TCHF 11

Chapter 11

“Wooah!”
Gru’s face, which had been earthy-toned just moments ago, suddenly brightened. The innocent child’s expressions immediately revealed what he liked and disliked.

Jurim, unable to help herself, chuckled and lightly tugged on Gru’s cheek. His plump, soft cheeks stretched like mochi.

“From now on, no illegal trading, okay?”
“Yeeeah!”
Thrilled, Gru responded with his cheeks stretched out.

‘Hunter! Registration!’
What a sound he had longed to hear! In his mind, a radiant light accompanied the voice of an Olympic commentator.

“Player Han Gru! Now reborn as a true Hunter! Mom and Dad will be proud! We convey this joy to our guild master!”

Gru, greeting the imaginary audience in his mind, looked at Jurim with sparkling eyes to express his gratitude.

“Of course, Guild-master! Gru will give you lots of fees.”

Jurim, turning the steering wheel again, narrowed her eyes.

“Secondly, no bribery.”

She tugged at his cheek with her long fingers.

“Yeeeah…!”
Gru, with teary, pouting eyes, rubbed his stinging cheek. Does the guild master dislike money?

Gru remembered when he played “Sprout Bank” at kindergarten.
A friend acting as the Sprout Bank manager and the “mastermind” role had said this when Gru refused to play the bank robber:

“Han Gru, can you really refuse this money?”
“Th-this is—!”

The friend showed him a huge bundle of Sprout Bank bills.

“You can’t refuse money that can’t be refused!”

That day, Gru learned a life lesson: if someone is negative toward an offer, just give an even bigger amount that they can’t refuse.

‘Alright! Let’s do our best!’
He would give his guild master a thank-you that couldn’t be refused—at the very highest level.

“Wow!”
Following Jurim into the high-rise apartment, Gru gaped at the luxurious interior, like something out of a drama.

‘The TV is bigger than me!’
Used to the worn furniture of the orphanage, Gru was amazed at every single thing.

Then he noticed something familiar in the corner of the living room.
“Oh! My bike!”
It was definitely Gru’s bicycle. Apparently, it had been found along with his doll that day.

To be reunited here was truly touching.
‘I thought I’d never find it.’
Gru repeatedly patted the old bike.

Ticklishly, little worms of joy grew in his chest.
He had to express this gratitude, and at the very top level.

Standing in front of Jurim as she poured bottled water from the fridge, he thought:
“Our guild master, who had such an influence on my worm-growth in my heart, may you be blessed.”

He knelt and bent his waist so that his forehead touched the floor. Then, as he tried to jump for a grand bow (a handstand bow), the sound of water splashing was followed by someone grabbing the back of his neck and lifting him upright.

Jurim spoke in a low voice, as if restraining herself:
“What are you doing right now?”
“Grand bow…”
“Grand bows are forbidden. No jumping onto your back while lying down.”
“That’s what it is though…”
“Everything’s forbidden.”

Gru pouted.
“Too many forbiddens. Can’t do anything.”
“So just act sensibly. Also, you need to eat more. You’re so light.”

Jurim held Gru by the side and personally showed him each room.
Five large rooms, three bathrooms. Gru’s room was at the end with an attached bathroom.

Three rules for now:

1. Speak up if you need anything.

2. Don’t do dangerous things.

3. Don’t open the door to just anyone.

After giving these instructions, Jurim set the floppy Gru back on the floor.
“Got it?”
“Yeees!”

Gru raised his hand and recited the three rules. Only then did Jurim tilt her head slightly in satisfaction.

“Good, go on then.”
‘Heehee!’
Gru ran around in small steps, eventually heading to the bathroom.

‘I need to wash my hands after going out.’

He called Jurim at the sink:
“Guild-master!”
“Why?”
“You’re supposed to wash your hands after going out.”
“Oh.”

Gru stood on tiptoe, pointing at the sink, still too small to reach the faucet.
Jurim brought a small stool from the living room and set him on it.

Humming a song he had learned at kindergarten, Gru washed his hands.
“Scrub~ Scrub~ Between the fingers~”

Then he pulled Jurim’s hand over too.
‘So big.’
Her hands were even bigger and longer than the director’s.

‘And the other hand…?’
Jurim, noticing his gaze at her gloves, said:
“I’ll wash only the right hand.”
“Yeees.”

Does the guild master’s left hand hold some secret?
‘I hope one day I can learn too.’

After washing her big hand with soap, she applied lotion to both of Gru’s hands from the cabinet.
Moist!
‘Feels good!’

Gru sniffed the lotion and went outside.
Jurim contacted her secretary to buy the items needed for the kindergartener and said to Gru:
“Han Gru, rest well today. Tomorrow we’ll go straight to register you as a Hunter.”
“Straight away?”
Gru tilted his head.
“There’s someone who knows you’ve awakened, so there’s no need to delay.”

It would be best to handle it properly before any weird rumors spread. Jurim opened her phone to check the schedule.