The S-Classes That I Raised

Chapter 427: Collapse!

Under the rippling light, every window exploded. Glass fragments caught the morning sunlight as they sparkled and rained down. Distant shouts of “What’s going on?” echoed from within, but the powerful electric current flowing along the building’s outer wall seemed to trap everyone inside.

Lightning makes it safer to stay indoors, after all.

BOOM, CRACK!

The building’s wall crumbled and turned black from the burns. Since electricity was an attribute that weakened as it spread, demolishing a special building by just pouring power into it should have been difficult. The Hunter Association building was reinforced with dungeon by-products, and right now it would be enhanced with various items and skills.

Yet RUMBLE—parts of the outer wall kept collapsing. Why wasn’t it stopping? I glanced back at Seong Hyunjae, who was wielding his mana and magic with reckless abandon.

“You’ll burn through your mana at this rate.”

“Even for me, doing this twice would be difficult.”

Hmm, could he really not manage it? Well, in reality, Chief Song would come running to stop him. But the current Song Taewon just stood there watching Seong Hyunjae’s rampage. Even though this was inside a dungeon, it was a truly surreal sight. I wanted to take a picture—no, a video. Hadn’t filming items been fully developed yet?

‘Thank god Chief Song barely knows anyone at the Hunter Association right now.’

The whole organization had been completely renewed. Even if they were the same people, there was bound to be a huge difference between having seen them before and not. Even if you weren’t that close. The news of a neighborhood acquaintance’s death hits completely differently than hearing about some stranger’s death on the other side of the world.

It was the same with Yerim, but it felt wrong for her to harm monsters that were essentially human from the start. I knew I shouldn’t treat her like just some fifteen-year-old. Even if she wasn’t Awakened, if she was a minor with power greater than adults and wielding something as deadly as a gun, I’d have to face her prepared to stake my life on it, regardless of her age.

But the heart was a different matter entirely.

“Yerim, fall back now!”

It was about time for an S-Rank—or in this place, an SS-Rank Hunter—to emerge. Yerim, who had already heard the explanation that the SS-Rank Hunter was a melee fighter, reluctantly stepped back. The raging electric current subsided at the same moment. Seong Hyunjae also withdrew.

“From here on, I’ll leave it to Chief Song Taewon. It should break easily.”

Had he weakened every corner of the building? I wanted to see Chief Song destroying the Association too, but that was a sight that wouldn’t appear even in dreams.

The pre-regression me and Yun Yun waited outside the combat area with Young Chaos. Yerim and Seong Hyunjae also retreated to where Noah and I stood, leaving only Yuhyun and Chief Song to step forward. Not only were they outnumbered, but with the opponent having an SS-Rank, it could be seen as a qualitative disadvantage as well.

Still, I didn’t feel much tension.

“Mr. Noah, I’ll need your support skills. Especially that coercive one.”

“Yes, don’t worry.”

Noah nodded confidently and spread his wings, soaring into the sky. He sparkled brilliantly, then used his stealth skill and vanished. The Nest of Falling Light had a long cooldown, so he couldn’t use it. Since the Hunter Association wasn’t the final destination anyway, he wouldn’t have used it in the first place. If he just provided support with the Teacher skill, that would be enough. Obviously.

“That person—could it be!”

The Hunters who emerged from the building after the lightning stopped wore expressions of shock. Their gazes locked onto Song Taewon. It was a situation where a dead person had returned, alive and well.

“Does that even make sense? A monster… Haeyeon Guild Leader, and Seong Hyunjae?”

“Can’t I be called the Sesung Guild Leader anymore?”

Seong Hyunjae feigned disappointment. Officially, Seong Hyunjae had been the Sesung Guild Leader right up until the regression, with Ms. Soyeong as his deputy.

“Could it be that the lightning just now…”

“No way!”

“Doesn’t the Haeyeon Guild Leader look young too?”

“I think there’s someone up there as well… That one’s also young, but seems to be a Hunter.”

“Why is the Haeyeon Guild Leader’s brother here?”

He can be here, I suppose.

Amid the murmuring, the current SS-Rank Hunter, Choi Iram, stepped forward. He raised his eyebrows slightly as he looked at Yuhyun.

“Haeyeon Guild Leader—is that correct?”

“Yes.”

“Then should I interpret this situation to mean that the Haeyeon Guild is acting hostile toward the Hunter Association and other guilds?”

Choi Iram spoke with an expression of complete bewilderment. The current Hunter Association could be called a coalition of large guilds, including Haeyeon. Choi Iram could also be considered a jointly affiliated S-Rank Hunter. But if they suddenly launched an attack…

“Think whatever you want.”

Yuhyun replied as if he couldn’t be bothered with lengthy explanations, holding the Ruler of the Wind horizontally. At the gesture that basically said ‘just come at me,’ Choi Iram’s face twisted.

“So that’s what happened! Seong Hyunjae and Song Taewon conspired to fake Song Taewon’s death! And they destroyed the Hunter Association!”

No, that’s not it. At the accusation of conspiracy, a slight shadow crossed Chief Song’s face. Even though this was fake, he seemed to dislike being misunderstood that way.

“Deliberately reducing Sesung’s influence in Korea, and once Haeyeon grows stronger, he plans to swallow it whole—that kind of scheme!”

Well, it was hard to say Seong Hyunjae’s disappearance had been entirely his own choice. But he had originally been thinking of handing Korea over to either Haeyeon or Breaker. He was skilled at catching mice through misdirection.

“To think that Seong Hyunjae, Song Taewon, and Han Yuhyun have joined forces!”

“We have not joined forces.”

“I haven’t joined forces.”

“I’m holding hands with Han Yujin right now.”

“I’m holding Mister’s hand.”

I was holding on so I could escape with teleportation if things went south. Our S-Rank Hunters looked so friendly together. Ha.

“Haeyeon Guild Leader! Even though you’re young, I respected you as a fellow Hunter!”

Was that so? I felt a little sorry. Well, judging from his rude way of talking to me, he did seem favorable toward Yuhyun, toward the Haeyeon Guild. I hadn’t realized he respected him that much.

“The young master is quite popular.”

“To be honest, he is cool. Right now he’s the strongest in Korea and practically number one in the world, and his skills are impressive too. Not just red flames, but black fire, and his weapon is a sword. Plus the willow leaves are stylish.”

“Mister, your conscience.”

“It’s a fact. Yerim, put your hand on your conscience.”

Yerim’s expression crumpled as she shut her mouth. Even people who disliked Yuhyun would admit he was cool. Unless their eyesight was beyond human level.

“I will definitely, absolutely crush Han Yuhyun.”

“You’ll be busy, little miss.”

“Sesungjussi is second on the list.”

“As expected of our Yerim. She has excellent taste.”

Of course he was second.

In frustration, Choi Iram aimed his spear at Yuhyun. The other Association Hunters also took battle stances despite their confusion.

“I’ll take this one.”

Yuhyun spoke to Chief Song as bluish-black flames soared upward. At the same moment, Song Taewon’s body shot forward. A fist wearing the SS-Rank handcuffs shattered a blade and connected with the lower jaw. CRACK! The sound of breaking bones echoed in rapid succession.

A melee Hunter who could nullify all skills. With high-grade armor added to that, he was even more unstoppable. Even excluding Choi Iram, the Hunters here were A to B-Rank. In other words, they were S to A-Rank now. But still, Chief Song’s body moved through the Hunters like a tiger attacking a herd of deer.

BOOM!

The Association Hunter struck by a roundhouse kick flew into the building wall. A massive hole opened in the already weakened structure, causing one side to collapse entirely. A fragment rolled to Choi Iram’s feet. Choi Iram gritted his teeth and glared at Yuhyun.

“I wanted to fight you at least once, but not like this—”

As if he had no intention of listening any further, Yuhyun began to move. He closed the distance instantly, and a spear shaft blocked the Ruler of the Wind as it dug toward his neck. I remembered it as an S-Rank weapon, but perhaps because the weapon had also received the dungeon buff, it withstood the heat-emitting blade without much trouble.

However.

“…!”

The Ruler of the Wind, which seemed blocked, transformed into a whip sword and curved dramatically. Drawing an arc like a beast’s claw, CRUNCH! It pierced Choi Iram’s shoulder as is. Though he wore a shoulder guard, the reddish-black flame flowed along the blade and melted it. Choi Iram quickly retreated, but Han Yuhyun gave him no opening. Using his formal wear’s acceleration skill, he pursued Choi Iram at a speed greater than his retreat.

“The one you were hiding—!”

I bought that for you! I did! What are you hiding!

“It’s a weapon that the useless Haeyeon Guild Leader’s brother bought for me! What! I gave him those clothes too!”

They’re both SS-Rank, you bastard! Though it was a bit childish, I felt refreshed after shouting. Before I could even finish speaking, Yuhyun’s knee struck Choi Iram’s abdomen hard. The Ruler of the Wind swung in a semicircle at the body floating in the air.

CLANG!

Though the spear shaft barely blocked the sword, Choi Iram was thrown like a ball hit by a bat and slammed into the wall. BOOM! The Association building, already half-destroyed thanks to Chief Song, shook violently as if it might collapse at any moment.

“Damn it!”

Choi Iram quickly got back up. Since he was at SS-Rank level anyway, he didn’t seem to have taken much damage. His face grew more cautious, as if he wouldn’t be careless anymore, and a halo of light gathered at his spear tip. The speed at which he charged at Yuhyun after kicking off the ground was extraordinary. Such tremendous momentum.

“Ugh?!”

His speed suddenly increased, and he stumbled as he brushed past Yuhyun. It was Mr. Noah’s skill. Yuhyun swung his sword at Choi Iram, who had lost his balance for a moment. Thanks to his SS-Rank stats, he avoided a fatal wound, but Choi Iram’s arm was half-severed.

As expected, Mr. Noah’s skill was lethal in battles between high-rank Hunters of similar grades.

“What is this—could it be that bird!”

What bird? He hadn’t even taken full form, just brought out his wings. Though he’d used a stealth skill, it seemed he couldn’t avoid Choi Iram’s eyes, as the man glared fiercely at Noah. But there was no way for him to attack Noah. Choi Iram didn’t have a flight skill, and before that, he’d have to get through Yerim and Seong Hyunjae.

In the end, Choi Iram didn’t last long and offered his neck to the black blade.

The other Hunters around were in similar states. The last Association Hunter fell under Chief Song’s kick, and—

RUMBLE, RUMBLE!

The Hunter Association building collapsed completely. A cloud of dust rose high, revealing the scenery that had been hidden behind it.

Ah, what a beautiful sight.

“You worked hard, Yuhyun. You worked hard, Chief Song! Thank you too, Mr. Noah! Your timing was perfect!”

With this, the Hunter Association was cleared as well. Now, with a much lighter heart, though it would be difficult to proceed…

[Haeyeon Guild area has been opened!]

A message window appeared. It seemed to have appeared for the others as well. Yerim looked up at me with a slightly worried expression.

“Wait outside this time, Mister.”

“It’s okay. It’s the final boss—how can I be left out?”

I had the Teacher skill and the double skill. We had many people, but the Haeyeon Guild members would be numerous too, so if worse came to worst, I could use our kid’s skill.

As expected, I shouldn’t be left out. It was a boss. Usually they were stronger… though maybe not. The demon king who created the dungeon might be waiting.

I hoped so.

“Let’s replenish our mana and rest a bit, then go. Is it a little early for lunch? It’s not good to fight on a full stomach.”

Of course, starving wasn’t an option either, but when the timing was ambiguous, it was better for the body to be light. After taking one last look around the collapsed Association, we moved on.

The distance to the Haeyeon Guild wasn’t that far either. Even though we moved leisurely after resting, we managed to arrive before noon. Seeing the familiar building made my mouth go dry.

“How about a couple of us scout first?”

Seong Hyunjae suggested. Scouting wouldn’t be bad. I’d be able to prepare myself mentally too.

“Then Yun Yun and I can go!”

Yerim stepped forward. Yun Yun also readily accepted the reconnaissance mission, which didn’t involve battle.

“You both need to be careful. Yun Yun, spatial movement is different from teleportation and can’t be blocked, so please take care of Yerim.”

“Don’t worry!”

Though Yun Yun was a little less reliable, spatial movement was very dependable. The two of them stepped forward, saying they’d be back. Please be the demon king, please…

“Huh?”

Yerim, who was flying forward, bumped into an invisible wall with a thud. The same thing happened to Yun Yun. What was this? I was sure it had said it was open.

“Mister, we can’t get in!”

“That’s right, Boss Kim Seo-bang! It’s blocked here!”

At their words, Chief Song and Noah approached. Their hands were also blocked in midair. Then Seong Hyunjae tapped the empty air with the back of his hand.

“Did the Rookie make another mistake?”

No, you said you opened it…

“Oh!”

My hand, which I thought would be blocked, cut through the empty air. Yuhyun quickly caught me as I stumbled forward.

“Mister can get in?”

“R-right?”

What was this? What on earth was going on?