The S-Classes That I Raised

Chapter 388: Christmas Carol (2)

“Han Yuhyun! Wait a minute!”

Han Yujin’s voice rang out urgently.

“What on earth are you trying to do! They’re your guild members!”

At Han Yujin’s shout, the Hunters—the Haeyeon guild members—looked at each other, suddenly flustered.

“It’s a fake, right?”

“It seems so, but now that he’s drawn his weapon… you know that feeling the Guild Leader has? It’s the same.”

“But we’ve never seen a sword like that. And the Guild Leader should be at the guild right now—it’s Christmas Eve, after all!”

The Hunters, who had been full of momentum, hesitated and stepped back. It wasn’t difficult to imitate someone’s appearance with the right items and skills, but could they copy that unique atmosphere? Their guild leader had a presence completely different from other S-Rank Hunters, something only he possessed. Normally, it might not be easy to distinguish. But when he entered combat stance, that cold flame could be felt. At least for a high-rank Hunter, it was hard not to notice.

“Just in case, try contacting them.”

“Right, as soon as we confirm… Where’s the communication device?”

The Hunters looked at each other again.

“Uh, you don’t have one?”

“I don’t have my phone either.”

“How did none of us bring a single communication device?”

One of the Hunters, who had been rummaging through his belongings, suddenly said:

“But why are we all here?”

“Huh?”

“It’s supposed to be a three-shift system.”

They all fell silent at once. It was strange.

After the turmoil caused by the Awakening Center had subsided and Haeyeon had firmly established itself as one of the giant guilds, expanding its power, they’d put more thorough surveillance on Han Yujin in place. At first, they’d sent B-Rank Hunters, but now three A-Rank Hunters were watching the Haeyeon Guild Leader’s brother in shifts. Some said it was a waste of manpower, but it was better to prevent any problems that might be caused by the Guild Leader’s blood relative.

Of course, since the surveillance itself could be viewed negatively, the watchers were thoroughly concealed. They were to stay out of sight as much as possible, and in case of an accident, their first priority was to contact and report according to the guidelines.

“Why are you two even here?”

“What? Wasn’t it my turn at this time?”

“We’re not even supposed to be out like this! Do you really not have your phones?”

“But if it’s a fake Guild Leader, it is an emergency…”

Han Yuhyun listened to their confused conversation and studied the unfamiliar faces of the guild members. They’d been brought out as dungeon monsters. But unlike other monsters, they had clear memories and self-awareness.

This was definitely different from a normal dungeon.

Han Yuhyun’s muscles tensed. CRUNCH—shattering the sidewalk block, his body instantly shot into the middle of the Hunters. The jet-black blade flashed.

“Crazy!”

“D-did he kill him?”

Two of them barely escaped. But the one who’d been targeted fell without even mounting proper resistance. The faces of the two surviving Hunters went ashen.

They were high-rank Hunters more than accustomed to life-or-death battles while clearing dungeons. But openly committing murder on a normal street where the sun hadn’t even set was different. At least in Korea, it was taboo among Hunters. Even though the Awakened Management Office and the Hunter Association had weakened, the giant guilds still maintained the existing system, so while it might happen underground, they couldn’t openly commit crimes.

And yet the Hunter who looked like the Haeyeon Guild Leader had killed someone without a moment’s hesitation.

“He’s no ordinary skill user! We have to inform the guild!”

“Damn it, of all faces, the Guild Leader’s!”

One of them, who had a flight skill, quickly took to the air. At the same time, Blue Willow Leaves scattered. The eyes of the Haeyeon guild members widened.

“That’s the Guild Leader’s skill!”

“It’s not invisibility, but dodge it!”

The Hunter on the ground quickly applied a skill to his shield and hurled it into the air. The rapidly spinning shield blocked Han Yuhyun’s path. Despite the sudden obstacle, without a moment’s hesitation, the Sword of the Corrupting Sovereign extended. The tip of the blade precisely pierced the center of rotation.

SCRAPE!

The shield’s rotation slowed for a moment, and Han Yuhyun turned his body halfway, raising one leg high. His heel struck down hard on the edge of the slowed shield.

CRASH!

The shield plummeted, scraping along a three-story building before being driven into the basement. As soon as the obstacle was cleared, a dark blue flame shot upward. A spear made of flame flew toward the Hunter escaping with flight skill.

‘What… what is he doing?’

Han Yujin stared up at Han Yuhyun, completely bewildered. Han Yuhyun, the Haeyeon Guild Leader, had killed a guild member. Dark blue flame reflected in Han Yujin’s eyes. Magical fire spreading across the sky.

“Yuhyun-ah!”

He was confused. Could this be a fake? But for that, he was definitely his younger brother. There were many Hunters with fire abilities, but there was no way another fire could be as powerful as that. The color was a little different from usual, but it was still his brother’s flame.

Had something happened to his younger brother? The sudden change in his attitude, his appearance, the state of his skill, and even harming his own guild member.

Ignoring the instruction to wait, Han Yujin walked forward. He shouldn’t be like this. The Haeyeon Guild Leader shouldn’t be like this.

“Han Yu—ugh!”

Something blocked Han Yujin’s path. Rubbing his bruised forehead, Han Yujin blinked.

“What…?”

His path was blocked. When he cautiously reached out his hand, he could feel something like a solid wall. A transparent membrane faintly revealed its form. Han Yujin’s eyes widened further.

“What is this? What is this?”

A wall he couldn’t perceive just moments ago—a huge hemispherical membrane was surrounding the area. He pushed with all his strength. He even pounded on it. But it wouldn’t budge.

“Wait, wait a minute… this is…”

He definitely remembered this. He’d seen something like this before. Inside a dungeon. His breathing quickened. Han Yujin looked around. He saw the Hunter who had died moments ago, collapsed. In the thick smell of blood, the Hunter’s corpse momentarily blurred. Then it disappeared as if it had been erased.

Leaving behind a single fragment in a pool of blood.

Han Yujin knew that too. Something found in extremely rare monsters—different from the existing ones, strange, as if there was an error. A fragment that had failed to become a magic stone. The mismatched conversations of the Hunters came to mind. And then—

‘It’s dangerous to go out alone!’

His younger brother’s shout echoed in his memory. The sight of him nodding reluctantly when asked if a dungeon had broken out.

“The dungeon… didn’t break out.”

This place was the dungeon.

Han Yujin looked again at the wall blocking his path. A hemispherical membrane dividing a certain area within a dungeon. He took a couple of steps back. He couldn’t get out of here. A hollow laugh escaped from between his clenched lips.

“Really, what… is this?”

What to say, how to react. Han Yujin looked down at his own hands. The sound of a building collapsing from the battle’s aftermath echoed like thunder.

“Hyung.”

Han Yujin’s head snapped up. Han Yuhyun landed on the ground, stepping on a willow leaf. Light footsteps approaching.

“It’s okay now. Don’t worry.”

“Yuhyun-ah.”

“Let’s go.”

Han Yuhyun held out his hand. Han Yujin unconsciously moved toward his younger brother. He took a step and stopped, and Han Yuhyun grabbed his wrist, pulling him forward as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Thud.

It was blocked. Han Yuhyun’s eyes widened.

“This… wait a minute, hyung.”

“Are you real?”

“What?”

Han Yujin pulled his wrist free and asked again.

“Are you real, Yuhyun? I mean, are you a dungeon raider?”

“That’s…”

“You are, right? That’s a relief.”

Han Yujin smiled. Yes, that was a relief. If he was real, then that was all that mattered.

“What—well, it seems we’re getting along well.”

“Hyung.”

“We’re not?”

“No, we… we’ve reconciled.”

Not knowing what to do, feeling a sting in his throat, Han Yuhyun quickly answered.

“We’re living together now. Like before.”

“Really? That’s wonderful.”

That’s good. Han Yujin tried hard not to think too deeply. That was all that mattered. Han Yujin and Han Yuhyun were getting along well. He shouldn’t hope for or be greedy about anything more than that. He wasn’t in a position to do so.

“Um, I don’t know for sure, but this is a dungeon, right?”

“That’s…”

“What a strange dungeon. The Haeyeon guild members can go out, but I can’t. I guess I’m the boss of this area. It’s funny.”

Rubbing his wrist—the hand that had been caught—against his padded jacket, Han Yujin laughed softly.

“A-Rank as regular monsters. Seeing you fight, I thought it was about S-Rank level, so does the grade go up by one? Then am I E-Rank?”

“Hyung, wait a minute.”

An ominous premonition struck Han Yuhyun, and he reached out his hand again. Han Yujin staggered backward.

“You have to clear the dungeon and get out.”

“Hyung!”

“I’ll handle it myself.”

Unlike his blurred expression, his voice was firm.

“Even if it’s a fake, I won’t make you do something like that.”

“What are you talking about? What are you trying to do!”

“What do you mean? But it does feel a little strange. Even though I had a pretty hard time, I never thought about dying. The world suddenly changed and became a mess, so couldn’t it suddenly change again? That’s why I tried to hold on.”

Because Han Yuhyun and Han Yujin were both alive. As long as they were alive, things could change.

“So in the end, it worked out. We’re doing well, you and I. It was worth holding on. So it’s okay.”

“What’s okay!”

Han Yuhyun shouted. He strode in front of Han Yujin but couldn’t easily extend his arm.

“I’m a fake, Yuhyun-ah.”

“You’re my brother.”

“Don’t cry.”

The affectionate words were even more painful. As Han Yujin said, he was a monster created by the dungeon. So it would be enough to turn away and forget. It wasn’t real. He knew that fact, but—

“You have my memories. I don’t know, hyung. You’re definitely my brother. Everything is the same. How on earth can I leave you behind?”

“I’m fine, Yuhyun-ah. I’ll just disappear when it resets anyway. If I’d known from the beginning, I would have acted like a monster. It’s okay, so hurry up and go. You have other team members, right?”

“The cake…”

“It’s on the other side of the street, so you can’t go anyway. Would the store even be open? Looking now, there are no civilians at all.”

Han Yujin, who had been saying he was fine, let out a sigh.

“Still, maybe I should have bought it in advance. What time is it outside? Is your birthday over?”

“No, not yet.”

“I’ll buy you a cake, okay? Are you having a birthday party at Haeyeon?”

“I’m having it with you—with you, hyung…”

“Right. Right.”

That’s all that matters. Han Yujin smiled. Han Yuhyun’s face twisted. He couldn’t leave him behind. Absolutely not. Even if he couldn’t leave the dungeon, he couldn’t give up so easily. The conviction that he shouldn’t filled Han Yuhyun’s mind.

“I can’t leave you behind, hyung.”

“There’s nothing you can do.”

“Where is it—that membrane?”

Han Yuhyun stepped back. After a brief hesitation, Han Yujin walked over and reached out his hand. The transparent wall separating them momentarily revealed its faint form. At the same time, Han Yuhyun swung the Sword of the Corrupting Sovereign.

SCRAPE—!

Wind howled. The road and sidewalk were gouged long and deep. A wound like the claw of a giant beast was left on the ground, but the wall remained unchanged. The attack didn’t even reach it.

“No, Yuhyun-ah.”

“No. There must be a way.”

There has to be. Han Yuhyun pulled out all the knowledge he had about dungeons. He gritted his teeth anxiously and searched his memory, but it wasn’t enough. If it were the future, the past him—would there have been a way? Was there another Han Yuhyun here? Should he go to Haeyeon and grab him by the collar and shout that he had to save his brother?

“Something… a way…”

“Yuhyun-ah.”

“Please, hyung.”

Han Yujin let out a short sigh. Then he went to the broken road and picked up a fragment.

“The area boss monster of a dungeon constructed like this can’t leave its own domain. But that means you can use the loophole of attacking safely from outside the domain.”

As he explained, Han Yujin tossed the stone and caught it.

“So when it’s judged that you’re in combat with the area boss monster, the raider’s attack is also blocked by the membrane.”

Han Yujin threw the stone hard at Han Yuhyun. Han Yuhyun, understanding the meaning behind his words, quickly raised his sword.

THWACK!

The stone was blocked by the membrane, and at the same time—

BOOM!

The Sword of the Corrupting Sovereign swung down. With a thunderous noise, the black blade collided with the transparent wall. The air trembled violently, but the wall remained unshaken. Seeing this, Han Yujin’s eyes drooped.

“You can attack the membrane like that, but you can’t break it.”

“No. I can do it.”

I should be able to break it. I have to. Han Yuhyun looked around. It wasn’t a bustling street, but there were plenty of buildings.

“Wait just a little, hyung. I’ll definitely get you out.”

The Melted Last Door. The skill activated. Dark blue flame spread out, swallowing and beginning to melt the buildings. Han Yuhyun readjusted his grip on the Sword of the Corrupting Sovereign. He gripped the sword with both hands to pour all his strength into it and focused his fire.

“If you waste your strength here unnecessarily, what will you do if it becomes difficult to clear the dungeon?”

“Please, hyung.”

Han Yujin, as if he had no choice, picked up another fragment. “It won’t work,” he muttered softly, and threw the stone. At the same time, Han Yuhyun’s arms, his shoulders, his entire body tensed. Cloaked in dark blue flame, he struck the wall with his sword.

BOOM!!

A sound close to an explosion echoed.

“Again, hyung!”

A stone was thrown, and the wall was struck again. But there was still no change. Not even a hairline crack. Han Yuhyun bit his lip. Even if he used the Sword Devourer, it couldn’t be a higher grade than the Sword of the Corrupting Sovereign. Even if it was a precious SS-Rank sword that he could never get again, he wanted to melt it down right now. It was okay to lose something like that.

If only he could break the wall in front of him.

BOOM! An explosion—more than a dozen, exceeding single digits—erupted. Han Yuhyun’s breathing became noticeably ragged.

“Yuhyun-ah.”

“No.”

“Let’s stop.”

“No.”

“I’m really fine. It’s true. You don’t have to suffer for me.”

For Han Yujin. Han Yuhyun had lived like that. In the first place, it was Han Yujin who had created the current him, which was different from his original nature. Han Yujin was present in every moment of Han Yuhyun’s life.

It was true that he wanted to save Han Yujin even now. But—

“I… hyung.”

He gripped the sword again. From the continuous attacks with all his strength, even for an S-Rank, his palms, his wrists, ached.

“I couldn’t give up on you, hyung. I chose myself instead of your safety. I spat out what I wanted.”

For Han Yuhyun, not Han Yujin.

“It’s the same now. I know you’re not real. But I can’t give up. It’s what I want. It’s my greed.”

Han Yujin’s mouth was pressed tightly shut. His eyes, which had been sunken in resignation, shook. His faintly trembling hand picked up another fragment from the road.

An explosion roared. Flames scattered. With all his strength—more than what he had—drawing from the very source.

Deep blue flame struck the wall. The fire, so blue it was almost transparent, swallowed the membrane. The flame that devours everything and burns everything.

The fire that touched the membrane—this time, it didn’t die down. A small hole opened, and it dug into the gap, continuing to consume. Han Yuhyun, letting out a cough-like breath, collapsed to the ground.

“Yuhyun-ah!”

Like flame slowly burning through thin paper, the blue fire spread wider and wider. Han Yujin limped and ran to his younger brother. He embraced the exhausted body.

“Hey! You, really…”

The huge hemispherical membrane quickly disappeared.

“You, really.”

“I will never, hyung…”

“Right.”

“Never will I leave you alone.”

“Right.”

“I’m sorry, hyung.”

Yes.

Han Yujin’s face became wet. He let out everything he had been suppressing all this time without holding back. His younger brother had returned. He had brought him out.