The S-Classes That I Raised

Chapter 450: Name (1)

“The blackmailer, presumed to be the same as the terrorist, hid their face and even altered their voice.”

“What about tracking their movements?”

“They’re at least mid–rank, probably high–rank awakened.”

Chief Song answered. So tracking them down would be close to impossible.

Seoul is saturated with CCTV and dashcams, making it hard to avoid blind spots — but only for ordinary pedestrians. With just a flight skill you can slip past cameras, and a combat–type high–rank awakened can leap between buildings. Even I can run up walls with Lynx Boots.

“In practical terms, it’s impossible to identify the terrorist.”

Chief Song spoke with a trace of fatigue.

“Korea may be practically an island, but illegal entry isn’t hard for a high–rank awakened.”

Water on three sides, and North Korea to the north. We were in a ceasefire and the mood wasn’t bad, but still.

“Even without flight, they can simply cross overland, and it’s possible to swim from China or Japan.”

It would take time, but leave no trail.

“Therefore, at present, we have no countermeasures.”

At best, “if you see a suspicious high–rank Hunter, please report it.” But we had no info to issue a wanted notice.

“You said they’re a fan of Chief Song. Anyone come to mind?”

At my question, Chief Song furrowed his brow, and Seong Hyunjae tapped the desk with a fingertip.

“Quite a few.”

“There are?”

“He’s the sort of opponent who inspires challenges.”

I agreed. The thicker and higher the wall, the more people burn to climb it — especially high–rank Hunters who think highly of themselves.

“Narrow it down and it’s likely an S–class Hunter.”

“Chief Song, I’d like to recommend Mr. Seong Hyunjae as the prime suspect. The bouquet is especially suspicious.”

“…He has a clear alibi, so no.”

“If he hadn’t been right next to me, it’d be a hundred percent. So, do you have a list of S–class Hunters who are fans of Chief Song?”

“None. That’s Hunter Seong Hyunjae’s one–sided claim, and this incident is likely meant to muddy the investigation.”

He said it firmly. He’s reliable, but that line didn’t quite convince me.

“In any case, the odds are extremely low that an S–class Hunter known to me or Chief Song moved openly. The one who acted was almost certainly an unknown face.”

“The sniper too? You couldn’t find any trace there either?”

Yuhyun, who’d been listening silently, pressed his lips in displeasure. Seemed he didn’t like that we’d missed the Hunter who attacked me.

“Even on a direct hit, it wasn’t at a level to kill Mr. Han Yujin instantly. That made it harder to notice.”

“Yes. Because it wasn’t that threatening, detection was delayed. My apologies.”

“No need to apologize.”

“If it wasn’t a skill or an item, it was likely an ordinary bullet with a perception–reduction skill attached. Which made it only detectable by direct line of sight.”

…You saw all that in that brief moment?

“Two shots with almost no interval. Closer to two guns than to burst fire.”

“Head and arm. The power also differed. In both—”

“Hold on!”

“Hyung?”

Yuhyun shot me a look that said, so that’s why you suddenly put on a cardigan.

“Show me.”

“I healed it. It’s fine.”

My little brother stood, came over, and checked my arm anyway. Seeing no trace of a wound, he frowned.

“I told you potions are bad for your body.”

“It was my arm. Given the situation, I had to be able to use it. That’s why I left my face alone.”

I’d just disinfected my cheek, applied ointment, and slapped on a bandage. With a swallowed sigh, Yuhyun sat back down. As if nothing had happened, Seong picked up where he’d left off.

“Both were grazes, but the arm wound was relatively larger. So it’s hard to say it was rapid fire from the same gun.”

So they fired with both hands? Either it wasn’t a sniper rifle, or they could fire a rifle one–handed with accuracy. If they were high–rank awakened, the latter. Or it could have been two people.

“It’s also highly likely they could adjust the bullets’ trajectories. How did it look?”

At Chief Song’s question, Seong nodded lightly.

“The angle was off for a shot taken over a wall. Considering Mr. Han’s height, the wall’s height, and the distance, aiming for the arm from that direction would be impossible.”

“As I thought. No wonder we couldn’t find the sniper’s position.”

So, an awakened who can redirect fired projectiles and apply perception reduction. Definitely a ranged combat type.

“Mr. Han Yujin, for the time being, always use a damage–protection item outdoors.”

“They won’t be able to kill me anyway.”

Disapproving looks rained down the moment I said it.

“…Even if Grace barely needs mana refills now, running her constantly is a bit much. Mana isn’t infinite.”

“D–grade should suffice. On the premise you’re accompanied by an A–grade or higher — ideally S–class — Hunter.”

“Do not travel alone under any circumstances.”

“Don’t worry. I can’t go out by myself anyway thanks to Park Hayul.”

You never know when or where they’ll show up again. Besides, right now— I turned off my Fear Resistance skill. The presence of Seong Hyunjae and Song Taewon pressed in, a chill on my skin. At the same time, the lingering worry about Park Hayul in my heart vanished completely.

“If you locate Park Hayul, please handle it so I can’t know who killed him.”

“So that Mr. Han won’t know, you mean.”

“Yes. Even if Park Hayul dies, the skill might not release. Then I’d hold ill feelings toward whoever hurt him.”

But if I don’t know who did it, it doesn’t matter. I want to believe Park Hayul and go along with what he said, but apparently not enough to avenge him. If I felt that strongly, I’d be trying to find him now despite his disappearance.

“Is it all right even if the skill doesn’t lift?”

“For now, I think so. The order to not run — maybe because nothing remains on Nosando — I have no urge to follow it. The rest of the nonsense has also weakened.”

His ability boosts likability via appearance and makes you heavily influenced by his actions. So if he’s out of sight and far away, it naturally weakens. Plus people are constantly influenced by others around them.

To really brainwash someone, you’d have to lock them away with no outside contact and keep applying the effect.

“So even if some side effects remain, it’s better to eliminate him. If this were before Chatterbox got involved, maybe not — but right now I can’t guarantee my own safety.”

Before, I was useful enough that I didn’t have to worry about staying alive. At worst I’d get “hospitality” in China. But the Filial Duty Addicts weren’t aiming to exploit my ability.

“If found, I will dispose of him immediately.”

“Not immediately — secretly, without me knowing.”

“I don’t mind.”

…What kind of answer is that.

“I mind a lot. I don’t want to end up avoiding you because of someone else.”

“Your safety is more important, Mr. Han.”

“Is a body the only thing that can be injured? Emotional wounds are wounds too. And what about Little Song? What if I start feeling uneasy about him too?”

At the mention of the lamb, Chief Song flinched and closed his mouth. After a brief struggle, he relented.

“Understood. But in an emergency, I will step in. It will be better for you to put distance between us than between you and other S–class Hunters.”

“Better, my foot.”

Not better at all. He’d softened a little from before, but the stubbornness was unchanged. I switched topics with a sigh — and turned Fear Resistance back on.

“Let’s call in the overseas S–class Hunters after all.”

It was something I’d said publicly in China before returning. At my words, Seong showed interest.

“You said a Monster Mounts gathering. Planning a Christmas party?”

“Christmas is a long way off. And that day’s reserved for Yuhyun. I mean Monster Mounts — I plan to share information on them.”

I stroked Peace, flopped across my knees.

“How to raise juvenile monsters. Of course, knowing doesn’t mean everyone can do it. In Peace’s case — the Flame Horned Lion — growth is only possible with help from an adult.”

“Effectively impossible to raise for anyone but you, then.”

“Yes. Sorok is ambiguous. It’s said they grow under the protection of the herd’s leader. If the leader doesn’t have to be the same species, it might actually be easy.”

If you were recognized as leader by a Snowfield Reindeer calf, maybe anyone could raise one.

“And Blue, the griffin, grows by consuming a specific monster — more precisely, by consuming Masuma of a certain grade or higher.”

I confirmed it with Masuma that Moon Hyunah caught. Feeding S–class Masuma meat made her grow even without training; A–grade Masuma had no effect.

“How much S–class Masuma do you think you need?”

“Mm, if we assume my skill also helped… at least five hundred?”

“Then even the Golden Griffin would be hard to raise without you, hyung.”

True. Even if three or four S–class Masuma show up as bosses, that means clearing over a hundred S–class dungeons. Even at once a month, that’s close to ten years. Buying S–class Masuma meat worldwide would speed it up, but competition would likely be fierce.

“Still, better than having no possibility at all. And A–grade monsters have relatively easier conditions.”

“Then Mr. Han becomes the only S–class Monster Mounts breeder?”

“It would take a bit of the burden off me.”

A very little bit. A–grades weren’t exactly easy either. But for an S–class mega–guild, it was alluring enough intel.

“I’d like to discuss this with you, Mr. Seong Hyunjae.”

“Always welcome.”

Seong looked pleased, while a shadow crossed Chief Song’s face.

“…Will you hold it domestically?”

“We can’t go abroad. Hm, maybe I’ll secure a cruise ship?”

“I must ask that, at least.”

S–class Hunters entering the country is inevitable, but leaving the land should be better. A cruise… how much does one cost? I should be prepared for it to get wrecked.

It wouldn’t help much, but we decided to keep searching for the terrorist and stood up.

“Yerim’s probably still at school. Yuhyun, you head back first with Peace.”

“What about you?”

“I’ll collect the Pegasus money and go home.”

“That can wait.”

“I know you’re swamped. Go to the office and clock out early, Guildmaster of Haeyeon.”

With Hunters from China, monsters, items — work had piled up while he was away. He’d be almost as busy as me. After soothing my brother and sending him off, I went up to the roof with Seong Hyunjae. The Hunter Association parking lot and the surrounding area were wrecked and still under control.

“Guildmaster of Sesung, isn’t it about time you brought in a Monster Mount or two? My Yuhyun went straight back thanks to Peace.”

Ms. Evelyn’s car, which dropped me off, was fine — but of course the Sesung Guildmaster’s car was totaled. What number is that now.

“At this rate your cars won’t survive.”

“My insurance premium will go up again.”

“You pay attention to that?”

“I’m frugal, you know.”

Top–tier nonsense for the year. There was already a helicopter waiting on the roof. Truly frugal.

“For frugal Mr. Seong Hyunjae, shall we go down and grab a taxi? How about a bus or the subway — do you even have a transit card?”

“…Any card works, doesn’t it?”

Wow. He really has never used one.

“You’ve never ridden one? Seriously? I figured, but really? Not even once?”

“I’ve taken a taxi. A bus… I have been on the roof.”

Fare–dodging, huh. I couldn’t picture Seong Hyunjae tapping a card to board a bus. I wanted to put him on one just once, but we’d probably both shoot up portal site rankings, so I just got on the helicopter. It wasn’t even that far to the Sesung Guild — what a luxury.

“About that name we mentioned earlier.”

I said over the racket of the helicopter.

“Don’t tailor it to me — help me out a bit.”

I felt sorry to Changeling in many ways, so I wanted to give her as good a name as possible. Even if my naming sense wasn’t actually that bad.