Regression Guidelines for the Supporting Character

Chapter 15

As I arrived in the bustling area, I noticed an unusually large number of people on the streets.

Moreover, seeing people in unique outfits here and there made me wonder if there was some kind of event nearby.

“Halloween?”

My question was answered as soon as I saw the advertisement posted on the glass door of an accessory shop.

Seeing the ad for various masks perfect for Halloween Day, I finally realized that today was October 31st.

Now that I knew, I noticed the bat-shaped decorations and pumpkin lanterns everywhere, as well as the Halloween costumes people were wearing. Seeing this gave me a good idea.

‘I could use this atmosphere.’

Although I had pulled my hat down low, I was still uncomfortable showing my bare face and was about to put on a mask, but for Halloween, there was something even more fitting.

I immediately entered a nearby toy store and chose a mask that wasn’t too flashy but appropriate. The pure white mask with only eye holes was perfect for covering my face.

I put on the mask as soon as I bought it. On any other day, I might have attracted attention as an attention-seeker, but today no one gave me a second glance. Thanks to the many people on the street in even more outrageous and colorful outfits.

With this, I don’t have to worry about my face being exposed. Feeling much more at ease, I headed back to the open space.

* * *

“Hello, viewers. This is Kim Hee-jung, reporter for Hunter TV.”

Behind the reporter holding the microphone, the wide open space and Kwon Tae-hyuk talking with his secretary were visible.

“This is the stage for the upcoming ranking match! We can see Hunter Kwon Tae-hyuk, who has arrived early to prepare for the battle. It seems the mysterious opponent hunter hasn’t arrived yet.”

The camera then panned to the spectators standing outside the iron fence of the open space. Hunters from Yeseong Guild were keeping watch among the crowd holding smartphones to prevent any accidents.

“The current time is 9:50 PM! The ranking match is scheduled to start at 10 PM, just 10 minutes from now. As Hunter Kwon Tae-hyuk has stated, if the opponent doesn’t show up before 10 PM, the ranking match will be automatically voided…”

At that moment,

Before the reporter could finish speaking, the sound of people murmuring came from the opposite side, and a black shadow swiftly cut through the sky.

Tap.

Someone with nimble movements leaped over the iron fence and landed in the center of the open space.

Long, slender limbs and layered hats and a hood. Over that, a denim jacket with the word ‘Cover’ emblazoned on the back fluttered.

The sudden appearance of the man caused an immediate commotion. The reporter, also visibly excited, quickly spoke up.

“Did you see that just now? The ranking match participant has finally revealed himself! This is the hunter who boldly challenged Hunter Kwon Tae-hyuk, who has firmly held the number one ranking for the past three years!”

At the reporter’s urgent eye signal, the camera quickly turned to capture the man in the denim jacket.

‘S-rank, huh.’

Kwon Tae-hyuk also noticed the opponent’s arrival without missing a beat.

Confirming that the aura emanating from the opponent standing at an angle was that of an S-rank awakened, Kwon Tae-hyuk dismissed his secretary and slowly walked towards the man.

For some reason, the opponent who had been standing still raised his head at the sound of Kwon Tae-hyuk’s footsteps. As Kwon Tae-hyuk faced his opponent for the first time, his eyes immediately narrowed.

‘A mask?’

Since the ranking match was requested anonymously, he had wanted to see how brazen the face would be, but…

A deeply pulled-down hat, a hood, and a pure white mask covering the entire face. It was a perfect outfit that didn’t even show a single strand of hair. Does he think he’s some kind of ninja? It was absurd.

The atmosphere among the spectators also became unsettled when they realized the man had covered his face. In the tense air, Kwon Tae-hyuk folded his arms pointedly and spoke.

“Are you going to fight me looking like that?”

The opponent tilted his head slightly at Kwon Tae-hyuk’s mocking words.

“Um, I believe there are no restrictions on attire.”

It was an unexpectedly calm and pleasant voice. Which made it even more irritating.

The fact that his voice and attitude were normal despite having his entire face tightly wrapped up caused even more aversion.

‘With that level of covering, he’s definitely up to something unnecessary.’

Kwon Tae-hyuk clicked his tongue at the situation unfolding as he had expected.

Although he was also planning to use the ranking match for his own purposes, seeing such blatant signs of mischief left him exasperated.

“Fine.”

Kwon Tae-hyuk sighed and took off his suit jacket, handing it to his secretary waiting behind him.

“I’ll understand your anonymous ranking match request and your covered face. But only for now. If I win, I’ll immediately tear off that mask and destroy it.”

“Oh…”

Despite the harsh warning, the opponent’s attitude remained relaxed. After uttering an incomprehensible exclamation, the opponent stretched out his right hand.

With a faint vibrating sound, something long and black appeared in his empty hand. It was a longsword taken out from an inventory.

“I’m prepared for that much, since you accepted the ranking match I requested arbitrarily. I do have a conscience, you know.”

The opponent answered with a hint of laughter in his voice as he slowly drew his sword. Even to Kwon Tae-hyuk, it was a clean stance without any unnecessary movements.

In response, Kwon Tae-hyuk also summoned his energy. His eyes gleamed fiercely beneath his dark blue hair fluttering in the wind.

* * *

Having barely arrived at the open space on time, I couldn’t hide my shock at the crowd, which was far larger than I had anticipated.

‘No way, this many…?’

I had expected that even if onlookers gathered for this hastily arranged ranking match where no one knew who the opponent was, there would be relatively few… It seems I had been thinking too optimistically.

“Ah, this is overwhelming.”

Having climbed up a tree to avoid people’s gazes, I quietly lamented the number of spectators surrounding the open space.

Am I really supposed to fight one-on-one with Kwon Tae-hyuk in the middle of all that? There are even TV cameras! How many are there? This is crazy.

“We can see Hunter Kwon Tae-hyuk, who has arrived early to prepare for the battle. It seems the mysterious opponent hunter hasn’t arrived yet.”

The sound of the reporter speaking excitedly reached even here.

I have arrived, but I want to run away. I sighed deeply while inwardly giving the response I couldn’t actually give to the reporter.

The cheap 2,000 won mask covering my entire face was uncomfortable, the double-layered hats were stifling, and the reality of having to fight the most successful hunter in front of cameras and dozens of spectators was suffocating.

‘First they tell me to gain trust, and now they’re making a fuss about fighting…’

The more I thought about it, the more bizarre each of these so-called main quests seemed.

Become close to gain trust, but also fight to take the number one ranking? What nonsense is this? It’s fortunate that I can change my appearance with the hidden skill, otherwise one side or the other would have failed before even starting.

‘Sigh, this status window has no consistency whatsoever.’

The more I thought about it, the more frustrated and resentful I felt. Since I couldn’t back out now, I might as well stop this nonsense and just do the ranking match.

Confirming that there were 10 minutes left until the start of the ranking match, I stood on a tree branch and leaped high. Whoosh, while holding down my hat to prevent it from falling off, I jumped over the iron fence and landed precisely in the center of the open space.

“Did you see that just now? The ranking match participant has finally revealed himself!”

As soon as I entered the open space, I felt gazes pouring on me from all directions. An overwhelming pressure, on a completely different level from what I felt in the tree, weighed down on my shoulders.

“This is the hunter who boldly challenged Hunter Kwon Tae-hyuk, who has firmly held the number one ranking for the past three years!”

Yes, that’s right. I’m that stupid guy…

Swallowing my tears, I raised my head and looked at Kwon Tae-hyuk. As I appeared on time, Kwon Tae-hyuk also walked to the center of the open space and asked me,

“Are you going to fight me looking like that?”

“Um, I believe there are no restrictions on attire.”

I awkwardly smiled at the cold remark and adjusted the mask I was wearing.

It’s fortunate that it’s Halloween season. If I hadn’t bought the mask on the way here, Kwon Tae-hyuk would have seen my embarrassed expression in full.

‘It’s not like I want to fight…’

I sighed inwardly and glanced up. The status window floating above my head blinked as if urging me on.

《Main Quest: Defeat the current Rank 1 Hunter ‘Kwon Tae-hyuk’ and claim the Rank 1 position (Time remaining: 1 hour 22 minutes)》

Thanks to scheduling the ranking match date according to Kwon Tae-hyuk’s schedule, there wasn’t much time left.

To be safe in case of any unforeseen circumstances, I needed to settle this within an hour. I immediately drew out a longsword from my inventory.