Chapter 40
Gru returned to the room, dragging the blanket that Jurim had tucked over him yesterday, struggling a bit.
“Ucha… huchcha.”
Carefully, he tried to wrap him up like a caterpillar, just as Jurim had done. As he did, Jurim’s eyes fluttered open like threads. He blinked a few times, then spoke in a hoarse voice.
“…Already awake?”
Oh no, I shouldn’t wake him!
Flustered, Gru started patting Jurim’s chest.
“Sha… shh… shh~ our Guild Master~”
Jurim let out a small laugh at the off-key lullaby.
“I’m already fully awake.”
Stretching, he lifted Gru and carried him to the bathroom, placing him on the stool. After squeezing toothpaste onto Gru’s toothbrush, he made a call.
“This is On Jurim. No, nothing in particular. I’ll be taking him to kindergarten today. Yes, thank you.”
Gru perked up his ears.
“Taking him to kindergarten? The Guild Master?”
The walk to Saebom Kindergarten became chaotic due to the sudden appearance of a famous person.
“Is that On Jurim?”
“On Jurim?”
“Why is he here?”
Holding Jurim’s hand, Gru walked stiffly like a creaky robot, conscious of all the staring eyes. Gru understood why everyone was looking—the Guild Master had clearly paid more attention to his appearance than usual today.
‘So impressive!’
Hearing exclamations of admiration, Gru raised his eyebrows to pretend to be calm, trying to show proper accompaniment as a companion.
“…?”
Jurim tilted his head, noticing Gru’s unusually solemn demeanor. Was kindergarten really that hard?
As Jurim considered taking Gru back if he wasn’t feeling well, the chick class teacher greeted them cautiously.
“H-Hello…?”
Jurim smiled warmly.
“Sorry for the late introduction. I’m On Jurim, responsible for Gru today.”
The teacher, confused about why On Jurim was present, blushed and hurriedly bowed.
“Oh, no, not at all.”
Though aware the sitter helped with arrivals and departures, she hadn’t expected that the person who adopted the child was Jurim. Questions about marriage and a spouse bubbled up, but she held them back and welcomed the other children.
Meanwhile, Jurim bent down to Gru.
“I’ll be here when you finish kindergarten too.”
“What about work?”
“This is more important.”
Though said nonchalantly, Gru’s heart fluttered uncontrollably.
Then, looking at the other children entering the kindergarten, Jurim whispered to Gru, making eye contact.
“To me, you’re the prettiest princess of all.”
Gru finally smiled shyly. Feeling relieved, Jurim gently pinched Gru’s cheek.
“It’s okay to get upset. You can fight too.”
“But…”
Gru murmured, worried about the teacher noticing. Jurim leaned closer, whispering like a secret.
“Do whatever you want. I can handle everything for you.”
Jurim was the one who made Gru feel like the most beautiful person in the world, always on his side. Gru let out a timid laugh. His chest felt like it was filled with pom-poms, cheering endlessly. Confidence swelled within him like a squirrel’s stash of acorns preparing for winter. The sadness disappeared like dust in the wind.
‘The Guild Master is amazing…!’
Gru puffed out his chest like a little pigeon, snorted, and raised both arms, as if asking to be picked up. Jurim awkwardly lifted him.
“Gru, you can do anything, I think.”
“Looks like it.”
“Want to go with Auntie after kindergarten?”
“Why?”
“Hmm… just…”
The Guild Master was busy and visible, but there was no need to personally come fetch him—other kids wouldn’t be envied anymore. Jurim paused for a moment, then nodded.
“Alright. Contact me when we get home.”
Gru held onto him tightly.
“Guild Master, I love you.”
Jurim, who was hugging him, pursed his lips. Hesitating, he managed to say:
“…Alright.”
Though he didn’t return the words “I love you,” his voice, suppressing a smile, was gentle. Gru giggled and bounced into the kindergarten. Jurim straightened up, rubbing his hoarse throat, then bowed politely to the teacher.
“Please take good care of Gru.”
That Afternoon – Stringed Instrument Meeting Room
Sitting with his legs crossed, Jurim kept checking the clock, restless. It was already 5 PM—enough time for Gru to have finished kindergarten and gotten home—but the update was late. Had he been bullied by friends? Did he get promoted at the stable? Was everything okay?
Jurim had spent the day planning how to scold a 4-year-old at kindergarten himself, falling into self-loathing repeatedly, leaving his mind in chaos.
Meanwhile, the reports kept coming.
New guild member Park Gu-seung turned pale, worried by Jurim’s dark, pensive expression throughout the meeting.
As Park Gu-seung began stuttering over his words, everyone in the meeting room grew anxious.
Buzz—
Jurim picked up his phone immediately.
“Let’s take a short break.”
“G-G-Guild Master?!”
Park Gu-seung’s shrill voice made Jurim frown. He waved dismissively, grabbed the doorknob, and said coldly:
“Someone handle Park Gu-seung, make sure he doesn’t cry. If he does, I’ll be up all night.”
“…What?”
A chilling kindness. Jurim left the room swiftly to take the call. On the phone, he saw Gru’s face looking down at him. It was clearly a video call.
Guild Master!
“Just got there?”Yeesss, I was playing with Harry at the playground.
“Harry? Did you make up?”
Seojun, who had rushed along, saw Jurim smiling with Gru and quietly returned to the meeting room.
Harry said Gru became a Hunter and played more with other friends, so that’s why.
“Really?”He apologized and said they’d be friends again from today.
“Good.”Yeah! And today at kindergarten, Guild Master drew me a picture. I’ll show it when we get home.
Jurim smiled.
“Gru, you can’t draw.”
Ah, no!
Gru rummaged in his bag and pulled out a drawing, showing it around and asking the sitter for help.
Auntie! Please help me… I can’t see.
Oh my, Gru, what is this?
For Guild Master!
How sweet! Our little one can draw too.
She laughed and held the drawing to the camera. Jurim, expecting this, narrowed his eyes.
The drawing showed a figure on four legs like a dog.
‘Well… that’s not exactly human.’
Despite the fundamental question, Jurim couldn’t stop laughing at Gru’s sparkling eyes and the hearts drawn all over the background.
“Original and creative. Put it in the study.”
Yeesss!
He could hear running footsteps, and Gru popped his face back into the camera, smiling brightly. Jurim’s heart tickled. He thought of when Yoon Seojun showed kids’ photos with a silly face and wondered why it was so enjoyable. Jurim frowned at his own reflection in the corner of the screen—it looked just as silly.
Today, I presented what I did over the weekend.
Gru chattered continuously, but quietly.
Though Jurim had plenty of work, he wanted to listen to every little thing Gru had to say.
