The S-Classes That I Raised

Chapter 452: Name (3)

Seok Gimyeong openly looked displeased that Seong Hyunjae had come all the way here. His words were polite enough, though.

“For someone as busy in many ways to personally see Director Han Yujin home — I’m very grateful, but please entrust him to us so we don’t trouble you further in the future.”

Polite… mm. I knew he didn’t mean “busy” that way, but the emphasis sounded a bit off. Anyway, Seok Gimyeong was basically telling him to keep his meddling with the Facility to a minimum. Seong Hyunjae smiled at him gently.

“I thought Team Leader Seok Gimyeong would stay with Haeyeon for life.”

Uh… it sounded like, “You’re Haeyeon Guild staff, why are you butting in — did you transfer to the Facility already?”

“Of course I plan to. Ah, this is Mr. Seo Kyunghun, a new hire at the Monster Mounts Breeding Facility. He’s helping with the handover from Haeyeon.”

“Nice to meet you, Guildmaster of Sesung.”

Kyunghun–hyung bowed a bit awkwardly. In other words, he was asserting that Haeyeon was close enough to supply new blood to the Facility. Seong Hyunjae offered a hand to Seo Kyunghun.

“I hope you find your footing quickly. If anything comes up related to Director Han, contact me anytime.”

To Seong’s “why not leave Haeyeon quickly and get chummy with Sesung,” Seok twisted back a “we’re already very chummy with Haeyeon,” and Seong, pretending to worry for Seo Kyunghun, edged Seok away again. Stuck between them, Kyunghun–hyung just kept a smiling face.

Office politics, huh.

Anyway, Seong Hyunjae headed out, and Kang Soyeong went toward the pens.

“For the Sesung guildmaster to flit about so lightly — Director Han, please turn him down at times. It doesn’t look good.”

“Ah, yes.”

“Of course, Haeyeon is family, so that’s different. That is welcome, even.”

“Ah, right.”

“Is that dragon a new monster?”

Seok looked at Hangyeol, draped over my shoulder.

“Yes. Sesung is handling the paperwork.”

“Sesung again—”

“The Pegasus matter, remember? They agreed to process everything for the new monsters we brought in this time.”

For now, we decided to register Changeling, Hangyeol, as an ordinary monster. We also wouldn’t publicize for a while that she could speak. If word got out there was a monster who could talk to people — chaos. Interest would pour in, and plenty would want to observe and “research.”

That’s why the goblin race was hiding, too. They’d have to reveal themselves someday, but for now we gathered them in the countryside near Yun Yun’s hometown for social education. So they could pass as human like Yun Yun. They were in human form already, but most of the kids were too guileless.

“Let’s say hello, Hangyeol.”

The pink hatchling lifted her floppy body and bowed politely to Seok and Seo Kyunghun. Such a good kid.

“Isn’t she heavy? You’re not in perfect shape, either.”

“She’s much lighter than she looks.”

Weight–wise, she was about on par with Chirp. Chirp’s light for his size too because of his fluff.

“So what brings you here?”

I figured it was about naming the Facility, but since he came in person, there must be other business. Names could be traded over the phone.

“For the Monster Mounts Facility naming, and to check building facilities. Mr. Seo Kyunghun.”

“Yes. Let’s go upstairs first, Director.”

Hearing “Director” from Kyunghun–hyung still felt strange. We left the underground parking lot and headed up.

“Mr. Seo’s position is undecided, right? How about Deputy Director?”

Seo Kyunghun flustered at my words.

“For now, he’s slated for a sort of secretariat that also handles planning and audit.”

“Yes. And given the nature of a breeding facility, I think the deputy director should be someone who can control monsters. Of course, leaving it vacant is fine too.”

Both Kyunghun–hyung and Seok cautioned me at the same time. I was half joking, but it wasn’t impossible. More than anything, I didn’t like leaving it vacant. You never know. I wanted the kids to be safe and sound even if I wasn’t around.

Even if the Facility lost its monster–breeding function, having a person in overall charge was different from not having one.

“The café’s interior is mostly finished.”

Crossing the first–floor lobby, Seo Kyunghun said. Fast. Well, pour in money and it’s quick.

“Mr. Do Hamin will manage operations, but he wants to do it as a joint venture with you, Director.”

“Because the customers will be mostly Hunters.”

Hamin would never take full responsibility by himself. He hates taking on work beyond his ability. Before regression, he constantly griped that he wanted to be an info broker for regular folks, not Hunters.

“Lord, long time!”

When we entered the café, Do Hamin greeted me with both arms flung wide. Kim Minui and Noah were there too. Minui had said he’d work here.

“Mr. Noah, are you helping out here too?”

“Only when I’m free sometimes. The hyungs keep saying they’re uneasy.”

Noah, in a white long–sleeve shirt and apron, came out from the kitchen. Since Kim Minui was originally B–grade, they were worried, apparently. If a bona fide S–class like Noah helped out even occasionally, there’d be far fewer who’d cause trouble. Still — an S–class doing café shifts.

“Our Geumdong’s coming soon, right?”

“Yeah. You’re really going with ‘Geumdong’?”

“Why, got a problem?”

No problem, really. I lifted Changeling down from my shoulder and introduced her to everyone.

“She’s new. Name’s Hangyeol. I named her.”

This time too, she greeted politely. When Mr. Noah held out a hand with a “please take care of me,” she even shook it.

“We’ll add another doll. Right next door is the doll gallery, and we’ll set some in the café too. We’ll sell themed drinks and desserts. We need a sign — what’re we naming the café? Want me to do it?”

I shook my head fast. Better me than Do Hamin.

“Mm, since we’ll sell monster goods too — Love & Peace.”

“Nice. We can write it in English.”

“Right? It’s good, yeah?”

“Why not use the same name for the Facility?”

Seok was nodding at me so hard he ended up waving his hands.

“By holding a naming contest.”

I think that was on the list.

“This side is the regular hall–style café, and over there are rooms.”

The hall was plenty large, and the roomed–off area was sizable too.

“For the rooms, you can only enter from the building lobby. Soundproofing is perfect, naturally. We even used dungeon byproducts — a B–grade can’t eavesdrop.”

“So you can’t block from A–grade up?”

“As long as you don’t go right up to the shared wall or door, even an A–grade can barely hear. There aren’t many S–classes anyway. Speak softly and even S–class will have trouble from the hall; we’ll have music on in the hall, too.”

That should be enough to guarantee confidentiality. Outside there are cameras, and room layout can do the rest.

“High–ranks have their own conference rooms anyway. This is for mid–low ranks. Especially low–grade Hunters without guilds.”

A perfectly soundproof conference room for the price of a coffee. Cheap.

“We’ll run it for a bit and, if it’s good, open the second floor too. The mall space is empty. Sound good, Lord?”

“Do as you like.”

For low–grade Hunters, having a safe place to gather is very convenient.

“And you, Lord, drop by to work now and then.”

“What? Me?”

“Bring the baby monsters. Service, service.”

Mr. Noah alone is enough “service,” I think. We checked the rooms, then returned to the hall and sat at a table. With the kitchen prep done, Mr. Noah brought out tomato juice.

“Don’t tell me you’ll have Mr. Noah do table service?”

“Of course it’s mostly takeout. We’ll keep his workload minimal. If it’s quiet, he might bring stuff to the hall sometimes.”

I doubted it would ever be quiet. With Mr. Noah standing there, it felt like a café in France or something.

“Have you decided on the Facility’s name?”

Seok asked. He’d said, “I’ll shortlist some and send them~,” and there were really only a few. Thanks to that, I didn’t have to deliberate long.

“This.”

Dodam.

I especially liked the meaning of dodam–dodam — a child growing up well and without mishap; it fit perfectly. But dodam–dodam was a bit long, so Dodam would be just right.

“I thought that one was good too.”

Seok nodded in satisfaction.

“Easy to render in English as well. We’ll proceed with that.”

Reminding me not to forget the Peace plush launch event this weekend, Seok stood with Seo Kyunghun.

“I won’t forget. Don’t worry.”

“You may not forget, but Director Han’s body might not be here.”

…It’s not like I wanted to be absent. I’ll behave, yes, yes. After they left, I was discussing the café menu with Do Hamin when the glass door — flipped to “Closed” — banged open.

“Knew it was you, Mister. I’m back from school!”

Yerim strode in, full of energy. Did she see us from outside? You have to pass by here to get to the parking lot, but good eyes.

“Oh? That dragon’s awake?”

“Yeah. This is Hangyeol.”

“Mister Sesung?”

“No, I named her.”

The disbelief in her eyes stabbed me in the chest. I really did name her. I only got a smidge of advice.

“Are you opening soon? Should I do a part–time shift here?”

“What? Why a part–time job all of a sudden. You said you were sick of it.”

“That was the barbecue joint that didn’t even pay. I’ve always wanted to try a café job once.”

Yerim said it sounded fun. It wouldn’t be fun.

“How about serving — like this!”

A thin stream of water stretched out, twirling, and lifted my empty juice glass. The glass floated off toward the kitchen.

“With temperature control I can heat or chill everything~”

“That’s actually so convenient.”

A power too good to waste on a café, but still. She could make ice on the spot in summer too.

“I can do this, too.”

This time the water shaped itself into a glass bowl. Then — crackle — it froze in an instant.

“Ta–da, a shaved–ice bowl! The shape is kinda, meh, but. I’ll practice.”

“A perfect part–timer!”

Do Hamin clapped in admiration.

“In summer, Hunter Park Yerim! In winter, Hunter Han Yuhyun!”

“Quit trying to sneak–exploit my little brother.”

“A tip, Mister Hamin. If you get Mister, the Guildmaster follows on his own. One–plus–one.”

“We could expand to the third floor! If Lord shows up we could drag in Mingyu too. A hotspot café! National chain!”

What are you on about. The efficiency is garbage. Maybe as a one–off event.

“So, remember — it’s a secret for a while that Hangyeol can talk.”

On the way home, I made sure to tell Yerim too.

– Please take good care of me, Aunt Yerim.

“I’m an aunt? Already?”

She grumbled she was still in middle school, but she didn’t look displeased. Yerim was all smiles, in fact. Yerim’s handled; Yuhyun should be fine too, right? The problem is Peace. As we stepped inside, Peace was already waiting by the entry, tail swishing. A Horned Fox was beside him at a bit of a distance, tail wagging too.

The Horned Fox wanted to cling to Peace, but Peace found him terribly annoying. Were Horned Foxes pack animals? He seemed to have accepted Peace as a leader.

“Peace, this is Hangyeol.”

– Hello, I’m Hangyeol.

Peace’s ears pricked high.

– Hrrng.

She’s a monster, sure, but hearing human speech and her own name threw him. Flitting down to match Peace’s eye level, Changeling landed. Peace twitched his nose and sniffed Hangyeol.

– Grrrnn—

– Smells kinda like Dad, right?

“Really?”

– I was with Dad the whole time. And I didn’t have a name yet. So for now I probably still feel similar to Dad.

Maybe that’s why — Peace was dubious, but he didn’t show strong rejection. Same for the Horned Fox.

– Chirp!

And Chirp said hello, like he knew her. When Chirp greeted her, Belare gave a sss–like smile back.

It looked like Changeling would be accepted without issue, but then—

– Hello, Uncle.

“I told you not to call me uncle.”

Yuhyun said coolly.

“Is that thing going to stay out all the time?”

“Her name is Hangyeol.”

“Isn’t that a little cold to your niece, Han Yuhyun?”

“How is that my niece.”

Loosening his tie, my little brother cut in firmly. He hadn’t liked it before either, and he still didn’t like Changeling.

– Because you’re Dad’s little brother.

Hangyeol spoke very politely. Her scales were a calm silver, and her golden eyes looked up at Yuhyun earnestly.

– You’re the person Dad loves most. Hangyeol loves Dad very much. So I want to get along with the uncle Dad loves most.

“…”

“You hear that, Han Yuhyun!”

“I don’t really plan to get close.”

His voice was still curt, but the rejection seemed to have eased.

“Hurry and wash up for dinner. You worked hard.”

“Mm. Nothing happened to you after that, right? You okay?”

“I’m fine.”

I’d worried a bit about the potion, but he seemed fine. I should take care of myself until I can treat my leg.