RG 6
by LubaiI safely escaped from the central research lab with the child and headed straight for the stairs.
As we ascended from the underground first floor, passed the ground floor, and reached the second floor, faint sounds of something breaking and shattering echoed.
The second floor was connected to Sector A through a corridor, currently overrun by the Hunters who had attacked the research lab. By now, they were likely dealing with the remnants of the lab personnel.
At the far left, there was a glass door secured with a lock requiring a key card, much like the Central Lab. Beyond the glass, it led to an external corridor connected to Sector A.
‘The Hunters will probably come through that corridor soon.’
Taking the child, I entered a nearby room close to the external corridor. From the sound when I pulled the door handle, it seemed to have been locked. In a rush, we entered a small research lab. I meticulously closed the door and spoke to the child without turning on the lights, “Stay quiet.”
The child, with an expressionless face, blinked without a word. Leaving him be, I set down my inventory bag from my waist onto the floor.
Clank!
At that moment, not far away, the building shook slightly accompanied by a loud noise. The sound was much closer than before. It was evidence that the Hunters were swiftly clearing Sector A and would soon rush into Sector B.
Time was running out. Quickly, I took off my robe and sheathed the sword, stuffing them into the inventory bag.
I worried that they wouldn’t fit in due to the numerous gems I had packed earlier, but luckily, they just about managed to squeeze in. I strapped the bag back onto my waist and looked up.
Preparations were complete. Only one thing remained. As if reading my mind, a status window appeared before my eyes.
《Hidden Skill: Silver Protection (Class S) [Activated]》
《Do you wish to deactivate the skill?》
‘Deactivate.’
As soon as I answered internally, a surge of white light wrapped around my body.
Zap!
“Ugh…”
A chilling shiver ran through me, accompanied by piercing pain spreading outward. I reflexively hunched, barely suppressing a groan.
《Hidden Skill: Silver Protection (Class S) [Deactivated]》
《Strength: Class F》
《Attack Power: Class F》
《Attack Speed: Class F》
《Movement Speed: Class F》
《Agility: Class F》
As the skill deactivated, my body reverted to its originally feeble state. I shrunk in height and stature, and my hair returned to black.
“Phew…”
Straightening my hunched torso, I looked down at my noticeably shrunken hands. Despite knowing I could change if I wanted, it felt strangely dreamlike.
‘I should take a closer look at my changed body when I have the time.’
From the moment I woke up in the isolation cell until now, I had been so preoccupied that I hadn’t had the chance to examine my status or abilities.
Clearing my throat, I stood up, concealing the inventory bag strapped to my waist beneath my clothes, and then addressed the child. “Hey, kid,” I sternly addressed the child staring at me with vacant eyes. “From now on, we’re getting out of the lab.”
“…”
“Once we’re out, there’ll be all sorts of people around. Stick close to me; don’t wander off unnecessarily.”
“…”
“No. No matter what happens, don’t let go of my hand. Understood? Even if someone talks to you, ignore them. Got it?”
“…”
The child just stared blankly at me, only focusing on me. Is he really listening? I’m so anxious. I reached out and patted his head.
“Do you understand?”
As I shook my hand over his head, the child’s hair swayed softly. Surprisingly, despite being a subject experimented upon by some perverted individuals, his hair felt quite soft.
Waiting for a response, I absentmindedly continued to stroke his head. After a while, he slightly nodded. It was a reluctant answer, almost sigh-worthy.
“This is going to be a long journey. Really.”
Feeling frustrated, I grabbed the child’s hand and left the lab. Despite the unsatisfactory response, the child followed me without complaint.
Unlocking the security with the keycard I obtained earlier, we stepped into the external corridor. Through the corridor window, I saw a multitude of combat vehicles and people gathered outside the building. I couldn’t shake off the feeling that there might be people I knew well among them.
‘In my previous life, I was helpless and trapped until the Hunters came to open the isolation cell in the basement of Sector B.’
Even though the situation was different now, it felt oddly disconnected from the past. The title of ‘Regressor’ that I had acquired seemed meaningless.
I forced a wry smile and quickened my pace. If anyone caught a glimpse of me in the corridor from outside, it would only complicate matters needlessly.
Unlike the intact Sector B, the corridors in Sector A were already broken and damaged in various places.
While I was more familiar with Sector B, it didn’t mean I had never been to Sector A. Due to B’s lack of an entrance, all the victims were rerouted through Sector A to get to B. When I was first brought here, I spent about two days locked in Sector A before being moved to Sector B. So, it wouldn’t be surprising if there were victims in Sector A.
I deliberately left a storage room door slightly ajar, then pushed over boxes on the shelves, spilling their contents onto the floor.
Clatter, crash!
The alcohol lamps and cylinders inside the boxes collided, creating a loud, chaotic noise as they shattered on the ground.
After a brief pause, as I anticipated, I heard hurried footsteps and unfamiliar voices right outside.
“I heard strange noises from here!”
“There might be remaining enemies. Be cautious.”
The tense voices of a man and a woman alternated. Eventually, the door I left half-opened was pushed roughly, and the Hunters burst in.
“Drop your weapons… What?”
The man, thinking I was a hidden guard and about to warn, met my eyes and froze in bewilderment. At that moment, I pulled the child next to me into my arms and shouted, feigning immense fear, “Please, spare us!”
***
“Are you hurt anywhere?”
“No. We kept hiding.”
The male Hunter, mistakenly thinking he had saved me, muttered remorsefully, “To protect a younger brother in such a dangerous situation… You’re remarkable.”
“Haha…”
Beside the deluded male Hunter, the female Hunter nodded at me, lifting her thumb as if acknowledging. With nothing to say, she simply offered a kind and gracious smile as if acknowledging it was just the right thing to do.
This is just perfect—these Hunters are so oblivious and naive. Quietly humming a tune, everything was falling into place even more smoothly than I anticipated as I followed behind the two.
As we descended to the first floor, a heavily dented iron door stood open like a scroll, revealing the combat vehicles and gathered Hunters I had seen from the external corridor earlier.
The male Hunter who escorted me outside spoke proudly, breaking the silence.
“If you head over there, the ambulances and support team are waiting. You said you weren’t hurt, but just in case, getting checked is recommended.”
“Sure, I’ll do that. Thank you.”
I planned to take the child and slip away during the confusion of the examination.
Just as I intended to distance myself as much as possible from the building, intending to answer opposite to my true intentions, a low and chilling voice interrupted me.
“You there. Wait.”
I couldn’t just ignore the voice stopping me in my tracks. Masking my ignorance, I turned towards the caller, ready to present an unaware expression.
“I haven’t seen your face around here before. Which group are you with?”
“…!”
As with the male Hunter earlier, as I was about to offer a suitable excuse, our eyes met, and I bit my lip slightly.
‘Oh no.’
Jet-black hair with a hint of blue, sharp and thick eyebrows. A face so handsome and familiar. He was the proud S-class representative of the influential Yesung Guild in Korea and…
‘The heroic figure who fought relentlessly against the Calamity until the very end in my past life.’
The sight of this person rushing toward the Calamity while I was cowering down still vividly lingered in my memory.
I knew he was involved in the lab attack, but I never imagined I’d come face to face with him like this. My mind became so confused that I couldn’t respond appropriately, and his eyes narrowed.
“I asked you which group you belong to.”
“Uh, well…”
This is crazy. Of all people to run into, it had to be someone notoriously tricky to deceive.
Just as I was trying to awkwardly smile and come up with a response, a notification interrupted us.
Ding!
《Main Quest has arrived!》
《Main Quest: Gather the scattered main characters and make them your allies. (Progress: 0%)》
‘What?’
Amidst my surprise at the sudden appearance of the main quest, my confusion was compounded as status updates started popping up one after another.
Ding!
《Information updated!》
User Information: Cha Seohu (Supporting Character)
Age: 26 (28)
Primary Skill: Guardian’s Bond (Class S)
Hidden Skill: Silver Protection (Class S)
Attack Power: Class F
Attack Speed: Class F
Movement Speed: Class F
Agility: Class F
Specialty▼
ㄴ Drenched Cat (Class F)
ㄴ Stay Exactly Where You Are (Class F)
Ding!
User Information: Kwon Taehyeok (Main Character)
Age: 27
Primary Skill: Blade Rush (Class S)
Title: The Righteous
Attack Power: Class S
Attack Speed: Class S
Movement Speed: Class S
Agility: Class S
Special Note▼
…