high.]

[Some of the caster’s luck is taken by the target.]

……

…

.

‘Damn it!’

Even after repeated failures, she drew a card once more.

[Skill ‘Fortune Reaper (SS)’ activated.]

[Skill ‘Fortune Reaper (SS)’ failed.]

[Target’s luck is too high.]

[The caster’s luck is taken to a considerable degree.]

As she repeatedly drew cards, the message escalated from “some” luck lost to “a considerable degree.”

‘……!’

The card’s image changed accordingly.

It was blank at first, but now a grim reaper shrouded in black swung a scythe in a circle—and then stared straight at her, as if awaiting her misfortune.

Her heart lurched.

Her own luck had been completely sapped by the child’s overwhelming luck.

A crack appeared in Kwon Riyeong’s composure.

‘This doesn’t make sense…’

Her skill was thwarted simply by luck? By an SS-grade skill?

‘What is this child…?’

Kwon Riyeong’s trembling gaze settled on Groo, having already lost the opening round.

“Hmm?”

Why was she looking at her like that?

Groo, her eyes half-lidded, wore a questioning look as Mephisto and Bailach, reassured that she was unharmed, relaxed slightly.

‘Hmph.’

Groo rested her chin in her hand.

She certainly seemed to handle mana with ease—maybe it was connected to all this.

Groo reread the system message before her eyes.

[(Effect of (Unknown Title): Luck value increases.)]

[(Effect of (Unknown Title): Luck value increases.)]

[(Effect of (Unknown Title): Luck value increases.)]

Pop-up windows stacked up before her.

They’d appeared right after Kwon Riyeong drew mana.

Clearly, something had just happened.

‘Um…’

Groo ran through the situation in her mind.

Luck = good things

High luck = even better things

So if Docent Kwon Riyeong had anything to do with her increased luck…

A lightbulb flashed over Groo’s head.

Kwon Riyeong = Someone who makes good things even better!

‘Stick close.’

It felt like something wonderful could happen if she stuck close.

Groo quickly darted forward and grabbed Docent Kwon Riyeong’s hand.

At once, a rush of immense good fortune seemed to well up, as if it could fend off any danger that might threaten her friends.

This was it!

“I want to pair up with Dosseus Teacher!”

Yikes! Kwon Riyeong nearly recoiled as if seeing a ghost, but forced herself to smile.

“…Shall we?”

From a distance, Wooju gaped in shock, but Groo only waved as if telling him to stay put.

With exaggerated composure, Kwon Riyeong patted Groo’s head.

Samantha Lee.

As a professional mercenary of Obsidian, she wouldn’t let a single failure ruin her mission.

…Although it did feel a bit unsettling, as if every last bit of her remaining luck was being drained by this child.

“Well then, friends, shall we start our adventure by watching a fun video? Let’s head down to the basement—be careful on the stairs~”

“Yes! Yes! Yeyeye!”

Among the chorus of eager voices was Groo, her grip still tight on Kwon Riyeong’s hand.

When their eyes met, Groo gave a sly smile.

‘It’ll be fine,’ Kwon Riyeong thought.

Yet going down the stairs, she tripped at least three times, and each time managed to right herself—thanks to Groo.

“Dosseus Teacher, careful on the stairs!”

The child who had mercilessly sapped her luck now offered a prim little warning.

“Uh… Yes, I’d better be more careful…”

She answered with as much composure as she could manage, hiding her irritation.

The children burst into laughter at her expense.

Blushing, Kwon Riyeong managed a smile, the chick class teacher offering her a sheepish grin.

‘Damn, damn it! Damn it!’

Since acquiring Fortune Reaper, she’d never suffered such humiliation.

Steeling herself, she straightened her suit and led the children to the underground 4D theater.

Engineer a mishap for On Groo.

Then, save her as Kwon Riyeong.

The roles had reversed up to now—but she was ready. The plan would not fail.