The S-Classes That I Raised

Chapter 531: Before the Party (4)

Whoooosh! Sand sprayed up like a wave as Song Taewon was pushed back in a long slide. Skills other than Plunder were forbidden, strengthening the body with mana was also forbidden. Under the condition to block attacks using only Plunder, Song Taewon followed faithfully, but it wasn’t easy.

Song Taewon straightened his disheveled posture while rubbing his forearm that had taken Young Chaos’s kick head-on because he’d failed to apply the skill in time.

“Please, once more.”

“You’re cracked, you bastard. Pretty one, heal him.”

Noah, who’d been on standby, used a healing skill on Song Taewon. Noah was pretty, but still, calling him that so openly was a bit… Looking closely, the Elder had no sense at all. Between the Elder and Hamin, I seemed the most decent.

Song Taewon lightly bowed his head to Noah in thanks and took a stance to receive Young Chaos’s attack again.

Before leaving for America to attend Chatterbox’s party, we’d all rushed to visit Young Chaos one last time. Though we’d visited here and there in between, this was the first time we’d all come together like this. Young Chaos frowned, asking why this mob was here, but didn’t seem to particularly dislike it. Then he examined Yuhyun, Yerim, me, and finally Song Taewon.

“It really is strange.”

Young Chaos said, kicking Song Taewon’s shoulder as if stepping on it before spinning down.

“No matter how much it’s power overflowing your vessel, to be this clumsy with something you’ve possessed since birth.”

“Chief Song, urk, hated it. Right, Yuhyun, wait a moment. So maybe he unconsciously rejected it?”

According to the Elder, Chief Song handled the Plunder skill really, extremely poorly compared to his abilities. His skill utilization itself was excellent. But the power Plunder possessed was too weak. Originally, with Chief Song’s body—if he were an S-rank combat type—he should be able to draw out enough Plunder to at least wrap around one arm.

“He’s definitely suppressing it.”

At Young Chaos’s gaze, Song Taewon lowered his eyes slightly.

“…I’m not sure myself.”

“It’s probably become such a long habit that you can’t even feel it yourself. At this level, probably since childhood. By any chance, was there anything that could have triggered it when you were young?”

“Not that I remember.”

“Chief Song can’t be trust—ack!”

Yuhyun, go easy when your brother’s talking. Rookie, who’d been watching Yuhyun knead my body from the side, said slyly.

[Honey, I could do much better. Tentacles are the best. Much softer and less painful. They even have heating, vibration, and moisturizing effects! Low frequency too!]

“I said no.”

“Hyung, try lying on your side.”

[If you just experience it once, you’ll change your mind!]

Rookie had been preaching the usefulness of tentacles to me every time we met lately. Probably because Myungwoo had rejected tentacles on the grounds that I disliked them. Why did he keep trying to attach tentacles to perfectly fine people’s bodies?

“You can’t trust what Chief Song says about himself. It’s always ‘I’m fine,’ ‘no,’ ‘don’t worry.'”

“He’s like you, eldest.”

“What do you mean? Chief Song is worse.”

Song Taewon’s eyes glanced at me. Why? It’s true though. Still, I’m better than Chief Song.

“Or are you afraid of yourself?”

The thin wooden stick in Young Chaos’s hand swung with terrifying power. Bang—the sound of air bursting assaulted my ears. If it were a bare body without skills or mana protection, even an S-rank would have their skin torn and flesh gouged out. A black shadow wrapped around Song Taewon’s forearm and blocked the wooden stick. The stick bounced off with a thunk, then instantly changed direction to stab toward Song Taewon’s waist.

“Divide your power!”

The Elder shouted and mercilessly pierced Song Taewon’s side. I felt like groaning watching it, but Chief Song didn’t even twitch an eyebrow as he stepped back and pulled out the stick embedded in his body.

“If you can’t keep up with the speed, split it! Why can’t you properly divide the shadow when you handle your own body and mana so skillfully? That’s your power too.”

The Elder clicked his tongue and turned toward me.

“When the eldest used his skill on you, you said the range also widened. That was probably a kind of placebo effect.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. It’s also strange that your skill works on a power that devours everything, skills and all.”

Whoa, now that I heard it, that made sense. Did it mean support skills didn’t work on Plunder targets?

[It’s possible, honey. Doubling attack skill effects doesn’t just increase skill power. It also helps you adapt to the doubled skill right away. If your power suddenly doubles, it becomes hard to properly control your body, right? Since it assists with that too, maybe just that assistance effect allowed Shadow to use the shadow better.]

It was an effect that other support skills basically had. Chief Song just silently listened to our words.

“Still, normally if you’re suppressing your own power, it should burst out when your body’s in danger. …Though I guess that’s exactly why you’ve been safe all this time.”

…Even if it meant losing his life. Just like how he’d never devoured Seong Hyunjae to the very end. Song Taewon looked down at Young Chaos, who was much smaller than him, with calmly settled eyes.

“Then is it safer to leave it in this state?”

“If you’re fine remaining an ordinary S-rank Hunter.”

The problem was, even if Chief Song wanted that, those around him wouldn’t leave him alone. Just as he’d become an awakened. Though he wasn’t the type to step back and turn a blind eye in the first place.

“I don’t know if it’s a mental issue or if there was some other intervention, but for now, try thinking of your power’s limits more broadly and using it. Like it or not, the shadow is yours too.”

Right. But accepting yourself… was harder than you’d think. Unless you were like Mr. Seong Something who was kneeling on the floor today. Seong Hyunjae must have really gotten on the Elder’s bad side, since he was on the floor again this time. Yet even so, he was elegantly drinking tea.

“I still don’t see how the young master resembles him.”

Moon Hyunah whispered quietly to Yerim, who sat at the same table.

“The atmosphere is completely different.”

“Their appearances are a bit similar though.”

“That’s true, but the eye color is completely different. Anyway, just seeing how he handles Seong Hyunjae, he’s definitely a good person.”

Hyunah had even applauded seeing Seong Hyunjae obediently kneel. Then Young Chaos seemed quite taken with her after her jest about becoming the Elder’s fan.

Thud—Song Taewon’s body was thrown onto the sandy ground with a sound. Chief Song’s hand-to-hand combat was no joke either, but he still couldn’t match the Elder. Moon Hyunah exclaimed softly in admiration and Yerim let out an envious sound.

“I still can’t even follow Grandfather’s movements.”

Everyone was observing the two intently. Except for Myungwoo and Rookie. Rookie had been fussing beside me the whole time, and Myungwoo was finishing work on a translation item. With Rookie’s slight help, he’d succeeded in making a translation item, but there were still some errors, he said.

The translation item was welcome, but another item Myungwoo had lent me also seemed incredibly useful.

“Then shall we do the lottery soon?”

At my words, Rookie created a round container.

“Pick a color. Yuhyun, if you’re drawn, you’re going without a word.”

“…I think we should hear Peace’s opinion too.”

“You think Peace will want to go with you?”

“If he knows hyung’s going alone, he’ll obviously want to come along.”

Mm, that did seem likely.

“Anyway, let’s decide by lottery first. I’ll put Peace’s ball in too. Evelyn said anyone left over was fine. Liette decided to go with Soyoung. And Seong Hyunjae…”

“Has a prior engagement.”

…Would Gyeol really be okay? I was worried, but for now I had the remaining people pick colors.

“I’ll draw on behalf of everyone.”

S-ranks were so sensitive. Rookie said the balls were perfectly identical, but you never knew. I put my hand in the container and drew a ball. Yellow—it was Yerim.

“If Yuhyun comes out, we’ll redraw due to attribute issues.”

We’d decided to determine by lottery, but basic compatibility still had to match. The second ball was black.

“It’s the civil servant mister! Please take care of me.”

“I’ll be in your care as well.”

It was a good combination. Since Chief Song was reliable, I could worry less about Yerim. The third ball was blue—Moon Hyunah. And the fourth ball was red—Noah.

“I’m on a team with our pretty one.”

“I’ll be in your care, Breaker Guild Leader.”

“I told you to comfortably call me noona. Or call me Hyunah like hyung-nim does.”

Moon Hyunah said with a pleased laugh. Now what remained were Yuhyun, Evelyn, and Peace.

“Yuhyun, how about just going with Evelyn? It seems like it’d be fine.”

“I prefer Peace.”

My brother said stubbornly.

“We’ve coordinated most often too. Even if they’re long-range with excellent support abilities, an opponent I’ve never properly fought with is uncomfortable.”

“Mister, that’s just whining. Han Yuhyun always charges out alone anyway, so he doesn’t even care about that. He’s acting like this because going with Peace lets him move faster. To quickly join up with you.”

Yuhyun’s words were right, but Yerim’s words also sounded plausible. Plus, Evelyn also needed a team member. As if sensing my inner thoughts, Seong Hyunjae opened his mouth.

“With just an invitation, Miller can choose as she pleases, so don’t worry.”

“That’s true. Evelyn, do you have any close Hunters abroad?”

“If there are, there are.”

Saying that, Seong Hyunjae turned his gaze to Moon Hyunah. Moon Hyunah, who’d been resting her chin on her hand, pursed her lips asking “why?”

“If it really doesn’t work out, Seong Hyunjae could go with her. If I can pacify Gyeol, that is.”

“One of Hunter Miller’s Sesung contract conditions was refusal to accompany the Guild Leader on dungeon conquests except when absolutely necessary—when there’s truly no other choice.”

So “anyone left over” apparently meant anyone except Seong Hyunjae, who already had a team member.

“Or should I go too?”

Myungwoo, who’d just been watching us, said.

“It’s dangerous!”

[Right! Junior should take care of his body!]

Rookie and I stopped Myungwoo in alarm. Myungwoo laughed and spun the metal rod he’d been holding between his fingers.

“They’re guaranteeing safety. Plus, S-rank Hunters can’t easily lay a hand on me.”

“Well… that’s true, but.”

The fact that Myungwoo had upgraded SS-rank weapons had even been revealed to the S-ranks who attended the gathering. Though they seemed to be keeping quiet to reduce competitors, by now the rumor must have spread enough among S-ranks. So rather than antagonizing Myungwoo for an SS-rank weapon they might obtain, it would be more profitable to kindly yield and aim for long-term transactions.

[The Filial Duty Addicts side might target you! Blacksmith is like a key very advantageous for protecting the world!]

The volleyball bounced and spun around in front of Myungwoo. Even its color kept changing red, blue, yellow. In the past, he’d said even if this world ended, he’d extract Myungwoo.

[Let’s do fun and educational crafting together! Should I show you one of my workshops? It’s not normally allowed, but just a peek. There are lots of rare materials too. You can’t take them out, but handling them should be fine.]

Rookie was desperate. He earnestly coaxed Myungwoo, saying he’d give this or that. Though he said “person necessary for protecting the world,” it was obvious he was doing this from extremely personal feelings. He was like a dog earnestly blocking an owner trying to go out.

Anyway, for now we decided to ask Evelyn’s opinion. Evelyn might want to accompany another Hunter she knew rather than Yuhyun.

[I’ll make it so you can visit honey’s dungeon from America too!]

“Yeah, thanks.”

“Eldest.”

Young Chaos approached and said to me.

“Don’t be too hurt by people.”

“Well… there’s nothing more to receive anyway.”

It was too late to be sensitive now. At my words, the Elder made a very displeased expression.

“Even if someone’s a hero who saved the world several times, there will inevitably be people who hate them. There are even people who become hostile like enemies for truly trivial reasons—simply because they passed in front of them.”

“Well… is that perhaps from experience?”

“Not me. I heard a story about someone being resented for supposedly deliberately showing off their excellence.”

That would be truly unfair.

“Whatever anyone says, it’s not your fault. Even if you choose the people around you instead of the world.”

“…I think I’d get massively criticized for that though.”

“Then tell those criticizing bastards to save the world themselves! Even if you save it, you’ll get criticized. Just less of it.”

True, even Yuhyun, who conquered dungeons to protect the world—or more precisely, me—had people criticizing him.

“Elder, weren’t you on the world-saving side?”

“I do it because I want to. That doesn’t mean live selfishly though. You should live like a human. But there’s no need to sacrifice yourself.”

Young Chaos lightly patted my arm and turned to Seong Hyunjae.

“Conversely, you should live selfishly.”

He seemed to already be doing that though. The Elder approached Seong Hyunjae.

“Always put yourself first. Just as you are now. Sacrifice is a luxury for you.”

Seong Hyunjae tilted his head slightly, then wore a faint smile.

“That’s a rather lonely story.”

“Don’t exaggerate.”

The Elder made an extremely faint expression, so subtle it was barely visible—a delicate look tinged with sympathy. We greeted Young Chaos and Rookie and went outside.