The S-Classes That I Raised

Chapter 507: Priorities (1)

“Let’s change clothes first. You’ll catch a cold at this rate.”

Though I’d dried off somewhat in the reception room inside the drawer, Yuhyun spoke looking at me still dampened. Gyeol and Iryn, who’d come over to me, agreed and wagged their tails. I refused the suggestion to go up to the floor where our rooms were.

“It’s fine. More importantly—there’s no one listening around, right? Seong Hyunjae is more urgent.”

I lowered my voice and continued, asking to be alerted if anyone’s presence was felt.

“His condition is a bit poor right now.”

Puppeteer’s main target was Song Taewon. But they said they were also targeting Seong Hyunjae. They even said he was wary of him, so I couldn’t let my guard down.

‘There might be more seeds making contact besides Hwang Rim.’

A poison dart frog wouldn’t be able to communicate, but if it was a lower-class Awakened, they could at least run small errands. And earlier, Seong Hyunjae was in a state where even a lower-class Awakened could grab and run off with him. Since he’d even fainted. For now, even if they were a Transcendent favorable to me, a Transcendent was still a Transcendent. Their very foundation of thinking could be different from ours. Even the Newcomer occasionally said off-putting things at first, so I needed to be careful.

“I wanted to dig deeper into Park Hayul’s side through Chloe, but I’ll have to postpone that for now. If Seong Hyunjae disappears, we’ll be in real trouble. Park Hayul’s skill was released anyway.”

“Park Hayul was here?”

“No, Hwang Rim. He released it instead with that copy skill. He said he received a request from Park Hayul.”

When Hwang Rim came up, Yuhyun made that displeased expression again.

“Do you dislike him that much? Compared to Cho Hwawoon, he didn’t do much.”

“Unlike Cho Hwawoon, you don’t plan to kill Hwang Rim.”

“Well… he’s not that bad of a guy.”

So since Cho Hwawoon was someone to kill anyway, there’s no need to hate him?

“And Hwang Rim has become a bit difficult to touch now.”

He had a Transcendent backing him. Just moments ago, Puppeteer had taken him away too. If not, though it would be a bit cruel, I would have cut his tendons or something. To bring him outside the drawer without the SS-rank restraints, I’d need to momentarily incapacitate him because of the soil anyway. Cutting completely off would be hard to reattach.

“He didn’t directly harm me, so don’t be too harsh.”

“Cigarettes.”

“…I don’t smoke.”

Besides, I’m thirty—no, twenty-five. Though of course I shouldn’t smoke around the kids. I really need to quit.

“Then give them to me.”

“Okay, okay. I’ll pass them to someone else, not you.”

Handing cigarettes to my brother felt wrong.

“…Han Yujin.”

Song Taewon, who’d been walking silently, stopped abruptly and spoke.

“Yes?”

“Could you give me your hand for a moment?”

Wondering what it was, I held out my hand. Song Taewon examined my hand carefully, then opened his mouth again.

“As expected, it’s similar to Han Yujin’s hand.”

“What is… Ah.”

Puppeteer’s hand. No wonder it looked familiar. It was similar to my hand.

“It was slightly larger and paler, but the shape was almost identical.”

“What are you saying? Similar to Hyung’s hand?”

“Hwang Rim seemed to be connected to a Transcendent. When we entered the drawer, that Transcendent reached out just a hand and grabbed Hwang Rim.”

I briefly explained to Yuhyun what had happened.

“Since they can easily change their appearance. Last time they appeared in your form, and this time mine, I guess. Be careful if I act suspiciously.”

“There’s no way I wouldn’t recognize Hyung. It would be hard to perfectly imitate your speech patterns, movements, gaze, and such.”

“Well, you did notice something was off about me right after regression too.”

“…Back then, you were definitely Hyung, but there were also unfamiliar parts.”

Habits newly formed over five years must have kept popping out. Anyway, appearing in my form feels a bit awkward. They wouldn’t do anything weird, right? Thinking that my hand hit that bastard Hwang Rim’s head made me feel slightly better though.

“Seong Hyunjae, I’m coming in.”

I knocked and opened the door. It seemed still unlocked. If your condition is poor, you should at least lock the door. Though it would be useless against even mid-rank Hunters, still.

“I’m worried after all. Don’t be alone for a while, and stay with someone trustworthy… hmm.”

Chief Song was best, but the problem was that damn soil. Still, Seong Hyunjae at least had Evelyn… though she did shoot her arrow without hesitation… I had a feeling that if she knew Seong Hyunjae was weakened, she’d shoot first rather than protect.

“You have more safe houses, right?”

I said as I entered the living room. Seong Hyunjae, who’d been sitting on the sofa, raised his head to look at me.

“What happened in such a short time?”

“Various things happened in that short time. I think Chief Song should also take cover—”

“There’s no need for that.”

Song Taewon said. Then he walked past me toward Seong Hyunjae and stopped around the midpoint between me and Seong Hyunjae.

“Han Yujin, please stay there.”

“…What?”

“I—”

He turned toward me.

“I trust Han Yujin.”

…What’s he suddenly saying? Yuhyun caught me as I tried to approach Song Taewon. Firmly, as if embracing me from behind. What, did the two of them conspire without me knowing? To my confusion, Song Taewon continued.

“If only the Transcendents’ interference disappears, you will save this world.”

“That’s, Chief Song. I’m grateful you trust me, but!”

“At first, you only made me feel uneasy, but not now. Because Han Yujin is someone who tries to protect even me.”

“Why are you saying such things now?”

It was just like saying farewell.

“People’s matters to people.”

Song Taewon wore a bitter but clear smile.

“So, Han Yujin. Thank you for everything until now.”

“What do you mean until now—! Yuhyun, let go!”

“It’s okay, Hyung.”

“It’s not okay! Chief Song, what exactly are you planning?!”

Even as I shouted the question, I guessed in my head. That’s why my insides burned even more and my throat went dry. Damn it, I really shouldn’t have spoken where Chief Song could hear! Still, still.

“Wait, don’t decide so hastily! Chief Song hasn’t done anything wrong, and you’re just, Chief Song is just a person. You can just live normally!”

“Because you say that, it’s even more impossible.”

The black eyes holding me felt calmer and more gentle than ever before.

“Because those words have started to feel sweet, I can’t delay any longer. I’m not without emotions either.”

“…Of course. Of course you aren’t.”

“If things I like, enjoyable things start to happen, I’ll inevitably become more greedy for myself.”

“That’s what being human is. A normal person trying to live even a little more happily. Everyone’s like that.”

“That’s why I can’t.”

“Damn it, why not?! Just live, will you? As your heart desires! If it doesn’t work out then, think about it again. I’ll put my head together with you, as much as you need!”

Yuhyun, let me go! I struggled, but the arms wrapped around my body didn’t budge. Song Taewon turned around. He looked down at Seong Hyunjae, then slowly lowered his body. His knees touched the floor, and now Seong Hyunjae looked down at Song Taewon.

“I’m sorry.”

Following the quiet apology, Song Taewon said,

“Please come with me.”

“I don’t suppose this is a date invitation.”

Golden eyes curved thinly.

“A Transcendent called Puppeteer knew about me. I don’t know the exact purpose, but they hold goodwill toward Han Yujin and aren’t targeting my life.”

…If they’d simply wanted to kill Song Taewon, Hwang Rim would have easily cut his throat.

“They seemed to want to remove you and the Sesung Guild Leader from Han Yujin’s side.”

“To protect Han Yujin, is it?”

“If we leave, the Transcendents entangled with us also won’t be interested in this world.”

“It’s already too late!”

Why are you trying to shoulder everything and leave?!

“The one Chatterbox is targeting is no one else but me!”

“Yes. And Han Yujin cannot stop him. Only a Transcendent can defeat a Transcendent.”

“That’s, but… I’ve already caught two!”

Of course, it was thanks to luck favoring me in various ways. In pure strength, there was no way to win.

“You’ll be able to use me.”

“Chief Song!”

“If just Chatterbox and Crescent Moon leave, things will be fine.”

“So you’re planning to take me along too.”

Seong Hyunjae said with a light smile.

“I’m sorry. But I can’t leave you behind. You’re too dangerous to leave.”

“As it’s always been.”

“Sesung Guild Leader, if your condition has worsened again, please keep your promise now.”

Yuhyun’s voice cut between the two. A promise?

“What are you talking about, what promise?”

“A promise not to receive Hyung’s help again. You made it to me and Park Yerim.”

“…What?”

“It was a burden on Hyung. Back then.”

He seemed to be talking about when we’d removed things from Seong Hyunjae. But still. Yuhyun’s gaze looking at Seong Hyunjae was indifferently cold.

“Don’t worry too much, Hyung. He couldn’t have lasted long anyway. You know that too.”

“Yuhyun!”

“That’s why I overlooked what bothered me too. Because he’d disappear soon. It’s just that Hyung seemed to like the Sesung Guild Leader more than I thought.”

Yuhyun let out a small sigh and continued.

“Honestly, Hyung. Handing Seong Hyunjae over to Crescent Moon through the Newcomer or the Elder would be cleanest.”

“That’s not allowed!”

“In exchange, ask Crescent Moon to stop Chatterbox. The possibility is high enough. Crescent Moon is also a Transcendent trying to save worlds. You said the reason she wants Seong Hyunjae is also to eliminate the source, right?”

I closed my mouth. But I knew Yuhyun’s words were correct. I knew, but how could I do that?

“I don’t want to refuse Song Taewon’s request, but—”

Seong Hyunjae let his leisurely voice flow and placed his gaze on me.

“I still have a prior engagement.”

“R-right. We haven’t gone to the aquarium yet. And also, anyway, there’s more.”

“My dear—”

The golden eyes furrowed slightly. As if facing something dazzling. Then he smiled brightly.

“My partner, please make the decision.”

“…Pardon?”

“Considering priorities. I also agree with the young master’s opinion. It’s the cleanest method.”

Seong Hyunjae nodded slightly and continued speaking calmly as if it were someone else’s business.

“The probability of Crescent Moon agreeing to a deal is high. She seems to have no way to forcibly extract me from this world, and she’d be uneasy leaving Song Taewon and me together.”

Crescent Moon’s extraction of Seong Hyunjae was probably around just before that world’s destruction. When the power protecting the world had weakened. If not then, it seemed possible only through a contract with the other party, like Diarma or the King of Harmless had proposed.

“So if you offer me as payment, she’ll try to stop Chatterbox.”

“But what about you, Seong Hyunjae?!”

“I won’t die. I’ll just live boringly in another world.”

Seong Hyunjae let out a sigh. His attitude wasn’t serious at all. It was just a light complaint-like gesture, as if he’d been told to eat food he disliked.

“To remain as myself, I’ll resist moderately, and if I fail, I’ll eliminate the source as Crescent Moon wishes. But it will be after enough time has passed for Han Yujin to live out the rest of your life. If the source disappears, it might even become safer.”

“That’s…”

“The children Han Yujin cherishes with long, long lifespans might be able to live safely.”

Even hundreds of years later, safely. Peacefully.

“Seong Hyunjae, you wouldn’t like that.”

“I have no reason to refuse simply moving to another world.”

“…I’m asking if you dislike it.”

“To Han Yujin—”

“Do you dislike it or not?!”

Seong Hyunjae parted his lips slightly, then answered with a smile.

“I dislike it.”

“Then why are you pushing it onto me?! If you dislike it, don’t go! You too, Chief Song!”

Damn it, of course, of course. It was a safer method with higher probability. If I just gave up those two people, everyone else could live. Stopping dungeons? At this point, it wouldn’t be that difficult. Yuhyun and Yerim receiving lessons from the Elder, and Noah who’d gained powerful buff skills. With just these, we could block most monsters. Add Myungwoo’s forge and my Monster Mounts.

If we just took moderate care of overseas Hunters, we could sufficiently withstand the source’s simple attacks.

“Priorities? Of course it’s our kids! If either Yuhyun or you absolutely had to die, I wouldn’t even hesitate. I’d save Yuhyun. But not yet!”

Both Seong Hyunjae and Song Taewon looked at me. Yuhyun also kept his gaze on me. Seong Hyunjae turned his gaze to Song Taewon while keeping his smile.

“That’s what they say, Song Taewon.”

“Understood. I’ll take you by force.”

Song Taewon stood up. Wait, wait!

“I’m not saying I’ll hand you to Crescent Moon. As much as I can, I’ll take responsibility to the end.”

Speaking calmly, Song Taewon extended his hand toward Seong Hyunjae. I wanted to stop it somehow, but I still couldn’t move.