Chick 301

301

Chapter Yuri-an’s Rampage

A black sedan sped along the seaside road.

Sitting in the back seat, Joorim leaned her chin on her hand and yawned, glancing at the child perched on her knee.

The child was absorbed in the tablet Joorim was holding.

[…Meanwhile, as the government has successfully signed a contract with Korea’s first S+ rank Mephisto Series mk.3, nations around the world have responded with fervor…>

A little smile formed on the small, pale face, dimples rising.

Satisfied, On Groo watched the video closely for a good ten minutes, then swiped the screen with her forefinger.

The tablet scrolled upward.

The screen was filled with brightly colored thumbnails bearing flashy yellow, red, and sky-blue letters.

“Shall we watch this one?”

“Bbibbi!”

After considering carefully, Groo pointed to a video, and Mephisto, sitting atop her head, nodded.

[Korea’s First S+ Rank K-Drone Debut!]

Joorim read the large letters on the thumbnail and rubbed her forehead, her expression troubled.

Recently, Groo and Mephisto’s pastime was watching YouTube with Joorim.

[The World Can’t Keep Up: K-Drone Development Moving Too Fast]

[Global S-Ranks at a Loss for Words at Fakeclaw S+ Reveal]

[Why the US Is Clinging to Korea: K-Drone Mephisto Series]

[The World Was Shocked When Korea Unveiled “This”! (Fiery Chick Thumbnail)]

Groo’s YouTube recommendations were flooded with thumbnails boasting that “with the advent of the S+ rank K-Drone, the US wept, Japan knelt, and China trembled.”

“…Ha.”

It had been a week since the government finalized the contract with the Mephisto Series mk.3.

Lately, this was Joorim’s concern.

My child has, as they say, become addicted to ‘nationalist YouTube.’ Good grief.

---

Groo, oblivious to the complicated look on Joorim’s face, swung her legs back and forth, clearly delighted.

It had already been a week since the rental contract for Mephisto Series mk.3 was signed.

It seemed she wasn’t the only one proud of having created an S+ rank, as the media overflowed with stories about the Mephisto Series.

Groo grinned from ear to ear.

Perhaps the praise heaped upon the Mephisto Series made Groo smile every time.

Even so, Joorim, while stipulating that she should not watch videos unattended, didn’t strictly interfere.

In gratitude, Groo pressed herself closer to Joorim, rubbing her cheek affectionately against him.

Joorim, chuckling in his throat, swept his hand gently over her bangs.

‘Dad looks happy, too.’

Groo glanced at Joorim with shimmering eyes.

A handsome, striking face gazed at her, overflowing with affection.

It had been a week since she’d opened Dad’s ‘G’ folder.

The thought that “maybe soon I won’t be able to meet Mom or Dad ever again” still left a lingering ache in one corner of her heart.

But—

Groo snuggled deeper into Joorim’s arms.

Even if she no longer had her real mother and father—

Groo whispered softly in his ear.

“I only need Dad for Groo to be happy.”

Startled by the sudden confession, Joorim looked at Groo for a moment, then smiled gently.

Their foreheads touched softly.

“But YouTube is still only one hour a day.”

“Eeeeeh~!”

When Groo whined, Joorim laughed and took a playful bite of her mochi-like cheek.

Groo shrieked in mock outrage, and suddenly, the rustling of leaves sounded.

‘Huh, that noise?’

Groo opened the quest window.

[Caregiver Quest]

[For a growing child, affection is a vital nutrient. Affection helps a child develop into a stable and formidable monarch. Cherish existing bonds and forge new ones to raise your Affection Level!]

[Reward: Unlock a previously sealed ‘Title’]

Beneath the quest, a young sapling was growing.

Its leaves—once barely three—now numbered at least fifty, and the trunk had risen almost three hand spans.

It could now rightly be called a proper adolescent sapling.

This rapid growth was, in truth, thanks to the registration of Shea and Chuen as new caregivers.

Registering new caregivers had led to a great influx of affection all at once.

‘Once I grow from adolescent to adult, will a title finally unlock?’

Her heart pounded with excitement.

Though the tree had grown considerably, its title remained sealed.

Just what sort of title was hidden away so tightly?

Name: On Groo

Title: ■■■ ■■■ ■■ ■■ ■■■ (Access Denied)

‘Maybe it’s something like “The Truly Awesome Ruler Groo”?’

It just might be!

Groo, imagining such a title must be hers, huffed through her nose with self-satisfaction.

If only she could register more new caregivers, perhaps the title would unlock…

Was there any new S-rank candidate without grounds for disqualification as a caregiver?

But S-ranks themselves were exceedingly rare; she had been unusually lucky so far. Meeting more might be impossible.

As Groo pondered, the sedan gently slowed down.

“We’ve arrived, Guildmaster On.”

The agent who had been playing driver turned to speak, and Joorim gave a short nod, exiting the car with Groo in his arms.

At that moment, flashes burst in rapid succession.

‘Eh?!’

Surrounded by reporters, Groo, startled, clung tightly to Joorim.

Joorim, unfazed, patted her back reassuringly.

“This way, please.”

Following the agent’s lead, they entered a docked aircraft carrier—the massive ship that could carry planes.

Groo’s mouth hung open as her eyes began to sparkle.

Thudthudthudthud—

A helicopter zoomed overhead, kicking up strong winds.

Groo squinted against the fierce breeze, but soon gasped in awe as countless fighter jets came into view.

A floating iron citadel.

Standing atop the carrier, Groo pointed at one of the jets and grabbed Joorim’s collar.

“Dad! Look over there! F-30 Specter!”

“Mm.”

Joorim, his collar in Groo’s grip, squinted at the fighter jet she was pointing to and replied.

Groo’s breathing quickened.

She never dreamed she’d see a real sixth-generation fighter jet—not just a model!

Her heart raced and her fingertips tingled with excitement.

She had accepted the invitation to Mephisto mk.3’s demonstration entirely for this chance—to see an aircraft carrier and fighter jets in the flesh.

‘Amazing! So huge! Groo wants to build one too!’

While Groo imagined constructing a colossal carrier, Minister of Defense Jo Seong-ran approached and extended her hand.

“Guildmaster On, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I hope your journey was comfortable?”

Her manner was polite and dignified.

Her gaze briefly rested on Groo, perhaps recalling the chick class incident that had led to the President’s chief secretary being dismissed.

Secretary Kwon Honggyun, who had tried to exploit Groo’s kindergarten class, was now suspended and under investigation.

“I’m On Joorim of Orchestra. Thanks to you, the trip was very comfortable.”

Joorim set Groo down and shook her hand, exchanging brief greetings.

Groo clung to Joorim’s leg, eyes roving curiously over the massive ship.

‘Somewhere on here, Groo’s drone must be waiting.’

The aircraft carrier Kim Jwajin (KDDX-S6) was the official venue for the first demonstration of the Mephisto Series mk.3 (S+).

The new S+ rank had drawn intense interest both inside and outside the country.

As a result, some two thousand high-profile figures, including cabinet ministers from various countries, had gathered in small groups, chatting on deck.

Just then, as Joorim followed the Minister of Defense inside, a crowd began to form around him.

“Guildmaster On.”

“Welcome.”

Meeting On Joorim in person was an opportunity not to be missed.

With well-wishers gathering from all sides, Groo found herself distracted, her head spinning.

At that moment, Groo’s backpack peeked open, and a pair of noses—a hamster and a maltese—poked out, twitching as they sniffed the air.

‘That scent…’

Bailach suddenly froze, his expression hardening.