The Returnee’s Guild Must Grow Properly

I ignored the urgent message sent by the mage.

|Pr. 9th Circle Archmage|: Guild Master!!!

Taking a step back from the mage, just as the Spirit Master did, I called out to him instead.

“Representative Kang Hasu.”

At the sound of his name, Kang Hasu flinched, his shoulders tensing as he turned to me with an awkward smile. Lifting the corners of my lips, I asked,

“What exactly am I supposed to do to help that guy? Hm?”

“Well, that’s the thing…”

Scratching his cheek, Kang Hasu squeezed his eyes shut before muttering apologetically,

“I’m really sorry…”

“Don’t apologize. Just tell me what I’m supposed to do to help already.”

I was genuinely curious now. What kind of outrageous favor was he about to ask, hesitating like this? Kang Hasu took a deep breath before speaking.

“As you saw, the Demon King is highly sensitive to the name ‘Haun.’”

“That seems to be the case. Can’t you just discuss it with the scriptwriter and change the name ‘Haun’ to something else?”

“That’s not possible. The character was introduced in the first episode. Besides, with Doby already leaving the cast, changing the name of a perfectly fine character feels… inappropriate, doesn’t it?”

Fair point.

The Spirit Master rubbed his weary face with both hands and continued,

“When the name ‘Haun’ appeared in the script, he asked me if you were going to show up.”

Wait, why would he ask that?

Frowning in confusion, I watched as the Spirit Master let out a heavy sigh and explained,

“When I told him you weren’t going to appear, he got angry and asked why the name Do Haun was included in the script if you weren’t in it.”

“……”

It must have been tough for the Spirit Master. No, scratch that—he brought this disaster upon himself! Serves him right!

As I internally mocked him, the Spirit Master sighed deeply as if the ground would swallow him.

“But I didn’t expect him to react this violently. This is the first time we’re shooting with Haun today.”

“Just cut him from the drama altogether.”

Judging by how the Demon King was acting, that seemed like the only solution. However, the Spirit Master firmly shook his head at my suggestion.

“That’s not possible.”

“Why not? It’s not like Woo Mahun’s scenes have aired yet, right?”

Wouldn’t it be faster to just bring Doby back and reshoot?

The Spirit Master groaned, massaging his face as he explained,

“…The contracts have already been signed, and the press releases are out.”

“What kind of press releases?”

“Articles about how the younger brother of Guild Master Woo Mahan from Hwarang has signed with our agency and is appearing in the drama.”

The Spirit Master lamented over how he should have known better. Meanwhile, the mage managed to dig up one of the articles and triumphantly showed it to the Spirit Master, asking, “Is this the one?”

I held back the Spirit Master, who was about to grab the mage by the collar, and asked,

“Woo Mahun signed with your agency? And Guild Master Woo Mahan allowed that?”

Knowing Woo Mahan’s personality, it seemed unlikely he’d permit such a thing. Let alone letting someone act in a drama.

Scratching his cheek awkwardly, the Spirit Master mumbled,

“Well… he found out about my identity during our conversation…”

“Wow, even the Representative got caught by him?”

“Wait, you were caught by Guild Master Woo Mahan too?”

The Spirit Master’s astonished voice prompted the mage to respond cheerfully,

“Oh, I got caught by him ages ago! Thanks to that person over there being scolded by the director!”

Still, because of that, the mage had been recognized as a Hunter at the Center without a proper examination. Apparently, Guild Master Woo Mahan had bribed the supervising director.

“Anyway, thanks to that, we were able to smoothly place Mahun in that role…”

The Spirit Master’s voice trailed off just as a shout rang out,

“Mahun! Please, can we stick to the script?! Or, at least ad-lib properly!”

The Spirit Master let out yet another sigh—who knows how many it had been by now?

“As you can see, that’s the situation.”

The Spirit Master, visibly fatigued, sighed as the mage whispered beside him.

“Wasn’t putting the Demon King in that position the first mistake? Spirit Master, aren’t you being crushed under the disaster you brought upon yourself?”

“Could you please shut your mouth?”

“Gasp! How could you tell poor Roun, who lives to speak, to be quiet?! Representative Kang, this is too much!”

I shot a cold, unimpressed look at the mage before turning my gaze back to the Spirit Master.

“So, what exactly do you expect me to do? You don’t mean to have the actor playing ‘Haun’ practice lines with Woo Mahun as a stand-in, do you?”

“Absolutely not! What do you think I’d trust you with?”

“…….”

As much as his words were true, they still left a bitter taste. My expression hardened, and the Spirit Master quickly grabbed my hand and asked,

“Could you take on the role of Mahun’s manager for a while?”

“What…?”

“I’m not asking you to be an actual manager! Just… please help control Mahun!”

I couldn’t hide my bewilderment, which was written all over my face. The Spirit Master, looking as if he might cry, hastily added,

“Mahun doesn’t have that many scenes! Just for three days—no, a week, maybe? I’ll reward you handsomely! Whatever kind of commission you want, I’ll take it!”

Oh, is that how you’re playing this?

“Seven times a week, deal?”

“Of course!”

The Spirit Master nodded fervently and continued,

“He just doesn’t listen! Even Doby wasn’t this bad! Even when I firmly emphasize my instructions, all I get is, ‘So what?’ It’s driving me insane!”

He must have a lot of pent-up frustration with the Demon King. I understood that feeling all too well. I lightly patted the back of the Spirit Master’s hand.

“Representative Kang, you’ve been completely taken advantage of, haven’t you?”

Then, lifting the same hand that had been patting the Spirit Master, I sharply smacked the mage’s mouth, silencing his cheeky grin.

The mage clutched his lips, eyes brimming with exaggerated tears.

“Lady Haun, you’re so cruel. How could you treat your one and only bodyguard like this…?”

“Should I call my brother? I’ll have him fire you for being a nuisance.”

“I’ll behave, milady.”

The mage immediately straightened his posture, looking meek. The Spirit Master frowned as if he’d just witnessed something unsightly, while the mage turned to him with a cheeky grin.

“Still, this is unreasonable, isn’t it, Representative Kang?”

“What exactly is unreasonable?”

The mage rested a hand on my shoulder as he replied,

“How could you entrust someone like our lady here with cleaning up after him?”

I smacked the mage’s hand away, scowling as I retorted,

“It’s not about what kind of ‘lady’ I am; you just find reporting to my brother too much of a hassle, don’t you, you nuisance.”

“Ah, caught me.”

The mage pouted sulkily, lips sticking out.

“Do Haun.”

Before I could respond, the Demon King approached us, his face full of displeasure after being scolded by the director. The mage grinned and greeted him with a question.

“Mahun, can’t you see me?”

“Mage, don’t refer to me so familiarly.”

The mage opened his mouth slightly, then smiled faintly as he muttered,

“…Right, like we’re capable of having a conversation.”

He shook his head slowly, while Representative Kang quickly approached the fuming director. The Demon King glanced in the direction of the director before twitching his lips.

“I got scolded.”

“You deserved it.”

At my comment, the Demon King widened his eyes in surprise. Clicking my tongue briefly, I continued,

“Do you know how many people in the world have the name ‘Haun’? How can you act like this?”

“The only ‘Haun’ I know is you.”

A sigh escaped me involuntarily.

I stared at the Demon King, whose face was still sulky, and decided to ask something I was curious about.

“Woo Mahun, do you enjoy acting?”

“I do not know.”

“So, you don’t hate it?”

The Demon King gave a reluctant nod, his expression unchanging.

“…I see.”

If even someone like Doby could pull off being a celebrity, there’s no reason you can’t. That annoying mouth of yours is a concern, but it’s nothing a bit of strict training during filming can’t fix.

They said it would only take a week anyway. And if that Dragon Slayer brat tries to show up, he won’t run from me, at least.

“Wait! Guild Ma—!”

The mage seemed to realize my thoughts and hastily called out to me. Then, as if biting back frustration, he asked through gritted teeth,

“Lady Do Haun, you’re not seriously considering taking Representative Kang’s offer, are you?”

“I am considering it.”

“What?!”

The mage’s voice rose sharply, startling me. I turned to look at him as he frowned and demanded,

“How are you going to get permission from Sir Hajun?!”

The weight of his words drew everyone’s attention.

|Pr. Spirit Master|: What’s all this commotion?!

We were guests of Representative Kang Hasu. Causing further chaos here would be problematic. But…

“Don’t you dare call my brother ‘Sir Hajun’ on your own! You pest!”

“!!”

With that, I summoned Company Hunter H and ended my turn.

*****

It had been a while since both my brother and Do Hain came home early.

As we sat down for a rare family dinner, Do Hain scooped up a large spoonful of rice and asked,

“Hey, you went to the set of Two Suns Beneath the Sky, didn’t you?”

“Yeah.”

“Was it fun, Haun?”

I was about to say no to my brother’s question but pressed my lips shut instead.

Even though I summoned the nationally infamous Company Hunter H to the set, the situation didn’t escalate into chaos.

“Ack! What’s so troublesome about Haun, huh?!”

Kang Hasu had remarkably quick reflexes and managed to save Hae Roun. He immediately pulled me and Hae Roun out of the set.

On the way back, the Spirit Master scolded me endlessly.

“Haun?”

“It was fun.”

Pouting, I picked at my rice. Do Hain asked why I was sulking if it had been fun, but I ignored him.

I shoved a big spoonful of rice into my mouth and chewed slowly.

“But, Brother.”

“Yeah?”

“I have a favorite celebrity now.”