RG 77

I sprinted down the dark streets where even the moonlight didn’t reach.

It was late in the dawn, and the streets were completely empty. I scaled the exterior wall of a nearby shopping building by the stadium and climbed to the roof, exhaling heavily from exhaustion.

‘Damn it…’

A bitter taste rose in the back of my throat, just like after an all-out sprint. Unable to move any further, I collapsed in the middle of the rooftop, barely holding onto my waning consciousness.

This isn’t good. As urgent as the situation was, if I pushed myself any more in this state, I’d pass out in the middle of the street.

Ignoring Kwon Taehyeok’s offer to give me a ride was one thing, but if I collapsed on a street full of passersby, my identity would make the front page of the newspaper by tomorrow.

Even though using my skill could change my face, physique, and voice, I didn’t look entirely like a different person. At best, someone might mistake me for Cha Seohu’s brother.

‘If word got out that Cover had any connection to Cha Seohu, the lab rats would soon realize Cha Sahyeon was near me…’

If those lab rats tracked me down at a time like this, without any suitable allies, it would all be over.

I took off my blood-soaked mask and looked up at the night sky, thick with dark clouds. With no other choice, I reached into my inventory and pulled out an item.

[Recovery Potion]

A potion that instantly heals injuries. Drinking the liquid inside the bottle will rapidly restore your health.

This was one of the items that came in the “Regressor Growth Package” I’d bought from the item shop a while back.

It looked just like the typical health potions you’d find in games, with a rounded bottle, a protruding top, and red liquid inside. Even the name and description screamed “potion.”

I eyed it warily, turning it over in my hands.

‘From the status window to the stats tied to specific people, the item shop, and now potions?’

This feels too much like a game. It’s just like that game I bought for Cha Sahyeon a while ago. Well, with rifts opening and dungeon breaks happening, the world was already far from normal.

I fiddled with the smooth surface of the bottle as my thoughts wandered, then sighed and popped the cork. The potion opened with a soft pop, just like a bottle of wine.

I wasn’t sure if this was truly a healing item, but right now, drinking it was my only option. I had to verify its effects myself so I could confidently use the other two bottles if needed.

There was no other way at the moment. With lingering doubts, I stared at the liquid inside before downing it without hesitation. Since it was red, I expected a strawberry flavor, but surprisingly, it was tasteless and scentless. Like drinking water, I gulped it down in one go, and to my amazement, the effects were immediate.

“Oh.”

The throbbing pain in my shoulder, which had been bad enough to give me a headache, vanished in an instant.

I quickly shrugged off my denim jacket and checked my shoulder. The wound from Park Huiseok’s claws had healed perfectly. Not just my shoulder—every small cut and the muscle soreness that had been weighing me down were completely gone.

It really was a “Recovery Potion”? I couldn’t help but marvel at the results, as if my character’s health bar had been instantly refilled. Honestly, I didn’t expect this kind of result, even if it wasn’t poison. It was quite the surprise.

‘Guess I can put a bit more trust in the items from the shop.’

I stood up and swung my left arm around. It moved perfectly, with no sign of any lingering injury. I wasn’t just patched up; I was fully healed. Meanwhile, the sky had started to lighten. Morning was coming. It was finally time to head back.

Fortunately, the distance between the stadium and the office wasn’t too far. And now that my body was completely healed thanks to the potion, I could get there without being late if I hurried.

***

Thanks to my fully recovered body, I was able to run non-stop and make it to the office before dawn broke. I climbed up to the second-floor balcony through the back alley, which had no CCTV, and carefully opened the closed window after surveying the dark, unlit room.

Click.

As soon as I stepped inside and shut the window, a chilling presence washed over me.

‘Uh…’

Swallowing nervously, I cautiously turned around to see a dark figure quietly seated on the sofa.

The child sat there, perfectly still, their gaze fixed on the blank TV screen. Though they were fully aware of my arrival, they didn’t even glance my way. From their rigid posture, I could sense the anger and stubbornness radiating off them.

The intensity of the atmosphere made me break into a cold sweat, but I couldn’t just leave things as they were. Honestly, I was lucky the “Seed of Calamity” hadn’t progressed further.

“Hey, kiddo?”

“…”

“Were you waiting for me instead of sleeping?”

As I took off my blood-stained mask and approached, Cha Sahyeon furrowed his brow and sharply turned his head away. He looked just like a child sulking at a guardian who came home late, but the killing intent aimed at me left no room for me to find it cute.

How was I supposed to calm him down? I suppressed a sigh of frustration and lowered myself to his eye level.

“Sorry. I wanted to come back right away, but something came up.”

Telling him I passed out would only sound like a pathetic excuse. Right now, it was more important to soothe his hurt feelings than to explain why I was late.

“Aren’t you going to look at me?” I gently stroked his cheek, trying to coax him out of his stubborn silence, but he kept glaring away, completely avoiding eye contact.

Just as I was wondering if I should offer him a snack or something to get him to talk, I noticed his lips quivering. His face twisted, and tears suddenly welled up in his eyes. A moment later, large droplets began to fall.

My hand, still resting on his cheek, was quickly soaked by the tears. I knew he was angry, but I never expected him to start crying. My heart dropped.

“W-wait, are you crying? Really?”

“…”

Caught off guard, I stammered for a moment before hurriedly picking him up and pulling him into my arms.

He didn’t resist, settling quietly against me, but his body felt unusually warm. Clearly overwhelmed, Cha Sahyeon continued sobbing, his hot breaths coming in hiccups as tears streamed down his face.

“I’m sorry, okay? Please, don’t cry.” I gently patted his back, apologizing over and over, trying to console him. “I won’t be late next time. Were you really worried?”

My clothes, already stained with blood, were now soaked with his tears.

Even though I reeked of sweat and blood, Cha Sahyeon didn’t seem to care, clinging to me tightly as he cried. His small hands gripped my clothes so hard his knuckles turned white.

“I’m the one who messed up, so please, stop crying. I’m begging you.”

Who would’ve thought he’d cry this much?

‘Is he going to pass out from dehydration at this rate?’

How could such a tiny body produce so many tears? I was worried he might make himself sick from crying so hard.

Whether he understood my anxiety or not, Cha Sahyeon continued to cry for quite some time before finally calming down. By then, the sun had fully risen, and my skill had worn off, leaving me in my normal body, completely exhausted from trying to comfort him.

“Annoyed.”

“Yeah? Were you upset?”

Though Cha Sahyeon had stopped crying, he still grumbled with a pouty expression. I gently wiped the teardrops clinging to his long lashes as I asked, “Want to take a bath with me? We can clean up and then have some breakfast.”

Since he’d clung to me earlier, he was just as dirty, so he definitely needed a bath. A soak in warm water would probably help lift his mood too.

“…Okay.”

After glancing at me hesitantly, the boy finally gave a small nod. It seemed he was starting to forgive me, at least a little.

Not wanting to give him time to change his mind, I quickly carried him toward the bathroom, hoping that by the time we finished, his mood would be much better.

***

— Ah, what a shocking development!

— Hunter Cover is blocking Hunter Park Huiseok with his body!

The noise from the TV blared through the dimly lit bar, where only a few small lights were turned on.

Click. The lighter sparked, igniting a cigarette, the flame briefly casting a red glow before the hand that lit it withdrew.

The man, swaying slightly with the cigarette in his mouth, lifted his gaze.

— Hunter Cover looks to be in very bad shape!

— It seems he’s unable to use his left arm.

At that moment, the screen showed Cover struggling to fend off Park Huiseok. The man watched silently as Cover, blood-spattered mask in place and bright blond hair flying, fought to hold his ground.

Clatter!

Suddenly, the bar, previously filled only with the sound of the TV, was interrupted by the creak of the door as someone peeked inside.

The newcomer, noticing the man sitting in the chair watching TV, cheerfully asked as they stepped into the bar, “Did you call for me?”

With each step, their faded light pink hair swayed messily, revealing ears adorned with multiple piercings. At the man’s signal, a bodyguard handed the newcomer a tablet.

The tablet displayed a photo of a building, along with its detailed address. After glancing at the information, the young man pouted and grumbled, “Ugh, I hate going out. Who is this? Should I capture them or deal with them?”

“Just keep an eye on them.”

“Keep an eye?”

“Don’t touch them; they’re injured.”

The young man, confused by the unusual order, tilted his head before a wide grin spread across his face as he realized who lived at the address. “Oh, this is where Big Bro Seohu is staying? So he finally started his own guild, huh?” The once-bored scarlet eyes now sparkled with interest. “But just surveillance? You don’t want me to bring him in? And he’s hurt?”

He had fully expected to be ordered to drag Seohu in. Even after asking again, the man remained silent, only exhaling smoke from his cigarette.

The man had never been much of a talker, so the young man didn’t think much of it, returning the tablet to the bodyguard.

“I can head out tomorrow, right? You called me in the middle of something.”

His loose white shirt was only partially buttoned, and the strong smell of perfume and alcohol clung to him. It was easy to guess what he’d been doing without needing to ask.

“I’ll report back once I meet with Big Bro Seohu. I’m heading out now.”

With a quick bow, the young man exited the bar without any hesitation.

Once the bodyguards had all left as well, the man was left alone, his attention returning to the TV. Through the wisps of white smoke drifting from his cigarette, he watched as Cover continued to fight, swinging his sword with all his might.