The S-Classes That I Raised

Chapter 418: Will (1)

Clang! Metal struck metal in the darkness, sparks flying like dying stars. Han Yujin’s sword was driven back by Song Taewon’s overwhelming strength, flying high and carving a long groove against a nearby pillar. Han Yujin staggered, and Song Taewon’s hand shot forward to grab his collar. Just before he could be dragged and hurled aside, Han Yujin spun his blade and severed his own clothing in one swift motion.

His relatively small frame, already half-lifted, sailed in the direction he’d been pulled. Moving with squirrel-like agility, he rolled over his back and used Song Taewon’s shoulder as a stepping stone. In the same fluid motion, he lobbed a bomb directly at Song Taewon’s chest.

Boom!

The powerful explosion struck home. Han Yujin, having already vaulted over Song Taewon’s back, remained unharmed and kicked off the broad surface, instantly creating distance between them.

“You should consider weight class—that’s really cheap! Ow!”

Crunch! The tip of a golden chain pierced the spot where Han Yujin had been standing moments before. As Han Yujin dodged, Seong Hyunjae retracted the chain and closed in. His heel slid across the floor, sweeping low toward Han Yujin’s ankle, but a golden tail—just a fraction faster—intercepted the attack.

Thud! The tail deflected the kick and swayed like a wave. Reddish-black flames erupted, and using them as a smokescreen, Han Yujin vanished from Seong Hyunjae’s sight. Teleportation. Even with combat foresight to predict the path, completely blocking movement at such terrifying speed proved nearly impossible.

And now Han Yujin was targeting Song Taewon, not Seong Hyunjae. Since combat foresight only worked against attacking opponents, it was less effective against someone focused on evasion.

Crackle—

As soon as the explosion’s heat had faded, Song Taewon’s leg froze solid. Instead of breaking the ice, Song Taewon wrapped his hand in Plunder and held it before his head. Simultaneously, a blade of black flame flew toward him as if to cleave his skull in half.

Scrape!

A large hand caught the blade, and Han Yujin, unable to win through brute force, released it without hesitation and retreated. The corner of his mouth curved upward as he faced Song Taewon.

“Why are you struggling so much?”

The blade held in Song Taewon’s grip scattered into dozens of flames. Shadows flickered across his stern features.

“Your opponent is a pitiful victim bound by moonlight.”

Han Yujin spread his wings and flew toward the department store’s open central area.

“Aren’t you worried about me? Even if it’s an incarnation, I’m the one getting hurt. Look at this—my neck.”

He tilted his head to one side for inspection. Despite possessing S-rank stats, a dark bruise marred his skin.

“This happens even from a glancing blow. Are you planning to break my neck completely this time?”

Rather than answer, Song Taewon put force into his frozen leg. Crack! The foot stuck to the floor was torn free, lifted, then slammed down hard. The ice encasing his leg shattered and fell away.

“Tell me honestly—I’m annoying you, right?”

Han Yujin spoke while pretending to sit cross-legged in midair. The posture was similar to his usual self, as if he were mimicking Seong Hyunjae.

“You must have wanted to get rid of me.”

“No.”

“Don’t answer.”

Seong Hyunjae stepped lightly onto the railing. His silver eyes curved into a broad smile.

“Ah, right. Since I’m just an F-rank who can be ignored.”

Both Seong Hyunjae and Song Taewon’s brows furrowed simultaneously.

“Even if I’m dragged around here and there, even if my throat gets choked, I should be unable to make a proper protest~ Normally, I’m in a position where I should tremble before an S-rank, keep my mouth shut, and follow orders. So I’m truly sorry for not knowing my place. What? You’re not saying anything, so I guess you both agree—”

“Han Yujin.”

“What is it, S-rank-nim? Ah, I shouldn’t have treated the great Mr. Song Taewon like just any S-rank. He’s someone who has dedicated his body to the country and lives modestly, as if he were an ordinary commoner with nothing. Even so, he’s an S-rank.”

Han Yujin tilted his head as if genuinely puzzled.

“If you hate being an S-rank, why did you grab someone else’s neck instead of your own? Whether it’s non-awakened, awakened, F-rank, or S-rank, sheep or wolf—it’s all over when you die! We’re all the same when we’re dead. Isn’t this what you wanted?”

So I’m saying I’ll kill you. The moonlight wrapping around Han Yujin flickered. Seong Hyunjae immediately spread his chains wide. Jingle! Several silver chains shot from within the moonlight, and Han Yujin, standing atop them, suddenly contracted his body.

His small frame shot forward at high speed, as if boarding an express train, gripping the moonlight chains wrapped around the building’s interior. A few chains were blocked and entangled by golden ones, but the chain Han Yujin rode brushed past Seong Hyunjae’s outstretched fingertips and reached Song Taewon in an instant.

“If you buy snacks, you just keep eating them!”

Clang!

The chain’s tip struck Song Taewon’s Plunder-clad forearm like a bullet. Simultaneously, Han Yujin stepped on the chain and leaped up, returning to his original size. Spinning sharply through the air like a top, his claws aimed for Song Taewon’s throat while his tail whipped fiercely like a lash. The attack was imbued with both Black Blood Flame and poison.

Song Taewon couldn’t use Plunder on both arms simultaneously. His hand wearing the SS-rank handcuffs blocked the dragon’s claw, but black flame wrapped around his wrist. The clothing burned away, and even his hardened skin, reinforced by skills, weakened under the heat.

Han Yujin, still gripping Song Taewon’s hand, pulled his upper body close as if being drawn in and opened his mouth wide. Distinctly inhuman fangs were revealed, and crunch! He bit into the weakened arm. Immediately after, Song Taewon raised his arm and drove his forehead into the back of Han Yujin’s skull.

“Ack!”

Han Yujin flinched and flapped his wings to escape. Healing skills were useless against the dizziness shaking his entire head. Since it wasn’t a direct attack, pain transfer was also impossible. Song Taewon’s hand roughly seized his staggering wings.

The poison and stat-reduction skill had seeped through the bite wound, but the effects weren’t immediate. With poison resistance items as well, he prioritized attack over treatment.

Gripping Han Yujin’s wings and the back of his neck firmly, Song Taewon planted one foot hard against the floor. Simultaneously, he put his full weight behind the motion and hurled Han Yujin’s body in a wide arc.

Boom!

The tremendous sound made the entire second floor of the department store shake violently. Han Yujin’s back broke through the flooring and he plummeted. Boom! A massive hole opened in the first floor as well. Han Yujin, having fallen through two floors to B1, rolled among breaking display cases and fixtures.

“Ah… crazy.”

His entire body ached.

“It’s sticky.”

One arm was stuck in a cake. A decorative cherry rolled down to his ear. If he hadn’t used a shield skill on his back, his spine would have been completely crushed. Han Yujin quickly got up and looked at the hole in the ceiling above.

“He must have healed.”

Clicking his tongue, he soared upward. Instead of going straight to the second floor, he flew to the wide central area on the first floor, then up to the second floor again. As expected, Song Taewon’s wrist had been healed. Han Yujin hurled the cake he’d brought with him at the two men. Splat! White fresh cream spread before Seong Hyunjae and Song Taewon’s feet.

“You’re rejecting someone’s sincerity. Are you saying you don’t want to eat what I’m offering?”

“When it comes to Han Yujin, I prefer being fed.”

“But you take things from others just fine?”

“Of course not. I’m selective, for what it’s worth.”

The tip of Seong Hyunjae’s shoe pressed into the fresh cream and slowly smeared it.

“Food enters the body and becomes blood and flesh, doesn’t it? An ordinary meal is one thing, but as a gift, I don’t give or receive easily.”

“Oh, really?”

Han Yujin raised one eyebrow. Seong Hyunjae spoke with a coaxing smile.

“Naturally. There are only two people I’ve invited to my home and cooked for personally. My dear Han Yujin and our Chief Song Taewon.”

“You never gave any to Ms. Soyeong?”

“She’d run away in disgust, saying she’d get indigestion.”

In those words—indirect but clear emphasis that he wasn’t some common F-rank, that he was special—Han Yujin shrugged his shoulders.

“Well, our Yuhyun is also picky about what he eats. He likes what I make most.”

“Of course the young master would only want to eat what Han Yujin gives him. Because you’re the only one he can be at ease with.”

“You’re good with words.”

Han Yujin’s lips twisted slightly. His silver-tinged eyes blazed fiercely for some reason.

“So you’re saying it’s still at a level where you can resolve this just by coaxing me with words.”

“Shall I be honest?”

Seong Hyunjae’s hand swept back his disheveled hair from his forehead. Under his gloved hand, his shadowed eyes narrowed momentarily.

“I want to grab you and crush you.”

Han Yujin smiled brightly.

“You said you would protect me!”

“Isn’t that why I’m holding back?”

“If you’re going to hold back, you should just back off completely!”

Chuckling, Han Yujin spread his wings wide. With a single flap, his body soared upward. He quickly passed the third and fourth floors, reaching the seventh floor in an instant. Then he disappeared beyond the railing. Both Seong Hyunjae and Song Taewon’s brows furrowed.

“What is he trying to do?”

“I’m not a prophet.”

At first, they thought he might be trying to break through the top floor ceiling to draw in moonlight, but he’d stopped at the seventh floor.

“Just in case, don’t go up.”

Since it was a building with over ten floors, even if a hole were made in the ceiling, light would struggle to reach the lower levels. Before long, Han Yujin’s figure appeared again. A faint humming was heard, and he threw a bomb at the ceiling.

Boom!

Building debris rained down, creating a large hole in the ceiling. Moonlight crept in, but it only directly affected the sixth floor. Han Yujin, having dodged the falling debris, brushed dust from his hair and looked down.

“I know this period better.”

Han Yujin spread both arms wide like wings. From his fingertips, something thin extended outward—dozens of fishing lines.

“Dungeon byproducts are so damn expensive. So rather than everyday items—”

A hobby. It was natural for sports where equipment greatly impacted results to develop first. Unlike the second floor, which featured mainly pure dungeon items and luxury goods, the seventh floor housed high-end sporting goods stores. Among them, fishing lines included several high-quality products that could be called dungeon items—designed for catching monster-class fish in dungeons.

“An expensive hobby that even the Sesung Guild Leader enjoys!”

Moonlight imbued the fishing lines spread wide like a spider web. The highest-grade dungeon fishing line possessed strength comparable to mid-grade combat wire and could even be imbued with attributes. The degree of attribute acceptance was at low-grade item level, but Crescent Moon’s moonlight seeped in relatively easily anywhere compared to other attributes.

The translucent fishing line made an excellent combination with moonlight.

Silver threads scattered in strands, glowing faintly. Han Yujin, positioned at the center, bent his body downward. His golden wings folded as he dropped to the second floor.

“Back off!”

Seong Hyunjae called to Song Taewon from within the rippling silver light. Song Taewon immediately vacated the spot, and golden chains dug between the spider-web-like threads.

Boom!

Golden light exploded. The brilliant illumination that seemed to sear the eyes swallowed the faint glow and ran wild. The second-floor railing was completely destroyed, and the ceiling—part of the third floor—was scorched black. The first floor, already a mess with disgusting odors, was swept away by powerful electrical current.

In the drying air—

Jingle!

A bell sound, faint compared to the thunder, rang out. A dozen silver threads burned up accepting the golden rain, but far more remained. In the middle of silver and gold entangled and scattering light as if crossing paths, Han Yujin smiled. His black hair swayed as if submerged in water.

Seong Hyunjae looked up at the scene as if to engrave it in his eyes.

To him, all the beings around him were nothing more than objects of breeding. Whether non-awakened, high-rank awakened, or born S-rank—everything was below his level and couldn’t be more than brief interest.

Song Taewon, directly related to Seong Hyunjae’s survival, was the only exception, but he was trying to suppress and kill himself, not Seong Hyunjae.

That’s why a battle that would satisfy Seong Hyunjae was impossible. The one who could kill him existed outside the world. It had been the same in all the countless worlds he’d experienced. A fight with an opponent who couldn’t threaten him was as boring as a simple sport with perfect protective gear and strict rules.

What fun was there in a scuffle that at best resulted in a few bruises?

Compared to repetitive daily life, it was at least minor stimulation, but that was all.

‘If Han Yujin were to attack me to kill me—’

Then I would be overjoyed.

“Too bad. It’s not your turn today.”

Crescent Moon would not harm Seong Hyunjae. His expression became somewhat sullen as the fishing lines swaying on the seventh floor filled with moonlight and descended.

Seong Hyunjae withdrew the Seeker’s Chain as the golden light was clearly beginning to be pushed back. Part of the chain, imbued with electricity and dyed gold, was tinged with silver. Immediately after he wrapped the chain around himself as protection—

Clang! Clang!

The silver chains began fiercely striking Seong Hyunjae’s entire body and the chain wrapped around him. Following that, sparkling silver threads illuminated the second floor’s interior and stretched out in strands. Han Yujin, having bound Seong Hyunjae with chains, stepped on the silver threads and ran to find Song Taewon.

“There’s not much time left now.”

He’d poured out too much power—not only Changeling’s but Crescent Moon’s as well. As if sensing this, the urge stirring in his head grew even stronger.

Eliminate the shadow that will soon swallow the rising moon.

Han Yujin licked his dry lips amid the wave of electricity.

“Chief Song shouldn’t run away. Leaving me behind.”

Had he gone to the first floor? Or B1, or the connected subway? That was problematic. But the presence he detected was on the third floor. Silver threads quickly occupied the third floor. Crunch! They pierced show windows and wrapped around mannequins.

Han Yujin, sliding on the silver threads spread throughout the area, charged at Song Taewon, who stood tall in the darkness where moonlight flowed. Song Taewon met the silver gaze glaring at him fiercely.

Outwardly he appeared as stoic as usual, but he was already tired and exhausted. It had always been this way, but now he felt like he was sinking into an even deeper swamp. It would have been more comfortable to be buried up to his head and have his breath stopped, but Song Taewon lacked the cunning to find an easy path for himself.

That’s why he moved.

Death was sweet temptation, but that’s precisely why he raised his arms, bent his legs, and stood against the raging force.

Using the taut silver thread like a bowstring, Han Yujin’s body shot forward fiercely.

Boom!

A sword of black flame roughly struck the handcuffs. The charge, wrapped in support skills and with added elasticity from the silver thread, pushed Song Taewon’s feet back, if only slightly. The fishing line spread behind him cut sharply into his clothes and skin.

If he could somehow inflict wounds and delay healing long enough, Song Taewon’s stats would decrease. If his stats and strength weakened, the outcome would be clear.

“Please rest now.”

Instead of answering, Song Taewon pulled the sword held in his hand and threw a punch with his other fist. Han Yujin immediately raised his arm in defense. The strength difference was clear, but just before the punch landed, ice wrapped around Han Yujin’s forearm like armor.

It wasn’t simple ice. The surface was made as smooth as possible.

Scrape!

Song Taewon’s fist slipped slightly and struck Han Yujin’s arm. It was a minor slip, but enough to reduce the force to something he could withstand. Han Yujin, having blocked Song Taewon’s punch, spun his body and threw a kick. But Song Taewon quickly raised his knee and blocked the attack.

Simultaneously—

Crackle!

The floor beneath Song Taewon’s feet froze slick. He was standing on one leg. He’d blocked the attack, but Song Taewon’s body was helplessly pushed backward. Silver thread wrapped fiercely around his back and neck, and several drops of blood splattered.

Multiple wounds appeared. Seong Hyunjae hadn’t come up yet. Even if he arrived, Han Yujin just had to keep him in check with chains and prevent Song Taewon from using potions.

“It’s really just a matter of time now.”

Taking out a potion from inventory and healing a back wound during combat wasn’t easy. Han Yujin charged at Song Taewon mercilessly. Thud, thud! Song Taewon broke through the silver threads with his whole body and retreated. Countless small wounds appeared all over him, and while receiving Han Yujin’s continuous attacks, Song Taewon kicked the floor hard.

Crunch! The flooring broke, and the tip of Song Taewon’s foot kicked up a fragment. The fragment that flew up didn’t hit Han Yujin—it struck the ceiling hard.

“What are you—”

Just as Han Yujin was bewildered by the misdirected attack—

Drip.

Liquid flowed down from the broken ceiling onto Song Taewon’s head.

“A potion?!”

Potion poured from a large water container. It was low-grade, but sufficient to heal the numerous small wounds covering his body. Han Yujin let out a short laugh.

“You’re a clever one.”

He’d swept up all the potions from the second floor, placed them in large containers, and hidden them in several locations. So he could break them and use them when needed.

“But what can you do about this?”

Han Yujin smiled fiercely. His mana spread out more precisely, detecting all liquids on the third floor.

“Normally, it would be difficult to handle potions strongly imbued with another’s mana. But since I have mana imprinting—”

Rumble!

Several places on the third floor exploded, and the hidden potions soared upward.