The S-Classes That I Raised

Chapter 443: Return (2)

The Chinese military was in chaos here and there with the zombie incident, but they hadn’t lost all strength. And though Hunters were busy, modern weapons were still modern weapons. Missiles that could casually shoot down a plane, for example.

Chief Song’s party had slipped out quickly when the military’s confusion peaked, but now, a day later, things seemed to have settled somewhat. Which is how I ended up standing in front of a camera.

“It’s embarrassing how I keep appearing as the guy who gets hauled off somewhere at the drop of a hat.”

I dressed neatly in Chinese clothes and even put on a touch of makeup to look lively. We’d already contacted Korea, so the broadcast would go straight to TV. The camera turned on, and with a bright smile, I offered a polite greeting.

“I’ve been safely rescued. It’s a shame I can’t reveal names, but my thanks to everyone on the rescue team.”

The S–rank Hunters off–screen weren’t here. Yuhyun was in the middle of a dungeon raid, Yerim was in Japan, and the Sesung Guild Leader was under discipline.

So the people who rescued me were someones who didn’t exist.

There would be plenty who’d target me in the future. The ones Chatterbox had drawn in, that cult would surely approach as well. So I decided to create a fictional rescue team while I was at it. A team of highly skilled Hunters that comes to save me, shrouded in mystery.

A kind of scarecrow. So the flock of sparrows would go, huh, the defenses are tighter than we thought, and not rush in so easily.

“I’d also like to extend thanks for the cooperation of the Chinese government. Thanks to the detailed information provided on the kidnappers who passed through China, we were able to be rescued without too much delay. Even now, I’m here in Xi’an waiting for my flight.”

Chinese government, xiexie~ The items were truly appreciated.

“I hear the Sesung Guild’s private jet will be arriving soon at Xi’an Xianyang Airport. I want to get back to Korea as soon as possible. I miss my little brother a lot, too.”

Dear Korea, dear home. If we were broadcasting we’d be returning safely with China’s cooperation~ like this, they wouldn’t shoot down the plane. Honestly, even if we were attacked, it wouldn’t be a big problem. Even if the plane got wrecked, no one here would be hurt, and with a little effort from Peace and Mr. Noah we could make it to Korea just fine. On top of that, the incoming private jet had a pilot and even crew who were all mid–rank Hunters. Hired for hazardous zones, apparently.

Still, better to go safely if possible, but more important than that—

‘Teacher Hoyeon’s party will make it out safely, right.’

While we drew attention like this, Teacher Hoyeon and his family, and a few Hunters seeking asylum in Korea, were escaping China. With the military’s current state, it was hard to spread a wide surveillance net. If you shake the bait loudly, they can’t keep an eye on everything else.

At first, I considered moving together, but there were more non–awakened and low–rank Awakeners than expected. So it seemed safer to have them slip out quietly on their own.

“I hope this incident will serve as an opportunity to open up exchanges with the Chinese Hunter world that’s been tightly hidden away. There are many excellent Hunters.”

Though thanks to us, quite a few died. Still, it’s better than rotting away until it all collapses. We can’t just shrug and say, “Another country’s problem!” because of dungeon breaks. Let them pile up and other countries will end up cleaning after you anyway.

I laid on the praise for Chinese Hunters a fair bit. General Cho Hwawoon, are you doing well? I owe you a lot.

“And thank you for the interest you’ve shown in the Monster Mounts Breeding Facility.”

Time to wrap up the broadcast, maybe? I’d pretty much said everything—did I need to drag this out?

“Mm, I hear we received many inquiries because the release date for the Peace plush has passed. We’ll meet you with an event after we return. Please give lots of love to the baby monsters that will be newly joining the Monster Mounts Breeding Facility as well.”

We’ve got a range of plushes as well as various collaborations in the works. What else…

“We’ll also soon be holding a special Monster Mounts meetup for Hunters. Details will be announced after we return, so please look forward to it.”

If we were going to chatter any longer, we’d have to take viewer calls. I can’t talk about my private life. If it’s bragging about my kids, I could yap for hours, though.

Thankfully, the signal to end came in. I thanked several people again, said I’d see everyone in Korea, and got up from my seat.

While we waited for news, ate lunch, and took it easy—

“They’ve departed safely, and there’s no pursuit.”

Eun Sesun came over to tell me. So they got out. Unlike us, who went inland, Teacher Hoyeon’s group headed for a port. It takes longer, but travel by ship has less surveillance and is much safer than a plane. Korea would also send a ship to escort them from halfway.

“Then let’s head out too.”

We’d packed everything—didn’t forget anything, right.

Because of the undead, the airport was deserted. Officially, a stay–at–home order had been issued due to dungeon–born monsters appearing. There were soldiers guarding the airport, but the watch wasn’t as strict as I’d thought.

“Officially, the military didn’t kidnap Mr. Han.”

In ordinary casual clothes, Eun Sesun peered out the window.

“Since it was even broadcast, they can’t block you outright, and there are many in the military who don’t know the inside story of this incident. The real power is with Awakeners, but the ratio is much higher for low–ranks and non–awakened.”

She added that due to this incident, the power balance of the military and government was expected to tilt toward the non–awakened. The Murim Alliance side wanted the Hunter world and government to be separated entirely—like the magistrates and the martial world being mutually non–interfering in wuxia.

When I first saw Samokwol, I wondered what kind of clown act it was, but maybe it’s better to draw on a familiar culture than to create an entirely new Hunter system.

“From here, only Koreans can enter.”

Right before we entered the airfield where the private jet was waiting, soldiers blocked our way. They may have given up on grabbing me, but they meant to stop us from taking Chinese Hunters. Well, the news that an A–rank healer escaped would’ve already gotten out. If he stays in China, they could recapture him, but once he’s overseas, impossible.

“I left my ID at home.”

No passport either. A soldier who looked fairly high–ranked frowned at me as I got out of the car.

“I don’t have one either.”

“Yerim, you never even got an ID issued.”

“I don’t have one.”

“I don’t carry ID either. It’s basic not to carry anything that can prove your identity when you’re doing this kind of work…”

Last of all, Seong Hyunjae took out his wallet. When he opened it, what appeared wasn’t a resident ID but a Hunter ID. From the person you’d least expect to carry it.

“Even the Sesung Guild Leader can’t do anything about ID photos.”

He looked good, but compared to the real thing, it lagged.

“Looks like they didn’t retouch it at all. For that, it came out pretty well.”

Peering her head in, Yerim examined Seong Hyunjae’s Hunter ID. Not much to fix, honestly.

“How did your wallet survive all that chaos.”

“I deposited it separately before I went to meet Han Yujin.”

“Got something precious in there?”

“Saves me the trouble of getting my Hunter ID reissued.”

That’s a pain, true. You have to go in person to apply and pick up, and if you’re B–rank or above, you have to take a new photo.

The soldiers’ faces twisted further at the sight of S–rank Hunters who were officially supposed to be in Korea. Still, maybe they’d sent someone who knew the situation—no one questioned it.

“We’ll have to verify your identities. Please record your body measurements.”

Then came thermal camera imaging and even measuring our height directly with a tape. Transformation skills or items usually only fooled other people’s eyes; your body didn’t actually change. There were cases like Mr. Noah or Yun Yun, but skills ranked that high were rare.

“My height is still the same…”

I leveled up quite a bit in the nightmare dungeon, but no new skills. Just some stat increases. Where did the per–10–levels skills go. Looks like there are special conditions like with Teacher’s skill, but I have to know them to even try.

We passed inspection and entered the airfield. The moment she saw the private jet, Yerim flew right in—then promptly shot back out.

“I don’t think this is the plane!”

Huh?

“This is, um, like a kindergarten plane?”

What are you talking about. A kindergarten bus, sure, but a plane? But the Sesung name was stamped clearly on the side.

“It’s the Sesung private jet.”

The other planes weren’t even prepping for departure anyway. Asking floating–Yerim what was wrong, I climbed the stairs and inside…

…Not the Sesung private jet?

“What the… is this…”

Pink. Pink walls, pink sofas, pink tables—everything was pink. Even the wall art was fairy–tale unicorns and colorful balloons and rainbows and cotton–candy clouds and… mm. There’s even a Peace plush on the table.

“Uni… que.”

Mr. Noah looked flustered too. Yuhyun didn’t react much.

“Right? Uh, Mr. Seong Hyunjae. Your tastes are… distinctive.”

I never in my wildest dreams thought he liked this stuff. Or wait—was that why he’d been knitting so diligently with hot pink yarn? Somehow…

“I prepared it especially for you, Mister Han.”

Seong Hyunjae sounded aggrieved. What?

“Isn’t this your private jet.”

“I redecorated it to kidnap the Monster Mounts Breeding Facility Director. I figured seeing a favorite color might lift your mood.”

Let’s set the attempted kidnapping aside for a second.

“I don’t like it!”

Since when did I start liking pink!

“Really?”

That wasn’t Seong Hyunjae—Yerim asked me.

“Of course. I’ve never even said I like it.”

“I thought you were just saying that. You know, adults say ‘I hate it, hate it’ while thinking otherwise. You used that hot pink yarn item really well. Pink isn’t bad. You can be honest.”

“I used it because it was there!”

“I thought Hyung liked it too.”

“…What? Yuhyun?”

I mean, I could see other people thinking that, but you too?

“I haven’t bought anything pink, have I.”

“Tastes can change. And pink suits you.”

“…Really?”

“Mister, don’t believe him. You’ve only got rose–tinted glasses; Han Yuhyun’s entire eyeballs are the problem. He’d say the same thing even if you dressed like a three–tier stoplight.”

“A–anyway, I don’t like pink. I do not. I don’t particularly hate it, but I don’t like it either.”

The only thing even remotely acceptable was the Peace plush. How did they get one before release. When I picked up the plush, Peace came over.

“Peace, it’s your plush.”

– Kki–ang.

Peace wagged his tail gently and held out his forepaws. Did he want it. I gave him the plush, and he grabbed it and started happily ripping it apart. Well, dogs and cats do play by chewing up plushies. White stuffing scattered over the pink carpet.

“I appreciate the thought of looking out for me, but honestly, this is dizzying.”

“Chief Song Taewon seemed to like it.”

“…Did you take this to China.”

“Of course.”

Good grief. I sidled up to Seong Hyunjae and asked in a low voice,

“Any photos or video, by chance?”

“Sadly, for security reasons, recording is prohibited.”

So Chief Song sat here. Honestly, I wanted to see that. He even liked it, he says. Does Chief Song like pink? Should I knit him a pink sweater for Christmas. Handmade isn’t bad, right.

Just in case, I checked the other areas—and yes, all pink. Even the bathroom was plastered in pink.

“…Why is there a bathtub on a plane. And isn’t that a whirlpool.”

Hot pink, to add. The bed was pink, with a flamingo ornament standing beside it. And the cups and plates and forks too.

If you’re going to blow money, this is one hell of a way.

By the time we’d made a circuit of the plane, departure prep was done. We returned to the first lounge and sat on the pink sofa. If I’d been kidnapped here, I would’ve been so dumbfounded I couldn’t even get mad properly. What is this.

“Mm, let’s finish sorting the items first.”

The three swords went straight to Yuhyun, no question. He could keep them for the blade–devourer build or loan them to guildmates. As for the wire… how should I hand it over.

“Does anyone know a way to get this wire to Chief Song.”

No one raised a hand.

Except for the four weapons, eight S–rank items remained. Among them, I took out an S–rank outerwear. An autumn field–grass jacket, a khaki windbreaker.

“Look, Yerim. How about this!”

Yerim didn’t have any S–rank outerwear besides a shawl. A shawl barely counts as clothing.

“Pretty decent, right?”

“It’s fine these days, but it’ll look silly in summer.”

“It’s an item anyway. The options are good—Defense plus a burst of Agility. High Magic stat for an outer layer, too.”

Yerim tried on the windbreaker. It looked plainly good on her.

“How is it?”

“It’s perfect, perfect! Cute! There’s also a half–coat here. The options suit you a bit less than the breaker, but still good.”

Both were S–rank.

“Until we get you SS–rank, just rotate S–rank as needed. And here—gloves.”

“Can I wear rings with gloves?”

“It’s fine. Fingers are basically decoration on gloves. Palms and backs of hands don’t stack, though.”

The options leaned more melee, so they didn’t fit Yerim perfectly. But S–rank is S–rank. I need to get her more SS–rank, too.

While we tried various things on Yerim and tuned her options, the plane drew close to Korea.