‘Is he really mad?’
Guru almost instinctively dropped flat on her belly—but then Serhi’s words came back to her. She sniffled sharply.
Gwuu didn’ do nuffin wrong!
‘Confident Guru = Stwong Guru!’
Puffing up with defiance, Guru sat upright and pulled out her bear mask from her inventory, shoving it down snug over her head.
Then, she took a deep breath, puffed out her cheeks like a pigeon, and started rattling off her defense like a rap.
— Gwuu did nuffin wrong. Gwuu just wanted to hewp Hyeonak people an’ sick babies. Gwuu even changed da siwup bottows for anon-mode, an’ borrowed mannequins fwom Sewhi.
“On Guru.”
— G-Gwuu...
The moment he called her On Guru, her spirit deflated like a balloon.
O... On Gwuu!
Her body tingled all over and the fuzz on her arms stood on end. One second it felt good, the next, not so much—up and down, her heart wobbled like jelly.
Guru squeezed her eyes shut.
Nooo! Gwuu, gotta be stwong... He’s numbew one in da wankings after all...! So scawy!
As Guru hesitated, Jurim’s voice cut in, cold as ice.
“Is this how you’re gonna act—doing whatever you want?”
— ...
Guru flinched and fidgeted her fingers.
— ...But Gwuu didn’ do anyfing bad. Gwuu hewped people.
“It was dangerous. You could’ve been exposed as the one making the potions. You saw the crowd outside the building, didn’t you? That means people are curious about you. And if that happens, what then?”
— But savin’ sick peopwe is still impowtant...
“You’re more important to me than anyone else.”
Guru blinked in surprise.
— But Hunters aww get famous anyway if dey keep workin’...
“I won’t let that happen.”
He won’t let it happen...? How’s dat even...
Unless she lived in hiding forever... Guru’s gaze dropped toward the floor.
— D-Do you... not want Gwuu to be a Hunter?
“I don’t.”
F’rweal?!
She’d only asked on a whim—but he answered without hesitation. Sweat beaded on her temples.
“You don’t have to be someone amazing.”
Jurim sat down in front of her and gently removed the bear mask. After a pause, he spoke slowly.
“You don’t have to be smart. You don’t have to be strong. And it’s okay to be a little selfish.”
“...”
“I don’t care what kind of person everyone else wants you to be. I just want you to grow up healthy. That’s what I want for you.”
No matter what kind of person she became, he was determined to keep telling her that she had a place to lean on.
Guru blinked slowly.
When Daddy said stuff like this, it made her heart feel warm and cozy.
Even if she wasn’t the person others wanted her to be—even if she was just a very normal little kid—knowing he’d still love her gave her a deep, unshakable sense of peace.
It gave her confidence. Courage.
But...
— If Gwuu can make tings dat sick peopwe need... Gwuu can’t do it?
“Yes.”
Not helping when you could help didn’t feel right.
If someone was in danger, and you had the power to help—you helped.
That was what she’d learned.
Guru lowered her gaze again.
— Even if... it’s someting Gwuu weawwy wants to do...?
“Just because you want something doesn’t mean you always get to do it.”
— But...
“On Guru. You’re not going to listen to Daddy?”
His sharp tone made her clam right up like a little shellfish
She had so much she wanted to say, but Jurim clearly had no intention of hearing any of it. He stood up and called Team Leader Yoon.
Then he turned to her, his expression icy.
“You’re going straight home. Don’t talk to anyone, no matter what they say.”
A moment later, Yoon Seojun entered the Guildmaster’s office.
He reached out a hand, gently prompting her to come along. Guru stood, puffing out her cheeks to the brim.
Too mean.
Even though she’d done something good, she was getting scolded and kicked out. Her little shoulders trembled from the indignity.
— Daddy gets to do whatevew he wants...!
“...What?”
— An’ sweep aww day too!!
Jurim gaped in pure shock while Team Leader Yoon bit down on his trembling lips to keep from cracking up.
— Lazy swoth! Sweepeyhead!!
“Hey, hold on a second—”
Jurim took a step forward, but Guru darted behind Team Leader Yoon’s legs like lightning.
Only her eyes peeked out, half-moon shaped and glinting like a cornered beast.
— Gwuu hates Daddy! Gwuu’s weavin’! Daddy wive here aww awone!!
Jurim stood frozen in place, hand still outstretched in disbelief.
Meanwhile, Guru stomped extra hard on every step as if to make a point, dragging Team Leader Yoon’s hand behind her like she was evacuating the premises.
“I’ll take Miss Guru straight home. Don’t worry, sir.”
Team Leader Yoon gave an awkward smile, nodded, and gently closed the door behind them.
Click!
“...She said she hates Daddy?”
Jurim stood dazed and defeated, as if someone had smacked him straight on the head.
Not listening to a child just because they were little—that was wrong.
Even her teacher in the Chick Class at Saebom Kindergarten would agree.
The next morning, Guru pouted furiously as she got ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) ready for school, and Jurim, though flustered, still didn’t budge on his stance.
Even as he hugged her and gave her a kiss, Guru turned her face away with a hmph.
“You’re still mad?”
“Hmph!”
Guru let out a loud puff through her nose, grabbed the babysitter’s hand, and marched off to school.
“Buh-bye!”
She waved to the babysitter and stepped into the kindergarten building, carefully putting her shoes away in the cubby.
Then she paused.
Her heart still felt heavy and glum whenever she thought about Daddy. No matter how many times she rewound her four-year-old life, she couldn’t find a way to fix it.
‘Hoooong...’
Guru pouted, and Mephisto rubbed his cheek against her shoulder in a comforting nuzzle.
Guru gave him a little pat and turned to stare at the kindergarten doors.
She made up her mind.
Guru would now commit the boldest rebellion of her life.
Chapter: On Guru (Age 4 / Delinquent Nepobaby)
Doan Construction Headquarters Lobby.
The executive-only elevator doors slid open. All eyes turned.
“Chairman.”
It was On Suhyeong.
He stepped out, trailed by his secretaries, and the employees bowed in unison.
“Mhm.”
But he barely acknowledged them and briskly made his way out the glass lobby doors.
Outside, fat snowflakes were falling.
Just as Suhyeong took in the snowy scene, a sleek black sedan pulled up and one of the aides rushed to open the back door.
Out stepped a tiny little girl.
The moment Suhyeong saw her, he beamed.
Onlookers, catching that rare Iron Chairman smile, collectively forgot to breathe.
“Guru, you came.”
“Gwampa!”
Guru ran straight at him with her arms outstretched, and he lifted her high up into his arms.
Nestled against Suhyeong’s chest, Guru peeked out with wide-eyed curiosity at the gawking people around them.
“Chairman.”
Unlike the casual atmosphere she was used to at Hyeonak—even around Jurim—everyone here at Doan was polite and formal.
Guru’s face stiffened, and her eyes darted about. Doan was much bigger than Hyeonak, and she could feel the pressure.
Hooop!
Guru puffed out her cheeks like a flying squirrel.
‘Dis makes it feew swightwy bettew!’
Not knowing what she was doing, Suhyeong simply patted her cheeks with a doting smile.
Guru forced herself to calm down and replayed the events of the morning in her head.
Gwuu... ditched kindy aww by hewsewf.
Now burdened with a black heart, she’d walked the same rebellious path as all kids who’d been disappointed by their parents.
The good Santa Guru was gone.
She would now fully embrace her crookedness.
From this moment forward...
Gwuu... is a bad baby!!
She would eat rebellion and delinquency for breakfast like yogurt.

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