Chick 294
by Cristae294
A secretary, somewhat out of breath, approached Kwon Honggyun as he was grumbling angrily. The secretary whispered in his ear that someone was insistent on seeing him.
Who would come out here, instead of waiting at the office? Kwon Honggyun looked doubtful, but waved him on.
“Let them in.”
No sooner had he finished speaking than someone wearing a deer mask appeared, already sitting cross-legged.
Not a hint of presence—how?! Startled, Kwon Honggyun swallowed hard and asked,
“An Awakened, are you?”
Instead of answering, the deer mask simply raised a hand, revealing tattooed fingers.
Obsidian.
And an animal mask as well…
“Ah… So you’re with that international mercenary group that the Bureau just apprehended.”
So there are still remnants. Kwon Honggyun’s eyes glinted with interest.
“You are correct.”
The voice from the deer mask was distorted, mechanical.
Kwon Honggyun adjusted his tie and sat across from him.
“What brings you here?”
The deer mask got right to the point.
“A deal for amnesty (exemption from punishment).”
“Direct, aren’t you?”
Though Kwon Honggyun laughed in hearty amusement, his mind worked with cold calculation.
A deal for amnesty.
His mercenary group had been swept up in the arrests; he must want some of his people released.
To approach him for a “deal” meant he intended to offer something in exchange.
He’d heard On Joorim was involved in the takedown of the Obsidian Mercenary Group.
It had been when On Joorim happened to be at Bureau Headquarters, disrupting the group’s plans and leading to their capture.
‘Actually, this could be useful.’
Having just clashed with On Joorim, Kwon Honggyun had a sense of his character.
He was a man who pushed back harder the more forcefully one came at him.
As Chief Secretary, Kwon Honggyun had dozens, hundreds of ways to complicate things for him, but On Joorim would not yield easily.
More likely, he’d just provoke a counterattack.
And currently, public opinion stood firmly behind Orchestra—not the ruling party. That was another complication.
Yet not all hope was lost. If pressing forward was risky, perhaps he could draw On Joorim out by making him come to them.
“Well, as luck would have it, I do have one idea.”
The deer mask met his eyes, signaling for him to continue.
Kwon Honggyun smiled.
“What I need from you isn’t anything big—just a minor incident, something small.”
“An incident?”
Yes, an incident was required.
If On Joorim’s daughter became entangled in trouble and was saved, a debt could be forced onto On Joorim.
He already knew, thanks to his research, just how precious that child was to On Joorim.
“On Joorim has a daughter. I want her to be put in a little danger. Just briefly.”
“……A child?”
Sensing the deer mask’s discomfort, Kwon Honggyun hurried to reassure him.
“We can discuss the details over a meal. If you don’t like what you hear, you’re free to refuse. Just listen.”
He called for a staff member to take their order.
“Chuen, your progress is remarkable!”
Classroom for the Korean Language Education Program for Foreigners, run by the National Museum of Korea.
Chuen blushed at the praise from instructor Lee Hyowon.
As they left the classroom together, Hyowon continued with a few more encouraging remarks.
‘You’re basically done with the beginner level,’ ‘You could move on to intermediate Korean now,’ she said with a smile.
“Thank… you, for the compliment.”
“And your speaking is already so smooth!”
“I used to do work that required speaking…”
Lee Hyowon nodded, understanding. Nothing teaches you to speak like actually working overseas.
“I’m sure you’ll be able to write a resume in Korean this time!”
With a cry of “fighting!” she made two fists in the air.
Chuen nodded awkwardly.
In just a little over a month, her Korean had improved dramatically thanks to the short program, and this time, she felt a bit more confident.
“I hope things go well.”
Chuen responded with a warm smile.
Today, the spring sunshine was especially gentle.
As light poured in through the window, she watched as kindergarten children in yellow hats followed their teacher outside.
It appeared they were here for a museum field trip.
The accompanying teacher halted briefly to address the children.
“Friends, how do we behave inside the museum? We must be quiet, right?”
The kids huddled together, raising their hands high.
“Yes! Yes! Yesyesyes!”
Like little chicks, she thought.
As Chuen watched the children fondly, a goldfish tapped her gently on the cheek.
“……?”
The goldfish pointed its tail at something.
There, among the children, was a little one even more chicklike, with a plump bird on her head, hand raised high.
A face round and cute as a doll, pale hair, soft coral eyes—a familiar sight.
“……On Groo?”
“Now, everyone, look up!”
Just then, the teacher gestured toward the museum’s upper floor. Groo looked up as told.
“……!”
Swoosh! Chuen quickly ducked beneath the window ledge.
Lee Hyowon glanced over, puzzled, but Chuen didn’t want to be spotted here.
She remembered clearly when that child had invited her to join Orchestra…
Groo must be disappointed she didn’t come.
Though not by choice. Chuen had given the offer serious thought and prepared an application.
But there had been a problem: her Korean wasn’t yet up to the challenge.
‘…Ugh.’
Chuen covered her red face with both hands.
Because writing the whole resume in Korean was difficult, she’d slipped into Chinese—leading to instant disqualification. It was embarrassing to admit that’s why she’d started attending classes for foreigners.
‘Hmm?’
Groo suddenly felt a gaze and craned her neck, looking around.
“Chick class! No wandering! Hold your friend’s hand tight and follow your teacher!”
“Yes!”
Groo replied loudly, taking Wooju’s hand as they entered the National Museum of Korea.
Beyond the large entrance, child-friendly exhibits awaited their inspection.
“It’s a bowl!”
“Clay!”
“It’s not a bowl, it says ‘earthenware’ right here. Earthenware.”
As chattering began, the teacher turned to hush them.
“Shh!”
At her ‘shh,’ the children mimicked her, shushing their friends in unison.
Groo leaned close to Wooju’s face and did her own little ‘shh,’ then laughed softly. Wooju blushed deeply.
“Wooju, you’re a tomato again.”
“N-no, I’m not.”
Wooju shook his head vigorously.
Overhead, Mephisto glowered at Wooju in obvious disapproval.
‘Ugh!’
If only Mephisto weren’t here, I could go around the museum holding hands with Groo, just the two of us.
It was upsetting, always feeling Mephisto’s gaze because of the “favor” he owed Goo Heeyeon who’d bought him off.
“Pipitpit!”
Reading his mind, Mephisto cackled, and Wooju clenched his fists, blushing.
The plan for today’s field trip was a quick look at the exhibits, then participation in a pottery-making program.
Groo, thinking hard about what kind of pottery to make, looked more intently at the displays than anyone.
“Snnnnf!”
That was, until Bailach poked his head out of the backpack, sniffing.
Bailach, poking out just enough to squint around, looked sharp.
“……?”
Watching the teacher carefully, Groo whispered,
“Bail, what’s up?”
“Mew—” (I smell something…)
“Peep peep.”
Mephisto, too, started sniffing.
“Hmm?”
Now that both Bailach and Mephisto were smelling the air, Groo tried too, but couldn’t detect anything odd.
She tilted her head, then slipped behind a display in the corner.
There, Bailach transformed into human form, squatting down next to Groo and explaining in a whisper.
“I think there’s a kin nearby.”
“A kin?”
“A kin. A monster, I mean.”
“Ehh?!”
Here, of all places, with so many people?
Normally, monsters that appeared outside of dungeons would do so in places with as few people as possible.
“Maybe… are they exhibiting a monster or something?”
At Groo’s question, Bailach touched his chin. It was possible, but…
As Bailach made a troubled face, Groo rummaged through her bag.
“Then let’s check and see?”
Groo put on her detective magnifying glass.
If it’s there, I’ll find it.
If there really is a monster, her friends could be in danger.
‘Hero Groo can’t just let her friends be at risk!’