Chick 279
by Cristae279
“This might hurt a little. Is that okay?”
Lea, speaking gently through a translator, asked in Korean, and Groo nodded stoutly.
“All right. Then bear with it for just a moment.”
Lea carefully wiped the blood from Groo’s knee and slowly poured potion over the wound.
The injury healed cleanly almost at once, though a sharp sting ran through it for a moment.
Groo winced slightly, but bravely endured the pain.
“Oh—you did really well!”
Groo grinned in pride.
Lea held Groo’s face in both hands and kissed his cheek.
“Cute.”
Groo melted, his face going bright red as he received a kiss from the pretty older girl.
Seeing his obvious embarrassment, the German team members began to smile one by one, murmuring, “She’s so cute,” and, “Too adorable,” all eyes fixed on Groo.
The sudden surge of attention made Groo freeze, even as he tried to smile.
He felt, with dawning realization, that he was now surrounded by the enemy team, basking in their affection.
‘I-is this really okay?!’
At that moment, a girl reached out to pinch Groo’s cheek.
But Mephisto whipped his wings, swatting her hand away in a sharp warning.
The girl laughed at that, clearly amused.
Playfully, she reached out and stroked Mephisto’s tiny face with her thumb and index finger.
[“Is this a chick?”]
[“It’s white. Aren’t chicks supposed to be yellow?”]
[“Kind of looks like a penguin to me.”]
[“It’s not a penguin, just fat.”]
The German players traded comments as they examined Mephisto, each idly poking or squeezing his plump sides and wings.
“Pip—piiiip!”
Mephisto let out a strange, loud cry in protest, causing Bailach and Lucifer to poke their heads out of Groo’s bag to check things out.
[“What’s with this kid—why so many animal friends?”]
[“Maybe she’s a Disney princess?”]
Everyone burst into laughter at that.
At a complete loss, Groo’s eyes grew anxious, but Lea, noticing, stroked his hair with a kind smile.
“They’re not saying anything bad. It’s just that you’re so cute.”
Groo’s eyes rolled around, then looked downward.
Nod, nod.
If big sister says so, it must be true.
Just then, Lea hesitated as if on the verge of saying something, and finally spoke.
“Has anyone ever been mean to you?”
“Mean to me?”
“Yes. Has anyone in Hyeonak hurt you?”
To suddenly be asked if Hyeonak had done something bad? Groo flinched and shook his head quickly.
“No, never.”
“You can be honest with me. I’m just like you.”
What is she asking him to say? And what does she mean, “just like you”?
Groo looked at her in confusion.
Maybe…
“Our eyes?”
“Yes. Our eyes are the same. See?”
“O-oh…”
“So you can tell me anything.”
“Um?”
Tell you what?
Groo was still clueless, blinking blankly when one of the German students on the phone caught Lea’s eye and pointed downward.
[“Lea, they want us in the training room.”]
[“Already?”]
[“Just some quick warmups.”]
[“Yeah. I could use it.”]
Lea stood, clenching her fist.
Groo, seated on the sofa, got up as well.
Was it time to leave now that his wound was healed?
Groo glanced about at everyone preparing to go, his lips pouting.
He’d come to look for weaknesses, but so far had found none.
Instead of learning anything, he’d only drawn affection and generated an odd misunderstanding about being mistreated by Hyeonak.
Spotting Groo lingering, Lea made a proposal.
“Want to watch us train?”
Training?!
There was no reason to refuse. Groo nodded vigorously.
In a special training hall for Awakened in the dorm basement—
After finishing her stretches, Lea started jogging lightly while one teammate came up beside her.
[“Is it okay letting the little one see us train? That princess is from Hyeonak.”]
[“You knew?”]
[“Come on—everyone knows. Don’t be an idiot.”]
[“Doesn’t matter. We’re sure we can win, aren’t we?”]
[“Why are you so fired up all of a sudden, Lea?”]
Lea glanced over at Groo.
Everyone listening shifted their gaze toward Groo, seated on the bench.
[“I’m just a bit worked up.”]
[“What?”]
She pointed from her eyes to Groo.
Those who knew Lea’s background scowled slightly.
[“Don’t tell me she’s an artificial Awakener too?”]
[“Probably. So that means…”]
[Skill: Blessing of Victory (SS) activated.]
Suddenly, six massive wings spread out, enfolding the German team.
At the same time, the very atmosphere of the hall grew heavy, and a tremendous power radiated outward.
It was as though a giant shield enveloped the entire team.
[“Let’s show them we’re strong enough to protect a child.”]
With a whistling sound, explosions filled the training hall.
Boom!
In an instant, the German players demolished their training tools, proving the scope of their strength.
“Hwup!”
Groo sucked in a sharp breath.
He’d seen training every day at Hyeonak, but even so, the Germans’ power left him in awe.
Each and every one of them seemed to have S-rank ability.
But hadn’t he heard that all but their S-rank supporter were supposed to be A-rank?
Just then, Bailach, now in human form, spoke from the seat beside him.
“S-rank support type. Looks like they’re specialized in enhancements.”
Groo’s eyes sparkled as he looked at Bailach.
“Support type? Isn’t that just healers who fix hurt people?”
“That’s part of it. But there are also buffers, debuffers, CC-ers—basically, all the awakening skills that help the team. These ‘types’ are just arbitrary categories humans made up.”
“Oooh…”
Bailach, seeing Groo’s still-bewildered face, added,
“That one looks like an S-rank enhancer—specialized in buffs.”
“Aha.”
So that’s it. Buffs!
There’s a way to become that much stronger.
It was a whole new world for Groo, who had only ever watched healer-oriented supporters before.
Now he finally understood why so many articles called Hyeonak’s support line a weakness.
There was actually someone in Germany who could provide this level of buffing.
‘It’s like they just ate a magic candy and got super strong.’
But, sure enough, no debuffs like with actual magic candy.
‘Amazing…’
For the first time, seeing firsthand how much the support-type could affect a team, Groo stared with his mouth agape.
‘There are so many truly powerful people out there.’
Groo took out his Chick Drone and hugged it tightly.
His mind turned to Joorim and Kazuki’s interview:
To their overflowing confidence, and the respect in everyone’s eyes.
And he remembered Gidan and Sergey clearing dungeons with ease.
All the S-ranks he’d always taken for granted now seemed somehow to belong to a different world.
Groo’s eyes turned back to the German team in the midst of their training.
They moved as one, perfectly coordinated.
It felt as though this entire experience was electrifying his body.
His perspective was gradually broadening, and his heart beat faster.
‘I want to get stronger too.’
A burning drive flowed through him, all the way to his fingertips, strengthening his resolve.
“Auntie!”
Groo waved as he caught sight of his sitter.
The sitter smiled warmly at Groo, then bowed deeply to Lea, who stood beside him.
“I heard you helped Groo when he was hurt. Thank you so much.”
“It was nothing.”
“Groo, say thank you.”
“O-okay. Thank you for helping Groo!”
Lea gave a small laugh, then announced as if making a declaration,
“Give my regards to Hyeonak. We’ll definitely win.”
Groo’s mouth opened in surprise. She knew he was from Hyeonak?
He quickly clenched his little fists and replied,
“G-Groo won’t lose, either!”
Lea gave a sly smile.
“After the match—promise you’ll tell me the truth.”
About what?
Groo tilted his head in confusion, but Lea only smiled and patted his hair.
“We’ll talk again once the exchange is over.”
Nod, nod.
Whatever she meant, he figured it might be best to have that conversation later.
And so, after bidding farewell,
Groo walked hand-in-hand with his sitter toward the parking lot, going over the day in his mind—his thoughts spinning dizzyingly.
‘They really are a powerful team.’
With those buffs, it looked as though even S-rank Gidan and Sergey wouldn’t be able to outpower them.
But with Groo as baggage, could Hyeonak possibly win?
‘Groo’s drone needs even more upgrades.’
Groo’s brow furrowed with determination.