The S-Classes That I Raised

Chapter 508: Priorities (2)

“I understand that before regression, I was inadequate. I don’t know the details, but I probably couldn’t abandon myself.”

What Hwang Rim had said came to mind. While maintaining humanity, damn it. I should have sewn that bastard’s mouth shut.

“That’s not it, Chief Song is…”

“Even then, I… must have felt enjoyment. So I can’t delay any longer.”

With one hand extended as if persuading, Song Taewon continued. Chief Song had upset me more than once or twice until now, but today was the worst. Refusing items was literally nothing in comparison.

“I won’t fail this time.”

“Chief Song!”

“I can’t guarantee success. I’m sorry.”

Song Taewon apologized repeatedly. Seong Hyunjae, half-hidden behind Song Taewon, was still looking up at him with a leisurely attitude.

“But if it’s a Transcendent who cooperated in creating me, they’ll know about me too. How to definitely swallow a Transcendent.”

“It’s not certain! There’s no guarantee they’ll help. First, contact Hwang Rim to get more information calmly, then after that—”

“If they’re favorable to Han Yujin and tried to kidnap me alive, the purposes are limited. The target a Transcendent would use me against is either another Transcendent or Seong Hyunjae. Since the Sesung Guild Leader was also among the kidnapping targets, the latter is more likely.”

Calmly, Song Taewon explained using himself as the subject.

“However, since kidnapping wasn’t mandatory, they’re also considering the former. In the former case, the target would be Crescent Moon. Just the fact that they created a shadow to swallow the moon… makes Puppeteer an enemy of Crescent Moon.”

Chief Song didn’t know much about Crescent Moon, Whitey, and the source. Even now, he had the least information among us, yet he was finding the path he should take by combining what Hwang Rim had said with everything that had happened. A path of abandoning himself.

“Sesung Guild Leader, Seong Hyunjae. If you’re there, Crescent Moon will appear. If I can deal smoothly with Puppeteer, I’ll ask them to stop Chatterbox instead of swallowing Crescent Moon.”

…It was a slight twist on the method Yuhyun and Seong Hyunjae had presented. In other words.

“And I’ll enable you to escape by any means.”

A method where only Song Taewon would sacrifice himself, excluding even Seong Hyunjae. My insides ached. Why is a person like that? Who could possibly call that inhuman?

“Swallow Crescent Moon, or swallow me.”

Seong Hyunjae raised the corners of his mouth while removing the hand lightly resting under his chin and placing it on his knee. The upper leg that had been crossed, the foot tip moved.

“Either way, it’s the moon.”

“Please come with me.”

“I said I don’t want to! And me! What do you mean until here—do you think it can be cut off cleanly like chopping radish? Why are you deciding on your own, Chief Song!”

I don’t want it either. I was always left behind alone, survived alone.

“If you shoulder everything alone like that, do you think I’ll be grateful?!”

“I know. It’s my fault. So I’m relieved that Seong Hyunjae also dislikes it.”

…Those actions of explaining the plan and asking him to come along ultimately weren’t seeking consent. He was trying to shoulder even the guilt himself.

“It’s my selfishness and something I’m doing to feel better.”

“Hey! Song Taewon!”

“It’s all my fault.”

“You frustrating person! If you leave like this, I won’t be able to live even from frustration!”

“Han Yujin will be fine.”

Song Taewon turned his head slightly to look at me, at Yuhyun.

“Because you have more precious people. I believe you’re not someone who’ll stay curled up for long with Hunter Han Yuhyun and Hunter Park Yerim by your side.”

As he said, even if I lost Song Taewon, I wouldn’t collapse. As long as there was something left to protect, as long as there was something left to reclaim… I’d somehow crawl out. Still.

“…Still, it will hurt. It will really hurt a lot.”

“Yes. I’m sorry.”

I felt at a loss. I became certain I could never persuade him through conversation. Not only my throat but also around my eyes burned.

“…Hyung.”

Yuhyun buried his face in my shoulder.

“Yuhyun, just once. Hm? You can catch him.”

“For me, Hyung comes first.”

“That’s exactly why you need to catch him…”

“I’m sorry, Hyung. If it were Park Yerim, I might have listened to you. I would have at least hesitated. But right now, those two aren’t in our home. If I step forward, from now on Hyung will, we will be in danger. Conversely, if we just let them go, we can continue living like now.”

“…Yuhyun.”

“For me, this is a problem that needs no consideration or hesitation. I’m sorry, but Hyung, you like those two people, but I don’t. They’re just part of things I have no feelings for, that could disappear suddenly without mattering. I only have feelings to the extent of worrying about Hyung struggling. So I can only choose to comfort Hyung, and that’s the natural decision.”

Though my brother’s voice was full of concern for me, there wasn’t a hint of wavering. Yuhyun’s priorities were firm. I came first above all else, and next would be our current life. As Yuhyun said, even if those two people disappeared, though we’d waver briefly, ultimately we, our family, would continue living like now.

We’d occasionally remember and feel sad, but even so. Even if one side of our hearts was empty, we’d continue.

The arms embracing me loosened slightly. But even if I rushed out now, there was nothing I could do. There was no way to stop them. At best, I’d hold out for a few days in the drawer and eventually come out anyway. No, with mountains of work piled up right now, abandoning everyone else and just clinging to Chief Song… I couldn’t do that either.

I tried racking my brain somehow. To deal with Puppeteer, I’d have to go through Hwang Rim. Damn it, I should have gotten that bastard’s contact information. Was there contact info in the guest information? But even if I called, there was no way Hwang Rim would turn away Chief Song who was walking in himself. He’d gladly escort him to Puppeteer instead.

In the end, once Chief Song left here, it was over.

“…Gyeol.”

At my call, Gyeol shook his head.

— Sorry, Dad. But I can choose not to listen to Dad now. And I also, Dad is most important.

I couldn’t embrace everything. There were times when I had to give up.

“…I know I’m being unreasonable too.”

“No.”

“What do you mean believe? I know it looks hopeless.”

“No.”

“My stats are just a normal human’s, it’s like an ant trying to bite an elephant, and yet it must look like I’m struggling without letting go of anything, just shouting that it’ll be fine.”

“Han Yujin.”

“But I’ve somehow come this far.”

This far. To this very place right now.

“I was really just F-rank, you know? I’ve never properly cleared even a mid-rank dungeon as a proper team member, let alone high-rank. At best I was a porter. Yet now, all the S-ranks are just looking at me like this.”

An empty laugh escaped.

“You want me to end it here? I refuse even out of spite. Fuck, if I’d lived being nicely protected, then fine, I should respect Chief Song’s opinion! What face would I have to stop you? But that’s not it. I’ve done my share, and with this level of achievement, I can be unreasonable! Look at me!”

Our eyes met. They were black, and to me, they looked beautiful. They say eyes are windows to the soul. Then they couldn’t help but be beautiful.

“I’ll chase after you.”

“…”

“And Seong Hyunjae, since you pushed it onto me, I’ll answer. Resist!”

Seong Hyunjae, who’d been watching us, suddenly burst into small laughter. He collapsed as if lying sideways on the sofa and laughed louder.

“…What’s so good that you’re laughing like that?”

“Both of you are so beautiful.”

“…What?”

“Living really is good after all.”

Then he giggled again. It was an extremely irritating sight.

“Yuhyun, let go. Let me kick that person and grab Chief Song’s collar.”

Yuhyun, who’d been hesitating, released the arms embracing me. I immediately approached the sofa and kicked the sprawled Seong Hyunjae’s legs.

“Don’t laugh! After turning people’s insides upside down!”

“My apologies. Ah, right now I can’t handle Song Taewon. Even if I don’t want to go, I have no choice. Han Yujin’s kicks hurt a bit too.”

“What? Why in that state!”

“I thought I’d try living a bit longer.”

Golden eyes between disheveled hair blinked slowly.

“Here.”

“…Then why did you push it onto me?”

“My thought that Han Yujin needs to set priorities hasn’t changed. It’s a kind of crossroads. If you let go now, it could become a different path and method, but if it’s too late, it might be nothing more than simple loss.”

As Seong Hyunjae said, if we missed the timing, there was a high possibility Song Taewon’s method couldn’t be used.

“You’ll have to choose going forward too. And there will definitely be those who refuse that choice.”

Seong Hyunjae’s gaze rose behind me. Following it, I turned around. Song Taewon stood there.

“…Are you really weak? My foot hurt though.”

“Actually, it’s probably around B-rank.”

“Even rotten, still a corvina.”

My Kid won’t work, but doubling attack skills was possible. Fortunately, with other Hunters outside, if a commotion grew, Yerim, Noah, Hyunah, and others would come. The problem was if it was Chief Song.

‘An F-rank and one B-rank, he’d subdue them in an instant.’

Without a peep. But I couldn’t enter the drawer either. If I took Seong Hyunjae, there was a possibility Crescent Moon would approach.

“Yuhyun, any chance you’ll help?”

Yuhyun tilted his head slightly as if troubled. Then he spoke to Song Taewon.

“You mustn’t hurt Hyung.”

R-right. Just not siding with Chief Song was something.

“Chief Song.”

“I don’t think I can give you much time.”

Song Taewon answered calmly. As expected, he had no intention of changing his mind. Even if I tried to use an item, he’d notice before I could grasp it and try to catch me. The distance was too close.

“Then, Chief Song.”

I swallowed dryly.

“Want to make a bet with me?”

“I refuse.”

“No, listen. If Chief Song wins, I’ll send you off without complaint. I won’t chase after you. You know my personality—if you just leave like this, I’ll follow you to hell and overturn everything.”

Song Taewon’s eyes furrowed slightly. It wasn’t just once or twice I’d caused trouble. If I’d lived quietly, he wouldn’t show such a reaction. But Song Taewon, having experienced everything until now, couldn’t dismiss me.

“…What bet?”

“It’s simple, we just fight.”

“…”

“Hyung?”

— Dad? I can’t help. Even if I help, it’s disadvantageous.

…Even if others don’t know, you Seong Hyunjae shouldn’t look at me like that! This is all to protect someone.

“…I just need to subdue Han Yujin now?”

“No, no. Yuhyun, you have Chatterbox’s invitation, right? Take it out.”

Yuhyun reluctantly took out the invitation.

“When Chatterbox came, he proposed a kind of preliminary match. In case we were short on invitations. So we could also snatch more at the same time, he suggested invitation contractors fight each other and the winner takes all the invitations.”

Persuading Chatterbox wasn’t difficult. With so many invited guests, it wasn’t bad to filter them once at the start. Above all, Chatterbox wanted me and my companions to attend. Especially me. Because my significance to him had completely changed now compared to before. To the point of regretting not being able to give me the invitation directly.

And that was supposed to start from day three of my party. Just announced then, but possible even before.

“The invitation contract is for two people each…”

At my words, Yuhyun opened his mouth.

“Hyung, this is definitely safe, right?”

“Yeah. Since it’s just a light preliminary now, when it ends you immediately return to your original place. But you…”

Yuhyun used the invitation. Then he held it out to Song Taewon.

“I’ll help you.”

…Hey. As I looked at him dumbfounded, my brother smiled beautifully at me.

“I’m counting on you, Hyung.”

…Fighting with me is better than Seong Hyunjae or anything else.

“Then Han Yujin and I become the same team?”

The B-rank said.

“I want to change party members.”

“Fighting with Hyung would be nice too though.”

Yuhyun and I looked at Song Taewon simultaneously. Chief Song spoke heavily.

“After the match concludes, if Hunter Seong Hyunjae has recovered, I’ll accept on the condition that I help subdue him.”

Did he think I’d have a hard time winning and was planning to stall for time? I nodded saying I understood.

“Then can I switch Yuhyun and Seong Hyunjae?”

“…No.”

“Han Yujin, don’t abandon me.”

“Don’t cling. Just contract the invitation.”

I took out my share of the invitation, contracted it, and handed it to Seong Hyunjae. Then I received the invitation back and placed it on the table.

“Place them side by side. Gyeol, don’t go anywhere and stay still.”

— Okay, be careful Dad.

I injected mana into the invitation, and soon the surrounding scenery changed.