Regression Guidelines For the Supporting Character-Chapter 84

"Why are you here?"

Of all times and places... I didn’t expect to run into Eun Woojeong here.

Flabbergasted, I asked, only for him to shrug like I’d just asked the very question he was planning to throw at me.

“Why else would I come to Gwanghwamun? Obviously, to attend the event happening here.”

“...You're saying you're attending this fashion show too, Mr. Eun Woojeong?”

“Yes.”

He answered without hesitation, then tilted his head with a smiling face when he saw my displeased reaction.

“Why? Does it sound like a lie?”

“No, I just...”

I couldn’t bring myself to respond, so I glanced at Kwon Taehyuk. He looked equally caught off guard, his face complicated in several ways.

The reason Eun Woojeong’s explanation was so baffling was simple—we’d already checked the list of attendees for the fashion show in advance. His name wasn’t on it.

In fact, we’d been extra thorough about it, precisely because there were rumors that several celebrities had been invited. That’s why we’d felt reassured.

“Hm.”

As Taehyuk and I exchanged glances, Eun Woojeong let out a knowing smile, the corners of his eyes crinkling with amusement.

“I originally had something else scheduled, but it got canceled, so I decided to come here instead. I wanted to keep a low profile, so I waited until everyone else had gone in.”

“...Huh.”

He decided to show up last minute, and the organizers just let that happen? Even if he’s a top-tier actor, is that really how it works?

‘Wait, this isn’t what I should be focusing on right now.’

I shook off the unnecessary thoughts, forced a smile, and stepped back.

“I see. Then you should go ahead and head in. We have other matters to attend to, so we’ll be—”

Before I could finish my polite goodbye, implying we should go our separate ways, Eun Woojeong cut in.

“Those ‘other matters’ wouldn’t happen to involve sneaking into the fashion show, would they?”

“No, they wouldn’t.”

“Oh, I see. I just thought... since you were talking about hopping fences, maybe you were trying to sneak into the event.”

“Did I say that? Not sure what you’re talking about. Maybe you were dreaming?”

I smiled and shot back shamelessly, but he didn’t let up.

“I was going to warn you that wouldn’t be a great plan, but that’s a shame.”

What?

I narrowed my eyes without meaning to, and Eun Woojeong continued.

“They said fans swarmed the venue to catch a glimpse of an idol attending the show. Originally, security was only covering the immediate area, but now it’s tight all the way out to the street past the wall.”

“....”

That was news to me—I was left speechless.

It made sense there’d be plenty of staff and security around, since a lot of famous people were gathered here, but I hadn’t expected it to escalate because of fans.

Still... I couldn’t shake my suspicions. Him suddenly showing up like this felt off.

‘Even if the system designated him as a “Main Character,” that doesn’t mean I can fully trust him...’

I glanced up at Eun Woojeong’s face as he looked down at me, his lips curled in a faint smile. The more I looked at him, the less trustworthy he seemed.

“We should check it out for ourselves,” Kwon Taehyuk suggested calmly, having silently watched our back-and-forth. He meant we should go to the entrance of the National Folk Museum as originally planned.

Considering how they interacted before, I’d assumed they knew each other well. But Taehyuk didn’t seem to take Eun Woojeong’s words at face value either. Unexpected.

“I think so too. Mr. Eun Woojeong, let’s talk again if we get the chance.”

I quickly nodded and turned away from him.

Ryu Sunghyun, who wasn’t familiar with Woojeong, stayed quiet and followed me without a word, while Kwon Taehyuk gave a curt nod to Woojeong before moving.

I’d hoped we could finally go our separate ways, but the footsteps trailing behind us were annoyingly persistent.

“...What is it now?”

Unable to take it anymore, I spun around and asked. Eun Woojeong blinked innocently.

“I need to go inside too. Can’t I go with you?”

“Gwanghwamun is literally right there. You’re seriously going all the way with us to the museum entrance?”

“Well, both of you clearly don’t believe me, so I figured I’d tag along and make you admit I was right.”

His voice lifted playfully at the end. It was infuriating.

‘What’s this bastard really after? Does he have some other agenda?’

Knowing he was the leader of that cursed intel group, Spiderweb, made his persistence all the more suspicious.

How the hell do I get rid of this fox?

I was racking my brain when Kwon Taehyuk sighed and stepped in.

“Enough, both of you. Let’s go. We have too much to do to waste more time here.”

He wasn’t wrong. The sky had already grown noticeably darker during that short exchange.

I glared at Eun Woojeong once more, then reluctantly nodded.

“...Fine.”

***

When we reached the alley across from the National Folk Museum entrance, we saw guards stationed in front of a closed iron gate. They stood spaced out just far enough to make climbing the wall impossible. Worse still, they were all Awakeners, making a stealthy approach nearly impossible.

Ryu Sunghyun looked at the guards with a grim expression, then asked quietly:

“What should we do?”

“Hm...”

With access to the event cut off, this was a serious snag.

To be honest, I’d considered several scenarios for what to do after meeting Kwak Seunggyu, but I had assumed sneaking in wouldn’t be a problem. I didn’t really worry about it.

And it made sense. At first, I thought it would just be me and Kwon Taehyuk, both S-rank. He could carry me over the wall in a second. Even with Sunghyun joining us, he was also S-rank, so slipping in unnoticed would’ve been easy.

‘I didn’t expect fangirls to tighten security like this...’

What a headache.

I couldn’t think of any alternative, so I just rubbed at my lips. Then Eun Woojeong chimed in again.

“Didn’t have a backup plan, huh? Stuff like this happens all the time at events with celebrities.”

Why is this asshole so intent on sticking his nose in?

“Well, since it turns out you were telling the truth, maybe now’s the time for you to leave?”

I swallowed my irritation and asked seriously. But the bastard ignored me and addressed Kwon Taehyuk instead.

“If you really must get inside, wouldn’t it be better to reveal your identity and request access? If you do that, they won’t publicize that the Guildmaster of Yesung was present.”

“The media isn’t the issue. I just don’t want word spreading that I was here.”

“Ahh.”

Letting out a soft sound of realization, Eun Woojeong blinked like he finally understood.

“So your target is someone inside the event, then?”

Kwon Taehyuk averted his gaze. Regardless, we all agreed on one thing: having Eun Woojeong here was uncomfortable.

‘This is bad.’

Taehyuk was right—we didn’t have much time. The event would wrap up in four hours at most, then move to a hotel for the afterparty.

And the afterparty would be indoors. Security there would be even tighter. If we were going to catch Kwak Seunggyu, it had to be now, during the event.

I forced down my growing anxiety and tried to come up with alternate ways to sneak past the guards when—

Bzzzz!

A vibration buzzed from somewhere. I checked my coat pocket and found the phone Kwon Taehyuk had given me earlier buzzing hard.

Was it Cha Sahyeon calling? Alarmed, I pulled it out quickly—but no, it was an unfamiliar number.

“Guildmaster Kwon. Do you recognize this number?”

I showed him the screen. He made a puzzled face, then shook his head.

“No. Answer it.”

“Me? Why me?”

It was his phone, not ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) mine. I only answered calls from my little sibling.

“The child may have borrowed someone’s phone to call you.”

“Ah.”

Not impossible. I nodded in thanks and answered the call.

The moment I brought the phone to my ear—

“Hyung!”

The cheery voice on the other end instantly made my face contort in horror.

“You—how the hell...”

“You want to get inside, right?”

“What?”

“Seoyul-ie will guide you~”

“What the... Wait—what—!”

Before I could process the shock, the call cut off.

The three standing near me all snapped their heads toward something behind me.

They’d sensed something. Something only S-ranks could feel.

A moment later, I too heard footsteps approaching.

A wave of dread crashed down on me. I slowly turned my stiff neck toward the alley behind us...

...and from the dark shadows, a familiar figure strolled out at a leisurely pace.

“Hyuuuung~!”

Messy hair swayed with each step. Today, his piercings glittered more than usual, decked out in multicolored gems.

Kwon Seoyul was walking toward me, waving both hands like we were at a happy reunion.