RG 5

With a wry twist, as I reached out to rouse the child, my fingertips had grown cold. Simultaneously, a sense of pity for my own predicament washed over me. Only a few hours earlier, I had pledged to do everything in my power to avert Calamity’s devouring grasp on our world. Now, dwelling on regrets seemed futile.

With a strained smile, I lifted the child from the operating table. Despite his expressionless gaze, the child nestled into my arms without protest.

Balancing the child with one hand, I retrieved the fallen scabbard and sheathed the sword. Then, I seized the syringe nearby.

The Director, finally snapping out of her stupor at the sight of the syringe in my grasp, contorted her face into a fierce expression. “Damn it, stop him now! What the hell are you all doing?!”

“Wha… what…?”

“Guards! Get the guards!”

Yet, amid the Director’s fury, the ordinary researchers hesitated to confront a sword-wielding figure like me.

In the chaos among the researchers, the female scientist who had handed the syringe to the Director rushed to press a red button on the wall.

Beep!

Suddenly, the previously darkened laboratory flooded with light, accompanied by a blaring warning. Squinting against the brightness, I smirked. “Looks like you’ve bought yourself some time. But aren’t the Hunters right behind you?”

Catching onto my taunt, the Director glared at me with seething intensity. “Who are you? From the Association or the Management Bureau?”

“Think what you will.”

Footsteps, approximately five pairs, reverberated outside the lab, indicating the activation of the security protocol triggered by the researcher’s press of the red button.

Swiftly stowing the syringe in my inventory bag, I tightened my grip on the scabbard. “This child is leaving with me; that’s all you need to know.”

As my words concluded, the lab door swung open, unleashing a squad of security guards. Just as I had anticipated, their number matched the echoing footsteps.

“How did this… guh!”

The foremost guard charged, only to meet the force of my scabbard. He crumpled before finishing his sentence.

“Hold tight,” I whispered to the child, who wrapped his arms securely around my neck. With one arm securing the child, I propelled myself off the ground with a swift kick.

“Ugh, agh!”

I simultaneously struck the unaware second guard’s face, widening my stance and leaning forward.

Ensuring the child’s stability, I shielded his back as another guard’s baton swung overhead.

Maintaining my stance, I pivoted forcefully, knocking the third guard off balance. Taking advantage, I hit his abdomen, sending him sprawling backward.

In a blink, three guards slumped unconscious. Observing the remaining pair stagger back, their faces drained of color, I adjusted the child in my arms.

“Wait! Don’t, don’t come closer!” one guard blurted, visibly shaken by my deliberate approach.

“Drop your weapon and surrender! We won’t harm you…”

“Hold on, what are you saying?” The terrified guard’s plea mixed with confusion from his bewildered companion.

Honestly, I was dumbfounded. Suppressing an urge to burst into laughter at the futile persuasion attempts, I advanced and slashed at the guard, still clutching his weapon.

Swoosh!

“Ugh.”

With a single punch, he let out a cry and crumpled. The last guard stood, mouth agape, witnessing the scene.

It was a spectacle. Even he fell beside his unconscious colleague as I landed another punch to his stomach. Seeing their sorry state, I couldn’t help but click my tongue.

‘Instead of being grateful I spared them from the blade, they spout nonsense.’

I claimed to have spared them out of goodwill. But eliminating scoundrels like them would only drag me into the same abyss.

‘But that person is an exception.’

Confirming their defeat, I lowered the child and turned to the Director.

The researchers, anticipating my capture by the guards, stared in horror, their expressions shifting as our gazes met.

“Pl-please, spare us…!”

“Fine. I’ll spare you. Move aside.”

Brushing past the pleading researchers, I headed purposefully toward the Director, who nervously retreated, eyeing me with a swollen hand and a bitten lip.

“Hey, Director. You’re quite clever, aren’t you?” I remarked casually, and the Director glared at me, swallowing nervously. But I didn’t really expect a response, so it didn’t matter. “Meanwhile, I’m foolish enough that carrying something like this would be futile.”

Retrieving the syringe I had stashed in my inventory earlier, the Director’s pupils noticeably dilated. Had it been in an ordinary bag or pocket, the needle might have been damaged, but stored in the inventory, it remained perfectly intact.

“Even if I were to destroy this syringe right now, it wouldn’t make a difference, would it? After all, our esteemed director has the research stored in her mind, enabling her to recreate it countless times.”

“W-what… are you saying…”

“Just a passing thought. A way for me to let off some steam.”

I gripped her collar firmly, brandishing the syringe. Dragging her closer, the director finally grasped my intentions. She struggled, but it was too late.

“You know well about the effects of the substance in this syringe, given your earlier enthusiasm.”

“Damn it! You’re crazy! Let go! Release me!”

“Oh, come on. You were planning to administer this on that child yourself.”

“Ahh!”

Without hesitation, I plunged the needle into the Director’s neck. She thrashed wildly, but as the drug took hold, her struggles subsided, and she slumped, seemingly plunged into a profound slumber.

Mocking the limp director, I cast her to the ground. “If I’ve gone a bit far in venting, that’s on you.”

It was a concoction derived from the sacrifices of dozens, Awakened individuals used to create this horrifying substance. It was a drug designed solely to inflict excruciating agony. The director was now experiencing the effects of her own creation.

Surveying the chaos within the lab, I approached the child, who stood where I had left him, watching me closely.

“Grab hold.”

As I extended my hand, the child, with vacant eyes, blinked a few times before cautiously gripping my hand.

Exiting the Central Laboratory together, almost as if beckoning, a status window materialized before me.

《Main Quest: Encounter the antagonist ‘Seed of Calamity’ cleared!》

《Main Quest cleared. Rewards are granted.》

Huh. A reward? Why wasn’t it mentioned in the quest details?

‘”Could it be… are there hidden rewards in each quest?’

Did that imply there might be unmentioned great rewards, even if the penalty for failure was mild? It seemed like a risky gamble, aiming for success just to uncover these rewards.

Grumbling to myself, I delved into checking what the reward entailed.

《Primary Skill level up!》

《Primary Skill: Guardian’s Bond level up.》

《Primary Skill: Guardian’s Bond level changed from Class B to Class S.》

“What?”

The reward surpassed my expectations, halting me in surprise.

The child, timidly following me and holding my hand, also paused beside me. Though there was a hint of curiosity in the child’s expression as he looked up at me, now wasn’t the moment to focus on him.

‘Guardian’s Bond—that was my original skill. And now it’s Class S?’

I wasn’t sure whether to feel thrilled or find it absurd. Regardless, I checked the skill description, a glimmer of hope igniting within me.

Primary Skill: Guardian’s Bond (Class S)

Replenish another party’s energy through physical contact while enhancing existing stats. (Buff Duration: 05:00)

ㄴ Buff: Increase in primary skill damage

ㄴ Buff: Increase in base speed

ㄴ Buff: Stability effect

Reading through the skill description, a sense of despair crept over me. “It’s not what I need…”

It seemed I couldn’t escape from support skills, even with this hidden skill I’d obtained, which was only useful at night or in dark places. A sigh slipped out.

‘Couldn’t it have boosted some basic stats instead of this limitation?’

Despite wielding a sword and soaring through the air for now, once this hidden skill wore off, I’d revert to being a feeble F-class support.

Sure, acquiring a hidden skill was something to boast about… but after grappling through a main quest, receiving such a reward was disheartening.

Sigh.

Lost in contemplation about skills for a while, I felt a firm grip on my hand. Glancing down, I met the child’s waiting gaze.

In that instant, a wave of clarity swept over me. This wasn’t the time for my own desires.

‘Let go of greed and focus on the present.’

Contemplating how to maximize these skills could wait until we were out of the laboratory. I tightened my grip on the child’s hand and started walking.

User Information: Cha Seohu

Age: 26 (28)

Primary Skill: Guardian’s Bond (Class S)

Hidden Skill: Silver Protection (Class S)

Attack Power: Class F

Attack Speed: Class F

Movement Speed: Class F

Agility: Class F

Specialty

ㄴ Drenched Cat (Class F)

ㄴ Stay Exactly Where You Are (Class F)