The S-Classes That I Raised

Chapter 431: Brothers’ World

The stench of blood that had been so thick faded, and the rock walls vanished. In place of the great dragon’s corpse appeared a heap of scattered gifts and toppled reindeer decorations. On the soft white carpet, drops of blood trickled down, following the Thunder Bird’s ceremonial garb. The white slowly became speckled with red.

“Stop being stubborn. If you don’t go, then what are you planning to do?”

It was already over. The Lautitars was dead, and my brother was alive. Both of them were safe. All we had to do now was get out of the dungeon. But now, at this point—

“You already have a hunch, don’t you?”

Holding my brother in my arms, I smiled.

“That it’s going to be hard to get out in one piece. We can even share skills. We’re that close. Since this is still inside the dungeon, it might be possible for us to remain as separate entities. But if I leave? If I become Han Yujin instead of a monster—”

If even the thin barrier of being a dungeon monster were gone—

“It might be fine for me. Sometimes people do take monsters outside the dungeon. If we don’t interfere with each other and stay apart, maybe it’ll be okay. But Yuhyun…”

Our gazes turned to Yuhyun at the same time. His eyes blinked slowly.

“He wasn’t even the boss monster, was he?”

That was right. I’d thought Han Yuhyun might be the final boss, but my brother— my brother was simply one of the mechanisms in place. Maybe because he was someone who had died and been cut off from this world. He hadn’t even become a monster.

“Do you think he’ll be fine once we leave the dungeon?”

“…”

“No, right now it might not even be safe to leave from here. Because he’s right outside.”

I was talking about the Yuhyun who was likely waiting outside. An incomplete fake meeting the real one. It was obvious trouble would happen— it was just a matter of which side it would happen to.

Unlike the two Han Yujins, he might collapse without even being able to maintain his self— or be absorbed into the real one.

“…Hyung.”

Yuhyun, who had only been listening silently, finally spoke.

“You can go.”

His hand weakly pushed against my chest. His fingertips trembled, and on his face there was a fear he couldn’t hide. I clicked my tongue, almost scolding him, and took his hand.

“What are you talking about? I said I’m not going.”

“But…”

“There won’t be any more times we get separated, Yuhyun. Never again. Ever.”

The guy sounded satisfied. I had the absurd thought that he was almost bragging to me— that he’d never let go of his younger brother. That he’d never take his hand off him.

That they’d always be together.

“…Hey, still. You never know.”

I spoke, knowing it was impossible to convince him. The words were just a formality.

“Rather than just giving up like this, at least trying—”

“What do you mean, giving up?”

He frowned as if I’d just said something ridiculous.

“It’s not like anyone’s going to die, is it? Hey, our world is here.”

He comforted Yuhyun and smiled faintly. His eyes weren’t the least bit dimmed— if anything, they were full of strength.

“This is our real world. The world where my brother and I have lived, and where we are together. This is real, we are real, and you guys who suddenly barged in are the fake ones.”

“You…”

“So we’ll live on.”

He said it like it was the most obvious thing in the world, full of confidence.

“I have no intention of dying. I’m going to live with my brother, the two of us, until the very end.”

“…But that—”

“You said this dungeon won’t reset, right?”

“…They said they’d shut it down. Too many errors. It’s a place that shouldn’t have existed in the first place.”

“Yeah. Shut it down. They said they’d close it, but not that it would disappear. Maybe it’ll stay here, closed.”

It was just wishful thinking. But saying that it might stay inside the dungeon wasn’t much different from saying we might survive outside.

It was Han Yujin’s choice which hope to cling to.

“Take this.”

Han Yujin took off his ceremonial robe and tossed it to me.

“I’ve got no weapons left, they’re all busted.”

“You… damn it.”

I felt my insides twist. I walked up to the guy holding my brother in his arms. Honestly, I wanted to throw one last punch.

“What if something happens, why are you just handing it over?”

“You said it was a gift, didn’t you? If it were a coat I might’ve wiped my mouth with it.”

“Still, you’re supposed to take care of Yuhyun! There’s no one else here. Haeyeon’s probably empty, and the people outside— we wiped them all out.”

Sesung, the Awakened Management Office, the Hunter Association, even the place Yerim had gone to. Liet, who Noah had met, was gone too. At most, there’d be a handful of people wandering the streets. No— since we’d noisily dragged hunters in and wiped them out, maybe only these two even existed in here.

Just these two in front of me.

“Damn it, are you seriously telling me you’ve got no weapons left? Look, if you don’t count my gun, I’m still A-rank… wait, my gun.”

I hadn’t used it at the end because it took too long to charge. It should be perfectly fine. My other self glanced at me, then pulled out the lynx gun as if he had no choice.

“You said to pack it.”

“No, you—”

Right, this bastard was me. Of course, I wanted to hand over not just the gun but my shoes and jacket too, but I had my own long road ahead. I took the gun back and instead pulled out the weapons still left in my inventory, along with other items.

“These are cookies that make you smaller. I can’t give you a lot— there’s ten. Really useful. Here’s a master key too, three uses. Plenty of places to loot around here. Not that you need me to tell you. And two single-use teleport items— expensive stuff. Only for real emergencies.”

Since I was leaving, I dumped almost all my potions, keeping only a small amount.

“Cleaning out your storage? There’s plenty of stuff like that around here.”

“You don’t know if it’ll all stay fine. You should be prepared. These are dried fruits. Once we’re gone, get clean water and food first. You know there’s a convenience store right next door, right? The department store’s food section is untouched too. Canned food lasts a long time.”

“You nag too much. You want me to come in and listen to this? Just go already.”

I waved my hand for him to hurry up and leave.

“You’d better take good care of your brother.”

“I don’t need you to tell me—”

“Don’t die.”

“…”

“Live, no matter what it takes. That’s how we’ve survived all this time.”

He spread his palm wide, as if showing off.

“We’re here because we survived. Even now.”

This moment, this ending.

I stepped back. My gaze lingered on him for a moment, then shifted to Yuhyun. My eyes softened. I turned away. The lobby was full of Christmas decorations. At the far end, the door let in the midday sunlight. I walked toward it.

“…I’m sorry, hyung.”

“What are you sorry for now?”

“You might be fine, but still—”

“I’m not leaving.”

I kept walking.

“Yeah. But I’m happy. Because you stayed. I… I’m glad. Even though I shouldn’t be.”

“What do you mean, shouldn’t? Hey, I’m happy too.”

“…I’m really happy. So happy.”

“Then why are you crying? Don’t cry. Want me to light the cake? It’s a bit messed up, but—”

“It’s still fine.”

“Let’s make a wish too. I only brought cake, but is there anything you want?”

“As long as you’re here, my wish has already come true.”

“Then, my beloved little brother—”

I pushed open the glass door. I cut off the last remaining link of the Teacher skill. The sunlight was dazzling. I squinted instinctively, and in the glare I saw people waiting.

“Hyung!”

I heard my brother’s voice. I ran down the stairs. The wall that had been blocking us must have vanished, because Yuhyun came running toward me.

“What happened, Mister!”

“That’s not your blood, is it? You’re not hurt, are you?”

Yerim and Noah shouted anxiously. I told them no, I was fine. I could feel Seong Hyunjae and Chief Song’s gazes too. Yun Yun bolted in fright.

“Hyung, you—”

“Let’s go.”

I took Yuhyun’s arm. He looked flustered and glanced toward the Haeyeon Guild, searching around for the me he couldn’t see.

“But…”

“I left me behind, Yuhyun.”

I looked up at my brother. His black eyes trembled faintly as he looked down at me.

“I left me behind.”

“…Hyung.”

“Let’s go.”

I walked on. My brother followed without resistance. My dry mouth opened.

“It’s not your birthday yet. And I’m going to buy you a cake myself.”

I handed the ceremonial robe to Yuhyun.

“I’ll order it ahead so your name’s on it. The number candles are cute. I’ll get you a gift too.”

Like before we’d been separated, I’d prepare everything myself. I’d sing him the birthday song myself too.

“Let’s put up a big tree the day before your birthday. All together.”

“All together?”

“Yeah, of course all together. A really big one— maybe in the rooftop garden? It’s been ages since I made a Christmas tree.”

“I only got to see one at Uncle’s house.”

We reached the road. I stopped and looked back. The Haeyeon Guild building was silent. The sunlight sparkling on its glass windows made it look like a giant Christmas ornament— for a blessed day.

“So let’s go home.”

I missed my home so much. I wanted to sleep deeply without a care, wake up to breakfast with nothing wrong, sit together on the sofa, and talk about nothing in particular.

“…Yeah, hyung. Let’s go home.”

Yuhyun nodded. No one asked me what had happened. Yerim created a large water droplet for me. I took off my coat and put it in my inventory, then washed my face. The dirty water was replaced with clean, and I dunked my whole head in.

The lukewarm water still felt refreshing.

“Thanks, Yerim. I put it to good use.”

I returned the ring and shawl to her. I held out the handcuffs to Chief Song.

“Thank you for the loan.”

“They’re not mine.”

“They’re borrowed, so of course they should go back to the owner.”

I brushed off his refusal with the reasoning that you never knew what might happen. Then I thanked Noah as well, before looking at Seong Hyunjae.

“Ahem, as for Silekia, it’s mine now.”

“Sorry I couldn’t be of more help.”

“…Saying it like that makes me feel guilty. The coat was great. And the electric charge you put in it too. It was a huge help.”

Seong Hyunjae smiled. There was something suspicious about it— or rather, since pulling an all-nighter yesterday, he seemed to have his mind elsewhere. Not that he was ever easy to read.

“They say the gate’s open at the Sesung Guild. The dungeon itself is unstable, so they want us to hurry out.”

Young Chaos spoke after receiving a message from the rookie. Yerim went to find Yun Yun, Noah transformed, and I climbed onto Noah’s back with Young Chaos. We set off toward the Sesung Guild. Beneath the long stretch of cloud in the sky, the daytime city came into view. In the distance, the Han River flowed.

Flap-flap— a startled flock of pigeons took off, and my heart thumped slightly.

“Looks like there are still animals, even without people.”

“That’s how dungeons usually are.”

True enough— we’d eaten live lobsters before. There might still be fish swimming in the river. It was quiet, but not a completely frozen world.

Before long, we landed in front of the ruined Sesung Guild building. I’d hoped, but there was no sign of life. Even the rooftop, seen from Noah’s back, was empty— only ownerless tables and chairs scattered about.

The dungeon gate glowed before the collapsed stairs.

“You’re heading back, Elder?”

“Yeah.”

“I’m sure we’ll see you again soon. You still have to teach the kids.”

“Kids?”

“You said you’d look after our third one, Yerim, too.”

Young Chaos made a face like, When did I say that?

“Well, given your age—”

“Eldest?”

“Please, Elder Chaos, the greatest, kindest, strongest, and most wonderful in the universe.”

“Just get going already.”

With a short click of the tongue, Young Chaos vanished. Now we really had to leave.

“I wonder how much time has passed outside. Should’ve asked. Rookie?”

I called out, just in case, but there was no answer. If even a day had passed outside, the military might be waiting. So, to be safe, Seong Hyunjae and Song Taewon decided to go first.

About ten minutes after they left, we stepped into the gate. My vision flashed white— and then… huh?

“What the hell?”

I stopped in a pure white space. Normally, the wrecked island should have appeared right away. Had the destination changed? No— there was no one else here. I was alone.

“Yuhyun? Yerim?”

I called out for the others, even Peace, but there was no reply, not even a trace of anyone’s presence. Could it be another error? Rookie?

“It was fun!”

Then I heard someone’s bright, lively voice. It was a voice I recognized, and I tensed instantly. The scenery around me changed.

In the midst of a lush forest, a familiar figure floated in the air.

“You…!”

“It was so much fun!”

The King of Harmless, Ru Ga Pheya, clapped with her hands instead of her tentacles, beaming from ear to ear.