Regression Guidelines For the Supporting Character

If a situation ever arose where he had to rely on Cha Sahyeon’s help, there were two conditions Cha Seohu had to uphold.

First, there must be no civilians nearby. Second, he needed to escape before the Association Hunters arrived after receiving a report.
Both were still within the bounds of what Cha Sahyeon could manage even without removing the choker.
Crash!

A blade pierced through a towering wave. Through the gap, standing still in the same spot and looking in this direction, was Cha Sahyeon.
For a brief instant, their gazes met—his piercing green eyes locked onto Seohu's.
There was a sudden flash of light in the gaze that had been tenaciously fixed on Seohu. At the same moment, a chilling sensation ran up his spine.

“……!”
Kang Haeil narrowed his brows as he jumped, shielding Cha Seohu # Nоvеlight # in his arms to avoid the incoming blade.
‘What is that?’

The aura he sensed wasn’t particularly strong. But what was this spine-chilling feeling?
It felt like the tip of a sword was pressed against his neck. Just as Kang Haeil halted to identify the source of the killing intent—
Clang!

Eight blades tore through the waves. Like arrows shot from a bow, they flew in from all directions as the skill’s user swung their sword.
As Kang Haeil redirected the current to deflect the attack, Kwon Taehyuk’s forearm was slashed open, and blood sprayed into the air. The sound Kwon Seoyul created was pouring down on Kwon Taehyuk.
“Something’s off.”

Kang Haeil murmured.
The movement of the blades had changed. Someone was assisting Kwon Taehyuk.
Who? Was it the owner of that killing intent from earlier? How had they pierced through the waves so easily?

‘I have to confirm.’
Whoever it was didn’t exist in his mental registry.
To handle that kind of skill, they’d have to be at least A-rank. And if they were aiding Kwon Taehyuk, it had to be someone he trusted. There’s no way it was someone related to Cha Seohu—Kang Haeil knew everyone around him.
Except for one. That strange kid he suddenly brought home last year.

‘Come to think of it, that kid…’
Was here?
Screech!

His train of thought came to a screeching halt.
With a strange cry, a black shape swooped overhead. The moment he recognized it as a crow, something pitch-black slithered up from the floor like a snake.
“What the hell?”

A black liquid swallowed his feet like a swamp, emanating an unsettling aura.
Kang Haeil quickly activated a skill, but nothing changed.
It was a shocking moment for him. Ever since his Awakening, he could manipulate any liquid in the world as he wished.

Even liquids controlled by other Hunters. As long as their rank was lower than his, he could easily take control.
But what was this black thing swallowing his legs? Was it not even a liquid? Then what the hell was it?
As confusion took hold, Kang Haeil realized—the black tendrils climbing like tentacles were wrapping around Cha Seohu’s body.

That unknown black substance wasn’t targeting him—it was after the one in his arms.
“Ha…”
Kang Haeil let out an exasperated laugh.

Just then, Cha Seohu, shrouded in a defensive layer of black shadow, slipped smoothly from his grasp and launched forward.
“Guildmaster!”
In less than two seconds.

Kwon Taehyuk, who had been rushing in with his eyes only on Cha Seohu, reached out without hesitation.
Swinging his sword at Kang Haeil, and reaching for Cha Seohu’s hand.
“Cha Seohu!”

Two choices were laid before him—and Kwon Taehyuk, without pause, chose to grab Cha Seohu.
Kang Haeil’s pupils trembled at the sight of Seohu leaping into Taehyuk’s arms.
It was a first. He had never imagined he’d witness Cha Seohu leaving his embrace like that.

Ever since childhood, it had always been Seohu who willingly came to him. Never once had he voluntarily walked away.
As if waiting for this very moment, Cha Seohu broke free from Kang Haeil and stretched out his arms.
Kwon Taehyuk caught him with ease, then glared at Kang Haeil across the way.

Kang Haeil stood dumbfounded as he saw someone else holding Cha Seohu. That mistake cost him dearly.
The moment Seohu wrapped his arms around Kwon Taehyuk, a new shadow burst from the ground, swallowing them both.
Just before their bodies were completely engulfed in shadow, Kwon Taehyuk glared at Kang Haeil, while Seohu—without looking back—held him tight.

The shadow vanished, leaving behind nothing.
“……”
Kang Haeil’s lips slowly pressed into a tight line as he stared at the now-empty space.

‘Warp skill?’
He couldn’t feel either of their presences anymore. The black substance that had swallowed them was also gone.
It had to be a warp skill. But did something like this even exist?

Suddenly, Kang Haeil looked down at his feet.
The thing that had climbed his leg and swallowed his foot—
‘Don’t tell me… a shadow?’

At that realization, he cleared away the surrounding water. As the waves receded, the empty hotel lobby came into view.
“Hyung!”
Kwon Seoyul and Hyun Dowoon ran toward him, shouting.

Kwon Seoyul was smiling brightly as he ran—until he saw Kang Haeil standing alone. Then he screamed.
“Fuck, what the hell! Where’s Seohu-hyung?!”
“……”

“Where the hell did he go?! What the hell happened?! Shit, the waves were so damn high I couldn’t see anything…!”
Kang Haeil ignored Seoyul’s hysterics and continued to stare at the same spot—where Cha Sahyeon had stood throughout the battle.
“Don’t tell me you lost him?! No way, right?! Say it’s not true! We came all this way to find Seohu-hyung, how could—!”

“Hyun Dowoon.”
Kang Haeil finally spoke, leaving Seoyul to rant. Hyun Dowoon, who had been standing silently with an uncomfortable expression, responded, startled.
“Y-Yeah?”

“The kid Cha Seohu brought with him.”
Kang Haeil rubbed his chin and asked after a short pause.
“You’ve got intel on him, right? No way you’d just let someone stick to Cha Seohu without doing your homework.”

“……Yeah.”
“Send me everything you’ve got.”
“Understood. But… it’s not much.”

“I don’t care. Also—has Seohu asked you for anything specific these past few days?”
Hyun Dowoon hesitated at the sudden question, then answered awkwardly.
“He asked me to make him another ID not long ago. Said it just needed to be adult and A-rank, so I modified the identity of a deceased resident from a restricted zone and gave it to him.”

“You remember the name?”
“Yes.”
“Once we’re back upstairs, check if that name’s on the Great Dungeon applicant list. Let me know what you find.”

“The Great Dungeon?”
“The Great Dungeon?”
“Hmph.”

Hyun Dowoon and Kwon Seoyul both flinched. At their reactions, Kang Haeil smirked in disbelief, raising an eyebrow.
“Figures. You two slept all damn day, so no wonder you’re clueless.”
“Well…”

Hyun Dowoon had nothing to say and sighed.
Just as Kang Haeil scolded, both he and Seoyul had slept past noon. Seoyul had been completely wasted from drinking, and Dowoon had been busy looking for a place for Seohu to stay.
They both passed out near dawn, so it was only natural they overslept.

Hyun Dowoon rubbed at his sore eyelids.
‘Of all times…’
Neither of them knew that Cha Seohu had already been going out multiple times. After nearly two weeks of him not leaving the hotel room, they had let their guards down.

Especially since neither Seoyul nor Dowoon were the type to keep a healthy routine of sleeping at night and being active during the day.
“Anyway, just do what I asked. Oh—and make me another ID.”
“Eh? What for?”

Kang Haeil’s lips curled upward. His deep blue eyes shimmered with cold intensity—like the ocean’s depths.
***
“Haa… Haah…!”

Sssh— The black shadow surrounding Kwon Taehyuk and Cha Seohu slipped away into the floor.
Coughing, Cha Seohu pushed himself away from Taehyuk’s arms and collapsed to the ground. A strong breeze blew from somewhere, whipping his hair around.
As Seohu gasped for air, a young boy ran to him and threw his arms around him. It was Cha Sahyeon, who had followed them.

“Hyung, are you okay?”
“……Yeah.”
As the warmth of his body spread, his frantic heartbeat began to settle.

Holding Sahyeon close, Seohu steadied his breathing and looked up at the man approaching them.
“……Guildmaster.”
Kwon Taehyuk, who had just stored away his sword and blade into his inventory, stood above them with a complex expression.

This incident wasn’t something he could just brush off like before. Seohu had prepared himself the moment he asked Sahyeon for help, but now that it actually happened, figuring out how to handle it felt overwhelming.
‘How much do I tell him?’
Revealing everything was obviously out of the question. Still… maybe a moderate explanation and request for cooperation would be okay?

Kwon Taehyuk was someone he could trust—and he had fought to protect Seohu until the very end this time.
Before convincing him, Seohu glanced around.
With the wind blowing so strongly and the open sky above, it seemed they were on a rooftop. Judging by the nearby buildings and the hotel visible between them, Sahyeon had probably warped them to the closest roof in a hurry.

“Guildmaster, I know this must be confusing. Let’s move first—I’ll explain everything slowly after.”
The hotel wasn’t far, so if they dawdled, there was a high chance Kang Haeil would find them.
Seohu bit his lip, then looked up at Kwon Taehyuk and cautiously spoke.

“So… if it’s okay with you.”
“……”
“Could we… go to the Yesung Guild? I know I’m asking shamelessly, but…”

“……!”
Kwon Taehyuk’s eyes widened.
Just then, the wind blew again. Beneath the gently disheveled black hair was a small face filled with desperation.

Cha Seohu’s eyes were tinged red as he gazed up, anxiously awaiting his answer.
“Guildmaster Kwon Taehuk…”
His name spilled from Seohu’s lips. Kwon Taehyuk gulped unconsciously.

At that moment, a familiar system notification rang in Seohu’s ear.
Ding!
《Trait: Soaked Cat (B-rank) activated!》

《You have triggered your target’s sympathy!》
“……”
What? Right now? Seriously?

Seohu stared blankly at his status window, speechless.
‘I mean… good timing, but still…’