The S-Classes That I Raised

Chapter 514: Dogfight (5)

His insides burned hot. Despite the endlessly falling rain coolly pounding Song Taewon’s entire body, heat rose within him. His own hand stretching out felt like someone else’s beyond a TV screen. Han Yujin barely avoided his punch by falling face-first to the ground. That sight also felt strangely unreal.

The ground was already soaked through and muddy. Song Taewon’s state was terrible, but Han Yujin was the same. Having rolled across the muddy ground several times, the originally white shirt was dyed a dingy brown.

Song Taewon’s foot flew toward the fallen Han Yujin. It was an ingrained movement. The moment he raised his upper body to get up, he’d break his ribs. But instead of getting up, Han Yujin raised his leg. Song Taewon’s kick struck Han Yujin’s leg, and Han Yujin’s heel hit Song Taewon’s leg.

Crack!

A sharp blade dug into Song Taewon’s leg. At some point, a blade had been protruding from the back of Han Yujin’s shoe. A blade that would leave quite a large wound just from stabbing deeply embedded itself with not only Han Yujin’s but also Song Taewon’s force added, and snapped off. At the same time, Han Yujin, who’d been kicked in the leg, tumbled away to a distance.

Song Taewon staggered and looked down at the leg with the blade embedded in it. Han Yujin, who’d crawled along the ground to put distance between them, picked up a wooden stick rolling around nearby.

“Just from getting kicked once.”

Whether it broke or just cracked, tingling pain crawled up. Han Yujin gritted his teeth and tied the wooden stick to his leg. Then he stubbornly got up again.

“…Why.”

“Why? What do you mean why?”

Han Yujin smiled and looked straight at Song Taewon.

“I’ve always lived like this.”

He spread both arms. Showing off his miserable state as if to display it.

“This is just how I am.”

This much was nothing. Han Yujin showed his teeth without being discouraged at all. Since his opponent was an ordinary—no, not ordinary, but unranked human, he’d be fine even without Fear Resistance. He’d gone into dungeons without that sort of thing from the start. He’d defied mid-rank Hunters stronger than the current Song Taewon multiple times. He’d even picked fights with high-rank Hunters.

Song Taewon looked at Han Yujin smiling fiercely in the rain. F-rank. Even now with ranks gone, he was still weak compared to him. Song Taewon was supposed to protect him. The leg tied with a wooden stick, unable to properly exert strength, entered his vision.

Normally, he should have subdued him easily, without injury. Song Taewon could have done that. Feeling his vision blur, Song Taewon blinked slowly. But the Song Taewon from moments ago had rushed at Han Yujin mercilessly. Despite saying he’d face him barehanded, he’d even kicked stones to attack.

Before he could organize his burning head, Han Yujin moved again. Despite injuring one leg, as if accustomed to that situation, he quickly approached the thrown bicycle and took something out of the pink shopping basket.

“You’d better dodge!”

Han Yujin shouted while throwing a round object toward Song Taewon. If it was one of Han Yujin’s possessions—a bomb. That word flashed through his mind and Song Taewon reflexively threw his body to the side. Jumping was difficult because of his injured leg. Song Taewon slid across the wet ground to dodge, and a ball bounced where he’d been. It was a baby monster’s toy.

There was no explosion. Without time to wonder, Han Yujin climbed on top of Song Taewon’s back. He’d rushed over at the same time as throwing the ball. Ignoring his leg wound tearing open, Song Taewon sprang up. But before that, wire wrapped around his neck.

“Kugh!”

Han Yujin pulled the wire forcefully while hanging with his full body weight. Song Taewon reached his uninjured arm behind his back to grab Han Yujin, but it was a position where removal with one hand was difficult. As his neck was choked even more deeply, Song Taewon exhaled his blocked breath and limped toward a nearby building. Then he turned his body and violently slammed his back against the wall.

Boom!

Han Yujin, who’d rolled off right before Song Taewon rammed the wall, pulled out a dagger and swung it toward Song Taewon’s uninjured leg. But before that—

Thud!

“Ugh!”

Song Taewon kicked Han Yujin. Han Yujin, who’d been kicked back unable to withstand it, threw something at Song Taewon again. He thought he’d been tricked again, but this time it glittered. Song Taewon hastily moved away, and the flat object that hit the wall screeched and spun round and round before stopping.

“What—”

“Myungwoo made it, Song will probably like it too.”

Shall I give you one as a gift—Han Yujin, who’d somehow picked up the Ruler’s Sword, rushed in while panting slightly. Of course his strength was far inferior, as was his stamina. Already quite exhausted, even the speed of swinging the sword had slowed. Song Taewon avoided the attack and the black blade stuck into the ground, splashing water. Song Taewon, who’d tried to grab the staggering Han Yujin—

“…!”

Felt his leg stiffen and backed away. The leg with the blade embedded went beyond simply limping and wouldn’t move properly.

“It’s Belare’s poison. Though right now, with skills not applied, it’s become ordinary snake venom.”

He’d turned off Poison Resistance, put it in a small bottle, and stored it in the inventory. If he took it out with Poison Resistance on, it would be immediately detoxified, and if he turned off Poison Resistance, it was troublesome to use, so there was no particular occasion to use it, but he’d kept it just in case. But now it was simple hemotoxin, so he could coat the blade with it.

It wasn’t enough to threaten life in a short time. However, it was enough to paralyze part of the body. Whether the sudden movement had spread the poison faster, even his uninjured leg had become slightly dull.

Taking a deep breath, Han Yujin rammed into Song Taewon. He tackled with his whole body—thud—but Song Taewon somehow endured and stood, grabbing Han Yujin with his remaining arm. The grabbed Han Yujin hung on Song Taewon’s arm with both arms in return. Then he repeatedly kicked up at Song Taewon’s abdomen with his knee.

Splash! The large body that had been staggering finally fell backward and muddy water splashed up. Han Yujin, who’d climbed on top of Song Taewon, swung his fist. He mercilessly struck his face and threw another punch, but this time only pounded the ground. Unable to withstand his own force, Han Yujin’s upper body swayed and toppled forward.

Panting breaths leaked out. Han Yujin’s body also held heat that couldn’t be cooled even by rainwater. Song Taewon’s hand grabbed Han Yujin’s neck and pressed it to the ground. Splash again—water splashed. Han Yujin’s fingers scratched at the hand pressing his neck, the arm. Gagging, he reached out to grab Song Taewon’s hair and tried to claw at his eyes with the other hand.

Song Taewon, who’d tried to dodge, couldn’t control his own body and fell to the side. The loosened hand was bitten all over, kicks came in succession, and blood was spat between gasping breaths.

It was a complete mess, literally. Struggling that couldn’t even be called fighting continued without breaking off. Both Han Yujin and Song Taewon were completely exhausted.

Song Taewon’s hand pushed to shake off Han Yujin, but unlike usual, far from being thrown far, he just flopped to the side and that was it. Han Yujin’s fist hit Song Taewon, but there was barely any sound. It felt like their bodies were sinking deep into the rainwater. His vision spun and his mouth tasted sweet.

“I really, hah—”

Han Yujin, who’d laboriously crawled on top of Song Taewon, raised his fist but stopped and gasped for breath. Han Yujin’s lips were split and a bruise had formed on his chin. In contrast, Song Taewon’s face was more intact. At the sight of not even a bruise despite being hit properly, Han Yujin giggled. Still, there were red lines on his neck.

Song Taewon raised his arm and grabbed Han Yujin’s arm. But that was as far as it went. He didn’t have strength left to push him away. Rainwater kept flowing into both their eyes.

“Look at us.”

With his ruined face, his body, Han Yujin laughed. The sky was dark and light flashed occasionally.

“Really… it’s funny. Why aren’t you laughing?”

“Nothing to laugh about…”

“Should I cry then?”

Song Taewon’s chest rose and fell greatly. It was cold yet hot. His lips, which seemed dry despite being soaked in rain, moved.

“I—”

“It’s not wrong.”

Han Yujin said.

“Your stubbornness, Chief Song, it’s not wrong either. The people who’d say it’s right… there’d be tons of them.”

It was a matter that could end with just two people—maybe even just one person—being sacrificed. There would definitely be people who’d not only turn a blind eye but actively support it.

“And my stubbornness too. Before the question of whether I’m capable, it’s not wrong.”

I wish everyone could be safe. How could this be called wrong? If only it succeeded, it would naturally be the most desirable result.

“Look at me. This is persuasion.”

Han Yujin continued while pointing at his ruined self.

“Not a fight, but persuasion that I can do this. It seemed like it wouldn’t work.”

“…Mr. Han Yujin.”

“Ah, really, my whole body hurts.”

Song Taewon looked up at Han Yujin, unable to easily continue his words. He looked refreshed. He knows that he himself, that Han Yujin seems inadequate. He knows well that Han Yujin is weak. He understands not being trusted.

So he shouted with his whole body.

Then Song Taewon—a habitual apology crawled up Song Taewon’s throat then was swallowed back down. Han Yujin had said his stubbornness was right too. Even while hurting, angry, and sad. Yet would it be right for him to apologize saying he was wrong?

“…I, I am—”

Song Taewon continued with difficulty.

“I am weak.”

“You were damn strong though.”

“I don’t trust myself.”

“I don’t particularly trust myself either.”

“…Even though Mr. Han Yujin said my actions were right too—”

Song Taewon’s eyes squeezed shut then opened again.

“I can’t say I didn’t want to run away.”

Weakly. He wanted to avoid it. It was hard to endure something being ruined because of himself, the possibility of that happening.

“I kept, closing my eyes…”

He’d forced himself to fit into a frame. He’d only looked at the Song Taewon who fit that frame.

“Chief Song.”

“I’m too out of place, and—”

When had he first felt that? Song Taewon exhaled with difficulty. Outside his frame was always bright yellow spring. The peaceful everyday scenery never grew tiresome no matter how long he just watched. Until then, it had still been okay.

Realizing he didn’t belong within it, he could be satisfied with just protecting. He deliberately didn’t think beyond that. He kept pretending not to know and avoiding it.

But when dungeons appeared and Awakened emerged, when he awakened, Song Taewon could no longer close his eyes.

The Awakened. Among them, especially S-rank Awakened. And… the monsters.

It was as if they stripped off Song Taewon’s shell and held up a mirror. So he had to block them too, somehow.

“Mr. Han Yujin calls me… a good person. But actually, I wanted to protect myself. Just selfishly, for my own sake.”

“What’s selfish about protecting yourself? No, how have you lived all this time to begin with, Chief Song? Anyone would say you’re a good person.”

“…I hate myself.”

“Chief Song.”

Song Taewon raised his arm and covered his two eyes.

“I hate myself.”

After meeting Han Yujin and watching the S-rank Hunters around him—deep in his heart, jealousy couldn’t help but take root. They looked happy. And he couldn’t say he didn’t feel happiness either. While turning his head and trying to remain alone, he even felt as if Song Taewon alone remained a monster.

It was bright yellow spring centered on Han Yujin. The monsters he’d thought were similar to him gathered by his side. Laughing normally, chattering normally.

“I… can’t. Now even more so…”

The lamb came to his side. It couldn’t help but be lovable. But Song Taewon—

From the dungeon in China to Hwang Rim’s words. He’d tried to accept it calmly, thinking ‘I see.’ Perhaps it was something he’d suspected for a long time. So he wanted to give up and leave.

“…I’m sorry after all. I still can’t accept myself.”

“Yes.”

Han Yujin spoke calmly.

“So what? That can happen. They tell you to love yourself, and you know it’s right, but just because it’s right doesn’t mean it’s all easily achieved.”

Only the words are easy—Han Yujin nodded.

“Just, a little more. I wish Chief Song would do things for himself just a little more at a time. I… am kind of like that too.”

“…”

“It’s not easy to take care of myself. Usually it should be easy, but… how to put it, it’s unpleasant, burdensome, and I feel… guilty too.”

Han Yujin’s gaze dropped downward. His fingertips twitched and trembled faintly.

“So I too, actually don’t have the right to say these things to Chief Song.”

“I think that’s not true.”

“You think so? Anyway, so let’s try a bit harder. We don’t know what’ll happen ahead, it might get harder, this might be irresponsible talk, but still.”

His voice cut off. Between the rain sounds, only breathing sounds mixed in palely. Both inside his chest and inside his head were complicated. Yet both of them felt the sensation of being blankly washed away.

“Is there a gun left?”

“Don’t know if it’ll shoot properly though.”

“I don’t know if I can accept myself. I’m not confident.”

Song Taewon lowered the arm that had covered his eyes. He met Han Yujin’s gaze.

“But I’ll speak honestly.”

Faintly, Song Taewon wore a weak smile.

“I hate it too. I also want to live a bit more.”

“…Yes.”

Han Yujin got up. He staggered as if about to fall while walking and eventually toppled over once. Then he got up again and picked up the pistol in the bicycle basket. Just in case, he’d wrapped it in plastic so it wasn’t wet. Holding it, he returned to Song Taewon.

“Let’s really have a proper drink together.”

A gunshot rang out.

“Ugh, feels like my whole body still aches.”

Right after shooting at Chief Song, I was moved to the waiting room. Having returned to my original body, I was fine without even a scratch, let alone muddy water stains. Yet I felt like my whole body hurt and was drooping.

“Mr. Seong Hyunjae is…”

My words stopped for a moment. What the hell is that? Seong Hyunjae was prettily sleeping nestled in a pile of hot pink yarn. The laundry basket was rolling around beside him.

Well, um. It was a sight that pissed me off somehow. While some people came back from suffering like dogs. His posture is really proper too. For now, he seems fine, so then Yuhyun and Chief Song should also be fine in that waiting room over there.