RG 35
by Lubai“Ugh…!”
The surroundings were filled with darkness where nothing could be seen. Within it, I felt something wet and cold slithering up my ankles. It was undoubtedly the black tentacle I had glimpsed just before being dragged in, wrapping around my leg like a thick snake, coiling upwards.
A shiver ran down my spine. In the pitch-black darkness, with not a speck of light, I struggled to pry the tentacle off, but instead of freeing myself, I found both my arms ensnared as well.
Was it a new tentacle, or something else altogether? With nothing visible, there was no way to discern what was gripping me.
‘Why can’t I break free?’
Normally, I would have been clueless in my own body, but right now, I was in an S-class state utilizing hidden skills. So, how could they overpower me so completely? Even if this black entity filling the office space was someone’s skill, and even if they were S-class, they shouldn’t have been able to subdue me so thoroughly.
‘Wait, then…’
What happened to Cha Sahyeon? If I, an S-class, couldn’t escape, there was no way B-class Cha Sahyeon could.
A pang of fear shot through me at the thought of the child being in danger. I struggled even harder to break free, shouting louder.
“Cha Sahyeon!”
Shouting in this place filled with nothing but darkness might not reach Cha Sahyeon, but I couldn’t just sit still.
I shouted again, louder this time, “Cha Sahyeon, where are you…?! Ah!”
At that moment—
The black tentacle wriggling above me suddenly pulled me with immense force. I was helplessly dragged away, eventually thudding down somewhere.
“Ugh…”
Collapsed onto what seemed to be a hard surface, I rubbed my numb elbows and scanned my surroundings.
The darkness that had dragged me deeper began to fade, revealing a figure surprisingly familiar to me.
“Cha Sahyeon?”
The small child standing right in front of me was undoubtedly Cha Sahyeon. With chilling green eyes staring at me as I sat there, lips firmly sealed, and a pale complexion that seemed to glow, there was no mistaking him for anyone else.
Noticing his fearless demeanor in the darkness engulfing the office and the way darkness seemed to dissipate only around him, I couldn’t help but deduce.
‘It must be Cha Sahyeon’s skill.’
As soon as I grasped the identity of the darkness swallowing this place, a chime rang out, and a status window appeared.
User Information: 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 (37% Progress)
The skill stats remained unchanged at B-class. That meant ultimately Cha Sahyeon’s skill was potent enough at B-class to contend with S-class.
‘If Cha Sahyeon’s skill level were to rise…’
Cold sweat trickled down my cheek. Recalling the catastrophe I had witnessed before the regression made my throat constrict.
Indeed, it wasn’t for nothing that the Seed of Calamity had sprouted. To think that it was this formidable at just B-class. If the Seed of Calamity reaches 100% and the skill level increases… The world will be destroyed again.
The moment I once again realized the reason why I had to somehow halt the progress of the seed, in the brief moment I tried to call out to Cha Sahyeon again after swallowing dry saliva, a sudden pressure on my abdomen made my breath catch.
“…!”
As I instinctively lowered my head, I felt the tentacle that had reached out once more coiling tightly around my waist. It was only then that Cha Sahyeon, who had bound me to prevent my escape, spoke, “Where have you been?”
“Kid, this— ugh!”
The tentacle tightened its grip around my waist. Despite trying to pry it off with my hands to alleviate the growing pain, it didn’t budge.
“You told me you were making a call while I showered. So, why did you leave?”
“Uh, wait…this, just…!”
“Did you deceive me on purpose? Planning to leave me behind and run away?”
“Ugh…”
I couldn’t breathe. The pressure and pain pressing on my organs blurred my vision.
‘This maniac…’
If I had wanted to escape, why would I still be here? I should’ve bolted long ago.
There were many things I wanted to say, but arguing with Cha Sahyeon, who was already in a foul mood, seemed pointless. I struggled to hold onto my fading consciousness and desperately felt around the ground.
Rustle.
As if the heavens were on my side, I thankfully grabbed hold of the paper bag I had brought along. It was all thanks to not letting go of it even when I was dragged into the darkness. Quickly grabbing the paper bag, I held it out and exclaimed, “Here, a gift!”
Cha Sahyeon’s eyes widened in surprise at the paper bag I suddenly offered. Sensing a glimmer of hope instinctively, I continued, “A gift, brought for you, ugh…”
“A gift…?”
Puzzled, Cha Sahyeon took the paper bag with trembling hands and murmured, “A gift…for me?”
Unable to speak any longer, I simply nodded.
“You brought it…for me?”
I nodded once more.
“…”
Cha Sahyeon’s lips slowly curled upward as he alternated between glancing at me (still groaning in pain), and the paper bag he clasped tightly. He shyly smiled, and simultaneously…
Pah-aaat!
The black tentacle coiled around my waist, along with the darkness that filled the entire office, rushed out like a tide. In an instant, the darkness, now reduced in size, disappeared into Cha Sahyeon’s shadow as if it had never been there in the first place.
Cha Sahyeon, whose cheeks and ears were flushed, hesitantly asked me, who was caught in awe of this astounding sight, “Can I open this?”
Finally relieved from the pressure and pain, I exhaled heavily and consented, “…Sure.”
Leaving Cha Sahyeon to eagerly unpack the box from the paper bag with a delighted expression, I rose to my feet and surveyed the surroundings. The office, now free from the darkness, looked as if a storm had swept through, furniture scattered haphazardly across the floor.
“Sigh…”
I wiped my face and swallowed back my tears. I couldn’t fathom what could have happened in the office during my absence.
No, but all things considered, this wasn’t too bad. At least the progress of the Seed of Calamity hadn’t increased.
‘When will I ever clean up all this mess?’
Still holding onto my sore waist, I let out a deep sigh, but Cha Sahyeon tugged at my sleeve. “Brother, what’s this?” He looked up at me with wide, sparkling eyes, his voice filled with more playfulness than usual.
‘Seeing him like this… he’s still just a kid.’
How could a simple gift resolve the dreadful feeling enough for him to use his skill? It was absurd yet amusing. I couldn’t bring myself to get angry at this rate.
“A game console. I used to play with one a lot when I was your age. Have you ever tried it?”
“Never.” The anticipation on Cha Sahyeon’s face was palpable as he replied promptly.
Unable to feign ignorance any longer, I roughly dragged over the sofa and sat down. Despite the pain shooting through my body with every movement, I endured it and placed Cha Sahyeon on my thigh.
“Here, take a look.”
I took out the portable game console and game chips from the box, turned on the game, created an account, and connected to the game. Once I handed over the game console after explaining how to start, move using the directional buttons, and pointing out the arrows on the buttons indicating direction, Cha Sahyeon cautiously accepted it while snuggling up quietly.
“You just need to press the start button at the top. Use these buttons to move. If you look closely at the buttons, you’ll see arrows. They indicate directions.”
Following my instructions, Cha Sahyeon pressed the buttons to start the game. Judging by his concentrated expression, it seemed he was quite pleased with the gift.
I bought it because a new installment of the RPG game series I enjoyed as a child was released, and it turned out to be a fairly decent choice.
‘Oh, I’m dying.’
While I was relieved that the incident was resolved, my body continued to scream from being torn apart during the process.
Unable to endure any longer, I rested my forehead on Cha Sahyeon’s shoulder as he played the game. Suddenly, his small body in my embrace jolted.
Ding, ding, ding!
“…?”
Ding, ding!
As soon as I rested my head on Cha Sahyeon’s shoulder, the notification sound from the status window rang loudly. If it had only happened once, I might have ignored it, but with the incessant repetition, I reluctantly lifted my heavy head.
‘What’s going on?’
As I raised my head, multiple status windows filled my view.
《The antagonist is satisfied!》
《The antagonist is pleased!》
《Warning! There has been a change in the progress of the Seed of Calamity!》
《The progress of the Seed of Calamity has decreased!》
“Huh?”
Aas I had thought the progress would increase like last time, I became flustered upong reading the status windows carefully.
‘The progress decreased?’
Before I could fully grasp the situation, more status windows popped up incessantly.
Ding!
《Hidden Quest has been unlocked!》
《Hidden Quest: Lowering the Progress of the Seed of Catastrophe (Class L)》
《Hidden Quest: Lowering the Progress of the Seed of Catastrophe (Class L) cleared!》
《Hidden Quest cleared. Rewards are granted.》
《Item Shop unlocked!》
《You can now use the Item Shop.》
Item… what? An Item Shop?
My mouth fell open involuntarily at the status window messages beyond my imagination.