The S-Classes That I Raised

Chapter 502: Surface Layer (2)

“I obtained a few. When I poked them, they spat them out quite readily.”

One, two, three. I displayed the three invitations obtained excluding the one from Chloe one by one on my palm, then stored them back in my inventory.

“But are you sure you’re fine just standing there? Let’s sit down.”

I turned toward the sofa as I spoke.

“Or lie down on the bed entirely. That side is quite heavy, you know.”

He was over twenty centimeters taller than me, and his build itself was vastly different too. If he collapsed again, carrying and moving him would be a bit much for me…

“It would certainly be difficult for Han Yujin.”

Seong Hyunjae smiled as he looked me up and down.

“Even though you say you’re exercising, there’s been no significant change—”

“It’s because it’s annoying, annoying! As if I couldn’t lift you at all.”

“How very reassuring.”

That bastard Seong Hyunjae sat down on the sofa, saying he’d be counting on me. Should I move him to the bed if he collapses again? Lifting him seemed possible, but getting him to the bed… hmm… if he’s unconscious anyway, he won’t know if I drag him.

“How much do you weigh?”

“That’s a sensitive question, so I’ll exercise my right to remain silent.”

What are you talking about? Why would that be sensitive? I also sat on the sofa and changed the subject.

“With the invitations as they are, I think I can obtain one or two more easily. However, I still haven’t found Park Hayul or those people. Did you hear anything from Chloe?”

“No. But there is another method. One that can handle everything definitively.”

“Really? If there’s such a method, you should’ve told me earlier. What is it?”

Seong Hyunjae answered while keeping his smile.

“Kill them all.”

“…Pardon?”

What kind of nonsense is he suddenly spouting?

“What, you want me to burn down the whole house to catch one bedbug? And before that, there are how many S-rank Hunters alone? How would we kill them all?”

“It’s not a difficult task.”

Seong Hyunjae spoke while leaning deeply back against the sofa and leisurely crossing his legs. I unconsciously tried to copy him but stopped.

“If you use that buff skill, wouldn’t it be easy to handle however many S-rank Hunters gather? Above all, most of the S-ranks here have never cooperated before. It could be troublesome if they properly formed teams and coordinated, but right now they’re not S-rank teams, merely individual Hunters.”

…As Seong Hyunjae said, a team composed of S-rank Hunters might be difficult. But a team and multiple individuals were completely different. If they fought alongside strangers whose skills and combat styles they didn’t know well, they’d be fortunate not to get swept up in their allies’ attacks.

“You promised to share information about Monster Mounts before evening. Once all the Hunters arrive on the island, send all the helicopters back without exception. I’ll specially service the communication equipment. If it’s just the range of this mansion, I can easily paralyze it.”

Block the escape routes and cut off contact with the outside.

“Even if they use flight skills, the Flame Horned Lion and Noah after Dragonkin transformation would be faster. It could be troublesome if they all flew up in different directions simultaneously, but it would be hard to show that level of cooperation from the start. So handle the Hunters with flight skills as a priority.”

“…Wait a moment. No, what would we do after killing all the Hunters here? It’s not like Korea being fine alone is enough. What about the overseas dungeons?”

“The Hunters who came here are from countries where the environment allows them to briefly leave their posts. Even if they all disappear, things won’t immediately collapse. And if they become too strained to protect their own countries, they’ll also lose the luxury of being taken over by Chatterbox.”

“That’s…”

“Moreover, if Han Yujin works hard for a bit, couldn’t you find new S-rank Hunters? S-rank Hunters that Han Yujin discovered and helped awaken. Though they’d be latecomers, new Guilds that could establish themselves relatively easily thanks to many competitors disappearing.”

Unlike the content of his words, Seong Hyunjae’s eyes were calmly settled. Was he telling me now to become a patron of new S-ranks, of new S-rank Guilds?

It wasn’t an impossible task. If I combined the Promising Talent skill and revived my pre-regression memories as much as possible. Information on S-rank Hunters was often protected, but overseas it was sometimes revealed in detail instead. Especially for famous former athletes, it was common to carry that fame over directly.

There was also the method of just searching brutally. Most S-rank Hunters had good physical abilities even before awakening, so I could narrow down the range as much as possible and search.

“But that would take forever. Before ethical issues, isn’t it too wasteful?”

“Set aside separately those too valuable to discard. Also those clearly unrelated. It would be good to specially let them tour Yu Myungwoo’s forge. Send Chief Song Taewon in as a supervisor. If Han Yujin is concerned, the little miss as well. Meanwhile, on the island, one or perhaps two highly aggressive SS-rank monsters just happened to appear.”

What I’d thought was absurd talk gradually began taking on reality. The setup was already complete, and it was at the level of just needing execution. Even so. I let out a short but heavy sigh.

“Are you telling me to become some kind of mass murderer? No, it’s not even me—it’s something you’d have my brother do. Of course I can’t do such a thing.”

“Do you think Han Yuhyun would feel guilt?”

“…”

“Not just unfamiliar Hunters, but if Han Yujin wishes it, he’d cut down even those around him without any hesitation. Additionally, this world has a far longer history of mass murderers being treated as heroes than otherwise.”

“Even in the old days, I know that killing unrelated people indiscriminately got you called a bastard, you know?”

“They’re high-rank Hunters, not powerless civilians.”

I unconsciously swallowed dryly. These words being spoken now—could they really be sincere? Talk of calmly murdering numerous people.

“…It’s not like we’re short on time, and also, that Park Hayul side isn’t completely hostile either.”

“It’s a safe, fast, and certain method. From what I’ve heard, Chatterbox can’t directly intervene in this world, can he? So I think the best course is to eliminate all of Chatterbox’s pawns and prevent him from drawing in new pawns in the future.”

It wasn’t… wrong. If I prioritized results, the safety of those around me above all else. Then it might be better to cleanly uproot everything right here and now.

My heart said no while my mind was advancing to the next stage. I still couldn’t leave the restricted zone. But if numerous S-rank Hunters disappeared, the countries that lost them would become desperate. At that time, I could inform them about the special awakening center and have them send recommended candidates.

Without needing to search for them myself, I could pick out S-ranks from among those sent and apply keywords to them. While the keyword effect was applied, I could instill the dangers of Chatterbox in them.

“…Damn it, but it’s still wrong.”

I dry-washed my face with both hands. If I’d wanted to go wild using my skills, I would have done it long ago.

“Besides, that kind of thing is ultimately similar to what the Transcendents do. Sacrificing one world or so while claiming to save multiple worlds.”

They’re people who did nothing wrong anyway. If I killed them all here claiming it was for us to survive, for the world, then I’d lose the right to protest the Transcendents’ actions too.

“Also, there’s no such thing as an eternal secret in this world. If by any chance we’re caught, we’re finished. Completely ruined.”

There were definitely those who’d already encountered Chatterbox. So even if we wiped things clean, who knew? Even I… had the skills.

“So I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that.”

“Understood.”

Seong Hyunjae nodded lightly. Neither I nor Seong Hyunjae spoke for a while.

‘…Those words weren’t thinking I’d accept, right?’

But if by any chance I answered yes, Seong Hyunjae would definitely help actively.

“…I know too.”

I muttered quietly. That eventually there would be times when I’d have to give something up. That it was difficult to have absolutely no sacrifices. The current me had already lost something and returned.

“If there truly, truly is no other method. Then I’d also protect the people I must embrace first. But not yet.”

“Han Yujin’s priorities are clear.”

“Don’t cry about being abandoned when that time comes.”

Though no matter how far I threw him away, he’d probably return intact at some point. Instead of answering, Seong Hyunjae laughed with curved eyes.

“Since you promised, you’ll make an approach before the gathering ends, right? It’s not like I haven’t thought of something. Anyway, that aside, about Chatterbox’s party. You’ll attend too, right?”

I took out an invitation and tossed it to Seong Hyunjae. He raised his hand a beat too late.

Thud.

The jewel bounced off Seong Hyunjae’s thigh and rolled onto the sofa. I almost cursed.

“Hey you… you’re talking about killing S-ranks in that state?!”

It wasn’t that he didn’t dodge the knife but that he couldn’t?! Huh? Seong Hyunjae picked up the invitation. It’s not that he can’t move, but he’s definitely not normal either.

“Are you really okay? Yuhyun and Yerim were completely exhausted too, but still!”

“It just takes some time to completely control my body. Seong Hyunjae is very thin.”

“Pardon?”

“Meaning there’s nothing to worry about.”

He said he’d be fine soon, but I was slightly suspicious. Should I take him to the Elder once?

“I’m sorry to Chief Song, but ask him to stay by your side. If you say your condition is poor, he’ll guard you. How about asking him to go to Chatterbox’s party together?”

It would be good if Chief Song went too, but, hmm. I really do feel terribly sorry.

“No, it’s fine if he’s left out.”

“Abandoning him already? As expected, Han Yujin is only interested in my body—”

“I’m worrying, worrying! And honestly, aside from your body and skills, I’d have to throw you away. Who would accept that temper of yours?”

It’s fortunate your body and abilities are exceptional. No, did you end up in that state because they’re exceptional?

“If you’re fine, how about Yerim? Or Gyeol seemed to be thinking of going together. Though he won’t be any help.”

“I don’t mind, but Han Yujin or Chief Song Taewon would be enjoyable.”

“Leave me out, and try persuading Chief Song. Chief Song, I’m truly, truly sorry. Lastly, my neck.”

I tapped my nape with my fingertips.

“What do you mean?”

Seong Hyunjae stood up and approached me. Now his movements felt no different from usual.

“Show me.”

I withdrew my mana covering the mark. Simultaneously, Seong Hyunjae’s expression sank coldly in an instant. Golden eyes laden with displeasure looked down at me, enough to make me flinch unconsciously.

“Wh…at’s with you?”

“I want to ask that. Why did Chatterbox mark Han Yujin with a sign of ownership?”

“…What?”

Seong Hyunjae bent his upper body and brought his hand to my neck.

“More precisely, a sacrifice. A victim to be offered at the end of a ritual.”

…The King of Harmless trapped in that huge water tank came to mind. Was this like a notice saying he’d make me into that state after the funeral?

“That guy wants to kill me, you know.”

“It feels different from that.”

“If it’s a sacrifice, it’s roughly similar. The party is supposedly the King of Harmless’s funeral.”

I quickly covered the mark again with my mana. As soon as I did—

“Ugh!”

My nape stung as if hit by a strong static shock. I reflexively kicked Seong Hyunjae’s leg. Naturally, only my foot hurt.

“Don’t make a fuss just because it got cold! Your Christmas present will be an anti-static bracelet!”

“Could you turn off Grace briefly? I want to check if I can erase it.”

“I’ll die before that! And it’s a secret from Yuhyun.”

That brother of mine would also want to burn it away if only I was safe. That bastard Seong Hyunjae’s face looked so blank that he might really try finding and removing Grace to attempt it, so I quickly stood up.

“Discuss it with Chief Song and contact me. Haven’t you gotten a new phone yet? Why did you break it in the first place?”

“I did break it, but it wasn’t my fault.”

I was about to say “Then did your hand move on its own and break it?” but closed my mouth. If his body wasn’t moving properly… that could have happened. Once again, I felt strange.

“Take good care of your body, and make some time when you return. Let’s go see the Elder once.”

I turned away from Seong Hyunjae. Throughout opening the door and leaving, my steps felt inexplicably heavy. Why should I feel this way toward the distinguished Sesung Guild Leader? It’s like abandoning a child by the water’s edge. He’s someone who’s lived at least ten years longer than me.

In the stickiness like being soaked in monsoon rain, I returned to the kids who’d be waiting. As soon as they saw me, Gyeol flew over in a rush and circled around me as if inspecting.

“Nothing happened.”

Can I really let you go with Seong Hyunjae? It still seems better for Gyeol to just stay behind.

“For now, he said he’d ask Chief Song.”

“I don’t think he’ll go at all. No wait, he might end up following because he’s worried about the Sesung Mister.”

Someone you hate being with but hate leaving alone even more—that would be Seong Hyunjae.

As I headed toward the temporary conference room for the afternoon briefing—

“Hello, Little Jin.” (TL Note: He calls him Xiaojin, which literally means Little Jin.)

That bastard Hwang Rim appeared. Swish—without a word, Yuhyun drew his sword and aimed it at his nape, and Hwang Rim wore a smile pretending to be troubled.