RG 11

I’m already annoyed enough with this lousy F-class body, and now even these specialties are all F-class. It’s frustrating.

I tightly shut my eyes, feeling my insides boiling. Stay calm. Sure, I might be an F-class, but at least I exist, right?

As long as I live, there’s a chance to increase the grade.

‘…Not sure if I can move up, though.’

The biggest problem was this probability. If this pathetic probability, not even reaching 1%, increased, the specialties would be useful.

‘A chance to stun the opponent on impact and the one that detects weaknesses are good but…’

The first specialty that only manages to maybe elicit sympathy from my opponent seemed pointless. If that’s something I’ve had all along, does that mean I’ve been living relying on that before regression?

Holy shit. How horrible. I just hoped that 0.5% chance wouldn’t trigger.

Setting aside whether I’m a drenched cat or not, I need to find a way to raise the grades of the other two specialties. If the grades rise, the probability might increase too.

But I’m not sure how long it’ll take to make those F-class specialties usable. With a sigh of frustration, I lifted my gaze.

Enough about the specialties; my next concern was…

[User Information: Cha Seohu (Supporting Character)

Age: 26 (28)

This “supporting character” thing is really bothering me.

Kwon Taehyeok and Ryu Seonghyeon, whom I met right after leaving the lab, were classified as “main characters”. I continued and brought up the quest status window.

[Main Quest: Gather the scattered main characters and make them your allies. (Progress: 0%)]

You must meet the scattered main characters and become their comrade. (Comrade Requirement: Main Character’s Trust)

[Main Characters]

Key figures tasked with preventing a calamity and safeguarding the world.

If a main character dies, the calamity cannot be averted, so they must be protected at all costs.

“Hmm.”

If I summarize the quest, based on it, Kwon Taehyeok and Ryu Seonghyeon are the main characters who are supposed to stop the antagonist, Cha Sahyeon. And I, as a supporting role, am meant to somehow save and assist them?

‘No, why would they assign such a task to a supporting character?’

It was absurd that I, just a supporting character, had to take care of an antagonist.

Could there be some sort of error in the progress? Perhaps one of the main characters should handle Cha Sahyeon, or maybe I’m actually a main character but mistakenly labeled as a supporting one.

It feels like they’re asking too much from me, clearly a supporting character. Whoever made this status window should have at least given me an appropriate rank if they entrusted me with such a significant responsibility. It’s like giving an assistant manager tasks meant for the department head.

“Sigh…”

Complaining about what can’t be changed won’t solve anything. It’s better to proceed with what I intended to do.

“Hey, kid.” Sitting on the chair like a doll without moving, the child turned his head upon hearing my call. I spoke while looking at the inscrutable face, “Come here.”

Cha Sahyeon, who had been lying on the couch, got up from the chair and walked over without any protest. I looked at the child standing close by and brought up the status window.

[User information: Cha Sahyeon (Antagonist)]

Age: 22

Primary Skill: Living Shadow (Class B)

Title: The Master of Shadows

Attack Power: Class B

Attack Speed: Class B

Movement Speed: Class B

Agility: Class B

Special Note▼

ㄴ Seed of Calamity (35% Progress)

‘His age is the oddest part.’

No matter how I look at it, he appears to be around 10 years old. Why does it show 22 then? Is it just a simple input bug, or is there some meaning behind it?

Apart from age, the other aspects are somewhat understandable. The skill being labeled as B-class seems to change depending on the seed’s progress. As the seed’s progress increases, the grade will likely improve too.

The power of the Calamity I experienced before my regression was tremendous. He used to effortlessly kill other S-class Hunters, so naturally, he must have possessed power exceeding S-class. Considering that, it makes sense that it’s only 35% progressed and already labeled B-class.

‘His age is the most bothersome, indeed.’

I murmured softly while patting Cha Sahyeon’s head, “Well, in reality, maybe you’re older?”

“…” Cha Sahyeon blinked slowly. The green eyes beneath the long lashes remained unreadable as ever.

“…That’s highly unlikely.”

I lowered my hand that had been gently petting and smiled. Just then, a knock sounded, perhaps from room service arriving.

“Let’s have some food.”

As I stood up to head to the door, Cha Sahyeon followed behind. It amused me how he always trailed me around for no apparent reason whenever I moved.

His excessive indifference to the surroundings and his nonchalant reactions were a bit off-putting, but it confirmed he was indeed a child. Most of all, I think he followed me without question because he didn’t know anything else.

A sane adult wouldn’t just follow someone like me without a purpose.

***

Hyeon Dowun’s rescue turned the second floor into a fairly habitable place after cleaning and furnishing. The room visible upon opening the door was used as an office, while the inner room housed a bed and a wardrobe. There was a small kitchenette in the corner, sufficient for daily needs.

“Hey, kid.” I stooped down, tapping Cha Sahyeon’s shoulder as he looked around the office. After crouching to meet his eye level, I earnestly addressed him, “From now on, we’re going to live here together.”

“…”

“Do not go outside without my permission, and don’t meet anyone when I’m not around. Understand?”

To my blunt demands, the child tilted his head slowly with a blank expression.

“But otherwise, you can do whatever else you want. If you want something to eat, just say so, and, uh… I’ve set up a TV, so if there’s anything you want to watch, go ahead,” I hastily added more, fearing the child might revolt, but his expression remained unchanged.

I couldn’t tell if he liked it or not. It was my first time living with a child, so I was clueless about how to handle it.

Moreover, Cha Sahyeon was a potentially catastrophic entity if mishandled. I didn’t want to confine him like this, but it seemed better than letting him roam freely and risking the seed’s progress increasing.

Despite feeling a bit sorry, I asked, trying to ease the tension within myself, “Got anything you want to do?” 

“…”

As expected, there was no response again this time.

The child, tilting his head, looked as though he didn’t know what he liked or disliked instead of unwilling to answer.

“Well, okay. Take your time to think about it then.”

It’s not my job to teach personal preferences, so I wrapped up the conversation reasonably and turned away.

Sweating from cleaning all day, I felt uncomfortable. As I planned to freshen up in the bathroom, urgent footsteps followed by a desperate voice caught my attention.

“M-me too…”

“What?”

Cha Sahyeon tugged at my clothes with small hands and whispered softly, “Me too…”

“Yeah?”

What’s he trying to say? “Me too” what? Perplexed, I finally spotted the bathroom.

“Ah.”

He must have meant he wanted to bathe too. I gestured for him to come in, opening the door wide.

“You can go first.”

He shook his head vigorously. Not this either?

Puzzled, I looked down at Cha Sahyeon, and after hesitating for a while, he stuttered, “To-together…”

“Together?”

“Bat-bathe…”

“Bathe together?”

I was surprised he even spoke at all, and this request for bathing together was unexpected. We bathed together at the hotel a few days ago, which left an impression, but since then, he’s been bathing alone. Why suddenly suggest bathing together today?

‘Ugh…’

Honestly, at that moment, it was partly due to the quest. I found it bothersome and annoying… I didn’t want to bathe together, but when a child who’d been timidly silent suddenly expressed a wish, being dismissive felt a bit harsh.

Could this be in response to my earlier question about what he wanted? If so, maybe refusing outright wouldn’t be the right move.

“Okay.”

Perhaps this request wasn’t so bad. It might be a hassle, but I could manage this much.

It’s a relief that it wasn’t a difficult request for me to fulfill. Hopefully, in the future, he’ll only ask for simple things like this.

As I reluctantly agreed and entered the bathroom together, Cha Sahyeon’s expression noticeably brightened. It seemed like he anticipated me rejecting his request.

I couldn’t understand why this seemingly trivial thing made the child so visibly pleased. It’s just bathing together. Is it because being bathed by someone else is more comfortable for him?

‘I just don’t get it…’

I sighed and started taking off my clothes.