Regression Guidelines for the Supporting Character

Chapter 29

“Oh my, Guild Leader!”

“All four of them came back alive!”

The conquest team waiting for us in the empty boss room greeted us with surprised faces as we returned in somewhat tattered attire.

Behind the Yeseong Guild members who came running first, the Circle Guild members also hurried over.

“Hyung!”

“Is everyone okay?”

“Hunter Cha Seo-hu, are you hurt anywhere? Is your brother alright too?”

“We’re fine.”

I felt warmth in a corner of my heart seeing the Circle Guild members caring for me along with their vice guild leader, Ryu Sunghyun.

“But what really happened?”

Kim Su-ho, glancing at Kwon Tae-hyuk talking with Yeseong Guild members on the other side, asked in a lowered voice.

“There was an enormous number of monsters, plus the ogre. Did you defeat all of them and come back?”

“Well…”

Ryu Sunghyun’s gaze, with an awkward smile, briefly turned to me. Then he answered with a nonchalant face.

“We killed the ogre, but the other monsters seemed to have run away, we couldn’t see them. So there wasn’t much trouble. Hunter Cha Seo-hu was hiding in a room until we arrived.”

I was a bit surprised internally at the continuing explanation.

Ryu Sunghyun, who had received support twice, must have noticed that I was S-rank. I didn’t expect him to hide my abilities even from his own guild members.

“Oh, I see.”

“That’s such a relief. It was really dangerous with so many monsters. Hunter Cha Seo-hu, make sure to get examined and treated when we leave the dungeon. You might have aftereffects later even if you seem fine now.”

“I will. Thank you for your concern.”

I couldn’t help but smile at Yoo Ha-rin’s efforts to take care of me until the end, sighing with relief. Being like this made me feel as if I had returned to before the regression.

“The exit portal is open! Please exit slowly, two people at a time.”

At that moment, a Yeseong Guild member at the front delivered a briefing that the exit had opened.

Finally, we’re escaping this wretched dungeon. I lowered my gaze, swallowing hot tears. Cha Sahyun, still holding onto my waist under the pretext of supporting me, had his usual blank expression.

‘I’ll have to think more carefully about entering dungeons with Cha Sahyun in the future.’

We couldn’t go through this kind of ordeal every time. Moreover, we needed to be careful about unnecessarily drawing attention to ourselves.

“Um, Hunter Cha Seo-hu.”

As we were waiting in line for our turn in front of the exit portal, Kim Su-ho quietly approached me.

“I… I was debating whether to tell you or not, but I think you should know.”

“Yes?”

“It’s about the Ronic Guild.”

Kim Su-ho, scanning the Ronic Guild members exiting through the portal, continued in an even lower voice.

“Actually, it was those Ronic Guild members who closed the door before you could enter the room.”

“Ah, I see.”

Well, I had expected that. I already knew those bastards were selfish. I was trying to escape elsewhere, so the door closing didn’t really matter to me.

It wasn’t particularly surprising news, but I just nodded appropriately.

“I see.”

“But since Hunter Cha Seo-hu returned safely, the atmosphere in the Ronic Guild hasn’t been good.”

“The atmosphere?”

“I don’t know the reason either. Maybe they’re feeling ashamed belatedly. Whatever it is, it doesn’t feel good.”

“…”

I looked at Kim Su-ho for a moment. With his fluffy, shaggy brown hair, Kim Su-ho had a puppy-like impression in many ways, but contrary to his appearance, he was quite perceptive.

Is it because he has three older sisters and is also in the youngest position in the guild? Anyway, if it was Kim Su-ho telling me this, it was trustworthy.

“Thanks for letting me know.”

“Hehe, if those guys have any conscience, they probably won’t pick a fight openly. But I thought you should know. I’m sorry if it made you uncomfortable.”

“No, really, thank you. I’m not on good terms with the Ronic Guild anyway.”

Kim Su-ho, who had been feeling awkward, smiled shyly at my continued thanks.

‘The Ronic Guild…’

It was kind of Kim Su-ho to inform me of the situation, but in fact, there wasn’t really a need to be wary.

Even if there had been several unpleasant incidents between the Ronic Guild and me, it wasn’t to the level where they would hold a grudge against me.

Above all, Ronic is quite a large guild. There’s no way a place like that would pay attention to a new, shoddy guild with only two members at best.

‘The Circle Guild is more of an issue than me.’

I turned my head to look at the faces of the Circle Guild members and Ryu Sunghyun following behind.

The Ronic Guild, which picked on Ryu Sunghyun and the Circle Guild at every opportunity, was really annoying. Before the regression, I would occasionally cause a scene to intervene, but now there’s no one to play that role, so it’s likely to get worse. I should probably come up with some measures.

‘I’m preventing the calamity solely for the lives and happiness of those people.’

* * *

As soon as we exited the dungeon through the portal, a notification sound rang loudly.

Ding!

《Main Quest: Successfully clear a B-rank or higher dungeon with the villain – Cleared!》

《Main Quest Clear Reward is given.》

《Trait Rank Increased!》

《Rain-soaked Cat (F-rank) → Rain-soaked Cat (E-rank)》

“…”

Damn it.

After all that hardship to clear the dungeon, the reward is what? A trait rank up?

And it’s only that most useless trait that increased? Not even increasing it by much, just to E-rank?

As I trembled looking at the status window, Cha Sahyun, who was holding onto my waist, asked with a scared expression.

“Are, are you in pain again?”

“…Yeah. My heart hurts.”

I crave a cigarette. I quit because I couldn’t bring myself to smoke in front of the kid. If not a cigarette, then maybe some alcohol…

“Hunter Cha Seo-hu.”

As I was racking my brain on how to comfort this dispirited feeling, a familiar voice called out to me.

I turned to see Kwon Tae-hyuk walking towards me with a secretary beside him.

‘Oh, I know that secretary.’

It was the secretary I met during the last ranking battle. Seems they came out to greet us after hearing the news of the conquest ending.

“You worked hard today.”

“Huh? Oh, yes.”

What’s this, why is he suddenly throwing out such a friendly line? Despite feeling puzzled, I smiled and answered, and Kwon Tae-hyuk immediately spoke.

“Are you going to rest now?”

“I should.”

“If it’s alright with you, how about coming to our guild together? You suffered the most from the dungeon’s changes this time, so we’d like to help with damage compensation and treatment.”

Damage compensation and treatment? I slightly raised the corner of my mouth.

‘Seems he has quite a lot to ask me.’

In fact, it made sense for Kwon Tae-hyuk. Not only my skill that didn’t look B-rank at all, but he had also directly seen me run away on a different path when the monsters attacked.

After hearing my explanation and accepting it, he would probably start making various proposals in earnest to scout me for his guild.

Hunters with S-rank supporter skills are rare, and even the successful Yeseong Guild lacks supporter personnel. So I understand why Kwon Tae-hyuk is approaching like this.

“I’m sorry. I’m not feeling well yet, and both my brother and I are a bit mentally shocked from this incident, so I think we need to rest.”

However, I had no intention of following along readily. Above all, I hadn’t yet come up with an excuse convincing enough for the sensitive and suspicious Kwon Tae-hyuk.

“I understand.”

Nodding agreeably as if he had expected me to refuse, the secretary next to Kwon Tae-hyuk took something out and held it out.

“Then we’ll formally invite you in the near future.”

“What? Invite? No, I…”

“This is my business card. If you have anything to say regarding this incident, please contact the number written there.”

Kwon Tae-hyuk forcibly placed the business card in my hand and turned away before I could refuse. Left behind holding the card, I belatedly checked its contents.

‘Could this be his personal number?’

The black business card only had Kwon Tae-hyuk’s name and a number written on it. It didn’t seem to be an officially used business card.

That guy, he’s really serious about me. I’m not particularly pleased with a man’s sincerity.

With a disgruntled look, I tucked the card into my pocket for now. I wanted to crumple and throw it away immediately, but there were too many eyes watching around us.

‘I’ll figure out how to deal with the Kwon Tae-hyuk issue slowly.’

I bent down and patted Cha Sahyun’s head, who had been waiting quietly throughout my conversation with Kwon Tae-hyuk.

“You waited a long time.”

“…”

“Let’s go home now. I’m exhausted.”

The green eyes revealed between the gently disheveled black hair sparkled. Smiling at his inability to hide his joy, I took the child’s hand as always and started walking.

I briefly considered saying goodbye to the Circle Guild members… but decided to leave quietly.

This incident only entangled me with the Circle Guild unintentionally because of the Ronic Guild. Now that the dungeon was over, it was right for me to go my own way again.