RG 94

Sweat quickly dampened my palms. I swallowed hard, the dryness in my throat unbearable, and opened my mouth to speak, “Hey, kid, I…”

Before I could finish, a dark shadow erupted violently from Cha Sahyeon, who had been quietly watching me. The already dim surroundings plunged into pitch-black darkness, void of even the faintest light.

The sudden appearance of a spherical veil of shadows left me flustered, and I completely forgot what I was about to say. Stumbling over my words, I muttered, “What are you doing? Didn’t I tell you not to use your skill—”

“Why?”

The question came back in a voice so innocent it was almost disarming. Tilting his head slightly, Cha Sahyeon blinked at me with a look that said he genuinely didn’t understand what the problem was.

“Aren’t you about to change clothes?”

“…”

For a moment, it felt like someone had smacked me on the back of the head. My mind went blank, and I just stood there with my mouth slightly open. Cha Sahyeon, looking puzzled by my silence, tilted his head the other way.

“Are you not?”

“…Yeah, you’re right. I was going to change.”

A mix of emotions surged within me, but I couldn’t let them show in front of the child. Swallowing them down with effort, I exhaled a slow, deep breath to regain my composure.

‘Get a grip, Cha Seohu.’

If I’d already decided to save people, I needed to commit to that fully. There was no point regretting it now, not after I’d gone so far as to use a hidden skill. This wasn’t the time to lose focus. If I kept dithering, I’d accomplish nothing.

After steadying myself, I pulled a change of clothes from my inventory and quickly swapped outfits. I traded my black slacks for jeans and stripped off the turtleneck sweater without hesitation. Thankfully, I’d layered a thin long-sleeve underneath, so all I needed to do was throw on a black leather jacket over it. A cap and mask completed the look.

When I finally drew my sword, Cha Sahyeon, as if understanding my intent, dispersed the shadows without me having to say a word. The realization that he had used his skill purely to help me change clothes made my chest feel even heavier.

“Hey, kid. I’m really sorry, but…” This time, I didn’t hesitate or avoid his gaze. “I need to help some people for a little while. I promise I’ll come back.”

“…”

“This is my fault. I’m the problem here. I’m really sorry,” I spoke firmly, wanting to ensure he wouldn’t misunderstand later.

Even if Cha Sahyeon didn’t fully understand me, that didn’t matter. I just didn’t want him to think, as he had before, that I was abandoning him. I didn’t want him feeling anxious or breaking into tears.

“So just wait a little longer, and…”

As I spoke, a chilling sensation crawled up my spine, and I instinctively raised my head. Cha Sahyeon was already looking behind me.

Acting on instinct rather than thought, I pulled him close and leaped back, narrowly dodging an attack that came hurtling toward us with terrifying speed.

CRACK!

The unseen force slashed deeply into the ground, leaving a jagged scar. The overwhelming aura that followed confirmed my suspicion—the assailant was undoubtedly an S-class Hunter.

‘Of all times… why now?!’

Was it someone from the lab? Had they tracked Cha Sahyeon here? If I wanted to save those people, I couldn’t afford any more delays. As I bit my lip, preparing to draw my sword, a voice called out from beyond the darkness.

“Who are you?”

The voice was disturbingly familiar.

“What’s your deal, and why are you with that kid?”

As the voice continued, my suspicions were confirmed.

Relief washed over me as the tension left my shoulders. Only then did the figure step into view, his face illuminated in the dark. His pink hair, tinged with faint streaks of gold, fluttered in the night breeze. Bright red eyes glowed vividly, cutting through the shadows.

“Ah… Kwon Seoyul…” I sighed his name as though it were a curse.

Kwon Seoyul frowned, harmonica in hand. “How do you know my name?”

Ignoring his question, I rubbed my temples in frustration. Why the hell is this guy showing up now of all times?!

“How can you just attack someone out of nowhere?”

“Hmm…?” Kwon Seoyul narrowed his eyes, letting out a vague sound as he strode toward me. He looked me up and down for a long moment before speaking, “You know my name. This brat also seems familiar with you. Are you connected to Big Bro Seohu?”

“…Yes.”

“Where is he? I’ve been looking for him, but he’s nowhere to be found.”

The suspicious glare from Kwon Seoyul made me swallow the sigh rising to my throat.

It seemed we’d narrowly missed each other back at the Geunjeongjeon Hall. After that, Kwon Seoyul must have continued searching for me and approached after spotting Cha Sahyeon at the office. Now, with the situation turning out like this, I was the one stuck in a bind.

This wasn’t the time to be arguing with him. Every second wasted here could mean another victim to the monsters.

‘Wait a minute.’

A sudden idea flashed through my mind, like a beam of light cutting through chaos.

‘Why not make use of Kwon Seoyul?’

Despite his cocky demeanor, he was surprisingly competent when given clear tasks. And he was an S-class, no less. If I mixed a bit of persuasion with a light dose of coercion, I could probably get him to agree to protect Cha Sahyeon. If he took responsibility for guarding Cha Sahyeon, I could focus on resolving the larger crisis without worry.

I’d been wishing for a strong Hunter to watch over the kid, and now the opportunity had practically fallen into my lap. There wasn’t time to think it over any further.

Scooping up Cha Sahyeon in my arms, I turned and shouted at Kwon Seoyul, “Kwon Seoyul, I need a favor.”

“Huh?”

“Take care of this kid for a bit.”

I pried the reluctant Cha Sahyeon from my arms and held him out toward Kwon Seoyul. Both of their faces twisted simultaneously. Cha Sahyeon clung to my clothes with a death grip, his knuckles white, while Kwon Seoyul didn’t even lift a finger to take him.

“No way! Why should I?” His crimson eyes glinted with thinly veiled irritation. Knowing how little patience he had before blowing up, I quickly followed up.

“You want to make up with Cha Seohu, don’t you?”

“What?”

“Cha Seohu told me all about you. About the big mistake you made and how he doesn’t want to return to the sector because of it.”

“…”

All emotion drained from Kwon Seoyul’s face.

Meeting his cold, expressionless stare sent a chill down my spine, but I forced my trembling tongue to keep moving, “This kid is the most precious person to Cha Seohu. If you protect him, maybe Cha Seohu will be willing to talk to you again.”

“…Where is he now?”

“He’s hiding somewhere safe. Don’t bother glaring—I’m not telling you where, so give it up.”

“…”

“What’s it going to be? And just so you know, if you harm me or this kid in any way, your relationship with Cha Seohu is over. Permanently.”

I made my stance clear, and Kwon Seoyul, his lips twitching nervously, suddenly exploded, “Fine! Alright! I’ll do it! You just want me to protect this brat, right?”

“Exactly. Keep him safe at all costs. Don’t wander around unnecessarily, and don’t let anyone near him. Got it?”

“Damn, you’re so annoying! I got it, now get out of here!”

Clearly nearing the end of his patience, Kwon Seoyul bared his teeth, his frustration written all over his face.

Not wanting to push him further, I turned to Cha Sahyeon, who looked on the verge of tears as he clung to me. I stroked his head and spoke gently, “Cha Sahyeon, I’ll be back soon, okay? Just wait for a little while.”

“…Okay.”

Deliberately using his name instead of “kid,” I softened my tone for his sake, especially with Kwon Seoyul listening. Cha Sahyeon pouted but reluctantly nodded.

His sulky, drawn-out reply made him look so endearing that I couldn’t resist brushing my hand against his pale cheek before turning away.

***

The sound of rapid footsteps echoed urgently as a man sprinted forward and leaped onto a city bus. With swift movements, he unsheathed a long sword and slashed it through the air. The monster threatening the bus was cleanly sliced in two.

Slash!

Standing on the blood-soaked ground, the man turned to shout through the bus window at the terrified passengers.

“It’s safe now! Stay calm and remain where you are!”

The passengers, pale and trembling, nodded instinctively at his commanding tone.

The man, who had appeared like a comet to dispatch the monster, wasted no time heading toward his next target. This time, he dashed toward a monster prowling near a building entrance barricaded with makeshift furniture. With a powerful leap, he swung his sword, golden hair swaying beneath a deeply pulled black cap. He effortlessly lifted debris with one hand, rescuing an elderly man trapped beneath. The man continued cutting down monsters nearby with remarkable efficiency, his movements fluid and decisive, as if he had been waiting for this exact moment.

Even the monsters attacking a military truck were swiftly dealt with. His next destination: Gwanghwamun.

As the support team arrived, they spotted the man darting past them like an arrow. Startled, one of them shouted, “Wh-who was that Hunter…?”

“What the—where’s he going?”

The man, known as Cover, glanced briefly at the support team, letting out a sigh of relief.

‘This should keep the civilians safe for now.’

Now, all that remained was identifying the source of the rift and sealing it. Beneath the shadow of his cap, Cover’s eyes gleamed with sharp focus.

‘Come to think of it… Kwak Seunggyu acted strangely when I encountered him. That location… it must be…’

Between Geunjeongjeon Hall and Yeongjegyo Bridge. That was where he needed to go next.

[Main Quest: Locate the lab associate hiding somewhere in the event hall (Time remaining: 6 hours 52 minutes]