The S-Classes That I Raised

Chapter 544: Delroux (2)

“…Did Mister go find him? How did Mister disappear again? Oh, could he have hidden in a drawer?”

Park Yerim spoke quietly as if worried someone might hear. At those words, Han Yuhyun briefly shook his head.

“If it’s hyung, rather than hiding he would have headed to the island alone. There’s probably a reward for arriving safely too.”

“But we could help! He doesn’t not trust us, does he?”

Han Yuhyun ignored her as if it wasn’t worth answering. There was no way Han Yujin didn’t trust Han Yuhyun. Rather, it was the opposite—he secretly slipped away to avoid receiving help. Park Yerim lowered her voice even more.

“Even with the stealth skill buff, it would have been difficult to completely fool us. How did this happen?”

Han Yujin’s stealth skill was A-rank, but with the wildcat jacket’s buff, even S-ranks couldn’t easily notice. However, it was difficult to perfectly avoid Han Yuhyun, whose magic detection abilities were outstanding among S-ranks, and Park Yerim, who as a mage-type also had excellent magical abilities. Han Yuhyun had no guesses about even this.

Hunters who received the message started sneakily glancing their way. Park Yerim lowered her voice even more, enough that only Han Yuhyun right in front could barely hear.

“Peace seems to have followed, can’t you call him with Owner’s Mark?”

“No. You should know that.”

The Owner’s Mark effect only made them follow as a leader—it didn’t have strong compulsion.

“And Peace knows what I want.”

To protect Han Yujin. For both Han Yuhyun and Peace, that was the highest priority. Because they both wanted the same goal, Peace acted even more freely.

Bang!

Just then, the door leading to the stairs opened roughly as if it would break. Song Taewon looked around and approached the two with quick steps.

“Where is Hunter Han Yujin?”

“He disappeared.”

Park Yerim answered quietly. Song Taewon’s face darkened.

“Don’t worry too much. It’s Mister, after all. It would have been better if he went with us though…”

“If you moved together, all the hunters attending the party would have attacked. That’s why he disappeared alone. In a situation being broadcast, there’s nothing good about showing high-rank hunters destroying the city for personal gain.”

Even if the host took responsibility, what entered people’s eyes was the violence of S-rank hunters. If things went wrong, it would negatively affect Han Yujin, who was at the center of it all.

“Then Mister— oh, Hyunah unnie and Noah oppa arrived at the island. They left as soon as the message appeared, but they say you can’t leave once you enter. They each got a gold coin for first place.”

Park Yerim said while checking her phone.

“Soyeong unnie also left right away on a bike with Liette unnie. She’s asking if there’s anything to help with.”

“Hunter Liette should probably be on the island. Hunter Seong Hyunjae—”

Song Taewon stopped mid-sentence and turned his head. Seong Hyunjae was walking from the elevator direction. With a silver fairy dragon on his shoulder, he surveyed the gathered people with a leisurely gaze, then turned toward the hotel entrance. At the same time.

Kagagak!

Ruler’s Sword swung out long. The floor split blackly as if drawing a line, and fragments and sparks flew at Seong Hyunjae’s shoe tips. Seong Hyunjae glanced down at the gouged floor and crossed the drawn line as if it were nothing. Then this time.

Jjajajajak, cool mist scattered and the revolving door froze.

“Where are you rushing off to in such a hurry?”

“I appreciate the passionate attempt to stop me, but you two aren’t my type. I do keep social boundaries, you know.”

At his words declining children, Park Yerim’s eyebrows shot up sharply.

“You’re not my type either, you know? Face-wise, Han Yuhyun would be better—cancel that! There’s Noah oppa too! Anyway, let’s just talk.”

“A date with Yujin-gun takes priority, so I’d appreciate your understanding.”

“Even with Mister, age-wise on your ID it’s conscienceless! And you made a promise?”

“New York has aquariums too.”

As Seong Hyunjae tried to walk again, this time Song Taewon stopped him.

“Please wait.”

“Try seducing me more politely. I could give in if it’s you.”

While saying that, light shot up from Seong Hyunjae’s fingertips. Current surged along the long-frozen floor, and kwajangchang! The glass revolving door shattered to pieces. As he tried to go outside like that, Hangyeol grabbed Seong Hyunjae’s ear.

—Don’t go catch Dad!

Though whispering while practically burying his head in the ear, Seong Hyunjae didn’t stop walking. The reporters gathered outside wildly burst their flashes.

“Hunter Han Yujin!”

“SF!”

The message to catch first place must have already spread, as questions about where Han Yujin was poured out. Just then, surprised cries burst out among the people.

“Get away now!”

“Move!”

“Put up shields!”

Three or four hunters waiting among the reporters used defensive skills. People evacuated behind the hunters and shields in practiced fashion, and buuung—with a tremendous noise, a bike charged into the hotel entrance.

“Korean hunters! Where did you hide the F-rank!”

A hunter jumped off the bike and, adding to the momentum of running, kicked the bike as if pushing it. The heavy large bike flew toward Seong Hyunjae at a terrifying speed. But Seong Hyunjae didn’t budge. Instead, the one who blocked in front of him was Song Taewon.

Song Taewon’s leg lifted high and struck down on the bike. The bike split in two as if cut by a giant cutter and slammed into the ground. Simultaneously, Park Yerim instantly froze it so the bike wouldn’t catch fire.

“Perfect timing! Yes!”

“…”

“You agreed to the song! There are lots of reporters too!”

This is the American style, she studied hard, Park Yerim grumbled while Song Taewon pretended not to see. Meanwhile, Han Yuhyun stepped on Blue Willow Leaves and leapt up, swinging his sword at the attacking hunter. The hunter quickly dodged, but a long wound formed on the chest. Han Yuhyun stood upright in place and just flicked his wrist.

Chararak—the black sword changed to a chain sword, curved greatly and kwak! struck down right in front of the hunter’s feet. It was an attitude showing he could easily split the opponent in half but was going easy. The chain sword was withdrawn and Han Yuhyun coldly turned around without a word.

“Since hyung doesn’t seem to want things to escalate, I’ll cooperate.”

“Me too. Should I freeze Sesung ahjussi first?”

“I thought the little miss was on my side.”

“Thank you, Hunter Han Yuhyun, Hunter Park Yerim. Hunter Seong Hyunjae, I ask for your cooperation. First.”

Song Taewon lowered his voice.

“It would be good to pretend Han Yujin is still in the hotel.”

“Then I’ll slip out slightly. While holding a fake doll. I’ll lure them to the park lake out front, freeze them all, then go to the island.”

At Park Yerim’s words that fighting could escalate a bit there without problem, Song Taewon nodded. Park Yerim looked back at the reporters enthusiastically holding up cameras beyond the shield, then turned toward the hotel interior.

“I’ll block the entrance!”

Han Yuhyun’s sword flew toward where Park Yerim pointed with her finger. Water burst out and a huge ice wall was created around the hotel.

The wildcat set. To collect all the set items required quite a lot of points, so the remaining two had been left in inventory without taking them out until now. Since they were items only I could use anyway, I was reluctant to spend the points, but when I ended up attending Chatterbox’s party alone, I asked Rookie. Would these items be worth using?

Rookie said he’d check and took the gun, jacket, and shoes, then soon gave an answer.

[They’re items related to a Transcendent!]

White Tail Delroux. An ordinary cat that ate a dragon and grew into a Transcendent. The wildcat series were none other than items from the Transcendent that Seong Hyunjae entered in the Japanese dungeon. …They said wildcat, but in the end it was a cat. I was suspicious since the jacket skill name was cat. No wonder the rest of the wildcat set suddenly appeared in my inventory at that time—it seemed to be something like a reward for catching Delroux.

[I can’t know the exact performance of the gloves and belt though. Oh, it wasn’t there originally, but Honey entered a world related to Delroux with the items I gave, and it appeared while changing to suit that place, kind of a symbol, items created based on named beings like Transcendents…]

Rookie gave a long explanation about this and that, but the conclusion was they couldn’t check properly since it wasn’t properly registered in the system yet. But if it was a Transcendent’s item, I thought it was worth spending points on. Maybe because it was rental-bound, the required points were low compared to the grade.

So I finished equipping the remaining two items of the wildcat series.

[Spotted Wildcat’s Gloves – S-rank

Fingerless gloves with white tips cut off. The power of an animal pretending to be fierce dwells within.

Sharp Claws (A) – Fingernails sharpen and attack speed increases

※Han Yujin Rental Bound]

Black fingerless gloves with faint white paint at the ends, with a combat-type skill attached. However, since it was A-rank with an auxiliary effect of attack speed increase, the nails’ attack power wasn’t that high even with double effect. It was practically closer to an attack speed auxiliary skill, since swinging an A-rank dagger would be better than using nails.

It would be jackpot for high-rank hunters, but I thought it was a dud for me, but the attack speed increase applied to weapons too. In other words, it meant the magic gun charged faster. That wasn’t all. If it applied to weapons I was holding.

‘It means I can hold other people’s weapons together.’

I could apply double attack skill effects while simultaneously increasing weapon attack speed.

[Dappled Wildcat’s Belt – S-rank

A soft, slender belt. The power of an animal moving lightly and flexibly dwells within.

Squishy Squishy (A) – Body becomes flexible and jumping and landing abilities increase

※Han Yujin Rental Bound]

The skill attached to the black belt with only the buckle part white was physical ability enhancement. These kinds of auxiliary skills usually weren’t relative to the wearer’s body, so it didn’t mean abilities increased to A-rank level, but for me who was a wooden block compared to S-ranks, even this much was grateful.

Each item’s performance was satisfactory. And finally, when I equipped all five series items, a set effect appeared.

[You have equipped all of young White Tail Delroux’s equipment.]

[‘Cat that Swallowed a Dragon’ reacts to ‘Dragon Slayer’!]

[Set Skill – White Tail Delroux (A), Dragon Expert (F)]

[‘Dragon Expert’ detects dragons belonging to the wearer!]

[Dragon Expert skill’s grade increases to C!]

Perhaps because it was an existence that hunted the same dragon, influenced by the Dragon Slayer title, a new set skill appeared. Additionally, the Dragon Expert skill’s grade increased. Belonging dragons probably meant Noah, Comet, and Mar registered to the keyword. Maybe even Iryn and Hangyeol.

[Dragon Expert (C) – Catch or eat or raise or etc etc! You can obtain information about dragonkin and things related to dragonkin.]

[White Tail Delroux (A) – From young Delroux to Transcendent Delroux. Can perfectly transform into Delroux. However, stats don’t change. Can use Delroux’s skills according to skill grade.]

Both were somehow ambiguous. Dragon Expert seemed useful when dealing with dragonkin monsters, but I rarely had occasions to join dungeon raids. And the Delroux transformation skill.

‘…What use is it if stats stay the same?’

Even transforming into a Transcendent’s appearance, if I’m F-rank it’s a paper tiger. Even young Delroux was.

‘Just a cat.’

Recalling events before departing for America, I looked up at the tall buildings. Between the buildings, pieces of blue sky showed through. When I lowered my head and dropped my gaze, small front paws entered my view. They said spotted gloves, but only the paws were white. The black jacket made the body black, the white gun was the tail tip, and the shoes.

I looked at the cat paw pads. Right now they were ordinarily pink, but when using the Nimble Adhesion skill.

‘…’

They sparkled gold. Opposite of the boots. The dappled belt didn’t seem to show since it was a black base, but the buckle part—the fur on the belly was white like a white spot. When I transformed at home before, I was so shocked I immediately returned to normal, so I couldn’t examine it closely.

‘Seong Hyunjae’s tail was completely white, so does the Transcendent become a giant white cat?’

Anyway, thanks to this I could safely escape the hotel now. When Yerim discovered me, I thought I’d be caught, but they said perfect transformation, and indeed even S-ranks couldn’t recognize me.

‘I didn’t tell the kids about this either.’

Because… revealing the set skill effect was embarrassing. I was especially scared Yerim would find out. She might cling to me begging to stay as a cat at home the whole time. She’d definitely put a ribbon on my neck and dress me up, and before long there would be more cat clothes than human clothes. In various colors. Lace and frills would 100% definitely be attached.

So I had to hide it until the end if possible. I couldn’t be caught.

Recalling the Manhattan map I’d checked in advance, I entered an alley. When transformed into Delroux, I couldn’t properly use the active skills I possessed. They said perfect transformation, but even the magic flow in my body had changed. Fortunately, passive skills like poison resistance and fear resistance and equipped item skills had no problem.

‘It’s a shame I can’t use stealth.’

Still, what could happen? I’m just a cat. Grace was the same too. The wildcat set became like part of my body, and other clothes and phone… I wasn’t sure but it seemed they were somehow stored well. When I returned to normal at home, I was properly clothed. And Grace became a necklace. Other items went to inventory as unable to equip.

In other words.

‘…Let’s not think about it.’

Animals don’t normally wear clothes. Fur is clothing. Mm, right, let’s not imagine in detail.

Like this, after getting as far from the hotel as possible, I’d return to human, cover my face, catch a taxi. And after arriving near the island, secretly board a boat… I don’t know if I can arrive in time. But they didn’t say not to be late.

Anyway, as long as I’m not caught—

—Uuuung, uung.

Just then, a low cat sound was heard. There must be stray cats in New York too, naturally. But why was it angry? Did cats get in a fight or something?

—Uuuuung, nyaaak!

Whoosh, something darkish jumped in front of me. It was a fairly large tabby cat. Hello would be too much with ears laid back and tail fluffed… oh, wait.

‘Is this that… territory invasion?’

Come to think of it, I was currently a strange cat. The tabby cat glared at me, showing very uncomfortable feelings. A suddenly appearing intruder who even after warning has no reaction and just stares back—that’s the situation. How are my ears and tail right now? Um excuse me, I don’t know cat language well…

—Nya, meow…

When I awkwardly made a sound, the tabby cat flapped its ears. Then opening its mouth.

—Hak!

Got angry. I, I didn’t expect this. Did it come hearing the sound? Another cat also poked its head out from a building gap. No, hey. I have no intention of fighting. I’ll just pass through, I appealed with my heart and unconsciously raised one hand—front paw.

—?! Uuuung!

Then the tabby cat jerked its head back and also swung its front paw. Oh no, wait, wait. I surrender, surrender. I quickly flipped my body to show my belly. And earnestly avoided eye contact too. Look, not fighting. I offered my belly saying catch and eat me. Give me a break.

The tabby cat still fiercely uung-ing approached me. Do I have to fight a cat? That’s a bit… as I was considering running away.

…!

Not just the tabby cat but the watching cats all suddenly fled in shock. As I wondered what and tried to jump up my body, a red-furred paw pressed down on my belly.

—Eek!

What, Peace?