The S-Classes That I Raised

Chapter 475: Owner of the Letter (2)

I opened the already–torn envelope. When I slowly unfolded the letter inside—

“…It’s in English.”

“Of course it’s in English.”

It was a letter from the U.S., and like it or not, English is the global lingua franca.

“I can read English, I mean… This says Sesung, and Guildmaster. Um, we are, something something. Hunter… skill… use…”

…It’s been close to a decade since I last studied. I could pick out dungeon, item, Inventory—the Hunter–related words. I squinted and focused, but there was barely anything I could parse. Maybe I should study English. Or I could join forces with Yerim and make Korean the global lingua franca.

“Don’t just let me gawk. You promised I could know the contents in a readable state. That should come with a translation service, too.”

“You did read some.”

“Excuse me? I understood nothing.”

“You read ‘Sesung Guild’ and ‘Hunter’ and my name. Things you read yourself, Mr. Han.”

“That’s a tiny fragment!”

Still, I had, by a gnat’s eyelash, recognized a sliver of the contents. I should’ve said, all of it, clearly and fully. I narrowed my eyes and glared at Seong Hyunjae.

“Fine, whatever. Phones do image translation these days, you know?”

“Excellent.”

“Even if it’s clunky, I can check a dictionary. English isn’t that hard to look up.”

My English grades weren’t even that bad. Not national top ranks like Yuhyun, but decent enough. I set the stationery on the table and started from the first sentence. Mm, a greeting. Not ‘hi’ or ‘hello,’ but close. It went on to apologize for not sending a birthday present. So they know I hold grudges about missed birthdays even across the sea. Well, we did get lots of foreign Hunters. And then… this part translates weird.

“…Could you just interpret it for me?”

“I already paid the price of the bet. If I help any more actively, I’ll break the contract.”

That was true. I couldn’t just take it to a translator, either. I wasn’t to show it to anyone but me. This sentence looked off, so I’d check the dictionary… Ugh, flipping back and forth is a pain. I pulled out a notepad and pen. At this rate I’d be up all night.

“Aren’t you cold.”

“We’re indoors. And it’s still autumn.”

“Stay soaked like that and you’ll catch a cold.”

“I’ll change. Why are there so many meanings. ‘Brass’? Why is ‘brass’ here— is this about an item.”

“An idiom.”

“Huh? Ah, as in the meaning changes.”

I wanted to chuck the whole thing. And at a glance, it looked more roundabout than straightforward—like Seong Hyunjae’s style.

“…You didn’t accept the bet thinking I couldn’t read the letter even if I took it, did you.”

“Perish the thought. And…”

He trailed off mid–sentence. Don’t tell me he hadn’t realized I might not be able to read it.

“Hey, if you’ve been on bad terms with studying for ten years, it happens!”

“People’s abilities differ. Don’t mind it.”

He wasn’t wrong, but coming from him, it grated. I grumbled and kept translating—when the sheet vanished off the table. He’d plucked it up and slipped it straight into his Inventory.

“What are you doing.”

“The person allowed to view this letter is—”

Bang! The door slammed open, half shattered.

“Hyung!”

“—only Mr. Han Yujin.”

Yuhyun. That was fast. He crossed the room in strides and crushed me in a hug before I could even turn.

“You’ll get my clothes wet. I’m fine, don’t worry.”

“…Hyung.”

“Yeah, Yuhyun.”

“You smell like smoke.”

His voice went cold in an instant. Ah—forgot.

“No, it’s…”

“From how flustered you are, you did smoke.”

Damn it, I should’ve said Seong Hyunjae smoked and the smell rubbed off. Yuhyun let me go and stepped back. With a gaze like he’d peel me open, he slowly scanned me from head to toe.

“Why are you wet. Your shoes.”

“I fell in water—nothing to do with Seong Hyunjae. In the drawer. I lost the shoes then. Dress shoes slip off easily.”

He held out his hand.

“Hand it over.”

“…What?”

“The cigarettes.”

“Ah, those. I finished them.”

“There were more than ten left in the case. All of them?”

He remembered. When I hesitated, his eyes got even sharper. Seong Hyunjae had no intention of intervening.

“…Hey, it’s just a luxury good. I’m not a kid. I’m thirty, really.”

“Hyung.”

“I don’t plan to smoke much. Think of it as an emergency med. I’ve got Poison Resistance—who knows. There could be a need. And it’ll be on general sale soon anyway.”

It would spread fast enough to be easy to buy. At that, he furrowed his brow but withdrew the hand.

“If you smoke again when it’s not the only option.”

“I won’t.”

“I’ll smoke too.”

“Hey!”

I snapped on reflex.

“Why would you, when it’s bad for you!”

“I’m S–rank. Compared to you, it’ll barely tickle.”

“You’re young! What are you doing picking up cigarettes already!”

“Then you can just not smoke.”

He didn’t budge an inch. It’s true I could just not smoke—but still. I really would be careful from now on. I lifted my arm and sniffed my sleeve. Didn’t smell that strong to me.

“Is it that strong?”

“Completely different from usual.”

“Really? Mr. Seong, got any perfume?”

He showed an empty palm. He seemed like the type to carry at least one. If not Myungwoo, Yerim and Mr. Noah would notice—what to do—Yuhyun looked down at the petals strewn on the floor.

“Use Grace. About S–rank output.”

The Ruler’s Sword, drawn at some point, shifted into a whip–sword form and swept the floor in a circle. Whoosh— the lifted petals ignited with a roar. Tiny flames then rained over my head and shoulders.

“The burnt smell is stronger. It’ll mask it.”

Ash from the petals clung all over me. I looked like I’d rolled in a fireplace.

“Walk around the hotel like this and we’ll get complaints.”

I should wash and change, fast. Just then, a golden griffin smashed the already loose door to pieces and burst in.

“Mister!”

– Dad!

– Kyawww!

Yerim and Gyeol had been looking for me with Blue. Or maybe, like last time, they’d headed straight to the Gyeonggi Breeding Facility in case I tried to leave Korea on Blue. Since Yuhyun arrived first, he must’ve been searching the vicinity. Myungwoo and Mr. Noah probably went toward Incheon Airport?

“I’m unhurt and perfectly fine, so don’t worry.”

“You’re not perfectly fine.”

Yerim hopped down from Blue’s back. Gyeol fluttered straight to me.

– Daaad!

“You’re getting ash on you.”

– That thing did it! Huh?

Golden eyes narrowed at golden eyes. Gyeol’s color seemed a shade deeper.

“No. This time, it’s not Seong Hyunjae’s fault… not entirely. He didn’t kidnap me or hold me.”

He only pretended to be honest and stoked misunderstandings. And those misunderstandings made everyone run around worried. …I did want to smack him once.

– Grrrk.

“Blue, you shouldn’t come in this far. You didn’t break anything, did you?”

At my words Blue fluttered her wings, and Yerim averted her gaze. So she did. Yeah, no way they politely opened the front doors. They probably smashed a panoramic window.

Before long, Myungwoo and Noah arrived with Chief Song. I hurried to explain the moment I met Myungwoo’s eyes.

“This time it’s really a misunderstanding! The Sesung Guildmaster got the wrong idea!”

“I only stated the facts.”

“Do you think you get to feel wronged? We were playing tag, I ran too well, and you told them I disappeared!”

“All right. It’s not like I’ll eat you.”

Myungwoo waved for calm.

“Why are your clothes wet?”

“I fell in water. It’s a long story— I’ll explain properly later.”

I’d have to show him the drawer and ask if he could help. It should be similar to the forge.

“Did you two come with Chief Song?”

“We went to pick him up. Traffic’s pretty bad around here.”

Mr. Noah answered. Yeah, it would’ve taken a while for Chief Song alone. He doesn’t have flight skills, no alternate movement like Yuhyun. Running on crowded streets is dangerous. And vaulting between buildings invites ‘you scratched our façade’ lawsuits. Other S–rank Hunters have separate legal teams and money to burn; Chief Song… needs to be careful.

“I was going to take the subway.”

Sensing my pitying look somehow, Chief Song defended himself.

“Even ordinarily, if I need to move through uncontrolled crowded areas, I take the subway.”

He might not have a helicopter like Seong Hyunjae, but he could ride a bike like Ms. Soyeong, right? Something big and weighty would suit him, but for some reason, a small, round scooter popped into my head first. A sleek black motorcycle would fit him, though.

“A helicop—”

“No.”

“Then a motorcy—”

“No.”

“For public safety, a faster transport is necessary, isn’t it?”

“In emergencies, we deploy helicopters.”

Right. Of course MOHA has helicopters. Just not for everyday use. Fuel’s expensive. Still think a bike would be perfect. A big black one.

“You don’t seem inclined to treat this as a simple false report.”

Chief Song looked between me and Seong Hyunjae.

“Right. Please file it as ‘smoothed over for now.’ Don’t disclose the details—make it sound suspicious.”

S–ranks popped up everywhere, it looked like a huge deal, then it gets quietly covered up. That’ll look extremely suspicious.

“You’re planning to deceive Hunter Chloe?”

I nodded at Yuhyun’s question.

“More precisely, her sister’s side. Hunter Chloe saw me suspecting Seong Hyunjae. The next day, you lot made a ruckus, so they’ll assume something happened.”

I didn’t know how strong the sister’s intel network was. But if they meddled in China, they wouldn’t be clueless about our situation now.

“Especially between the Sesung Guildmaster and me. They might even know I came to see him.”

There were no other guests, but plenty of hotel staff. They’d set up this table, flowers, and tea service. Plenty of chances for word of our movements to leak.

“It’s a sudden idea, so there’s no detailed plan—but there’s no harm in acting like our side’s having issues. It might at least make them relax.”

I turned to Seong Hyunjae.

“Will you cooperate?”

“If I refused here,” he said, lazily sweeping his gaze over us, “wouldn’t it become rather entertaining.”

“Don’t talk nonsense.”

“Which side would Chief Song Taewon take?”

Chief Song’s brow creased slightly.

“I’ll mediate. Please refrain from rash actions.”

“So in the end, I have no allies. How lonely.”

“We’re not trying to fight you, okay?”

At my words, he smiled with his eyes.

“Do you plan to let them go meekly, Lady Cinderella.”

Yeah, I’m covered in ash. I clenched my mouth shut instead of answering. He shouldn’t let us go meekly, in fact. As the mood tilted oddly, Yuhyun moved in close beside me. Yerim, shooing Blue out, came to my side as well.

Seong Hyunjae, smiling quietly, let out a soft breath.

“Mr. Han still has business with me.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

We had to finish translating the letter. Only by knowing the contents could we decide what to do.

“First, wash up, and instead of the ruined tea time, I’ll invite you to dinner. I can spare you until midnight.”

Was he telling me to take that time to convince him? Or simply offering to help me finish checking the letter.

“Understood. But I’d like to go right now.”

I brushed ash and petals off my sleeve.

“As if things aren’t over yet. Let’s say I couldn’t return to the Breeding Facility.”

No sooner had I said it than Gyeol started grumbling.

– Are you going alone again, Dad? No!