The Chick Class Hunter is Being Filial

“Monk Hyeongak can look after it until the elixir is fully grown. So come to Korea.”

“……”
Jurim added one more thing for the still-hesitant Kazuki.
“Don’t you want to see how far Takahashi Norio falls?”

At that, Kazuki’s eyes briefly gleamed—and then he burst out laughing.
“That sounds fun. I’ll even grant Guru-chan’s wish while I’m at it.”
“Her wish?”

“Guru-chan said she wants to yank out Takahashi’s beard.”
Even Jurim couldn’t help but laugh.
“She did?”

“Yeshhh!”
“Alright then—should I try naturalizing, just for Guru-chan?”
“Ooohh!”
Guru didn’t know what naturalizing meant, but she gave Kazuki a big high-five.

She didn’t get the details, but it sounded like something good—especially since everyone looked so excited talking about it!
But just after Kazuki said he’d naturalize—
Ding—!

Guru blinked as the [Caregiver Quest] window popped up in front of her.
‘Huh?’
“Then On-chan, can I join Hyeonak now?”

“Nope.”
“Whyyy—?!”
“It’s annoying. Go naturalize and become a civil servant or something.”

“That’s the worst thing I’ve ever heard.”
Kazuki whined, and Guru glanced back and forth between the quest window and Kazuki.
He didn’t seem opposed to the idea of naturalizing itself. In fact, he looked kind of excited.

Hmm, Guru rested her tiny chin on her palm.
‘But why would a quest like this pop up…?’
***

Chapter: Amakusa Reiji’s Gift
Dawn. A time when the dim light still clung to the sky.
Takahashi Norio had just finished his visit to Yasukuni Shrine and looked up at the heavens.
The sky was heavy with dark clouds.

He took it as an ill omen—and, without thinking, recalled Jurim.
[- This is On Jurim from Hyeonak.]
That voice, the one from the sudden phone call.

He had threatened to reveal the identity of the person who cast the debuff on Kazuki.
Threatened.
To him, the Prime Minister! Just some lowly guildmaster!

In the end, Takahashi [N O V E L I G H T] Norio had been forced to quickly withdraw Yamauka Shun and the special forces.
[- I’ll be in touch again.]
Recalling that calm, businesslike tone brought a fresh surge of fury.

He should have brought Amakusa Kazuki back sooner.
He couldn’t guarantee that the fact he was the one who placed the debuff wouldn’t reach Kazuki’s ears. But even so, Takahashi couldn’t ignore the destructive weight carried by the name On Jurim.
Losing Yamauka Shun and an entire special ops unit to Jurim wasn’t worth the gamble. It was better to take one step back.

He’d lost a helicopter, yes—but avoided casualties. That would give him some cover from accusations of recklessness.
I need to win Amakusa back somehow...
He never imagined that Amakusa Kazuki would choose death for the sake of freedom.

Takahashi had thought they were peacefully coexisting until now…
Tch. Takahashi Norio was moving toward his car, guided by his aide, when—
“Troubled weather today, isn’t it, Prime Minister Takahashi?”

The leader of the opposition, Sato Yoshihiro, appeared in front of him like a snake with a Buddha’s face—dragging along his entourage.
That phrase—“troubled weather”—was heavy with meaning.
Facing him, Takahashi spoke in a sneering tone.

“What brings you here? You’re not one to step foot in this place.”
Sato Yoshihiro was a political thorn to Takahashi—always spouting nonsense about human rights and acting overly sympathetic toward Awakened individuals.
Usually, he wouldn’t be caught dead near Yasukuni Shrine, always bringing up peace talks and diplomatic relations with Korea. So why was he here now?

Takahashi was calling it out.
“I wanted to deliver some unfortunate news to you in person, Prime Minister.”
What Sato offered was a copy of the morning paper, just about to hit the stands.

So he snatched it early, huh.
[EXCLUSIVE] Amakusa Preparing for Korean Naturalization?
…Insider reveals fallout with Prime Minister Takahashi behind the move…
Takahashi Norio’s face turned first pale blue, then white as he read.

He didn’t even need to finish it. There was only one culprit behind this.
“On Jurim!”
The paper crumpled in Takahashi’s fist.

“Oh dear, you’ve wrinkled it. Well, no matter. It’s only one of many that’ll soon flood the newsstands.”
Sato Yoshihiro continued, hands clasped behind his back, his expression generous.
“Looks like the helicopter and Kazuki both ended up staying in Korea. What a pity.”

Takahashi ground his teeth hard.
This snake bastard—how much did he know?
“Every action I’ve taken was for the sake of this nation.”

Placing a curse on Amakusa Kazuki had been patriotic.
Other countries had their own ways of keeping their S-Ranks on a leash, didn’t they?
The people needed to understand that Takahashi wasn’t like those who mocked him behind his back, waiting for him to fall.

The one celebrating Kazuki’s defection to Korea was the unpatriotic one—Sato Yoshihiro.
“Representative Sato. You seem rather pleased that Amakusa Kazuki is leaving Japan?”
“That’s a misunderstanding. Ah—look, the sun is rising. I do hope your disagreement resolves and Amakusa Hunter returns to us soon.”

As Sato Yoshihiro bowed and turned to leave, Takahashi muttered through clenched teeth:
“Sanctions will begin as of today. Korea will have to choose—Amakusa Kazuki or SSPED.”
He just had to make it so Korea couldn’t accept Amakusa Kazuki’s naturalization.

Show them that their path forward could be blocked.
No matter how powerful a Hunter, once absorbed into a system, they’d painfully realize just how powerless they truly were.
And so, that day, the Japanese government announced export sanctions against Korea.

***
[Underdeveloped Elixir... 34%]
The elixir pot sat on the sunlit windowsill in the living room.

Guru stroked her now-sproutless head and turned to the TV.
[]
Kazuki’s interview, broadcast from Japan, played onscreen.

Below his smiling, Japanese-speaking face, a large caption read: “I will respect Korea’s decision.”
In response to Japan’s export sanctions, Korea had temporarily held off on approving Kazuki’s naturalization.
The commentary explained that the Korean government was weighing its options—Amakusa Kazuki versus SSPED.

[]
When the screen changed to Prime Minister Takahashi, Guru scowled and shut the TV off.
“Hmph!”

Jurim had explained the situation to her in simple terms—but even so, there wasn’t a single thing Guru could do.
All she could do was check whether the elixir was growing properly and hope that Kazuki returned to Korea safely.
‘But why’s the elixir not gwowin’ right...?’

It’d been over a week and it had only grown by 1%.
She needed it to grow faster to clear the [Caregiver Quest].
[Caregiver Quest]
[Caregiver ‘Amakusa Kazuki’ is hesitating and unable to make a decision. Help your caregiver by performing an act of filial piety!]

What was he hesitating about? What couldn’t he decide? No matter how many times she read it, it wasn’t clear.
So Guru could only guess—maybe the quest would complete once the elixir finished growing.
‘Mm, I’ww do my best! Gwow, ewixew!’

If she had to replant the elixir back in her head for Sabbuu, she was willing to do it.
‘Fow now, Gwuu wiww watch over it...’
And if it really didn’t grow... then as a last resort—

Guru squeezed her eyes shut.
‘Gwuu... wiww become Gwooot...!’