Chick 314
by Cristae314
“Sniff!”
Groo, her eyes swollen from crying, calmed the familiars who fussed over her with concern.
“Uung. I’m, sniff, fine now. Don’t worry. Hrk!”
When Groo rubbed at her eyes, Joorim, trying to stop her, examined her eyes with worry.
“Now you really look like a goldfish. We’ll put some ice on that when we get home.”
“Okaaay…”
As Joorim went to lift Groo up in his arms, she shook her head.
“Why?”
Groo widened her tear-filled eyes.
“Yulian isn’t here. Hrk!”
Realizing at last that Yulian was missing, Bailach and Lucifer’s jaws practically dropped.
“You two don’t know either?!”
“…”
“…”
Bailach and Lucifer exchanged glances.
After Joorim and Groo had been engulfed in that light, they’d lost consciousness and had not paid Yulian any mind.
“Myu!” (You were supposed to keep track of them!)
“Kyu?!”
When Bailach scolded Lucifer, Lucifer looked on the verge of tears in protest.
Just then, a sudden voice sounded from behind.
“What are you all doing there? This isn’t a place just anyone can enter… Oh, Guildmaster On!”
Joorim simply nodded in greeting.
He stood up from where he had been sitting, brushed the dust from Groo’s clothes, and said,
“I’ll find him. Let’s go for now.”
“Okaaay…”
The attendant, guessing they were here searching for something, bowed and departed.
Joorim, holding Groo, went to say goodbye to the Minister of Defense. He wanted to excuse himself and leave early because of the child.
The Minister, who was preparing for a drone demonstration, spotted Groo’s puffy eyes and gave a wry smile.
She seemed to assume it was simply a tantrum about wanting to go home. She cast a sympathetic glance, as if to say, “Parenting is tough, isn’t it?”
Although that wasn’t the case, neither Joorim nor Groo bothered to correct her.
The Minister sent someone to escort them to the car, and soon the two left the aircraft carrier behind.
‘Mom was with Groo all along.’
Groo hugged herself tightly.
That way, she could still feel her mother’s warmth.
Just then.
A goldfish suddenly appeared, flying above Groo’s head.
“Hm?”
Groo looked up.
‘Chuen unni’s goldfish?’
Delighted, Groo looked on, but Joorim, utterly matter-of-fact, caught the goldfish in his hand.
Smack!
With a sound, the goldfish popped.
“Eh.”
“What does she think she’s doing? She could have just called. Why send something like that…?”
He waved away the lingering magic with a flick of his hand and continued walking.
Thud. Thud.
At the same time, the footsteps of someone else echoed from behind.
A man, searching for something, looked around in desperation.
‘Is he looking for something…’
What could he have lost to wear such a mournful face?
Groo buried her face in Joorim’s chest.
His large palm wrapped gently around the back of her head.
‘Warm.’
And it was enough.
Chapter Who’s my daddy?
As the dim dawn grew into morning sunlight—
Groo rubbed her eyes as she awoke. Confirming that Joorim was still asleep, she quietly made her way to the bathroom.
Climbing up onto the children’s step-stool, she caught her reflection in the mirror.
She opened her status window.
[Title: Mom Loves Groo So Very Much]
Tzing—
Groo reread the title her mother had left her, over and over.
Even after reading it hundreds of times since it was unlocked, her heart always fluttered.
Groo stared into the mirror and spoke, as if her reflection were her mom.
“Um, hi, Mom.”
When no answer echoed back, Groo grew a little shy. She rolled her eyes, cleared her throat, and continued.
“I didn’t cry at all last night. I’m all grown up now.”
Of course, her mother would know she had actually cried her heart out every so often for the week after returning from the past.
For some reason, the title seemed to flicker.
Groo blinked in surprise, then, seeing the title was still there, pouted her lips.
Sadness still visited her from time to time, but Groo had learned to endure.
Remembering that her mother had always been with her made her feel fluffy, as if walking on clouds.
And now she could remember her mother’s face, too.
Maybe this was how you grew up.
Groo wiped away a stray tear and brushed her nose.
“Mom, I love you today, too.”
Smooch.
She blew a kiss into the air, then hopped down from the stool before Joorim could wake up.
The fact that she greeted her mom every morning was a secret from Joorim.
If he knew, he might be sad. Maybe he’d even feel bad for bringing Groo to the present.
Just as Groo herself had needed time to stop crying, Joorim would need his own time for that feeling of guilt to fade.
Though Groo already understood why he had to do it.
‘Ah, seven o’clock!’
Groo realized it was time to get up, and ran to Joorim’s room.
Clasping his big hand with both of hers and activating her filial piety skill, Joorim slowly cracked his eyes open.
Groo nuzzled his cheek with hers.
“Daddy, it’s morning!”
A sturdy arm wrapped around her in a warm hug.
“…Did you sleep well?”
The drowsy voice was thick with sleep, and Groo couldn’t help but laugh.
“Come on, get up. Today we’re going to see Grandpa.”
Today was the day they were to visit On Ijo’s memorial with On Suhyeong.
“Don’t go back to sleep.”
“Mmm, Daddy won’t sleep.”
Unnoticed by Groo, the title shimmered.
The On Ijo Memorial Park in spring was quiet.
Aside from the November anniversary ceremony, most who visited were foreign tourists.
On Suhyeong took a deep breath.
He tried to act nonchalant, but being summoned so unexpectedly to the memorial left him feeling a bit on edge.
Joorim had never come here in spring before—why now, all of a sudden?
Until now, Joorim had only visited in silence, late at night or in the predawn, leaving flowers and quickly departing.
He shunned any commotion or attention related to his brother.
Even now, simply because Joorim was visiting the memorial, the cameras were already flashing in anticipation.
Even with the constant click, click, clicks of cameras, his son just quietly stayed by his side, deep in thought.
He was never that talkative when alone with his father anyway, but today the atmosphere felt all the more subdued, leaving a strange silence.
Groo, on the other hand, seemed to be in high spirits, skipping around ahead of them.
‘Is there something you want to say?’
Maybe he should try to bring it up first.
Before he knew it, Joorim was standing before the monument, staring for a long while at the name “On Ijo.”
If this wasn’t simply a wave of sudden longing for his brother, there had to be some other reason.
On Suhyeong resolved, as a man and as a father, that he would summon the courage to speak first.
But Joorim spoke abruptly.
“Father, I have something to say. Please, try not to be too surprised. The child might get startled.”
“Of course. Go on.”
On Suhyeong nodded.
“What is it?”
He composed himself.
Joorim seemed to be having trouble starting, so On Suhyeong braced himself to remain calm, no matter what was said, and to support him.
If the adults lost their composure, it would only make things harder for the child. Whatever happened, Groo mustn’t pick up on it.
He was sure of this, but then—
“Groo is hyung’s daughter.”
Reflexively, On Suhyeong echoed his son’s words.
“Yes, Groo is Ijo’s…”
And then the words stuck in his throat.
“What?”