RG 24
by LubaiI turned my gaze towards the Ronic Guild members while being embraced by Kwon Taehyeok.
As the guys approaching me realized that Kwon Taehyeok was with me, they turned away, clicking their tongues. Well, it seems I made the right choice coming here.
“…What are you doing right now?” Kwon Taehyeok, who alternated his gaze between me and the Ronic Guild members, asked with narrowed eyes. I straightened up my posture in response to his cold gaze that looked down on me.
Geez, he’s quick to catch on.
“I don’t want to use my skills on those people.”
When I honestly answered, Kwon Taehyeok sent me a look of pity. “Then just refuse. Didn’t you announce at the meeting earlier that Hunter Cha Seohu will be in charge of the Circle Guild?”
“Well, you see, those guild people don’t seem to care much about my opinion. A weak B-class support like me can’t easily refuse such demands, you know.”
Occasionally, trash-like Hunters boasted their strength and forced others to provide support.
I had experienced such situations to the point of exhaustion, so now I was indifferent, but ordinary supports were often afraid to refuse when DPS Hunters asked for help, fearing repercussions.
“If that’s the issue, then ask Hunter Ryu Seonghyeon for help.” Understanding the meaning immediately, Kwon Taehyeok pointed with his eyes toward Ryu Seonghyeon, who was conversing with Kim Suho on the opposite side, and continued, “You don’t have to come to me. Hunter Ryu Seonghyeon is also an S-class DPS; he can solve your problem. Since you’re acting as a Circle Guild support during this dungeon raid, it’s appropriate for the person in charge to help.”
“Um… Well, yeah, I guess so.”
Not pleased with my lukewarm response, Kwon Taehyeok turned away, furrowing his brows.
Observing his departing figure without any regrets, I shifted my gaze towards Ryu Seonghyeon.
‘Well, Kwon Taehyeok has a point.’
It was only natural for a DPS to protect their assigned support. The number of Hunters with support skills was limited; among them, those of a decent rank were even scarcer. In dungeon raids that could last for several days, a support was essential.
The demand for supports was high, but their numbers were low. Consequently, there was an inevitable behind-the-scenes struggle to bring supports, and once recruited, they were fiercely protected to prevent them from being taken away.
Kwon Taehyeok mentioned that since I worked for the Circle Guild, they should be the ones to protect me. However…
‘Did he think I was not aware of that?’
I had experienced enough of the guild’s efforts to protect me in my past life. Being the only S-class in the guild and also holding the position of vicemaster, Ryu Seonghyeon had especially suffered.
Honestly, before my regression, I wasn’t such a great supporter. Only a B-class, with mediocre skill efficiency and a physique that was at the level of an average person, I easily grew tired.
It was heart-wrenching to see Ryu Seonghyeon and the guild members, who had acknowledged and supported someone like me, being ignored by other Hunters.
Even when it was clear that Ryu Seonghyeon was by my side, there were those who openly invited me to join their guild.
Those guys really had no reason to need me. I wasn’t a particularly good supporter. Thinking that it would be easy to snatch me away since I was in a weak guild might have led them to approach me.
‘Even when I was B-class, it was chaotic. If it’s revealed that I’m S-class now…’
It would be a real mess.
No matter how I thought about it, using Kwon Taehyeok seemed to be the perfect solution. I didn’t want to burden Ryu Seonghyeon again, and the Ronic Guild wasn’t afraid of Ryu Seonghyeon.
Should I ignore Kwon Taehyeok’s warning and speak directly? He must have some eyes around him so he wouldn’t be able to push me away blatantly.
As I regretfully watched Kwon Taehyeok, who had gone far away in that short time, someone grabbed my finger with a small hand.
“Hmm?”
“…”
Before I knew it, Cha Sahyeon had approached. I had briefly left to shake off the Ronic Guild, but he couldn’t resist following me.
“Come here.”
As I bent down, Cha Sahyeon, familiarly, extended both arms and hugged me. I let out a wry smile at the sight of him pulling me into a strong embrace. “What should I do with your tantrums? I’m too busy right now to be by your side.”
Well, since entering the dungeon, I hadn’t really paid proper attention to Cha Sahyeon due to being occupied with various things.
It was a golden opportunity to make my face known by Kwon Taehyeok and Ryu Seonghyeon, the targets of the main quest, not to mention the unexpected participation of the Ronic Guild in the raid. Cha Sahyeon seemed to have caught my playful murmurs as his shoulders trembled. Eventually, I heard his subdued voice: “…Don’t go.”
“What?”
Leaning against my shoulder, Cha Sahyeon stared at me intensely. “Don’t go.”
“…!”
For a moment, a strange light seemed to flicker in Cha Sahyeon’s green eyes directed at me. Simultaneously, a loud notification sound echoed around us.
Ding, ding, ding, ding!
《Warning! There has been a change in the progress of the Seed of Calamity!》
《Warning! The progress of the Seed of Calamity has increased!》
《Warning! If the progress of the Seed of Calamity exceeds 50%, exercise caution!》
《Sudden Quest has arrived!》
《Sudden Quest: Prevent the Progress of the Seed of Calamity》
[Sudden Quest: Prevent the Progress of the Seed of Calamity]
To prevent the progress of the Seed of Calamity, you must pacify the antagonist. Until then, the ‘Antagonist’s Wrath’ effect will be applied.
*Antagonist’s Wrath: Under the influence of the aura of great calamity, the number of monsters dramatically increases.
“This is…”
I was taken aback by the state window that appeared so densely as to obscure my view and the quest that suddenly flew in.
Thud!
With a piercing roar, the surroundings shook as if there was an earthquake. Dust fell from the ceiling with a thud.
Even the Hunters who were resting felt something was amiss due to the sudden vibration and murmured.
“Hey, what’s going on?”
“The floor is vibrating.”
Clang, clang, clang, clang!
Kiiik! Kieeeeek!
Following the sharp sound of something striking the floor, the chilling cries of monsters rapidly approached.
“T-that…!”
“Monsters! Monsters are coming!”
“There are too many… Ugh!”
Thud!! Thud!
Amidst the pouring spiders and monsters, a giant foot revealed itself.
A monster with a massive body, approaching 8 meters in height, a robust build, and grayish skin. The appearance of the Ogre, charging like a bull and smashing through everything in its path, threw the Hunters into chaos, and they started running.
“No, that’s the bastard from the boss room we have to go through to get out!”
“There are too many monsters to handle!”
“Run! Just run for now!”
Dozens of Hunters fled in the opposite direction of the oncoming monsters. In the midst of it all, I also hastily ran with Cha Sahyeon in my arms.
‘Antagonist’s Wrath, huh? So, is this little guy angry right now?’
Did all this chaos happen because Cha Sahyeon was upset? What even is the aura of great calamity? Could it be that the reason monsters have been appearing in such numbers so far was because of Cha Sahyeon?
‘No, but first things first.’
I gritted my teeth and ran as fast as I could while bringing up Cha Sahyeon’s information window.
User Information: Sahyeon (Antagonist)
Age: 22
Primary Skill: Living Shadow (Class B)
Title: The Master of Shadows
Attack Power: Class B
Attack Speed: Class B
Movement Speed: Class B
Agility: Class B
Special Note▼
ㄴ Seed of Calamity (36% Progress)
This is insane; it only increased by 1%!
The warning window popped up so dramatically that I thought it had increased by about 10%. Should I be glad that it’s only 1%, or should I be concerned that such a problem occurred with just a 1% increase?
I proceeded to check the content of the new quest that had come in. Do I have to calm down Cha Sahyeon to silence those monsters?
‘Wait a minute. Drawn to the aura of great calamity?’
Does that mean monsters endlessly chase after the place where Cha Sahyeon is? A shiver ran down my spine at the thought.
“Over here!”
“Hurry up!”
The Hunters entered a room with a thick iron door. If I go in there, we can block the monsters’ intrusion with the iron door and escape through another route.
However, if I enter there with Cha Sahyeon, monsters are likely to gather through another passage. My heart raced. Feeling Cha Sahyeon’s body temperature in my arms, I bit my lips.
‘What should I do?’
No matter how much Cha Sahyeon might be the cause of all this, it was too late to discard him now. But entering the room where the Hunters were taking refuge with Cha Sahyeon wasn’t an option.
There was only one remaining option.
‘Sigh, my fate…’
Exhaling deeply while expressing regret, I turned sharply to the right.
Kiaaah! Kiiik!
Thud, thud!
The cries of monsters and the footsteps of the Ogre didn’t fade but followed closely. As I turned my gaze backward while running, as I suspected, a horde of monsters emerged, relentlessly chasing Cha Sahyeon.
“What…?!”
“Hunter Cha Seohu!”
Kwon Taehyeok and Ryu Seonghyeon, who discovered me running not toward the room but along the right path, showed astonished expressions.
I’m not doing this because I like it, you know?
Swallowing my tears, I passed by Kwon Taehyeok and Ryu Seonghyeon and continued running into the dark emptiness.
[Main Quest: Successfully conquer a dungeon of B-class or higher with the antagonist. (Remaining time: 3 days 10 hours 45 minutes)]
[Sudden Quest: Prevent the Progress of the Seed of Calamity]