“I see. Then does Guildmaster On know about this?”
“Nyeeeh?”
Geuru rolled her eyes, then shook her head.
“No. I didn’t tell him.”
“Why not?”
“Umm, because I’ll get scolded if I use Onion Market?”
“Mm. If you find your mom and dad, that means you’ll live apart from Guildmaster On, doesn’t it? Is it really okay not to tell him?”
“Yeees?”
Geuru blinked.
She had never once thought about what would happen with the guildmaster. Until now, she had only thought about finding her real mom and dad.
‘Will we part?’
Even though Geuru was Hyeonak?
If she met her parents, then he wouldn’t have to take care of Geuru anymore, and he wouldn’t be her guardian anymore?
Then would the guildmaster no longer read books to Geuru when she slept, or hug her when she begged, or come looking for her when the clock rang?
In truth, that had been the natural thing. But now, life together with the guildmaster had transformed into something even more natural.
Geuru’s mouth drooped, and she touched her chest.
‘It prickles.’
It felt as if a worm covered in thorns was wriggling around inside her heart.
“Guildmaster On will be hurt if you don’t tell him, Geuru.”
A little dejected, Geuru let her ears and tail droop as she answered.
“Yes.”
Siwon wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
“Are you scared you’ll get scolded? Should I tell him with you?”
“No. It’s not that…….”
“Hmm, you hadn’t thought about what would happen with Guildmaster On after you met your parents.”
“Yes.”
Geuru nodded.
Just then, Serhi, who had been quietly listening, crossed his arms and asked,
“Who’s Guildmaster On?”
“Ah, Guildmaster On Jurim. The Tower raider.”
“So why is that name coming up? What does he have to do with this?”
He knew who On Jurim was. How could he not know who he was?
But wasn’t it strange for On Jurim’s name to come up among these people right now?
At that, Geuru promptly answered,
“Because Geuru is Hyeonak!”
Serhi’s mouth fell open for a moment.
“You’re Hyeonak?”
There was really a Geuru in Hyeonak?
Was he surprised that there really was a child named Geuru in Hyeonak? Or that such a small child was Hyeonak?
It seemed to be both.
That was when it happened.
“Squeak!” (Master!)
“Squeak-squeak!” (Master! Lord Snow Leopard!)
The squirrels came running in a panic and called out to them desperately.
“What’s wrong?”
“Squeak-squeak-squeak!” (The snow leopards brought something terrifying!)
“Squeeeeak!” (The snow leopards are looking for Lord Flying Squirrel!)
Siwon, who had been listening with a calm expression, looked at Serhi.
“Serhi, please hold Geuru.”
“Huh? Uh.”
At Siwon’s request, Serhi obediently picked Geuru up.
When Geuru grabbed Serhi’s neck and clung close to him, Siwon approached Serhi.
“……?”
Why is he coming to me?
Soon, he lifted Serhi up in a princess carry.
Serhi’s ears and tail popped out in shock and stood on end.
“Wh-what the hell!”
“Sorry. It seems urgent at the farm.”
“I can go on my own two feet!”
“You’re a patient. And it’ll be faster if I carry you.”
Geuru lifted her head and met Serhi’s eyes.
Serhi-oppa, it’s that. Geuru beamed brightly and defined him for him.
“You’re a pwincess.”
“You wanna die?!”
Geuru burst into laughter, and Serhi lowered his head and bit his lip.
Meanwhile, Siwon said to the squirrels,
“We’ll go ahead, so follow slowly.”
“Squeeeeak…….”
“Squeeeeak…….”
The squirrels nodded.
At the same time, Siwon kicked off the ground while holding the two of them. His movements were light, but his speed was so fast it was hard to follow with the eye.
‘Uweeeh!’
As the scenery changed in flashes in an instant, Geuru hugged Serhi’s neck even tighter.
Serhi pulled Geuru deep into his arms so she wouldn’t fall. The child was so small that she seemed as if she might slip through the gap in his embrace, so he had to readjust her several times.
He drew in a short breath, then let it out.
‘She smells like a baby…….’
*
‘Squeak…….’
Cheche tried hard to lift her tail, which kept trying to droop.
The snow leopards were snickering as they looked around the farm.
They deliberately did not hide their white tails. It was to make it immediately clear that they were snow leopards.
“Look at this, look. Some of us are busting our asses rolling around in contaminated zones, but the squirrels are slacking off, playing around growing acorns.”
“Then they should grow them properly. What’s the point of lazing about? Look how undergrown the trees are.”
“So, where’s the flying squirrel?”
The snow leopards ostentatiously dragged a leash in front of Cheche. Along with it came a heavy movement.
What was tied to the leash was a gigantic creature covered in the contaminated water of the swamp. It walked on four legs, had a thick body like a hippopotamus, and its face was completely hidden by the swamp’s contamination.
The viscous swamp contamination dripped onto the ground. Through it, bright eyes glared at Cheche.
“We just call this a ‘hippo.’ Looks like one, right?”
“A hippo’s useful enough if you use it well.”
“With how it looks, it’s good for scaring people.”
The snow leopards snickered.
“Miss Squirrel, do you want to get eaten by this thing? Where’s the flying squirrel?”
She had thought they would demand the purifying acorns, but she hadn’t expected them to target the flying squirrel.
“Squeak-squeak.” (Lord Flying Squirrel isn’t here right now…….)
Cheche lowered her head and trembled.
The snow leopards looked at one another, asking what she was saying.
“Speak in the common tongue. Or point in the direction where it is, or bring it here. Honestly!”
“Should we scare her a little?”
One of the snow leopards tugged on the hippo’s leash.
“Shall we?”
It was just as they were about to release the hippo’s leash.
As someone’s silhouette flashed past, the hippo’s body tilted.
“I said I can move on my own two feet—”
Boom!
When the hippo fell in a single blow, its massive body struck the ground hard. The impact was enough to make the surroundings tremble.
And the one standing on it, trampling it underfoot, had both hands shoved into his pockets, his face full of irritation.
“How many times do I have to say it? Are your ears clogged?”
As if protesting to someone, he spoke, and behind him, a white tail marked with black spots swayed.
“A snow leopard?”
A snow leopard strong enough to take down the hippo in one blow.
‘An outsider?’
While the snow leopards exchanged glances, trying to figure out the identity of the powerful person who had suddenly appeared, Serhi looked the snow leopards up and down and asked,
“Why are you looking for the flying squirrel?”
“Didn’t you receive the general’s orders?”
“No, I didn’t. It’s the general’s order? He told you to bring the flying squirrel?”
“Yeah. If you understand, hurry up and—”
Serhi lightly grabbed the snow leopard by the neck and lifted him up, frowning.
“Guess the general’s gone insane.”
“Ghk! ……What the hell, all of a sudden!”
The snow leopard lifted by the neck thrashed, and the snow leopard who had come with him thrust out a spear.
“Wh-what are you doing! Is this betrayal?”
Betrayal? He hadn’t even done the real thing yet. Serhi lightly knocked aside the spear aimed at him with the tip of his foot.
“Urgh!”
“Gripping it like that, do you think you’ll even manage to wound anyone?”
He was just about to throw the snow leopard down and crush him underfoot with an indifferent expression when—
“Wait a moment.”
Siwon stopped Serhi, waving both hands from side to side.
“Wait a moment, hold on. The baby is watching.”
“Huh? Uh…….”
Serhi awkwardly moved his foot away.
Then Siwon smiled gently at Geuru, dragged the snow leopard away, and took him to the storage shed.
“……?”
From inside came sounds of thud! smack! thud! smack!
What was he doing? Geuru opened her mouth blankly.