Chick 159
by CristaeEpisode 159
“It’s fun watching you dads get so anxious.”
For Chun Gyuri, who didn’t have children, it was simply an amusing scene.
Goo Shinhoo, who had seemed to be praying in his nervousness, snapped back at her teasing tone.
“Anxious, you say? Guildmaster Chun, our Hyeyeon scored a perfect mark on her mock interview. You have no idea how well she speaks.”
Chun Gyuri just shrugged, and Goo Shinhoo glanced sideways at Jurim and pressed on.
“Guildmaster On, you might have reason to worry, but your daughter’s only five, right? I heard early admission’s almost impossible.”
At Goo Shinhoo’s provocation, Jurim gave a short, dry laugh and replied curtly.
“My kid’s a genius.”
Chun Gyuri snorted, watching as Jurim incessantly tapped her own lap with her fingers and Goo Shinhoo’s legs trembled.
‘Both of them, always pretending to be tough.’
A mischievous smile tugged at Chun Gyuri’s lips.
“Well then, why don’t you both put your phones here?”
“For what?”
Goo Shinhoo’s grip tightened defensively around his phone, while Jurim raised a skeptical eyebrow.
“How about a bet? Let’s see whose daughter calls first. Whoever gets the call first after passing will surely reach out. Don’t you think?”
The implication was clear: good news would come quickly, while bad news would take longer.
Jurim narrowed his eyes in clear displeasure.
“What’s the point?”
But Chun Gyuri, spotting a chance to get one over on Jurim, rapped the table.
Because of a promise made in the RP dungeon, they’d nearly had to hold a press conference. A bit of that grudge still lingered.
“Come on, it’ll be fun. There’s still time before the interview.”
Chun Gyuri beamed, making it obvious that, since it wasn’t her business, she could simply enjoy the spectacle.
Just then, Goo Shinhoo placed his phone on the table first.
Tap.
“I can’t deny I’m curious. Will Guildmaster On’s genius call first, or will our Hyeyeon?”
“Always the devoted dad. What about you, Gru’s dad? Not backing out, are you?”
Both Goo Shinhoo and Chun Gyuri turned their eyes on Jurim.
“……”
In the end, with a reluctant expression, Jurim laid his phone beside the other.
Tap.
The two phones now lay side by side.
The three exchanged tense glances before their eyes fixed on the motionless phones.
In a moment more anxious than ever, Goo Shinhoo clasped his hands in a silent plea.
‘Please, just this once, let me win.’
‘Hyeyeon, you can do it.’
‘You’ll call Dad first, right?’
As the minutes stretched out like hours—
Brrring—
One phone began to vibrate.
“……!”
All three stared at the table at once.
Only one phone was ringing.
Jurim slowly picked it up. A faintly smug smile curled his lips.
“Looks like Hyeyeon’s running a bit late.”
“Oh…!”
With trembling hands, Goo Shinhoo snatched up his phone.
“Hyeyeon!”
Meanwhile, pretending nonchalance, Jurim hurried out of the waiting room and immediately pressed the call button.
Almost at once, Guru’s voice rang out through the video call.
— Daddy, Daddy, Daddyyyyy!
Hearing Guru’s excited shrieks, Jurim, instead of being exasperated, felt a surge of relief.
“Did it go well?”
— Yes! I passed! So did Wooju and Seri Oppa! We all passed!
Guru bounced and shouted with glee.
She vanished off-screen, then reappeared, her face flushed and shining.
— We’re going to have a celebration party together! And also—!
“Slow down.”
With a soft laugh, Jurim gently stroked Guru’s cheek on the screen. Of course, what met his thumb was only the cold, hard glass, not the warmth of a heated, soft cheek.
Yet he couldn’t help but linger, as if, by rubbing the screen enough times, he might actually be able to touch her.
He wanted to praise her, hug her tight, let her know how proud he was—but Guru spoke first.
— Daddy, come quickly! We’ll be waiting for you!
“All right, I’ll be there soon.”
When Guru insisted that he bring one of those candies with the long name, Jurim kept promising he would.
Ever since those paparazzi photos, even advertisement requests had come his way, but somehow that long candy name still slipped his mind no matter how often he heard it.
Just then, a staff member rushed up to the waiting room.
Seeing that Jurim was on a video call, the staff signaled it was time to head out.
Jurim nodded.
“I have to hang up now. I’ll call again when work is done.”
Still bubbling with excitement, Guru bobbed her head up and down.
How could she possibly be so happy?
Just as Jurim hesitated to end the call, Guru pressed her face close to the camera and whispered, almost inaudibly,
— I love you, Daddy.
Her sweetness always brought a smile to his face.
Jurim, thinking of an answer he’d once been unable to give, replied at last.
“I love you, too.”
Guru beamed.
A man hauling a suitcase through the airport terminal suddenly stopped in his tracks.
On a TV, a crowd clustered together to watch On Jurim’s face appear on screen.
The camera caught Goo Shinhoo spluttering, Chun Gyuri laughing, and Jurim’s unflappable face.
The man watched the screen for a while before turning to leave through the exit.
The taxi driver would be waiting; there was no time to dawdle any longer.
He adjusted the collar of his coat, which reached his ankles.
Winter hadn’t yet relented in Korea, so he’d packed his coat in a hurry. Thin cashmere did little to keep out the cold.
After checking the license plate of the waiting taxi, he got in. The driver gave him a respectful nod and greeted him.
“Mister Han?”
“Yes.”
“Let’s see—your destination’s Bundang, Sangsinn-ro 61-7, right? Bun, Dang.”
Enunciating carefully in case his foreign passenger didn’t understand, the driver made Han smile.
“Yes, that’s right. Please take me there.”
Catching a glimpse of the dimples peeking out beneath Han’s sunglasses, the flustered driver cleared his throat.
“Oh, you speak Korean very well, sir.”
“Do I? It’s been a while since I spoke it, so it probably sounds pretty awkward.”
“Nah, you could pass for a native!”
Han smiled again.
“You’re a handsome guy. Even with the sunglasses, I can tell. Just the type young folks like these days. So, what brings you to Bundang?”
“Ah… My friend died. I’ve come to pay my respects.”
“Oh, I see. It’s the memorial park over there… Sorry for asking mindlessly.”
“No worries.”
“Will you be heading back home right after?”
“No. I plan to stay in Korea. I found a position here and have some matters to see to.”
“Good decision. Korea’s a safe, wonderful country.”
As the taxi driver went on extolling Korea’s virtues and suggesting places to visit, Han gave polite replies while gazing out the window.
At last, the taxi came to a stop in front of the memorial park.
At the entrance, Han bought a bouquet of white chrysanthemums and walked among the graves without hesitation.
He halted before a freshly made mound.
On its simple headstone, there was no name—only an inscription in Kiruth, the ancient tongue.
[May you find how to love within the embrace of the gods…]
Lowering his sunglasses revealed coral-colored eyes.
Within the iris, the dark pupil formed a triquetra.
“This must be the place.”
A bouquet of flowers already lay before the headstone, evidence someone else had visited.
Han laid his own chrysanthemums at the front.
With both hands in his pockets, he quietly read the words on the stone.
In the embrace of the gods…
“Take me with you.”
He suddenly remembered the bold young girl from Kiruth.
A land where children’s cries never ceased and, surely, a land without gods.
Even knowing how many children had been sacrificed, Han had taken that girl’s hand for that very reason.
Drawn by the desire to bring down a godless nation.
“Rest well, there, Irina.”
Just as we wished, the tower will be rebuilt.
Keep watch from above.
Part 1 Complete
The Kindergarten Class Hunter Pays Back! Part 2 Prologue
[Character Profiles]
On Guru
⋅Gender: Female
⋅Age: 5
⋅Likes: Dinosaurs, Gudetama, TiniPing, Groot, various characters, justice
⋅Dislikes: (in concept) villains
Awakened as an S-rank with an L-grade skill at the age of four, and grew more intelligent to comprehend the system. Dreamed of making enough money to live with her mom and dad, and while trying to achieve this by running a business in a dungeon, she was unexpectedly adopted as On Jurim’s daughter.
Her main skills include the L-grade passive “System Engine’s Malfunctioning Crafting” that lets her do almost anything; “Mold and Shape,” which lets her alter form and combine; and “Extract Cleanly,” which draws out a material’s properties.
On Jurim
⋅Gender: Male
⋅Age: 27
⋅Likes: Cars, driving
⋅Dislikes: Amusement parks
A first-generation Awakener who challenged the unprecedented threat of the Tower and emerged as its sole survivor. Currently the Guildmaster of Hyeonak and Korea’s top-ranked hunter. Unofficially regarded as the world’s strongest man.
His left hand seals the master of the Tower’s 99th floor (Sheyer).
Main skill: “Internal Interference” (SSS)—a type of hacking ability that can extract information not only from electronic devices but even from other people’s minds.
Mephisto
⋅Gender: Male
⋅Age: Unknown
⋅Likes: Guru, children’s programs
⋅Dislikes: Guru’s indifference, Beilach
A mysterious lifeform Guru created by extracting a dungeon core.
Once usurped the throne and became emperor, but was reborn on Earth and forgot everything. The 99th floor master (Sheyer), sealed in Jurim’s left hand, is his “son.”
Registered as Guru’s guardian but has a similar mental age.
Beilach
⋅Gender: Male
⋅Age: Unknown
⋅Likes: Zombies, Wooju (as prey)
⋅Dislikes: Mephisto
Was sealed by monster poachers and took on the body of a child, but Guru used her skills to turn him into an ugly hamster. Occasionally loses the hamster form and reverts to a child’s appearance. Has a bit of a “boomer” attitude.
Seo Wooju
⋅Gender: Male
⋅Age: 6
⋅Likes: Fangirling over Guru, his dad, acting
⋅Dislikes: Dad’s girlfriend
A popular child actor who has a crush on Guru. As he’s highly magical, Beilach often targets him as food.
Gidan
⋅Gender: Male
⋅Age: 17
⋅Likes: Baseball, games, raids
⋅Dislikes: Soccer
Until Guru appeared, he was the youngest of Korea’s S-ranks.
Once struggled with guilt over running from his father’s death but has since overcome it. Fights using natural stats and battle instincts rather than relying on skills.
Serhi
⋅Gender: Male
⋅Age: 17
⋅Likes: Games
⋅Dislikes: Gidan, friends
A Gnosis survivor who was subject to various experiments and thus awakened, then reawakened. Before leaving Gnosis, had little contact with others and tends to keep to himself. Is of the earth magic type and commonly uses mannequin-creating skills.
Jin Siwon (Yevgeny Markov)
⋅Gender: Male
⋅Age: 26
⋅Likes: Family
⋅Dislikes: Gnosis
An S-rank bureaucrat who defected to Korea. Formerly called the Gnosis Hunter for killing so many Gnosis members. Can read others’ minds through his skill, which summons a snake called “Barrett” for combat. Older brother to Serhi, separated in childhood.
Shin Nayeon
⋅Gender: Female
⋅Age: 23
⋅Likes: Friends, photography
⋅Dislikes: Raising plants
An S-rank hunter and former idol trainee. Born into wealth and beauty, she also has outstanding athletic talent, but her obliviousness nearly cost her friends.
Her main skill, “Silver Vines (S),” blocks magic by wrapping vines around it—a talent so coveted that she was even scouted by the U.S., but she chose Hyeonak due to proximity to home.
Ham Honggi
⋅Gender: Male
⋅Age: 19
⋅Likes: Dopamine rushes
⋅Dislikes: Good deeds
Youngest son of a justice minister candidate and the hunter association president. He’s B-rank, but rarely manages to pull his weight.
Once conned Guru and stole twenty million won, only to end up as her follower. Now, thanks to Guru, he gets withdrawal symptoms if he doesn’t do good deeds.
On Suhyeong
⋅Gender: Male
⋅Age: 67
⋅Likes: Family, work
⋅Dislikes: The media
Chairman of Doan Group and father of brothers On Ijo and On Jurim.
When the Tower appeared, had to send both sons inside, losing the eldest. Due to eldest’s participation in a government secret project, Doan Group received government support; when this was publicized, they faced many doubts and criticisms.
Tensions rose with second son Jurim but have since largely healed thanks to Guru.
Nam Ji-won
⋅Gender: Female
⋅Age: 68
⋅Likes: Family, toys, work
⋅Dislikes: Family
Chairwoman of Korea’s top conglomerate; close to On Suhyeong since college and once his first love.
The family is mired in conflict over inheritance; she dotes dearly on Guru.
Amakusa Kazuki
⋅Gender: Male
⋅Age: 27
⋅Likes: Crafting, good deeds
⋅Dislikes: Breaking the law
Currently (except for Guru) the only S-rank crafting-type Awakener. A Jurim fanboy, always expressing admiration for him in the media.
Famous for his “Amakusa Series” S+ weapons.
Chuen
⋅Gender: Female
⋅Age: 30
⋅Likes: Food, mahjong
⋅Dislikes: Hunger
An S-rank Awakener who commands ghosts.
Her skills make her a target, so she’s often on the run, working as an informant from the shadows. She discovered that the person who took Guru to the orphanage had died.
On Ijo
⋅Gender: Male
⋅Likes: Family
⋅Dislikes: Spiders
In life, a peerless warrior. Well-rounded in looks, ability, background, and personality; the world was as kind to him as he was to the world.
For that reason, participated in experiments to pass on his skills and risked his life to save the world.
Part 2 Prologue
Feeling a gentle magic, Jurim slowly opened his eyes.
The first thing he saw was a fresh sprout.
A tiny bud perched atop Guru’s beige hair—no longer unfamiliar.
She must be regaining her vitality.
Seeing the previously wilted sprout now shooting up straight, Jurim chuckled softly and kissed the top of her head, wrapping his arms around her small, warm body.
But the child wriggled out of his grasp and sat up.
“……?”
Still half-asleep, Jurim watched Guru wriggle out of the stuffed-animal-laden bed.
“Where are you going?”
“For a walk!”
A walk? He rubbed his eyes and followed.
“Why a walk all of a sudden?”
Guru, hitching up the straps of her baggy overalls, puffed out her cheeks.
“It’s not all of a sudden. Guru promised Daddy, remember?”
“Ah.”
Once she turned five, Guru had unilaterally declared several rules upon Jurim.
One was, “Whatever Guru brings home, Guru takes responsibility for.”
Though he wasn’t thrilled, teaching children to set and keep promises was important, so he decided to let her try for a while.
Following Guru’s little footsteps into the living room, Jurim frowned at the sight before him.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
“Going for a walk!”
Guru chirped, clutching a leash.
A dog leash.
Jurim found himself staring at a little boy wearing a dog’s leash around his neck. He looked completely human.
“You’re taking him out?”
“Yes!” Guru replied brightly.
At the moment, Guru—a five-year-old—was holding the leash of another child, looped around his neck.
“Yaaaawn—”
Beilach, the leashed party in question, didn’t seem to mind, only yawning lazily.
Jingle—
The bell on Beilach’s collar tinkled.
Gripping the leash, Guru declared stoutly,
“Guru keeps promises.”
“Fine, just don’t go out like that. Absolutely not.”
“Hmm?”
Guru’s face was recognizable thanks to various news stories. If they went outside like this…
The headlines would say: “Guildmaster On’s daughter leads a friend around by a dog collar…”
He could already imagine the morning papers: ‘Terrifying Five-Year-Old!’ Just imagining it was enough to give him a headache.
“No dog collars.”
“Gasp!”
Jurim swiftly unbuckled Beilach’s dog collar and confiscated it.
Where had she even gotten this? Didn’t she come straight to the office after kindergarten?
As he mulled this over, Guru rummaged through her crossbody bag.
“Bayi, do you like pink?”
Beilach gave an unenthusiastic nod, and Guru pulled out a pink strap.
“Tada! Harness!”
Jurim snatched the harness away in a panic.
“Harnesses are banned too!”
Stripped of even the harness, Guru’s mouth fell into a triangle as she sighed.
“Aww…”
On Jurim still found parenting incredibly difficult.