Quest Assignment 1
“What the hell happened to Jeonghun? No, how did you do that to Jeonghun?”
It had been two weeks since Jeonghun completed his job change quest. In that time, he'd rejoined the raid team and entered an SS-rank dungeon. While Jeonghun was going through his job change quest, Yeji had been clearing S-rank dungeons, successfully raising her strength and mana to 1,000 each, allowing her to join the SS-rank raid as well. When the full raid team finally reunited and emerged from the SS-rank dungeon, Choi Taesu burst in out of nowhere and demanded an answer from me.
“No one gets this strong just from solo-clearing an S-rank dungeon. And that dungeon wasn't anything special either. I've cleared it myself, so I know. Which leaves only one explanation. You.”
Choi Taesu fixed me with a piercing glare.
“I was curious about how you got stronger in Switzerland, but I didn't pry. You wouldn't have told me anyway, and if it had something to do with the dungeon books, it wouldn't be useful to me. But this time, I need to hear it.”
Choi Taesu had watched me grow stronger firsthand while we were together in Switzerland. I'd figured he'd noticed something, but he hadn't let on at all. Since he never brought it up, I saw no reason to volunteer the information. But now here he was, dredging up the past and questioning what I'd done to Jeonghun—doing it in the most serious tone he'd ever used with me since we met.
As I debated whether it was safe to tell him about the quests, his mouth opened again.
“You'll tell me, right?”
***
After Choi Taesu left, Kang Taehoon showed up next.
“Guild master, I think I've put in a lot of effort for Jeonghun.”
Kang Taehoon was suddenly touting his own contributions. If Choi Taesu hadn't just been here, I might have puzzled over what he was getting at. But I'd already pieced it together from Taesu.
The raid team that entered the SS-rank dungeon had been stunned by Jeonghun's performance. In just six months, he'd become a completely different person—it was impossible not to notice. For those like Kang Taehoon, who'd watched his training progress, it felt like an overnight transformation, making it all the more shocking.
Naturally, they suspected something was up and wanted confirmation from me.
“I don't know exactly what happened to Jeonghun, but as guild master, you must know the reason. That's why you entrusted him to me. Could you tell me how he got so strong?”
Kang Taehoon, ever thirsty for power, sounded more desperate than ever. Unlike Choi Taesu, though, he didn't think it was my personal ability. He just wanted to know the method, begging rather than demanding.
***
After Choi Taesu and Kang Taehoon left, I sank into thought.
I'd been so focused on helping Jeonghun with his sudden job change quest that I hadn't considered the aftermath at all. The quest succeeding was great, but it had created suspicion among the others.
Jeonghun, the weakest in the raid team, had overnight become the third strongest hunter. A sense of unease was inevitable.
If it had stopped at mere discomfort, we might have brushed it off. But that ship had sailed. Choi Taesu and Kang Taehoon had already come by, and there were healers who'd raided with Jeonghun too. Any of them might show up with the same questions.
As I pondered, I briefly considered ignoring everyone else and only giving quests to Choi Taesu, Kang Taehoon, and a select few.
Harsh as it sounded, we could replace most raid members with others. Inquiries to join Support Guild were pouring in nonstop, especially from top-tier hunters. With our key players secured, filling the gaps would be easy.
But I dismissed the idea as soon as it surfaced.
Nah, that's not right.
I'd rather give quests to the whole raid team than play favorites.
As I wrestled with the decision, the person I'd half-expected showed up: Park Chan-yeol.
“If it's presumptuous, forgive me, but I have something to say. I know Brain Emperor and Guild Master Kang Taehoon have already visited.”
I figured he'd say the same things they had. But Park Chan-yeol surprised me.
“Don't waver. Whatever choice or decision you make, don't let outside pressure sway you—follow your own judgment as guild master. The raid team already receives massive benefits from you. No guild or raid in the world offers Support raid-level support. If some start mistaking goodwill for entitlement, cut them out decisively.”
His unexpected advice caught me off guard.
“What do you mean?”
“Word's spreading in the raid team about how Jeonghun got stronger. You've probably heard from Brain Emperor and Guild Master Kang Taehoon.”
I nodded, and he continued.
“No need to be swayed or influenced. Listening to opinions is good, but catering to every one is dumber than a dictator. Better to act like one. Especially in a guild like Support, sustained by your power—the guild master must hold the center. You don't have to indulge every raid member or guild member's tantrum.”
His fresh perspective shocked me. But what came next floored me even more.
“Even if Guild Master Kang Taehoon throws a fit, cut him if needed. Don't worry about the vacancy—Jeonghun's performance this time more than covers it. Ah, Brain Emperor might require some thought. No one can replace him, so if appeasing him is tough, a special approach just for him would be fine.”
I was genuinely stunned. Telling me to fire Kang Taehoon, just like that? What shocked me more was that Park Chan-yeol meant it. He was advising me like a strategist in my corner.
So I took his words to heart.
“When you founded the guild and recruited the raid team, recall the conviction you had then and choose wisely. Whatever you decide, I'll respect and follow it. Even Brain Emperor and Guild Master Kang Taehoon will have no choice in the end. So don't waver. I know you'll handle it, but sorry for overstepping with advice out of habit. I'll take my leave.”
With that, Park Chan-yeol left the guild master's office.
***
No one else came to the guild master's office after Park Chan-yeol.
Alone at last, I mulled over his words. That's when I understood why Kang Taehoon disliked him so much. Park Chan-yeol was an exceptional advisor.
He didn't dictate my path. He just helped me choose one without regrets.
In the end, I knew what decision to make. It was my own conviction, the same one I'd held when founding the guild and selecting raid members. No one had swayed me—I decided based on my beliefs.
And I informed the initial guild members accordingly.
“I'm going to assign quests to the other guild members too.”
From the start, I'd wanted to make Support Guild the world's strongest support guild, recruiting the raid team for SSS-rank dungeon clears. Now that I held a weapon to strengthen them, I couldn't hide it forever.
We might not even be ready for SSS-rank monsters yet. Hearing from Hespera that weapons didn't work had forced me to urgently learn metallurgy—SSS-rank dungeons were utter unknowns.
With such dungeons ahead, there was no reason to hesitate on quest assignment.
So I boldly decided to give quests to the raid team and announced it to the guild.
I'd worried they'd be shocked. But they weren't—they took it in stride, even nodding approvingly. It felt oddly surreal.
“You're not surprised?”
“We expected as much from you, guild master.”
Bang Taegeuk replied matter-of-factly.
“I figured you'd give quests to the raid team eventually. I even thought it might coincide with the SSS-rank dungeon raid.”
“Exactly. It was bound to happen someday. And the raid team's already so hooked on your gear they couldn't betray us if they tried—. Add quests, and they'll be kissing your feet?”
“Still, we should be cautious, right? If word leaks out, you'll be in trouble, guild master.”
Taehee, Taeju, and Geonmin chimed in agreement. Their reaction was natural yet awkward, leaving me at a loss. Still, I was grateful for their support.
“Oh, and I'm planning to assign quests to the enchanters at the Enchanter Workshop too.”
They were part of our fold now. If anything, the enchanters were even more devoted to me than the raid team. They lived like it was paradise, praising me daily.
I'd even freaked out once seeing my photo plastered at the workshop entrance.
So when I decided on the raid team, I resolved to include the Enchanter Workshop.
I immediately summoned Choi Deokhui and Kim Seungmin to assign their quests.
Will you use 100 mana to assign a quest to player Choi Deokhui?
NPC affinity is high, reducing mana cost by 50%.
Will you use 50 mana to assign a quest to player Choi Deokhui?
[Yes] / [No]
Choi Deokhui and Kim Seungmin were already brimming with affinity for me, so the mana cost was low, as expected. And as anticipated, they freaked out upon receiving the quests.
“G-Guild master! Wh-What is this?”
“Gasp! H-How did you... A quest?!”
Seeing them so flustered after so long brought a warm smile to my face.
“This is another of my abilities. Due to its nature, I couldn't reveal it lightly—hence why I'm sharing it now. I hope you weren't too put out.”
“Of course not! With an ability like this, you'd have to be cautious.”
“Exactly. We'd never feel slighted. Thank you for giving us this chance now.”
They waved it off emphatically, showing no trace of resentment—just wide-eyed wonder and gratitude.
“I'm glad you see it that way. Could you bring the others one by one? I'll assign quests to them too.”
Having given quests to Choi Deokhui and Kim Seungmin, I planned to extend it to the rest of the enchanters. But their expressions turned subtly odd.
“What's wrong?”
I asked, sensing something off, and their unexpected reply shocked me.
“You probably don't need to give quests to the others. They'd hate it.”
“Wh-What do you mean?”
Quests they hated? Stunned, I pressed, and Kim Seungmin handed me a document.
“What's this?”
“The workshop staff's vacation schedule.”
The paper was packed with vacation dates—three or four per day at minimum.
As I set it down, Choi Deokhui spoke apologetically.
“Not every hunter craves power. Many just want to live safely within their limits. Our enchanters fit that perfectly. They're blissfully happy right now—unmatched in the world. Giving them quests would drag them back to their old hellish lives, and they'd resist hard.”
I was dumbfounded, but with both Choi Deokhui and Kim Seungmin insisting, I had no choice but to drop it. Their sincerity was palpable; I couldn't shatter their peace over it.
And so, only Choi Deokhui and Kim Seungmin got quests from the Enchanter Workshop. Next up: the raid team.
To be continued in the next chapter...