RG 7

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.

• Attention! If even one protagonist dies, the quest will fail.

Quest Failure: World Annihilation

“Sigh…”

I let out a disappointed breath at the densely packed status window in my field of view.

Just earlier, I was being urged to meet the antagonist, and now this? Main characters? Is the guildmaster of Yesung in front of me one of these ‘main characters’?

‘And there are multiple ‘main characters’? It’s not just one?’

While it was good news that I didn’t have to prevent the calamity alone, this sudden revelation was too abrupt, wasn’t it? And it couldn’t possibly be that simple to ask them to be my comrade out of nowhere. Thankfully, unlike with the antagonist, there seemed to be no time limit, but still.

“What are you thinking?”

Kwon Taehyeok, who was looking at me strangely while I absentmindedly read the status window invisible to others, grabbed my arm. “Not being able to answer is indeed suspicious. Please come with me.”

“No, I… Ugh…” As I tried to hurriedly make an excuse, pain spread from my arm, furrowing my brow.

Though Kwon Taehyeok didn’t seem to exert much force, my body, not much different from an ordinary person’s, couldn’t withstand even this level of pressure.

‘This is a complete mistake!’

Getting dragged along by Kwon Taehyeok for questioning could not only make it difficult to retrieve the inventory bag hidden under my jacket but more importantly, it increased the chance of getting separated from the child.

At that moment, as I was trying to endure the pain and push away Kwon Taehyeok, something happened.

“Just a moment, Guildmaster Kwon Taehyeok.”

“…!”

A soft and low voice interjected between me and Kwon Taehyeok.

Even without seeing the person, I recognized him solely by his voice. Feeling a flutter in my chest, I slowly raised my head.

“This person isn’t affiliated with the research lab; he’s a victim.”

Tousled brown hair and downturned eyes visible beneath it. Even the black techwear attire didn’t match his affectionate impression.

‘Brother…’

Murmuring an address I couldn’t bring myself to say out loud, I carefully examined his face. The last time I saw him, he was pale, bleeding, nestled in my arms. But now, after regressing and meeting again, he looked as healthy as he did the day we first met long ago.

As I struggled to contain my emotions, a new status window appeared before me.

User Information: Ryu Seonghyeon (Main Character)

Age: 31

Primary Skill: Manifestation of Light (Class S)

Title: The Radiant Sun

Attack Power: Class S

Attack Speed: Class S

Movement Speed: Class S

Agility: Class S

Special Note▼

ㄴ The main character who will prevent the calamity

The information that appeared in the status window was everything I already knew, except for one word next to the name.

“Seonghyeon is also a main character like the guildmaster of Yesung?”

Ryu Seonghyeon was the vice master of the ‘Circle’ guild, the guild I was part of before my regression. He came with the Circle guild members to the site, collaborating on the lab attack. It was here that I first met him, and he proposed that I join their guild.

Given my deep distrust of people due to the trashy life I had led, I initially rejected his proposal… Yet, he persistently pursued me, and unable to resist his insistence, I eventually joined the guild for the first time in my life.

Ryu Seonghyeon helped alleviate my distrust of others and taught me how to socialize. My most cherished memories were the two years I spent in the Circle Guild.

‘Even without something like this, I was already determined to protect him no matter what!’

It was just a bit… surreal that he was someone like Kwon Taehyeok, who could prevent a calamity. I’m not sure if I can really trust what’s written in this status window.

Meanwhile, amidst my confusion, Kwon Taehyeok and Ryu Seonghyeon continued their conversation.

“Do you have evidence to support the claim?”

“Yes. Take a look at this.” Ryu Seonghyeon handed over a document. “This is a document my guild member found at the research lab. It’s a list of victims of the experiments, and this person is listed too. There’s even a photo, so it’s definite.”

What? Such a document existed?  Not only did they abduct people as they pleased, but they also kept records? Those lab people were indeed out of their minds.

Kwon Taehyeok, alternating between the document and my face, finally let go of my arm. It hurts like crazy. 

“…I see. My apologies for the misunderstanding.” Handing the document back to Ryu Seonghyeon, Kwon Taehyeok, still maintaining a cold demeanor, continued, “However, it’s difficult to trust a document made by the research lab fully. So, Mr. Cha Seohu, to prevent any further issues, please quickly go to the support team for a simple checkup and treatment.”

After mentioning my name in the document, Kwon Taehyeok issued a stern warning before turning away.

Having barely escaped from Kwon Taehyeok, I nursed my still sore wrist and thanked Seonghyeon, “Thank you for your help.”

“Don’t mention it.” Ryu Seonghyeon smiled and glanced at my wrist. “Fortunately, the document came in handy. Come this way. I’ll guide you to the support team. You’ll need treatment for your arm anyway.”

“Ah, um…”

While grateful for the help, going to the supports for examination didn’t sit well with me. I felt uneasy about the possibility of my inventory bag being exposed, and I had to find the child again.

What if I lost the child and another quest with a time limit came up like before? I had worked so hard to find that antagonist; I didn’t want to go through that ordeal again.

‘Moreover… It’ll be a mess If not just my information but also the child’s details are documented in the document Ryu Seonghyeon just pulled out.’

No matter how much I thought about it, getting out of here as soon as possible seemed to be the right choice.

But I first obediently followed Ryu Seonghyeon. As we passed by combat vehicles and walked toward the outside, a group of support Hunters gathered around the tent.

“Well, I still have some remaining tasks to attend to. I hope you get treated properly.” 

After escorting me right to the tent, Ryu Seonghyeon turned back toward the direction of the research lab.

“Are you here for treatment?”

Confirming that Ryu Seonghyeon had faded into the distance, I replied to the Hunter who approached me, “Yes. But before that, this kid needs to find a restroom. Is there one nearby we can use?” I used the child as an excuse again. Shameless, but this excuse was the most effective.

“Oh, there’s a temporary restroom set up over there. You can use that.”

“Thank you.” Smiling genuinely to the Hunter, who believed my lie, I noticed the blush creeping up on their cheeks.

Following the Hunter’s pointed finger, I saw a small outdoor portable restroom tucked away in a corner.

A perfect location. Pretending to enter with the child, I quickly opened and closed the door once and slipped out to the side.

During broad daylight, it might have been noticed by others, but in the deep darkness of midnight, sneaking away unnoticed became much easier. Holding the child tightly, I ran for quite a while.

“Ha, huff, oh, I’m dying, huff…”

Unless I used my hidden skill, carrying a child with this F-class body was no easy feat.

Gasping for breath, I staggered and collapsed as soon as the research lab seemed a fair distance away, letting the child down gently.

The child, who had comfortably escaped the lab in my arms, sat on the ground, quietly watching me as I gasped for air.

I never thought saving one child would be this challenging. I just wanted to forget everything, antagonists and all.

“Sigh…”

Looking at the child, emotionless in appearance, I raised my head and gazed at the night sky. The sky held stars twinkling intermittently, partially veiled by clouds and the half-moon.

I had barely escaped the research lab, but in truth, the real journey was just beginning. Living with a child who could explode at any moment would be a challenge.

‘First, let’s sell the items stored in the inventory to get some money. Then, I need to create a fake identity.’

As I calmly organized the tasks ahead, a quest came to mind.

‘If I must become a comrade to the main characters, does that mean I need to meet Kwon Taehyeok and Ryu Seongheoun again?’

After barely escaping the research lab, I found myself needing to seek out these two individuals. It was awkward with Kwon Taehyeok from the first encounter, and figuring out how to gain trust and become comrades felt daunting.

‘My luck… it’s a 3 out of 10.’

Muttering the lament I’d been repeating for a while now, I let out a deep sigh. The pile of things I had to do was already exhausting me.