The S-Classes That I Raised

Chapter 483: Host of the Gathering (2)

“I wish my tutor would come back for times like this.”

Yerim grumbled that rescheduling would be easier then — school demanded exact attendance.

“But summer break is almost here.”

“It’s still over a month away. College students have it good — they can just skip classes left and right.”

“Technically, they can’t. Yuhyun’s an exception. If you keep skipping school or work, you’ll get fired.”

He’s a Guild Leader — basically the boss — so he can’t be fired. I’d still prefer if he went to school diligently. I glanced at my brother beside me; he smiled like, “What?”

“Have you even tried going to school?”

“I went once.”

Meaning he never attended a single class. Yerim shot daggers at Yuhyun with envious eyes. Once I soothed Yerim, Gyeol started grumbling next.

– Dad always says I have to stay home!

“That’s because you never know. I’ll be back soon, be good. Chirp can’t come because it’s dangerous, either.”

Gyeol squinted, then blurted:

– I think Chirp keeps sneaking out.

“Hm? Chirp?”

– Yeah. Looks like he’s using teleportation. Sometimes he takes Belare along.

…So that’s why he hasn’t caused trouble lately — don’t tell me. I went back to the living room and picked up Chirp, who was sitting all quiet.

– Chirp!

“Chirp, did you go outside without Dad knowing?”

– Chirp!

“You didn’t, right? Hm?”

– Chirp chirp!

I had no idea what he was saying. He flapped his downy wings and chirped at length… As I kept holding him, Belare hissed a complaint. Maybe Belare, like Sorok, wasn’t growing because she liked her current life too much.

Either way, I couldn’t really stop a teleporting Chirp.

“No sneaking out. It’s dangerous. Got it?”

– Chirp!

If he was slipping out and roaming around, all I could do was pray he returned safely. At least teleportation meant even others — not just me — couldn’t easily restrain him.

“If you do go, don’t take Belare. It’ll be easier to run away if it’s just you, Chirp.”

He wouldn’t understand, but I said it anyway.

“Gyeol, keep a good eye on Chirp for me.”

– Okay, Dad.

“Peace, you too.”

– Kiang

– Kiiang!

The Horned Fox sitting next to Peace yipped in imitation. Even the tiger kid wanted to mimic Peace’s cry. I told Chirp again to stay put and let him go. Assigning a watcher wouldn’t help much in practice… what a headache. Maybe I should ask Myungwoo for a protective item tailored for Chirp.

On my way out, I drove Yerim to school.

“I’ll be back!”

“Yeah — study hard.”

Eyes gathered from the students heading in, so I hastily raised the window. Yerim’s classmates must be around — I heard them peppering her with questions.

“Oh, it’s the Haeyeon Guild Leader! My Mister still doesn’t even have a license.”

“Seriously? I wanted to see him in person!”

“Nothing to see — it’s just Han Yuhyun.”

“Hey, Park Yerim, you used to—”

“No, I did not!”

Yerim screamed like her soul was on fire. Her shrieks faded as the car eased forward. I headed to a nearby low–rank dungeon when a message came in from Mr. Song.

[Mr. Han Yujin, the CSAT isn’t far off.]

He obviously didn’t mean I should take the test — he meant, please don’t cause trouble until then. He clearly believed Seong Hyunjae and I would stir up something.

[Don’t worry. Nothing will happen before the CSAT ^^]

When is the exam this year again? I glanced at my brother at the wheel.

“You’ll be deployed on CSAT day, right?”

“Yeah. If a dungeon breaks, we have to clear it ASAP. Regions are assigned by drawing lots. Last year there were only seven S–class Hunters, so each took a metropolitan city — excluding Incheon — and one went to Jeju. Chief Song stayed in Seoul.”

Seoul had the most test–takers, but also the most high–rank Hunters. So on CSAT day the S–classes were scattered nationwide. The chance of breaks was lower now, but still — just in case.

“This year there are nine S–class Hunters if you don’t count Minui. Does Liet get included? There are more of us, and Yerim hasn’t been around long, so the three of us could go together. Try to draw Jeju or Busan. Gwangju would be nice too.”

It’s only for a day, and you’re on standby during the test, but we could turn it into a light family trip.

We arrived at the dungeon, knocked, and stepped inside. Not a winter forest this time — a reed field split by a broad river.

[Hello, Honey! Honey’s brother!]

The volleyball bounced over, and Young Chaos, perched on a huge exposed root, turned from his fishing. We bowed politely; he dipped his head in return.

[Honey’s brother, I see you often!]

Ever since they started lessons with the Elder, Yuhyun and Yerim came whenever they could. The “classroom dungeon” couldn’t stay open forever, so it was only every few days — but if possible, they would’ve come daily.

“This is from Chatterbox, right?”

I showed the invitation we got off Chloe to the newbie. Tendrils slid out of the volleyball — a sparkling rosy pink.

“…What’s with that look.”

[Honey seems to really hate tentacles.]

Pretty, right? the newbie waggled a tendril and pollen–like motes scattered. The color flashed darker and lighter, flamboyantly. If anything, I liked them even less.

[It is Chatterbox’s power.]

Examining the invitation — the gem — the newbie spoke.

[Once you register to the invitation, the owner of that invitation can transfer you to a specific location. In exchange, your safety is guaranteed, and there’s a clause that they’ll return you to your original place if you wish.]

“Is that trustworthy?”

[Physically — no loss of life, and no permanent damage that would hinder daily living. Mentally — selfhood must be maintained. So — for now, yes! If you don’t cross that line, damage is possible, but—]

So even if your limbs get chopped, it’s fine as long as they put you back. But if you can’t handle it, you can say you want to go back and that’s that. They weren’t about to gather S–classes just to sip tea peacefully, so the terms weren’t suspicious.

“Then if our Hunters register here?”

The eye drawn on the volleyball rolled all the way around.

[There’s no limit, buuut — Honey, this is Chatterbox!]

“I know; that’s why I came to verify. If it’s too risky, I’m not going either. I’ll just meddle from the outside.”

Pack a bunch of S–class Hunters into a room — I’d have to persuade or threaten: “You won’t get much by going.” Best if we could block them from attending and also crash the event ourselves. The newbie spun and sprang.

[Should we just ask outright?]

“Huh?”

[They’ll know the instant Honey’s side registers anyway. If we tell Chatterbox in advance, they’ll have no pretext later. Safer, right!]

“True. Do that. And the other thing I asked you?”

[I’ve been leaking it bit by bit! I’ll be right back — wait juuust a moment~]

The volleyball returned my invitation and popped out of sight. It was their party to recruit people, but I doubted Chatterbox would refuse our attendance. Even if they couldn’t lay a hand on us, they could collect intel.

Same for us — it’d be a matter of who gave away less and skimmed more.

Splish.

Water sounded then. Young Chaos lifted the fishing rod. I looked to see if he’d hooked something — nothing at the end of the line. Not even a hook. Despite no sinker, the line stayed taut. With the Elder, he could probably catch a fish with a limp, ordinary line — the moment I thought that, the rod bucked hard.

Splaash — water exploded upward.

“Uh!”

Yuhyun scooped me up and sprang back. Barely a heartbeat later — papapap! The spot where we’d been standing was churned like under a hail of bullets. Before I could even stare at the dirt and leaves spraying high, my brother spun.

Tung! The Ruler’s Sword flashed into his hand and smacked aside the rod whipping in like an arrow.

“Don’t use Grace.”

“Pardon?”

Young Chaos, who’d closed the distance to us in an instant, grabbed the deflected rod and said it. Don’t use Grace — I immediately cast the Teacher’s skill on Yuhyun.

“Then — danger!”

Still holding me one–armed, Yuhyun blocked the lash of the rod with his blade like a snapped whip. At the same time, my body jolted wildly. With the chain of attacks and his rapid blocks and dodges, I could barely form words.

“Look at the firstborn — can’t even get a word out. He’s rattling all over.”

“Well then, you’re holding — me — though!”

“I’m using one arm. Just don’t move half your body.”

Easy to say! I doubted it was possible, but Yuhyun strained to keep any shock from reaching me. He also had to avoid gripping me too tightly.

“As expected, the firstborn works best.”

Dragging the rod tip along the ground, Young Chaos grinned. I appreciated the lesson — his methods were still brutal.

Because the condition was “fight so the F–class you’re holding is affected as little as possible,” Yuhyun began to visibly tire not long after. Protecting me would’ve been far easier — to keep me from even jostling? Way too hard.

“It’s inefficient — that’s why.”

Young Chaos skipped lightly back. I slid down from Yuhyun and hurried to get him some water.

“Drink. You okay?”

“Yeah. Thanks, hyung.”

“How inefficient, exactly?”

“By my standards — very.”

…My face scrunched up on its own. That benchmark is unfair.

“What about the average S–class standard?”

“Keeping up like this at all is impossible.”

So not bad — insanely good. I took out a handkerchief and dabbed at the faint sweat on my brother’s brow. It wasn’t easy for an S–class to tire this fast. Maybe fine control was harder than just pouring out mana.

“You okay, hyung? I might have squeezed too hard without thinking.”

“I’m fine.”

“You’ll bruise a little. I get you worry about the firstborn, but I told you — you still have to push him within reason. Shield him too much and he’ll get weak.”

He said while kneading my shoulders himself. Was the “learned masseur” the Elder? At Young Chaos’s remark, Yuhyun averted his eyes.

“When nothing’s going on… I don’t really…”

“Knew it.”

Young Chaos strode toward us. I reflexively tried to escape, but Yuhyun caught me.

“Sorry, hyung.”

You don’t need to be— aaagh! Wait a second!

[Honey!]

The newbie popped out cheerfully, then circled when he saw me melting bonelessly. He conjured a comfy armchair. Much obliged.

“Sit straight, firstborn.”

In a world with healers… But since I can’t use potions or healing skills properly, I straightened my sagging body. Why are bad postures more comfortable for the human frame? It’s designed weird. If it’s comfy, shouldn’t it be good for you?

“How’d it go?”

[So, they agreed way too easily! I know they were grinding their teeth at Honey, but…]

The newbie sounded uneasy.

“It’s not a loss for Chatterbox either. The final reward’s only paid if you sign with that guy, remember?”

Without such a limit, you could grab the prize and bolt.

[Still feels like they’re plotting something.]

“The safer it is, the more reason to jump in. If you just watch from outside, nothing changes.”

If you show up after the party ends, it’s already too late.

[I verified safety conditions for Honey and all participants. No limits on sending folks back, either.]

“Anything else? More Transcendents showing interest?”

[They’re curious, but only those authorized can meddle. Chatterbox will meddle in Chatterbox’s party — but I won’t be able to!]

“Meddle — like in the China and Japan dungeons?”

[Yes. Even contacting me will be hard.]

So the venue might be a dungeon crafted by Chatterbox. With the life guarantee, it’d be similar to the Japan dungeon.

“It says partners are in pairs — two to a ticket. Does that mean people act in teams?”

[How would I know.]

If it’s one–on–one, I shouldn’t go. I can’t handle an S–class alone. But if it’s team–based, I can pull my weight. Given each invitation covers two, it smells like teams; if we can snag several, I’ll go too — otherwise, better to send mostly S–classes.

‘Yuhyun would sync best with Mr. Noah; Ms. Hyunah… Ms. Evelyn probably won’t work.’

Ms. Evelyn’s skills pair perfectly with mine — she can pin enemies at range. Yerim would be great too, but I think it’d be better to send her with Seong Hyunjae. Yunyun hates fighting, so no. Mr. Song will refuse right off. Liet’s A–class, but she’d match So–yeong best.

“Did they at least tell you when it starts?”

[Weeell…]

The newbie bounced, broadcasting how little he wanted to say.

[If Honey consents, Chatterbox will contact you directly.]

“Me? Like how the King of Harmless approached me before?”

[Yes. It’ll only allow simple communication, with no influence either way. If Honey calls when he’s alone, it’ll appear.]

At that, Yuhyun frowned.

“Is it truly safe?”

[Absolutely. Not even contracts are possible. Still, I don’t think there’s any benefit to meeting…]

“Got it. I’d like to try talking, at least.”

It’ll be hard to talk him down from revenge, but I should try.

Shishio got back to me the next day and cheerfully offered to lend me an island. As it happened, a Guild Leader I’d trampled in the past had an uninhabited–island villa. It was fairly large and far from the mainland, sometimes used for guild training. The facilities were there, but no one lived on it — so “uninhabited” was accurate. Mr. Shishio truly is the exemplar of Filial Duty Addicts… I’m telling you.

Rumors about a Monster Mounts gathering spread fast too — the returned Burn Cave Guild members helped a lot. Inquiries were already coming in to the Facility and Haeyeon.

“I’d originally planned to ask the Sesung Guild Leader for help, but I’m going to host it on my own power as much as possible.”

When I asked if the Breeding Facility budget could handle it, Brother Kyunghoon looked a bit troubled.

“The venue was the biggest issue — but you’ve solved that.”

“Yeah. Cruise ships are insanely pricey.”

It’d be fine if we survived unscathed, but too wasteful for a one–off.

“Records of costs for S–class gatherings are extremely rare. Even the Hunter Association only managed to convene all domestic Guild Leaders once.”

So we might have to ask Sesung for data after all. With a sigh, I pulled out my phone.