The S-Classes That I Raised

Chapter 476: Owner of the Letter (3)

We cleared out the remaining hotel staff, and Hunters from Haeyeon and the Awakened Management Office guarded the entrances. Chief Song informed the Sesung Guild on the Guildmaster’s behalf that he wouldn’t be returning tonight. Anyone could tell something had happened, but Sesung just replied, understood. Maybe because it’s not the first time. Or maybe because their Guildmaster is someone you never have to worry about wherever you drop him.

If it were me, I’d think, there he goes causing trouble again—poor Chief Song.

“The bath facilities are nice, but it’s too bare.”

No benches, no eggs or sikhye. Truly nothing happened, but everyone still opposed me moving around alone. It’s not like Chloe would just stroll right in here. It’s not a quick bathroom break, and since showering alone takes time, isn’t it dangerous—at that, I was speechless, but with my history of vanishing under the pretense of bathing, I had to keep my mouth shut.

So I ended up going to the hotel sauna with my brother. I felt it in the China dungeon too—if chaos erupts and you have to hide, a luxury hotel is perfect. It’s got most facilities and amenities, plus a variety of restaurants. Compared to a big mart or department store, there are more places to tuck away.

“We do have to break the skill on you,” Yuhyun said worriedly as we left the sauna. “But I still don’t like you taking point. I don’t trust the Sesung Guildmaster either.”

“I’m bothered he’s in talks with them, sure, but he’s not someone who gets swayed by others. If anything, he’d throw a wrench in it. Whatever proposal Park Hayul’s side makes, he won’t just hand me over.”

Even if his life were on the line. If he were the kind to bend over something like that, he’d have yielded to Crescent Moon ages ago. He wouldn’t have endured the mountain of his past either.

I trusted that much about Seong Hyunjae. The fact that he’s tried for a very long time to plant his feet and live in his own world is an undeniable truth. He’s not a Transcendent yet; he’s still human.

“…He might throw me into a mess on purpose. But only if he’s sure I’d be safe.”

Even when he’s capricious, he’s not the type to act without countermeasures. He does it because he can shoulder it all and then some. Enviable and irritating.

“Park Hayul’s skill is useful, but still not worth tossing an S–rank Hunter. If we just catch Hunter Chloe, there’s plenty of room to negotiate. The problem is we lack justification.”

At best, the charge is rank fraud. And she’s a foreign Hunter. It’d be hard to give anything beyond a fine, deportation, and entry ban. Arrest her normally, and we’d have to send her home normally.

“So we’ll have to nab her as quietly as possible. Or maneuver her into committing something detainable.”

If you unjustly detain a foreign, American high–rank Hunter, of course you’ll get protests. The BurnCave Guild would push back too—she’s a domestic free Hunter they hired to accompany them.

“Which is why we absolutely need the Sesung Guildmaster’s cooperation.”

We entered the café where everyone had gathered. They were lined up along a long table. Seong Hyunjae also sat with a coffee cup in front of him. Gyeol, sipping something on the table before Yerim, flew straight to me. I patted Gyeol’s head and sat in the chair my brother pulled out. How thoughtful.

“As I said, the Guildmaster can’t disclose the letter’s contents. So I’ll check and then pass the details to you.”

He had to keep silent, but me relaying what I read wasn’t a breach. The letter ought to include their aims. Once we knew that, luring Chloe would be easier.

“Chief Song, are you okay with this? Strictly speaking, it’s a bit illegal.”

“I have a duty to protect Korea’s Hunters,” Song Taewon said evenly. “Mr. Han Yujin has already been harmed, and a skill is still applied to him. Cooperation from the Awakened Management Office is only natural. In principle, we should arrest openly and lodge a protest—”

“That would blow up way too big.”

Absolutely not.

“More importantly, if it gets out that Park Hayul can control me, we honestly can’t trust the U.S. government.”

They might be delighted to protect Park Hayul and coax me into “I’ll switch my nationality to the U.S.~” If I turn off Fear Resistance I can break free of the skill, but still—we should be careful.

“Mister, use my phone,” Yerim said, handing hers over. “It’s easier if you have a dedicated dictionary app.”

“Thanks.”

“I’ll tell Team Leader Seok to have translators on standby. If they don’t know the situation and only handle tiny, contextless snippets, that should be fine, right?”

“Mm, if there’s a bit we really can’t get, we’ll ask. Sounds okay.”

Then Chief Song rose and took handcuffs from his Inventory. Huh? He couldn’t be planning to arrest him already.

“For safety. If the cuffs are damaged, or if mana movement above a threshold is detected, they’ll ping us.”

“I made them,” Myungwoo said.

What?

“You refused my gifts so much!”

“It was support to the Awakened Management Office, not to an individual.”

“Then I’ll donate a bike to MOHA.”

“It will be deployed where needed.”

Which sounded like: he wouldn’t ride it. Donating itself wasn’t hard. It just wouldn’t land in Chief Song’s hands. As he approached, Seong Hyunjae obediently held out his hands.

“Been a while.”

“It hasn’t been that long.”

His tone was flat, but you could hear the subtext: cause a little less trouble. When was the last time he wore cuffs. Definitely when he broke the plane, and probably when he staged that fake fight with Chief Song before going to China.

“While we’re at it, slap on shackles and a gag. He won’t be helpful anyway.”

He’s just going to watch me wrestle with the letter. Blindfold would be nice, too.

“Your tastes are rougher than I thought, Mr. Han.”

“Look who’s talking. You love lashing people up with chains. Shackles are nothing.”

“…Would real shackles be okay?” my brother whispered. Hey. Obviously a joke.

“Of course not. Do you still want to lock me up.”

“Yeah. If you don’t hate it.”

As if it were obvious, Yuhyun said. Even Myungwoo agreed it would put his mind at ease. Yerim and Mr. Noah also had faces that said they wouldn’t stop us from locking him up right now. At least Chief Song would block it as illegal… right? …Would he really?

“You can’t lock people up.”

– Not even in a big house for Dad?

“No, not allowed. Gyeol, let’s wait here.”

– I’m upset. Keep this up and I’ll go crooked.

The fairy dragon sulked hard and burrowed into Yerim’s arms. I felt bad—and chuckled.

“How are you going to go crooked.”

– Like Dad. Eat lots of snacks, skip meals, don’t exercise, follow strangers, disappear suddenly.

“…I eat meals on time. And I’m an adult about strangers. Disappearing suddenly—that’s my fault.”

I have been exercising lately. So this is why they say you can’t even drink cold water in front of kids.

“Follow me.”

I crooked my finger at Seong Hyunjae and walked ahead. This time I’d nail what the letter said. …We could finish before midnight, right?

“Last! Done!”

I dropped my pen and threw my hands up. Seong Hyunjae, reclined on the bed, clapped. The cuffs jingled along.

“Congratulations.”

“Forget that—don’t wear shoes on the bed. Your nationality is Korean.”

“The cuffs make it troublesome to take my shoes off.”

Sure. Anyway, it was good to finish the translation, but—

“…It just looks like a greeting letter.”

Yeah. I’d busted my ass, and the contents were ordinary. I’ve long heard of your reputation, congratulations on returning safely from China, Korea these days blah blah, Hunter Kang Soyeong and the dragon this and that. Mostly small talk.

“Is it vertical text, or a cipher… something like that?”

I turned it around. I held it to the light—nothing appeared. Candle? Lemon juice?

“There’s no way this is all.”

Come on. There had to be more. It didn’t even mention me. What is this. I glared and he wiggled the toe of his crossed foot. Come closer? First the hand, now the foot?

“Not the translation—look at the letter.”

“I am looking.”

“Read it. And understand.”

What are you on about— I snapped my gaze down. It’s a letter that goes in Inventory. It could be dungeon byproduct paper, but it could also be a special item. Using the translation as a guide, I read the English.

“Here‘s a gift for you.”

The last line I’d thought was odd. A gift—what gift. I was about to ask if he’d received anything, when Seong Hyunjae caught my wrist.

“Wha—”

And the scenery changed. I stepped forward without thinking—thunk, right into a bed.

“Urgh! An illusion?”

“Fully relocating you isn’t easy.”

He looked like he was floating in the air. Then he naturally stepped down from a transparent bed. In the empty space, fireflies drifted. One came toward us.

[Hello, Mister.]

“…This will out me for reading the letter.”

“It isn’t linked. Nor target–specified. It’s a system that appears when you read to the end.”

He said it only had a few preset patterns.

[Shall I say, nice to meet you.]

From the voice, it was hard to guess the gender. Cheerful and young—but likely manufactured that way. When I didn’t respond, the firefly just bobbed.

“Uh, hello.”

[…]

“It’s my letter,” he said.

Right. It seemed to register a degree of response and react. Then—

“What a trivial prank. Above all, you’re underprepared. The background should be flowers, and the fireflies hot pink.”

Seong Hyunjae stared straight at me. What? I’m right. I cleared my throat and kept up the imitation.

“Get to the point. Or shall I offer you tea. For reference, the one who likes pink is Seong Hyunjae, not Han Yujin.”

“How dishonest.”

“I said I don’t like pink.”

[We hope the letter reached you safely,] the firefly said. [First, Mister—how much do you know about the world outside.]

…As expected, Park Hayul’s sister also knew about the Transcendents. Maybe tied to Chatterbox.

“I know enough.”

[We suspect you’ve had the deepest contact of anyone in our world.]

Pre–regression, that’s true. Now I’m the one who contacts them more, more often.

[You also know outside interference has intensified lately.]

“Of course. Do you know about Chatterbox?”

[A prophet visited recently.]

Evasive—so it really isn’t live. The firefly continued its line.

[They spoke of a scheduled apocalypse and salvation.]

Classic cult. For now, the prophet and Park Hayul’s sister weren’t the same person.

“Were you tempted?”

I lowered my voice as far as I could. If they’d joined hands, it’d be a pain. Best if they fight each other.

[Don’t you think it’s trivial.]

The firefly answered calmly.

[You must have felt it, too.]

“Felt what.”

[Even before Awakening—that we are different.]

Wait. No way.

‘Are you a natural S–rank?’

Park Hayul’s sister?

“Different, yes. That’s true.”

I kept my tone steady, but my heart pounded. One of the remaining two. It was only my guess, but if she’s speaking this far, and secretly built power, the odds were high.

[That is merely a fact, however. But we can give you a bit of amusement.]

I glanced at Seong Hyunjae. Of all proposals, “something fun” is the bait most likely to hook him. Sensing my thought, his golden eyes curved.

“I haven’t even finished nosing through what’s right in front of me.”

“What an honor,” he said.

I looked back to the firefly. Its glow slowly swelled and shifted into a human shape.