The S-Classes That I Raised

Chapter 509: Weapons Are Best After All

Two people appeared in the empty, spacious room. Han Yuhyun and Song Taewon calmly surveyed their surroundings. On one wall, the words “Please Prepare” were emitting a faint light. It seemed to be some kind of waiting room.

Han Yuhyun immediately donned his ceremonial robe and checked his equipment. His attitude was extremely cautious, as if he were about to face a high-grade dungeon or monster.

“…Hunter Han Yuhyun.”

“It won’t be easy.”

Han Yuhyun said while taking out a poison resistance item.

“There’s no way Hyung would propose an unfavorable bet without any preparation.”

“I know. But with the current conditions, it’s nearly impossible for Han Yujin to win.”

Song Taewon also checked his equipment. The most useful wire and handcuffs were both things Han Yujin had semi-forcibly pressed into his hands. Would it be okay to take these? Shouldn’t he return them before leaving?

“Currently, Han Yujin has F-rank stats, and Hunter Seong Hyunjae has supposedly dropped to B-rank. Even sharing the double attack skill, it’s barely enough ability to face me alone.”

Also, the Changeling that could momentarily make Han Yujin match an S-rank wasn’t there. There was Grace and other items, poison and curse resistance, but with just those, taking victory from two S-ranks was virtually impossible.

“However, there’s a possibility this environment favors Han Yujin.”

Song Taewon looked at the room’s walls as if searching for an invisible entrance.

“If it’s an area covered in S-rank or higher poison and curses, just hiding and stalling for time would be sufficient.”

“I can burn poison.”

Unless it was poison that burrowed directly into the body through wounds, simple poisonous terrain was hard to harm Han Yuhyun. Just sweep flames around and burn it all. Most poisons were also weak to fire, so with Han Yuhyun’s current ability, he could cleanly burn even SS-rank or higher grades.

Song Taewon nodded slightly and took out and equipped a flame resistance item. If Seong Hyunjae’s skill was also B-rank level, he could endure it without resistance items. So thinking of Han Yuhyun plus Han Yujin’s bombs, it was better to pay attention to flame resistance.

“With Hyung’s stealth skill combined with the jacket and shoes, tracking his location becomes difficult. If he uses the cookie on top of that, even S-ranks would have trouble noticing his approach.”

Song Taewon quietly watched Han Yuhyun explaining about using the cookie and doppelganger doll for deception, then opened his mouth.

“Wouldn’t it be better if Hunter Han Yuhyun only provided support?”

At the gaze looking at him as if asking what he meant, Song Taewon explained.

“I have no right to say this, but I want Han Yujin to be hurt as little as possible. So it would be better if Hunter Han Yuhyun, who will remain by his side, doesn’t actively cooperate.”

“First, Hyung is strong. Dismiss any thought that you’ll naturally win.”

Han Yuhyun said coldly.

“At the same time, Hyung tends to underestimate himself. If I participate passively and we lose, there’s a high possibility he’ll struggle even more.”

If it felt like they’d held back, if they lost in that state, he might blame himself even more severely. So it would be better for the two S-ranks to do their best, Han Yuhyun judged.

“I understand that if it’s the result of fighting fairly against an opponent far stronger than oneself, even defeat makes the heart a bit lighter. Isn’t that right?”

Eyes emotionless as glass looked at Song Taewon. They were completely different from when Han Yujin was beside him. With Han Yujin present, Han Yuhyun sometimes seemed like an ordinary person, but simultaneously, that difference also made him feel even more inhuman.

“That… may be so. It would be even more so for Han Yujin.”

“And Hyung accepted me, so this much is fine. Even if I act in ways that are disturbing by human standards, he tries to understand. Of course, I’m also making efforts.”

He no longer unconditionally suppressed himself like before, while simultaneously adjusting to Han Yujin. Park Yerim in particular was a good observation subject.

Though Park Yerim followed Han Yuhyun’s combat habits and work attitude, Han Yuhyun was also carefully watching and learning from Park Yerim’s daily life, rich with emotions unlike his own. Above all, their identical position as protégés living with Han Yujin was helpful in various ways.

Han Yuhyun’s lips drew a soft line. A face that had been like a lifeless doll bloomed beautifully. His slightly curved eyes held his absent brother.

“…Hunter Han Yuhyun.”

Song Taewon swallowed his words again. In a different direction from Seong Hyunjae, Han Yuhyun was an alien and difficult-to-understand existence. Without Han Yujin, he’d simply be an emotionless S-rank Hunter. But Han Yujin’s existence was making him shine.

And Seong Hyunjae also, because of Han Yujin— Song Taewon’s teeth unconsciously clenched tight. He forcibly looked away from the heart curled up small deep inside him.

“You really like Han Yujin a lot.”

He eventually deflected with a trite remark. Han Yuhyun nodded with his smiling face unchanged.

“Yes. I love him.”

Song Taewon turned his head as if burdened. An impulse to escape this place arose.

[10:00]

Then the text telling them to prepare changed to numbers. Seeing it change by the second, it seemed to mean the wait would end in 10 minutes.

“It would be better to end it quickly.”

Han Yuhyun said while taking a short breath.

“Though Hyung proposed the bet first, it’s still a sudden, unplanned matter. The more time we give, the more disadvantageous it becomes.”

“…Yes.”

Song Taewon tried to shake off his thoughts while wrapping wire around his arm. It would end soon anyway. He would leave, and Han Yujin would live on. The people around Song Taewon would also continue living after a brief mourning.

The familiar faces he’d encountered in the Christmas nightmare dungeon came to mind. Now there would be a black lamb among them. And Han Yujin was someone who would carefully look after even those he left behind.

That was enough. He mustn’t have any greed beyond that.

“Little Song… no, never mind.”

Was it because the days had gotten chilly? Recently, she’d been trying to sleep on the bed. She liked walking across the sofa backrest. Was it because her fur was black? She seemed more reassured when buried in black. She didn’t refuse baths, but disliked her fur getting wet in the rain. She’d either detour far around dirty puddles or cling asking to be carried.

“If the lamb tries to bite Han Yujin’s finger, please tell him to be careful. She’s used to my fingers.”

He couldn’t get hurt and shouldn’t hurt her, so he voiced that. Five minutes, three minutes, then one minute. Quiet conversation passed between them several times. Except for things about the lamb, everything was about combat strategy.

[00:00]

The blinking timer disappeared. Then a message window appeared before both of them.

[All Awakened will become non-Awakened.]

Han Yuhyun and Song Taewon’s eyes widened.

“This wasn’t the plan!”

The scenery before my eyes changed and a room enclosed on all sides appeared. The waiting room. I let out a deep sigh and turned to Seong Hyunjae.

“Don’t laugh.”

“That’s too much. Doesn’t laughing look better?”

Fine, you’re handsome.

“If your grade dropped, shouldn’t your face drop a bit too?”

“It’s not much different from before awakening. I just got a bit taller.”

…Yuhyun was handsome before too though. With the age difference, it changed somewhat but.

“180s?”

“Over 190.”

“You’re really something!”

Of course, other S-ranks who awakened in their mid-twenties didn’t suddenly grow over 10cm either, but teenagers or those in their early twenties sometimes shot up. Yuhyun and Yerim are growing diligently too. Will Noah grow more too?

“I want to crack open that great head to see what you’re thinking. Having fun alone, alone! In that state!”

“Calm down.”

“Do I look calm?! Oh, my fate. My neck hurts, so sit down! Why are you standing there blankly!”

Seong Hyunjae obediently sat on the floor. The way he sat with his knees gathered felt even more frustrating. Why sit like that even when sitting?

“Are you acting pitiful now?”

“The floor is cold. With B-rank stats, I can feel the chill.”

“F-rank is freezing to death! No, if your stats are in that state, call Evelyn or someone to protect you. Why were you sitting there blankly alone? Even if you don’t die, you know what could happen to you? There are how many S-ranks on the island!”

“Miller isn’t the gentle type.”

“Then Soyoung at least!”

“Soyoung thinks less about consequences than she looks, so she’d charge at me to fight.”

“Seong Hyunjae has lived his life so well~!”

Don’t laugh! Why are you laughing! Can you laugh?! Right, being alone would realistically be safest. If people didn’t know about Seong Hyunjae’s condition, they wouldn’t even dare approach him. Even in the dining hall, they hesitantly approached and just accepted bread crusts—how many would go knock on his room door?

I kept letting out deep sighs. How did we end up in this state?

“At first, I tried to get some benefits from the distinguished Sesung Guild Leader. No, I did get quite a few benefits though. …Should I just throw you away? You’re B-rank.”

“Yujin…”

“Don’t act pitiful. Your mouth is smiling. You’re having fun, aren’t you? Huh? When the one left behind is turned inside out!”

“I apologize for that.”

“Fuck, knowing I can’t let go!”

I kicked Seong Hyunjae’s legs. As expected, my foot hurt more, but at least now this person would feel it being touched a bit. When I kicked again, Seong Hyunjae took out a handkerchief. I accepted it and roughly rubbed my eyes. My eyes stung and my insides stung too.

“I can’t give up. Even if I’m cursed for being stubborn, I can’t. Even if everything eventually falls apart and I regret it to death, what I can’t do, I can’t do.”

“I see.”

“What do you mean ‘I see’! You know that? Chief Song is too much, but you’re no less!”

Yuhyun… thinking of before regression, he’s much better now. My brother alone already turned my insides upside down enough, but these people are really… are they planning to flip it over once more to restore it?

“If you’re going to push it onto me, hand over your assets at least! I don’t need anything else! Knowing the answer full well, this damn…!”

I took a deep breath while pressing my throbbing head. Let’s calm down. Even shouting for a whole year wouldn’t be enough, but let’s calm down for now.

“I have more to say to Chief Song, but he’s not here right now.”

“My turn—”

“Isn’t over. Don’t think about running, your opponents are Yuhyun and Chief Song.”

As soon as I recalled them, I felt hopeless. Why those two of all people? Seong Hyunjae stood up and looked at me.

“Realistically, at most one minute.”

“If we just clash, it won’t even take 30 seconds. No, 10 seconds. For them to approach us, 10 seconds.”

If the distance was far, we might be able to run for about 5 more seconds. I looked around, but all I could see were walls and ceiling. I didn’t know what the outside looked like either. However.

“Empty out your inventory.”

It wasn’t completely without possibility. I started taking out everything in my inventory. Seong Hyunjae also took out various things.

“You still have the spatula? Does that damn yarn breed offspring in the inventory? What’s this commemorative towel, when did you collect it?”

“There’s even a Peace doll that fits in the inventory.”

“Is it a warehouse? Huh? Is it a warehouse?”

“That’s the bicycle I gave you. What’s that basket?”

“It’s a laundry basket, it’s convenient.”

I said while pouring out firearms. Except for the Lynx gun, the firearms were all low-grade equipment.

“Have you ever shot a gun? Did you serve in the military?”

“I was in the Marines, you know.”

“…Really?”

“What do you think?”

I couldn’t believe it. From his smile, it seemed like a joke, but so did he serve or not? While items piled on the floor, a 10-minute display appeared on the wall. I unconsciously swallowed dryly.

“After 10 minutes, we’ll become non-Awakened.”

Seong Hyunjae showed a slightly surprised expression.

“More precisely, we’ll be replaced with such bodies. Like temporary bodies like in Japan’s dungeons. That’s why it’s safe too. I sweet-talked Chatterbox about how it would be to see pure combat ability without skills or stats. Originally, I prepared this to suppress the S-ranks who received Chatterbox’s invitations.”

Without skills or stats, purely human versus human.

“Of course, S-ranks’ physical conditions are generally excellent even before awakening. But losing what you had is bigger than you think. They’re all covered in support skills too. They become harder to adapt to a non-Awakened state than an F-rank with no abilities.”

Not just stats, but skills also become unusable. It becomes completely different from usual combat.

“Just as it’s hard to control your power right after awakening, they won’t adapt immediately. Normally. Even equipment becomes ordinary items and inventory gets blocked. Compared to us who can prepare in advance, they’ll inevitably be disadvantaged.”

The problem was.

“Yuhyun and Chief Song… will be different. Especially Chief Song.”

“Certainly, Song Taewon doesn’t rely on equipment or skills.”

“He’ll adapt quickly too. Same with Yuhyun.”

In the end, it was hard to say we were definitely advantageous. Meanwhile, time gradually decreased. I threw a gun to Seong Hyunjae.

“But if it’s a fight between non-Awakened—”

“It’s definitely guns.”

Yuhyun, Hyung is sorry. Chief Song, I’m not sorry today.