The S-Classes That I Raised

Chapter 534: Going to America (3)

“I’ll just watch this and then sleep. TV on actually helps me fall asleep better.”

Yerim said as she plugged an earphone into one ear. The moment Evelyn boarded the plane, she told me and Chief Song to please take good care of the Guild Leader, then retreated into a single-occupant seat. She also added that considering the time difference with America, it would be good to get some sleep before arrival.

As Evelyn said, it would be around afternoon when we arrived in America, so about two hours after the plane departed, I sent the kids to their seats telling them to get some rest. They were called seats, but they were practically private rooms. The beds were quite spacious, and there were separate chairs as well.

“I don’t need to sleep though.”

After Yerim, I forcibly pushed my brother—who asked if he couldn’t just stay in my seat with me—into bed as well. Yerim’s looked closer to a double than a super single, but Yuhyun’s was just a single. Still, this should be enough for Chief Song to rest comfortably too.

“Who knows when you’ll get to rest properly again. I have a drawer at least, but you don’t.”

We should rest when we can. Behave and sleep, I said as I even tucked in the blanket. The great thing about Yu Myungwoo’s smithy drawer or the King of Harmless’s drawer was that they became comfortable resting places I could use anytime. Mine was still hard to charge so I had to use it sparingly, but I felt newly grateful to the King of Harmless. While he’s at it, he should give one to each of the kids too. Looking at how they’re numbered, there must be many.

I closed Yuhyun’s seat door and went to my spot.

“Gyeol, did you brush your teeth?”

– Yees.

“Peace, front paws.”

– Kyang.

After wiping Peace’s paws with dog wipes, I set him down on the bed. Since Gyeol was small, I placed a separate cushion next to the pillow to serve as his bed.

“Gyeol, are you really going to attend the party with Seong Hyunjae? It might be dangerous, really. So it’s okay to go home even now. You can go with Yun Yun. Yerim said she’d switch teams for you too.”

If Gyeol went home, Yerim had said she’d team up with Seong Hyunjae. Evelyn refused to be on the same team as the Guild Leader, and I felt bad about making Chief Song handle Seong Hyunjae. At my words, Gyeol shook his head vigorously.

– I talked with Chirp too.

“…Huh? With Chirp? You can communicate?”

– Through feelings. If Dad or Gyeol are in danger while Chirp is watching the broadcast, he’ll come help. Since Gyeol is small, I can teleport together with Chirp.

It would be nice if Chirp helped, but through feelings? Still, on the off chance Gyeol got kidnapped or something, if I asked Chirp to find him… would that work? No, America is too far in the first place. Even when we came to Hong Kong before, it was beyond his capability.

“…Gyeol, you really won’t get hurt or anything, right?”

– Yeah! That’s my trait. Just as I can’t harm others, others can’t harm me either. …That’s why I can’t protect anyone though.

I stroked the dejected fairy dragon’s head with my finger.

“You don’t need to protect anyone. You being safe is what matters most.”

– Then Dad should do the same!

“Dad’s an adult.”

Gyeol’s face filled with discontent. After coaxing Gyeol to sleep and patting Peace as well, I went outside. In one corner of the small lounge was even a wine bar. This plane was a different aircraft from that pink private plane from before. Just how many private planes does he have? Haeyeon of course had a private plane too, but if we had to move together as a team anyway, it was better to use someone else’s money. We might break it again.

How safe could an airport be with S-ranks swarming in? We should conserve Haeyeon Guild’s assets. Instead, we planned to use separate private planes on the return trip. Since Dodam doesn’t have one yet, I’ll take Haeyeon’s. Chief Song… Haeyeon would be better than Sesung, right? What if he insists on taking a regular commercial flight? Let’s kidnap him then.

“Chief Song, you should sleep too. You must have been very busy all this time.”

I went over to Song Taewon, who was sitting with an untouched glass in front of him, and spoke. Obviously Seong Hyunjae must have forced it on him when he declined. Still, his sense was good, so he would have prepared something perfectly suited to Chief Song’s taste. He’s still too strict with himself. I reached out and pushed the glass closer to Chief Song.

“It’ll be a while before we arrive in America. This seems like it’s Breaker’s wine.”

“Mixed appropriately.”

Seong Hyunjae said while selecting a wine bottle from inside the bar.

“It seems our businesswoman will be taking quite a share this time as well.”

That was why Moon Hyunah had departed earlier than us. The party, the broadcast, and America—it was an opportunity to massively promote the wine that became known at the Japan gathering.

“I’m curious about the reaction of Breaker’s sponsors.”

“Not as the Breaker Guild Leader, but as Moon Hyunah the individual could become a big player in the liquor industry. As businessperson to businessperson rather than as a Hunter who’s a former athlete, her position would be quite different from now.”

I didn’t know the details well, but it seemed she planned to attach conditions like exclusive rights for a set period followed by disclosure of the manufacturing method for the American side. Since similar types of alcohol would inevitably appear eventually anyway, it was better to quickly receive sales approval in exchange for giving up what she’d give up.

Besides, what Hyunah wanted wasn’t the wine business but the guild’s independence. Even now, she occasionally complained to me that it really didn’t suit her temperament.

“Now then, Chief Song. Did you bring pajamas?”

I tapped the glass with my fingertips as I spoke.

“What about toothpaste and a toothbrush?”

“…I did bring those.”

“Then hurry up and down a glass before going in.”

“Or enjoying yourself with me while the children are asleep would be fine too.”

Chief Song picked up his glass.

“Are both of you going to sleep?”

“I’m going to bed. Seong Hyunjae will get bored and sleep too if left alone. Don’t worry until we arrive in America. What could happen on a plane?”

We’d have to behave if only to avoid dropping the plane. Crossing the Pacific Ocean with bare body wasn’t something even S-ranks should do. Song Taewon, who had emptied his glass in one gulp, stood up. His face was already shadowed with worry.

“We bought new toothpaste at our house and it’s really good. Should I lend it to you?”

“I’m fine.”

After Chief Song left, Seong Hyunjae mentioned that Director Song used salt toothpaste. How does he know that?

“Did you trespass into Chief Song’s home or something?”

“We’ve gone on overseas business trips together.”

You forced him to go because of you. Why are you talking like workplace colleagues?

“Your toothpaste was a bit sweet—opposite tastes.”

“That was for Han Yujin.”

Am I being treated like a child? Well, I was entrusted to be protected. Seong Hyunjae held out a glass to me as well. I sat in a chair and looked up at Seong Hyunjae with my chin propped up.

“What do you mean, elder’s words?”

Eyes like a deep moon curved slightly.

“Elderly people always have lengthy advice. Perhaps because of the long years they’ve let flow by.”

“Let’s exchange one for one. I’ll say one thing about myself too.”

“If it’s something mundane, I know everything.”

“Chief Song, there’s a stalker here.”

Right, Chief Song must be a victim too.

“Besides me and Chief Song, is there anyone else who should report you? I’m thinking of making a stalker victims’ gathering.”

“Of course not.”

At least that’s fortunate. Come to think of it, Seong Hyunjae could be considered a stalking victim of Crescent Moon too. That side is far more malicious though. Seong Hyunjae looked at me quietly before opening his mouth.

“Maintaining me isn’t an easy task, they said.”

“…I suppose so. You almost were in danger already.”

“So Seong Hyunjae must always prioritize Seong Hyunjae first. If I can’t firmly place myself as number one, I’ll be pushed aside.”

Did he mean that if he couldn’t endure and stand at the very top, he’d be swallowed by the things piled beneath his feet?

“Is that being lonely?”

“Prioritizing oneself isn’t bad. It’s even desirable. However, people sometimes devote their entire being and become immersed. The commonly called love, friendship. Or it could be work or hobbies.”

“…There are plenty of people who just live moderately though.”

Even as I said that, I thought it would indeed be lonely. People passionate about anything felt enjoyable just watching from the side. Not doing something and being completely unable to do it would be entirely different.

“And even in daily life.”

Seong Hyunjae tilted the bottle toward the glass in front of him.

“Trivially prioritizing others is common. Like feeding a child one more bite. That’s one of the charms of human relationships.”

“…Seong Hyunjae, you do things that take care of others too. Like Chief Song’s birthday present.”

“Fortunately for me, they’re grains of sand.”

Ah, yes. You instantly evaporate any sympathy I might feel. Are you saying that because you’re so exceptional, most things can’t even be called sacrifices? A mouse charging at a fox to protect a companion is a great sacrifice, but a lion just needs to yawn once and that’s it.

“What about when you got scolded last time?”

“It was one thing at a time.”

Tsk. But even if he’d said two things, three things, it didn’t seem like he’d have told me. At the gaze indicating it was my turn, I took a sip of alcohol and opened my mouth.

“Well, I.”

I.

“I don’t know how to like myself.”

Everyone worried about me and tried to take care of me. I wanted to respond to that too, but.

“As expected, I can’t. I know my worth, but nothing beyond that calculating aspect works.”

I knew the things Han Yujin did well. I knew he made efforts. I did think he deserved to be treated well and deserved recognition.

“Being able to bring it out.”

Seong Hyunjae continued in an unnecessarily gentle voice.

“Also means you’re ready to change.”

“…I hope so. I don’t know about other things, but I feel a bit sorry toward the people who like me.”

“The flight time is long, so getting moderately drunk would be fine too.”

“No, I should sleep.”

I emptied my glass and stood up. After washing up and going to my seat, Peace, who was still awake, wagged his tail. I petted Peace and lay down, turning off the lights.

After tossing and turning a bit, memories seemed about to project vividly on the inside of my eyelids, so I opened my eyes that I’d closed. Many things had changed and would continue to change. But there were also things that wouldn’t change. Even if I’d turned back time, a past that had become fixed remained for me. …Liking myself was impossible. How could I like myself?

I still couldn’t forgive myself.

As landing time approached, Yuhyun’s expression hardened. Not satisfied with just sticking close beside me, he half-embraced me while blatantly showing his low mood. Unable to watch anymore, Yerim kicked Yuhyun’s leg in irritation.

“You think you’re the only one worried about Mister?!”

Yuhyun ignored Yerim without batting an eye. Oh dear, Gyeol was also making a face like he was going to die. A baby less than a year old was continuously sighing deeply with the face of someone who’d lived a full life. In addition to worrying about me, he occasionally even shuddered, hating that he’d be going around with Seong Hyunjae.

– Haah, phew, living really does seem hard after all.

“I said you can go home.”

– Dad, when you live, you have to do things you don’t want to do sometimes.

…Gyeol, how long have you even lived to say that? Chief Song was also full of worries and concerns, and even Seong Hyunjae didn’t look in a particularly good mood. Evelyn even ate separately and tried to stay in her spot as much as possible.

Why is the atmosphere really like this? It’s like we’re going to a funeral, not a party. Well, it is a funeral home.

“Yuhyun, Chatterbox agreed to be responsible for my safety.”

I patted my brother’s arm wrapped around me as I spoke.

“He definitely won’t kill me, right? I’m more worried about you guys actually.”

“Hyung…”

[Hyung, Yuhyun really wants to devour you!]

Iryn climbed onto my hand and spoke. Right, rather than being separated, he wants to just end it that way. My brother is so good-natured—he’s enduring well.

“If it wasn’t for the plane, I would’ve jumped off.”

Yerim grumbled and plopped down on the sofa. Even though she said that, she was clearly showing worry about me too. She was probably acting like that on purpose to avoid adding to this gloom herself. It was okay not to act that way, but it must still be ingrained in her body. When the atmosphere turns bad, the one who feels most threatened is a young child living under someone else’s care. Either trying to change the atmosphere or becoming dead silent. It was a kind of instinctive survival strategy. Our house had biological parents though.

“Yerim, here.”

I took out a pendant from inventory and held it out to Yerim. It was the water spirit’s egg. Iryn bristled his tail in displeasure.

“It’s better for you to have this now.”

It would awaken soon even without my help, and then it would be better to keep it near the contractor, Ismuar had told me. Yerim took the pendant saying “Really?”

“Myungwoo made a cord to hang it with. The cord itself is sturdy, and the spirit’s egg won’t break, so it’s fine to keep wearing it.”

“Yes! So pretty.”

Yerim, who hung the pendant around her neck, beamed while stroking the softly glowing egg. Iryn, who had been glaring at it, turned his body sharply and returned to Yuhyun. I wonder if they’ll fight all the time once the water spirit is born.

Not long after, the landing announcement broadcast played.