The Returnee’s Guild Must Grow Properly

“Over here! Somebody help here!!”
“Ugh, sob…”

A staff member, covered in blood, lay collapsed on the ground, seemingly caught in an explosion. The injuries looked severe at a glance, so I instinctively prepared to use the power of the Saintess.

“Guild Master, stop.”

If it weren’t for the hand that grabbed me, I would have done it. Hae Roun held my shoulder firmly and spoke.

“I’ll treat that person. Guild Master, stay with the Spirit Master.”

“How are you going to manage that?”

“Our Guild Master isn’t too bright, huh? Do you think a 9th Circle Archmage got that title for no reason?”

At his cheeky tone, I scowled and slapped his hand away. Hae Roun chuckled and tapped my shoulder lightly a couple of times before stepping away.

“CEO Kang, stay with Miss Haun, please,” the mage said slyly.

Hearing his smug tone, Kang Hasu grimaced just like I did.

“Still, it’s fortunate.”

“What is?”

“Guild Master Do Hajun, Vice Guild Master Do Hain, and Guild Master Woo Mahan of Hwarang are all here with us.”

Hearing the Spirit Master’s words, I glanced around. My brother and Do Hain were busy rescuing people trapped under the collapsed debris.

But…

“I don’t see Guild Master Woo Mahan.”

Neither did I see Woo Mahun.

At my words, the Spirit Master’s face went pale with shock.

“That can’t be. He was just beside me! What are you talking about?”

“But he’s really not here. Neither is Woo Mahun. You go find them if you can.”

As soon as I finished speaking, a breeze filled with a cold energy began to stir around the Spirit Master.

|Pr. Godslayer (Guild Master)|: You reckless fool!
Even if the situation is chaotic, using your powers so openly?!

The Spirit Master sent me a concise message, asking me to wait a moment, before unleashing a spirit-infused wind into the surroundings. The clear, refreshing energy swept through the blood-drenched filming site. I layered the Saintess’s healing power onto that energy.

|Pr. 9th Circle Archmage|: Guild Master, didn’t I say I’d handle it?

How he knew, I had no idea, but the pesky mage, who was busy treating people alongside my brother and Do Hain, sent me a sharp message. I ignored him and turned my gaze to the Spirit Master, who was tracking Woo Mahan’s trail.

The Spirit Master frowned slightly before turning to me.

“Guild Master Woo Mahan is here. I don’t sense the Demon King’s presence, though.”

“What?”

Could it be that in the brief moment of the explosion, Woo Mahan had managed to evacuate the Demon King? Knowing the Demon King’s personality, he wouldn’t flee on his own. That seemed like a plausible explanation.

“Then where is Guild Master Woo Mahan now?”

The Spirit Master scratched his cheek awkwardly and then tilted his head upward. He even pointed a long finger to the sky.

“Up there.”

I thought he was joking, but then a flash of light streaked across the sky, followed by a deafening roar.

Boom—!!

“Ahhh!!”
“Another explosion! It’s another explosion…!”

Thanks to the healing power I’d infused into the spirit-laden wind, many of those who couldn’t move earlier began running out of the filming site.

“Guild Master, I don’t know what’s going on, but maybe we should also—”

“No.”

I stared blankly at the blue array spreading across the sky, then clenched my teeth.
“We’re not leaving.”

“What do you mean we’re not leaving?!”

The Spirit Master jumped in protest and tried to drag me away by force, but I shook off their hand and said firmly,
“That bastard Dragon Slayer is up there.”

“What? Dragon Slayer? Are you talking about the Dragon Slayer?”

I nodded silently, then turned to look toward where the Archmage stood. Our eyes met.

|Pr. 9th Circle Archmage|: Are you going, Guild Master?

At the message that appeared, I gave a small nod. The mage grinned and snapped their fingers. A red magic circle unfolded around me, opening a portal. Just as I was about to thank the mage for their assistance—

Whoosh!

Something fell rapidly from above. At first, I couldn’t make out what it was, but then I realized it was Guild Master Woo Mahan, unconscious.

“Mage!!”

“Huh?”

Woo Mahan was plummeting directly toward the mage.

What kind of idiot says “huh” in a situation like this?! Isn’t this the so-called 9th Circle Archmage?! Do something—cast a spell or dodge!

“Hae Roun!!”

My brother, who was checking for survivors buried in the debris, called out urgently to the scatterbrained mage. Unfortunately, the mage remained frozen, only sending me a message asking, Should I catch him? What if my arms get ripped off?

“What an absolute moron of a mage!”

A sharp click of the tongue echoed, and a fierce wind began to howl. The gusts quickly engulfed Hae Roun, then shot upward, wrapping around the falling Woo Mahan.

|Pr. Godslayer (Guild Master)|: Are you out of your mind, Spirit Master?! Trying to get yourself turned into Hunter H 2.0?!
|Pr. Spirit Master|: We’ll just say a supernatural phenomenon saved Guild Master Woo Mahan—^^
|Pr. Godslayer (Guild Master)|: Who the hell is going to believe that?!

At that moment, Do Hain, who had rushed over at my brother’s panicked call, cast a suspicious glare at me and Kang Hasu. Ignoring the look, I stepped behind Kang Hasu. He glanced at me in confusion, but then seemed to notice Do Hain’s gaze and quickly lowered his head.

Fortunately, Do Hain’s attention didn’t linger on us. The chaotic situation worked in our favor.

“Hae Roun, are you okay? What about Woo Mahan?!”

“I’m fine! But Guild Master Woo Mahan… I’m not so sure!”

Hearing Hae Roun’s reply, I peered over the Spirit Master’s shoulder. The Archmage was casting a healing spell on Woo Mahan, while my brother and Do Hain were approaching them from behind.

“Mage!!”

The Spirit Master gave me a wild look, as if I’d lost my mind, but there was no way to take back the words I had shouted. And something more urgent was happening.

“Move everyone now!!”

Flames began to erupt behind my brother and Do Hain.

And beyond them, I saw the Dragon Slayer, who should have been busy playing his games in the sky, raising his sword.

[The Holy Sword, Glory’s Blade, awaits its master’s call.]

Reaching behind me, I grabbed the hilt of the sword that appeared in my hand.

《The title Swordmaster has been forcibly unsealed.》

As the Dragon Slayer swung his sword at my brother and Do Hain, a blue array flared around him, an unmistakable mark of Gloria’s magic. I gritted my teeth.

But in the next moment, a red magic circle shattered Gloria’s spell. I swung the sword in my hand.

“Haun!!”

“Do Haun…!”

The startled voices of my brother and Do Hain reached me but disappeared in an instant.

Boom—!!

The collision of powers at the center created a thunderous explosion. The force of the wind made me squint and raise a hand to shield my eyes.

“Oh, Ifrit, why am I still here?!”

The dust, which had been swirling hazily, scattered instantly in the breeze.

I tilted my head slightly at the voice coming from beside me. The Spirit Master was looking at me with a face full of despair.

“Where’s the mage?”

“Right here!”

The Archmage, appearing out of thin air, landed lightly on the ground, flashing a grin. The Spirit Master scowled deeply as soon as they saw him.

“You damn mage! Didn’t the Guild Master tell you to evacuate everyone?! Why am I still here?! Why?!”

“I didn’t realize you were included in ‘everyone.'”

The mage’s cheeky response made the Spirit Master clutch the back of their neck in frustration. Ignoring their bickering, I stepped forward.

Through the settling dust, another guild member I’d been desperate to see emerged.

“…….”

Broken props from the explosion crunched under my feet. The one responsible for the explosion that had turned the set into a disaster zone was likely none other than the Dragon Slayer standing before me.

That bastard had dared to harm not just me, but my family as well.

I gripped my sword tighter and twisted my face in anger.

How should I finish him off? First, I needed to make sure he couldn’t escape.

[The Authority, Advance, is now activated.]

I took a light step forward and smirked crookedly at the startled look on the Dragon Slayer’s face.

“Hello, Dragon Slayer.”

Today is your funeral, you bastard.

Clang—!!

My sword moved swiftly, only to be blocked by his. As his body didn’t falter, I immediately shifted my stance, but the damn Slayer had anticipated it. He quickly stepped back, evading my strike.

“Guild Master, your footwork in midair is flawless!”

“Shut up!!”

That damned mage wasn’t helping but instead taunting me!

The Dragon Slayer, who had retreated, adjusted his grip on his sword and narrowed his eyes slightly.

“…Why is the mage here?”

“Beats me. I don’t know how I ended up stuck with that bastard either.”

At my irritated reply, the Slayer tilted his head in curiosity, but it didn’t last long.

Clang—!

His sword came at me abruptly, and I barely managed to block it with my own.

“You bastard! Can’t you let a person finish talking?!”

At this close range, his expression remained unsettlingly calm. But in the dark depths of his jet-black eyes, I could see a strange, unidentifiable desire.

|Pr. 9th Circle Archmage|: Need a hand?
|Pr. Spirit Master|: Guild Master~^^ You’re not losing, are you?

I scowled at the messages that appeared and swung my sword forcefully. The brilliant blue arc it traced in the air was quickly dodged as the Slayer twisted his body nimbly. His movements were as swift as a flying squirrel.

How could I catch such an agile bastard?

The answer was simple.