The S-Classes That I Raised

Chapter 498: So Hand It Over, Then (5)

Since the presumed opponent was an SS–rank monster, the Hunters who’d won challenge slots started seeking cooperation from other S–ranks. Most of them had probably never cleared a dungeon together with another S–rank even once. No harm in trying to mesh hands now, right— good practice for the future.

“You want me to support? I’ve never waited on anyone in my life!”

“I’ll only use part of my kit. I’m not about to reveal everything with this many eyes on us.”

“Two S–rank pieces of gear. At least that much. Don’t like it, forget it.”

And most talks were grinding and awkward. Yeah— that’s normal. How many teams will actually pull off smooth cooperation? One? Two?

“Let’s go eat dinner.”

Unconcerned whether the S–ranks wrestled with each other or not, Yuhyun spoke.

“No. We watch— at least until night.”

I didn’t plan to stay up all night, but I should see the first round. At my words, my brother made a displeased face.

“Then I’ll pack a simple meal. Stay next to Park Yerim.”

“Just bring whatever’s already there. Most of it only needs reheating or can be eaten as is.”

We couldn’t keep the chefs here, so most of the food was pre–prepared. There were ingredients, sure, but ready–made was fine. Saying he’d bring Peace too, Yuhyun left.

“Gyeol, do you want to go rest first?”

At my question, Gyeol shook her head vigorously. She couldn’t talk, and she had to be bored. I’d have to feed her something when Yuhyun got back.

“You’re close with my little brother, aren’t you?”

Off to one side, Liette approached Myungwoo. Unlike Noah, she had colossal full–dragonization and Kang Soyeong’s skill, so maybe she didn’t need much gear— or maybe it was just her nature— but unlike other Hunters, she spoke without hesitation. At the slightly needling tone, Myungwoo frowned a little. The one who reacted even more sharply was Noah.

“That’s none of Sister’s concern.”

“I’m trying to be friendly too.”

At Liette’s words, Noah’s face filled with suspicion. Then he hurried Myungwoo to head inside.

“Mr. Yujin, we’ll go in first. Come on.”

“I’m fine.”

Myungwoo spoke, but Noah, bristling with wariness of Liette, half–dragged him into the building. Left alone, Liette stuck her lower lip out a bit.

“That won’t do.”

“You need to approach more gently, Sister!”

Kang Soyeong chimed in at her side.

“My brothers were super nice to my friends, you know. Except the boys. And you’ve got to be good at bowing out too. Buy them a snack and vanish!”

…Don’t tell me Liette is actually trying to improve her relationship with Mr. Noah? Taking Ms. Soyeong’s advice? I don’t know if Ms. Soyeong convinced her, or she decided it herself— but look at that, even Liette changes.

“How about you compliment Mr. Noah a lot, to start.”

At my meddling, Liette looked back at me.

“I tell him he’s cute every time.”

“I mean ability–wise. He’s good at a lot.”

Liette’s eyes blinked slowly. Hey, don’t tell me you think he’s not good at anything.

“He cooks better than me.”

“Not by your standards!”

“She’s right, Sister. Lower the bar to normal!”

Liette wore a face that said why should I.

“He’s my brother. Obviously my standards should apply.”

…Maybe it was never that she looked down on him— but the opposite, and that was the problem. “Sister, that’s not it—” Soyeong said, tugging Liette away.

“Liette does cherish Mr. Noah, I think. Sometimes the more precious, the higher the bar.”

“You know how some parents push their kids to study too hard? ‘Of course my child can do at least this much.’”

Yerim nodded. If the parent is as naturally gifted as Liette, it’s even harder. The child’s just ordinary, but will feel like they’re lacking. A child should be treated by the child’s standards— but that’s not easy. Everyone, unconsciously, acts by their own standards— and parents are still people, before they’re parents.

And at the same time, the guardian is the adult— so the burden to try harder rests on the adult. You can be ignorant and you can make mistakes, but wrong is still wrong. Even if Mr. Noah becomes completely fine, Liette has to change too.

“You and Yuhyun are both too kind, you know— sometimes I worry. That you do what I say even when you really don’t want to.”

“Isn’t it the opposite? Mister, you indulge Guildmaster Han Yuhyun too much.”

“C’mon, if I really gave Yuhyun everything he wants…”

We wouldn’t be standing here. Mmm. Yuhyun’s an edge case. The fact he’s lived as a person until now, and is living like this now— that’s all on me too. So me yielding to my brother— maybe that’s only natural.

Because Yuhyun gave me everything first. To the point he said he hated himself— leaving not even himself, everything.

…Thinking about it like that— if he really couldn’t hold back, maybe giving up an arm would be fine.

“Yerim, I want you to always put yourself first. Number one is always Park Yerim.”

“For me, that’s obvious.”

She closed her mouth for a moment, then continued.

“Because there was only me. If I’m not here, then the people I value all disappear. But if I remember them, they won’t vanish, he said.”

“…Who?”

“Teacher. When I was in elementary school.”

“…A good person. C’mere, hug.”

“Here.”

Yerim threw her arms wide. We hugged tight. Gyeol wrapped her little arms around my neck too. Some Hunters stared like we were odd— who cares. Yerim, Yuhyun… I really have to live a long time.

“Kinda feels like I shouldn’t interrupt.”

Hwang Rim’s voice came. A little ways off, Song Taewon— who’d been watching the Hunters prepare— had also come closer. I let go of Yerim and turned my head.

“You vanished— I thought you’d ended up inside a monster’s belly.”

“A small Hunter turned me away at the door because my name was different.”

“It is different.”

Yerim lifted her eye corners, glaring at Hwang Rim.

“And your outfit violates dress code.”

“There was no dress code on the invitation. Unfair.”

Seriously, what is that getup. Hawaiian shirt and shorts, and why are his feet bare.

“Quit the military and dumped all your bearing, huh. Where’d you sell your shoes. Not just hawking cigarettes— did you pawn the clothes off your back too?”

He shook his half–dried shirt.

“For our Jin, just one hundred dollars.”

“Not buying. Beat it.”

“Pants for a thousand.”

“Why so pricey? Supposed to be designer?”

“Bottoms cost more than tops.”

What is he babbling. When Hwang Rim took a step toward me, Chief Song’s eyes narrowed. Yerim clamped her mouth shut and grabbed my wrist, ready to teleport me away. Seeing it, Hwang Rim spread his hands and smiled.

“I really did come to sell.”

“Even a stray dog wouldn’t buy that.”

“I’m really—”

He leapt back. At the same time, fire slammed into where he’d stood and charred the ground black.

— Kkiang!

Peace pressed to my feet, and Yuhyun landed on the scorched earth.

“Can I kill him now?”

“Not in front of Chief Song.”

Far back, Hwang Rim gave me a silent smile. He definitely didn’t come just to sell smokes; what was his game.

“…Let’s go take a look at the monster first. Chief Song, will you join us?”

“I’ll remain here.”

Right— plenty of Hunters were staying, and more importantly, Seong Hyunjae was here. Peace swelled in size. Yuhyun climbed on behind me, and Yerim took off with us.

“It’s huge.”

Out past a hundred meters from the beach, a monster bulged up in a dome in the sea. A turtle–type, as expected— the part above the surface looked like a colossal carapace. It shone with a grimy metallic sheen, glinting under the sunset— clearly no pushover.

“Ready!”

Moon Hyunah, already at the beach, shouted. She held a timer— as an S–rank not participating in the raid, she’d been asked to keep time.

The first team— two S–ranks and five A–ranks— gripped their various weapons.

“Don’t use skills yet— to the starting line! Start!”

Thud! She drove the end of her spear–shaft into the ground, and the team charged the monster. Shhrrip— instead of flight skills, round pads appeared atop the water. They leapt across the long chain of circles like stepping stones as the support types unleashed their skills. Yuhyun opened the lunch bag.

“I’ll heat this.”

“Han Yuhyun, me too, me too. Ice in the drink, deal?”

“No. I’m cold.”

“Ice goes in soda even if it’s cold.”

“You can drink milk.”

Hey, I want soda too… Meanwhile, the first S–rank to arrive swung his hammer hard. The warhammer wrapped in skill smashed the carapace and—

Tong!

“Ugh!”

Hammer and Hunter both bounced high, just like that. Rebound was extremely strong. Some kind of skill. Tricky— very tricky.

The sound of water stopped. Robe around his shoulders, Seong Hyunjae stepped out of the bathroom. His hair was still wet. That worked better on Han Yujin. He preferred opponents with a gap to mind and tend. Whether the opponent was human, monster, or neither.

“I don’t remember asking for a bath attendant.”

Someone stood in the middle of the suite’s living room. It had a human shape, but the sense it gave off wasn’t human. More precisely— closer to a skill or an item.

[Why are you mingling.]

It asked. Seong Hyunjae moved and came close.

“If you’re a guest, start by giving your name.”

[Snapping with frustration, raging at helplessness— such things don’t suit you.]

His hand closed around its throat. It writhed as if to slip away, sharp mana clawing at the hand that gripped it. Thin cuts scored his hand, wrist, and forearm. Red blood beaded and ran, but he didn’t so much as twitch a brow as he looked at what he held.

“Not Chatterbox, it seems.”

His mana burrowed into it. Golden sparks leapt as he probed it thoroughly, as if dissecting.

“…Not Crescent Moon, either.”

But Crescent Moon was said to have many children. It could certainly be one of them.

“This side already has more than enough to worry about.”

He raised his other hand to its head. His fingers curled and dug in. Instead of blood, a black, tarry fluid oozed. He gripped and tore— zzzch— with steady force.

[Why are you holding it close.]

As it was slowly ripped, it kept speaking.

[Any desire, as you wish. Trifles beneath your feet. Such a being.]

“You’re mistaken.”

Riiip— the torn pieces fell and piled at his feet. The resistance grew stronger; blood ran down his arms and soaked his feet.

“Why should I dislike feeling angry, stifled, irritated.”

He spoke like a man humming a tune.

“That’s what living is. If all you feel is joy, you’re just a madman.”

Could someone who feels only flat, simple emotion be called normal? So yes— he was surely going slowly mad. Perhaps he had been, for a long time.

“Some would have me— perhaps many would have me— stand above, unshaken.”

Build, cull, build again. And in that world, all who dealt with him— though he had no memory— would always have done so.

“I, for one, am very pleased with every part of me.”

Someone won’t like it— but for Seong Hyunjae, it isn’t a worsening. It breathes, in many colors.

Even if he falls to the bottom and rolls in misery— if that is the result of acting by his own will, then he will savor it. So long as he remains Seong Hyunjae in any form.

Ssschrk— the last piece split lengthwise in two. What he’d torn slumped like a small puddle of tar.

[The more so.]

[The faster you’ll collapse.]

[So come find me.]

It faded and vanished. On the one fragment that remained, crack— a spark danced. The shards of the shattered bead charred black.

“Plenty of vermin despite the weather.”

Spraying potion on his blood–wet arms, he muttered. Should he wash again, or go out as is? Han Yujin and Song Taewon would both give him enjoyable reactions.

Especially Han Yujin— who would worry for him. He let out a long breath. It was unfortunately fortunate that Han Yujin was F–rank. If he were stronger, it would be much harder to hold back as he was now.

He wanted to wring everything he could feel through Han Yujin— not only the positive, but also the negative.

“So live long, if you please.”

Smiling, he imbued a portion of the mana he’d just torn free into an old magic stone. For Han Yujin and for him, time left was not all that long.