“Hmph, Geuru can find another one too.”
If they followed her again this time, she’d show them what her duck pinchers were made of.
Geuru, who had gone up to the second floor following the teacher in charge, glared fiercely at the Delinquent Toad moving alongside them.
“I wasn’t planning on using this, but……”
Geuru pulled out a wagon from her puffy backpack. The children’s toy wagon was stuffed with all sorts of items.
Geuru gripped the wagon handle, stretched it out long and firm, and equipped a magnifying glass.
Rattle, rattle, rattle. Geuru pulled the wagon, looking all around. The Delinquent Toad pretended to chat with his friends while stealing glances at Geuru.
“Just try following me.”
She’d show them a thing or two. Hmph!
Then, light glinted off the magnifying glass. Geuru stopped, her eyes going wide.
“The light is huge!”
But why was it hidden in the bathroom?
Moving her wagon, she scurried toward the restroom.
The toad and his group seemed to hesitate, unable to follow her all the way to the women’s restroom.
“Idiots.”
Geuru slipped into the bathroom and checked the second stall.
“Inside the toilet tank……?”
No matter how she checked, the place giving off light was inside the tank.
Geuru scrunched up her face.
It was strange, but she intended to check anyway.
Thinking she’d have to take off her watch since it would get wet—
“My watch is gone!”
Had she lost it? The moment she tried to hurry outside to look for where she might have dropped it—
A dinosaur wearing a tutu skirt was entering the bathroom. It was definitely the dinosaur she had taken a picture with earlier.
“Ah!”
Then, someone covered Geuru’s mouth and yanked her arm hard.
*
Parent Waiting Room.
The moment a tall man entered, a tense atmosphere settled over the waiting room.
A sturdy build that wore an obviously expensive coat well. Though his face was hidden behind a mask, his distinct features inevitably exuded an air of nobility.
In the amusement park’s parent waiting room, where people came as families, it was rare to see a young man alone, but he looked so perfect it was splendid.
As if born accustomed to being the center of attention, he walked leisurely and sat in any chair.
Then he pulled out a small parenting book from his thin coat pocket.
[My Child Is Too Smart, Could They Be a Prodigy?]
In that instant, everyone in the room shared the same thought from the book title alone.
“He’s a doting parent.”
“Doting parent.”
Was there any parent who hadn’t thought, “Could my child be a prodigy?”
It is an abnormal condition manifested from extreme rose-tinted glasses where one’s child is so pretty, or speaks so clearly, that they seem like a prodigy.
The man seemed to be going through that phase.
I had times like that too. The parents smiled warmly as they watched the novice dad.
“……?”
Jurim furrowed his brow at the strangers’ warm gazes.
What on earth?
Buzzzz—
Then, his pocket vibrated.
Jurim checked the caller, muted it, and shoved it back into his pocket.
Soon, a text arrived.
Young master. The Chairman wishes to dine with you on this memorial day. Please let us know your schedule so we may arrange an appropriate venue.
And the Chairman is very curious about the adopted granddaughter. He wishes for her to accompany you to the meal.
Granddaughter? Whose? He let out a scoffing laugh. Without hiding his displeasure, Jurim ran his tongue along the inside of his cheek.
With dark, sunken eyes, he tapped the armrest, then replied to the text.
Say that again. Who is whose granddaughter?
I apologize if this displeased you. I will correct it.
Writing the text full of irritation, Jurim sighed and turned his gaze to the ceiling. Whatever he said, it was just pointless venting.
Tell the Chairman that this number was cleanly blocked by On Jurim as well.
He pressed the block button and shoved his phone back into his pocket.
*
Thump, thump.
Her heart pounded fiercely.
The owner of the hand that had pulled her into the next bathroom stall was…….
“Shh.”
A peer…… no, a boy who looked a year or two older.
He stood facing Geuru, blocking the way so she couldn’t leave.
While he seemed to be watching outside, Geuru simply stared at the boy in bewilderment.
Under the cap, a delicate face was visible.
He was the prettiest child she had met so far. Come to think of it, he looked familiar. Where had she seen him before?
As Geuru scrutinized the boy’s face intently—
“How’s the old man situation? He hasn’t come yet? Yeah, I told you it’s fine. There’s no one here.”
The voice of Princess Saurus wearing a cancan skirt carried over from her call.
“No, how many times do I have to tell you not to let your guard down. I know. I said I’d steal the USB properly. You don’t trust me?”
USB? Geuru looked at the boy.
“You hired me because I have sticky fingers. You asked me to steal some stuff. I’m just doing my job, so don’t nag me after it’s done.”
Steal?
Now that she thought about it, she had heard the broadcast several times warning to be careful with valuables since pickpocketing was rampant.
Judging from the phone call, Princess Saurus might have stolen Geuru’s watch too.
“Was it when we took a picture together and she hugged my shoulders…….”
“What? He’s here now? Wait. I’m coming out.”
With that, it seemed the call ended, as no more talking was heard.
Clack—
Clack, clack, clack.
As the sound of the door opening and subsequent footsteps faded, the boy released Geuru.
“Huu……”
Geuru collapsed completely onto the floor, her tension draining away.
“I don’t know what’s going on, but Princess Saurus is scary…….”
Shiver, shiver.
Then, as the boy tried to go outside, Geuru grabbed his sleeve.
“Don’t go out now. There might be monsters waiting out there……”
Speaking in whispers, the boy sat down with a plop.
“Ha……. Right.”
“Wha, what is it?”
For now, it was most urgent to know what was going on.
“That dinosaur is a pickpocket. She stole my necklace, so I followed her and saw her hide the stolen goods here. I was trying to take them and leave, but……”
“You got caught?”
“I hid before getting caught. That’s when you came in.”
“Didn’t you tell a grown-up? Your mom and dad?”
“Why would I? No one cares about me.”
“Ung?”
“They said I’m a troublesome kid and left me at the amusement park. But would they listen to me properly?”
It was an extremely wounded tone.
Surprised and flustered, Geuru fidgeted with both hands.
“Bu, but……”
“So they can leave the annoying kid alone and have their own time. Dad’s like that too……!”
“Dad?”
“Dad doesn’t believe a word I say either. Since he has no interest in me, that’s why he left me with that woman.”
It seemed there was some complicated circumstance.
“So I’ll handle my own business. I’ll find the necklace myself.”
This pretty child seemed to have a deep distrust of adults.
“Is the necklace expensive?”
“……Not that it’s expensive…… Mom gave it to me.”
He sulked, resting his head on his knees. He looked like he was desperately holding back tears.
If only she had her kid’s phone…… Then she could have asked the Guild Leader for help.
Ever since she got her watch, she hadn’t carried her kid’s phone around, but who knew she’d end up in a situation like this.
But if Princess Saurus really had stolen it, the watch should be in the next stall.
“……!”
Then, a lightbulb flickered on in Geuru’s head.
“If it’s in the next stall, I just have to go get it, right?”
Geuru peeked through the crack of the bathroom door.
She couldn’t see whether the dinosaur was there, but the children’s wagon she had pulled along was right in front.
“Pretty, don’t be so sad. Geuru will help you!”
When she called him pretty, the child’s face flushed bright red.
“My name is Uju! Seo Uju! You’re the one……!”
Uju examined Geuru’s face. You’re the one who looks like a doll, so pretty that…….