Clink, clatter.
The only sound in the room filled with stillness was the clinking of dishes.
The food was unbelievably good, but I couldn’t just keep eating in silence. I didn’t want to waste the opportunity Kwon Taehyuk had set up for me.
“I feel like I should be the one treating you. I owe you both my life from that day.”
As expected, when I brought up the safest topic I could think of, Ryu Sunghyun took the bait.
“No need. If you think about it, I was simply following Hunter Kwon Taehyuk’s orders.”
Like water flowing downstream, Ryu Sunghyun shifted all the credit to Kwon Taehyuk. But Kwon Taehyuk, apparently not eager to insert himself into our back-and-forth, opened his mouth.
“We probably wouldn’t have won without Hunter Cha Seohu’s support.”
Honestly, the reason those monsters swarmed us in the first place was because I had pissed off Cha Sahyeon. Eating with these two, who had no idea of the real cause, made me feel a bit guilty.
Still, since Kwon Taehyuk had brought up the topic of support, it was the perfect segue. I wasn’t about to miss my chance. I turned to Ryu Sunghyun.
“Actually, I accepted the Yesung Guildmaster’s offer recently and visited the Uidong Rift.”
“Ah, I heard about that. So you were there too, Hunter Cha Seohu.”
“Yes. I’m not sure how helpful I was, but for me, it was a valuable experience.”
“With your skills, I’m sure you were more than helpful.”
“You think so?”
I smiled slightly at him and continued.
“What about you, Vice-Guildmaster?”
“Yes?”
“Is there anything I can help with?”
“......”
Ryu Sunghyun stared at me with an unreadable expression before replying.
“No, nothing.”
A clean, polite rejection—delivered with a faint, awkward smile.
I had expected this reaction. I didn’t let it discourage me and pressed on.
“As you probably know, our guild was just formed. It’s just me and my little sister right now, so I’ve been doing anything and everything I can.”
“......”
He listened in silence, then lowered his head slightly, avoiding my gaze.
“Well... I think the person who could help you more in that regard is the Guildmaster of Yesung, sitting next to you.”
“Supporters are needed everywhere.”
The smile on Ryu Sunghyun’s lips disappeared. His mouth tightened into a firm line, and for a moment, silence fell.
The tension in the room had grown heavier—far more than before. I held down my growing anxiety and waited for his response.
Honestly, I wanted to tell him to stop being stubborn and just take me in as a mercenary, but saying that would only make things worse.
Finally, after a long pause, Ryu Sunghyun slowly set down his chopsticks.
“Yes, that’s true. We do need a supporter right now, and we are actively looking.”
“Then...”
“But we’re not planning to ask Hunter Cha Seohu.”
His mouth curled into a slight smile again, but his voice was cold and firm—nothing like the expression on his face.
His direct rejection pierced me like a needle to the chest. I forced myself to stay calm and asked, suppressing my hurt.
“Why only me?”
“Your records say you’re a B-rank supporter, but isn’t your real rank much higher?”
“......”
“In the competition match, the participating guilds share information about each other's ranks and skills. That means the Ronik Guild will think you’re just a B-rank.”
“Supporters are in low supply. Their rank doesn’t affect the outcome that much.”
“Even so, there’s a huge difference between B-rank and S-rank.”
“Whatever rank of supporter the Circle Guild brings, Ronik will just send in their highest-ranking one.”
What I meant was: why is the weaker side stressing about this when the stronger side doesn’t even care?
Do you really think Ronik Guild would downgrade their supporter just because the Circle Guild brings in a B- or C-rank?
No way. They’d sooner laugh in our faces than make such a noble decision.
“You know that supporters have limited roles in competitive matches.”
You can’t perfectly match all participants by rank. So you try to balance the average—if the dealer is a little weak, you send a stronger tank to make up for it.
And the loosest position in that whole structure is the supporter. They're rare, and since both teams receive support, the difference isn’t usually that noticeable.
They’re indispensable, yet invisible. That’s the role of a supporter in competition.
“Sure. Because you’re not really a B-rank—you’re an S-rank.”
Ryu Sunghyun responded flatly, then took a sip of water and stood up.
“I appreciate the offer, but my answer won’t change.”
“Vice-Guildmaster.”
“I’ll be going now. Thank you. Enjoy the rest of your meal.”
He bowed to both me and Kwon Taehyuk, then left the room without looking back once. I stared blankly at the empty seat he’d just vacated when Kwon Taehyuk spoke.
“You expected a rejection, didn’t you?”
“I did, but...”
I hadn’t thought my rank would be the dealbreaker. I was too focused on our awkward relationship to even consider it.
“...This won’t do. I need to step out for a moment.”
If I let him walk out now, the match would happen without me ever getting another chance to persuade him. I had to try again.
I excused myself and rushed out of the room. Once outside the restaurant, I spotted Ryu Sunghyun walking across the garden.
“Vice-Guildmaster!”
He flinched and turned around with a startled look. I quickly approached him.
“If my rank’s the issue, I’ll get re-evaluated.”
“...Hunter Cha Seohu.”
“There’s bound to be rank disparities in other positions. I’m the one who can help close that gap. You’ve experienced my support, haven’t you?”
“......”
“We have to win. You didn’t accept the match just to lose. So...”
“Hunter Cha Seohu.”
Ryu Sunghyun cut me off and looked down at me with an unreadable expression.
“You seem far too interested in our guild.”
“......”
“There must be a reason you’re still staying registered as B-rank. And now you’re willing to throw that away just to participate in one match? I don’t understand your motive.”
He sighed deeply, forcing his expression to relax.
“Trying to fight fairly in a match we accepted—regardless of the opponent. Is that... such a terrible idea?”
“...No.”
“I understand your concern. But we have plenty of places we can turn to for help. We’ll handle it quietly and do everything we can to win. {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} There’s no need for you to step forward and go through re-evaluation.”
“......”
“Then I’ll be going.”
Turning his back on me, Ryu Sunghyun walked away without hesitation. Failing once again to convince him, I lowered my head, weighed down by frustration.
He wasn’t wrong. As someone officially registered as B-rank, hiding my true abilities to join the match really wasn’t... something to be proud of.
Even if it had been the Circle Guildmaster instead of Ryu Sunghyun, the answer would’ve been the same.
‘Even if I get re-evaluated now, the result won’t change...’
If anything, it’d make him even more wary.
Ryu Sunghyun already saw me as suspicious. If I pushed my image further, he might start avoiding me altogether.
“...Sigh.”
Nothing ever goes right. I let out a frustrated sigh and trudged back toward the room.
“You failed, didn’t you?”
Without even looking up, Kwon Taehyuk read my dejected mood perfectly. That was annoying. I sat back down after patting the patiently waiting Cha Sahyeon on the head.
“I figured it wouldn’t be easy, but I didn’t expect it to go this badly.”
“I’m not close with him, but even during the time I’ve known him, Hunter Ryu Sunghyun has always been like that.”
“Is that so.”
I gave a bitter laugh.
I knew better than anyone how consistent Ryu Sunghyun’s personality was. That was why I liked him in the first place.
Even if I didn’t always understand it, his unwavering values made me proud to call him an ally.
‘I really am ridiculous.’
I liked and respected him for being that way... and now I was annoyed by his inflexibility. Ryu Sunghyun had done what he always did—stuck to his principles.
My resolve to somehow help the Circle Guild win shattered with one rejection. Not that there was any other way to go about it now that he’d told me I wasn’t needed.
“...If you really are just worried about the Circle Guild losing, without any hidden motive, I can talk to Hunter Ryu Sunghyun and send some of our guild members to assist.”
Maybe seeing how hopeless I looked, Kwon Taehyuk offered those words like a form of consolation.
Right. They’ll still need mercenaries anyway. And if they’re from Kwon Taehyuk’s guild, they’ll be far more dependable.
I nodded weakly.
“Yes, please do.”

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