ALL NOVEL Chapter 6
Chapter 6
After safely escaping the central laboratory with the child, I first went up the stairs.
As I climbed past the first basement floor where the central laboratory was located and the first floor, up to the second floor, I could faintly hear the sound of something being broken and shattered.
The second floor had a corridor connected to Building A, which was currently under the control of the hunters who had raided the laboratory. By now, they were probably dealing with the remnants of the research staff.
At the left end was a glass door with a lock that required a key card, like the central laboratory. Beyond the glass door was the external corridor connecting to Building A.
‘The hunters will soon come through that corridor.’
I entered a room near the external corridor with the child. Judging by the cracking sound when I pulled the doorknob, it seemed to have been locked.
The room we hastily entered was a small laboratory. After carefully closing the door, I said to the child without turning on the lights:
“Stay still.”
The emotionless-faced child just blinked without answering. Leaving him be, I put down the inventory bag I had been wearing on my waist.
Boom!
At that moment, there was a loud noise not far away, and the building shook slightly.
The sound was much closer than before. It was evidence that the hunters were quickly clearing Building A and would soon storm into Building B.
There wasn’t much time left. I quickly stuffed the robe I was wearing and the scabbard into the inventory bag.
I had worried that they might not fit because of all the jewels I had packed earlier, but fortunately, they just barely fit. After putting the bag back on my waist, I looked up.
The preparations were complete. Now there was only one thing left. As if reading my thoughts, a status window appeared before my eyes.
《Hidden Skill: Silver Protection (S-rank) [Activated]》
《Do you want to deactivate the skill?》
‘Deactivate.’
As soon as I answered inwardly, a current of pure white light enveloped my body.
Crackle!
“Ugh…!”
A chilling sensation spread along with a stabbing pain. I reflexively hunched over, barely swallowing a groan.
《Hidden Skill: Silver Protection (S-rank) [Deactivated]》
《Strength: F-rank》
《Attack Power: F-rank》
《Attack Speed: F-rank》
《Movement Speed: F-rank》
《Agility: F-rank》
As soon as the skill turned off, I changed back to my original weak body. My height and build decreased overall, and my hair returned to black.
“Haa…”
I straightened up and looked down at my noticeably smaller hands.
Even knowing I could change at will, it somehow felt like I had been dreaming.
‘I should examine my changed body later when I have time.’
From the moment I woke up in the isolation cell until now, I had been moving so frantically that I hadn’t had the leisure to check my status window or abilities.
Clicking my tongue, I got up, hid the inventory bag on my waist under my clothes, and called out to the child.
“Kid.”
I earnestly instructed the child who was staring at me with somewhat dazed eyes.
“We’re going to leave the laboratory now.”
“…”
“There will be all sorts of people outside, so don’t wander around unnecessarily and just stay by my side.”
“…”
“No, actually. Don’t let go of my hand no matter what happens. Absolutely. Ignore anyone who tries to talk to you. Understand?”
“…”
The child just stared blankly at me despite my questions. Is he even listening properly? This is nerve-wracking.
I had no choice but to reach out and place my hand on top of the child’s head.
“I asked if you understand.”
As I shook my palm back and forth on his head, the child’s hair swayed gently. Despite having been captured by some perverted bastards and living as a test subject, his hair was surprisingly quite soft.
As I absentmindedly stroked his hair waiting for an answer, the child finally nodded slightly after a long while. It was such a passive response that it made me sigh.
“We have a long way to go, really.”
Lamenting with frustration, I grabbed the child’s hand and left the laboratory. Although his response wasn’t satisfactory, the child followed me obediently this time as well, seemingly not minding coming with me.
Using the key card I had obtained earlier, I unlocked the door and stepped out into the external corridor. Through the corridor windows, I could see combat vehicles and people gathered outside the building. Thinking that there might be people I knew very well among them made me feel strange.
‘In my previous life, I was trapped in the isolation cell unable to do anything until the hunters came to the basement of Building B and opened the door.’
The situation had changed so drastically from that time that even the title of “regressor” I had gained seemed meaningless.
I smiled bitterly and hurried my steps. If anyone outside happened to see me passing through the corridor, it would only complicate the situation unnecessarily.
As I safely crossed over to Building A, unlike the intact Building B, I found corridors that were already broken and shattered here and there.
Although Building B was familiar, it’s not like I had never been to Building A. Because Building B had no entrance, all kidnapped victims had to pass through Building A to get to Building B.
When I was first brought here, I was confined in Building A for about two days before being moved to Building B. So it wouldn’t be strange if a victim was found in Building A.
After entering a storage room at a suitable distance from the external corridor, I deliberately left the door half-open. Then I pushed the boxes on the shelves, spilling them onto the floor.
Clatter, Crash!
The alcohol lamps and cylinders in the boxes shattered as they hit the floor, making a loud noise.
After waiting for a moment, as I expected, I heard the sound of running footsteps along with unfamiliar voices right in front of me.
“I heard a strange noise from here!”
“It might be remaining enemies. Be careful.”
The tense voices of a man and a woman alternated. Soon after, with a thud, the door I had left half-open was roughly pushed open, and hunters rushed in.
“Drop your weapons immediately… Huh?”
The man who was about to warn me, thinking I was a hidden guard, made a stupid expression as our eyes met. In that moment, I pulled the child standing next to me into my arms and cried out with a terrified look:
“Please save us!”
* * *
“Are you injured anywhere?”
“No, we were just hiding the whole time.”
As I answered with a sheepish smile, the male hunter who mistakenly thought he had saved us muttered with a sympathetic expression.
“To protect your young sibling even in such a dangerous situation… You’re amazing.”
“Haha…”
Next to the male hunter who was completely mistaken, the female hunter also gave me a thumbs up and nodded. Not having much to say in response, I just gave them a kind and gentle smile as if I had only done what was natural.
Well, well, I’ve caught some conveniently oblivious and naive hunters. As things were going much more smoothly than I had anticipated, I hummed inwardly while following the two.
As we went down to the first floor, we saw the thick iron door crumpled like paper and wide open, and beyond it were the combat vehicles and groups of hunters I had seen earlier from the external corridor.
The male hunter who had guided me outside opened his mouth with a satisfied expression.
“If you go over there, there are ambulances and supporter personnel waiting. Although you said you’re not injured, I recommend getting checked just in case.”
“Okay, I will. Thank you.”
What check-up? I’m going to take advantage of the confusion and quickly escape with the child.
As I was about to move, giving an answer opposite to my true intentions, at that moment, a low and cool voice blocked my path.
“Wait right there.”
It was unmistakably a voice stopping me, so I couldn’t ignore it and keep going. I put on an expression of complete ignorance and turned my head towards the person who had called out to me.
“I didn’t see your face until now. Which organization are you from?”
“…!”
I was about to make up an excuse like I did with the male hunter earlier, but when my eyes met the speaker’s, I bit my tongue slightly.
‘Oh no.’
Blue-tinged black hair and sharp, dark eyebrows. The face was so handsome that it would naturally elicit compliments, and it was a face I knew very well.
How could I not know? The talented S-rank representative of Yeseong Guild, the most influential guild in the country. And…
‘The heroic figure who didn’t give up until the end and charged at the great calamity in my previous life.’
The image of this person’s back as he ran past me, who was sitting helplessly, towards the great calamity was still vivid in my mind.
I knew he had joined the raid on the laboratory, but I never expected to encounter him like this. As I hesitated to answer, my mind in turmoil, he narrowed his eyes.
“I asked which organization you’re from.”
“Ah, well…”
This is driving me crazy. Of all people, I had to run into this notoriously meticulous person.
Just as I had gathered my wits and was about to smooth things over with an awkward smile, it happened.
Ding!
《A Main Quest has arrived!》
《Main Quest: Meet the scattered protagonists and become their ally. (Progress: 0%)》
‘Huh, what?’
While I was surprised by the sudden appearance of the main quest, status windows popped up one after another.
《Information has been updated!》
Ding!
User Information: Cha Seo-hu (Supporting Character)
Age: 26 years old (28 years old)
Representative Skill: Guardian’s Bond (S-rank)
Hidden Skill: Silver Protection (S-rank)
Attack Power: F-rank
Attack Speed: F-rank
Movement Speed: F-rank
Agility: F-rank
Characteristics▼
└Rain-soaked Cat (F-rank)
└Just Lie There (F-rank)
Ding!
User Information: Kwon Tae-hyuk (Protagonist)
Age: 27 years old
Representative Skill: Blade Surge (S-rank)
Title: The Righteous
Attack Power: S-rank
Attack Speed: S-rank
Movement Speed: S-rank
Agility: S-rank
Special Note▼