The S-Classes That I Raised

Chapter 454: I’m Hospitalized, But (1)

We scheduled the full checkup for two nights and three days. Not a real admission, just for show — but still, I’m only in my mid–twenties in this body and I’m getting hospitalized for a checkup. If we’re going by my inside age, they do say to start at thirty, I guess?

Anyway, since I’d be staying two nights, I packed. Which really just meant a change of clothes, socks, underwear, and pajamas. They had toothbrushes and toothpaste last time.

And maybe I should bring the kids’ food and toys — and a few training tools, just in case.

“Dad, is this all your stuff?”

Hangyeol held up a big crossbody bag. She’d turned into a child to “help me pack.” As a fairy dragon, Changeling is weak physically. As a tiny dragon she can barely lift things bigger than herself; even in human form she only has the strength of a normal teenager.

“It’s heavy, put it down.”

“I can carry this much.”

It was only clothes anyway. When she changed into a human, Peace was even more unsure how to treat her. He sat like a guard and stared at Changeling’s every move. A monster who is also a person, and carries a lot of my feel — no wonder he was confused.

“Should we bring Chirp’s nest and Peace’s cushion too? What about bath stuff for the kids?”

I probably wouldn’t have to bathe anyone, but who knows.

– Kiing.

The Horned Fox sidled up beside Peace and sat, only to get whacked by Peace’s tail. He hopped back and flopped over, belly up, but Peace didn’t even look. Total one–sided love. I should name him soon, too.

“Dad needs to take care of Dad more.”

Watching the pile of kids’ gear grow, Hangyeol said with her eyes narrowed.

“I can’t go inside Dad anymore. Once I got a name, I split off!”

She grumbled that she hadn’t expected that.

“Does giving a name make you an independent being?”

“Yeah. I think so. I didn’t know either, but now I can refuse Dad’s orders.”

Orders — hey, now… Come to think of it, the Venom and Curse Dragonkin Diarma raised didn’t have names. Peace shows as Flame Horned Lion, Peace. Same with Blue. Maybe he left them nameless so they wouldn’t become independent and ignore him.

“So you have to be careful, Dad.”

She looked serious. Adorable. Those big round eyes are really pretty. Yuhyun was like a little angel at that age. All kids are cute and lovable, but obviously mine look the cutest to me.

And, to be fair, even strangers thought Yuhyun was cute. Same for Gyeol.

“I’m a fairy dragon, so I still don’t take physical damage, but I can be grabbed now. The link’s weaker — if I’m far away, Dad can’t recall me!”

“That means you could be kidnapped? Gyeol, even if someone offers you yummy food, never go with them! Don’t even talk to strangers. Ignore anyone asking for directions or a quick favor. Kids should avoid strangers, period.”

The world’s nasty. And with how cute and pretty Hangyeol looks, even more so.

“Not me — Dad!”

Changeling shrieked.

“Gyeol can’t help Dad! If I’m not right there!”

“Dad’s an adult; it’s fine.”

She gave me a look full of disbelief.

“My power burdens Dad, but you can use it for a bit, right? You can use it at a lower grade too. If I’m not there, you can’t even do that!”

True, it would be riskier than when Changeling nested in my body. But I can’t chain her down just to keep me safe.

“Of course I’ll be careful. I don’t even go out alone. So don’t worry too much and… since it’s like this, should we have you pretend to be human? Gyeol, how young can you look?”

We could say I adopted her at kindergarten or first–grade age. And since Noah’s around, we can get away with saying she has a skill to turn into a dragon.

“No! I’m not going to school!”

Before I even got it all out, she caught on and flipped back into fairy dragon form.

“Why not.”

– I’d have to be away from Dad every day! I don’t like it.

This reminds me of Yuhyun. When he first started elementary school, he loved going together; when I hit middle school, he sulked. When we were at the same school, he sometimes waited for me to finish.

I soothed the clinging little dragon.

“Not right now, then — when the world’s peaceful. When Dad won’t be in danger. Okay then?”

– …Okay.

She’s not an ordinary beast, so I should help her blend into society eventually. Wait — the Black Dragon talked like a person just like Diarma. Won’t they be born like Gyeol?

…At this rate I won’t just be a monster dad; I’ll be a single father of two for real. Not that I was planning to marry anyway, but, hmm.

“Mister! I packed— what is all that?”

Yerim burst in and stared at the pile of kids’ stuff.

“You knock before you enter. I’m bringing everyone.”

Peace, of course, and Chirp and Belare. And the Horned Fox too.

“It’s only three days. Two, if you don’t count today.”

She rolled her suitcase over and tucked the toys and training gear inside.

“They’ll have cushions at the hospital. Peace’s is way too big.”

“But he’s used to his.”

“What’s this vase?”

“Belare likes curling up in there.”

When Yerim moved the vase, Belare slithered over and slid inside. Through the clear glass, her jeweled scales glittered in a jumble. Chirp flapped at the sight. Maybe he liked it and made her go in there.

Belare really isn’t growing, though. Why? Liet wasn’t urging us since she was busy with Soyeong, thankfully. If we just ran dungeons focused on dragonification, we might not have to send Belare back. Dragons don’t need to swing swords.

When we carried the bags into the living room, Yuhyun walked in and held out a hand.

“I’ll take it.”

It’s light. With the kids trailing us, we went up to the rooftop garden. A helicopter was already there.

– Kyarrrk.

Seeing the chopper, the Horned Fox flattened his ears and growled. He must have especially bad memories about helicopters. Peace, as always, hopped aboard lightly. He still had that “why are we riding this” face, though.

– Kiiing.

After watching Peace board and circling, the Horned Fox screwed his eyes shut and leapt in. He really, really likes Peace.

“…I figured you’d be here.”

On the Sesung Hospital helipad was a familiar face. His sun–faded hair ruffled a little in the rotor wash. He’d said he was going abroad — I thought I wouldn’t see him for a while, but somehow I’m running into him more than before.

It is his hospital, so.

“I’ll be in your care for a few days. Aren’t you a bit too free?”

“I was so free I went shopping.”

Seong Hyunjae flashed photo cards. Phase–shifted Peace — and me.

“When did you buy those!”

“I got both phase–shifted versions. Peace is cute.”

“W–well, Peace is cute, yes.”

I’ll allow it.

“The plush came out well, right? I mean — Peace, the real one, is the best. Always. The merch is insanely popular. Lots of questions about pajamas and umbrellas too.”

People even asked us to sell the extra–large Peace. Honestly, if not for Peace’s feelings, I’d want one. Chirp won’t hate a Chirp plush, right? Maybe I should ask for an extra–large Chirp — super squishy.

Even the VIP room wasn’t the one I’d used before — different place. Past a double door was a spacious ward. Bed, sofa, TV, table — looked fancy enough, but—

“Well, pretty standard.”

Mostly clean white. I’d worried it’d look like the private jet interior.

“I wanted to tailor it to Mr. Han’s favorite colors, but this is a hospital. Pink is harder to keep clean — especially darker shades.”

“That’s not… mm, even if I liked it, people don’t wallpaper everything in one color.”

With the fairy dragon on my shoulder watching me, I swallowed the “don’t like” part. She’s a silver dragon, but these days she’s mostly pink.

“Is that a bathroom?”

One side of the room was cut in with an L, with a door. Seong walked over and hit a remote. The wall turned transparent in an instant. Beyond a glass wall — a good–sized indoor garden.

“You were bound to drag a crowd of kids along.”

…Correct. There were few trees and a lawn — perfect for the kids to run around. Even for a VIP room — what kind of ward comes with a garden.

“The bathroom’s this way.”

He slid open a door opposite the garden. The bathroom was huge too.

“We respected your tastes here as much as possible.”

It was pink. Thankfully not eye–searing hot pink — a gentle pastel with white mixed in. The design was… well done, actually. Still, a pink oversized bathtub was a bit much. It was so big it looked like a mini pool.

There was a guest room attached on one side, with its own bathroom. I appreciated the kid–friendly touches most of all.

“The soundproofing’s excellent, of course. And…”

He took out something about a fingertip long and slotted a tiny chip into it, turning it on.

[The last day is not far off!]

A voice came from the device. Not Korean. I turned off the translation item and heard English.

[Of course, high–rank Hunters who raid dungeons for their own greed must also be removed.]

Another voice. At least three people were talking about how dungeon breaks must happen and raids should stop. They sprinkled in talk about “God’s will” and “the laws of nature.”

[But the most evil of all is the Monster Mounts breeder.]

…Huh? Me? Yuhyun frowned and looked at me. Yerim, who had no translation item, just tilted her head.

“What are they saying? From the way Yuhyun looks, is it about you, Mister?”

“They said I’m evil.”

Yerim looked dumbfounded. I was too. Sure, I haven’t lived saintly, but “evil” is a stretch. Kind of embarrassing with the Sesung guildmaster right here.

[Taming dungeon monsters and using them for raids — it’s like a devil corrupting an angel.]

“Why are angels and devils coming up?”

“They’re saying I’m…”

Too embarrassing to translate.

“Mm, like a devil. Corrupting… angels…”

“…The voice sounds old.”

Tell me about it.

“If it were ‘Han Yuhyun is the devil and Mister is the angel,’ I could at least see the logic. He’s stacked layer upon layer of heart–eyes over you.”

What’s wrong with my Yuhyun. The voices kept going while Yerim grumbled. The gist was that I — the Monster Mounts breeder — am very dangerous and must be dealt with.

[If we can reeducate the breeder, like high–rank Hunters, they could be a great asset.]

[From the start, humans taming monsters is an act of betrayal against God.]

[There are already many Tamers.]

So, not kill on sight? There were “just kill them” takes, but fewer. More than three speakers — six? Seven?

“I called the Filial Duty Addicts a cult, and now a real cult’s on the loose. Where is this from?”

“United States. New Jersey.”

“Is that a cult HQ?”

“No. We didn’t get that deep.”

He must have planted someone.

“For now it’s just that such opinions exist — we haven’t identified the leadership. It only sprang up recently.”

Only after I regressed did that so–called prophet get their ability.

“If we hit first and sweep—”

“Wait,” I said as Yuhyun muttered. “We can’t go out now anyway. And if it’s America, that’s huge.”

“It’s presumed to be spreading to other countries as well.”

“You hear that. We investigate and wait.”

“…Too many people are targeting you, hyung.”

My brother grumbled, and Yerim nodded hard. It just turned out that way.

“We’ve extended our reach overseas, but compared to local guilds our intel will lag.”

Seong said. Since the guildmaster himself isn’t present in those countries, there are limits. No matter how brilliant he is, Seong only has one body.

“So I recommend you find partners abroad as quickly as possible. Once your treatment’s done, let’s talk immediately about the gathering.”

“Yes. We should.”

I’d better lay as much groundwork as possible before the truce ends.