The S-Classes That I Raised

Chapter 428: Nightmare at Midday (1)

“They’re saying it’s definitely open.”

Young Chaos spoke with his gaze fixed on the air, as if he’d received a message from the Rookie.

“This area is made up of one person’s memory. Only people who are connected to that person can enter.”

“Connected?”

“A person who is recognized? Someone who has been accepted, even a little—I suppose you could say.”

I unconsciously bit my lower lip. My fists clenched tightly as well. After hearing that, there was no more room for doubt and contemplation.

“A dead person shouldn’t appear, should they?”

Since Yuhyun had died right before the regression, he was still alive and well during the time of the twenty-nine-year-old me. But still.

“If the rabbit is right, it would be difficult to form. I’ll have to go inside and check the details to know for sure. The rabbit is trying to find out, but it’s not going well. Because the boss monster here is a servant of the King of Harmless.”

Unlike other places, this seemed to be where the King of Harmless’s power was most concentrated. Then naturally, that demon king should appear. Not my little brother.

I took a deep breath and tried somehow to calm my shaking heart.

“Then only Yuhyun and I can enter.”

“I’m also blocked.”

Yuhyun said, stroking the empty air. What?

“You too? No, why?”

“If it were the me who hadn’t reconciled with Hyung… it would be like that. More than enough. No, even the me from before Hyung regressed. Because I had to keep suppressing and distancing myself.”

“The secondborn is quite stubborn.”

No, but… But even the current Yuhyun was accepting himself, and it had taken time for him to be greedy for himself rather than my well-being. If it were the twenty-four-year-old Han Yuhyun, it would have been enough for him to push himself away.

“If it were the current you, you would have been able to enter too. Maybe even Yerim.”

“Park Yerim, maybe.”

Yuhyun said, as if he wasn’t sure. But it was a surprising development. A guy who had only me before now had himself, Yerim, and Peace. Hyung is very satisfied with just this much. I don’t ask for much now. Please maintain your current mindset.

“Can’t you check? I’m curious.”

Yerim said she would also block the guild leader if she couldn’t get in. How do you block someone anyway?

“Then, for now—”

“No.”

As soon as I started to speak, Yuhyun said firmly. When I looked around, it seemed no one would take my side except for Yun Yun. Look at those curious eyes that wanted to go in right away.

“I have Grace now, and if it really is you, Yuhyun.”

If it’s my little brother.

“There’s no way he would harm me.”

Whether it’s a monster or something else, if it’s Han Yuhyun.

“Or is there another way?”

Young Chaos shook his head briefly.

“For now, it seems there’s no other way but for you, firstborn, to go in and persuade him.”

“See.”

I couldn’t just stay here forever. As soon as night fell, Lautitars might regain his strength and appear again—then it would be dangerous in the end.

“With my fire—”

“No.”

“But—”

“No. And besides, for an attack to work, the monster inside has to respond.”

“That’s…”

There was no way around it anyway. Because I wouldn’t allow Yuhyun to consume his own Source. Even if he had to sacrifice part of his lifespan, for now he had to go in and bring out the little brother inside.

In the end, my little brother nodded slightly, as if he really didn’t want to. I quickly stepped into the area before he could change his mind.

“The stealth skill won’t work, so wear Cilekia.”

Seong Hyunjae told me to be careful.

“If you think it’s dangerous, come back right away.”

“Don’t worry.”

“If I just keep watching like this, I might grow a sarira in my body.”

I think Chief Song has already grown about a dozen thanks to you.

“Hyung, my formal wear is more— Hyung?”

Yuhyun was startled, his eyes widening. I looked where my little brother’s gaze was directed.

“Hey, you!”

The pre-regression me had already entered the area. With a cake box in his arms. I thought he was being quiet, but he took advantage of the gap when people were distracted by me!

“Stay out!”

“Why should I?”

The me-like guy said firmly.

“If only one of us can enter, it should be me. Not you.”

The twenty-nine-year-old Han Yujin, not the twenty-five-year-old Han Yujin. With an attitude of never backing down, I grabbed his arm and pulled… damn it.

“Damn stats! No, if I wear equipment…”

“I have equipment too.”

He would have the attribute-increasing equipment he’d gathered one by one. In addition to the difference in basic stats, his level would also be higher, so it was difficult for me to win with strength.

“Hey! Really!”

“If you’re so confident, I’ll be safe too, won’t I?”

“That’s…”

“He’s my little brother.”

I was at a loss for words. I knew better than anyone that I wouldn’t give up here. Damn it.

“Hyung…”

Yuhyun, who was fidgeting, took off his formal wear and held it out. I took it and threw it at the pre-regression me.

“Wear this for now.”

“Mister! And the ring! This—if it’s Han Yuhyun, fire and poison won’t work. Sesungjussi! Electricity, electricity.”

Yerim said, putting her cold energy into the ring she was wearing. Seong Hyunjae also put in an electric current.

“Take the shawl too!”

“Take this too.”

Song Taewon took off the SS-Rank handcuffs. The shadow on his hardened face was deep. The situation of having to send only an F-Rank and an E-Rank must be a heavy burden for Chief Song.

“I’ll cast a support skill on you too. The duration is quite long.”

“I’ll cheer for you! Good luck! Fighting!”

Right, thank you.

After getting the equipment, we turned toward the Haeyeon Guild building. Even before I entered, the inside of my chest ached slightly. I took a few steps toward the stairs and then stopped abruptly.

“Hey.”

“What.”

“Come here for a moment.”

The pre-regression me approached with a look of disbelief.

“You probably don’t know, but we’re strongly connected.”

“That sounds a little creepy.”

“I’ve clearly felt your emotions, and our mana was connected. And our memories—we recalled them at the same time.”

At this point, we were practically one body. I’m starting to feel creepy too. Though we are the same person.

“So maybe we can also share skills.”

“Skills?”

“Yeah. A little more this way, let’s go up.”

In case my skills leaked out. The me-like guy took me up the stairs.

“It would be even better if we can share our equipment and Grace’s ability. There’s no harm in trying.”

“What should I do?”

“Um, come closer. Put the cake down.”

It was certain that we were connected. If I found that connection and made it stronger, maybe something would happen. If I made the system recognize that the other me and I were the same person. I put my hand on the hesitant pre-regression me and then just pulled him into a hug.

“Ugh, hey!”

“I’m not happy about this either, so just stay still!”

I could feel the gazes of people wondering what the two of us were doing. How embarrassing. I closed my eyes and tried to forget the onlookers, groping for the flow of mana. With the added power of the mana imprinting, I could feel something connecting the two of us. My senses became clearer, and the connected lines were visualized and floated before my closed eyes.

“You, hey.”

“Be quiet.”

“No, this, something…”

I moved my mana and added the Teacher skill to make the connection even stronger. Then we could clearly feel each other’s emotions. We both thought ‘Ugh, this is creepy’ at the same time. My stats went up. His skills must have changed as well. Let’s reduce the sharing of emotions a little. But it was impossible to block it completely.

“Your skills…”

“Don’t say it.”

The pre-regression me’s eyes widened after checking his skill window.

“Wow, crazy.”

“Isn’t it amazing?”

“These skills are really useless to an F-Rank. What a waste.”

That’s so mean. I agree, but I’m using them well.

“I’ll set the damage nullification to SS-Rank. The mana consumption is large, so don’t touch it recklessly.”

“Yes, yes.”

“Then let’s go.”

I turned around again. The hem of my coat swayed long behind me. I stood in front of the familiar glass door and grabbed the handle. My palm felt cool. I pushed the door open and stepped inside.

JINGLE, JINGLE.

The sound of bells rang out. A large Christmas tree stood near the entrance. With a golden star on top and colorful decorations. Colored lights twinkled, and ornaments like doves, baby angels, canes, and socks swayed gently. Green tinsel like pine needles and garlands decorated the ceiling here and there, and Santa sat on the reception desk.

The door that had creaked open closed behind us. We walked quietly. Our footsteps echoed on the smooth floor. As we slowly entered the wide lobby, we heard a faint voice.

[Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you.]

It was a song. The sound of my voice singing.

[To my beloved little brother… happy birthday to you.]

After a short silence, the voice continued again.

[Happy birthday, Yuhyun.]

And again, the song repeated. My stomach hurt. The pre-regression me probably didn’t know, but whether he felt my emotions or whether the song itself was hard to listen to, his expression wasn’t good. A sigh escaped from both our mouths at the same time.

A large Rudolph decoration standing at the innermost part of the lobby came into view. A pile of presents was stacked like a wall, and a white, fluffy carpet like snow was laid out, and in the middle—

“Yuhyun.”

My little brother was asleep. From the recorder held in his limp hand, the song continued to play. Continuously. My steps stopped on their own, and I stood there blankly, unable to get any closer.

“Han Yuhyun!”

The pre-regression me shouted. The cake box—THUD—fell to the floor. Without a chance to stop him, he ran forward. At the same time, the closed eyes snapped open.

“Hey, you bad bastard!”

“Hyung?”

Yuhyun, who had sprung up, quickly turned off the recorder and stepped back. The me-like guy swung his fist at my little brother. Yuhyun lightly dodged the fist, which was quite sharp since he’d been a Hunter, and his brow furrowed.

“Don’t you ever come here again— that’s!”

My little brother reached out and hugged the pre-regression me. The me-like guy kicked Yuhyun’s leg with his foot and clawed at the arm wrapped around his waist. Of course, he didn’t budge, but—my little brother glared at me, standing a little distance away.

“What on earth did you get involved in! I told you to stay put!”

“You damn son of a bitch! Fuck, if you’re a son of a bitch, then I’m a son of a bitch too! You bastard, you! You ran away from home to do this!”

Unjust, resentful, regretful, and sad. My emotions flowed in through a thin membrane.

“Hyung!”

“Apologize!”

The me-like guy shouted at the top of his lungs.

“I said apologize!”

A cry mixed with his scream.

“Say you’re sorry!”

“Hyung, wait—”

“Then I’ll forgive you for everything… Everything. Anything.”

Everything. My little brother’s pupils shook greatly. THUD, THUD! The kicks on his leg continued. Yuhyun was flustered and tried to stop me.

“Y-you’ll get hurt, Hyung.”

“Yuhyun.”

At my voice, my little brother looked at me again. What should I say—his face looked a little scared. He must have already noticed that I wasn’t a fake. He must be very confused.

“It’s okay now.”

“…”

“You probably sense that something is strange. This is inside a dungeon, and both you and that me are monsters made of memories and information.”

“That—what on earth…”

“So you don’t have to endure it anymore. It’s all okay now. The transcendent being who contracted with you is dead, and we outside the dungeon have reconciled.”

“Apologize…” the tearful voice muttered. I heard a loud gasp. The tips of Yuhyun’s fingers trembled.

“H-Hyung…”

“You, you bad bastard, you bad bastard…”

You don’t have to distance yourself from me anymore. The reason for that has disappeared. My little brother’s expression, as he struggled to understand that, collapsed. He looked like a lost child. No, on the contrary, he also looked like a child who had found his parents after wandering for a long time.

“I’m sorry.”

Yuhyun’s voice, leaking out thinly, was also wet. He hugged me tighter—me who was struggling and didn’t know what to do.

“I, I’m sorry. I’m sorry, Hyung…”

I stopped moving. I heard a small laugh.

“Han Yuhyun.”

“Yeah.”

“Happy birthday.”

“Hyung.”

“Happy birthday, my little brother.”

“I, Hyung. I…”

“You should say thank you.”

“Thank you, Hyung. For real, thank you.”

The feeling was strange. My little brother and I were reconciling. I was purely happy. The me here could be like that. The me who had never completely lost my little brother rejoiced after completely getting him back.

The word ‘sorry’ was enough. If he said he was sorry and came back, that was all.

I was envious.

That it was still possible.

“Um, sorry to interrupt the good mood.”

I cleared my throat and opened my mouth. It would be nice if it ended with ‘it all worked out,’ but it couldn’t. Because we had to clear the dungeon and get out.

“For now—”

RUMBLE—

The space trembled. The first one to move was Han Yuhyun. He snatched me and slid over to my side. Immediately after that, the surrounding scenery changed in an instant.

The Rudolph and the pile of presents became boulders. The smooth floor changed into a bumpy dirt floor, and the ceiling and walls all transformed into rough rock walls. In other words, we were inside a huge cave. A very familiar place that I could never forget even in my dreams.

– GRRRRR.

A low growl echoed against the cave walls and spread heavily.