Quest Assignment 2
Despite the sudden summons to this emergency meeting, not a trace of dissatisfaction showed on the raid team members' faces. If anything, their expressions were an even split of curiosity and eager anticipation. Especially in Choi Taesu and Kang Taehoon's eyes burned a madness that defied description.
"I've gathered you all today to reveal one important fact."
No sooner had I finished speaking than the air in the auditorium shifted. From the 27 raid members—excluding Bang Taegeuk, Kang Jeonghun, and Ha Yeji—poured waves of fervor and raw desire. The looks they fixed on me brimmed with such frenzy that laser beams shooting from their eyes wouldn't have seemed out of place.
Basking in their expectations, I cut straight to the chase.
"Rather than explain, it'll be faster if you experience it yourselves. I'll fill in the details afterward."
Starting with Choi Taesu, I began assigning quests to the raid members.
"Wh-what the hell? Y-you... what the fuck are you?!"
Choi Taesu, who received the quest first, recoiled a step in shock and bellowed. Those who got theirs next showed reactions no different. One by one, they gasped in astonishment, their gazes toward me transforming into a cocktail of shock and terror.
While they reeled in surprise, I was stunned too. My current mana sat at 1,597—normally not enough to assign quests to all 27 at once. I'd planned to prioritize those with high NPC affinity levels, since that reduced the mana cost.
But incredibly, every single one of them had high affinity, letting me assign quests for just 50 mana each. I'd figured their affinities would be decent, but I hadn't confirmed the exact numbers since it wasn't something I could check directly. I'd barely even chatted one-on-one with most of them, so I had no clue what they thought of me. This outcome was beyond my wildest expectations.
Yet here we were: every last one clocking in high enough. Even I was floored.
For a brief moment, we all just stared at each other in mutual shock. As they started to calm down, I spoke up again.
"I probably don't need to say this much, but since it's the most common question—yes, I'm human. Kang Suho, guild master of Support Guild, as you all know. Just think of the quest as a slightly unusual ability."
"No fucking way! How the hell is this 'slightly unusual'? We're like game characters already, sure, but quests? You expect us to just swallow that?!"
My so-called explanation didn't convince Choi Taesu. The rest of the team nodded in agreement.
"Then how about thinking of hunters as players... and me as the quest-giving NPC?"
Sometimes words bypass the brain entirely and spill straight from the gut. People usually call that shitting your mouth off. And yeah, I'd just done exactly that—outing myself as an NPC.
Luckily, they took it as a joke.
"Dude, that's some makgeolli-level bullshit. This is reality, not a game."
"Exactly. What're you gonna do, just accept having an ability like this?"
Then Choi Taesu's eyes lit up, and he suddenly nodded as if it all made sense.
"Yeah. Right."
He abruptly ended the conversation, which struck me as odd, but I was relieved things were wrapping up. I'd expected shock at the quests, but their reactions blew past anything I'd imagined—way more intense than even the guild members' first time.
Honestly, I couldn't quite wrap my head around it. Hunters existed in a realm beyond normal comprehension to begin with, and these raid members were the cream of that crop. More of them had rare classes that drew envy from other hunters than ones like Kang Taehoon's standard build.
They were used to jealousy and admiration from their peers, so their freakout over my ability didn't add up. Sure, quests were fundamentally different from any hunter power so far, but still.
Just when I thought Choi Taesu's acceptance had settled things, Kang Taehoon piped up.
"Guild master, I've got a question. My quest reward is +10 Strength. It's not bad by any means, but it doesn't quite explain Jeonghun's growth trajectory."
His sharp query drew all eyes back to me.
"Yes, that's right—this isn't all. Keep repeating these quests, and eventually, you'll get a Job Change Quest."
I went on to explain the job change quest, and the auditorium, which had quieted, erupted once more. But this time, it was different—no chaos. A heavy silence descended instead.
Gulp.
Someone swallowing dryly echoed like thunder.
Suddenly, Choi Taesu activated Leap, smashing through the auditorium doors. Kang Taehoon chased after. Before ten seconds had passed, every raid member had vanished.
I watched their backs with a dumbfounded stare.
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"You can really read Dungeon Books, right?"
Choi Taesu, who'd bolted from the auditorium, returned less than five hours later after completing his quest and hit me with that out-of-left-field question. In that instant, his earlier sudden acceptance clicked— he'd pegged my quest ability as stemming from a Dungeon Book.
"Yes, that's correct."
"Knew it. So, if I learned from you, could I read them too?"
My hunch was spot on.
"No, it's not something I can teach."
"Figures. Damn, what a shame."
Regret dripped from his voice.
"One more thing—got any other powers you haven't revealed?"
I answered with a faint smile. He let out a hollow chuckle.
"The world has no clue about you. Triple class was just the tip of the iceberg? What the hell are you scheming? World domination or some shit?"
I met it with another light smile.
"Fuck me. How'd I end up tangled with a guy like you?"
His words clashed with the grin spreading across his face.
"No idea where you're headed, but I'll stick it out to the end. And don't expect any formal bullshit from me—I don't do that crap."
"Even if you offered, I'd pass. Hearing honorifics from the Brain Emperor would give me chills all over."
"Knew I didn't like you from the jump."
His smile betrayed the words, but it didn't feel off at all. Somehow, I felt closer to Choi Taesu now. Excluding the original guild members and Lee Musin, he'd always known the most about me and been the closest. But from this moment, it felt like we'd leveled up even further.
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Right after Choi Taesu left, Kang Taehoon showed up like they'd planned it.
What the hell? Are these guys pulling numbers and waiting in line? No way someone's lurking outside right now...
My thought as Kang Taehoon entered the guild master's office turned real in seconds—Park Chan-yeol trailed right behind.
"Did you complete the quest?"
With no other obvious reason for a visit, I checked their quest statuses. Both done, so I assigned new ones on the spot.
"Thanks. But I've got something else to discuss besides the quest."
"Sure. Have a seat. Tea? Coffee?"
I didn't care for anything but water—a habit from pre-hunter days that stuck even after awakening. Back then, it was to save cash; now, with money no issue, it was just routine. Until recently, the office had only a water purifier.
But as visitors ramped up, I realized I needed options and stocked the place. Not that I drank any myself.
They went for coffee. After a sip, Kang Taehoon got to it.
"I'm back about that guild membership issue I mentioned before."
"Wasn't that settled already?"
All raid hunters had switched to Support Guild, except two: Kang Taehoon and Park Chan-yeol, still tied to their old guild.
Park Chan-yeol had wanted to join us, but Kang Taehoon's fierce opposition kept him in Elysion Guild. If he'd bailed right away, it'd cause chaos there. Sure, he was vice guild master, but Elysion wasn't so haphazard that one departure would tank it—he'd built its systems meticulously.
Without him, final decisions might lag, but operations would roll on. Kang Taehoon could handle it, or I could pitch in till things stabilized.
But then the situation flipped overnight—more Elysion hunters defected to our raid team.
Excluding those two, four others from Elysion joined Support Raid Team. The kicker? They were part leaders or pillar members of their divisions.
All of 1st Raid Team's part leaders jumping ship at once? Chaos was inevitable. Rumors swirled, some even quitting.
In that mess, Kang Taehoon leaving was one thing—but Park Chan-yeol too? Impossible. So they stayed as exceptions.
Why bring it up now? I tilted my head, puzzled. Park Chan-yeol spoke up.
"Let me explain. First, one question: Do you plan to expand the number of raid teams, guild master?"
What? More raid teams?
"We might recruit extras depending on SSS-rank dungeon needs, but no plans to add whole teams."
I wanted to grow Support Guild, but not explode overnight. I was already solo-managing the current ones—more would overload me. No matter my workaholic streak, that was too much.
I stated it clearly, but Park Chan-yeol read between the lines.
"Is it a support issue? What if we limit to partial aid—like potions only, or some gear? Could you handle more teams that way? Or even with zero support, would you form Support Guild raid teams?"
His persistence on expansion baffled me. He wasn't the pushy type I'd known.
"I honestly can't follow, Vice Guild Master Park. Why are you pressing me on adding raid teams?"
To be continued in the next chapter...