Chick 368
by Cristae368
Chapter Family
Early morning.
After confirming that Joorim was still asleep, Groo quietly made her way to the bathroom and looked into the mirror.
“Mom, today I’m going with Grandpa and Dad to visit Uncle.”
The final verdict had been delivered for On Ijo.
Since the Orchestra attack, the world’s media had been in an uproar day after day, and one by one, Gnosis’s past atrocities had begun to surface.
TV programs produced documentary specials covering everything from Gnosis’s origins to its dissolution.
In the midst of this, the human experiments of Project Wilderness came to light. All those still involved with the project were now under global pressure to reveal everything.
Thus, the whole truth had come out—except for two things: On Ijo’s survival, and the fact that he had been the leader of Gnosis. That part remained a closely guarded secret during the trial.
Taking into account his time under Kabaron’s control after failing the Trial of the 100th Floor, and his deeds in saving the world as a hero, On Ijo was sentenced to twenty years in prison.
“Uncle has to go live on a deserted island now, where nobody knows him. No TV, no phones either.”
This was to prevent any chance of escape or contact with remnants. The name “On Ijo” still carried weight, and this was also to stop anyone from trying to use it.
“Uncle has to stay there for a long time. Will he be okay?”
Standing on tiptoe, Groo propped her chin on the sink.
“…”
But no matter how long she waited, there was no answer from her mother.
‘Maybe Mom has fallen asleep.’
Chuen had told her that, all this time, her mother had been holding onto her spirit thanks to Groo’s magic, and that she seemed to have expended a great deal of power recently.
“…”
Groo rested her face sideways on her arm.
No matter how many times she checked her status window, the title was nowhere to be seen.
‘Mom loves me so much…’
Groo mulled over the title that had now disappeared.
‘Has Mom gone to heaven for good?’
She rubbed her aching, lonely heart. A sharp pain squeezed at her chest.
Only family were allowed to visit On Ijo.
After passing through several strict security procedures—
Screech, screech—
—the moment they arrived on the island via a special teleportation scroll—
On Suhyeong and On Joorim fell speechless.
Step. Step.
Sandals shuffled to a halt in front of them.
Wearing a Hawaiian shirt and sucking on a straw stuck in a coconut, On Ijo waved his hand.
“My beloved family! Welcome to my prison!”
Warm sunlight. Transparent sea. Soft, white sand.
In his sunglasses, On Ijo looked every bit the tourist at a resort.
This prison was so different from anything Groo had imagined that she looked up at Joorim in disbelief.
“This is prison?”
“For some, it might be heaven…”
Joorim murmured low.
“Seems you’ve adjusted well.”
Only Suhyeong, feeling a bit sorry for his eldest, wiped at a tear.
Laughing heartily, On Ijo swept Groo up in his arms.
“Princess! Let’s go play in the water with Daddy!”
“Waaaah—”
“Yahoo!”
On Ijo, holding Groo, dashed off toward the sea.
Joorim watched them, eyes cloudy, murmuring,
“Isn’t he adjusting a little too well?”
“Still, it does put my heart at ease.”
“Looks like he’ll enjoy a nice long vacation for the next twenty years.”
Though he spoke with mocking tone, a slight smile lingered around Joorim’s lips.
“Daddy! Come quick!”
Groo waved both arms energetically.
Joorim let out a laugh and slowly made his way toward them.
Just then, On Ijo splashed water at Joorim.
“Princess, hurry! Let’s soak Daddy too!”
“Mhm!”
Joining in, Groo sent a spray of water after him.
“Ah! Ah! Are you two going to stop or not?!”
Joorim, now thoroughly soaked, wrinkled his brow.
Then, with a swift burst, he ran up and dumped a bucketful of water on the two of them.
“Kyaaa!”
Suhyeong watched from beneath a parasol as his two sons and granddaughter played in the water.
It was nothing short of a miracle.
Yet even so, he couldn’t help but feel the absence of one person, guilty as he was for wishing for more.
Soon, the three waterlogged returned from the sea, and Suhyeong handed them towels.
On Ijo and Joorim first dried Groo off with the towels they’d received.
On Ijo used the soft towel to rub Groo’s platinum hair. At that, Suhyeong, gazing at her pale hair, suddenly asked,
“What kind of person was Chloe?”
At the sudden question, On Ijo paused.
But it was Groo, pulling the towel from her head and throwing it around her neck, who answered first.
“Mom made amazing pizza! In the microwave, just like magic, zap zap zap!”
Groo imitated the whirring sound, spinning in place to mimic the microwave turntable.
“Haha! …How did Groo know about that?”
Faced with his daughter-in-law’s first introduction as the queen of frozen pizza, Ijo looked both awkward and amused.
Joorim thought to explain that Groo had once seen her mother in the past, but held his tongue.
There’d be time enough to tell that story someday.
“Really? Your mom was good at heating pizza?”
“Yes!”
Delighted to talk about her mother, Groo chattered with enthusiasm.
“And! She was really good at saying bad words—”
On Joorim quickly grabbed Groo’s hand.
“On Groo! Want to ride the waves?”
“Yes!”
Tucking Groo under his arm, On Joorim dashed for the water to cut off any further scandalous talk.
Between On Suhyeong and On Ijo, a salty breeze blew.
“She was good at heating up frozen pizza, was she?”
Suhyeong managed at last.
“…Yes. She was wonderful, wasn’t she?”
“Indeed.”
With a light chuckle, Suhyeong added,
“In the future, I’d like to hear more about the child’s mother now and then.”
“…I will.”
Suhyeong gave a small nod.
His eldest son’s voice, choked, sounded slightly strained.
Suhyeong silently placed a comforting hand on Ijo’s back.
Meanwhile, Groo—tied to Joorim’s neck and riding the waves—pressed her cheek to his.
“Now let’s play in the sand!”
“Let’s do that.”
“Ehehe!”
Joorim kissed her on the cheek and asked,
“Aren’t you sleepy? You played all day without a nap.”
“I don’t want to sleep.”
“Why not?”
“Because I’m really, really happy today!”
As Groo flapped her arms, Joorim made sure to hold her tight and asked again,
“Just today?”
“Today is nice, but… there might be sad things tomorrow.”
Groo pouted and pressed her face into Joorim’s neck.
“It’s alright if you sleep. Tomorrow will be happy too.”
“Really?”
“Yes, I’ll make every day happy for you.”
Soon, the child’s laughter—full of happiness—rang out.
“Then, hm, then! Tomorrow let me play with Mecha Joorim!”
“That’s not happening.”
“Even if I beg like this? Even if I give you five massage coupons?”
“No.”
“Chii!”
Still, Groo must have liked his embrace, for she snuggled closely, rubbing her head against his shoulder.
Joorim squeezed the water from her clothes and set her loose on the sand.
Skipping like a colt and nearly falling, Groo was caught by Ijo.
With a wide smile, Groo reached up to Ijo with both hands.
“Uncle, Uncle! Make Mommy for me.”
“With sand?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Alright. Nobody makes Mommy better than Daddy.”
Soon, Chloe’s face—one he’d crafted countless times—appeared from his fingers.
“It looks just like her!”
“Doesn’t it?”
“Let’s make the body too!”
“Okay!”
After quite some time spent shaping the sand, a perfect sculpture of Chloe was completed.
“Wow!”
Groo’s mouth gaped in wonder.
On Ijo sat down beside her and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
“Isn’t she beautiful?”
“The most beautiful in the world.”
“That’s right.”
On Ijo chuckled, sharing a laugh with Groo.
Sparkling coral eyes lingered quietly on Chloe’s likeness.
Groo gazed at the sand sculpture for a long while, then brought her hands together in prayer.
A great magical power began to stir, and a chill filled the air—she was using her strength.
But there was no response from the sand figure.
“…”
On Ijo, seeing in Groo a reflection of his former self, gently pulled her into his arms and kissed the top of her head.
He held her small body tightly and spoke softly.
“My princess must be hungry now. Let’s go home.”
“Do you have a home here?”
“We do. It’s a little small, but it’s there.”
“Can I sleep over?”
“Well, let’s ask first and decide.”
“Okay.”
Groo nodded and got to her feet.
On Ijo brushed the sand from her body, took her hand, and headed toward Joorim.
The child’s free hand reached for Joorim, who took her left hand in his.
Holding hands with both Joorim and Ijo, Groo grinned from ear to ear.
Behind them, the sun was setting.
“Do you cook your own food here?”
“They give you lots of retort pouches—that shelf-stable food in foil packets?”
Ijo answered cheerfully to Joorim’s question.
“What else is there?”
“Coconut?”
“Oh, good grief.”
Joorim shook his head.
“Maybe I’ll learn to cook with coconuts, then.”
“If you want.”
At Ijo’s playful words, Joorim retorted, and Suhyeong, following the three of them with a smile, said,
“I brought some meat. Let’s have that for dinner tonight.”
“Yes.”
“Meat!”
Their voices harmonized in unison.
Splash! At the sound of a crashing wave, Groo turned around.
“Oh! Mommy…”
A giant wave was washing over Chloe’s sand sculpture.
Groo looked crestfallen, and On Ijo tousled her hair.
“It’s alright. I’ll make her again.”
“Next time, I’ll keep the waves away.”
With their fathers’ promises, Groo nodded and trudged along behind them.
But, still feeling a pang, she gave a final glance back.
In the foaming waves, something was faintly visible.
“Hm?”
Groo blinked.
No matter how many times she rubbed her eyes, the shape remained, swaying with every rolling wave.
Then, at the dusky edge of the beach, a dark figure slowly rose.
Pale platinum hair fluttered in the sea breeze.
Step by step.
Step by step.
And when the figure finally stood tall—
“…!”
The child’s eyes widened.
Groo broke into a run across the sand.
Even if she fell, she scrambled straight back up.
Out there, in the waning light over the sea, someone was reaching out a hand.
Without hesitation, Groo took that hand.
-fin-