Chick 325

325

Once his thoughts had settled, On Ijo picked up his phone and placed a call.

[“Theodora. It’s Han.”]

A woman’s delighted voice answered.

—I’ve been waiting for your call.

[“That sounds rather ominous.”]

—How’s Yurian?

[“She still hasn’t woken up.”]

—That’s odd… Would you like to send her back to me?

[“Entertaining joke, Theodora.”]

—Haha, I’ll always be waiting. I can never have too many test subjects.

Theodora Weiss.

A renowned authority in somatic reconfiguration.

At the Guantanamo Research Center, she’d directed all manner of unethical experiments on convicts.

But after she attempted to transplant the SSS-class monster Bailach Shadoss into a human body—a specimen painstakingly captured in America—she was caught and branded an SSS-class criminal herself.

Her sentence continued to increase as it was revealed she had even kidnapped innocents for her experiments.

—By the way, does this call mean you’re open to dealings with me? What is it you want?

[“I need a suitable candidate to become the Master of the 99th Floor.”]

—Hmm, that’s a tall order.

[“Not necessarily.”]

On Ijo shrugged as he spoke.

[“When you were at Guantanamo, how did you summon Bailach?”]

—Aha… That’s how you want to approach it? Yes, that makes sense. But it won’t be easy in Korea.

[“Why not?”]

—You want to know how we summoned Bailach in America?

She spoke, a smile in her voice.

—We triggered a lot of dungeon breaks. An awful lot.

[“……”]

—It’s hard to cause that many dungeon breaks in Korea. You have more Awakeneds than the U.S. or Europe.

[“True.”]

—And with On Joorim around, he can cover almost any situation.

[“……”]

After a pause, she suddenly asked,

—So, do we have a deal?

As if she had a good idea.

[“A deal?”]

—I’ve been eager to use On Joorim as a test subject, and now I think I might finally have a clue how.

[“On Joorim as a test subject?”]

—Yes.

On Ijo let out a laugh.

[“Theodora, maybe you’re a bit overconfident? This is On Joorim you’re talking about.”]

—I can do it. I have a plan.

[“……And what exactly is your plan?”]

—I’m going to open a grand dungeon in Korea.

[“So you need me for that?”]

—I tried to find a way without you… but your call feels like divine intervention. How about it? Want in? It’ll be a big operation. Not a bad deal for you, either.

The woman who repeated unethical experiments speaking of divinity—it was absurd, On Ijo thought, lowering his eyes.

Was this really fate? His title flickered before his mind’s eye.

Still—

[“You think you can distract On Joorim with a mere grand dungeon?”]

—Of course not!

She laughed, then continued.

—I know that On Joorim has Shea, the Master of the 99th Floor. His power must come from there.

[“……”]

—I’m going to contain Shea, just as I did with Bailach.

[“That’s all? If things go as before with Bailach, the vessel won’t hold.”]

—But if we fuse Shea into the new grand dungeon as its master, the vessel should withstand it a little longer. So, simply put, I want your help opening a grand dungeon to capture Shea.

[“Hmm…”]

—Not a bad idea, is it? Without Shea, On Joorim will inevitably weaken.

Not a bad idea.

Or was it? He wasn’t sure whether that was truly his own judgment, or the influence of his title.

His lips moved of their own accord.

[“So, how do you plan to pay me for my help?”]

—I have an SSS-class monster sealed within a vessel. Once the job is done, I’ll give it to you. Perfect as a Master for the 99th Floor.

[“……Alright.”]

—I knew you’d agree. I’ll contact you when I’m ready, Han.

[“Yes. I’ll be waiting.”]

On Ijo ended the call.

His eyes grew dark.

On Joorim and Shea… His mind tangled with a thousand thoughts.

Chapter Withstanding the Weight of Parents’ Day

Today, the Chicks’ class was busier than usual.

It was Parents’ Day, and the children were in the midst of a lesson making carnations.

Gathered together, folding petals and gluing leaves, the children crafted their flowers. In the midst of it, Groo let out a deep sigh.

Glance.

Wooju, checking Groo’s downcast face, peeked at the carnation bouquet Groo had made.

“You did a good job.”

“Bii!”

At Wooju’s praise, Mephisto, perched on Groo’s head, voiced his agreement. Opposite them, Goo Heeyeon added primly,

“Heeyeon thinks it looks fine, too. Not sigh-worthy.”

Yet Groo shook her head firmly.

No matter how much care she put into making the carnations, it still felt lacking to her.

“This just isn’t enough.”

Groo’s heavy words drew puzzled glances.

“This is my first Parents’ Day since I got a dad.”

Suddenly, the mood froze.

To the other children—used to celebrating Parents’ Day every year—it might be just another holiday, but for Groo, it held the special meaning of a ‘first.’

Groo didn’t pause, adding,

“And besides…”

There’s more?

While Wooju and Heeyeon exchanged perplexed glances, Groo said,

“My burden on Parents’ Day isn’t the same as in a normal family.”

“…Is that so?”

Wooju’s face twisted in confusion, but he nodded anyway.

But her next words made it impossible to keep calm.

“I have two dads.”

“What?!”

“Huh?!”

Wooju and Heeyeon shouted in shock.

As Groo’s table grew noisy, the teacher intervened.

“Alright, Chicks’ class! Lips zipped—everyone quiet~”

“Quiet!”

The children pressed their lips in a line, their big eyes now fixed on Groo.

“Why? How? Really?”

“Did you find him?”

Heeyeon and Wooju clamored toward Groo.

Groo nodded.

“I found him. My real dad.”

“What?!”

Heeyeon, flustered, crumpled her carnation and quickly tried to smooth the petals back out.

“What’s your real dad like?”

“Well, he’s a bit…”

Groo tilted her head.

“Incompetent…”

“……”

“So I have to take care of him.”

“Oh…”

A collective sigh of sympathy rose from the children.

“And my dad’s in the hospital right now.”

“Why? Is he sick?”

“That’s not it, but he has to hide for now.”

“Aah…”

Heeyeon and Wooju’s eyes glazed over.

An incompetent dad, hiding from people, in the hospital?

Even to kids, it didn’t sound like a great situation.

Heeyeon’s eyes flickered before she finally spoke.

“Well, Groo, having two dads sounds nice…”

That was the best she could manage.

It was the best either of them could do.

Wooju and Heeyeon exchanged meaningful glances.

But Groo just blinked, then grinned brightly.

“Yeah! That’s why I’m preparing a truly special present.”

“A special present?”

“A present?”

Wooju and Heeyeon tilted their heads curiously.