Chick 175
by Cristae175
Chapter: Loved Caregiver Management
Grew opened the blueprint for a new factory.
Before her eyes, the schematic of the plant unfolded as a hologram.
Although it was a bit more complicated than the potion factory, it was still something she could handle.
Following the blueprint, Grew assembled the pieces one by one with her LEGO blocks.
As the assembly clicked together, a string of colorful toy machines encircled the central worktable.
Stations for assembling heads, wings, eyes, and bodies were connected in a square by conveyor belts, so that from a distance the whole setup resembled a rocket-building facility.
‘Well, they’re actually drones!’
And beside the assembly line sat a gacha machine, complete with a transparent plastic dome, lever, and output chute.
The dome was packed full of fluffy white balls of cotton. When the lever was pulled, the design converted the ball into ammo and fired it out the chute.
To test it, Grew pulled the lever, prompting a message:
A notice appeared, saying that filial points would be used.
After she pressed Confirm, a round, v-shaped, angry-chick aluminum pellet, called an “Angry Chick,” rolled out.
“Nice!”
Grew huffed with pride.
Replication of the chick drone!
The dawn of an era for auxiliary weapons!
This was the ultimate goal—now that the very thing that made Grew a game changer was within reach!
She summoned Bear One, Two, and Three, who had been playing in the potion factory, and stationed them at the drone factory.
“Whoop!”
At last, she pressed the launch button for the first time.
[※Caution! Production is highly complex. Each unit consumes 10,000 filial points.]
[Proceed with production?]
“T-ten thousand?!”
Grew’s shoulders trembled.
“How much… How many filial points do I have left…?”
Her mind reeled at the steep cost.
But a budding tycoon must also know how to spend.
She had to at least try to make one, right?
“Let’s do three for now…”
[※Warning! Mass production may lead to a decrease in quality. Proceed anyway?]
“U-uh huh.”
Having come this far, Grew wouldn’t back down.
Bzzzz–
The conveyor belts whirred to life and Bears One, Two, and Three busied themselves assembling parts.
The resulting drone pieces were noticeably smaller than the original.
Was this the drop in quality?
She barely had time to wonder.
Soon, on the worktable, the chick drone appeared in all its glory.
“Heh heh. Ku-hu-hu-hu-hu!”
Grew cackled with glee as she picked up the drone.
“Grew isn’t some nouveau riche anymore—now she’s rich! Huh?”
Did she read it wrong?
She rubbed her eyes and opened the info window again.
[Mephisto Series Prototype mk.2 (B-)]
“B—B minus?!”
The grade had dropped that much?!
She launched the Assistant for Young Makers app and scanned the drone. It reported several changes:
[Mephisto Series Prototype mk.2 (B-)]
※Quality has degraded in the process of commercializing the product.
*Power reduced by 20%.
*Detection range reduced by 20%.
“Hmm.”
Quality degraded… Grew stroked her chin thoughtfully.
Some difference between handmade and mass-produced isn’t necessarily bad…
Still, it was disappointing.
Would people react as well as they did to the handmade version?
‘Will they like this one too?’
It would be helpful to test it in front of others.
She checked the app once more.
Even using the filial factory seemed to raise her proficiency a bit—the mercury thermometer’s temperature had crept up.
‘Fifteen degrees!’
Making items like this seemed to increase her proficiency much more than with potions.
‘Alright.’
Eventually, if she poured all her filial points into raising proficiency, she’d be able to make even better items.
With renewed resolve, she fiddled with the filial factory, then looked mournfully at Mephisto and Veilach.
“Grew… doesn’t have any more filial points…”
[Filial Points: 0]
Zero!
Why is it you can never have enough, no matter how much you earn?
“Hmph.”
So frustrating.
When Grew bonked her forehead on the floor in distress, Veilach patted her with a tiny hand, while Mephisto rubbed against the crown of her head.
“Beeeep.”
Then, with its beak, Mephisto pecked at the air.
At the same moment, a quest window opened before Grew’s eyes.
“Fuhn?”
Sniffling, Grew looked up.
[Caregiver Quest]
[Let’s make ‘Serhi’ into a loved caregiver and perform acts of filial piety.]
[Reward: Earn filial points based on people’s goodwill toward Serhi]
[Fill the cold mercury thermometer with warmth.]
“There was a quest like this?”
She didn’t recall seeing it before.
Pondering where it might’ve come from, a memory dawned and she clapped her hands.
“The day we bought the watch!”
“Beep!”
Mephi confirmed it with enthusiasm.
That day, on their way home, Serhi had been clinging to her, and some sort of notification had popped up.
But she’d gotten annoyed at Serhi for refusing to help a classmate and had just slammed “decline” and ignored it.
“Hmm.”
Grew pouted.
She still hadn’t fully forgiven Serhi.
But she needed filial points…
‘And, to be honest, I do want Serhi oppa to make more friends.’
That was the truth of her heart.
Everyone—even Junim, Gidan, and Siyun—knew Serhi built walls with other kids at school by only using English.
Junim’s view was to let him be. Gidan excused it as shyness; Siyun, however, secretly worried and had even shed some tears for him.
‘Uncle Hungsam…’
A little brother one had so dearly wished for, now grumpy and friendless.
‘Poor uncle.’
“That’s why Grew has to help!”
Grew darted across the central lawn of Justitia International School, hiding behind a tree.
She watched as Serhi, having eaten lunch alone in the cafeteria, walked back toward his classroom.
“Hey, Serhi! Going by yourself? Want to hit the snack shop with us first?”
“No, thanks.”
Brushing off the invitation, Serhi resumed his idle stroll, while Grew pulled a notebook from her pocket.
[Serhi Observation Log]
– Super king of loners. Always alone.
– Really only uses English. Hates when anyone talks to him.
When a group of classmates appeared in the distance, Serhi veered off completely and headed toward the empty parking lot.
He clearly wanted to avoid being seen.
Why go to such lengths?
On the first day, Grew, ever sociable, had even gotten phone numbers of kids in the class next door. She just couldn’t understand him, and her mouth hung open in amazement.
‘Is this quest even possible?’
So much for her filial points…
In that moment of despair, Serhi’s gaze fixed on something ahead.
‘Huh?’
Grew turned her gaze to follow.
A familiar face.
At the end of Serhi’s stare, Lee Taemin—holder of Veilach’s mana stone—stood with his head bowed.
“Taemin, you know I’m just doing this for you, right? Don’t you get that?”
Chase Guild Leader Choi Hyun-woo pleaded with Taemin.
“I know. How could I not? But… ha—”
Taemin scrubbed his face roughly.
“But I’m not your puppet sent to achieve the dreams you gave up on, am I?”
“…What?”
Choi Hyun-woo’s face flushed.
Taemin clamped his mouth shut, realizing too late what he’d said.
“You little brat…!”
Hyun-woo raised his hand, and Taemin squeezed his eyes shut.
‘He’s going to hit him!’
On reflex, Grew sprinted forward—to block the blow landing on Taemin.
Smack—!
A sharp, cracking sound echoed from the struck cheek.
“…?!”
Grew found herself dangling in midair.
Serhi had grabbed her at lightning speed.
And in the same motion, had shoved Taemin out of the way—so it was Serhi who ended up being struck by Choi Hyun-woo.