Chick 340
by Cristae340
Inside the VIP hospital room.
Gru and On Ijo had pitched a large tent in the center, making the room look like a campsite. Gru, who had enjoyed camping with her sisters, wanted to share that joy with Ijo as well.
Inside the tent, nestled together like in a cozy hideout, Gru and Ijo were playing with toy LEGO pieces.
Gru pressed in the final piece of LEGO to secure it.
“Tada! This is Gru’s ‘Ointment Factory B’!”
“B?”
“Beta!”
“Our princess really knows her stuff!”
Gru laughed softly and wiped her nose as she pressed the start button, brimming with filially-accumulated points.
Dolls scurried along their allotted routes, squeezing ointment into tiny aluminum tubes.
“So this is how it runs? Incredible!”
On Ijo clapped heartily and pulled Gru into his arms.
Giggling, Gru burrowed against Ijo’s chest.
He jostled her gently and patted her bottom.
“How did I end up with such a smart, beautiful, and amazing daughter? Daddy is so moved.”
With those words, he peppered Gru’s flushed cheeks with kisses.
Gru planted a kiss back on Ijo’s cheek, then scampered across and lifted up the factory.
A few dolls clung to the factory for dear life.
Gru paid them no mind and, holding the factory forward with both hands, asked,
“Is it really really okay?”
She’d received a little help from her grandfather in the design again, but most of the work was Gru’s own.
To show such a creation to a former world-class craftsman Hunter was thrilling beyond words.
On Ijo seemed to sense Gru’s excitement and smiled playfully.
“Hmm, looking at it again, I think there’s a little…”
“A little?!”
“Not a single little thing I can criticize; it’s so brilliant it took me by surprise.”
Gru burst out laughing at Ijo’s banter.
“If you’re happy, give Daddy a hug.”
On Ijo opened his arms.
Gru raced back and threw herself into his embrace.
“Grandpa said that with this new invention, Gru can save a lot of people.”
“I see, I see.”
“Yes! That makes me sooooo happy.”
Being the best was nice, but saving people was an even greater accomplishment.
Gru wanted to be a hero, just like her daddy.
“Be a hero and win tons of honor!”
Not the kind bought with donations, but true honor!
Joorim might have been a hero, but since he didn’t attend kindergarten, he’d missed out on proper education and failed to win any honors for it…
“But Gru goes to kindergarten, so that’s fine!”
Gru clenched her fists, vowing to bring plenty of honor back to Orchestra.
Just then, she rolled her eyes and looked up at On Ijo.
“Hm? What is it?”
On Ijo tilted his head as their eyes met.
Gru fidgeted with her fingers, then spoke.
“…What was it like, being the world’s best supreme Hunter?”
“Hmm…”
On Ijo trailed off, as if reliving the past.
Gru thought she might have asked too sensitive a question and was about to withdraw it, but—
“…It was good. Very, very good.”
On Ijo answered first.
Gru perked up her ears and asked,
“What part did you like?”
“Well… because I got to save lots of people, just like my princess here?”
“Wow!”
Gru’s eyes sparkled.
Joorim would never have answered like that! He’d just have grumbled about how annoying everything was.
Clearly, someone who went to kindergarten had a different attitude.
As Gru marveled, On Ijo grinned and tapped her tiny nose with his finger.
Then, for a moment, he was lost in memory.
There was a time when his goal was to save humanity. Back then, that’s how he was.
The clever eldest son from a wealthy family, blessed with a good nature, enviable looks, and the greatest power in the world.
It seemed that for On Ijo—who had it all—the world was always kind.
And so, he tried to be kind to the world in return.
All of it, in the end, amounted to nothing.
Laughter filled the tent for a good long while.
Knock, knock.
“Mr. On Ijo, it’s time.”
An assistant cracked open the door.
“Ah, yes. I’ll get ready.”
On Ijo stepped out of the tent, and Gru peeked her head out as well.
Seeing his daughter’s expectant little face poking out, he smiled quietly.
Having such an adorable child brought new meaning to every day—he couldn’t help but smile.
As he buttoned up his dress shirt, thinking of how to delight his daughter, he asked,
“How about after I get back we all go real camping and fish together?”
“All together?!”
“Mm. With Grandpa and all the dads, too.”
Gru’s eyes shone like stars.
“Gru’s really good at catching fish!”
She remembered being on TV, where she’d outshined Joorim by catching loads of fish.
On Ijo chuckled.
“Really? I can’t wait. Shall we grill them up after?”
“Yes!”
“Then I’ll see you soon!”
“Bye-bye!”
Gru, now out of the tent, waved her hands energetically.
On Ijo, dressed sharply in his suit, waved both hands in return as he stepped out of the room.
Today was the day On Ijo’s return would be officially announced.
A black limousine waited below the hospital.
It was to take On Ijo to the Blue House for the press conference.
As he was about to get into the car, under the assistant’s guidance—
Joorim, fresh from a phone call, approached and blocked his way.
He ended his call with a simple confirmation, then hung up.
On Ijo smiled warmly.
“What’s up? Came to see your brother off?”
Joorim nodded in reply.
“That’s rare.”
Ijo spoke with a smile as he moved to step past, but—
Joorim caught him by the shoulder.
“Hyung.”
“Mm?”
“About Chairman Han Rowoon…”
Still smiling genially, Ijo echoed him.
“Who?”
‘So you don’t know.’ Joorim muttered to himself with a low laugh, lowering his head.
“Our Joorim is acting a bit strange today.”
On Ijo patted him kindly.
Joorim, still hanging his head, let his hand drop from Ijo’s shoulder.
Having finished his call, Jin Siwon grabbed his coat and exited the room.
Gidan and Sergey, just arriving with porridge, gaped at him.
“Team Leader? Where are you going?”
“You just woke up—how can you be leaving already?”
“Sorry. I’ve got to step out for a bit.”
“You’re crazy! In your state, where do you think you’re going?!”
Sergey yelled, but Jin Siwon quickened his pace and opened the door.
The memory of being controlled before he collapsed flooded back to him—with crystal clarity.
That time, under Han Rowoon’s control, he’d held the core.
What had he intended to do with it?
It chilled him. The thought that he’d almost committed another terrible act with his own hands sent a shiver down his spine.
‘Han Rowoon is Gnosis.’
That “Han” Irina had hinted at—he must be the one.
But what resurfaced in Jin Siwon’s memory was not only that he had been controlled and that Han Rowoon was Gnosis.
Right before he lost consciousness, he had activated his skill.
He had a skill that triggered randomly, regardless of his own will.
[Skill ‘Phantom Time’ activated.]
—You catch a glimpse of the future for ten seconds. May trigger suddenly, regardless of the caster’s intention.
The vision came just then.
What Jin Siwon saw in that future: Han Rowoon shedding his skin—transforming into On Ijo.
As Joorim stood barring the group’s way, silent for a while, the assistants signaled to On Ijo.
They urged him to hurry.
On Ijo, catching their looks, nodded and gently stroked Joorim’s arm.
“Joorim?”
Joorim looked up and seized Ijo’s hand on his arm.
“…?”
And in his eyes flashed a golden light.
“I need to know who you are.”
[Skill ‘Internal Interference’ activated.]
—Interfere with all perceived internal parameters.