The S-Classes That I Raised

Chapter 448: Still Working After Returning (4)

“This is the place. It used to be a mid– to high–rank Hunter training hall, so it’s built sturdy.”

Choi Youngjun led us to a five–story building that jutted off the Association’s right wing. Looked like they’d put up a new structure next to the old.

“The first floor has a high ceiling and no basement. The upper floors are also Hunter facilities, so even if something happens on the first floor, the chance of injury is low.”

Meaning Song–i could stay here even after she’s grown. Of course, for longer stints, the Gyeonggi facility would be better, but this could work as a temporary base when needed.

“The entrance is separate from the upstairs, as well.”

“What’s upstairs used for?”

In my pre–regression awakening, the new Association building hadn’t collapsed. The Awakening Center had opened intact, and most of the old building’s facilities had moved into the new one. Only things like the market remained.

“A temporary shelter for mid–rank and higher Awakeners.”

Looking up at the upper floors, Choi continued his explanation.

“Sometimes they can’t control suddenly risen stats. That’s why the first floor was arranged as a training hall. These days, mid– and high–rank Awakeners are usually taken in by a guild right away, so it’s rarely used, but back then, when you first awakened, there often wasn’t anywhere to go. In some cases, they’d damage surroundings for over a week.”

Right—right after Yerim awakened, she’d smashed a table, the floor, even a car. In an apartment rather than a detached house, you couldn’t stay home at all.

“I’m surprised it’s in Seoul. What if there’s an incident.”

“Well…”

Choi glanced at me.

“The old facility was burned down by a certain underage S–rank Awakener.”

“Ah…”

Mm. Yuhyun. So that’s how it was.

“Then shouldn’t this be somewhere even more remote.”

“He’d just awakened—Level 1. We judged it safer to place it where many high–rank Hunters are nearby, for quick suppression with minimal damage… There are always exceptions, of course.”

At the Association, high–rank Hunters are around anyway, and with the market, Hunters come and go. Chief Song handles many things here too. Better to keep it close and stop it fast than to stick it far and have it blow up.

“So… was the damage bad?”

“I wasn’t in charge then, so I don’t know details, but I heard Chief Song Taewon had a rough time.”

Yuhyun! With guilt creeping up, I stole a look at Chief Song.

“I was still inexperienced then, so it was fine.”

“…I’m sorry.”

“It must have been quite a sight. A shame I wasn’t in Korea then.”

Seong Hyunjae cut in.

“I hear he kept bothering Chief Song afterward as well. Playing a child’s toy—must have been hard.”

“Do you get to say that. You were several times worse than Yuhyun.”

Dragged people overseas, too. Chief Song gave the smallest nod, agreeing with me.

“Hunter Han Yuhyun had a clear purpose—combat experience—so he was far easier to deal with than Hunter Seong Hyunjae.”

“He did eat the teacher’s arm, though.”

“I’m truly sorry, Chief Song. And you—shut your mouth.”

Even with ten mouths, you should have nothing to say before Chief Song.

“He’s my little brother, and I was his guardian then. So, Chief, I’ll pay damages even now. Whatever you want—just say the word!”

Truly, anything! Even the SS–rank cuffs are on the table! Chief Song looked at me for a moment, then spoke.

“Please refrain from causing incidents.”

“Well, that…”

“Especially, do not stir things up together with Hunter Seong Hyunjae.”

“…It’s not like I want to.”

“If Mister Han Yujin simply remains safe, Hunter Han Yuhyun and Hunter Park Yerim will quiet down.”

Seong Hyunjae tossed me a look—well now. Still, I am better than him. For now. …Probably.

“Can’t I repay you with something material.”

“The mount is already more than enough.”

“On paper, Song–i is still under me.”

True, I wasn’t taking payment for the mount, but that didn’t mean I didn’t gain. Beyond the image of contributing to the country, this would help steer special laws around mounts favorably. The Association also handed over some mascot/PR usage fees.

“It’s a capitalist society. I’d like to solve it with money, Chief.”

“I decline.”

“Make that two who’d like to solve with money.”

“I sincerely decline. Better yet—don’t make problems that need solving.”

Both Seong Hyunjae and I pulled the same regretful face. Choi couldn’t hold back and shook his head.

“In any case, it’s scarcely used now. With dungeon breaks rare, underage Awakeners who need long–term protection have also disappeared. So we plan to convert it entirely to mount facilities.”

Expecting the number of domestic mounts to grow, Choi smiled at me with his eyes.

“Even non–mount monsters, too.”

That look—please work hard. After the item market, do they want monster trading under the Association, too.

As Choi said, the first floor for mounts had a ceiling almost like knocking out three floors. Even for flying types, babies wouldn’t feel cramped. In the spacious interior, five individual pens sat—“pens” in name; walls, not bars, clean and room–like.

“CCTV is, of course, running. And out back, there’s an outdoor yard.”

The back wall was half glass that could open wide. Given the location, the yard wasn’t very big. But a high fence ringed it, and I saw a small pool. Fence or no, in a forest of buildings you’d be seen—but maybe that’s the point. Photos of baby monsters at the Hunter Association, taken and spread by the public.

Chief Song set the lamb on the grass.

– Baa–aa.

Song–i wagged her tail and hopped. She glanced around, pricked her ears tight, then slicked them back.

– Baa–aaa.

Her bleat, longer and higher than before, made Chief Song ask,

“Does she dislike it.”

“Mm, no. I think… she’s calling a friend.”

“A friend?”

“Yes. ‘Let’s play.’”

Chief Song’s expression turned grave at my words.

“Do we need another baby monster.”

“Alone is lonely, but a playmate doesn’t have to be a monster. The facility monsters aren’t the same species anyway.”

“…Then?”

“You can play with her, Chief~ This is Song–i’s snack, and this is a toy fishing rod. You might not need it.”

The rod was a toy for preserving my stamina. I also poured out a bundle of balls. Colorful balls rolled across the turf. Seeing the snacks and toys in Chief Song’s hands, Song–i boing–boing’d over—then head–butted his leg with gusto.

– Baa!

“T–this headbutting…”

“That’s play too. She won’t hit me hard, but she’s happy to ram you. Do keep an eye out so she doesn’t do it to others.”

Chief Song nodded and very awkwardly flicked the rod. Song–i chomped the carrot plush on the end and darted off. Chief shuffled after her. He wore his “clueless” on his sleeve.

A rookie dad.

“Please put in extra effort so he can juggle work and childrearing.”

“Of course. Though, he isn’t the sort to rest just because we make it easy…”

Choi spoke regretfully.

“It’d be nice if before she’s grown, he could rest comfortably and squeeze in some PR shoots.”

…“Comfortably” doesn’t fit there.

“Oh, and Lifnil and the horned fox—hard to use as mounts.”

As if just remembering, Choi fluttered a bit.

“But the Hunter Association will welcome them with open arms!”

“S– and A–rank—you’re just openly eyeing them.”

“Just asking you to keep us in mind.”

Sure. The Volcano Black Lamb, once grown, won’t be “cute,” so are they hoping for another small, high–grade mascot? Keeping costs won’t be small, though.

After snapping Chief Song and the lamb, Choi said he had a lot to do and left first. Official announcements, materials to prepare, and so on.

“Mr. Seong Hyunjae.”

Watching Chief get tugged along by Song–i, I sidled a question.

“The Changeling. The pink baby dragon I’m keeping.”

“Our child, you mean.”

“…Why does Ms. Hyunah spread things like that. Anyway, I promised the Changeling I’d name her. So give me one suggestion. For reference.”

“A name, hmm.”

Seong Hyunjae hesitated. Huh. Maybe he’s bad at naming.

“…Yongyong or Pink, perhaps.”

Wow.

“What’s that. That’s barely different from mine.”

Maybe Yerim’s just got exceptional sense and I’m average. Look at the facility name contest.

“I chose so it would feel like you’d named her.”

“…Me?”

“Or Bunhong, or Cherry, or Chain.”

…Did he peek into my head. I edged a step away.

“I’ve never thought of those.”

“Didn’t you just say it wasn’t much different.”

“I said Cherry, Cherry. ‘Yongyong’ and ‘Pink’—seriously.”

He’s no help. Maybe Chief Song—no, probably not. Of the three here, I’m the least bad, aren’t I. Still, I should hear his opinion.

I walked over to Chief Song, who was stopping Song–i from jumping into the pool.

“Chief! Guess what Mr. Seong Hyunjae said for the kid’s na—”

Tonk—

Something sounded. Chief scooped Song–i up and turned toward me. At the same time, something struck my left shoulder hard. My body lurched—

My cheek stung, and

“…!”

a burn–like pain lanced my right arm. As I moved to use Grace, Seong Hyunjae’s arm caught and steadied me.

“A sniper.”

As he said it, Song Taewon set the lamb down and vaulted onto the wall. A sniper—what? I saw a ball rolling on the ground. Whoever threw—no, there wasn’t time—must have kicked it. Seong Hyunjae laid me down. Clink—golden chains wrapped around us.

The right sleeve of my top was ripped in an instant. Only then did I smell blood.

“It’s not deep. Nothing’s embedded. Can I use a potion.”

“Lowest grade. Do you have one?”

“For Mister Han—one.”

He pulled a potion and poured it on the wound. Meanwhile, my head spun. What is this situation.

“Two S–ranks are here. Including you.”

“Low lethality.”

It grazed my stat–F arm and only tore it a bit. That was stranger. If they could target me under two S–ranks’ noses, they had to be high–level—yet the attack was weak.

“And I smell gunpowder.”

“…Excuse me? A regular gun?”

“Not completely regular.”

Helping me up, he spoke low. A faint chill glinted in his eyes.

“Someone’s playing a very nasty prank.”

KWHAM!

Before his words finished, a blast resounded. Literally a bomb—no Awakener skill.

WEEE–ooo— Sirens blared, and the wall in front of us crashed down. On top of the rubble, Chief Song landed and looked back at us with a set face.

“Appears to be a bombing.”

Not something that shows up in Hunter–related incidents. As I reeled, Seong Hyunjae said,

“Not rare overseas. But in Korea… The sniper.”

“No trace.”

Already gone? Then something flew in above—drones. Nearly ten of them, swarming over us and around the Association building.

What the—do we need to shoot those down? Not monsters, not Awakeners—drones. Seong Hyunjae and Song Taewon narrowed their eyes up at them.

“They don’t seem armed.”

The moment he finished—poof! A drone blew apart. Pop, pop, pop—every drone detonated, scattering dust with the debris.

“Song–i!”

Poison? I grabbed the lamb first. Chief glanced at us, signaled to Seong Hyunjae, then sprinted through the fallen wall. The drifting dust showed no immediate effect. The Seeker’s chains still ringed us, trembling.

“…What was that.”

“Even I can’t say. Nothing immediate—”

His mouth closed. I, too, felt it—the faint stir of Mana. The scattered dust began to sprout, as if germinating, spewing forth something black.