The Returnee’s Guild Must Grow Properly

Episode 5

Was the “Tamer” just passing through the neighborhood and now trying to tame a peacock? Why? And like that?
I swallowed hard and glanced at the man attempting to soothe the peacock, just in case.

【HIDDEN STATUS OPEN】

[Main]: Northern Grand Duke (Ex)
[Sub]: Elysion’s Returnee (Ex), Tamer (S), 5th Circle Mage (A), Master of Flirting (A)

“…….”
The possibility turned out to be a certainty.
I decided to make use of modern technology.

―Recording started.

Gasp.
I hurriedly grabbed my phone. Did I forget to set it to silent mode? Hopefully, I wasn’t caught.

―SQUAWK!!

Yeah, there’s no way I wasn’t caught.

“You, what exactly is bothering you so much?”

Your very existence is about to become my problem.
I clutched my chest as my face contorted.

Grand Duke, what’s wrong with you! You weren’t like this in the chatroom!!

“You cry so mournfully—how can I possibly console you…?”

―SQUAWK!!

How is that sound remotely mournful?
I was beyond amazed; I was horrified.
The Grand Duke was actually shedding tears, as if he genuinely felt sorrow.

Wow, this lunatic.

―SQUAWK! CROOOAAK!

“Do you understand my feelings now, my dear?”

…What kind of conversation are you two even having?

―CROOOAK! GRRRRR!

“Very well. I shall gladly accept you as my master.”

“What nonsense are you spouting?!”

“……!”
The cheerful notification sound of the recording stopping rang in my ears. Perfect timing.

The Grand Duke was frozen mid-pose, one knee bent, hand extended toward the peacock. Now stiffened in that position, he looked at me blankly.

“Who…who are you…?”

“Never mind who I am, you crazy Grand Duke!!”

For a moment, magic circle-like patterns flickered in the Grand Duke’s eyes.
Then, blinking twice, he let out a startled squawk and pointed at me accusingly. Should I just break that finger of his?

“Why are you here?!”

“I came here for a commission!!”

“A commission? What kind of commission?”

Argh!! How can I hit him in a way that gets people to say I did a good job?
I had a hunch he hadn’t even glanced at the commission after seeing him cooing over the peacock and calling it ‘my dear.’

―SQUAAAWK!!

“Oh no! Francesca!!”

“Frances…! Have you lost your mind?!”

“Her name is Francesca! She told me!!”

The peacock, which had been proudly displaying its feathers, suddenly flapped its wings and soared into the sky.

“Catch it! We have to catch it no matter what!”

“Of course I’m going to catch it! Do you think I’d let the chance to tame a divine beast slip away?”

“Tame?”

“Once I catch it, it’s mine.”

At his sullen expression, I immediately opened my mouth.

―The ‘Northern Grand Duke’ of Return stumbles and falls flat.

“Ugh!!”

This guild member of mine—does he plan to help at all, or is trolling the only thing on his mind?

Luckily, Francesca—or whatever the heck that bird’s name was—was flying low, skimming just above the ground.

I had wasted too much time dealing with that Grand Duke lunatic. Now, with less than a minute left, I reached out my hand.
It should be fine even if it gets a little scratched.
Just as I was about to move the chains binding “me”…

[Gravity (Lv. 57), Target: ‘Godslayer’]
[Absolute Authority, ‘Sovereign Above Laws,’ changes the target.]
[New Target: ‘Francesca’]

―SQUAWK!
“……!!”
“Francesca!!”

The peacock, which was just inches away from my grasp, crashed headfirst into the ground.

Oh my god. The bird’s name really is Francesca? But more importantly, that Grand Duke lunatic actually tried to attack me?!
Seething, I glared at him with murderous intent, only for a red system window to appear before my eyes.

【Mission Failed!!】

“Gasp.”
Damn it! Who knew a minute could pass so quickly?!

“Um….”

I froze at the familiar voice coming from behind me. A scream was bubbling up in my throat.

※ The Godslayer’s kin will soon be dragged into this.

The only kin I had were Do Hain and my older brother.
Do Hain was probably still dreaming away in his cozy bed, which meant the owner of that voice was…

“Are you the owner of this peacock by any chance?”

Of course not!!
Brother, why are you here?! You said you were working overtime! And what’s with the green onion in your hand?!

―Squawk….

“It looks really weak. You should probably take it to a nearby animal hospital,” he said, holding the droopy Francesca in his arms.

“…….”

I stared at Francesca as she lay in my brother’s arms, faintly exhaling. Her quivering eyelashes suddenly fluttered open.

The moment her eyes snapped open, a violent gust tore through the area, strong enough to shatter the windows of every house in the neighborhood.
I instinctively raised an arm to shield my eyes.

| Godslayer (Guild Master) |: Grand Duke, you goddamn lunatic111!!!
| Northern Grand Duke |: I-I didn’t mean for this to happenㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ
| 9th Circle Archmage |: ??

【Outbreaker Dungeon Formation Complete】

Location: 37°59′, 127°00′
Grade: S

What sins did I commit in my past life to deserve this?!

【00:58:37】

I gritted my teeth as the timer began to count down. I hadn’t expected to fail the mission like this.

| Northern Grand Duke |: Where are youㅠㅠㅠ
| 9th Circle Archmage |: Which you?

I closed the guild chat and scanned my surroundings. All I could see was a thick, damp fog.
My vision was completely blocked, and I couldn’t help but grimace.

My brother had been dragged into this.
He was a powerful Hunter who led one of Korea’s most renowned guilds, so he’d probably be fine. But I couldn’t stop worrying.

| 9th Circle Archmage |: Oh my god, you crazy bastard!!! Why would you fire a chant?! WTF!!!
| Northern Grand Duke |: I’m sorryㅠㅠ Save meㅠㅠ I’ve never cleared this dungeon beforeㅠㅠㅠ

| Godslayer (Guild Master) |: Grand Duke, stop firing off chants and use direct messages, for god’s sake.
| Northern Grand Duke |: ㅠㅠ

This kind of dungeon would normally be easy to clear as long as I had a mission. I could even find my brother quickly.
But that’s assuming I had a mission.

Failing the mission meant all the authorities I’d been using were now sealed.
Now, I was practically no different from an ordinary person. One wrong move, and I’d be heading straight for the afterlife.

| Pr. Godslayer (Guild Master) |: Where are you?
| Pr. Northern Grand Duke |: In the fog.

Do you have a death wish?

I suppressed the murderous intent boiling within me and calmly sent another message.

| Pr. Godslayer (Guild Master) |: I’ll send you the coordinates. Just head this way.
| Pr. Northern Grand Duke |: I scored a 9th grade on Korea’s geography test, though?

“…….”
How did this idiot manage to return as the Northern Grand Duke of Elysion?
Almost as if sensing my incredulous thoughts, the Grand Duke sent another message.

| Pr. Northern Grand Duke |: I left estate management to my advisor.

That’s probably something you shouldn’t have done.
I gawked at his shameless reply.

| Pr. Northern Grand Duke |: Kyaaa!!
| Pr. Northern Grand Duke |: Guild masterrrr!!
| Pr. Northern Grand Duke |: There’s a huge cockroach oh my god it’s so scaryㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ Save meeeeeㅠㅠㅠㅠ

“…….”
Pathetic.
Wait—cockroach? Is this dungeon infested with insect-type monsters?
Since the dungeon opened because of Francesca, it’s no surprise it’s teeming with monstrous creatures.

[The ‘Northern Grand Duke’ of Return has sent a rescue request.]

What is this guy even doing?
I stifled the sigh threatening to escape and opened the guild storage.

Even though I’d sent him the coordinates, he clearly wasn’t going to make it here on his own. I’d have to go to him.
But if I charged in like this, I’d end up as monster chow in no time…

[Grade B Relic: Ancient Sword]

With infinite gratitude to the great Constellation of the Korean Peninsula, I pulled out the sword.
I’d received it as a reward for a commission where I was tasked to gather a few stones at the summit of Danseoksan in Gyeongju.

If I could freely use my authority, I’d ignore the Grand Duke’s rescue request entirely.
But since I needed his magic to find my brother, I had no choice but to go get him.

Just as I began to move…

[The Constellation, ‘Guardian of the Household,’ roars in fury, lamenting for our poor Francesca.]

“Huh? Constellation, you’re still here?”

[The Constellation, ‘Guardian of the Household,’ curses you, saying that if you don’t bring peace to Francesca, three generations of your family will face misfortune.]

“I’m single by choice, so I don’t think that curse will really work on me.”

[The Constellation, ‘Guardian of the Household,’ shakes Olympus with their rage!]
[The Constellation, ‘The One Who Planted the Vine,’ tries to calm ‘Guardian of the Household.’]
[The Constellation, ‘The One Who Planted the Vine,’ is grabbed by the hair and sends a commission to the guild, Return.]

Nice.
Ignoring the frantic messages pouring in from the Grand Duke, I accepted the commission.

[The Constellation, ‘Guardian of the Household,’ laments that their cherished peacock, Francesca, has been degraded to the boss monster of the Outbreaker Dungeon (S-Class). Please dispatch her without pain to restore peace to the sanctuary, Olympus!]

▷ Guild Reward: Grade A Relic, “Wine of Mount Olympus”

What pairs well with wine? Snacks? I’ll figure that out later. For now, I accepted the commission immediately.
The time limit matched the dungeon’s attack timer.
Failure would result in the opening of a Rank 1 Gate.
There was no way I could afford to fail this commission.

“AAAHHHH!!”
“……?”

At least, that’s what I thought.
I froze in horror as a massive shadow loomed above me.
When the enormous body of a grotesque insect eclipsed the shadow, my jaw dropped even further.

[Authority, ‘Sanctuary,’ activates.]

Boom!

It was an instinctive response, the authority activating without my conscious effort.
The ground trembled violently, causing me to stagger as I tried to grasp the situation.

―Screeech!!

A gargantuan insect, large enough to swallow a house whole, was writhing under the crushing weight of gravity, spewing dark liquid as it thrashed.