Soon, the Chick Class kids huddled in front of the screen, watching the video, when suddenly a tidal wave rushed toward them.
'Thankfully, they’re not panicking much.'
If the kids started squealing in fear at the 4D effects, her plan might be ruined.
But instead, the children were amazed and delighted.
Guru’s face flushed red with excitement as she let out exclamations, alternating with the friends on either side.
Confirming this, Kwon Riyeong cast a glance toward the sprinklers. She had already locked them off.
Accidents always went best with fire.
The plan was simple.
“Because the Chick Class teacher and kids were so absorbed in the 4D screening, they failed to react in time to the fire. On that day, the sprinklers had been shut off too, nearly causing a major accident. But thanks to Docent Kwon Riyeong’s quick action, the danger was averted.”
She intended to be the hero who saved the kindergartners.
And among them, by chance, was the daughter of Guildmaster On Jurim.
She thought it a plan that would let her rack up debt without truly endangering the children.
Kwon Honggyun had disapproved, scoffing that this wasn’t nearly enough, but she was confident of success.
After all, fortune had always been on her side.
Click.
In other words, her being unlucky had never once been factored into the plan.
Click.
'Huh?'
Click, click, click!
Cold sweat trickled down her back as she pressed the ignition switch again and again.
Click, click.
But no matter how many times she pressed, nothing responded.
She slipped around behind the screen to check the device.
Bzzzt—
'A short?'
Her face twisted.
Because this was a 4D theater, [N O V E L I G H T] the water spray synced to the tidal wave effect must have seeped into the ignition device.
'It broke now? Of all times?'
'Damn it!'
Her face burned red-hot with rage, curses rising to her throat.
'Patience. Patience. Patience...'
She shut her eyes tight and opened them again.
She had prepared a second plan just in case.
Moving to the corner of the theater, she pulled out a whistle hanging at her neck.
Piiiii—
No sound came. Only the faint hiss of air leaking out.
But her loyal hound, Mara—whom she had raised with care—would hear it.
The second plan was to rouse the monsters on display.
On the first floor, lesser monsters were exhibited. Her dog would drive them into the theater.
At that moment, the tsunami and earthquake scenes on the screen ended, and a Tyrannosaurus appeared. It lowered its head toward the children.
With the 4D effect, it must have looked as if the dinosaur really stuck its head out of the screen.
“Kyaaaa!”
Amid shrill screams, laughter bubbled up. The 4D dinosaur experience seemed to thrill them.
Then—scratch, scratch, scratch—the sound of claws scraping at the door. Mara must have returned after finishing her task.
Even the Chick Class homeroom teacher was engrossed in the show. Confirming this, Kwon Riyeong discreetly opened the door, and a large black retriever slipped inside.
Its tail tucked between its legs, whining pitifully.
“Mara?”
What’s wrong? She blinked in confusion—
SHHHRAAANG!
A massive clawed arm, covered in ice-like scales, slashed through the center of the screen.
“Kyaaaaaa!”
“Wooooow!”
The children clapped and cheered.
From the torn screen poked a long reptilian face.
With a crocodilian snout, golden eyes, slit pupils, and frost crusted along its body, the monster resembled a frozen dinosaur.
It sniffed at the children, then opened its jaws wide.
“CRAAAAH!”
The roar was chilling enough to freeze one’s spine.
But the kids—even the Chick Class teacher—responded only with amazement at how real it felt.
Only Kwon Riyeong and Veilach froze in alarm.
'That’s real.'
She finally realized why Mara was so terrified.
[Failed Shadow of the Snowfield (A)]
—Failure Specimen—
The creature before them wasn’t an F or E-Class display piece. It was an A-Class monster.
The homeroom teacher only caught on when yet another Shadow broke in through the lower entrance beneath the screen.
“CROOOAR!”
The kids screamed, but then burst out laughing again. The teacher, face stiff, scooped up children at random.
“Chick Class, everyone up! We’re going outside now!”
Thankfully, the monsters weren’t attacking yet. But the children had to be evacuated before disaster struck.
Though puzzled, the kids sluggishly rose one by one.
“Teachuh, why awe we weaving?”
“Mo’ dinosaus?”
The teacher grabbed three kids at once and dashed to the back door.
“Docent Kwon Riyeong!”
“Yes, yes!”
Snapped out of her daze by the teacher’s call, she hurried to lift children and carry them outside.
The Shadows of the Snowfield rolled their eyes about the theater, apparently searching for Mara.
'Four A-Class...?'
She swallowed dryly, aghast.
The Failed Shadow of the Snowfield—a giant reptile sheathed in icy scales—exhaled cold air that froze its surroundings.
'Mara... where the hell did you drag those from...'
Her heart thundered. The plan wasn’t just wrecked—it had spiraled far beyond her control.
Cowering in the shadows, Mara was moments from being spotted.
She reached for her weapon to rescue her hound—
“Docent Kwon Riyeong! It’s Guru! Guru hasn’t come out!”
On Guru?
“I’ll bring her! Please, you go first!”
She whipped her head around—and froze.
A tiny girl stood there, a bird perched on her head, a hamster on her shoulder, proudly holding up a fork like a weapon.
Her face twisted in shock just as Guru charged straight at the Shadow.
'Insane!'
She sprinted forward, snatched Guru’s hand, and dragged her the opposite way.
Guru’s eyes went wide at the sudden grip.
“Eehh?”
“It’s dangerous! What are you doing?!”
Dangerous? Guru blinked, rolling her eyes upward.
In that instant, her combat sense picked up something overhead.
“Guru, keep running!”
Kwon Riyeong released the small hand and shoved her forward.
Tatatat!
CRASH!
The steel frame holding the screen collapsed right where Guru had stood.
The fallen beams crashed down between them like a giant cage of iron.
A shuddering breath hissed through her clenched teeth.
One step.
Had her reaction been any slower, both she and the child would have been crushed to death.
'So that’s why the card showed a reaper...'
Gritting her teeth, she heard the monsters’ roars echo behind her.
These weren’t museum specimens. They weren’t hers either.
'Where the hell did they come from?'
Even as the icon of misfortune, she couldn’t conjure something from nothing.
“T-Teachuh!”
Guru’s voice cut through her thoughts.
She was stamping her feet in agitation ahead of her.
Still here? She shouted back.
“Run! Get out of here!”
Clenching her jaw, she summoned her blade.
Drawing in a shaking breath, she resolved herself.
Now, protecting the child was the only priority.
Meanwhile, outside the National Museum, emergency measures were already underway against the sudden appearance of A-Class monsters.
As part of the response, the Brom Guild had been urgently called in.
“This is Brom. What’s the situation?”
Guildmaster Chun Gyuri of Brom was being briefed as she armed herself.
“Guildmaster On Jurim, this incident has been assigned to Brom—”
A policeman blocking the way was shoved aside as Jurim strode up to Gyuri.
“Guildmastuh Chun. I’m going in.”
“...What?”
Why suddenly—?
As she gaped, the Chick Class homeroom teacher and children poured out of the museum entrance, guided by the police special unit.
“Yustitia Chick Class, all out!”
'Yustitia...'
Gyuri’s eyes flicked over the kids, remembering Jurim’s daughter attended there.
Screeeech—!
“Hwiyeon!”
Through the crowd of reporters and officials, Gu Shinhoo screeched his car to a halt, leaping out and sprinting forward.
“Dad!”
Gu Hwiyeon flew into his arms as he exhaled a long breath of relief.
Jurim, by contrast, scoured every child’s face, his eyes trembling.
Where? Where was she? Why couldn’t he see her?
“Guru...”
Swallowing hard, Jurim forced the words out—
“She’s still inside! With the docent!” the teacher shouted, voice shaking. “She said she’d look after one of my kids, but she hasn’t come out yet!”
In that instant—
Screeeech—
Gyuri’s ears rang
At the same time, she felt the surge of mana violently ripple, her shoulders tensing in reflex.
Everyone attuned to mana must have sensed it—the crushing pressure, like the earth itself shifting.
If Jurim went in like this, disaster would follow. In desperation, Gyuri grabbed his wrist.
“Guildmastuh On. Let me go. I’ll bring Guru out safely. Trust me.”
The National Museum, as a treasure exhibition site, was wrapped in a protective shield to block intruders.
Jurim’s expression was razor-sharp, as though he might break the shield himself at any moment.
“Guildmastuh On! Guildmastuh Chun!”
Just then, an older man flanked by aides stepped in front of them.
Kwon Honggyun.
His voice was heavy as he clasped Jurim’s hands.
“The one still inside—that’s my daughter. I beg you. Please save her, Guildmastuh.”

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