The S-Classes That I Raised

Chapter 482: Host of the Gathering (1)

Bbaeaeng.

Sorok pressed his head against a tree trunk and rubbed, letting out a disgruntled bleat. Every time he thumped his head — thunk, thunk — a small mark appeared on the bark. The tiny, round horn that had sprouted to about a finger’s length was still soft and pliant. It was wrapped in fine, downy skin, which must have been terribly itchy.

Once the horn grew more, that skin would peel off in ragged strips. Monsters might differ, of course, but it was probably similar.

“Careful, you’ll hurt yourself — don’t rub too hard.”

Most of the trees in the Breeding Facility’s exercise yard came from dungeons. Ordinary trees couldn’t withstand the kids’ antics for long, so we got Association permission and replaced them with dungeon wood. In case they propagated, we didn’t plant any of the same species.

They were high–grade dungeon trees, sturdy enough that Sorok butting them did nothing — but I worried his soft horn might get hurt. Even with potions, you can’t erase the memory of pain.

At my nagging, Moon Hyunah strode over and scooped Sorok up with one arm. He kicked and bleated in protest.

“Strong little guy, this one.”

Laughing, Ms. Hyunah scratched around the fawn’s head and the base of his horn. It must have hit the spot — Sorok settled right down.

“He’s shot up in just a short while. He didn’t look like he’d grow at all, and then bam.”

“He started growing after Songi went to Mr. Song.”

I said it while checking Vare’s wings. The baby Pegasus still didn’t handle those long wings well, so the feathers often got ruffled or dirty. Sometimes other monsters stepped on them and snapped the quills.

“Even if she went, doesn’t she still come to the Facility three days a week? She’s not fully grown yet.”

“We didn’t know at first. We couldn’t tell him, either. From Sorok’s point of view, his friend suddenly vanished.”

I’d thought he found the lamb annoying, but he’d gotten attached in no time. Baby monsters sometimes went out briefly for training, so on the first day Sorok was calm. But when a day passed and Songi didn’t return, he started pacing around the nursery door.

He bleated complaints at me and tugged on my clothes, trying to drag me outside. Normally he couldn’t be bothered to walk even to the training room; this time he trotted across the first floor of the Facility and out the front, circling the building and even going all the way out to the street. He stood there for a long while, staring at the Hunters coming and going, and then — who knows what he thought — he turned around and came back on his own.

“I think he wanted to go find Songi, but the Hunters felt too strong. There were a lot of them, too.”

He’d be used to the Facility Hunters, but not the ones at the building. After that, Sorok started growing visibly. Same even after Songi came back the next day.

“I guess growth needs a trigger — a motive. Sorok had no reason to grow in the first place.”

Full, safe, peaceful. Other baby monsters grew even in the same environment, but Sorok — maybe he never intended to grow at all. Maybe he’d figured out that getting big only meant more hassle.

“Change is like that.”

Ms. Hyunah nodded as she set Sorok down.

“If you lack for nothing, you tend to settle. That’s not a bad thing, of course — honestly, it’s enviable. I want to spend my old age peacefully, myself.”

“Not now?”

“You gotta move while your body still works — would be a waste otherwise. That’s just me. You, Hyung, could rest a good while.”

I… am pretty healthy too, you know — saying that pricked my conscience a bit. But I wasn’t built for taking it easy.

“I do understand that you need to be ready to lose things.”

We left the pen. I pulled out my phone to check the time. Almost lunchtime.

“And I know very well — sometimes it won’t work out no matter how hard you struggle.”

Even if you risk your life and charge ahead, not everything works. Obviously.

“Is Chloe’s comment still on your mind?”

“I figure I might look like I’m clinging too hard to ideals. Not that I intend to change my mind, though.”

“Then that’s that. If it’s truly precious, whether you brace yourself or not — it ends up the same.”

“…Right.”

Realistic or not, it’s something I can’t compromise on. What’s the point of fretting in advance about something I can never accept. We exchanged a light greeting with the Hunter guarding the Facility entrance and took the connecting path toward the building.

“They asked us to come taste the café menu. Want to try it too, Ms. Hyunah? Not sure it’ll be edible.”

“I’m pickier than I look.”

“Then I absolutely have to bring you.”

I joked with a smile, but inside I felt stuffy. Objectively speaking, more people would side with Chloe than with me. Sacrifice the few to save the world — that’s the default. How many would choose “screw sacrifice, let’s all die together”? Not if they aren’t the ones on the chopping block.

‘It would be nice if we could just end it with “they’re simply a bad person,” plain and simple.’

Of course, to me — to us — they were the perpetrator. So no, I wasn’t going to go, “Ah, you had an important goal, I see~,” and let it slide. That’s not how the world works anyway.

“I do think it’s admirable when people say they act for the many.”

I glanced up at the sky. Not as clear as five years later, but still much cleaner than the old days.

“But I don’t think I can broaden my view like that. I’m the type who’s satisfied just by taking good care of what’s right in front of me.”

“That’s normal.”

Ms. Hyunah suddenly stopped and looked down at me.

“You treat me like I’m something special, Hyung.”

“You are something special.”

“I’ve just lived clutching what pops up right before me. Keep living like that and it piles up, is all.”

Moon Hyunah smiled a touch sheepishly.

“When I awakened, it’s not like I suddenly grabbed some noble, crystal–clear goal and powered forward. I panicked first. At least I wasn’t alone, so I pulled myself together fast and moved — but I still made a bunch of mistakes.”

She shrugged, saying even now the guild structure was annoyingly tied up.

“The Young Master is the same. He became head of a major guild at that age, but his goal — small as it sounds — was only to protect you.”

“…He was watching only me — and ended up guarding the world.”

“Yeah. Goals matter, but how you act matters more. You protect your family — and end up saving the world, too. It’s hard to see far from the start anyway. There are stages. Seong Hyunjae feels like the type who moved to his own plan from birth, though.”

“That’s — well, actually no. There’s Sigma.”

At that, Ms. Hyunah burst out laughing.

“Right! That’s true. That kid definitely felt young. He said he ended up staying in Solemnise kind of by accident. Would’ve been nice if he’d come with us.”

She sounded regretful. It still didn’t feel like the two were the same person, but even Seong Hyunjae had an unpolished stage. Whatever he said, he was perfectly self–controlled, like he wore a mask — but Sigma had a nice spot you could poke. I kinda want to see him again.

We started walking again. As we entered the building’s rear entrance connected to the Facility, a few Hunters greeted us. Construction noise rattled from one side. A bank and a convenience store were slated to move in there.

“By the way, are you okay with this, Ms. Hyunah? You know her.”

“Hm? Oh, I’m totally fine. She’s not a kid like Yerim, and she’s S–class to boot. At that level, you handle your own business.”

“Still, if you were close, it could be awkward.”

“I’m closer to you, Hyung. And the one who was in real danger was Director Han, so I’m on your side.”

People clash when they don’t mesh — can’t be helped, she said.

“Hunters get rougher because we’re Hunters, but honestly everyone fights through life. Even twins can differ. You, Hyung — are you okay? You don’t look okay.”

“Is it that obvious?”

“A little. Actually, a lot.”

…I see. I rubbed my cheek with my palm for no reason.

“I’m all tangled up inside, but there’s only one answer. So I’m fine.”

The souvenir shop next to the café looked fairly packed today too. Facilities for civilians only allowed outside access from the building’s exterior. The café would be the same. Of course, the staff entrance connected inside the building. I went in with Ms. Hyunah.

“Wasn’t this café supposed to be Peace–themed?”

Moon Hyunah locked eyes with a gigantic hamster plush and spoke. And what were all those photos crammed on the wall? Gold Hamsters and regular hamsters all mixed together. The normal hamster photos even had names on them.

“Hey! Do Hamin! Is this a hamster café?”

Do Hamin, who was lining hamster miniatures in a display case, looked at me like I was spouting nonsense.

“Hamsters don’t like lots of strangers.”

“What?”

“I’m not putting the kids out on display.”

“Then why is the decor all hamsters!”

“Peace is over there.”

Hamin jutted his chin at the opposite wall. There were Peace plushies and decorations, photos, the works. Still — the hamster share was bigger!

“Feast your eyes — gold–plated Geumdong~ I’m making a life–size one in pure gold.”

“You’re insane. And I’m insane for going into business with you.”

“Want coffee? I learned hamster latte art. We’ve got hamster cookies too.”

“What about Peace!”

“Landlord, you learn that.”

That damned brat. Minui came out from the kitchen and bowed to me and Moon Hyunah.

“For now, I’m in charge of the kitchen!”

Not reassuring in the slightest. They said they’d hire proper full–timers, but was it really okay to leave things like this? Good thing I’m the building owner. As soon as we sat down, Hamin tried to shove his phone in my face to show off Geumdong — I kicked him out.

“Sorry, Ms. Hyunah. I doubt anything proper will come out… Should we order delivery?”

“You’re so rude! Just wait, Lord!”

“Promise you can look forward to it!” Hamin crowed with ridiculous confidence. Even the table had hamster knick–knacks. These are easy to steal… Items vanish from the display case now and then too.

“Hello, Mr. Yujin.”

The door opened and Noah appeared. He headed straight for the kitchen — so Hamin’s confidence was actually Noah’s presence. That guy works people to the bone.

“Hey! Can you even afford to pay Mr. Noah?”

“He’s not a part–timer — he’s a teacher! France is all about desserts, right?”

“I’m not that good.”

Noah was modest, but his cooking seemed solid. Apparently they’d asked Myungwoo first, but he turned them down — too busy. Of course he’s busy, the shameless guy. Meanwhile, Minui brought out drinks.

“…Barley tea?”

“Team Leader Seok told me to make Director Han drink mostly water. Also gotta mind the Guild Leader’s mood. What should I bring the Breaker Guild Leader?”

“Water’s best. I’ll take bottled — lots of ice.”

Still, in a café — barley tea? Ice water appeared in front of Ms. Hyunah too.

“I think I’ll work on my image a bit.”

I replied to a text from Yuhyun asking if I’d eaten. I’m at the café, hyung.

“I’ve leaned too hard on being F–class.”

“People mostly see you as harmless and pitiful. Parents lost early, great skill but low stats, kidnapped multiple times.”

“So overseas Hunters, and Chloe too, tend to underestimate me. Same thing happened in Japan.”

Which is only natural. Ms. Hyunah downed her water in one go.

“Same at home. With image management and info control, most people think S–classes just dote on you. They don’t know the reverse came first. That’s why there are plenty of Hunters who dislike you, too.”

“Saying I butt in without knowing my place. If I’m F–class, I should act F–class and hole up in the Facility raising monsters. I can picture it. Do Hamin, my brother’s on his way!”

“Yikes, the Guild Leader makes me nervous. He hardly eats out.”

Minui grimaced.

“He’s not picky, just selective. He handles his meals himself — and tosses anything made with even slightly subpar ingredients. Because of that, the Guild Leader’s procurement folks used to run their legs off.”

So that’s how it was. Come to think, anything delivered to the house was always fresh. But he eats what I bring just fine. “Don’t put up with things you hate”… If I tell him that, eating out will be rough. And eating out together was something Yuhyun liked.

If the Guild Leader comes, don’t call me — I’ll just watch from afar, said Minui.

“When you step out front confidently, people tend to see it two ways. The S–classes told you to, or you’re acting cocky because you’ve got S–classes backing you.”

“That’s the average view, yeah. As for the public image — not sure it’s worth changing. It’s enough if they believe I really am close with our kids.”

“Don’t worry there. Haeyeon’s worked that angle hard — the world’s most devoted brothers, plus Yerim and Peace, made you into a love–filled family. We even leaked ‘behind the scenes’ tidbits about the China kidnapping.”

No sleep, Haeyeon’s Guild Leader only smiled again once his older brother returned, and so on. Seok Gimyeong’s been hustling. Isn’t he the HR Team Leader? Lately he seems ready to swallow the PR team whole.

“What I want to change is the image among Hunters — especially high–rankers. If we were sticking to dungeon raids like before, fine. But the other side is drawing Hunters in. High–rankers have a strong tendency to ignore the weak.”

Not just high–rankers. Even non–awakened people do. The problem is, to a high–rank Hunter, an F–class isn’t just weak — they’re on the level of a hamster. If a child tells a burly adult, “It’s dangerous up ahead,” they’ll at least pay some attention. But if a hamster squeaks, “Danger!” they’ll shrug and think, “Maybe there’s a cat,” and ignore it.

“It won’t be easy. We know you firsthand, but others don’t. People don’t believe what they haven’t experienced.”

“So we gather them and show them.”

Especially the S–class Hunters who would have received Chatterbox’s invitations. We had to make it crystal clear we weren’t pushovers, or we wouldn’t be able to stop them from going. We couldn’t stop everyone — but we could reduce the headcount. Hold our own event as soon as possible… It felt daunting.

“Hyung, doesn’t the café only have sweets?”

Yuhyun stepped in, sounding worried. As if to answer his question about whether you could get a proper lunch here, non–dessert plates arrived.

“We’re not selling these, though.”

Dessert would come after we ate. With Noah’s help, the food turned out quite good.

There was still no word from Seong Hyunjae the following day. Instead, speculative articles came out that Chloe Alger might join Sesung. She was a capable overseas high–rank Hunter, so of course the reaction was positive. And I placed a call to Shishio.

“Hello, Mr. Shishio. Do you have a spare uninhabited island by any chance?”

Preferably with a building where we could host a gathering. A cruise ship is, like, humanly too expensive. And it’d be a shame if someone broke it.