The S-Classes That I Raised

Chapter 457: I’m Hospitalized, But (4)

“I can use search and dictionaries now, you know.”

Since I was stuck sitting on the bed, I said I’d use the chance to name the Horned Fox — Moon Hyunah looked at me, worried. But Yerim had given me a tip.

“It helps if you check other people’s name suggestions and the meanings of words.”

Seong Hyunjae had also assisted when we named Gyeol. I turned on the tablet PC Yerim left me to “play with when you’re bored.” She’d installed a few games — mostly easy puzzle games, she said.

“I play this sometimes too.”

“This one? Candy Shop PONG!?”

“I mostly use it to kill time when I’m stuck waiting at board meetings or the Association.”

Curious, I opened it. Against a colorful candy–shop backdrop, subtitles rolled a story: the shop owner is closing up due to old age, and a dog and a cat decide to run the candy shop instead. But a terrifying Ginger–Chocolate Dragon steals all the candy, and the dog and cat follow the rank stench it leaves behind.

“So the dog makes candy bombs and the cat commands mice to gather ingredients.”

“Level up and you’ll craft a taffy–stick machine gun and dried sweet–potato missiles too.”

“Taffy I get, but why sweet potato. It’s not even candy.”

“Dogs like them?”

Reasonable. In sweet–potato season, dogs would get plump and end up at the vet. I opened a browser: pretty fox names… none. So I searched pretty cat names instead.

“Luna, Coco, Pepper, Milky.”

Cute, but didn’t suit a Horned Fox.

“Yerim said looking up word meanings is good too. He’s a fox, so… fox…”

Fox. Sino–Korean ho. Lots of dialect words too. Yeowi, Yeosu, Yeongu, Yeongi, Migu, Yusu, Yeokoe, Gaeyeo, Yakkoengi…

“Ho–yeo? Hosu? Hoya? Not hogu. Horong, Horang.”

“Horong or Horang sound cute. Horang might make people think ‘tiger,’ though.”

“Still fine, isn’t it?”

I looked at Peace sprawled on the sofa and, below in the same pose, the Horned Fox peeking up.

“He’s glued to Peace. Peace is a horned lion, he’s a Horned Fox. But his name is ‘Horang’.”

Say “lion,” you think “tiger.” Let’s pair their names too.

“What do you think, Horang. Rang–ah.”

The Horned Fox still only snuck glances at Peace. He probably didn’t recognize it as his name yet.

“Look at you — character development.”

Hyunah laughed, impressed at my “great progress.” Is it such a leap? Honestly, Chirp vs. Horang feels about the same.

“Lifnil won’t be going into dungeons for a while, so I should name him too. The Water Buffalo will head to Haeyeon — they’ll name him. The Pegasus went to Ms. Evelyn. Vare — apparently from Minerva.”

At that, Moon Hyunah made a funny face.

“One of her nicknames is ‘Medusa.’”

“Oh, because of the eyes? It doesn’t petrify, though.”

Didn’t Medusa turn people to stone? If that were a skill, raiding would be easy.

“She says that stuff only behind people’s backs. Revealing special skills is sensitive. Anyway, myth has Pegasus born from Medusa.”

“Really?”

“And Medusa was cursed by Athena — Minerva. The shield used to kill her was Athena’s too. And she names the Pegasus ‘Athena’? I’m telling you, she’s sly.”

So that name had more tangled meaning than I thought. Is that why Seong called it mischievous?

“Is ‘sly’ a bit much? Maybe she just picked a goddess’s name.”

It’s not some weird god — a war goddess.

“You really don’t like Ms. Evelyn, do you, Hyunah.”

“I said we don’t mesh. It’s temperament. Seong Hyunjae is pitch–black inside, but Miller has this different kind of sticky gray.”

She waved a hand — an “ugh” type.

“At Sesung, Soyeong is at least a puppy among jackals.”

Say “puppy,” and you picture a big golden retriever. Definitely a different vibe from the other two.

“I like good kids. Like Soyeong, or Director Han.”

“Wait, why me.”

It’s not like I live that virtuously.

“Why? At your level, you do.”

Hyunah slid off her chair to perch on my bed, slung an arm over my shoulder. Changeling, flopped on my knees, raised her head with a tilt.

“And you’re cute.”

“I’m thirty on the inside!”

I should explain that to her in detail too. Knowing Hyunah, she might just go “oh, I see” and move on.

“Sometimes I just want to snatch you up. How about it, Director Han. Wanna come with me?”

“Come with you where…”

Moon Hyunah’s eyes crinkled, smile mischievous.

“Keep this up and I’ll misunderstand.”

“Misunderstand what.”

“Yerim’s fine — it’s your little brother who’s the problem.”

…What is a problem with what. Then Gyeol straightened and flicked her tail. Peace hopped down from the sofa and came over. And then the doorbell chimed. Didn’t need to look to know.

I opened the door with the remote; Seong Hyunjae stepped in. In his hand — a chocolate drink… huh? What, choco soy milk? Gyeol groaned uuuun and plastered herself to my side.

“Whoops, did I come early and ruin the mood?”

He set the soy milk on the table. What mood…

“You did interrupt a nice moment.”

Hyunah tugged me toward her. No, hold up.

“We were literally just naming a fox!”

“We’ve made progress, but let me name our kid, honey.”

Her low whisper tickled my ear.

“You named Sorok yourself!”

“We should plan for a second. Hm?”

It’s monster talk, and I know that, but… Seong approached the bed; Hangyeol went uunnn. Peace hopped up and sat near my feet.

“As your one and only partner, I can’t lose. How about we start thinking about a second of our own.”

“What, when did we have a first? Comet?”

“Comet’s Soyeong’s darling. Our first is—”

– No!

Gyeol shrieked; Hyunah burst out laughing.

“So that’s where the hatchling came from.”

– No! Gyeol has nothing to do with that.

“Director Han has too many admirers — that’s the trouble. So, Director, who do you like most?”

“…Huh?”

“Like your type. Two meters tall, say.”

Not two meters. As for my type…

“I like people who like me.”

“What’s that. Anyone? Really?”

“Not anyone. Honestly, I’m not in a great position to date or marry.”

I mean pure affection without the money or other motives.

“First, Yerim needs to grow up — and I might need to live with Yuhyun indefinitely. Then there are all the monsters, and it’s dangerous.”

Just counting kidnappings — how many times now. It’s routine to me as the target, but if you flip the roles, it’d be infuriating. …I suddenly felt sorry for the kids again.

“How many people would gladly accept all that.”

“But that doesn’t mean you’ll like them.”

“True. But they’re someone who accepts all my flaws. Of course I’d love them.”

How could I not. You naturally fall in. Hyunah stared, then said,

“Yerim and your brother need to watch over you.”

“Eh?”

“If you fall for the wrong person, you’ll give them everything and cry alone.”

“That won’t happen. I’m not going to be dating anyone anyway.”

“Hyung, I love you.”

She said it dead serious. My heart lurched.

“Oh, come on, quit those jokes. Peace, come here.”

I wriggled free, hugged Peace, and petted him.

“If it’s not a joke, will you come to me? Hm?”

“If it’s not a joke — but it is a joke.”

Hyunah’s really a good person; she’s out of my league. Seriously, she makes my thoughts go sideways. I said I like people who like me, but if I’m honest, someone I can lean on… would be nice. Solid.

Sometimes I want to be protected too. I am a grownup, but maybe I grew independent too early. Sometimes. Sometiiiimes.

Hyunah’s as reliable as they come, and I could support her in many ways too. Yerim likes her, and I think even Yuhyun would be fine with her… but still, it’s obviously just talk.

“Keep that up and Han Yujin’s face will burn in permanently.”

Seong, sounding almost sorry for me, reined her in. Hyunah stood and spoke gently to me.

“Why assume it’s a joke. You’re really attractive. So — like who Yujin likes. That’s allowed. Like you said, the person you like will surely love you.”

“…C’mon, that’s not always true.”

“Have confidence!”

She patted my back lightly.

“And if it misses once or twice, so what. There are tons of people who’ll like you!”

– Right, I like Dad too.

“I also like Mr. Han Yujin.”

– Not that one. No.

This was getting embarrassing. I coughed a few times for no reason.

“Mm, then you should get going, Ms. Hyunah?”

“Since that guy’s here, I should.”

– Can Auntie stay? Instead of that?

Changeling looked at me pleadingly. “Auntie,” huh. Does she think “aunt” means a woman older than Dad?

“Oh my, you like Auntie? Seong Hyunjae’s weirdly unpopular with kids.”

“Soyeong liked me at first sight.”

“She was mistaken.”

“At last year’s Children’s Day—”

“You bribed them with presents!”

She denied it, but kids like pretty faces too. Though if you’re too big, you can be scary.

“Ah — among the Hunters we’re bringing in from Hamstern, I know one.”

“Really?”

“Not well. I run into her sometimes in English–speaking countries. Chloe Alger — a high–rank Hunter, a bit odd. Fun.”

…Oh.

“Hunter Chloe Alger? Around two meters tall?”

“You know her?”

Wow. Hold on. I touched my cheek with my palm. Not rough.

“Is my skin trashed? Chinese water didn’t agree with me… I had surgery too.”

“Hm? Looks fine.”

“I should’ve used the face packs Yerim gave me. When is she coming? Makeup will fix things, right?”

“…Director Han?”

“Mr. Han?”

Both Hyunah and Seong stared at me, puzzled.

“Director Han’s type really is two meters?”

“So it was ‘just shy of two meters if you round up’?”

“I’m just a fan! We don’t know each other, and I’ve never seen her in person. I mean — through a screen. Like a celebrity.”

“Chloe does stream sometimes, but there aren’t even Korean subs yet. Since when are you a fan?”

Not from a livestream — I saw her on TV. Before regression. Hyunah tilted her head; Seong gave me a could it be look.

Hyunah said it would be a few days before she arrived due to the monster paperwork, then took her leave. Maybe I should start getting some care. Work out too. Ah, my leg. I have to lay low for a while. Upper body then — or belly fat. Not that I have much, but hmm.

“Seems you liked her a lot.”

While I was absently patting my belly, Seong pulled a pen from his inventory. Gyeol puffed her cheeks and glared at him like a watchdog.

“It was my favorite show. A dungeon survival–type program. It was fun, but above all, she treated low–grade Hunters as regular teammates and was casual with them. Maybe it was for TV, but still.”

It was comforting. Especially when a low–grade Hunter would explain their usual dungeon in detail and guide them, and she’d honestly praise them — that’s amazing. As an upper–rank Hunter, she could’ve brute–forced it without the info; instead, she seriously explored and tested ways to survive mid–low dungeons together.

“When she visited Korea, she did a special inviting low–grade Hunters. I applied. Didn’t get picked.”

I hated TV then, but I wanted to meet her. If she’s coming to Korea now — is it for broadcast gear? You still can’t film inside dungeons. If I meet her, I should bring it up.

Seong wrote in an empty spot on my cast:

[Please stay healthy — from a fan of Mr. Han Yujin]

What is that. Pointlessly plausible.

“You, a fan?”

“Thanks to Mr. Han, I’ve had a lot of fun. And I’m rather fond of you. ‘Fan’ is fair.”

“Sign this?” He pulled out those photo cards again. Enough already.

“More importantly, nothing happened, right? It’s only been a day, but — no weird people approaching you?”

“Of course not.”

I studied his face. He didn’t seem like he was lying, but he’s the kind who can put on any expression.

“You have to be honest. At least for a while.”

Hearing even that Chatterbox is aiming at him had me on edge — for real. He said “of course” he would, but the unease didn’t lift easily.