Regression Guidelines for the Supporting Character

Chapter 21

I entered the dungeon through the portal entrance almost last in line and looked around the interior.

Damp water dripping from walls and ceilings covered in dull gray, quietly burning torches. It was the most common type among dungeons composed of various environments.

This kind of dungeon had rooms connected by corridors, and because the paths were complex and dark, it was easy to get lost if you didn’t stay alert.

On the other hand, being indoors meant that monsters only came from one direction, and the number of appearing monsters was significantly less than in other dungeons, so the difficulty itself wasn’t very high.

While the hunters were preparing for battle against monsters that could appear at any time, I took out a candy from my pocket and handed it to Cha Sahyun.

“Eat this.”

It was a snack I had prepared separately in case Cha Sahyun felt anxious or scared in this damp and dark place.

If he’s eating candy, he might pay less attention to his surroundings. I added to the child who was staring blankly at the candy I handed him.

“I have more, so tell me if you want to eat more.”

I could give him as many of these candies as needed if it could stabilize the child’s emotions.

If he gets cavities from eating too many snacks, we can go to the dentist for treatment, but once the Seed’s progress increases, it can’t be reversed.

“…”

Cha Sahyun blinked and stared at the candy for a long time. I was puzzled by the child’s reluctance to eat it.

“Don’t you like candy? Should I change it to chocolate?”

Since I didn’t know what kind of snacks he liked, I had prepared various things, and it was good that I did.

When I took out chocolate as well as candy from my pocket and handed it to him, Cha Sahyun’s ears turned red as he took both the candy and chocolate.

“I like both.”

“Yeah. Instead of watching adults fight, just stick close to me and eat your snacks diligently.”

Cha Sahyun, who had unwrapped the chocolate first and put it in his mouth, nodded enthusiastically at my words. As expected, a child is a child. Do they like sweet things that much?

As someone who doesn’t particularly enjoy sweet foods, it was a reaction I couldn’t understand, but I figured it was because he was a child. At that age, sweet, salty, and stimulating things are the best.

While Cha Sahyun and I were exchanging snacks and chatting at the very back, the first monster appeared.

“First monster appearance! C-rank arthropod type!”

As soon as one of the Yeseong Guild members announced loudly, a strange sound echoed.

Tak, tak, tak.

It turned out to be spider-like monsters with six legs pouring out from the front.

Keeek, keek! The monsters, emitting threatening cries towards the hunters who had invaded their territory, spewed black venom and rushed forward at high speed.

No matter how accustomed one became to dungeons and monsters, facing something so similar to a spider instinctively gave you goosebumps. It was even more terrifying because, being monsters, they were larger than most adults.

“Ugh, shit!”

“Urgh!”

The dealer hunters at the front facing the monsters let out screams filled with disgust.

They had to kill them, but every time they swung their weapons, severed spider legs flew around and sticky blood splattered everywhere, causing immense stress.

‘Hmm, at times like this, it’s beneficial to be a supporter rather than a dealer.’

I smiled contentedly as I watched the hunters screaming and killing monsters.

Indeed, everything in the world has its pros and cons. Thanks to being a supporter with a body no different from an ordinary person’s, I didn’t have to deal with such creepy bugs… no, monsters.

Of course, now that I had a hidden skill, I could jump in there and swing a sword if I wanted to… but I shook my head. I should keep the fact that I can change to S-rank hidden as much as possible.

“Kid, can you see? Those brothers and sisters working hard over there?”

I decided to show Cha Sahyun how harsh society can be. Holding the child in my arms and slightly showing him the battle taking place in front, I earnestly advised him.

“Even if you like fighting, you’ll end up killing disgusting monsters like that. So don’t ever use your skills anywhere and pretend you don’t know anything. Understand?”

“…”

“You can do that. I’ll protect you anyway.”

I hated creepy things too, but I didn’t care about anything as long as I could prevent the progress of Cha Sahyun’s Seed.

Fortunately, my sincerity seemed to get through to him. The child, who had been staring blankly ahead, soon turned his face and buried his forehead in my shoulder. That’s right. Better to cut off your interest like that.

* * *

Starting with the appearance of C-rank monsters, monsters continued to pour out every time we passed through a room.

Kwon Tae-hyuk, who was leading the way and dealing with monsters along with other hunters, narrowed his eyes.

‘What’s this?’

Six blades flew quickly around the stationary Kwon Tae-hyuk, slicing off the monsters’ necks in one go.

Thud, as corpses and blood piled up, Kwon Tae-hyuk noticed a subtle difference from usual and touched his lips.

‘It’s not my imagination. The number of appearing monsters has increased significantly compared to before.’

He had expected there to be many monsters accumulated since it was a dungeon entered just before the break, but no matter how he looked at it, this number far exceeded that expectation.

Was there some problem with the dungeon? But the interior hadn’t particularly changed. Rather than the dungeon, the behavior of the monsters was strange.

Monsters pouring out as if possessed by something. Even when attacking hunters, their reactions were slightly slower. Thanks to that, it wasn’t difficult to deal with them despite the increased numbers, but it was certainly not a normal situation.

‘I’ll have to take the time to look into this properly.’

Whether there was a problem with the monsters or the dungeon, he couldn’t just let it go once a problem had occurred. Thinking he should gather the responsible parties who entered the dungeon together, Kwon Tae-hyuk stopped his skill.

Keeng, the blades that had been flying around gleefully slaughtering monsters returned behind Kwon Tae-hyuk’s back. Other hunters, confirming that all monsters had been dealt with, took a break while catching their breath.

“Haa, I’m dying.”

“Doesn’t it seem like there are particularly more monsters today?”

The Circle Guild members were just as exhausted. Ryu Sunghyun smiled awkwardly at the sight of guild members grumbling as they slumped down on the ground.

“Yeah. I don’t think there were this many when we came last year.”

“Maybe the number of monsters increased in a year… Could that be it?”

“No way. That kind of phenomenon doesn’t happen even in S-rank dungeons. Would a mere B-rank do that?”

“Hmm, if that were the case, wouldn’t they have set the conquest schedule earlier?”

Ryu Sunghyun, who had responded adequately, turned his gaze to look at Kwon Tae-hyuk, who was gathered with Yeseong Guild members having a conversation.

‘From the atmosphere, it seems Guild Leader Kwon Tae-hyuk doesn’t know the cause either.’

He hoped it was nothing serious, but anomalies in dungeons were directly linked to the dangers of the world they lived in, so he couldn’t help but worry.

Moreover, if the number of monsters continued to exceed expectations like this, the burden on the dealers would inevitably increase. Although injuries wouldn’t occur thanks to himself and Kwon Tae-hyuk being S-rank, his guild members, who were of a type that consumed a lot of energy, would need to rest more frequently.

‘I should ask Guild Leader Kwon Tae-hyuk to extend the rest time later.’

As Ryu Sunghyun was pondering while fiddling with his piercing, he spotted a familiar man.

A black-haired man holding a child in his arms, standing among the hunters. He quickly recalled where he had met him.

He was one of the victims trapped in the illegal research facility they had raided recently. He remembered that he had a child about that size with him then too. He remembered helping him when Kwon Tae-hyuk was suspicious of him.

“Hyung, where are you going?”

“I saw someone I know. I’ll be right back.”

“Someone you know? In a place like this…?”

Ryu Sunghyun left his puzzled guild members behind and walked towards the man.

He had been regretting not being able to offer him to join the guild before losing track of him, but to meet him by chance in a place like this. He felt inwardly pleased.

“Is the chocolate delicious? Should I buy you jelly next time? I heard kids these days like jelly too.”

The man was talking to the child, unaware that Ryu Sunghyun was approaching. Just as Ryu Sunghyun was about to open his mouth to call out to the man…

“…!”

A chilling sensation ran up his spine. Instinctively twitching his fingertips at the naked killing intent, Ryu Sunghyun turned his gaze from the man to look at the child in his arms.

Deep green eyes were staring directly at Ryu Sunghyun. The expressionless, pale face exuded an ominous aura that was not easily approachable.

[Main Quest: Successfully clear a B-rank or higher dungeon with the villain. (Time remaining: 4 days 1 hour 47 minutes)]