“Gwuu is a flying squiwwow! Flying squiwwows awe the king of squiwwows!”
“Really?”
“Yeeeng!”
Guru babbled away, chattering about everything that had happened so far.
The oak farm where acorns grew, the squirrel friends.
The Gnosis snow leopard, the squirrel that hunted Gnosis, and the flying squirrel who was protected by both — a strange three-way cohabitation.
When she mentioned that Serhi Oppaw had figured out what a Gnosis was, her ears drooped.
“Sooo! Gwuu wunned away ‘cause Gwuu was a flying squiwwow! Like dis! Fwoom!”
Guru spread both arms wide and mimicked flying.
“Awso, flying squiwwows don’t get sick fwom bad stuff, an’ dey can find supweme acowns too... Hah! Acown?”
She quickly rummaged through her chest. The special purifying acorn was still right there, tucked safely inside.
Uwaaaah! Dis not da time to dwibble!
What about the Gnosis? What happened to Master Uncle?
The world spun in front of her eyes! Guru slapped Jurim’s shoulder with her little hands, blabbering frantically.
“Guildmastuh! We gotta go pewify! Gotta go to da swamp! Quick-quick!”
After Irina and Serhi left—
The pollution that had blanketed the swamp like a thick fog had thinned significantly.
It was thanks to the enormous snake coiled protectively around the bloodseed.
“Get up. We have to get out of here...”
“Ughhh...”
“Careful...!”
“Hhk!”
The Hunters who had absorbed the swamp’s corruption through their entire bodies were just barely coming to their senses. They roused their comrades and leaned on one another to sit up.
Barrett glanced around at the many wounded, then nudged his fallen master’s arm with his head.
Siwon had collapsed after using all his mana to shield them from the corruption. Since then, he hadn’t responded.
He seemed conscious, but that was all. He couldn’t move.
At that moment, Barrett sensed a new presence approaching his master. Lifting his head, his eyes widened.
Meanwhile, Guru, who had arrived at the swamp with Jurim, had frozen in place after locking eyes with the snake.
Big snake!
It might eat a squiwwow!
Guru hid behind Jurim’s leg, peeking out with only her eyes.
But the snake bowed its head politely before them, as if paying respect.
Oh?
Its mouth moved like it was trying to speak, but no words could be heard.
“Gwuu can't hear a singwe ding it sayin’.”
“Says it doesn’t eat flying squirrels.”
“Wewwy?”
“Probably.”
“Ehhh?”
Jurim patted Guru’s head and walked over to Siwon.
He’s doin’ stupider stuff dan Gwuu thought.
Despite that dazed, dopey face, she’d assumed he was a creepy guy ‘cause he always smelled like blood...
“Guildmastuh, is Master Uncwe gonna be okay?”
“He’s just outta mana, so he can’t move. He’ll be fine after some rest.”
“Phewwww...”
Den what about Serhi Oppaw...?
Guru cautiously looked around.
Among the Hunters leaving the swamp, the boy was nowhere to be seen.
Maybe he never came here to begin with... or maybe it had something to do with Siwon’s mana depletion...
“I’m Gnosis.”
As that final moment with Serhi came to mind, her face fell into gloom.
Barrett quietly sidled up beside Guru.
Eek!
Perk! Her flying squiwwow ears and taiw shot straight up.
The snake, trying to show it meant no harm, slowly circled around. With each movement, its white scales shimmered.
“Pwetty.”
Guru reached out and gently patted the «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» snake’s bowed head.
Now dat Master Uncwe is okay
Guru whipped out the acorn with a flourish.
Time to do da job!
She toddled over toward the bloodseed, and the big snake turned its back to her.
“Gwuu, you gonna give me a wide?”
The snake nodded its head.
Guru glanced up at Jurim, who came over and lifted her up onto the snake’s back.
Slliiide—
Woooow!
The snake slithered across the swamp and carried her straight to the bloodseed.
Guru brought the “special purifying acorn” close to the bloodseed.
Immediately, its surface gave a rustling shudder. The thick, viscous gunk crumbled like sand and slipped off, and from beneath it all—
B-butterfwies?
A whole swarm of butterflies.
Flitter—
They unfurled their wings and began to fly.
When the butterflies finally cleared out, what remained was a massive flower bud.
Soooo big!
Guru reached out and gently touched a petal glowing with white light.
The flower bud slowly opened, revealing a round core at its center.
Found it. Dungeon core!
“Guildmastuh, ovew hewe!”
As Jurim waved his hand, the trembling core gave a crack! and shattered. Tiny fragments tumbled down into the swamp.
[DUNGEON ‘RE; POLLUTED CANAL’ CLEARED]
[EXIT UNLOCKED]
With that notification, a gate appeared in the distance — the way out.
It stretched between sky and ground like an aurora descending from the heavens.
“Woooow!”
Guru let out a breathless awe and skipped over to Jurim with bouncy steps.
Jurim took her hand.
“Hyung! Is that you, Guru?!”
“Gwuu!”
Gidan and Nayeon came running from afar.
They must’ve rushed to the swamp once the dungeon had been cleared.
“Dani Oppaw! Nayeon Unnie!”
As Guru ran to greet them, her pouch wriggled.
“Pii!”
Mephisto popped his head out and zipped into the air.
The tiny bird gulped down a few of the core shards, then fluttered back to perch on Guru’s head.
Jurim, who had seen the whole thing, narrowed his eyes.
It... ate that?
“What is that?”
“Ah—Da baby hatched fwom da egg!”
“...The fridge egg?”
“Fwidgy?”
“That wasn’t something from the fridge? You made that?”
Nod nod.
“Ahhh...”
So it wasn’t just a fridge egg. She really made it herself.
Not so surprising, honestly. Even if it didn’t feel real, the kid was a legit S-Rank crafter.
“Can I waise it?”
“Hm. What does it eat?”
If it fed on dungeon cores, raising it might be a problem.
“Hah!”
“You don’t know?”
“W-what do I dooo... If Mephi can’t eat, Mephi gonna dieee...”
“Then we’ll just make another one...”
Jurim started to answer dryly, then trailed off.
After seeing the baby flying squiwwow’s trembling ears and watery eyes, he changed his tune.
“We’ll figure it out after we try feeding it different stuff. It won’t die.”
“Okaaaay...”
Jurim glanced at Mephisto.
For some reason, Mephisto had been staring intently at Jurim’s glove — then let out a big yawn and curled back up on Guru’s head, falling asleep.
Ding!
[CAREGIVER QUEST: Find ‘Mephisto’s Fragment’ and show filial piety!]
[COMPLETED!]
A cat paw stamp slammed down.
Huhhh?
Was dere a Mephi piece awound here?
Guru tilted her head, slipping the acorn into her [Expand-a-Bag-a-Bag (C)].
“Whoa... There’s a lot of ‘em.”
The station master let out an involuntary gasp.
The train station was packed with travelers.
Now that the polluted zone had been purified, an enormous aurora stretched from sky to earth — and people were flocking to see it.
Most of them were snow leopards, and their passion was intense enough that they’d even brought along the injured.
“Geh!”
Just then, the station master’s breath hitched when he saw a black wolf board his train.
Jurim swept a gaze across the man’s face.
“I guess the station master’s not happy to see me.”
“Ah, n-no, n-not at all, sir!”
How could he be happy? Every day had felt like walking on thin ice!
“Why so nervous? I’m just a passenger today.”
The black wolf waved his ticket.
“Two seats?”
Looking down, the man saw a baby squiwwow holding a bag of strawberry candies in the wolf’s hand.
As their eyes met, the flying squiwwow gave a polite bow.
“Ah, so you’re the prodigy.”
The station master knelt slightly to meet her gaze.
Prodi...gy? Guru gawked with her mouth open.
He looked like he’d been suffering with a little rascal, but the squiwwow was so small and kyoot...
“Such a precious daughter you’ve got there.”
For the first time, the black wolf gave a gentle smile.
“She is, isn’t she?”
Surprised for a moment, the station master laughed and spread his arms.
“Welcome aboard. Family trips by train are really something special. Bet the little one’s excited to go on an outing with her dad.”
“Gwuu is havin’ fun... But he’s not my daddy.”
Guru glanced up at Jurim.
“Really?”
The station master whispered into Guru’s ear.
“If the wolf guy’s a bad man, shake your acorn.”
Jurim narrowed his eyes.
Why does everyone keep suspecting me?

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