Chapter 6
Chapter 6
The moment I looked over, I realized it.
Yeo-reum had already fallen asleep in the living room, still hugging the hamster plush I bought her.
Carefully, I lifted her into my arms.
The TV was still on.
On the screen, something more violent than usual was playing—content that looked like it was meant for teenagers or adults rather than a child like her.
I glanced at it once, then turned the TV off.
No need for that.
I carried Yeo-reum into her room.
The empty space from before was now fully filled with her old belongings.
A pink desk. A soft-looking bed. A neatly arranged bookshelf. Little stickers carefully placed along the edges.
These weren’t just objects.
They were fragments of Yeo-reum’s past. Proof of a life she once had.
A warm childhood. A family that must have once been there, smiling with her.
But that warmth was gone now.
And I couldn’t bring it back.
The only thing I could do… was protect what remained.
“… Yeo-reum, I’ll be back.”
Of course, she didn’t answer.
Only her soft breathing filled the room.
I gently patted her head and closed the door.
Back in my room, I changed into my police uniform.
Then I stepped outside.
When I arrived at the station, I greeted the others.
“Good work.”
One of my seniors immediately smirked at me.
“Yo, single dad. You’re here?”
“I’m not a single dad. I’m just a guardian.”
“Yeah, yeah. Whatever you say.”
He laughed, then added in a lower voice.
“Just be careful. You’ve got someone waiting at home now.”
“Yes, sir.”
I checked my patrol route and left the station.
“Heading out for patrol.”
“Go on.”
“Call us if anything happens.”
I nodded and walked out.
The Special Phenomenon Response Team—SPRT—was a police division that handled “monsters.”
A hidden unit within the police.
In this world, “Magical Girl Estia,” it was a necessary organization.
Ironically, that’s exactly why I, Nacht, was inside it.
According to the setting, Nacht was the first high-ranking demon to descend into this world.
Monsters were sent in stages. First low-tier monsters. If that failed, demons followed.
But this world’s police force was stronger than expected, and monsters here weakened upon arrival.
So the invasion stalled.
Eventually, they sent me.
Of course, I wasn’t here to help them.
I was here to sabotage them from within.
But right now…
“… Monster detected. Slime type. Eliminating.”
Bang! Bang!
The slime burst apart.
“Core confirmed. That should be enough.”
I reported it immediately.
“… Another one already?”
The voice on the radio sounded tired.
“You again?”
“It’s already handled.”
“You’re not normal. Monsters aren’t supposed to appear this often.”
Normally, one per week was considered a lot.
For me, it was every few days.
But I knew why.
I was Nacht.
To them… I was something like a beacon.
A guide in the dark.
Unfortunate thing was, that light burned them.
I saw another slime crawling out nearby.
“… Seriously, calm down.”
I stepped forward.
Then stomped it.
Squish.
“… Ah. Should’ve used the gun.”
Using bare force was dangerous. If someone saw that, it would raise questions.
I quickly drew my pistol and fired.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
“Monster engaged. Three rounds used. Target eliminated.”
“Hey! Are you injured?!”
“I’m fine. Ending report.”
Click.
I turned off the radio.
Then glanced at my body cam.
“… Right.”
Crack.
I broke it.
Better than explaining why I stomped it.
Surprisingly, I didn’t get punished.
“You idiot! Do you know how close you were to dying?!”
“Sorry.”
“You’re going to get yourself killed like this.”
“Yes, sir.”
Smack.
A slap to the head.
That was it.
No formal punishment.
Because SPRT was already a dangerous, secretive unit.
They couldn’t afford to lose people over paperwork.
So mistakes were usually handled with warnings.
And in my case… a slightly more violent warning.
Leaving the office, my partner threw an arm around my shoulder.
“Hey, Hyunmin. Drinks?”
“I’m off duty.”
“So am I.”
“Don’t bother him. He’s got a kid now.”
The arm vanished instantly.
“… Let’s do it another time.”
“Yes. Another time.”
Classic Korean phrase.
“Let’s grab a drink sometime” means nothing.
So I probably won’t be drinking with him ever.
Probably.
Today’s shift ended early.
Originally, I was assigned to long duty.
But after becoming Yeo-reum’s guardian, I was switched to night shifts only.
Convenient.
Very convenient.
I headed home as fast as possible.
No unnecessary attention.
Just home.
Beep. Beep. Click.
I entered the password and opened the door.
And then—
Thump, thump, thump—
“Ahh—!”
Yeo-reum ran straight into me and hugged my waist.
“Yeo-reum…?”
“Where… where did you go…?”
I knelt down and gently patted her head.
“I had a night shift…”
I couldn’t finish.
Because her body was shaking.
Ah.
She was scared I was gone.
I pulled her back slightly and looked at her face.
Tears were falling.
I wiped them away.
Then hugged her again.
“Yeo-reum, I’m not going anywhere. I’ll always be here.”
“Always…?”
“Yes. Always.”
“Really…?”
“Really.”
She buried her face in my shoulder and nodded.
Then I remembered something.
“Hey, Yeo-reum. You don’t have school today, right? It’s the weekend.”
“Yeah…”
“Then let’s spend the whole day together.”
“Really…?”
“Really.”
“You’re not going anywhere…?”
“I’m not.”
Her eyes lit up instantly.
That smile… it was too bright.
Too pure.
It made something in my chest feel strangely warm.
At the same time, it hurt a little.
I hope that smile never disappears.
I headed to the kitchen.
Time to make her something good.
At the very least… I’ll feed her properly.