The Returnee’s Guild Must Grow Properly

So that’s what this was about… trying to figure out what kind of trouble he was getting into.

“Why did you meet with Guild Master Do Hajun’s sister?”

“Do Hajun…?”

“I mean Do Haun.”

Kang Hasu subtly baited the conversation, but Doby didn’t bite.

“That’s none of your concern, Director.”

Doby wasn’t about to engage. Despite his resemblance to the Demon King, Doby was a man who lacked his worst qualities.

Kang Hasu silently clicked his tongue in disappointment but parked his car in front of the historical drama set where Doby’s shoot was taking place.

“Manager Kim should be arriving shortly. Until then, please don’t cause any trouble, Doby. Understood?”

There was something commanding in Kang Hasu’s voice, making Doby nod unconsciously.

Kang Hasu seemed satisfied with this reaction, his smile growing more relaxed.
“Ah, here’s Manager Kim now. Well, Doby, have a good shoot.”

Once again, Doby found himself nodding before he could process it. Something in those last words, Have a good shoot, made him gulp involuntarily.

As he stepped out of the car, he glanced back to glare at Kang Hasu, who simply smiled with that same disarming, friendly demeanor.

Doby clicked his tongue in frustration and left the vehicle, striding toward his manager, who was waiting nearby.

As Kang Hasu drove away from the set, his phone rang, and he connected the call via Bluetooth.

“Hello, this is Kang Hasu.”

―“Director, Deputy Guild Master of Haun’s Guild is here to see you.”

“Ah, they’ve arrived already.”

The Deputy Guild Master had mentioned wanting to inquire about an intruder at the center. Kang Hasu felt a pang of unease but maintained his pleasant tone.

“I’ll be there shortly. Please ask them to wait a bit longer.”

―“Understood, Director.”

Kang Hasu had no idea.

He should’ve taken his time pressing the accelerator and delayed his arrival at the agency as much as possible.

******

[H-Entertainment Headquarters]

The agency’s name was plastered in large letters on the building’s wall, a sight I’d grown utterly sick of. I had no idea this was where Do Hain meant to take me when he suggested getting some fresh air.

“The Director says he’ll be here shortly. We apologize for the wait.”

“Oh, no need to apologize. Please let him know he can take his time,” Do Hain said with a perfectly polite smile.

That fake smile of his made my skin crawl, and I rubbed my arms to stave off the goosebumps.

“You complain if I’m even a little late…” I muttered.

“Are you and the Director the same? Now be quiet. We’re not here to mess around.”

Damn it, Hain!

Who takes someone out for fresh air just to drag them to their workplace?! If I’d known we were coming here, I would’ve stayed home!

As I pouted, Hain chuckled softly.
“Once we’re done here, we can head to Namsan Tower. You like high places, right?”

“A place higher than Namsan Tower.”

“Hey.”

“Use your skill.”

Normally, he would flat-out refuse and jump away at the mere suggestion, but now, groaning and sighing, he eventually nodded. Grinning widely, I gave Do Hain a thumbs-up. In response, Do Hain calmly folded my thumb back down. Not one to back down, I raised it again, and naturally, he folded it once more.

While Do Hain and I were fooling around, there was a light knock on the door, and it swung open.

“Ah, sorry I’m late! I tried to get here quickly, but, uh…”

Kang Hasu froze mid-sentence, his breath hitching as he caught sight of me sitting beside Do Hain. I flashed him a playful smile and sent a message.

|Pr. Godslayer (Guild Master)|: Spirit Master, hi~ㅎ
|Pr. Spirit Master|: W-WHAT!!! Why are YOU here, Guild Master?!!!

Kang Hasu’s eyes grew impossibly wide. I sneered at him in response.

|Pr. Godslayer (Guild Master)|: I’m just here with my little brother. Problem?
|Pr. Spirit Master|: LITTLE BROTHER~?

I shrugged at his incoming message. Meanwhile, Do Hain called out to Kang Hasu with a careful tone.

“Um… Kang Hasu, sir?”

Perhaps noticing that he was staring—specifically, staring at me—Kang Hasu quickly snapped back to his senses, forcing a warm smile.

“Oh, yes, yes! My mind wandered for a moment! And, um, the young lady here is…?”

Wow, asking about me so casually—what a talent. Do Hain smiled faintly and introduced me to Kang Hasu.

“She’s my twin sister, Do Haun. She assisted you during that intruder incident at the center.”

“Ah, yes, yes! Of course! I remember now! My apologies, it slipped my mind! Nice to see you again, Haun! What a coincidence meeting here!”

Feigning warmth, Kang Hasu offered a friendly greeting, to which I beamed back and sent a sharp retort his way.

“Yes, nice to see you too. It’s been a while, old man.”

“…….”

The Spirit Master’s eyes widened in shock. Do Hain, sitting beside me, wasn’t much better. The first to recover was the Spirit Master, who furiously typed out a message.

|Pr. Spirit Master|: OLD MAN?! We’re both in our twenties, you know!!!

Kang Hasu, the CEO of H-Entertainment, was well-known for attaining his position at a young age. But if we’re being honest, he looked older than his age—thanks to his prematurely aged face. It’s often said that people with that kind of look age into youthful features later, but…

Judging by his reaction, this must have been a sore point for him. His expression, full of indignation, was practically comical as more messages came pouring in.

|Pr. Spirit Master|: And let’s not forget, YOU’RE the oldest one here! Who are you calling old man?!

|Pr. Godslayer (Guild Master)|: (૭ ᐕ)૭

|Pr. Spirit Master|: AAAH! Curse you, you damn mage!!!

Why is he cursing at mages now? I stuck out my tongue at Kang Hasu when Do Hain wasn’t looking.

“Haun, that’s no way to treat the CEO.”

Ah, he saw that, huh?

I quickly pulled my tongue back in and offered Kang Hasu an apologetic smile that was anything but genuine.

“Sorry about that, old man. Oh, no, I called you ‘old man’ again! I mean, Representative Kang, my apologies!!”

I threw in one more jab for good measure. Kang Hasu’s Adam’s apple bobbed visibly.

Haha, serves you right!

He clenched and unclenched his fists several times before letting out a slow, deliberate sigh.

“…Haha, it’s fine.”

|Pr. Spirit Master|: Are you trying to kill me twice over?
|Pr. Godslayer (Guild Master)|: Didn’t I tell you to stop provoking me? ^^
|Pr. Spirit Master|: Oh Ifrit, how could our Guild Master be such a petty, vindictive person!
|Pr. Godslayer (Guild Master)|: What nonsense are you spouting now? ;;

The Spirit Master, who had been spewing nonsense, was officially relegated to the “ignore” category. Still, the guy just couldn’t help but keep poking at me.

As we continued bickering via messages, his assistant brought in some snacks. I glanced at Do Hain for permission before grabbing one and popping it into my mouth. Naturally, the insufferable Spirit Master teased me through a message about how much I seemed to be enjoying the snacks.

I shot back a single middle finger emoji and reached for another snack.

“Representative.”

At the sound of Do Hain’s voice, I paused mid-reach and lowered my hand quietly. Kang Hasu noticed this and awkwardly cleared his throat before smiling.

“Yes, Vice Guild Master Do Hain?”

“I came here to inquire about the individual who infiltrated the center last time.”

“……”

Kang Hasu and I exchanged a quick, subtle glance.

|Pr. Spirit Master|: Guild Master, what’s going on?! Why is your brother suddenly asking about that?!
|Pr. Godslayer (Guild Master)|: I have no idea; just say you don’t know anything. ;;

I glanced at Do Hain sitting next to me but quickly lowered my head when I saw him looking at me. His head tilted slightly as he studied me with narrowed eyes.

What now? What is this about? He asked me to come out for some air—so why bring me here?

Fortunately, his gaze didn’t linger on me for long.

“Um, Vice Guild Master Do Hain?”

Kang Hasu’s careful tone drew Do Hain’s attention away. Scratching his neck, Kang Hasu gave an awkward smile.

“This is… a bit tricky. I honestly don’t know much about the individual who infiltrated the center…”

Nice acting, Representative Kang!

His troubled expression could have fooled anyone into believing he was genuinely clueless. I almost wanted to give him a thumbs-up, but Do Hain’s sharp words froze him in place.

“Word is that it was the younger sibling of Guild Master Woo Mahan.”

From my experience, anything involving that Demon King bastard was bound to go awry.

For instance…

“They also claimed it was the ‘Spirit Master’ who orchestrated the incident—and you, Representative Kang, were directly involved.”

…Just like this.

|Pr. Godslayer (Guild Master)|: Damn that Demon King.
|Demon King|: Why do you curse me, Guild Master?
|9th Circle Archmage|: Demon King, did you just get cursed at for no reason? Doesn’t it feel awful? lol
|Demon King|: I cannot comprehend why Godslayer has cursed me.

You’ll never figure it out, you fool! Somehow, the Demon King’s loose tongue had come back like a boomerang to bite me.

I swallowed the sigh bubbling up inside me.

|Pr. Spirit Master|: Guild Master, what do we do about this?

The Spirit Master seemed genuinely rattled, judging by the nervous tone of his messages. Letting out a small sigh, I finally typed a reply.

|Pr. Godslayer (Guild Master)|: Don’t worry.

If Do Hain were perceptive enough—and I knew he was—he’d catch even the slightest slip in Kang Hasu’s performance.

So, there was only one solution: blend a little truth with lies to throw him off the trail.