Chapter 32

# 32

Guide for the Returnee Chapter 32

Quest (5)

“What do you think is out there?”

“Hmm… There must be something much tastier than the food we eat here.”

“Huh…”

“Maybe there’s something Duk-gu would like too.”

“Huh…”

“…”

“…”

“It’s fine, really.”

The people who had been talking to each other suddenly fell strangely silent.

This has become an annual event.

In my field of vision, Jung Hae-yeon, who had been staring at me intently, couldn’t hold back her tears and shed them again.

Although she didn’t react as passionately as the first time, every time I saw her tears fall like chicken droppings, I felt a bit strange.

Of course, the situation isn’t bad.

This is because Kim Jae-joon and Jung Jin-ho were watching me closely.

While trying to improve the party’s atmosphere through various conversations, the mood inevitably became solemn whenever Jung Hae-yeon shed tears like this.

Anyone who saw us might have thought that the one who had died was me, not Lee Gi-cheol.

In fact, Jung Hae-yeon glaring at Kim Jae-joon has become a routine.

Kim Jae-joon must be feeling extremely uncomfortable, but I can’t even fully gauge how uncomfortable he is.

They are now in a position where they have to crawl to me.

The balance of power that was maintained due to Lee Gi-cheol’s unexpected accident has collapsed.

Jung Jin-ho’s party seemed to have given up on hunting us.

They judged that it would be best to finish the quest smoothly unless a real opportunity presented itself.

‘I would have done the same.’

If I were in Jung Jin-ho’s position, I would have canceled the plan to kill Kim Hyun-sung’s party.

This is the reason why they react so sensitively to even a little conflict.

“I’m really sorry.”

“No, Mr. Jin-ho. I feel a bit embarrassed. Actually, I’m the one who should be apologizing.”

From the way they keep apologizing, you can tell.

“I… got excited.”

“It’s natural to get excited. I apologize again.”

Although I don’t know what they talked about, every time Jung Jin-ho apologized, Kim Jae-joon also expressed his regret.

The problem was that Jung Hae-yeon was gradually showing hostility.

“Why… why should I be sorry….”

She often muttered to herself as if she wanted to be heard.

I was a bit worried that she might really say what she was thinking, but she should be able to distinguish right from wrong.

What was a bit amusing was Yu Seok-woo’s reaction.

“…”

From the moment I revealed that I was close to Jung Hae-yeon, he didn’t seem to be in a good mood.

As expected, he showed signs of discomfort when Jung Hae-yeon and I started sticking together.

Especially, when he saw Jung Hae-yeon crying with puffy eyes, it seemed like he interpreted it as an answer to how much she thought of me.

‘Yu Seok-woo…’

To begin with, he is nothing more or less than a sex offender to Jung Hae-yeon.

Since he only attempted it, he is one of the more absurd people to be here.

Considering what he did before, it’s not surprising that he would associate with a group of criminals, but it seems that Jung Jin-ho and the others promised him something.

That’s why he might have obtained a job late and is now gaining experience by hanging out with them.

For example, Jung Hae-yeon.

He must have been excited at the thought of getting his beloved lady if he succeeded, but now that the plan has been canceled, it’s understandable that he’s sending jealous glances.

Anyway, this party is at least moving in that direction on the surface.

A beautiful party with minimal conflict, no disputes, and no fighting.

This atmosphere was formed because Jung Jin-ho and Kim Jae-joon were crawling to me, but unfortunately, I don’t really want to get along with them happily.

Kim Hyun-sung sometimes seemed to be deeply thinking about something, and I hope it’s not about how to deal with Jung Jin-ho.

They are the murderers who killed Park Hye-young, and I think they should die here.

Actually, considering Kim Hyun-sung’s reaction when he first saw Jung Jin-ho, the probability of that happening is almost zero.

Jung Jin-ho, Yu Seok-woo, and Kim Jae-joon are still wearing masks.

If I attack first here, Kim Hyun-sung will naturally be seen as the crazy one.

At the very least, it’s clear that they don’t want to show their other side to me, Park Duk-gu, and Jung Hae-yeon, so they might be waiting for a pretext or an opportunity.

No, they definitely are.

The opportunity or pretext to kill them, Kim Hyun-sung occasionally frowning seems to be thinking about such things.

‘Should I help him?’

Kim Hyun-sung seemed to need help.

He’s imagining a plausible situation or a scenario where we can be separated from them.

For example…

‘Getting attacked first.’

That would probably be the most ideal.

Heroes fighting against a cowardly group of criminals that suddenly attacked them, it sounds quite good.

The problem is that Jung Jin-ho and his gang, who lost Lee Gi-cheol, might not attack us, but considering that one of them has anger management issues and the other is a man driven by jealousy, it’s not a difficult task.

It might even be as easy as yawning.

‘Provocation is my specialty.’

Especially in Yu Seok-woo’s case, since he’s only been with Jung Jin-ho’s gang for a short time, there’s a possibility that he might take an unpredictable action that even Jung Jin-ho can’t predict.

The thought turned into a plan in an instant.

It wouldn’t be bad to use Jung Hae-yeon to gently scratch his nerves.

There’s no grand plan.

“Ah…”

Just.

Physical contact.

This should be enough.

“Brother….”

Jung Hae-yeon whispered softly.

Her voice sounded a bit flustered, but she didn’t move her hand.

Just touching the boundary between her waist and hips made her tremble a bit.

Anyone who saw us might think I was using Jung Hae-yeon as a support to walk.

The ambiguity of the hand position would only be felt by Jung Hae-yeon and Yu Seok-woo.

Not quite the waist, not quite the hips, and not the buttocks.

Just touching that ambiguous boundary line elicits a reaction.

‘Huh…’

I can feel the anger directed at me.

“Ah, Hae-yeon. Sorry….”

“It’s, it’s fine. Just hold onto a comfortable spot….”

“Still.”

“It’s fine….”

The look on his face is as if he’s lost his beloved girlfriend, which is truly pitiful to see.

While Kim Hyun-sung, Jung Jin-ho, Park Duk-gu, and Kim Jae-joon were discussing the dungeon, he was only looking at me.

When I subtly moved my hand lower, Jung Hae-yeon lowered her head and smiled.

‘He likes it too much…’

I didn’t expect this reaction, but on the contrary, Yu Seok-woo looked like his stomach was churning.

Our eyes met for a moment.

Of course….

I didn’t forget to give him a smile.

‘Envious, aren’t you?’

He would feel that way.

There’s no need to say it.

Sometimes, actions and expressions can be excellent means of communication.

“Thanks, Hae-yeon. Aren’t you tired?”

“No! Not at all. Compared to what you’ve done for me, this is nothing.”

Yu Seok-woo, who wanted to hold and touch Jung Hae-yeon so badly, even doing a ridiculous cosplay.

It’s not surprising that he would react this way when he sees me touching her like this.

Whether he was serious about Jung Hae-yeon or not doesn’t really matter.

Considering his jerkiness, he might have been serious, but….

‘So sweet.’

He sowed the seeds himself.

There’s a lot more I can show. Like Jung Hae-yeon’s worried eyes and sweet voice.

Of course, it doesn’t sound sweet to me, but I thought her honey-like voice would dig deeper into his wounded heart.

‘Holding hands.’

I moved closer to her.

Placing my hand on her waist or shoulder, maintaining a moderate tension.

‘Physical communication is good.’

It’s a way to create sexual tension.

Jung Hae-yeon’s face was already as red as it could be.

Despite that, the smile on her lips wouldn’t disappear. Her breathing was getting heavier, and I thought I should stop, but….

I couldn’t stop this action.

Finally, he couldn’t hold it in and spoke up.

“Hae-yeon, you look very tired… I, I.”

“…”

“Huh.”

A laugh involuntarily escaped.

Because Jung Hae-yeon was completely ignoring Yu Seok-woo.

Yu Seok-woo’s face, red for a different reason, was visible.

Kim Hyun-sung, Jung Jin-ho, and Park Duk-gu turned around slightly at the small commotion behind them.

Seeing Jung Hae-yeon breathing heavily, Park Duk-gu immediately spoke up.

“Sister, if you’re tired, you can take a break….”

“Yeah, Hae-yeon. You’re not that badly hurt….”

“No! No! I’ll do it. I… will… together….”

“Well, it seems our sister wants to stay with you… If you’re tired, you must tell us.”

“Yes.”

Park Duk-gu intervened at a good time.

It indirectly showed that it was what Jung Hae-yeon wanted, not what I wanted.

As I placed my hand on Jung Hae-yeon’s waist and glanced back, our eyes met again.

Grin.

Seeing that grin.

It must be hard for him to bear.

“Sweet.”

“Yes?”

“Nothing, Hae-yeon.”

“Yes….”

I could see him trembling.

If he had self-control, he wouldn’t have done such things at the shelter.

If it had been just Jung Jin-ho, it might have been even more difficult.

Seeing him grip his sword tightly, he seemed to want to stab me with it, but I admired his restraint.

Maybe the provocation was a bit lacking, or maybe he was waiting for an opportunity, but I think both are needed.

As I turned back and grabbed Jung Hae-yeon’s waist again,

“Kiiiiii!”

“Prepare for battle.”

A good opportunity came at the right time.

I lifted my spear with a weak expression, and Jung Hae-yeon stepped back to start chanting a spell.

Park Duk-gu, Jung Jin-ho, and Kim Hyun-sung focused their attention on the front.

“Huhuhuhuh…”

I muttered softly, only for him to hear.

“You must be envious, right?”

“Y-You….”

“So soft. Our Hae-yeon.”

I kept smiling and grinning.

“There are five. Preparing for battle! As quickly as possible!”

“You bastard!!!”

He lifted his sword in an instant.

The blade was coming straight for my stomach, and I wondered if I should run, but….

‘It’s better to take it.’

I can survive.

If Jung Hae-yeon’s healing ring can recover from such a sword wound.

The sound of the blade piercing and the chilling sensation began.

“Aaaaaaaah!”

The pain was incomparable to being hit in the face.

The burning pain, like being burned, made me scream involuntarily.

Naturally, everyone’s attention was focused on me.

Jung Jin-ho and Kim Jae-joon looked confused, but they understood that something had happened.

Yu Seok-woo had stabbed me.

I was worried if Jung Jin-ho would treat Yu Seok-woo as a crazy person and abandon him, but…

His loud shout made me realize my worry was unnecessary.

“I… I did it! Mr. Jin-ho!! Mr. Jae-joon!! I killed this bastard!”

His voice was too confident for someone who had just eliminated the weakest of the Four Kings.

One of the cards Jung Jin-ho had was a perfect mine.