The S-Classes That I Raised

Chapter 491: I Don’t Have Much to Offer (2)

“If landing is difficult, have them jump.”

Standing atop a wooden piling at the pier far from the mansion, Han Yuhyun spoke. Each time the sea breeze swept in, the loose waist-belt of his ceremonial garb and its feather ornament fluttered lightly. Over the comms, the helicopter pilot answered with a troubled tone.

[But they’re invited guests, and most are high-rank Hunters.]

“Landing right in front of the mansion is not permitted. If they won’t disembark, turn back toward the mainland. If they don’t want to go back, they’ll jump on their own.”

[If we do that, complaints are likely to rise.]

“That’s what I want.”

Calmly, Han Yuhyun watched the helicopters approaching the island. Just as his Hyung wished, inside the mansion he would only observe. But serving as a modest sieve at the pier should be fine. Those who got off at the dock at the pilot’s request and walked politely toward the mansion didn’t need a hand laid on them. He could even overlook disgruntled looks in their eyes.

However, if they opened their mouths and spewed threats while drawing weapons— Han Yuhyun switched channels on the communicator.

“Hyung, as long as I don’t kill them, it’s fine, right?”

[Huh? Why? Is someone picking a fight already?]

“No, not yet. I think there will be.”

[Well, that figures. Keep it moderate, moderate. And don’t you dare be the first to swing.]

“Got it. Don’t worry.”

Just then, someone jumped from a helicopter near the pier. Using a skill, the Hunter drifted down feather-light onto the sand and flicked a glance up at Han Yuhyun.

“Follow the path.”

The Hunter gave a small nod and started walking. Those who leapt down after him did the same. They weren’t late and even arrived earlier than scheduled. That alone suggested these high-rank Hunters were on the more easygoing side.

The Hunters in the second helicopter that came soon after also voiced no particular complaints.

“Guests will be arriving shortly.”

[Yeah? Not that it matters— I’m stuck in my room anyway. Just thinking about standing in front of everyone is already mortifying.]

At his Hyung’s grumbling voice, the corners of Han Yuhyun’s lips softened upward.

“It looks good on you.”

[Yerim told me not to trust you when it comes to that.]

“Why? I’m serious.”

[Honestly, you’d say anything looks good on me no matter what I wear.]

“No.”

[No? Really?]

“In weather like this, you should dress warm. And clothes that are too uncomfortable aren’t great either. And what I like best is…”

[What is it?]

“Pajamas.”

[So you’re telling me to just stay home. Yerim, don’t you agree with him. Gyeol, why are you nodding like that so seriously. Fine, the pajamas you bought are cute, but… Oh. Huh.]

After a brief pause, Han Yujin spoke again.

[Looks like the French Hunter’s arrived. I’ll send Mr. Noah. Tell that helicopter pilot to drop that guy at the pier.]

“I already am.”

[What? No wonder I couldn’t hear the chopper! Anyway, handle it there if you can.]

He was prepared for the island to take a beating, but it would be troublesome if the mansion collapsed this early.

[I should tell Mr. Shishio not to come today after all. He’ll try to jump in saying he’ll protect me.]

Screeeech–! A bike tore down the road and came to a long, skidding stop with a tire-squeal. Noah dismounted and looked up once at Han Yuhyun. Then he silently leaned against the bike. Han Yuhyun spared him a brief glance as well, then turned his eyes back to the sky.

[Huh? I think I hear Ms. Soyeong. Must be the Sesung Guildmaster. Chief Song, what’s Seong Hyunjae do— wait, he turned his mic off.]

Han Yujin muttered, hoping that man wasn’t making trouble again.

[Chief Song has it rough too. I’d like to send him on a separate vacation— it’s fine if things turn into a mess after day one, you know.]

“He’s not the type to walk away from a mess.”

[True. He’d worry the whole time and never rest properly anyway. Especially if he left Seong Hyunjae behind— he might call every hour to check in.]

While Han Yujin sounded very sympathetic, Han Yuhyun thought to himself, and that’s why it’s convenient. His Hyung could just dump Seong Hyunjae on Song Taewon, too. It was practically common sense in the Korean Hunter world: if you sent the Achates Defense Bureau’s Chief to the Sesung Guildmaster, things generally quieted down. Others didn’t need to fuss; Song Taewon would somehow handle it neatly. Thanks to that, Seong Hyunjae’s infamy was higher abroad than at home.

Anyway, it let Han Yuhyun pass off annoying tasks as well, so he tended to step back a little for Song Taewon’s sake. The problem was that lately people were saying, “The Breeding Facility Director works too.” This incident had trimmed that talk a bit, but still.

“Hyung, can’t you just keep pretending to be at odds with the Sesung Guild for now?”

[Huh? Is there any real need to go that far?]

“It’s more convenient.”

[It is easier on Seong Hyunjae, too. Externally I’ll still remain the weak and harmless Breeding Facility Director anyway. Once this is over, I’ll say our relationship is smooth again.]

Han Yuhyun’s lips tightened slightly. He didn’t like it. Why did so many strange things stick to his Hyung? He was the most alien of them all, so it wasn’t incomprehensible— but he still hated it.

Thud!

The beach sand geysered high. A new guest had arrived. This time, however, it was just one person— likely someone who had refused to ride with others. Sure enough, the Hunter immediately glared up at Han Yuhyun, eyes blazing in fury.

“You, is it.”

“I’d like us to keep it to ‘not close, just fine.’ If you need a friendly large guild besides Haeyeon, Breaker is much better.”

“Did you stop the helicopter here, you brat?”

“My Hyung likes the Breaker Guildmaster too.”

Completely ignored, the Hunter faltered for a moment, then looked to Noah. Noah, busy answering a flurry of texts—We just arrived, I’m on the way to the island, where are you, should I go with Sister Liette?—met his eyes briefly as if to say what are you looking at, then dropped his gaze back to his phone.

“No, why would I like the Breaker Guildmaster? I think he’s a decent person, sure. The only one I like is my Hyung. Mm-hmm, really. Yerim says she’s got indigestion? Leave her, she’s being dramatic.”

The Hunter’s expression twisted more savagely by the second. Since awakening to S-rank, he’d never been ignored like this— not once. Rather, it was the opposite. Everywhere he went he was fawned over, with countless people bending over backward first. Even if the other party was also S-rank, this cold a reception was a first.

“Hey!”

When the Hunter barked, Han Yuhyun pointed at the path with a finger— a simple gesture that said, get moving— then continued his gentle comms voice.

“Did you hear? No, it’s nothing special. Just… you know?”

At Han Yuhyun’s fingertip, a pitch-black greatsword appeared. At the same instant, the Hunter closed the distance in a blink, crouched low, and whipped a kick at him— aiming for the piling he stood on. A brutal heel was about to smash the post when Han Yuhyun spun the sheathed blade in his hand. Tap— with a light sound, the scabbard shot downward.

Crack.

The scabbard slammed into the ground in front of the piling, and—

Clang!

—met the Hunter’s foot. The scabbard that wrapped the Sword of the Ruler, an SS-rank weapon with room to grow, was no ordinary item. As the house that held the sword’s power, it boasted high durability and the ability to absorb force. The scabbard gouged the earth and slid back a little, but the wooden post didn’t take so much as a nick.

Having failed to smash the footing beneath Han Yuhyun, the Hunter snarled and leaped upward.

“Mm, don’t worry.”

Han Yuhyun’s body tilted back at an angle. He slipped past the incoming punch with ease, planted a step on the smooth, footing-less side of the post like a trick move, shifted position, and once more stood atop— now behind the charging Hunter’s back. It was acrobatics with no skill used.

The Hunter, landing on the adjacent piling, tried to whirl around, but Han Yuhyun’s hand was faster. The Sword of the Ruler bent in a long arc and deftly skewered the Hunter’s collar. If it had been ordinary fabric, it would have torn, but unfortunately for him, high-grade gear endured the lifting force.

And splash! The flung Hunter hit the water. Bending like a fishing rod, the Sword of the Ruler bowed back the other way and flicked the scabbard resting below the post. The scabbard sprang high and slid precisely around the blade as it straightened into its longsword form.

“Pwah!”

The drenched Hunter surfaced, gasping. Stepping across the pilings to stand before him, Han Yuhyun muted his mic for a moment.

“Before a second dip, I’ll sever your limbs.”

Since his Hyung had put the brakes on, he had no intention of killing. An S-rank Hunter wouldn’t die from losing arms and legs. If he fell into the sea in that state, and lacked a water-movement skill, he would drown— but in any case, it wouldn’t be a kill directly by Han Yuhyun.

The Hunter scowled deeply but held his tongue. He’d heard the rumors that the Haeyeon Guildmaster was strong for his age. But this was beyond expectation. From that brief clash he realized he couldn’t match him. Instead of answering, he climbed out of the water, turned meekly toward the path, and left. Meanwhile, newly arrived onlookers chattered merrily, some lamenting it had ended too quickly to enjoy.

“It’s wrapped up. Yeah, I didn’t let a hair on him get hurt.”

[Good job! But your safety comes first— if it feels dangerous, don’t hold back.]

A few more similar incidents followed. Sometimes an S-rank Hunter charged together with A-rank subordinates, but the other S-ranks stayed spectators.

“Guh!”

A Hunter, brutally kicked, carved a long furrow across the beach and slammed into a tide rock. Thoom— a deep crack split the boulder.

“Full of piss and vinegar, that one.”

“Was he twenty-two or twenty-three? Peak hot-blooded age.”

A middle-aged A-rank around forty and a thirty-something S-rank chuckled as they headed for the path. Even if high-rank Hunters tended to have strong privilege and pride, there were differences by person. Especially between those who had lived full, ordinary social lives before awakening and those who experienced a changed world from their teens— they were bound to differ greatly. Of course, there were childish older folks and precocious young ones, too.

“You’re working hard, Guildmaster Haeyeon.”

One Hunter waved in passing at the pier. Han Yuhyun dipped his head lightly in answer. Some Hunters spoke to Noah as well— particularly curious and incredulous that he had left France for Korea, and at that, a Breeding Facility, and asked why.

“Because it suits me well.”

Noah answered politely but briefly and kept his words spare. Another helicopter arrived. Again, perhaps refusing to ride with others, a single Hunter descended onto the sand. The moment Noah saw him, he rose from his half-perch on the bike. Han Yuhyun spoke briefly as well.

“He’s here.”

[Yeah? If he passes quietly, just let him go.]

Saying okay, Han Yuhyun muted his mic. The French Hunter, Eric, flicked a glance at Han Yuhyun, then strode in long steps straight to Noah.

“Hunter Noah Luhir.”

Eric spoke with an openly offended expression.

“Why did you ignore every message to come back? I can’t understand you going to some tiny East Asian country, but crawling under an F-rank who isn’t even your guild? Are you in your right mind?”

“That is not the Turschen Guildmaster’s business.”

“Not my business? You’re bringing shame to the French Hunter world!”

At his words, it was Han Yuhyun, not Noah, whose brows drew slightly together. He didn’t like the way Eric denigrated Han Yujin’s affiliation. Noah, on the other hand, was composed.

“That is not something I need to concern myself with.”

“What?”

“I am Noah Luhir, a Hunter of the Dodam Breeding Facility.”

“An S-rank Hunter at a place that isn’t even a guild?”

“It’s a place remarkable enough that I want to stay.”

Blinking as if to say, what’s the problem, Noah looked at Eric. Eric exhaled a great breath, incredulous.

“If you don’t want a guildmaster seat, France has them, and if not, Britain or America are full of major guilds! You’d be welcomed anywhere— so why!”

“Because that’s what I want.”

Noah looked at Eric with a hint of pity.

“As you said, I’d be welcomed anywhere. And I can create my own guild whenever I wish. I’m that outstanding— so why insist my ‘face’ is tarnished? A dime-a-dozen guildmaster of a big guild, a dime-a-dozen S-rank Hunter.”

Even Liette had accepted Noah— not Noah the French guildmaster, but Noah of the Breeding Facility. To Noah, such titles meant little. His standard was Liette, and Liette was a Free Hunter. No guild backing, no affiliation, practically looked down upon. Yet there wasn’t a person alive who could treat her lightly.

Her existence itself was status and standing.

At Noah’s words, Eric’s face filled with rage.

“You…! You support-type Hunter!”

“And Guildmaster Turschen— judging by the terms you proposed, your guild’s finances seem unsound.”

In truth, the terms weren’t that bad. But they were far from enough to take him.

“I didn’t answer because if word got out, it might make the French Hunter world look cheap. I still hold French citizenship, after all.”

Know your place, please. At the quiet line, Eric lost the last of his patience and drew his weapon. Noah slipped aside lightly, and a massive battle-axe slammed down onto the bike. KWAANG! With a concussive boom, the bike exploded apart and smoke billowed thick.

In the same instant, Noah retreated smoothly, face blank, and slid on a pair of half-gauntlets made of fine, linked chains— partial sign-language gear gifted by Yu Myungwoo.

“As you said, you’re still under France. Come quietly.”

Eric burned with intent— if not willingly, he’d drag Noah by force. Watching like a spectator across the river, Han Yuhyun heard his Hyung’s voice.

[Yuhyun.]

“Yeah, Hyung.”

[Hwang Rim’s here. That Chinese Hunter.]

Han Yuhyun’s eyes narrowed as he stared past the sea.