Regression Guidelines For the Supporting Character

I pulled my cap low and checked myself in the mirror.

Clothes slightly bigger and looser than usual, a hat pressed deep over my head, and a mask added on top.
Night had already fallen outside. But if I transformed into Cover inside the hotel room, Kwon Seoyul and Hyun Dowoon in the next room would instantly sense the S-rank aura. I had to get outside before activating anything.
I wasn’t about to become some pervert changing clothes in public, so I’d already put on the outfit that fit Cover’s physique.

The cap and mask were to avoid drawing attention on the way to the stadium. Once the match started, the hat would probably come off easily anyway, so I’d have to wear the mask during the fight.
“I’m ready.”
Shoes on, I turned to look at Cha Sahyeon. He looked worried.

“Hyung, if anything happens, you have to call the shadow. Got it?”
“I said I got it.”
Cha Sahyeon’s face held nothing but concern for me, but honestly, I felt uncomfortable whenever the escort shadow was mentioned.

Ever since I found out the activation keyword was “Kiddo,” a tightness had formed in my chest.
‘Of all names, why that one?’
It was a term I no longer had any reason to say out loud, and the fact that Cha Sahyeon had brought it up made me uncomfortable.

Still, I had no intention of bringing it up to him. I didn’t want to lay out all these tangled feelings, so pretending not to care was the best option.
“Start it.”
“…Be careful.”

With a soft sigh, Cha Sahyeon waved his hand, and black shadow rose from the floor, surging toward me like a wave.
Pitch-black darkness engulfed my vision, and a moment later, I felt myself lift off the ground.
As if I’d blinked, the darkness disappeared in an instant, and I found myself standing in a rather unfamiliar place.

I turned my head and saw the hotel building I’d just been in across the next block. As discussed, I had been relocated to an alley near the hotel.
“Good.”
After carefully checking for any CCTV cameras, I walked deeper into the alley and activated my skill.
“Activate.”

Crackle!
“Urgh…”
Sparks danced across my body as sharp pain surged from the tips of my toes to the top of my head. I bit my lip and suppressed a groan as the status window appeared.

《Hidden Skill: Silverlight’s Blessing (S-Rank) [Activated]》
I hadn’t transformed into Cover once during the mountain trip, so it had been a while.
Huff. I exhaled lightly and pulled out my sword from my inventory.

I strapped the scabbard roughly to my belt, stepped out of the alley, and hailed a taxi with light steps.
***
It was well past 6:00 PM by the time I left the hotel.

The trip from the hotel to the stadium would take about an hour.
“Please go fast. No—faster, please.”
I felt bad about rushing the driver, but I didn’t have much of a choice.

Thanks to a favor I got from Kwon Taehyuk, I had only a 30-minute grace period. I had to arrive at the stadium by 7:30 to make it in time.
“Tch. Young man! If it was that important, you should’ve come yesterday!”
The cab driver, who had spent the whole ride giving me an earful, grumbled and muttered colorful curses as I got out.

Understanding where he was coming from, I handed him the fare with a tip and said nothing more.
“Whew.”
After watching the cab drive away, I rushed toward the front entrance. The stadium building was lit up, its facade empty and silent.

The spectators and staff must have already gone inside. Not a single soul was visible out front. I squinted at the oddly deserted building.
‘Something’s…’
Off.

Sure, it was almost game time. It made sense the front would be empty.
‘But this quiet? Seriously?’
I tilted my head and studied the surroundings.

Even if no one else was around, shouldn’t I at least hear bugs or birds? Something?
That thought sent a chill crawling up my spine. It was pure instinct.
The moment I realized something was wrong, a faint unfamiliar sound cut through the silence.

Chrrrkkk!
The clink of metal.
I quickly drew my sword from the scabbard and spun around.

Before I could fully make out the white snake-like object shooting toward me, my arm had already moved.
Clang! Crash!
Something sharp and heavy slammed into the blade, the shock jolting up through my arm and shoulder. My hand, still gripping the hilt, went numb.

“…What the hell is this bullshit ambush?”
I lowered the angled blade and muttered. That’s when the attacker appeared, red robes fluttering.
“Long time no see, Cover.”

A tall man in a black mask emblazoned with a spider insignia.
I scowled at his silver hair blowing in the wind.
“Why the hell are you here?”

“That’s a hurtful question.”
Eun Woojeong shrugged his shoulders and asked,
“Don’t we still have unfinished business?”

“Business? You and me?”
I snorted and tapped the ground with my sword.
“Funny. I thought we were done. You want me to repeat what I said to you on that rooftop?”

I didn’t care if it was just me and that bastard out here.
Eun Woojeong would be pissed no matter when or where I said his name out loud.
“Or is this about the demand to keep the Rank 1 position? I ran my ass over here to make sure I stay first. What the hell do you want now?”

“I’m upset because you’re being so cold to me.”
“…What?”
I blinked at the absurdity. Eun Woojeong replied with a wounded tone.

“You blackmailed me with my weakness, wrung information out of me, and then disappeared without a trace. Can you blame me for being anxious? Then suddenly you show up again today. Of course I’d follow you.”
He sounded like some clingy lover who’d been ghosted, pouting with all the theatrics. It was ridiculous.
“The fuck are you on about? Our last meeting was a fair trade, wasn’t it?”

“Maybe from your perspective.”
He pouted, and I raised one eyebrow. Eun Woojeong let out a deep sigh like he wanted me to hear it.
“You call that a trade? Somehow you found out my weakness, and I didn’t even get to see your face or name in return. You think that’s a balanced exchange?”

“So what, you want me to feel guilty? Go dig up some dirt on me yourself, then. You’re the one leaking weaknesses everywhere—don’t blame me for it.”
I tightened my grip on my sword and smirked. Half of that was genuine, the other half was meant to provoke.
This sudden confrontation with Eun Woojeong was really pissing me off.

I didn’t have time for this pointless bullshit, and his vague attitude made it impossible to figure out what the hell he even wanted.
‘Fucking hell, this bastard again.’
At this point, I might as well make a scene, beat his ass, or blackmail him again just to get rid of him.

‘Every time things go quiet, this bastard shows up to ruin it.’
I was glaring at him, internally swearing him out, when the bastard finally opened his mouth.
“…Alright.”

His tone had changed—calmer, yet firm.
“So, you do feel the same way, huh?”
Chrrrrrk!

Right after those words, chains unfurled behind him.
Of course. I bared my teeth and raised my sword.
Chrrrrrk—BOOM! THUD!

Chains whipped toward me from all directions. Hooked ends struck like fangs, aimed straight for my body.
CLANG!
I dodged what I could, and for what I couldn’t, I deflected with my blade.

Each strike had so much force that by the fifth parry, my whole right arm trembled and my shoulder felt like it was about to give out.
“You son of a—!”
CLANG!

I slammed away the sixth chain and yelled.
“You planned this, didn’t you, you crazy bastard!”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

There’s no way Eun Woojeong, the head of an intel group, didn’t know I was scheduled to fight Kwon Taehyuk.
He must’ve set this up and waited for me.
‘Fuck!’

Eun Woojeong didn’t flinch at the provocation. I had no choice but to twist my wrist and angle my blade.
CHAAAANG!
The deflected chain didn’t fly into the air—it slammed into the ground instead.

BOOM! THUD!
With all that S-rank strength, it shattered the pavement. I was trying to draw attention—get the people inside, or maybe Kwon Taehyuk, to notice.
“Quite the effort.”

Apparently he figured that out, too. Eun Woojeong chuckled and made a small motion with his hand.
“……!”
I was too focused on fending off the chains to notice the shift. Reflexively, I swung my sword—

SHHK!
—and accidentally sliced through a silver orb attached to one of the chains.
It wasn’t a skill or an item—just a simple metallic ball, which split clean in half. And from inside—

Poof!
—burst a fine, pale yellow powder.
“Cough! What… the hell…?”

I tried to shake it off, but even that felt sluggish.
‘I’m wearing a mask. How is it affecting me?’
Contact through skin?

“Ugh…?”
As soon as that dread hit me, my knees buckled. I collapsed, the world spinning around me.
My vision swirled, eyes threatening to shut. I forced them open, struggling to stay awake, but my body refused to cooperate.

‘Already? This fast?’
It was unreal.
As my body froze and my mind began to blur, Eun Woojeong strolled toward me at a leisurely pace.

“It’s pollen, modified from a monster called the Scara Flower. Causes paralysis upon contact. Induces sleep, too. Completely illegal. Cost a fortune—especially one strong enough to affect S-ranks.”
Sleep slammed into me like a wave. My rationality blurred, instincts urging me to just give in and pass out.
“Eun Woojeong… you fucking… bastard…”

“You said it yourself—if I want fairness, I should get some dirt on you, too. Now we’re even, right?”
I couldn’t take it anymore.
I opened my mouth to summon the shadow Cha Sahyeon gave me.

“Kk—ka—!”
But suddenly, something yanked my neck. My torso snapped backward as cold metal squeezed around my throat.
“Guh…kk—!”

“Sorry, but don’t call anyone. I know there’s no one nearby, but still… better safe {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} than sorry.”
The chain around my neck loosened—only for a large hand to grip the lower half of my face and clamp down.
Still masked, I struggled as hard as I could, but my paralyzed body was powerless to escape.

All I needed was one word. Just “Kiddo.”
“Sleep tight. When you wake up, you’ll be ready to strike a new deal with me.”
“Mmgh… nghk—!”

His hand pressed down hard. I couldn’t breathe.
With the sleep agent attacking my mind and my breath cut off, I couldn’t hold out any longer.
‘No… not…’

My eyes fell shut.
The last thing I saw was his silver hair, swaying gently in the breeze—then, merciful darkness swallowed me whole.