The Returnee’s Guild Must Grow Properly

―”Do you think I’ll back down so easily?!”

“Could you just buzz off? I’ve got a business to run,” the Hero said. Without hesitation, I dragged the demon parasite out of the Demon King’s body.

A low hum resonated as the demon screeched something unintelligible, but I didn’t care.

【Destruction】

I tightened my grip on the parasite in my hand. Like a balloon bursting, it exploded. I winced slightly at the unpleasant sensation. The Demon King collapsed unconscious, and the Star Gate began to close.

The familiar sight of the shattered temple turned to ash and disappeared.

“Guild Master.”

The Hero approached, stepping on my long hair that trailed across the ground.

“That title wasn’t for nothing, huh?”

“It’s just as you said—it was a possession.”

“Handled it quite easily, didn’t you?”

“Does this look like it was easy?” I asked, healing the Hero with the power of restoration. Then I lightly kicked the unconscious Demon King.

“Ugh, this guy is seriously…”

“But, Guild Master.”

“…?”

I turned to see what the Hero wanted this time. In her hand was a small, limp Cerberus cub.

“And what is that supposed to be?”

“……”

I blinked at the sight, realizing what it was.

Ah, right.

******

Thankfully, the mission was completed without a hitch. Although the Greater Lord of Hell, mightier than Satan himself, threw a fit about why his beloved puppy had ended up in such a sorry state.

Honestly, he should take it up with that damn demon who had vanished into another dimension. Only part of its power had manifested in this world, so it wasn’t entirely destroyed.

From what the demon babbled about, it seemed the Demon King had been under its control in Dekhion…

“Should I interrogate the Demon King?”

Then again, I had no idea how an otherworldly god managed to tear through dimensions to appear here. Since it wasn’t completely eradicated, this could happen again.

If it ever fully manifested with all its power in the Demon King’s body…

“Ah…”

Just thinking about it gave me a headache.

Anyway, with the mission done, the Godslayer and the Swordmaster were sealed once again, and the Saintess was fully unsealed.

As the restrictions on my power kicked in, my body screamed in agony, but thanks to the Saintess’s abilities, the fatigue quickly melted away.

Was that a blessing or a curse? I couldn’t tell. At least I managed to avoid collapsing before reaching home.

Flopping onto my bed, I blinked at the ceiling. My brother and Do Hain hadn’t returned yet.

That was a relief.

|Pr. Hero| : Did you get home safely?

|Pr. Godslayer (Guild Master)| : Thanks to you.
|Pr. Godslayer (Guild Master)| : ㄱㅅㄱㅅ. (Thanks, thanks.)

The Hero, who I thought had run back on foot, had actually driven her car. I clung to her pants, begging for a ride, and barely managed to hitch a lift home safely.

As for the Demon King, I left him to his elder brother. I trusted he’d take care of him.

Bloodstained, tattered clothes? I handed those to the Hero. There was no way I could deal with them at home. If my brother or Do Hain found out, I’d be dead on the spot. Especially Do Hain.

[Hain] : Are you asleep?

Do Hain. That guy would never mellow out.

I sighed deeply at the message flashing on the screen and called him.

The moment the dial tone rang, Do Hain answered.

―”What is it?”

“Bring some alcohol on your way back.”

―”Alcohol?”

It was a night that desperately called for a drink. But my little brother, clueless as ever, gave a curt reply and hung up.

―”Stop spouting nonsense and go to sleep. Hyung and I are going to be late tonight.”

Click. The abrupt end of the call left me burying my face into the pillow.

Sigh.

“Fine, Olympus Wine It Is…”

****

“Do Haun!!”

Ugh, damn it. That wretched Hain.
Wiping the drool from my mouth, I staggered out of bed.

“Do Haun! Where are you?!”

Technically, I crawled out from the corner beneath my bed. I kicked the empty bottle of Olympus Mountain wine under the bed and stepped out.

“I was in my room.”

“Do Haun!!”

The thin curtains barely held back the night’s darkness. I glanced at the clock—it was pointing to “4.” Running a hand through my hair, I grumbled irritably.

“Damn it, Hain… Do you know how tired I was today?”

“Was meeting that deranged believer really that exhausting?”

“……”

Ah, right. That was a thing.
Covering my face with both hands, I groaned at the cruel realities of life.

“Are you really that tired?”

“Yes, I’m exhausted! Completely drained! Why the hell are you waking me up in the middle of the night, you damn Hain?!”

The Saintess’s power, Healing, only alleviated physical fatigue. Which meant I was still utterly drained mentally.

Do Hain scratched his cheek awkwardly, avoiding my gaze.
“…Because…”

“What?”

“You were gone!!”

At that, I gave him a swift Momstouch™.
“Augh!!”

Be grateful it wasn’t divine punishment, you brat.
Hain yelped, clutching his back as he jumped away.

“Seriously, what’s with your temper?! I told you not to sleep with the lights on! And where were you even sleeping?!”

“Under the bed. It’s your fault for not checking properly.”
I flipped him the middle finger and retreated to my room. Hain grumbled under his breath and followed me.

“Where’s Hyung?”

“At the guild. I just stopped by to grab some clothes before heading back out.”

“Then take them and leave.”

Yawning loudly, I pulled the blanket over my head.

“But I can’t find them.”

“What clothes?”

Just as I was about to drift back to sleep, the pest started whining again.
“The hoodie you gave me as a gift but then took back. Didn’t you put it back in my room? I wanted to take it, but I can’t find it anywhere.”

Oh no.
I inhaled sharply, my eyes darting nervously. The hoodie I’d worn when dealing with the Demon King came to mind.

“W-why do you need that hoodie all of a sudden?”

“What do you mean, ‘all of a sudden’? It’s my hoodie. I’m taking it back.”

I avoided Hain’s gaze, mumbling.
“You said you didn’t like it and wouldn’t wear it.”

“When did I say that? I just said it might be a bit small on me. Where is it? I told you to put it back in my room. Don’t tell me you still haven’t returned it?”

I’d completely forgotten about it.

The hoodie Hain was looking for was a cheap zip-up I’d bought as a gift. It cost 50,000 won at Dongmyo Market after a drink with my friend Seoha. A total bargain.
Why was he looking for it now, of all times?

What to do? That hoodie was probably either in the Hero’s trash bin or burned to ash by now.

“Did you put it in the washer?”

“Huh? Uh, y-yeah.”

“Have you run the machine yet? I’ll take it.”

“Wait!!”

I shot up from bed and stopped Hain. He frowned and glared at me.

“What’s with the ‘wait’? Weren’t you tired? Fine, I’ll turn off the lights. Just go back to sleep.”

“Hain, my dear brother, who I can’t even pretend to love.”

“Have you lost your mind?”

Lost my mind…? We’re the same age, you know.
I gave him an exasperated look. Hain stared back like I really had gone insane.

What kind of sibling is this?

Sighing deeply, Hain crossed his arms.

“Why did you call me?”

“It’s about… your hoodie.”

“The one you said you put in the washer.”

Past me, go to hell.
I scrambled for an excuse, and only one answer came to mind.

“I lost it.”

“What?”

Mixing in a little truth with a lot of lies, I delivered the bad news. Dear brother, your hoodie has crossed the point of no return.

“Where did you lose it?”

“At a… café.”

“You lost it at a café? How?”

“While I was in the bathroom, someone must have taken it.”

“……?”

Do Hain tilted his head, clearly doubting the absurdity of my story. I knew. I knew all too well.

That hoodie, which I’d drunkenly boasted was a “rich person’s pick” to a vendor who tried to give me change, wasn’t worth even half of the 50,000 won I paid for it.

“Who’d take that?”

No one. No one in their right mind would take that hoodie. But I doubled down.

“How would I know? I tried to check the CCTV, but they said it wasn’t in the frame.”

“When did you lose it?”

“It’s been a while.”

Do Hain ran a hand through his hair in frustration.

“Ugh, seriously. I didn’t even get to wear it, and you…”

“I’ll get you a new one.”

“Forget it!!”

With that sharp reply, Do Hain stormed out of the room. I let out a long sigh of relief.

“Hey.”

To my surprise, he came back.

“So, that day, did you come home without any coat at all?”

“Uh… yeah?”

“Seriously?! You should’ve called me or Hyung! Or at least Eun Yul! God, you’re so useless sometimes!!”

The door slammed shut with a loud bang, and I pouted at the now-closed door.

What a temper.

*****

“So, a sudden trip to Dongmyo Market?”

“Yeah.”

Covering my mouth with one hand, I yawned. The sound of clicking interrupted me, and I squinted in irritation.

“Bae Seoha, delete that photo.”

“Nope. I’m posting it on Insta with your face covered. Want me to tag you?”

“No thanks.”

Bae Seoha, a mutual friend of mine and Do Hain’s since middle school, was the only person we both considered a real friend.

Technically, Seoha and I were elementary and middle school classmates. I’d dropped out of high school, so we didn’t graduate together. I hadn’t even attended the graduation ceremony.

Thinking back to how I couldn’t even buy a bouquet for the occasion, I scratched my cheek awkwardly.

“If there’s anything you want to eat, just let me know.”

“Is our lucky Unnie buying me food since she’s coming along to shop?”

“Not anymore.”

“I’m telling Hain that you’re out here buying his clothes.”

“Hey!!”

Seoha grinned mischievously, clearly amused at my annoyance. I frowned and started walking ahead.

The chaos last night—caused by the Demon King, or rather, that damn demon parasite—was officially declared a containment breach at a research facility. I’d rubbed my eyes when I saw the news on the green portal site.

I tried looking up what happened to the Demon King, but there were no articles about the so-called “Mr. Woo.”

In some ways, that was a relief.