The S-Classes That I Raised

Chapter 434: Results (1)

“Peace, wait, wait!”

Don’t charge in—now’s not the time! At my urgent shout, Peace stopped mid-leap. He tilted his head with a confused whine. Yeah, I guess nothing looks strange to you. But still…

…Everything’s really gone. Only my boots are left. Aside from those, I’ve got the Earrings and Grace. …That just makes it feel even weirder. I wrapped my coat around myself as tightly as possible. It was long, but it didn’t fasten all the way down, leaving annoying gaps at the bottom.

What a ridiculous sight. Even after rummaging through my inventory, the only clothes left were a jacket and a yarn set. No pants, no pants. The lower half is the most important part!

“Hyung!”

Yuhyun called to me. I turned my head, just in case, and saw everyone else perfectly dressed. Except for Chief Song. Unlike me, he still had his pants and was wearing a coat. Guess he didn’t feel like putting bonus stats into a non-item shirt. Pants were unavoidable, though.

Anyway, looks like the newbies took care of everyone else. Good for them. And good for me that everyone’s fine… except me. I want to die of embarrassment.

“Hyung, are you—your clothes—”

“Oh, uh, yeah. Yerim, don’t come over here!”

“It’s wrapped up tight, I can’t see anything~”

“Still no!”

Between my shouts, the Goblins started whispering to each other. What’s going on? What’s wrong with Kim Seobang? The dog got smaller! It’s the King! And so on. It was chaotic.

“First, first! How long has it been since we disappeared? I mean the time.”

“One hour!”

“No, five hours!”

“One hundred ninety-nine hours! Exact!”

“Kim Seobang, I’m hungry!”

“I’m sleepy!”

…At least it hadn’t been a full day yet. The sun hadn’t risen either. Judging by the moon’s position, maybe three or four hours had passed. Dawn was close.

“Want me to take off my clothes for you?”

“What are you gonna do then? They won’t fit anyway.”

I appreciated my brother’s thought, but it would look utterly ridiculous.

“There’s some yarn left, so maybe underwear—”

“No, thanks! I refuse!”

Hot pink yarn underwear? Have you lost your mind? Why does that yarn never run out?

“If you’re gonna give me something, take off your own.”

“Not satisfied with Sillekia, now you want my last piece too? My partner’s so greedy.”

Seong Hyunjae spouted nonsense about needing mental preparation before giving that up. Honestly, I bet he’d strut around naked in broad daylight without batting an eye. Of course, Chief Song would arrest him within a step.

Chief Song also looked like he was about to offer something, so I quickly shook my head. No, it’s fine. It’s not fine, but it’s fine.

“Yuhyun, turn around and block me. Mr. Seong, don’t look.”

I took out a long cardigan and tied it around my lower body. Having my lower half completely covered brought a bit of peace to my mind.

Ah, seriously. I had so much to say and do, but my head just went blank.

“No Goblins missing, right? Everyone’s here?”

Yun Yun checked the Goblins and shouted.

“All the Goblins who were supposed to come are here!”

“No Goblins are with baby monsters!”

The Goblins raised their hands high and answered. Right, I need to look after the baby monsters too. We have to take them all back to Korea.

“Since we’ve safely rescued Han Yujin, our top priority is returning home.”

Chief Song’s voice was sharp, as if to say not to try anything else. Yeah, time to go home.

‘Park Hayul seems fine for now.’

With the island wrecked and no clue where they were, I luckily didn’t feel like going to look for him. If I return to Korea and make it known I’m alive, he can contact me or not—his choice. Staying in China would be worse for both sides.

“There’s no intact airport nearby, so we’ll have to move by land first.”

– Kkiang!

Peace, who had been circling my feet, suddenly grew larger as if he understood. Oh, but riding you right now is…

– Grrrng.

“I appreciate it, Peace. Uh, maybe if I keep my legs together to the side… still too unstable?”

I can’t straddle him. I need underwear. Pants would be even better.

“Should I go get the kids?”

Yerim floated up as she spoke.

“Not alone!”

“I’ll go with her. I know this area well from scouting earlier.”

Noah spread his wings and took off. Once the two left to fetch the kids, the rest of us—except Yun Yun—started sorting out the situation.

“You didn’t come without an escape route, I assume.”

If they’d decided to destroy all the airports, they must have planned another way out. Surely they wouldn’t have skipped that.

“I was planning to send you back first.”

Yuhyun lifted me onto Peace’s back as he spoke. The coat naturally fell open, revealing the hot pink cardigan, which was mortifying. I quickly pulled the coat shut again. I looked like a fashion terrorist—bare legs, bare feet, and boots.

“Since we have Peace.”

“And the rest are S-Class, so they’d find their own way back? Swim across the Yellow Sea?”

“I would’ve gone with you, and Hunter Park Yerim and Hunter Noah can fly.”

So Seong Hyunjae and Chief Song were just being left behind? Then again, especially Seong Hyunjae, he could survive anywhere you dropped him.

“Now there are too many kids for that. Yun Yun, can the Goblins cross the sea?”

“They’ll fall in the water before they make it halfway!”

Yeah, we’d need a plane or ship.

“Since communication is impossible here, let’s head for Hefei first.”

Seong Hyunjae spoke, and Chief Song added,

“There are military vehicles parked by the lake. Older models probably don’t have immobilizers.”

“Chief Song, you sound awfully experienced at stealing cars.”

I joked, but a shadow crossed Chief Song’s face. Wait, seriously?

“Colombia, was it? Egypt?”

So Seong Hyunjae was the culprit. Just how far had he dragged Chief Song around?

Anyway, we decided to head to Hefei to make contact and gather intel. It was suspiciously quiet despite the chaos that had erupted hours ago.

Before long, Yerim and Noah returned.

“Mister! All the kids are safe!”

Yerim shouted, holding a baby Pegasus. Beside her was a baby water dragon in a floating bubble, waving its fin in greeting.

– Krrrng!

Noah carried a sleeping baby water buffalo. Lifnil fluttered over, and the baby fox and eggs were brought by the Goblins.

– Krrr.

Peace growled unhappily at the sight. Lifnil, about to approach me, flinched in midair at his glare.

“Don’t be like that, Peace.”

– Kkuung.

“No matter how many baby monsters we bring, you’re still the best, Peace.”

Let’s see… we’ll need at least three cars. The lake had melted by now, so Seong Hyunjae climbed onto Peace with me to help me stay steady. I had to soothe Peace, who clearly disliked the arrangement.

Yuhyun had Willow Leaf, and Noah carried Chief Song.

The lakeside was completely deserted—no one even guarding the vehicles.

“All right, split up into cars. Goblins, keep quiet! We’ve got four drivers, right?”

“Mister, me too!”

“Yerim, let’s skip you today. We’ve got low-ranked Goblins and baby monsters here.”

She had a license, but still made me nervous.

“Then want me to freeze some water in the keyholes? That might work.”

“Give it a try.”

For old cars, lockpicking should work too.

“If the pin pushes the exact spot, it’ll turn.”

Yerim slipped tiny ice shards into the car door lock. Soon, click—the door opened.

“Got it! Here!”

“Well done! But remember, normally this is illegal. Not that it works on modern cars anyway.”

“Don’t worry.”

She made four ice keys, the Goblins turned into little fireballs and hopped aboard, and we split into cars. Yun Yun, with her high stealth skill, stayed outside to keep watch.

“Don’t leave me alone until we’re back in Korea.”

I whispered to Yuhyun, turning off my Fear Resistance skill.

“It’s still dangerous since Park Hayul’s skill hasn’t worn off. Without Fear Resistance, I’m fine.”

“Should I just find and kill him?”

“That might cause trouble. If the skill ends, great, but it could trigger something weird instead—like him trying to get revenge or causing mental damage.”

“Then I shouldn’t touch him. Tell Yerim too.”

“Yeah. In Korea, I can just live without Fear Resistance most of the time.”

I’d only need it when meeting high-ranked Hunters. And then, I wouldn’t be alone, so they could catch me easily if I tried to run, or just keep me under watch.

“Still, we can’t leave a threat like that alone. We’ll have to find Park Hayul—maybe put out a bounty?”

“Without solid justification, it’s dangerous. If we openly start looking for him now, people will easily link him to your kidnapping.”

“People probably suspect already.”

“They don’t know his mental-type skill is still affecting you. For now, it’s better if it looks like the kidnapping case is completely resolved.”

“True. I’ll just keep quiet for a while. Got more kids to raise now.”

I glanced at the back seat. The baby beasts were sleeping soundly despite the ride. Peace, sitting between them, stared at me with faint annoyance. I’d left him there to protect them just in case.

“Want to come up here, Peace?”

– Kkiuuung.

He hopped into the passenger seat immediately and rubbed against me, purring. I petted him all over.

“My Peace is so amazing. You even looked after the Goblins?”

– Gryrrrng.

“Good boy, such a grown-up now! All grown up!”

– Kkuung.

Peace snapped his head away and flicked his tail in irritation. Huh?

“What’s wrong?”

“No creature that can turn incorporeal on command likes being called a grown-up.”

“Really? He’s still a spoiled baby.”

Cute thing. I wonder if the others are doing okay at home.

After a long drive down an empty road, we finally entered a city. There was a checkpoint on the roadside, but they waved us through—probably because of the military vehicles. Guess news from Nosando hadn’t spread yet.

We stopped at a conspicuous shop while Seong Hyunjae made a call somewhere. In the meantime, Yuhyun bought me clothes. I’d never been so happy to see ordinary clothing. Food, clothing, and shelter really are the essentials of life.

Before long, Sesung people arrived. They’d been waiting in Hefei, close to Nosando.

They led us to a large mansion, a mix of Chinese and Western styles, surrounded by high walls. I’d seen places like this in Hong Kong, but not in any familiar neighborhood here. Must have been bought or rented in a hurry. Must be nice having money.

“It’s not confirmed yet, but…”

A Sesung informant spoke carefully.

“They say undying ones—undead—have appeared among military-affiliated Hunters across China.”

If undead, then… could it be?

“…Is it the same phenomenon as the soldiers changing on the island?”

“Those who had pre-existing contracts may have turned undead even outside Nosando.”

“That’s chaos.”

I thought of Hwang Rim, who’d taken Cho Hwawoon. I couldn’t shake the feeling he was one of the key players. But what was he aiming for?

…Could he have planned to overthrow the military from the start? Or was there another goal entirely?

“And the Murim Alliance has requested a meeting.”

“Right now?”

“They said they’d send a helicopter in the morning.”

Then we could at least rest until morning. They said there were ships from Shanghai and flights from intact airports for returning home. With a helicopter, the airport would be better.

Yuhyun and Chief Song left to contact Haeyeon and the Special Division.

“Ugh, not sure if I can sleep.”

I stretched my arms out wide. The time difference was all over the place. Still, maybe I should close my eyes for a bit. I was tired.

“I’m not sleepy at all. Can I go look at the garden?”

“Don’t go past the wall.”

“I want to see too! There’s a pond!”

Yun Yun followed Yerim out eagerly, but the other Goblins were already asleep.

“Noah, have you ever thought about going to med school?”

I asked Noah, lounging on the living room sofa.

“…What?”

“I think knowing a lot about the human body would make your skills more effective. Though you don’t need to go to med school—you could just study separately. Or ask a doctor from the Sesung hospital.”

Hunters’ bodies are different from normal people’s anyway. At that point, Seong Hyunjae stood up and looked at me.

“Could I have a moment of your time?”

What’s this about? I had plenty to say to him too.