The S-Classes That I Raised

Chapter 522: My Image Rights (1)

“Let’s head out right now.”

I forced myself to stand. I tried not to think too deeply about it, but it wasn’t easy.

“Reporters are gathering in front of the breeding facility. Hunter Noah sent out all the outsiders along with Haeyeon hunters, but there’s a high chance people will block the car. Some people exploit the fact that hunters are reluctant to lay hands on non-awakened individuals.”

Yuhyun said. Moon Hyunah agreed with his words.

“We could just subdue civilians carefully without hurting them and clear them out, but some reporters are vicious. More importantly, it might be fine normally, but right now it’s better not to do anything that’ll worsen our image. …Especially for hyung-nim.”

If things went wrong, nonsense like “Han Yujin assaulted a reporter to hide the fact he obtained the invitation through cheating” might come out. Even if that was the case for me, it would be problematic if they claimed Han Yuhyun or Park Yerim caused trouble trying to protect me.

“My friends said they’re taking Mister’s side.”

Yerim said, glancing at me cautiously. I felt bad for making her worry unnecessarily.

“There are lots of people like that. Since both me and Han Yuhyun announced we have invitations, the atmosphere has changed now.”

“Yeah. I think I’ll be okay too.”

It should still be better than before my regression. Right now, there were many people who would take my side.

“Hyung, you should rather use a stealth skill and go with Hunter Noah…”

Yuhyun stopped mid-sentence and pulled me into a hug.

“Should we just go home?”

My younger brother whispered quietly.

“What are you talking about? You can’t get in without me.”

“I… still don’t really understand. Maybe if it were you, but to me they’re people who don’t matter either way. I don’t know them and they don’t know me. They’re just seeing the outward Haeyeon Guild Leader and talking as they please. So they have no effect on me.”

“…Yuhyun.”

“But I do know that people—that you have a hard time with unkind words from complete strangers. So hyung, comforting you with words isn’t easy, but…”

Yuhyun carefully chose his words, trying to soothe me somehow.

“…Let’s just kill them all.”

Huh?

“…No, that’s a bit much. You can’t kill people just for leaving malicious comments.”

“Whether it’s words or a blade, you getting hurt is the same. If it’s okay to kill opponents who come at you with weapons, then words should be the same.”

It was strangely persuasive.

“But still, you don’t die from being cursed at. Even if they’re holding weapons, you should avoid killing if possible. Chief Song is here too.”

Yuhyun’s suggestion was extreme, but thanks to it, I felt a bit better. Right now, my younger brother was also protecting me. That fact itself was comforting.

“In this case, we should cut off fingers.”

Seong Hyunjae said. What nonsense was this bastard spouting now?

“Instead of the tongue.”

“Stop tormenting Chief Song.”

Song Taewon, who had been listening silently, swallowed a sigh and spoke.

“I would ask that you pursue legal action through proper procedures.”

“That is the normal way.”

“Additionally…”

Song Taewon hesitated slightly before continuing.

“As you know, Han Yujin-ssi’s stats are F-rank. While you’re registered as a mid-level hunter, courts actually make judgments centered on stats.”

I wondered what he meant, then realized immediately. Since I was F-rank, me personally laying hands on non-awakened individuals without using items wouldn’t be much of a problem. For Chief Song to say such things, even indirectly—had my expression looked that bad? Moon Hyunah also caught the underlying meaning and let out a laugh.

“True, at most it’d be a fine, and there are many cases of suspended prosecution or acquittal. Hyung-nim, if it’s really hard, just ram into them and settle it with money.”

“If you’re going to do that, mutual assault would be better. Use Grace under a CCTV, and ask Seong Hyunjae-ssi’s hospital for the medical certificate.”

Since the hospital owner was present, perfect fraud was possible.

“Should I actually try it with two or three people? When all’s said and done, I’m very useful, so if I spend some time hospitalized, public opinion will change quickly. Something like ‘I sued them but met them in person to show leniency, only to be assaulted.'”

Though we were just talking since we’d be more ruined if caught. No wait, if I really got hurt without using Grace, there’d be nothing to catch. It would be the truth. Of course, there would still be people cursing even over that…

“As Han Yujin said, the value of the Monster Mounts Breeding Facility director is incomparable. So actually, why would Han Yujin…”

Seong Hyunjae stopped mid-sentence and looked at me and Yuhyun.

“It’s because of Han Yuhyun.”

He was talking about before my regression. I reflexively glared at Seong Hyunjae.

“It’s not Yuhyun’s fault.”

“Hyung.”

“Don’t say unnecessary things.”

“In Han Yujin’s position, these are words not worth caring about.”

At the muttering that sounded almost like talking to himself, Moon Hyunah clicked her tongue.

“You think everyone’s like you?”

“Looking at just the current Han Yujin, being self-confident to the point of arrogance would be normal. Like any S-rank hunter. Even the wealthy or politicians who climbed up gradually rather than through sudden awakening easily forget the past and act like kings, don’t they?”

“Well, yeah.”

Moon Hyunah shrugged slightly.

“Hyung-nim does underestimate himself too much. But it’s still the fault of the people cursing.”

“Of course.”

Seong Hyunjae looked at me again.

“If Han Yujin wishes it, I’ll cleanly handle them anytime.”

“…No thanks.”

“And I’ll keep my promise not to lay hands on the young master, so you don’t need to bare your teeth at me.”

Even though Seong Hyunjae said that, my jaw still clenched. What if the same result came about again, a similar ending? Even with Fear Resistance, I was afraid. Things had definitely changed a lot. But dangers still lurked, and I could lose everything again at any time.

I took a deep breath. I needed to stop thinking about before my regression.

“Like you said, Yuhyun, I’ll slip out separately. If Noah leaves the building, it’ll raise suspicion. I just need to head over to Haeyeon alone. Tell them to prepare a car at Haeyeon.”

“…Okay. Be careful, hyung.”

“Don’t worry, the dungeon’s close by. Haeyeon will have hunters accompany me too.”

I didn’t have a driver’s license anyway.

“Just in case, we can’t all enter the dungeon, right?”

“I need to head back.”

Song Taewon said. Indeed, in this situation, Chief Song couldn’t be away for long. Even now it must be chaotic.

“I’ll do an interview with Chief Song or something.”

Moon Hyunah lightly raised one hand and continued.

“I wasn’t even on the broadcast with hyung-nim, and I’m the least involved party, so to speak. Should I say I received an invitation with hyung-nim’s help?”

“Is that okay? You refused my help before.”

“This is personal, and it’s the truth. I easily got bonuses thanks to hyung-nim. And if we’re talking about it, both Haeyeon and Sesung should say they benefited from hyung-nim. Not in detail, but something like ‘Director Han Yujin was the first to obtain an invitation in Korea and also shared information with us.'”

It wasn’t a lie, and that much seemed fine.

“Then I’ll leave it to you. Yuhyun, Yerim—it’d probably be better to just use skills to come to the dungeon rather than taking a car. Then they can’t block you either.”

“Got it, Mister. I wish I had a stealth skill too. Then I could join in the middle.”

“And what about you, Seong Hyunjae-ssi?”

“Shall I do an interview with the Breaker Guild Leader?”

“What? You’re not going to the dungeon with us?”

At my words, Seong Hyunjae tilted his head slightly.

“I think I’ll get scolded.”

“What are you… wait, what did you do?”

If he’d get scolded, only the elder came to mind. He had been suspicious in many ways.

“You said the elder taught you that method!”

“That was true. Anyway, I’ll pass for today.”

“Grab him.”

Moon Hyunah approached from behind Seong Hyunjae, and Song Taewon blocked the door. Yerim went to the break room to turn on the water, and Yuhyun also took out wire.

“What are you trying to avoid? You’re not an adult going to the dentist for the first time in ten years.”

“Not a child?”

“This is why bourgeoisie are like this.”

“Han Yujin should belong to that side now too.”

“Be quiet. Now say ‘ah.'”

Seeing the cookie in my hand, Seong Hyunjae firmly shut his mouth. With the current personnel, there was no way we couldn’t catch him, but this was my breeding facility. If I made him tiny and wrapped him up like a mummy with S-rank wire, then held him enclosed in my hands, he couldn’t escape because of Grace. Even if he used skills, they’d be blocked by Damage Nullification. He couldn’t cancel the cookie effect either.

“Don’t be stubborn.”

Seong Hyunjae shook his head with his mouth closed. Should I try using Hush-a-Bye once? Would it work? Then Yuhyun said to me.

“Hyung, if you eat a cookie, I can go with you too, right?”

“Ah, right! Mister! Me too!”

Yerim also shouted, coming out carrying a mass of water.

“Let’s go together! It’s always the case, but especially now I don’t want to leave Mister alone.”

“It would be good for you two to be seen leaving the breeding facility… Yeah, let’s do that. We can pretend to put you in a tinted car and send you out.”

I gave Yuhyun and Yerim one cookie each. Then I thrust the cookie at Seong Hyunjae’s mouth again.

“Hurry up and eat it. The kids are eating well, yet here you are as an adult old enough to be their father.”

Why was he just shaking his head?

“No matter how great you are, you can’t escape from here. If you destroy the breeding facility, I’ll blow up Sesung Guild too, so open your mouth obediently.”

“You’re, being, too, much.”

Seong Hyunjae said while dodging my hand. Yerim surrounded him with water, and Moon Hyunah grabbed Seong Hyunjae’s head from behind to hold it in place.

“Let’s go receive treatment from the elder. Be good now, ah.”

In the end, Seong Hyunjae accepted the cookie as if he had no choice. Then he said he’d follow obediently. He should have done that from the start.

“Now then, kids. Come here.”

Tiny Yuhyun stepped on Blue Willow Leaves and climbed onto my shoulder. Yerim, who had also become small, floated up and circled around me. Ah, they’re both really cute.

– Yuhyuuuun!

Iryn tried to hug Yuhyun sitting on my shoulder, but when Yuhyun dodged, he tumbled forward. Still not disappointed, he circled around Yuhyun excitedly.

– Hyung, hyung! Hug me instead of Rin! Tell me I’m cute!

“Of course you’re cute. Super cute.”

Hugging was difficult, so instead I stroked his head with my fingertip. Yuhyun firmly hugged my hand with both arms and pressed his cheek against it.

“Han Yuhyun is acting cute again.”

Yerim shot a ball of water the size of a head—now the size of a marble—toward Yuhyun. As always, Yuhyun also raised flames to evaporate the incoming water. Normally the entire room would have become hazy, but now it was about as much as steam rising from a coffee cup.

“He is cute. Even Seong Hyunjae is cute.”

Moon Hyunah said, extending her finger to Yerim. Yerim smacked Moon Hyunah’s finger with her palm.

“We’ll be back! Take care of things, unni.”

I picked up Seong Hyunjae and put him in my coat pocket. It was a large pocket, so he slipped inside then hooked both arms outside and stuck his head out. As Hyunah-ssi said, even Seong Hyunjae was cute. After contacting Haeyeon, I went outside with the stealth skill active. In front of the high wall, I changed into the Lynx Boots and climbed over the wall.

At the public parking lot behind the Haeyeon building, a car with its back door left open as promised was parked. As soon as I quickly got in the car and closed the back door, the hunter in the driver’s seat flinched and turned around.

“Is that you, Director Han Yujin?”

“Yes. Please depart.”

Since there might be people watching, I’d asked them to deliberately send a car without tinting. From outside, it would look like only one Haeyeon hunter had gotten in.

“Don’t you have anything to eat? Right now it would be huge.”

Yerim said, sitting on the opposite shoulder from Yuhyun and swinging her legs.

“Now that you mention it, it’s almost lunchtime. Though we did eat breakfast late.”

I looked down at Seong Hyunjae climbing out of my coat pocket.

“Are you hungry? Should we buy something to take?”

“I’m fine, but Han Yujin should eat.”

“Right, hyung needs to have lunch.”

“There’s a hamburger place just ahead! I just can’t have carbonation and fried food. I want french fries. And chicken legs and cheese sticks.”

Yerim looked up at me with an expectant expression. Her tiny eyes seemed to sparkle. Unable to disappoint that gaze, I asked the Haeyeon hunter to buy two hamburger and chicken sets. Including cheese sticks and corn salad. Yerim hugged a chicken leg happily.

“Look at this! It’s huge, right!”

“You’ll get grease on your clothes like that. Here, Yuhyun.”

I cut the hamburger patty and vegetables with a knife and gave them to my younger brother. I also handed Seong Hyunjae some french fries.

“The skin is too thick.”

Drops of cola floated up along the cola straw and flew to Yerim. Yerim gulped down the cola drops that had been divided even smaller.

“They put on too much salt.”

“Want some cola too, Sesung mister? Here.”

“Thank you.”

“Han Yuhyun, want some too?”

Yuhyun shook his head.

“Hyung, don’t drink cola either.”

“But this one’s supposed to be diet cola.”

While eating a simple lunch, the car arrived in front of the dungeon building. I went inside with the stealth skill still active and knocked on the gate.

[Honey!]

As soon as I entered the dungeon, a volleyball popped out.