It was then.

A long shadow suddenly fell over Guru’s head.

A woman stood in front of her, hair swept back, dressed smartly in a suit.

[Kwon Riyeong]

Guru read the name tag and gaped. If she had a badge, did that mean she worked at the museum?

But there was mana coming off her. She wasn’t an ordinary person? Same industry?

The moment Guru’s eyes met hers, Kwon Riyeong gave a bright smile.

“You must be on a field trip, huh?”

Then, without warning, she lifted both Guru and Veilach in one swoop.

“Eh?!”

“Mmm?”

Before either could resist, the two were carried and set down at the very end /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ of the Chick Class line a few steps away.

Spotting Guru, Woojoo quickly backed out of line and pressed close at her side.

“Where’d you go?”

“Well, um...”

Should she say Veilach smelled Dongdong’s scent?

As Guru hesitated, the woman in the suit strode right up to the Chick Class teacher.

The two exchanged a brief greeting, then the teacher turned to introduce her to the children.

“Friends, eyes here. This is the docent teacher who’ll be helping us explore the museum today.”

“Waaah!”

“Hello-o-o!”

As the kids all greeted her in turn, Kwon Riyeong waved both hands.

“Hello, my little history adventurers. I’m Docent Kwon Riyeong!”

Behind the smiling mask of a deer, Samantha beamed.

She had deliberately used a transformation item, appearing as Kwon Riyeong—the Secretary-General Kwon Honggyun’s daughter, and a docent at the National Museum—so she could make contact with the Chick Class.

Targeting children wasn’t exactly to her taste, but she had no choice.

Because of the last incident, Obsidian had been left nearly annihilated.

She had to rescue at least the captain.

Doing it alone was impossible.

But if she carried this job out successfully, Secretary-General Kwon Honggyun would move his weight for her.

She steeled her resolve.

'Alright, let’s begin.'

As her gaze fell on Guru, a heavy, sticky mana flared around her.

At once, Mephisto perched atop Guru’s head and Veilach in the teacher’s grip locked eyes with each other, tense.

If she intended harm toward Guru, they would strike immediately.

It might be troublesome with so many watching eyes around, but...

Before they could move, Kwon Riyeong’s skill shot straight toward Guru.

[Activating skill ‘Fortune Reaper (SS)’]

At the same time, four cards flickered into existence before her eyes.

[Fortune Reaper (SS)]

—Draw a card to steal another’s fortune. Fortune is converted for a set duration into the caster’s best possible outcome.

She drew the center card.

How much fortune was stolen depended on which card was drawn.

But the result was always the same.

To the target: misfortune!

To her: the greatest luck!

Even when the rest of her squad had been captured on the last job, she alone had escaped thanks entirely to this skill.

From something as small as avoiding a pebble underfoot, to as great as slipping out of death itself.

She had the power to overturn another’s fate with her own.

An SS-Class special skill known almost to none, not even her fellow members. That was Fortune Reaper.

'Perfect for this mission.'

Yes.

Yes, it should have been.

And yet—

[Skill ‘Fortune Reaper (SS)’ has failed.]

[Target’s Fortune is too high.]

[Caster’s Fortune is slightly reduced.]

'What?'

The card she drew was utterly blank, empty of any picture.

There were no blank cards. This was impossible.

'No way...'

This was an SS-Class skill. No matter how great the target’s fortune, blocking it completely was supposed to be impossible.

And yet it had been blocked.

Worse—the penalty had activated, her own fortune stolen away by the child instead.

Her stricken eyes darted between Guru and the empty card in her hand.

No matter how many times she checked, it defied belief.

[Activating skill ‘Fortune Reaper (SS)’]

[Skill ‘Fortune Reaper (SS)’ has failed.]

[Target’s Fortune is too high.]

[Caster’s Fortune is slightly reduced.]

...

...

.

'Goddammit!'

Even after repeated failures, she drew again.

[Activating skill ‘Fortune Reaper (SS)’]

[Skill ‘Fortune Reaper (SS)’ has failed.]

[Target’s Fortune is too high.]

[Caster’s Fortune is significantly reduced.]

Because she had drawn repeatedly, the penalty shifted from “slightly” reduced to “significantly” reduced.

“...!”

And the card itself changed.

No longer blank, it now showed a grim reaper swirling his scythe before staring straight at her—as if awaiting her downfall.

Her heart plummeted.

The child’s towering fortune had crushed hers completely.

A crack formed between her brows.

'This doesn’t make sense...'

Blocked purely by fortune? An SS-Class skill?

'This child... just what is she?'

Already routed in the very first clash, Kwon Riyeong’s trembling gaze landed on Guru.

“Mmm?”

Why was she looking at her like that?

Guru, lids half-lowered, floated a question mark over her head. Mephisto and Veilach, confirming Guru was unharmed, let their tension ease.

'Hmm.'

Guru tapped her chin.

She definitely didn’t seem ordinary—she wielded mana so naturally. Could it be connected to this?

Guru read the status window again.

[(Unknown Title) effect: Fortune increases.]

[(Unknown Title) effect: Fortune increases.]

[(Unknown Title) effect: Fortune increases.]

Pop-ups filled her sight in rapid succession.

They had all appeared right after Kwon Riyeong flared her mana.

Something had definitely happened...

'Mmm...'

Guru organized her thoughts.

Fortune = good thing.

Fortune goes up = good things get better.

So if it was related to Docent Kwon Riyeong and her fortune going up?

A lightbulb popped on above her head.

Kwon Riyeong = a person who makes good things even better!

'Stick close.'

A hunch she’d bring even more good things.

Guru darted forward and grabbed Docent Kwon Riyeong’s hand.

Immediately, it felt like massive fortune boiled up inside her, strong enough to stave off even the worst dangers that might threaten her friends.

This was it!

“Gwuu gonna be Doosus Teachuh’s pahtnuh!”

“Hiiik!”

As if she’d just touched a ghost, Kwon Riyeong almost yanked her hand away, but forced herself to endure, plastering on a wide smile.

“...Shall we?”

From afar, Woojoo mouthed in shock, but Guru only waved, telling him to stay put.

Holding her expression with effort, Kwon Riyeong patted Guru’s head like she was cute.

Samantha Lee.

As a pro mercenary of Obsidian, she would not ruin the mission over one setback.

...Even if it felt like the rest of her luck was being mercilessly sucked away by this child.

“Then shall we start with a fun video? We’ll be going downstairs, so careful on the steps, everyone~”

“Yes, yes, yeyeyeye!”

Among the eager children answering was Guru, clinging tight to her hand.

When their eyes met, Guru flashed a grin.

'It’ll be fine, she thought.'

And at that exact moment, she nearly tripped and rolled down the stairs three times—only to have her posture corrected three times, thanks to Guru.

“Doosus Teachuh, be cawefuw on staiws!”

The child who had robbed her of all her luck now primly warned her to watch out.

“...Mm. Teacher really should be more careful...”

She had no choice but to answer while hiding her sour expression.

The kids burst into laughter.

Kwon Riyeong’s face flushed hot, and the Chick Class teacher smiled awkwardly.

'Damn, damn! Damn!'

Since gaining Fortune Reaper, she had never suffered such humiliation.

Taking a deep breath, she straightened her suit and guided the children into the underground 4D theater.

Cause an “unlucky” accident for On Guru.

Then save her in the guise of Kwon Riyeong.

So far, those roles had somehow been reversed.

But she was ready. The operation would not fail.