The S-Classes That I Raised

Chapter 399: Sunset (3)

[1:57:35 until sunset]

A message window appeared, helpfully informing me of the time. Since only I could see it, the others pulled timers from their inventories and set them accordingly.

“Nearly two hours—that’s plenty of time. Did they deliberately make the sun set this slowly?”

They’d mentioned a good hotel in Gangnam. We cleared out the minor Hunters blocking our path and reached Gangnam Station in about ten minutes. With no traffic to contend with and all the signals ignored, even a leisurely motorcycle ride went quickly. Traffic congestion really is the worst problem.

RUMBLE–!

Water erupted from Gangnam Station Exit 1. The forceful geyser shot higher than ever before, forming massive letters in the sky.

[HERE!]

The letters themselves were crafted from yellow ice, bordered with a mix of blue and green to make them pop against the darkening sky. Yun Yun approached the ice sign and began plastering glow-in-the-dark stickers all over it from the collection she’d been carrying. As dusk settled in, the stickers gave off a soft, ethereal glow.

Every Hunter in Seoul will probably swarm this place. I should find a hotel somewhere else, away from here.

I walked to a nearby bus stop and settled onto the bench. The pre-regression me took a seat beside me, placing the cake box carefully on his lap while maintaining a slight distance between us.

“Aren’t you hungry?” Yuhyun asked, glancing around.

“Think there’ll be any food left at the hotel? What do you feel like eating? We’ve got time—I could look for a supermarket.”

“There’s a hamburger place over there.”

“It’s getting cold. Something hot would be better, don’t you think?”

My little brother completely ignored my suggestion. What’s wrong with a hamburger? Sure, it’s not exactly health food, but it’s got meat and vegetables. They say it’s relatively healthy if you skip the fries and soda.

“…Are you seriously making your little brother cook for you?”

The dungeon version of me spoke up with the expression of someone witnessing truly deplorable behavior. Look, Yuhyun used to cook for me before he moved out, but that was because he was still young. He’s still young now, technically.

“It’s because Yuhyun wants to.”

“He’s twenty years old. Even if he’s working, shouldn’t you be taking care of him until he at least graduates college?”

“Of course I’m the one who usually does the cooking!”

“I do it because I like to. I want to take care of my brother.”

At Yuhyun’s words, the pre-regression me fell silent. He glanced up at Yerim and Yun Yun, who were busy decorating the ice sign with all manner of colorful additions. Despite probably being bigger than me, the guy bundled up in that black padded jacket looked strangely small.

He must be feeling really disoriented. But he probably doesn’t want to show any weakness. I can be pretty stubborn myself.

“Still, from my perspective, tomorrow is your birthday. Until then, well, it might be okay. So.”

“You’re right. Hey, let’s stop by the supermarket and pick up some seaweed.”

I kept my tone light on purpose. Yuhyun looked between me and the other me for a moment, then nodded.

“Okay. And tomorrow will be the same, you know.”

Despite the faint smile on his lips, Yuhyun’s voice carried absolute certainty. He wouldn’t easily let go of either of us, no matter what. My little brother.

“Hey! Lots of Hunters are heading this way!”

Yerim, who’d been sculpting a large teddy bear from ice, waved her arms and shouted. It’s a bit lopsided, but it’s definitely a teddy bear, right?

“Which direction?”

“That way!”

The moment Yerim pointed, Yuhyun was already moving. He appeared in front of a building in an instant, drawing his sword in one fluid motion. With the added acceleration, the blade sliced through the building like water flowing downstream.

SCREEECH–!

A deafening scream pierced the air, making our eardrums ring as the atmosphere vibrated violently. Dark blue flames wrapped around the base of the building along the sword’s trajectory, intensively melting and consuming the section he intended to topple. With a heavy THUD, Yuhyun spun toward the building as it began to lean, his weapon now transformed into a chain-sword, striking down hard. The jet-black blade cut roughly through the wind and slammed into the building’s side.

RUMBLE. The massive structure tilted sideways with a thunderous crash. Before the first building could completely collapse, Yuhyun had already moved to the next one. He clearly intended to block the wide-open eight-lane road—empty of vehicles as it was.

By clearing the tall buildings that obstructed the view and using the debris to block the alleyways, he’d make it much harder for any Hunters to slip through to our side.

“Hunter Park Yerim.”

“Yeah, my turn this time, right? Yun Yun! Let’s head over to the misters.”

It seemed she intended to finish them off properly instead of just restraining them like she’d been doing on the way here. It felt like too much to ask of Yerim, and since Yun Yun dislikes blood, it would be better for Yuhyun to handle it. Still, Yuhyun is always considerate of Yerim.

“You’re thinking about Han Yuhyun again, aren’t you?”

Yerim, who’d flown directly in front of me, narrowed her eyes accusingly. She’s like a mind reader.

“Not really. But Yerim, did something happen to you?”

“It did.”

Yerim looked at the other me sitting nearby, then broke into a wide grin.

“I met the most amazing person in the world.”

“Huh? An amazing person?”

“Yes. So I think I might like that person more than you—is that okay?”

“Well, your feelings are your own, Yerim. …But who is it?”

I was genuinely curious. For Yerim to praise someone so highly—could it be Ms. Hyuna? Or Ms. Soyeong, who’s practically running the Sesung Guild?

“Um, it’s still kind of embarrassing, so I’ll tell you later.”

“Embarrassing?”

“There are things like that!”

What on earth happened? Beside Yerim, Yun Yun was covering her mouth with both hands. It seems she knows. It would be easy to pry it out of her, but that wouldn’t be right. I was curious, but I should wait until Yerim decides to tell me herself.

Still, I can’t help wondering. Who could it be? It’s not someone strange, is it…

“Yerim, I haven’t seen that ring before.”

“I got it as a gift! From that person.”

“What? A ring?”

Who is it, really! I mean, it’s probably just an item, but still, who on earth gave it to her! A ring—matching rings, even. Who had those? Accessories like rings and bracelets are easy to conceal, so they’re not often displayed publicly. It’s better not to let people figure out their effects. That’s probably why I can’t remember seeing them.

“It’s an item, right?”

“Yes, it’s SS-Rank!”

Yerim proudly waved her ringed hand. I nudged the me sitting next to me to see if he knew, but he seemed just as clueless.

“Oh, and I’m going to college.”

“Of course you are.”

“I’m going to study properly. Not like our Guild Leader, who’s basically a college student in name only.”

…Good grief. Who on earth managed to change this kid so completely? To make a middle schooler who used to say “Does an S-Rank Hunter need good test scores?” suddenly declare she’d study hard on her own. Maybe I should pass on the Perfect Nurturer title.

Yerim said she was interested in studying architecture. Well, it’s good that she wants to study. You never know how the world might change again, so it’s safer to have something to fall back on besides being a Hunter.

Meanwhile, a thick smell of smoke drifted from beyond the pile of collapsed buildings. Rising smoke, crumbled structures, distant screams. It was a battlefield. Though of course, the inside of a dungeon is always a battlefield.

“The others should be arriving soon.”

They’re running late. Could the dungeon extend beyond Seoul? Like Noah, who ended up in France. Chief Song is from Seoul, but I don’t know about Seong Hyunjae. Did he start in Seoul, Korea from the beginning? Or was he somewhere else originally, then came to Korea because he considered it a suitable base? I wonder if he’s stuck in some unexpected place like Italy.

“By the way! Peace can’t read, right? Probably…?”

“He said Peace couldn’t enter the dungeon.”

“Really? That’s a relief.”

“Kim Seobangs! What would you like to drink?”

Yun Yun, who’d disappeared briefly, returned with a mangled vending machine. She seemed to enjoy bringing back ownerless items. She really needs to stop doing that once we get out of here.

“Your hands look cold—should I warm up some coffee for you?”

“Huh? I’m fine.”

“Not you.”

Ah, she meant the other me. Right, since he’d been holding the cake box all this time without gloves, his fingertips had turned slightly red. It’s nothing serious, though.

“I’m fine too.”

“What do you mean, fine? There’s sikhye here too.”

Yerim drew her dagger and cleanly sliced open the side of the vending machine. Then she created a large droplet of water. Canned coffee, sikhye, and honey water were plunged into the warm bubble. Beside her, Yun Yun vigorously shook a can of soda and popped it open. Don’t play with your food.

“I’ll take the coffee, please.”

“You’re getting honey water.”

“No, I want coffee.”

“It has red ginseng in it too. Should I get you honey water as well?”

The pre-regression me quickly shook his head.

“I’m perfectly healthy.”

“No, you’re not, Yerim. Give him honey water too. He used to drink nothing but instant coffee mix at home.”

Alcohol was a bigger problem, but I didn’t want to mention that in front of Yerim. In the end, we both ended up with honey water containing a token amount of red ginseng. I also pulled off my gloves and wrapped my hands around the warm bottle. Since we were at a bus stop, it somehow felt like we’d returned to the time before dungeons appeared.

“I used to buy hot drinks from the warmer on my way home from work sometimes.”

“I’d just fidget with the bottle until it got cold.”

“I hated taking the bus for a while because bus stops reminded me of my little brother. I told him so many times not to come out to meet me in the winter, but he never listened.”

“…That’s right. It feels like so long ago.”

We both unconsciously opened our bottle caps and took a sip at the same time, then grimaced in unison. It tastes awful. We closed the lids and just held onto the warmth instead.

“Ah! Han Yuhyun! The ice is melting! My puppy!”

Yerim shouted and took to the air. Wasn’t it supposed to be a bear?

“I worked so hard on it! It’s way more complex than a simple letter… Oh! There are more Hunters coming from that direction too! Should I go?”

“Leave them if they’re not close. Yuhyun will deal with them and be back soon—”

RUMBLE! A tremendous crash echoed through the air. I quickly activated the Teacher skill on Yerim. A warning light flashed in her field of vision. Golden electricity leaped wildly back and forth across the black asphalt, covering everything like a surging tide and scattering brilliant light.

Then, with a sharp CLINK, chains extended and wrapped around the streetlights on both sides of the road. The lights, which had been dark, blazed to life all at once before exploding with a tremendous BANG. Maybe because electricity was still flowing through them despite being non-functional, and the additional power overloaded them? It was an especially dramatic explosion.

“One of them has arrived.”

I set down my drink bottle and stood up. The pre-regression me did the same.

Seeing him use chains so naturally, it was definitely the current Seong Hyunjae, and there didn’t seem to be any particular problems. Yuhyun returned first, leaping over the collapsed buildings, followed by Seong Hyunjae’s appearance. His eyes looked normal too.

“I’m not the last one—”

Seong Hyunjae’s words trailed off, which was unusual for him. His golden eyes, fixed on both versions of me, widened slightly. The smile he wore like a permanent fixture deepened, and his gloved fingers lightly pressed against his lips. That look—he’s definitely intrigued. Let’s see, it’s been 26 minutes, so…

“Two Han Yujins. I could take one of them.”

What is he even saying, I wondered, but since it hadn’t been three minutes yet, I kept that thought to myself. Yuhyun moved behind us, positioning himself protectively as he spoke.

“My brother belongs to me.”

Yuhyun, what are you saying now?

“You can’t talk about a person like they’re property.”

“But I belong to you too.”

– That’s right! It’s all about give and take!

Where did you pick that up, Iryn?

“Of course Han Yuhyun belongs to Han Yujin, but don’t I have a claim on Han Yujin too? We’re partners, after all.”

Partners? the pre-regression me murmured quietly. At Seong Hyunjae’s words, Yerim chimed in as well.

“Me too! Let Han Yuhyun have as much as he wants, but I’ve got a claim too! We’re in a guardian-ward relationship, a protector-protected relationship, right?”

“Oh! Then me too! I have a contract with Boss Kim Seobang!”

The way you’re all talking makes me sound like some kind of jointly-owned debt. And it still hasn’t been three minutes. Three minutes is really long. So I smiled sweetly at Seong Hyunjae.

“Mr. Seong Hyunjae, you’re being too much. Of course we’re business partners. Ah, this is the twenty-nine-year-old me. That’s my reliable partner, Mr. Seong Hyunjae. The Sesung Guild Leader—you know him well, right?”

When I spoke in such a gentle, soft voice, not only Seong Hyunjae but also Yerim, Yuhyun, and the other me all stared at me strangely.

“Are you feeling sick? Did you get hit by some weird skill?”

“You are the same person we’ve been with, right? You didn’t switch clothes, did you?”

“It’s still me, and I’m perfectly fine. Mr. Seong Hyunjae, are you injured anywhere? Thank you for dealing with that group of Hunters. As always, you’re so dependable… Three minutes are up.”

Freedom. I grabbed the arm of the confused pre-regression me and issued a warning.

“He’s a dangerous man, so be careful.”

“…What?”

“I’m talking about the Sesung Guild Leader here.”

“I won’t deny that.”

Seong Hyunjae’s face looked genuinely fond as he gazed at me, then at the other me.

“My dear Han Yujin. If we manage to get out of here safely, you’ll need somewhere to stay, won’t you?”

“There’s a spare room at my house. And more at the Haeyeon Guild.”

“That would be… difficult.”

Seong Hyunjae’s voice continued smoothly.

“The closer people are to each other, the more they tend to make comparisons. Colleagues, relatives, friends, spouses, siblings. The more frequently they meet and the more similar their circumstances, the more likely they are to think—even unconsciously—about who’s better and who’s lacking. And if it’s the same person…”

Not just distinction, but discrimination would be inevitable. The pre-regression me and current me had clear differences in what we could and couldn’t do. As Seong Hyunjae said, it would definitely be a harsh environment for the other me.

Though it’s not certain we’ll even make it out safely. But he’s absolutely right about this.

“So you’re saying you’ll take me in, Mr. Seong Hyunjae? That makes sense. You’re interested now because it’s a novelty, right? But how long will that interest last?”

Since he’s so deeply connected to me that strong emotions are shared, Seong Hyunjae is probably experiencing the dungeon version of me quite intensely. So naturally, he’d be curious. I pulled the pre-regression me closer, as if to shield him. He couldn’t possibly be weaker than me, but he came along without resistance.

“Don’t be fooled by his good looks. The Sesung Guild Leader is famous for taking interest in people, then discarding them within a few months. There’s more than one victim of his fickleness.”

“I can’t guarantee that my interest will last forever, as Han Yujin pointed out.”

“See? That’s exactly what he’s like.”

“But I can promise that protection and care exceeding your needs will never cease.”

“What makes you so confident?”

“For what it’s worth, I take pride in the high level of trust my guild members place in me.”

That’s… Suddenly, I remembered the Seong Hyunjae from inside the dungeon. He had taken responsibility until the very end. For his guild. In whatever way necessary.

“So you’re saying you’d take me into the Sesung Guild?”

“Wouldn’t it be a beneficial arrangement for both of us?”

Since it’s me we’re talking about, it certainly wouldn’t be bad if he took me on as a Sesung guild member. The relationship between Sesung and the breeding facility would grow stronger, and he could even use me as leverage if necessary. And it would definitely help the pre-regression me. It would be better to gradually adapt in a completely unfamiliar environment than to be suddenly dropped into a place that’s familiar yet strange.

But.

“…I refuse.”

The other me spoke up. Though he didn’t quite meet Seong Hyunjae’s gaze directly, seeming somewhat intimidated, he continued with stubborn determination.

“I don’t understand why you’re all arbitrarily deciding that I need someone’s care. I can take care of myself just fine. I’ve lived that way all along. You did too. I’ll live my own life.”

His final words were firm, without the slightest tremor. Right, that’s how I’ve always been. Just because my situation had improved so much, I’d unconsciously started thinking of my past self as weak. But I’d always been the same person.

And now Seong Hyunjae had been rejected twice. Since it’s the same me, what can you do?