The Support Ate it All

The headquarters of the Blood Cult.

The man in martial arts robes strode forward with his footsteps pressing into the blood-red carpet.

At the end of the long corridor stood a huge door, just as red as the carpet beneath him. Beyond that door lay the Cult Master’s Hall.

As the man silently stood before it, staring at the entrance, a voice dripping with both mockery and fury rang out from behind him.

“You’ve got some nerve. How dare you show your face in the Cult Master’s Hall?”

“It’s none of your concern.”

The man in martial arts robes replied indifferently as he turned his head. As expected, a middle-aged man in a red robe stood there.

He too was a high-ranking elder, and the two of them had long been at each other’s throats, always eager to tear each other down.

The middle-aged man in the red robe twisted his face in disgust.

“…….”

“Elder Choi who went with you, was captured. The precious Blood Fury Pills yielded no results. And on top of that, you failed to secure an alliance with the witches. Tell me, is there anything you actually accomplished?”

Sensing an opportunity, the elder in the red robe pressed on with his scolding.

Yet, the man in the martial arts robe’s response remained as dry as ever.

“I told you, it’s none of your concern. I will report directly to the Cult Master.”

“Hah! And they call you an elder—”

Just then, the huge door rumbled and swung open on its own.

A heavy voice echoed through the chamber.

[Enter.]

“…….”

“…….”

Neither of them could afford to keep bickering under such circumstances. The elder in the red robe clamped his mouth shut, though his glare remained fixed on the man in martial arts robe.

Casting him a brief glance, the man in martial arts robes stepped forward into the Cult Master’s Hall. The door shut firmly behind him.

At the highest point of the hall sat the Grand Master’s Throne.

Scarlet drapes hung around it, concealing the figure seated there. Only a vague silhouette was left visible.

Yet the sinister presence emanating from that space was something no one in the cult could possibly imitate.

Without hesitation, the man in martial arts robes prostrated himself and pressed his forehead to the floor.

“Blood rules the world. Blood Demon reigns supreme! I humbly greet—”

[Did you bring it?]

A heavy voice cut the man off and asked that question.

Whether the speaker had already been informed or had overheard the conversation beyond the door was unknown….and in the end, it didn’t matter.

What mattered was the object the man carried in his arms.

Most of the Blood Cult’s operations at Dragon Slayer Academy had ended in failure.

However, while the Witch of Corruption diverted the academy’s attention, they had managed to swiftly break through the targeted dungeon and retrieve at least this one thing.

The man soon produced a sphere that was roughly the size of a fist.

At a glance, it resembled a crystal ball, but a blood-red energy swirled violently inside it.

Then, as if responding to an unseen force, the sphere floated up on its own and vanished beyond the Grand Master Throne.

A voice soon followed.

[I entrusted you with many tasks, yet you succeeded only in retrieving this.]

“I have no excuse. Please, take my life.”

[And so, I shall assign you the same task once more.]

“…I will carry it out at the cost of my life.”

[The Blood Wind Sword has long been absent from our cult. Bring it back.]

“…….!”

The man’s eyes widened.

The Blood Wind Sword was the exclusive weapon of the previous grandmaster, the Grand Protector.

According to the latest reports, he had secluded himself deep in the mountains. He took in an unrelated boy and taught him martial arts.

Several cult members had already been sent either to bring him back or to retrieve the Blood Wind Sword, but none had ever returned.

The odds of him meeting the same fate were high.

Even so—

“By your command.”

He lowered his head to the floor once more.

***

Perhaps the principal’s worries had been unfounded, as nothing happened along the way.

If anything were to happen, it would mean that information about me transporting the box had leaked or that someone had set a trap specifically targeting me.

However, even though he looked like the neighborhood lunatic, the principal was far from an easy target. And as for me, my identity had yet to be exposed.

If I had to name a possible threat, it would be the Witch of Corruption.

By now, her true body had likely regained at least a minimal amount of power, meaning the events at Dragon Slayer Academy had probably reached her ears.

That said, witches were cautious and unhurried by nature. With the semester break having just begun, the chances of them making a move now were close to zero.

They would probably sneak onto Dungeon Island sometime in the second semester.

With that in mind, I relaxed without much concern and kept maintaining my Kim Ho Pillow Mode while taking it easy. Occasionally, I reached for one of Seo Ye-in’s signature spicy cookies.

Before I knew it, the train had arrived at our destination.

As I stepped off the train with Seo Ye-in who was still lost in dreamland, luxury sedans lined up neatly outside the station.

The dark tint on the windows made it impossible to see inside, but I could easily imagine them packed with men in sharp suits and intimidating expressions.

Fortunately, I spotted a familiar face nearby.

When our eyes met, Ahn Jeong-mi bowed her head politely.

“Young miss, Kim Ho-nim, welcome.”

Since I had sent word ahead before our departure, she had come to greet us.

“Was your journey uneventful?”

“Yes, I got plenty of rest.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

We exchanged light conversation as we made our way to the waiting sedan when Seo Ye-in pulled out a neatly wrapped package of cookies.

“A gift for the butler.”

“Y-Young Miss…!”

Ahn Jeong-mi’s face filled with emotion.

She was a professional, always maintaining strict control over her expressions, but for a brief moment, I thought I saw tears welling in her eyes.

Of course, having already tasted those cookies myself, I couldn’t say her reaction was entirely touching.

Still, I chose not to warn her.

The first reason was that I didn’t want to ruin the moment.

The second was the possibility, however slim, that Ahn Jeong-mi might actually enjoy spicy food.

And the third reason—

I refuse to suffer alone.

After all, “joy” is meant to be shared.

Soon, Ahn Jeong-mi carefully unwrapped the package, took out a cookie, and let out an exclamation of admiration.

“The shape is even prettier now. It seems you’re improving by the day.”

“Try it.”

“Yes, I’ll give it a try!”

With a pleased expression, Ahn Jeong-mi took a bite of the cookie.

She chewed for a moment and started savoring the taste—

“Cough, cough.”

Then, she suddenly covered her mouth and turned away.

The unexpected spiciness had caught her off guard, making her choke.

I had noticed it during the Hellfire Pizza Bread incident as well….she didn’t seem to enjoy spicy food the way Hong Yeon-hwa did.

A moment later, as she turned back, there were faint tears in the corners of her eyes.

This time, for a different reason.

“I-I’ll save the rest for later.”

She then set the cookie bag aside, but Seo Ye-in tilted her head and asked,

“Is it bad?”

“…It’s delicious. I’ll eat it on the way.”

Seo Ye-in had probably asked out of genuine curiosity, but from Ahn Jeong-mi’s perspective, it might not have sounded that way.

It was yet another moment that reaffirmed the fact that being a butler was truly an extreme profession.

Soon, Ahn Jeong-mi took the passenger seat while we settled into the back.

After swallowing another tearful bite of cookie, she gave instructions to the driver at the wheel.

“Please depart.”

With that, the sedan began to glide forward.

A quick glance out the window revealed that several other sedans were escorting us from the front and back.

Seo Ye-in, however, didn’t seem to care much.

Perhaps, for her, this was as natural as breathing.

Instead, as if the more important matter was the Kim Ho Pillow, she subtly leaned in my direction. But before she could get too comfortable, I grabbed her shoulder and pushed her back into place.

Then, I firmly shook my head.

“Not right now.”

“……?”

“Later.”

She really needed to break the habit of using people as pillows whenever she pleased.

Besides, the privilege had already expired on the train, and until it was recalculated, it remained unavailable.

Seo Ye-in’s gaze turned slightly displeased, but no meant no.

A brief silence settled over the car. It was broken only by the occasional rustling of the cookie bag.

Sensing the need to change the atmosphere, Ahn Jeong-mi eventually spoke up.

“Kim Ho-nim, have you ever been to Hye-seong City before?”

“No, this is my first time.”

“In that case, may I provide a brief explanation?”

“I’m all ears.”

Of course, when I said it was my first time, I meant it was the first time since entering the game world.

As expected, Ahn Jeong-mi’s explanation was almost exactly as I remembered.

Hye-seong City was built entirely on Hye-seong Group’s immense financial power.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call it a small kingdom.

By that logic, the lazy sloth sitting beside me was something like a princess.

Of course, the city wasn’t just a display of wealth. It had a practical purpose.

It’s essentially a defensive city.

Not far from here lay the territory of the Wandering Star Dragon, making this place a strategic stronghold.

It had been designed to withstand a dragon invasion at any moment.

As the explanation continued, Ahn Jeong-mi seemed to exchange messages with someone.

Then she spoke with polite formality.

“I’m sure you must be tired from the long journey, but the chairman wishes to meet with you immediately.”

“I’m available anytime.”

“Then I will escort you.”

The chairman of a large corporation couldn’t possibly be so free, so I had expected to wait a few days before being summoned.

But to meet him as soon as I arrived?

Of course, thinking about it, it was entirely understandable.

It is a matter of high importance, after all.

I didn’t know what was inside the wooden box, but the sender was a former hero, and I myself wasn’t someone to be taken lightly.

From my perspective, it was actually better. I could get this errand over with quickly.

Before long, the line of sedans came to a stop in front of a towering skyscraper.

It was so tall that no matter how much I tilted my head back, I couldn’t see the top.

After glancing up for a moment, I followed Ahn Jeong-mi’s lead and stepped inside the building.

Inside, men and women in business attire bustled about, moving hurriedly in all directions. Some of them, upon spotting Ahn Jeong-mi and Seo Ye-in behind her, briefly paused in their tracks.

“Young miss.”

“You’ve arrived.”

Seo Ye-in greeted them with a slight nod or a gentle wave, and whenever she encountered someone she seemed particularly familiar with, she handed them a small bag of cookies.

“A gift.”

“Oh, young miss…!”

A man who appeared to be an employee accepted the cookies with a look of deep emotion. Beside him, Ahn Jeong-mi added a remark.

“The young miss baked them herself.”

“Th-Thank you…! I’ll enjoy them.”

Even the butler seemed to have adopted a “Why should I suffer alone?” mindset.

And so, Seo Ye-in continued spreading fiery torment throughout Hye-seong Group as she advanced.

Before long, we stepped into an elevator tucked away in the corner.

There were only two buttons. One for the first floor and one for the very top.

That meant it led to only one place.

When Ahn Jeong-mi pressed the button, the elevator shot upward at an incredible speed, only to slow down just as quickly before coming to a smooth stop.

The doors slid open, revealing a vast space before us.

An entire floor dedicated to the chairman’s office.

Only a few pieces of furniture were scattered throughout the room.

By the window stood an old man with streaks of gray in his hair, gazing outside. Even at a glance, it was clear that despite his age, he was remarkably robust.

No doubt, an immense force was swirling inside him.

“…….”

He sensed our arrival and slowly turned his head. His gaze settled on us.

The moment our eyes met, I instinctively understood.

This old man is a monarch, too.