The S-Classes That I Raised

Chapter 419: Will (2)

Han Yujin’s mana imprinting had been specially engraved at Medsang, which possessed the most outstanding imprinting techniques in the world. Mu, a half-elf and the world’s finest at handling mana, had personally paved the way for the imprinting. The tools and materials used were of the highest quality, applied without restraint.

The size was unprecedented. A mana path that extended all the way down to his waist—something that could only be engraved because he was willing to sacrifice one life for it.

The effect should have easily surpassed what Han Yujin had imagined, but there was one critical problem: the fragile body of an F-Rank. Han Yujin’s magic and mana reserves fell far short of what the mana imprinting needed to exert its true power. It was like trying to run the latest software on a computer from over ten years ago. He had forcibly installed something incompatible, but it couldn’t operate properly.

Now, however, Han Yujin’s body was S-Rank. This wasn’t a matter of borrowing another S-Rank Hunter’s stats through Changeling’s power, but a genuine S-Rank Awakened, newly configured as Crescent Moon’s incarnation.

“This is… quite something.”

Han Yujin’s eyes widened slightly as his senses swept sensitively across the entire third floor of the department store. The mana imprinting was awakening, finally matching its master’s body—like a beast stirring from deep hibernation. And even this wasn’t operating at full capacity.

He suspected it might be difficult to handle perfectly even as an S-Rank.

Song Taewon was also feeling Han Yujin’s transformation. Despite his appearance as a melee fighter who relied primarily on physical combat, Song Taewon’s mana sensing ability was exceptional. His skill nullification ability required delicate mana control, after all.

In urgent battle situations, he would disrupt an opponent’s skill and mana structure. Given time, he could penetrate their magical abilities and lower their skill grade. The former was difficult enough, but the latter was extraordinarily complex.

Han Yujin’s mana crashed against Song Taewon’s sensitive awareness like a torrential downpour. The word ‘monster’ flashed through his mind.

“Oh, Chief Song.”

Seeing Song Taewon’s hardened expression, Han Yujin smiled thinly.

“What were you thinking just now?”

The potions flowed outward, their power seeping into Han Yujin’s body. As his injuries healed, the potions became ordinary water, swaying in the air around them.

“Am I on your list of monsters to be caught and killed now?”

“No.”

“Why not? I look like a monster even to myself.”

“But, Mr. Han Yujin—”

BOOM! An explosion erupted from the floor below. The far side of the third floor collapsed in a shower of debris. The faint clanking and jingling of chains drifted up from below.

Even at this distance, Han Yujin maintained perfect control over the moonlight—his mana.

“You stepped forward to protect me.”

If Han Yujin had abandoned Song Taewon, he wouldn’t have become what he was now. Water flowed shallowly around Song Taewon’s feet—far too much to be just from the potions. All liquids on the third floor except the potions had been cleared away, yet somehow he was drawing water from elsewhere.

The gradually rising water submerged Song Taewon’s heels.

“And you said you were a victim—”

“You’re so naive.”

SWISH!

The pooled water shot upward. A dozen streams transformed into sharp ice spears, flying directly at Song Taewon.

“My true feelings were mixed in, but there were plenty of lies too, you know? People are like that.”

Song Taewon’s foot swept wide. Ice shattered, sparkling fragments decorating the darkness. SPLASH, SPLASH—water splashed with every movement.

The water now reached his ankles.

“It’s the same with what you usually say. Especially ‘I’m fine.’ What else can you do but say you’re fine?”

Han Yujin slid along fishing line, pursuing Song Taewon. Water droplets scattered from the silver threads beneath his feet.

“If I’m the only one who’s fine, then other people won’t get hurt. Chief Song, if you said you weren’t okay, think of all the people around you who would worry.”

THUD! As Song Taewon blocked Han Yujin’s attack, he remembered the people he had killed—the ones who would be safe outside the dungeon.

What they had said after Song Taewon’s death. How they had worried about him. He remembered the paper cup crushed completely in his grip, the warmth and familiar scent of instant coffee.

Water seized Song Taewon’s ankle. Ice wrapped around his wrist. Sharp silver threads scratched his skin.

“Does being S-Rank to protect others mean you’re not a monster? Then what is Chief Song?”

SWISH! Han Yujin’s leg swept high with the water. The half-moon-shaped wave that soared upward froze instantly, cutting Song Taewon’s chest like a blade. His clothes tore as if sliced by scissors, a red line blooming across his skin.

“My little brother died saving me.”

Han Yujin’s voice dropped heavily. An ice spear brushed past Song Taewon’s ear as a flaming sword barely grazed beneath his chin.

“Han Yuhyun… well, to be honest, he’s different from ordinary humans. The Old Man was too.”

BOOM! Song Taewon’s back slammed against a pillar. He ducked just as the section where his head had been was severed cleanly. THUD—fragments rained down as Song Taewon rolled across the waterlogged floor.

The water now reached nearly to his ankles.

“But what’s wrong with that? That kid is my little brother.”

“But I—!”

Silver threads wrapped around his movements bound Song Taewon tight. Each strand could be broken easily alone, but together they made proper movement nearly impossible.

Not missing the opening, Han Yujin drove a kick with his full body rotation into Song Taewon’s chest. SPLASH—with a massive spray of water, Song Taewon fell. The water around his lower body froze instantly. With his legs buried in what seemed like tons of ice, plus dozens of special fishing lines, even an S-Rank Hunter couldn’t escape easily.

Han Yujin’s foot pressed gently against Song Taewon’s throat.

“Would you like to leave a will?”

“I will be wary of myself.”

Until the very end. Song Taewon tried to summon strength to his fingertips. He knew he couldn’t escape. He was an S-Rank Awakened, an existence capable of stopping Seong Hyunjae. Even if that fact would never change. Even as his skin was scratched and his fingers and wrist muscles twisted, he didn’t stop trying.

Silver eyes looked down into Song Taewon’s gaze.

“Would you have done this before the regression? It must have been the same.”

A reddish-black flame gathered at Han Yujin’s fingertip, forming into a long sword in his grasp. He could sense Seong Hyunjae’s presence as he reached the third floor. For some reason, the man came no closer.

“So, without a doubt.”

Han Yujin spoke through gritted teeth.

“Song Taewon would have saved Seong Hyunjae.”

The sword swung. Blood sprayed. Han Yujin swallowed a groan and staggered back. Song Taewon stared at him with wide eyes. Seong Hyunjae’s hand caught Han Yujin’s severed hand as it flew through the air.

“I wasn’t trying to kill him! Damn it!”

Han Yujin shouted.

“I’m not killing him! That person! And damn it! Why do I have to go through this!”

He spoke with a deep frown, as if complaining to himself, then cursed outright.

“You son of a bitch, Crescent Moon! What the hell are you trying to make me do with just S-Rank power! How many items have I used! And my stats may be lacking, but my abilities aren’t inferior to any S-Rank! Hey, I would have been suppressed long ago with just what you gave me!”

The efficiency was terrible, and there was no reward. So why was he killing Song Taewon? Han Yujin threw his tantrum.

“What’s so great about S-Rank stats! Well, it was pretty good. But I’m better! And you’re treating me like this? It’s so unfair I can’t stand it anymore! Complete waste of effort!”

Song Taewon wouldn’t kill Seong Hyunjae. Even if he was the leader of monsters to be confronted, in the end he would try to protect even the monster from himself. That’s who he was.

“It’s pointless. It’s pointless, that’s right! That’s right!”

There was no need to kill him. ‘I have to kill him. He’s a threat to the little moon.’ No. Han Yujin wiped his face with his remaining hand. His eyes, still tinged with silver, looked toward Seong Hyunjae.

“And I swallowed that too.”

Wouldn’t it be possible now? Han Yujin turned and walked toward Seong Hyunjae. Behind him came the sound of ice breaking, but only one arm had emerged.

“Mr. Seong Hyunjae.”

Han Yujin spoke, raising the corners of his lips. His current self was also a sufficient threat to that man.

“Please kill me.”

It was time to wrap things up.

At those words, as if receiving a signal, Seong Hyunjae began to move. Han Yujin didn’t remain still either. Sliding across the frozen floor, their bodies collided. Han Yujin’s nails pierced Seong Hyunjae’s shoulder. Without hesitation, Seong Hyunjae grabbed Han Yujin’s remaining wrist.

CRUNCH—the sound of twisting bone echoed as poison seeped into Seong Hyunjae’s wound. Han Yujin’s tail drove into the ice like a spearhead. Supporting his body on the slippery floor with his tail, he yanked his caught arm free in one motion.

Seong Hyunjae’s shoulder was gouged deeply. Blood flowed down his coat to his shoe tips, but without a moment’s hesitation, he drove his knee into Han Yujin’s waist. The wing membrane spread to protect his waist tore from the sharp knee strike, and Seong Hyunjae grabbed Han Yujin’s staggering arm again.

JINGLE—the silver chain, now only one, shot toward Seong Hyunjae. Instead of using the Seeker’s Chain, Seong Hyunjae offered his arm. Silver pierced his flesh as gold crushed Han Yujin’s leg.

Seong Hyunjae looked down at the limp Han Yujin in his grasp.

“What are you staring at so intently?”

“At Han Yujin.”

“To be honest, if I didn’t have Crescent Moon’s power, you probably wouldn’t have reacted to this extent.”

“Perhaps so.”

Fighting someone, catching them, killing them—how long had it been since he felt excitement in these acts? A violent instinct forgotten for ages bloomed across his gorgeous features.

He had no habit of trampling the weak without reason. So this pure pleasure of violence could only be felt with an opponent of similar caliber. Not Han Yujin, but Crescent Moon—that would be the proper way to think. But…

“I’m enjoying the F-Rank Han Yujin quite enough.”

Seong Hyunjae’s hand touched the back of Han Yujin’s neck. His mana pressed down on the mana imprinting. The repulsive force was pleasantly electric.

“This is Han Yujin’s.”

And everything else too. Song Taewon approached, injured from breaking through ice and fishing line. Seong Hyunjae sent him a deep smile at his hardened expression.

“Can you help ensure he can’t use lightning attribute resistance?”

Song Taewon’s mouth tightened, then he placed his hand on Han Yujin’s back. A black shadow flickered, and after a moment, Song Taewon stepped back. A small breath escaped Han Yujin’s lips. Immediately after—

CRACKLE!

Dazzling light burst outward. His already half-torn clothes burned away as powerful electric current flashed across Han Yujin’s entire back. The mana imprinting emitted a faint glow as if resisting the hostile mana pouring into it, then went dark.

As the mana imprinting faded, electric current left deep marks across his back in its place. Han Yujin’s head dropped.

Seong Hyunjae held the limp body, watching the scene as if enchanted. The way the mana imprinting reappeared and intertwined was strangely beautiful. His golden eyes curved with satisfaction. Noticing this, Song Taewon frowned.

“Is he okay?”

“I reduced the physical damage as much as possible, just in case.”

Seong Hyunjae’s hand stroked Han Yujin’s back. Not even the slightest movement could be felt. His heart had stopped completely. Then, slowly, the scars on his back began to disappear. The severed wrist also vanished, restored to its original state. At this sight, Song Taewon sighed with relief.

“It seems there really is no problem with Mr. Han Yujin’s body.”

No voice agreed with Song Taewon’s words. Instead, Seong Hyunjae’s brow furrowed. He felt along the back, still covered with burned cloth remnants.

“Han Yujin.”

Still no movement. The pulse that should have been at his fingertips remained silent.

“What—”

“Damn it.”

Seong Hyunjae hurriedly tried to lay Han Yujin on the floor, but first took off his coat and spread it over the melting ice.

“He’s not breathing.”

“What?”

Song Taewon’s expression hardened as well. Seong Hyunjae placed his hand on Han Yujin’s chest. Finely controlled electric current spread from beneath his palm. Song Taewon quickly took position beside him and began emergency treatment.

Fortunately, not long after—

“Cough, gasp!”

A choked breath burst from Han Yujin’s mouth.