LS 85

They had no trouble getting through the map. While cheerfully slaughtering the monsters popping up around them (they could have just ignored them, but the guild members seemed oddly amused by wiping out every creature they encountered), they chatted until, before long, they reached the spot marked on the map. Approaching the far end, they saw an ancient, half-crumbled ‘Unknown Statue,’ and as soon as they stood in front of it, a quest acceptance window automatically appeared. Beside the statue hovered an orange portal, presumably the dungeon entrance.

<Lost Demon Hunter>

Tears of the Demon Hunter

Clear ‘A Harsh Desert Where Even One Oasis Is Hard to Find’ (Normal) 0/1

Acquire Goddess Kelatus’s first sacred relic, ‘Banjo’ 0/1

Do you wish to accept this quest? YES | NO ?

This quest is the main quest for the world raid ‘Lost Demon Hunter.’

“When sincerity reaches the heavens, you will gain dependable allies; when you pray to the gods, a bright light shall illuminate your path.”

When all the Empire’s Swords gather, a new era of salvation shall begin.

Join forces with your companions to subdue the ‘Lost Demon Hunter.’

Great rewards await you, adventurer!

! Note

▷ You must have the ‘Emblem of Goddess Kelathus in your inventory to enter.

▷ You must complete all ‘In Search of the Sacred Relics’ quests to qualify for entry into the ‘Lost Demon Hunter’ dungeon.

▷ Before clicking the enter button, register your raid team’s name at the dungeon entrance ‘Adventurer’s Monument.’

▷ Clearing the dungeon without registering your raid team’s name will leave no record of your achievement.

Clicking YES, a notification appeared indicating a new quest had been accepted. Dohee naturally clicked on the ‘Unknown Statue.’

[System] You cannot enter yet.

[System] Please set your raid party first.

“It looks like we’ll need the update before we can enter.”

Apparently, access was restricted until the scheduled maintenance was complete. At Dohee’s words, Moonhyuk turned to look at him.

“So, does this mean the prelude quest is done now?”

“Yeah. There’s still some time until the Demon Hunter update, so let’s finish up the remaining raids. Once the scheduled maintenance ends the day after tomorrow, we can run another raid with the guild members.”

“I’m… really, really nervous,” Moonhyuk answered softly.

Dohee felt his own heart fluttering too. After completing the prelude suest and accepting the main quest, it finally felt real, they were actually going to attempt the first clear of Demon Hunter. He never imagined he’d find himself trying to get a first clear on every newly released boss in Sword of God. When he first cleared the Corrupted Hana raid, he had felt so tired, exhausted, and mentally drained that he vowed never to do something like that again. Life truly was unpredictable.

When the Demon Hunter update was first announced, he’d thought, I’m dropping this trash game for good. Yet, now he found himself feeling unexpectedly sentimental. If he hadn’t met Moonhyuk and found renewed enjoyment in Sword of God, he probably would have quit ages ago. Dohee chuckled softly.

“I’m nervous too, hyung.”

“You’re nervous too, Dohee?”

“Yeah, it’s my first time doing this too.”

“But you have experience, at least. I’ve never done anything like this before…”

Dohee reached out to gently pat Moonhyuk’s head. Even sitting down, the slight height difference meant he had to stretch his arm fully. With about 20% affection mixed in, his fingers brushed through Moonhyuk’s short, soft hair. Seriously, who was making his hyung so discouraged again?

“I keep telling you. Just hitting level 130 and being there when we enter is already enough for you to do your share.”

“…I still want to do well.”

Moonhyuk murmured quietly. Although Dohee always reassured him that just entering and staying alive was good enough, Moonhyuk clearly wanted to contribute genuinely.

A support inherently required both tactical thinking and quick reflexes. To become truly skillful inevitably demanded a great deal of experience, effort, and time. While Moonhyuk’s game sense was better than expected and he was keeping up well, genuinely doing a full person’s share was realistically challenging. Frankly, just not becoming a burden was already sufficient.

But having ambition and affection wasn’t a bad thing. Sometimes, seeing Moonhyuk get intimidated for no real reason genuinely upset Dohee.

‘If anyone’s going to discourage him, it should be me. Why should he worry about what irrelevant idiots think?’

It was a thoroughly selfish thought, but Dohee didn’t particularly care.

“Don’t pressure yourself too much. And don’t worry in advance about making mistakes either. That’ll only make you mess up things you could do well.”

“…Okay.”

“Honestly, if I’d decided I needed another support besides you, I’m sure I could’ve found a decent one somehow.”

That was true. Plenty of supports held grudges against Xeno, especially among high-level veteran players. If someone sought a support for a raid against Xeno’s group, many would volunteer readily. Finding someone perfectly suitable would be difficult, but it wasn’t like they’d ever be desperately short of options either.

Nevertheless, the reason all the guild members willingly invested their own time and money into raising IngSupp, following Noodle’s suggestion, was firstly because Moonhyuk belonged to Human, and secondly because everyone in the guild genuinely liked Moonhyuk. Moreover, the guild members knew very well how much Moonhyuk loved playing as a support and enjoyed the game. They probably wanted to give Moonhyuk a fresh sense of joy. Add to that the fun of raising newbies, and it was no wonder everyone enthusiastically jumped into becoming ‘IngSupp makers.’

Dohee met Moonhyuk’s eyes. Every time he saw his own reflection in those round, black pupils, he felt a sense of pride. Slowly and firmly, Dohee decided to instill some confidence into Moonhyuk.

“But still, you’re the support we chose, hyung.”

“…Yeah.”

“So just relax, trust the guild members, and don’t start worrying in advance.”

“Okay.”

“Just do what you’ve been taught, exactly as you’ve been doing.”

“Yes!”

Once again, Dohee gently stroked Moonhyuk’s hair. Moonhyuk stayed still, blinking quietly, accepting Dohee’s touch. He was like an obedient, gentle dog. How could someone be this sweet and gentle? Dohee couldn’t help but smile. Was this what people meant when they said they felt full just by looking? If he were honest, rather than worrying about the Demon Hunter first clear or anything else, Dohee felt he could be perfectly content just stroking Moonhyuk’s hair all day in a warm room.

Dohee reluctantly withdrew his hand and continued, “Aren’t you hungry?”

Right on cue, Moonhyuk’s stomach let out a loud rumble. Moonhyuk’s face turned red instantly.

“Uh, uh…! I didn’t think I was hungry, but suddenly…”

Dohee burst into laughter. It seemed like eating first would be a good idea.

“I’m hungry too.”

As Moonhyuk shyly nodded, Dohee turned back to his monitor. The guild members who’d disbanded the party earlier and gone about their business were still chatting away in the guild chat.

[Guild] PrettyHealerHyung: [EmotionalSticker] Somehow… it finally feels realㅠㅠㅠㅠ

[Guild] SoftRiceCake: Me too lolol, never thought I’d try for a first clear…

[Guild] YeojinHae: SoftRice, time for hardcore leveling, wanna hunt together?

[Guild] SoftRiceCake: Yeojin, you don’t even need to hunt anymore lolol

[Guild] YeojinHae: After the raids, nothing else to do anyway lol, our healer wanna come too? ‘3’♥

[Guild] PrettyHealerHyung: Yes noona!! ㅎ3ㅎ Gotta hit max level faster than SoftRice

[Guild] SoftRiceCake: ???? Why you starting a rivalry with me, second-lowest after IngSupp? lololololol

[Guild] PrettyHealerHyung: ^_ㅠ…

[Guild] SoftRiceCake: ^_ㅠ……………

[Guild] Tando: Then are we running the final raid together?

[Guild] YeohooHae: Not many weekly raids left anyway

[Guild] YeohooHae: Let’s gather everyone available, clear the rest, and then after Monday maintenance, do next week’s world raid together lol

[Guild] SiblingSpicyNoodle: Hey Demon Hunter, get ready~~!!! **7-Star Gauntlet, the radiant Noodle is coming through~!!!!

[Guild] Tando: It’s not like you suddenly got super strong though haha

[Guild] SiblingSpicyNoodle: Why you always gotta rain on my parade ㅡㅡ??

[Guild] SiblingSpicyNoodle: Tando, just do your job and keep an eye on your healing this time

[Guild] SiblingSpicyNoodle: No more healers jumping into DPS this raid, PLEASE!~!!!!

[Guild] Tando: I’ll consider it based on Noodle’s performance ^^

[Guild] SiblingSpicyNoodle: **I’m done talking to you…

[Guild] YYNNXX: Prelude quests done?

[Guild] GoingSupport: Yup, going to eat first

[Guild] GoingSupport: Those joining raids later, come back in an hour or two

[Guild] YeojinHae: ok ok, going with that character?

[Guild] GoingSupport: Yeah, need to teach Knockoff some skills

[Guild] GOingSupporter187: Hey, not Knockoff…ㅠㅡㅠ

[Guild] GoingSupport: Sure thing, KwonKnockoff lolololol

[Guild] SoftRiceCake: What’s KwonKnockoff lolol

[Guild] GoingSupport: His last name is Kwon lol, anyway invite me later when gathering

[Guild] PrettyHealerHyung: Enjoy your meal!! [LaughSticker]

Dohee stood up, pushing back his chair, and spoke to Moonhyuk.

“Hyung. Let’s eat, finish the hidden quest, get the skill, and then go to sleep. You have tutoring tomorrow afternoon, right?”

“Ah… yes!”

“I’ll level up your Knockoff character a bit while you’re at tutoring. Only about a week left, so let’s quickly get you to 130 before then.”

“Okay!”

Moonhyuk nodded energetically. It was time to get down to final preparations in earnest.