RG 102

I couldn’t remember when I’d closed my eyes.

When I slowly opened them, I saw countless stars embedded in the black night sky. Like stardust sprinkled across black silk, the shimmering lights in various colors drew my eyes in.

“Where is this…?”

Even though I had clearly woken up, I felt strangely heavy and sluggish. My body wouldn’t move as I wanted, like I was submerged in water. I panicked for a moment, but as I looked around, I slowly realized something.

Darkness surrounded me on all sides. I had thought it was the night sky, but it felt more like I’d been dropped into the middle of space.

“What the hell?”

At this point, I had no choice but to realize I was still dreaming.

‘What kind of nonsense dream is this?’

Just as I furrowed my brow in disbelief, a bright yellow light shone from behind me.

When I turned around, I saw a massive tree floating in the middle of space, just like me. I had no idea when or how it appeared. Astonishingly, its roots, sprawling branches, and leaves were all made of golden light. Drawn in by the golden glow of the enormous tree that had appeared before my eyes, I approached it as if hypnotized. An overwhelming presence stirred instinctive fear within me, yet I also felt an odd compulsion to see it up close.

As I pushed through the light spreading outward and got closer, the tree’s form became clearer. What stood out most was its roots. Beams of light, starting from somewhere unseen, branched out into roots, which then connected to the tree’s trunk. These beams ran through the core of the tree, burst out of its top, and extended far into the reaches of space. It looked as if the tree had been strung on a single thread of light. I wondered where that central beam of light had begun, but even as I looked far into the distance, I couldn’t see the end.

‘It’s fascinating, but…’

I couldn’t make sense of what was happening. Why was I having this dream? Why had this tree suddenly appeared?

Just as I was racking my brain while staring up at the tree, a soft voice came from somewhere.

“I figured this would happen.”

“…!”

I spun around, startled by the close presence I hadn’t noticed before. From behind the tree’s trunk, a man stepped out.

“Your reaction’s so dull. How boring.”

The man, complaining with a faint smile, was tall, with long, pale honey-colored hair. He wore an outfit that resembled a changpao, covering him up to the neck, but the embroidered patterns and gem-studded ornaments gave off a more Western than Eastern vibe. What stood out the most was the ornate lace blindfold that covered the upper half of his face. But even with it on, he seemed perfectly aware of exactly where I was standing.

“…Who are you?” I took a step back, unnerved by the overwhelming aura he exuded. It was so intense that it almost stung my skin.

“I’ve never met a human so fearless and rude as you,” he muttered something strange, then asked, “What do you think of the tree?” His sudden question about the tree only made me more uneasy. I didn’t respond—just frowned—but he asked again, unfazed, “Isn’t it beautiful?”

“Why the hell are you asking me that out of nowhere?”

“Because I brought you here to show you the tree.”

“What?”

“I know you’ve been busy, but it’s about time you came to find me. You made a deal and paid a price—don’t you think it’s time to come?”

“…A price?”

The moment I echoed his words, a flash of memory burst into my mind.

The day I went to the Circle Guild to take part in the competition. The deal I made back then, the price I offered.

‘Did I seriously forget something that important?’

The moment I realized it, I immediately knew who the man in front of me was. His appearance was different, but that voice—I couldn’t mistake it. The man I met that day in the office…

“Cha Seohu.” The man let out a quiet laugh as he watched me stumble while covering my mouth, and then reached out his hand. “Don’t make me wait any longer.”

Swish. As his long hair brushed against his clothes, the sound was followed by a deep forest scent tickling my nose. At the same time, the man pressed a finger gently to my forehead. It felt like he only used the slightest bit of strength, yet my body tipped backward helplessly. Through my dimming vision, I saw the brilliantly glowing tree.

“Don’t forget what you saw here. Explaining it again later would be a pain.” His voice, still joking even to the end, was the last thing I heard before consciousness suddenly slipped away.

***

I felt a light tapping on my cheek.

Ugh… I groaned, furrowing my brow, and in response, someone firmly pressed between my brows as if to tell me not to do that. I couldn’t resist the ticklish sensation, and when I opened my eyes, a small, warm body was nestled against me.

“Kid.”

“Mmm.”

I didn’t even need to look to know who it was. When I called out to him with my sleep-heavy voice, his soft, fluffy hair brushed against my chin.

As I opened my eyes and patted Cha Sahyeon’s head, I saw a pure white ceiling. I raised my aching upper body and leaned back against the headboard, scanning my surroundings.

A hospital bed. A very obvious, high-end private room.

‘I figured this would happen ever since I collapsed in front of Kwon Taehyeok.’

At least he didn’t mess with my clothes. Looks like he even cleaned off the blood or whatever.

I stopped inspecting the room and shifted my gaze to Cha Sahyeon, who was clinging to me. The kid had climbed up onto the bed and was hugging my waist tightly, but he looked perfectly fine—not a scratch on him.

Knowing Kwon Taehyeok, there was no way he’d ignore a child, so I trusted him to take care of it—but I didn’t expect him to bring Cha Sahyeon back so flawlessly. Honestly, I was a little surprised.

“Hey, kid. How’d you get here? Did you meet up with Yesung’s guildmaster in that alley?”

As I gently stroked his cheek and asked, Cha Sahyeon gave me a grumpy look full of unspoken words and mumbled a reply, “With the annoying guy… I was waiting for you, and then another annoying guy… carried you and brought me too.”

“Huh?”

“You looked really sick… said we had to get to the hospital fast… so I came.”

Hmm. So he was waiting with Kwon Seoyul, and then ran into Kwon Taehyeok—who was carrying me after I passed out—and they all came to the hospital together? I guess he calls both of them “annoying guy” since he finds them both equally frustrating. Anyway, I was just glad things had turned out okay. I made a note to ask Kwon Taehyeok for the details later and lifted the child into my lap, sitting him on my thighs.

“You’re not mad? I said I’d be right back but ended up being late.”

Cha Sahyeon, fidgeting with his hands, finally answered reluctantly, “I was mad… but you looked really sick… so…”

“You couldn’t even get mad ‘cause I looked sick? I’m fine now, so go ahead and be mad.”

“I’m not mad anymore…”

“Then you’re forgiving me?”

“Just this once…” Cha Sahyeon pouted and replied like he couldn’t help it. It was so cute that I couldn’t help but laugh.

“You’re too sweet, kid.”

I was grinning as I gently tugged on his soft, squishy cheeks when the hospital room door opened—and the people I’d been waiting for walked in.

“Hunter Cha Seohu, you’re awake.”

“How are you feeling?”

Ryu Seonghyeon and Kwon Taehyeok walked in as they asked. I was a little puzzled seeing the two of them approaching side by side.

‘Hasn’t much time passed since I fainted?’

I had assumed both of them would have left the hospital by now. Ryu Seonghyeon had a guild to return to, and Kwon Taehyeok could’ve just sent a secretary in his place.

I pushed aside the unexpectedness and bowed my head to them first. “I feel much better. Thank you so much for bringing me to the hospital and for finding my little brother.”

It’s best to show gratitude in times like this—improves my image and might make it easier to get help again if something similar happens in the future. Wearing my best future-prepping smile, I offered my thanks. Kwon Taehyeok paused briefly before letting out a sigh.

“You don’t need to thank me. I was the one who received help from you first.” Clearing his throat, he continued, “First off, from the preliminary examination, there were no significant issues found in your body. The vomiting of blood before you lost consciousness… according to the doctor, it was caused by a temporary backlash of energy from overusing your skills.”

“Ah, I see.”

“In the future, it would be best to be more cautious with your skill usage.”

Unfortunately, that explanation had absolutely nothing to do with me. I hadn’t overused any skills, nor did my energy ever reverse flow. I just failed that damn quest. I let the meaningless explanation go in one ear and out the other, and asked Kwon Taehyeok, “How long have I been unconscious?”

“About nine hours. It’s just past noon now.”

“Nine hours?”

That genuinely surprised me. Wait—if it’s been nine hours, what the hell are these two still doing here? I mean, it makes sense if Kwon Taehyeok stayed behind at someone’s request to act as my guardian, but Ryu Seonghyeon? He didn’t have any reason to stick around.

As much as I’d like to believe he stayed out of concern for me… honestly, we weren’t close enough for me to expect that.

Shaking off the pointless thoughts, I moved on to my next question. “So, what about the guy who was with my brother?”

“He came to the hospital with us, but at some point, he disappeared. We haven’t seen him since. But based on the trace of energy, it’s certain that he’s still somewhere in the hospital.”

If Kwon Seoyul was still here, there was only one reason: to keep an eye on me. Either way, hearing that bastard was safe was a bit of a relief.

“It’s lunchtime, so I’ll have food prepared. Let’s talk more after we eat. As for your brother…” With a slightly troubled expression, Kwon Taehyeok glanced at me and then at Cha Sahyeon, still nestled in my arms. “If it’s okay, I’d suggest taking him down to the cafeteria to get something to eat. I kept him in the room because he wanted to stay, but it’s been nine hours now. He’s probably hungry.”

“He hasn’t eaten?” For nine hours? Alarmed, I tugged on Cha Sahyeon’s cheek with more force than before. “If your big brother’s sick, you’re supposed to take care of yourself, you little rascal. You’re trying to make me worry even more?”

“Uuhh…”

He had a higher rank than me, so no matter how hard I pulled, I knew it wouldn’t actually hurt—but Cha Sahyeon exaggerated his reaction anyway. Cute, sure, but skipping meals wasn’t something I could let slide. I gave his backside a light tap and ushered him off the bed. “Go eat.”

“I’m not hungry.”

“Tch, you’re really gonna get scolded.” I pretended to look mad, and Cha Sahyeon slumped his shoulders. Watching his sulky little back, I gave Kwon Taehyeok an awkward smile. “Um, could I ask you for a favor?”

“I understand.”

“No!” Cha Sahyeon, who had been listening to my conversation with Kwon Taehyeok, suddenly cut in and pointed his finger at Ryu Seonghyeon, who was standing next to Kwon Taehyeok. “I don’t like him! I’m going to eat with this guy.”

Startled by the sudden outburst, both of us turned our eyes to Ryu Seonghyeon at the same time. Ryu Seonghyeon looked just as caught off guard, blinking in confusion as if it had never occurred to him that Cha Sahyeon might single him out.

I was equally shocked. It was the first time the kid had ever expressed dislike for someone so openly, and the first time he’d ever pointed someone out like that.

Granted, Cha Sahyeon had always been especially wary of Kwon Taehyeok, but still—I never thought he’d say he disliked him to his face. I stammered as I tried to respond, “W-wait, you can’t just suddenly say something like that…”

This was a completely unexpected situation. While I personally didn’t mind Kwon Taehyeok, there was no way I could ask Ryu Seonghyeon, who clearly felt awkward around me, for a favor like this.

“If I can’t eat with him, I’m not eating at all.”

“What?”

As the demand was repeated, my eyes met Ryu Seonghyeon’s.

“…”

“…”

A painfully awkward silence settled over the hospital room.

‘God, this is driving me crazy.’

At this point, it might be easier if I just went myself. I was about to get up from the bed when Ryu Seonghyeon spoke first. “Um… alright. I’ll take him to the cafeteria, so Hunter Cha Seohu, please just rest easy.”

“What? But…”

“I didn’t believe you earlier, and I’ve always benefited from your buff skills. This is the least I can do.”

“Ah…”

Only then did I understand. Ryu Seonghyeon was probably hoping this would relieve some of the guilt he felt toward me. If this helped ease his mind, I had no reason to refuse. As I nodded, Kwon Taehyeok, who had been silently observing the exchange, let out a sigh.

“Then I’ll leave your brother to Hunter Ryu Seonghyeon and go tell the hospital staff to bring your meal up here. It’ll take about thirty minutes, so please rest in the meantime.”

“Alright.”

Once the three of them left the room together, peace finally returned.

I leaned my tense body against the headboard and looked out the window. The deep blue sky and golden sunlight made the outside world look perfectly peaceful, as if the rift incident from the early morning had never happened. The reason I’d asked them to take Cha Sahyeon away was because I wanted some time alone to quietly sort out my thoughts.

That massive golden tree, and the man I’d met there.

Whether it was a dream or something else, I hadn’t realized it at the time, but now it was all too easy to guess who that man had been.

‘The fake Song Ji-un.’

The one who had been pretending to be Song Ji-un and had taken the Circle’s guildmaster place. I should’ve gone to meet him sooner, but I’d missed the timing—Kwon Seoyul had been watching me, and then Kwon Taehyeok showed up.

“Don’t make me wait any longer.”

I remembered what he said in the dream.

Yeah, it had been too long. He might be the one who could tell me the secrets behind the status window. It was definitely worth meeting him, even if it meant pushing myself.

How could I sneak off as Cover and get to the Circle guild? I was still trying to figure that out when—

Clack. Creeaak.

The doorknob turned, and someone stepped into the hospital room. I thought it might be the food already, so I turned toward the door—and my shoulders tensed.

“Bro.”

“You…”

Kwon Seoyul walked into the room with a blank expression, then raised the corner of his lips in a smile. The sharp, chilling aura radiating from him sent a shiver down my spine.