Regression Guidelines for the Supporting Character

Chapter 28

“Phew…”

As I opened my eyes after taking a deep breath, I saw Kwon Tae-hyuk and Ryu Sunghyun fighting hard against the monsters in the center of the room.

Kwon Tae-hyuk was breaking through the center of the monster horde, while Ryu Sunghyun handled the monsters that Kwon Tae-hyuk missed. Monster corpses flew everywhere amidst the chaotically flying blades and exploding light spheres.

The monsters couldn’t even reach where Cha Sahyun and I were before dying under the attacks coming from all directions. As I watched the piling corpses, I forced my eyes to stay open despite feeling drowsy.

‘This is going as I expected, but…’

Just as I thought that, the ogre roared with its huge mouth wide open.

Uooooargh!

The killing intent emanating from the ogre made my skin crawl. The ogre struck the ground forcefully with its two massive fists. Rumble, the floor shook as if in an earthquake, and dust rose hazily.

The problem was that ogre. If it had just been a large number of monsters, there wouldn’t have been much to worry about. But the ogre wasn’t so easy.

Originally, the ogre was supposed to be this dungeon’s final monster, located in the boss room. In a normal raid, it would have died in less than 10 minutes after being beaten by dozens of hunters, but in this chaotic situation, it was much trickier to deal with.

Above all, the more havoc the ogre wreaked, the more Kwon Tae-hyuk and Ryu Sunghyun’s attention would be drawn to it, which could lead to their defense line breaking and monsters reaching where Cha Sahyun and I were.

I had provided support to prevent that from happening, so what remained depended on how much Kwon Tae-hyuk and Ryu Sunghyun would look out for us.

After all, to them, I was just a weak B-rank supporter who couldn’t even kill a single monster, and Cha Sahyun was a young child who had never been in such a dangerous place before.

“Hunter Kwon Tae-hyuk, on your left!”

Kwon Tae-hyuk quickly dodged after hearing Ryu Sunghyun’s briefing.

The excited ogre’s randomly swinging fist slammed into the spot where he had just been, crushing only the unfortunate monsters beneath it.

“Can you increase the light?”

Kwon Tae-hyuk asked after landing lightly on the ground. Ryu Sunghyun, who had just killed some spider monsters that had come close with a spear made of light, nodded readily to the question.

“It’s possible. It would have been difficult at other times, but…”

I could guess the rest without hearing it.

Because I had fully replenished the energy needed for his skills and even gave him a stability buff, he could use more skills than usual without strain.

“Anything that can control the ogre’s movements is fine. I just need one moment of opening.”

While ogres were stupid, they were quite fast in their movements, and their regeneration and vitality were exceptionally strong, making them hard to kill unless you stabbed their neck or completely cut off their head.

Knowing these characteristics of ogres well, Ryu Sunghyun immediately understood from those words that Kwon Tae-hyuk was aiming for the ogre’s neck.

“Understood.”

“I’m counting on you.”

As he walked past Ryu Sunghyun, Kwon Tae-hyuk summoned three more new blades. He had increased the number to 12, while he usually used about 9.

Holding one blade in each hand, Kwon Tae-hyuk floated 10 blades around him and charged forward again. The 10 blades spun madly around Kwon Tae-hyuk as he advanced straight towards the ogre, rapidly slicing through the monsters blocking his path.

Meanwhile, Ryu Sunghyun also emitted a stronger light to hold down the ogre. Whoosh, as the energy flowed out, Ryu Sunghyun’s hair fluttered gently and the light spread widely.

Surrounded by light strong enough to illuminate the dark dungeon room like broad daylight, Ryu Sunghyun’s eyes looked golden. In that state, as he raised his hand, a bright yellow mass of light began to take shape.

Grooargh?

The light mass that swarmed towards the ogre instantly became shackles with iron chains, binding both of the ogre’s wrists.

Confused by its suddenly bound wrists, the ogre twisted its body this way and that. Creak, the golden shackles and chains barely withstood the ogre’s tremendous strength.

“Ugh…!”

As the ogre struggled more, Ryu Sunghyun’s face gradually contorted.

Even while single-handedly enduring the strength of the ogre struggling to break free from the shackles, Ryu Sunghyun didn’t neglect killing the monsters rushing towards Cha Sahyun and me.

Not only Ryu Sunghyun, but Kwon Tae-hyuk’s blades, while rushing towards the ogre at an insane speed, also didn’t miss catching the monsters slipping by. Both of them were looking out for Cha Sahyun and my safety as much as they had received support.

‘Yes, I believed they would do this.’

I might not trust other hunters, but Kwon Tae-hyuk and Ryu Sunghyun were reliable.

They were people who had risked their lives fighting on the front lines to stop the great calamity. They had fought and sacrificed their lives for the world even when no one thanked or helped them.

So there was no way they would betray their principles in a place like this. As I thought that far, I felt a bitter taste.

‘Though I’m not one to talk, having tested and used these two for my own benefit.’

Still, thanks to my support boosting the limits of their skills, it probably wasn’t a bad experience for them either.

“I can’t hold on much longer!”

Graaaah! The ogre, seemingly enraged at not being able to move freely, let out a terrible roar and twisted its body even more violently.

As Ryu Sunghyun shouted with difficulty under the increased strain, Kwon Tae-hyuk made his final sprint, leaping up from the ground right in front of the ogre.

Kiiing!

Kwon Tae-hyuk crossed the blades he was holding in an X-shape, while the ten blades behind him spread out in a circle.

Sensing the killing intent from Kwon Tae-hyuk rising above its head, the ogre swung its right hand. Clang, at the same time, the right chain that couldn’t withstand the force snapped.

Even with the ogre’s huge fist swinging at him, Kwon Tae-hyuk swung his blades without the slightest hesitation. Between the white trajectories left by the blades, Kwon Tae-hyuk’s eyes flashed blue.

Slash!

As an X mark was carved into the center of the ogre’s neck, blood spurted out like a fountain. Grrrk, unable to scream with its sliced throat, the ogre staggered, and the remaining 10 blades rained down on its body.

Kwagagak!

The blades stabbed into various parts of the ogre’s body. The ogre, with 10 blades embedded all over its body, slowly fell backward while clutching its neck with one hand.

Boom!

The massive body collapsed at once. As the hazy dust settled, the ogre sprawled out on the floor and the densely scattered monster corpses around it were revealed.

“Whew…”

Only after confirming that all the monsters were dead did Ryu Sunghyun finally relax and drop his shoulders. Kwon Tae-hyuk also exhaled in relief as he retrieved the blades stuck in the ogre’s body.

I was relieved too. I had expected us to win, but I was still worried until the end in case something went wrong.

‘It wasn’t in the plan to let Kwon Tae-hyuk know I’m an S-rank supporter, though.’

I hope he won’t make an issue out of this.

Honestly, if he has a conscience, shouldn’t he keep it a secret that I’m S-rank? As for Ryu Sunghyun, well, he’s not the type to go around blabbing about these things, so it’s fine.

“Hunter Cha Seo-hu.”

Ryu Sunghyun, having dispelled his light, walked towards me while trying to hide his fatigue.

“How are you feeling?”

“I feel better after sitting and resting.”

Now that all the monsters had been dealt with, the only thing left was to get out of here. Ngh, I groaned as I got up, and Ryu Sunghyun said with a concerned expression,

“You don’t have to push yourself. I’ll help you.”

“No.”

I gently pushed Ryu Sunghyun away, trying not to offend him, and pulled on Cha Sahyun’s shoulder who was sticking close to me.

“It’s enough for my little brother to support me. You’re tired too, Hunter Ryu Sunghyun.”

“Hm, alright.”

Realizing my rejection, Ryu Sunghyun stepped back with a faint smile. I glanced down to check on Cha Sahyun, whose ears had turned red.

‘As I thought…’

I wondered what had made him so angry, but it seems Cha Sahyun gets upset when I have physical contact with others.

I went through all that trouble because I didn’t notice this one thing. Geez, there’s a limit to being starved for affection.

‘This is troublesome.’

I clicked my tongue inwardly as I slowly started walking. Watching Cha Sahyun trying hard to support me by hugging my waist with his small frame, I couldn’t help but sigh.

There were many places I needed to take this kid, but if he reacts like this just from me holding hands with someone else, there was nothing I could do.

Feeling at a loss, I checked Cha Sahyun’s status.

[User Information: Sahyun (Villain)]

Age: 22

Representative Skill: Living Shadow (B-rank)

Title: The Master of Shadows

Attack Power: B-rank

Attack Speed: B-rank

Movement Speed: B-rank

Agility: B-rank

Special Characteristics▼

└Seed of Calamity (37% progress complete)

‘It increased by 1% again.’

There were no other noticeable changes. He seems a bit taller than before… or is it just my imagination?

One thing was certain: even though he looked like a child, this guy was indeed the great calamity. To think he’d attract all the monsters in this vast dungeon just because he felt a little upset.

If Cha Sahyun were to become even angrier, and as a result, the seed’s progress increased by 5% or 10%… I couldn’t even imagine what would happen then.

“Kid.”

I tightened my arm around Cha Sahyun’s shoulder, pulling him closer to me. Then I bent down and whispered in his ear.

“When we get home later, let’s take a nice long rest for a few days and have a good talk, okay?”

[Main Quest: Successfully clear a B-rank or higher dungeon with the villain. (Time remaining: 3 days 5 hours 34 minutes)]