Chick SS3
by CristaeChickling Class Hunter’s Filial Duty! Side Story 3
He replayed the footage from the moment Chloe came back to life.
Chloe rose from within a mound of sand on the beach.
And before that?
On Ijo and On Groo were sculpting a likeness of Chloe Han out of sand.
Choi Chunho kept rewinding the scene of On Ijo and On Groo piling up the sand together.
It reminded him of the first time he saw footage of On Ijo. The sight had seemed nothing short of a divine miracle.
On Joorim claimed it was her own power, but it was hard to believe so easily.
It was more reasonable to think of it as On Ijo’s ability.
Yet…
He returned the screen to the present.
What appeared on the beach was the portrait of a happy family.
He zoomed in on On Groo, then glanced back at the family photo perched in a frame.
Throughout the trial, On Ijo had remained silent, but according to the investigation, he had been incredibly close to Chloe Han.
And while On Ijo was away in the Tower, Chloe Han had met a tragic end.
On Ijo founded Gnosis shortly thereafter…
‘On Ijo, Chloe Han, On Groo…’
He slowly turned the names over in his mind when the phone rang.
It was a call from the Blue House VIP line.
“……”
Choi Chunho put the receiver to his ear and listened in silence, then finally spoke.
“Reporting on the current situation. On Ijo still has not regained his original power. I will compile any further updates on this matter and report back promptly.”
He swallowed hard.
A brief silence, tinged with faint tension, followed.
Before long, the call ended with a polite word of thanks.
“Hoo…”
Choi Chunho ran a hand over his face and sank deep into his chair.
Side Story 2-1 Operation Name: Save Mecha Joorim
Mom! Groo went to kindergarten again today.
I love you very, very much.
Groo will grow up fast!
Just wait for me a little longer.
Having sent the message, Groo smiled with contentment.
Now there was no need to look into the mirror to speak to Mom.
The message would reach Mom when Dad’s visiting hours allowed.
Though it was disappointing they couldn’t exchange messages in real time, Groo was simply happy to be able to communicate with Mom like this at all. It was no longer just a one-way conversation.
Groo put the phone away in her bag.
Then she took out a toy walkie-talkie.
“Mephi, do you read me? All preparations are complete on this end. Over.”
- This is Mephi. Loud and clear. We’re ready over here too. Over.
“What about Bay? Over.”
“Would you stop with the over this, over that? I’m right above you, of course I can hear you.”
Of the three children crouched behind the column, peeking their heads out like little peas, Bailach, the first ‘pea’, spoke with a bored drawl.
Groo, the middle ‘pea’, glared at Bailach with wide eyes.
“Groo likes Hamster Bay best. What about you, Bay? Over.”
Bailach, suddenly imagining what might happen if he was hung from the tricycle again, gave a shudder and brought the walkie-talkie to his mouth.
- Loud and clear, over.
“Good, over.”
- When does the operation commence? Over.
Groo grinned slyly.
“Soon.”
The three of them were currently hiding behind the hallway column, watching the Orchestra Guildmaster’s office.
Today, Joorim was away on outside business.
With the Guildmaster’s office empty, it was the perfect day for a secret operation.
And they’d prepared everything just for today.
Groo pulled a squirming toy stethoscope from her bag.
[Open-Open Stethoscope (B)]
Assists in opening locks.
At a glance, it looked like a simple toy stethoscope for playing doctor, but in truth, if you matched it just right to a lock, it would make a satisfying click—an item made for just this purpose.
Everything was perfectly prepared.
“Let’s go. Over!”
Groo darted down the empty corridor, scurrying like a cockroach. Tiny wheels whirred as they followed right after.
The three were not simply gathering for mischief.
They had a crucial mission to accomplish before they could build a new body for Mom.
Operation Name: Save Mecha Joorim!
Whirr-whirr.
Groo cautiously opened the door to the Guildmaster’s office, glancing around.
Their target was inside the Guildmaster’s office safe.
Groo crept softly to the safe.
Mephisto stood watch at the door, while Bailach lifted Groo up high enough to reach the safe.
When Groo pressed the number buttons on the safe with the stethoscope held to its side, metallic clicks echoed from within.
Every time the right number was pressed, a chime sounded.
Groo tried various combinations.
“Mephi, situation outside? Over.”
“All clear.”
“Good. I need a bit more time.”
“Leave it to me.”
Mephisto nodded gravely.
“This is the last one. If it doesn’t open now, the password must be even longer.”
If there were duplicate digits, there would be too many possible combinations—they had to do it this time.
Tense, Groo pressed the final number.
Click! Beep—
The heavy safe door cracked open ever so slightly.
Groo’s eyes sparkled.
Inside the silvery safe stood two robot toys, upright.
“Target confirmed. Over. Commencing retrieval.”
Groo carefully grasped the robots and lifted them overhead.
“We’ve reclaimed the robots from that lazy demon!”
“Waah—!”
Mephisto cheered from the side, and Bailach set Groo back down while watching above them.
A CCTV camera was observing the children from overhead.
“Boss, I think we should run now.”
“Hmm? Hah!”
Following Bailach’s gaze, Groo spotted the camera and gaped.
“Let’s get out of here!”
Groo quickly pulled a tricycle from the inventory.
“Get on, quick!”
“Okay!”
“Ha…”
Once all the children had hopped on, Groo began pedaling at full speed.
Just then, the Guildmaster’s office door swung open.
It was the security guard, who had witnessed everything from the monitoring room.
“Groo! If you fool around, Dad’s going to get mad! Bring that back here right now—!”
“No way!”
Zoom—!
The tricycle slipped right through the open door and sped down the corridor.
“Groo!”
Groo pedaled vigorously, staying ahead of the pursuing security guard.
The plan was ruined by the CCTV!
They’d intended to try out Mecha Joorim’s power in the simulation room first!
“Groo! Look out ahead! Ahead!”
“Oh, oh!”
Right in front of the speeding Groo, an employee holding paperwork looked up in alarm, eyes wide.
In this case, there was only one thing to do!
[Skill ‘Dungeon Is an Open Door’ activated.]
Enter any dungeon!