Regression Guidelines For the Supporting Character-Chapter 17

“Mmm...”

Even I was a bit thrown off by what had just happened, but I couldn’t just stand there like an idiot. For Kwon Taehyuk’s dignity, if nothing else, I figured it was best to clean this up quickly.

What should I do? After a moment of thought, I lifted Kwon Taehyuk into my arms.

As I supported his back and the backs of his knees, the crowd around us stirred again.

Looking around, I spotted several people in suits drenched in cold sweat, watching me. They were the secretaries who had spoken to Kwon Taehyuk before the ranking match began.

‘Guess I’ll just hand him over to them.’

Still holding Kwon Taehyuk, I walked in their direction, the spotlight trailing me. At this point, it felt too awkward to tell them to turn it off, so I just let it be.

“Excuse me.”

“Y-yes?!”

As I approached, the secretaries looked completely frozen, unsure what to do. Their faces had gone ghostly pale. I felt a bit bad seeing them like that, so I decided to wrap things up quickly and get out of here.

“Here.”

Right after I said it, it felt like I was returning a borrowed item, so I quickly added—

“Please take him.”

“......”

Ah. That kind of sounded like I was handing over a pet or something.

While I was mentally flinching from my own string of awkward phrasing, one of the secretaries finally snapped out of it and pointed to a nearby bench.

“Y-you can set him down over here...”

“Ah, sure.”

I carefully laid Kwon Taehyuk down on the bench.

He slumped over, his head falling to the side since he was still unconscious. The whole scene gave off a strangely pitiful air.

‘Sorry. But... I don’t really think this was my fault...’

If anything, isn’t it his fault for getting hit dead-on by a trait that only has a 0.3% activation chance? Still, I gave him a silent apology in my head.

‘Thanks for the Rank 1 spot. I’ll enjoy it.’

If he wants it back, he’s welcome to challenge me next time.

Sending off that silent farewell, I turned without regret. Kwon Taehyuk was with... well, his people, so there was nothing left for me to do here.

“Wait! Challenger—no, new Rank 1 Hunter!”

A sharp-eyed reporter quickly sensed that things had calmed down and rushed over.

“Can you tell us your affiliation and your name? Is the mask part of your planned image?”

“No interviews.”

Dodging the mic shoved in my face, I jumped and soared cleanly over the steel fence—just like when I first arrived. Leaving the awe-struck spectators behind, I dashed toward a nearby building.

“Catch him!”

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“Get him—he has to do an interview!”

“Where’d he go?!”

As soon as I slipped into the building, broadcast staff ran past the entrance. Once all the noise faded away, I let out a breath and slumped down on the stairs.

“This is insane...”

It still didn’t feel real. I actually beat Kwon Taehyuk? I’m Rank 1 now?

It was a fight I’d only taken on because of a quest, and yet I ended up winning thanks to that ridiculous trait. Taking off the mask, I wiped my face with my hand.

‘Wait a sec... Did the system plan this from the start?’

It made me fight Kwon Taehyuk, then activated the trait at a perfect moment. The timing was too perfect—it was hard not to think it had been orchestrated.

“And the reward... what even is this?”

I reopened the system window I hadn’t had the chance to check earlier due to all the chaos.

《Main Quest clear reward granted.》

《Kwon Taehyuk’s Affection Level has increased!》

Affection level? So the ‘Quest Success: ○○ increases’ line had been referring to Kwon Taehyuk’s affection, huh. And if I’d failed, it would’ve dropped?

‘I don’t need that... or do I?’

Either way, the main quest’s goal was to earn the trust of the key characters, and Kwon Taehyuk was one of them. So gaining his affection was technically a win.

“...Wait. But isn’t that affection for this body?”

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So what, do I have to keep using this form every time I deal with Kwon Taehyuk now? I had no other way to beat him in my {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} original form, so it was the only choice—but still, it left a bitter taste in my mouth.

What kind of guy increases his affection for someone who just beat him and stole his Rank 1 spot?

“Hah...”

I let out a dry laugh and stood up.

I didn’t really get it, but whatever. At least I’d cleared another quest.

Hopefully the next one is easier. Something like Take a bath with Cha Sahyeon. If I get another quest like this one, I might actually die.

“Let’s go home...”

Worried that my outfit might give me away, I pulled off my hat and ruffled my flattened hair back into place. I took off the denim jacket and slung it over my arm.

I kept the mask tucked into my hoodie pocket—never know when I might need it again.

‘Better stop by a pharmacy on the way.’

The pain hit me all at once. Not just from the blade wounds, but from rolling around on the ground. My whole body ached like it was screaming.

“Haa...”

I let out a sigh at the mess I’d become.

***

“Ugh, jeez.”

Avoiding people as best I could, I returned home the same way I’d left—jumping up to the second-floor window from the back alley.

My movements were a bit heavier this time, but I managed to perch on the windowsill without falling.

‘Sahyeon should be asleep by now, right?’

It was almost midnight. She usually went to bed around 10, so she should have been out cold by now.

I quietly climbed down and closed the window behind me. But the moment I turned around—

A dark silhouette popped up on the couch, and I nearly screamed.

“What the hell?!”

“......”

Flicking on the light in a panic, I saw Cha Sahyeon sitting silently on the sofa. My heart pounded like it was about to burst out of my chest.

“Hey, kiddo, why are you sitting here instead of sleeping?”

She sat like a doll, expressionless, and slowly lifted her head at my question. Her eyes, half-shadowed, almost looked accusatory.

“Seriously, waiting up this late? I told you I’d come back.”

I clutched my chest, trying to calm down. As I approached, grumbling, she fidgeted and averted her gaze.

“If you keep this up, you’re not gonna grow. You’ll regret it later when you’re still short.”

Thanks to the body I’d switched into, I was looking down at her from a much taller height than usual.

I had to bend down to meet her eye, which caused one of the wounds on my thigh to burst again, blood spilling down.

Goddammit, that stings.

“Go lie down already. Next time, don’t wait up for me even if I’m late, got it?”

Since I was covered in blood and dirt, I stayed a few steps away. But Sahyeon suddenly flung herself into my arms.

“Hey, can’t you see how filthy I am? Get off.”

She just shook her head and buried her face even deeper in my neck.

Ugh. Now she’s got dirt and blood all over her, too. I wanted to scold her, but her warm body made my tension melt away.

“You’re gonna drive me crazy, you know that?”

Grumbling, I stood up with her in my arms.

“I’ll give you a bath, so you better earn your keep—help patch me up or something.”

As I made my way to the bathroom, she nodded eagerly. Figures. She only listens when it’s convenient.

She hugged me like this from time to time, but today it felt more desperate than usual. I narrowed my eyes at the sight of her small hands clinging to my clothes with white-knuckled intensity.

‘Is this that separation anxiety people talk about?’

She must’ve thought I wasn’t coming back. That I’d left her behind. That’s why she waited up, unable to sleep, just to see if I’d come back or not.

‘This is gonna be a long road.’

The quests alone were tough, and now I had to manage a kid’s emotional health on top of it.

I understood why she felt anxious—but I couldn’t let this go unchecked. I couldn’t have her sitting up every time I stepped out, trembling in fear.

“Hey, kiddo.”

I patted her back and spoke honestly.

“I’m sorry, but I’m not as good of an adult as you think I am.”

“......”

“If I wanted to abandon you, I’d just say it to your face and walk out.”

I set her down and looked her in the eye. Her gaze sparkled strangely.

“So unless I say I’m leaving, don’t worry about it. If I say I’ll come back, then I will. Got it?”

She blinked and stared blankly for a moment, then gave a small nod.

I hadn’t wanted to make a fake promise like “I’ll never leave you.” Saying something like that, full of uncertainty, would only weigh me down. This way felt more honest—and surprisingly, she took it well. I expected her to cry or break down, but her mental fortitude was stronger than I thought.