The S-Classes That I Raised

Chapter 441: Night Stroll

The stench of burning hung thick. An invisible smell, yet it felt like a sticky mass wrapping his whole body.

The military buildings and facilities that had once packed the area now left only traces behind. Heaps of collapsed concrete and scattered shards of glass. A charred tire lay tossed beside a pillar that had been shorn off at the base.

Screee–, a hand with exposed bones shoved aside a crumpled steel plate. The corpse of a man who had once been a high–rank Hunter staggered to its feet. No living person remained. The dead were resurrecting without end.

However.

Crackle!

A leaping current wrapped around the corpse that had just risen. Its body shattered as if it had been hit by a bomb, then stirred, slowly. Its regeneration was clearly slower than before.

There was a limit even to the power of resurrection.

“Is that all an A–rank amounts to.”

With a cool observer’s gaze on the corpse, Seong Hyunjae murmured under his breath. An undead’s revival ability varied according to the original body’s stats. Low–rank Hunters ended after being smashed three or four times. Mid–ranks had to be shattered at least a dozen times, up to nearly fifty for some.

And A–rank and above were so stubborn one might think they would rise forever. Lastly, S–rank—

– Grrrrrk.

With only its clothes left in tatters, the corpse regenerated almost unchanged from life and raised its shield. An expressionless, pale face let out an unknowable rattle. But its movements were quick. It had no strategy, yet its combat instinct remained, and it even used skills as it charged at the only living being here.

A shoe toe crusted with drying blood flicked up a loose rebar. Spin— a steel rod whirled in the air, golden current crawling over it and then—thunk—he gave it a hard kick at the corpse. The rebar flew like an arrow and skewered the undead’s leg. Almost without any time gap, a second rebar pierced its remaining leg and—

Rumble!

Lightning crashed down, using the two steel rods as lightning rods. The body, blackened and charred, flopped down and began to regenerate rapidly. Light exploded over it in succession. The rampaging current dealt dozens, hundreds of strikes in a blink. A light so sharp that a normal person would have trouble keeping their eyes open focused its bite on a single target.

At least thousands. Perhaps over ten thousand deaths.

When the violent light subsided, what remained—closer to debris than a corpse—faintly twitched. Some regenerative force seemed to linger, but not enough to rise again.

Seong Hyunjae walked over to the corpse. Barely reformed finger bones tapped—tok—at the tip of his shoe and scraped with a scree.

“If we could communicate, I’d like to hear your thoughts.”

If any self remained, about that forcibly bestowed immortality. But this was nothing more than a moving lump.

‘Even if you break away from Crescent Moon.’

That dawn, Young Chaos had said:

‘Your very existence will remain the same.’

What had piled up would not vanish. It was already part of what made up Seong Hyunjae.

‘You can shave a little off. Those two by your side did that, too. But there’s a limit.’

What had accumulated was also him. Like mixed water, if he scooped out too much, it would inevitably affect the current Seong Hyunjae as well. Even skimming off just enough not to overflow brought some degree of loss.

‘So you’ll have to keep living. If you mean to stay in a single world unlike the Transcendents, be prepared to sink into a deeper boredom than before.’

He would first let everything around him flow away, what returned would also pass him by, and a day would come when he would stand alone on an empty wasteland. Even if sprouts rose, forests formed, and something new came beyond the running water—his life would be the one to go first, again.

The reason Transcendents mingled only with one another and kept a distance from the beings of the world they managed was also to protect themselves. If, rather than characters in a book, they became friends right at their side, it would be hard to endure countless partings.

‘You’re someone who lasts long, so it’ll hurt more. Building a wall or letting go entirely would make it easier, of course.’

He wasn’t the sort to try to protect himself that way. Perhaps it was greed. A kind of self–regard, close to strictness, that refused to let go of anything about himself. His strengths, of course, and his weaknesses were all himself too.

Scritch–scritch, bones scraped the ground. A few A–ranks staggered closer, only to be swept away by a golden chain.

Han Yujin would not live long. Even if he extended his lifespan to that of an ordinary person, it would not reach a hundred years. He would watch that end, put things in order, and a few things would remain in Seong Hyunjae’s hands.

‘I’m lending it, so bring it back in one piece. Don’t you go wandering off somewhere weird with it.’

Seong Hyunjae’s gaze brushed the hem of his black–crimson coat. That would be one of the few things that remained too. No matter what his mouth said about it being his, Han Yujin would end up returning it. Perhaps with a smile.

Would he ask not to be forgotten, or to be forgotten.

Chief Song Taewon could live for far longer. But whether he could endure a long time was unknown. A hundred years, two hundred at most. To live to about there and grow old would be happiness for him.

He had trouble imagining Song Taewon living for over a thousand years. Instead, the figure of his last moments for someone else was vivid as if he’d seen it several times.

“It will be lonely.”

Because joy is more precious for not being eternal.

‘I hope you don’t try to hold on to those two.’

Just before the dawn light brightened, Young Chaos said one last thing. That it would be hard to give up. So he should keep the contract safe to the end.

Seong Hyunjae brushed past the heap of bones whose movements had almost ceased. The moon in the sky was nearly tilted away. Even after pouring his power without stint at undead that kept resurrecting for a long time, his body still felt light.

Thanks to drawing out a portion of what had piled up.

It wasn’t a formalized skill. A simple lump of power, as such, could be moved, if only slightly. Of course, it might slip out of control if he wasn’t careful, so Young Chaos had warned him strictly.

Only try it where it’s fine even if you go a little mad for a moment.

‘It’s not time for you to gain new abilities. You’d be stuck digesting them for years.’

Very slowly, little by little. From what Young Chaos had checked, Seong Hyunjae’s self–control was quite outstanding. So, carefully accepting the powers piling up was worth attempting. However, drawing out a skill was forbidden because of the risk of shaking his ego. He was only to touch the lump of gathered power itself.

And the result wasn’t bad. For now, it was less an increase in ability and more a strengthening of his durability.

Time to head back, perhaps. Seong Hyunjae looked around the emptiness. Then, slightly, he lifted the ends of his brows as if troubled.

‘…It does make me want to pull out at least a flight or teleportation skill.’

With nothing left around, he had no choice but to walk. No matter how versatile he was, turning molten, collapsed scrap into a car or helicopter was impossible. Even the communicator given by the Murim Alliance’s Special Division had been damaged under the area–wide skill of an undead Hunter.

There were people on standby, of course, but they were several kilometers away. He had no choice but to pick a direction and start walking, when—

Tatatatata─

The thrum of a helicopter’s blades reached him. Seong Hyunjae stopped and looked up. He couldn’t tell friend–or–foe, but since the helicopter needed to stay intact, he waited meekly for it to land. Having confirmed his position, the helicopter touched down dozens of meters away.

‘Two S–rank Hunters.’

The other side didn’t hide their aura, so he could sense it easily even at a distance. There seemed to be other high–rank Hunters as well.

Unfortunately, only one of the S–rank Hunters disembarked from the helicopter. Seong Hyunjae gave up on seizing the helicopter for now. Subduing an S–rank Hunter without wrecking the chopper was close to impossible.

“Just for today, I could be such a well–behaved passenger that even that tired civil servant would be shocked.”

Whether they were military or some other force. In the helicopter’s searchlight, two people walked toward Seong Hyunjae. One was an S–rank Hunter, the other felt, at best, mid–rank or lower. Both wore dark robes.

“An honor to meet you, Sesung Guild Leader.”

The smaller of the two spoke. A fairly clear male voice—and in English. Under the hood of the robe, his eyes showed a green tint. Definitely not the Chinese military.

“I’ll take the helicopter as the consultation fee. Keep your purpose short and clear. I’m rather tired.”

“Considering who you are, I can’t call it expensive.”

The man smiled slightly and continued.

“I heard you already know. About a being from outside the world.”

“Quick, aren’t you.”

When he heard Han Yujin’s words, he had expected someone would approach. The contract was severed, but Seong Hyunjae had once joined hands with the Unfilial Children’s side. There had already been a connection, so interference would be easier.

Even so, it had only been a day—their move was faster than expected.

“I’ve known for a long time.”

The man smiled gently.

“The dungeons appearing in this world are all the will of God.”

“No proselytizing, please. Come to think of it, the weather’s not bad for a stroll.”

Leisurely walking away seemed like a perfectly fine option. Groups claiming that dungeon creation and the phenomenon of monsters pouring out were God’s will had existed for a while. Seong Hyunjae had run into them overseas a few times as well, and concluded it was best not to engage with fanatics.

As he turned away without regret, the man said,

“I can see the future.”

“…Good grief.”

A fanatic and a seer. Very far from his tastes.

“It started becoming clear about a month ago. Most of the futures that come to me are accurate. With one exception—Korea.”

Seong Hyunjae, who had been about to let the words slide past his ear and walk, stopped. Not the future.

‘…Memories from before a return.’

If so, Korea would be different. Because of Han Yujin’s influence.

“Even more useless to me then. As you know, I’m Korean.”

“But you work abroad more often, Sesung Guild Leader. And also—”

The man lowered his voice.

“A being from outside the world contacted me directly a week ago.”

“God, you mean. Impressive.”

“No. He serves God, and said that the manifestation of dungeons is God’s will. He answered that our faith is right.”

A week ago would be before the Transcendents’ negotiations concluded. That made it highly likely to be Chatterbox, already intervening in this world together with the King of Harmless.

Seong Hyunjae slowly turned his body to face the man. Would it be better to take care of them here. Sensing his intent, the man spoke quickly.

“Right now, we must not harm one another. Didn’t you receive the same instruction.”

“I did get a travel ban. I’m curious what happens if I break it. I’m rather curious by nature.”

The S–rank Hunter standing next to the man drew his weapon. A sword with a white blade gleamed faintly.

“I came to make an offer to you, Sesung Guild Leader. Those who oppose God will have nothing to give you. But those who serve Him are different.”

“So trite I’m already bored.”

“There must be something you want. You’re human too.”

If it was something he wanted—Seong Hyunjae’s eyes narrowed.

“Unfortunately, the two by my side are both stubborn. If this is a quid pro quo brought to me by some strange religion, they’ll both refuse. I might even hear I’ve lost my mind.”

He’d more than have his collar grabbed. Chief Song Taewon’s flabbergasted face would be worth a look, though.

“…Pardon?”

“I’m living well these days, so try someone else.”

The moment Seong Hyunjae finished speaking, light spread out. As the lightning shot up sharp as a blade, the S–rank Hunter met it as if he’d been waiting. White mist frosted along the edge of his sword, stiffening the lightning as if freezing it. The tip of the blade flew at Seong Hyunjae. He tilted his head slightly, and—skrk—a long line was drawn across his smooth cheek.

Right after that—

Kaboom!

The helicopter blew apart. Amid the successive blasts, a golden chain flew back to its master’s side.

“Enjoy your night stroll.”

With an exaggerated bow, Seong Hyunjae sent a final sweep of nonlethal current wide. Then he turned and walked away, step by steady step. Watching his retreating back, the man let out a short sigh.

“He really won’t listen to a word. Though, the greeting was the main purpose.”

Regretful yet accepting, he was interrupted by a flustered shout from behind.

“All our communicators are dead!”

“…What?”

They, too, would have to walk, all of them.