The S-Classes That I Raised

Chapter 560: Nothing’s Impossible (4)

– Grrrrrrrr.

The sun was blotted out by the monster’s raised head. Hunters who had faced all kinds of powerful monsters fell silent as one. They might have been Hunters who came and went from S–rank dungeons, but they had almost never faced monsters above S–rank. And that monster couldn’t even be compared to the SS–rank monsters that had appeared in Japan.

Compared to that white beast, those SS–rank monsters felt not just mid–tier but practically low–tier.

“Is this…”

Someone barely managed to open their mouth. But their faint voice trailed off. The hands gripping weapons tightened until knuckles turned white. Someone ground their teeth. The air grew taut with tension, sharp enough to cut, but no one could step forward first.

Since awakening, had they ever felt this weak?

It had only been four years since dungeons and awakened people appeared, but the Hunters here were already thoroughly used to their own strength. And yet helplessness washed over them in an instant.

Even if they were brutally defeated by a stronger Hunter, that opponent would still be a Hunter, a human. But this was completely different. It wasn’t a case of a small snake in front of a big snake, but of a pathetic little mouse. Even if they sank their teeth into it, they wouldn’t leave a single scratch on those hard scales.

In that heavy air, Seong Hyunjae glanced at the chat window.

└ Dodam Dad has evolved!!!!!!!

└ I can hear the sound of all those Hunter betting pools getting obliterated in full Dolby surround

└ Whut, what is this??? Did a raid boss just spawn??????

└ It’s Chief Han, Han Yujin transformed lololololol

└ Why are all the Hunters scared? For a monster it just looks like a giant kitty lol

└ I hopped to another room to see the reactions lololol, every time someone types Yujin it gets filtered and they’re all dying of frustration lololol

└ Slave room is the best

The viewers, who couldn’t feel a Transcendent’s pressure, calmly kept typing. Delroux. The Transcendent from the Japanese dungeon flashed through Seong Hyunjae’s mind.

– …Dad? Is that really Dad?

Gyeol practically dove into Seong Hyunjae’s shoulder as if hiding there. He might have been a fairy dragon that wasn’t affected by human attacks, but it was different with a Transcendent. Before a being of a higher order, the fairy dragon species’ traits were useless.

“Who else could it be but Han Yujin.”

Unconsciously tensing, Seong Hyunjae slowly relaxed his hand. The force that made his whole body tingle almost made him laugh.

└ Han Yujin’s stats are exactly the same!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

└ Lol what is this, not a dog pile but a cat pile now? lololol

└ Seriously, a paper tiger

Unfortunately, that was where it ended. Han Yujin’s stats were still F–rank, and a slave couldn’t attack. If that weren’t the case, he would already have stomped all over the place.

└ Someone tell Chief Han we want him to make a joint win happen.

└ Do we really have to drag everyone along? I’m with Evelyn on this.

└ If it can work out for everyone, it’s better to team up, even if trolls are annoying

– We have to help Dad, Dad!

Gyeol patted at Seong Hyunjae’s shoulder with both front paws.

– I can’t talk now! Um, see, over there, over there…

“I can’t hear you very well.”

– Gyeol can’t talk anymore…!

The fairy dragon, frantic, twisted up a fistful of his coat. His big golden eyes were slightly wet. He’d tried to help and just gotten in the way, and now that help was really needed, he couldn’t do anything. Seong Hyunjae tapped Gyeol’s head lightly with his fingertip, stroking him.

“You can still ask me.”

– …You’ll help?

“Why do you insist on seeing me as the villain?”

When he was this kind. Pretending to regret it, Seong Hyunjae picked up a small stone from the flowerbed. Then he flicked it with his finger. The tiny pebble tapped the back of Moon Hyunah’s hand squarely. She flinched and looked back at him. Their gazes met, and he smiled with his eyes and gestured. He indicated his loose shoes and formed a heart with his fingers. The information filter meant he couldn’t point directly at the monster. But Moon Hyunah caught on. She suddenly remembered she’d felt a similar presence in the Japanese dungeon, when hot–pink yarn blocked the chains. When Han Yujin had said he was going to the bathroom and disappeared.

“…We don’t have time!”

Moon Hyunah shouted. The Hunters jolted and looked at her.

“The monster still isn’t moving! There’s no way it hasn’t noticed us! That means there’s some kind of restriction. We have to use that time to get ready!”

“Get ready? Wouldn’t it be smarter to just run?”

“Damn it, let the Magnates win on their own already!”

Some of the Thieves shuffled backward like they’d bolt any second. The Magnates’ faces were filled with dissatisfaction. Hearing them say they could still end the game among themselves now made the cops’ mood turn ugly as well.

Just then, the slave opened their mouth.

“The slave’s joint–victory condition is surviving for over one hour after the monster appears.”

The voice was young and thin, but it sounded oddly weighty. Moon Hyunah spoke fast.

“The Outlaw isn’t Seoseong’s guild master! And yet he’s been quiet this whole time, even though he’s not that kind of person!”

“Gasp! Then the slave really is our guild master? How did that happen! …Ugh.”

Kang Soyeong chimed in, and Evelyn, who had already kept her distance from the slave, stepped back a little farther. The Hunters stared at the slave with wide eyes. Seong Hyunjae smiled in answer and walked himself to the center of the plaza.

No one knew if the slave’s words were true or false. But in this urgent situation, the fact that he was Seoseong’s guild master loomed large. And if that condition was true, it made sense that one of the slaves would give up on their own victory and side with Han Yujin, stirring things up. They had to stall until the monster appeared.

He didn’t miss the moment when everyone was shaken.

“Evelyn!”

Moon Hyunah shouted. At her call, Evelyn blinked.

“I thought you’d never use my name. Magnates, take out your gold coins. Let’s employ every cop and Thief here.”

We couldn’t do this alone. We had to gather as many as possible. They might have strong individualistic streaks, but they were still Hunters who went into dungeons and fought. Once it was clear they’d be at a disadvantage in a fight, they moved quickly. The Magnates kept only enough gold to avoid elimination and promptly hired the Thieves and cops. Golden coins flashed through the air in glittering arcs. At the same time, Evelyn, already inside the plaza, granted the Magnates permission to enter.

“Magnates who can only counterattack to the rear, in front of the slave! You’ll move based on your temperament after taking hits! Cops to the front line, Thieves spread out and use stealth for support! Liette, Hunter Kang Soyeong!”

“OK, OK~”

At her call, Liette stepped forward and transformed into a land dragon again. Compared to the snow–white monster, the turtle blocking the plaza looked small. Kang Soyeong jumped onto Liette’s tail and sprinted up her shell. She landed on the turtle’s head in an instant and pulled out her spear.

“I’m ready!”

“Defensive–type Hunters, onto the turtle’s back!”

– I told you, I’m a dragon~

“Defensive–type Magnates behind the slave!”

The Hunters all took their positions. Most of them had never once matched their movements with another S–rank. Even so, experience was experience, and they were less awkward than expected. Once they actually started fighting things might get messy, but still.

└ A rare sight, S–ranks actually cooperating

└ Our Hyun–nim is grabbing them all by the collar and dragging them into a joint win, what more needs to be said!!

└ Somehow it’s working lololololol?

Preparations were complete.

[The Magnates have begun protecting the slave!]

[Time remaining 1:00:00]

A message window appeared in front of everyone. One hour. If they could just hold out, a joint victory was possible.

– Grrrk.

Under all the tense gazes, the snow–white monster bared its teeth. It flicked its tail irritably, and light gathered in front of its mouth. Scorching heat compressed into a massive ball and then—

KWA–BOOOOOM!!

It was fired at a building. Smoke billowed up, and with the acrid smell of burning, the half–destroyed building crumbled. Cascades of glass windows fell with a clanging, crashing racket. Even after unleashing an attack that would force an S–rank Hunter to go all out, the monster only twitched its ears like nothing had happened. As if it had simply sneezed. The Hunters watching swallowed dryly without thinking.

“Huh? Everyone’s gathered here? What’s that monster?”

A lively voice rang out. Kang Soyeong, on Liette’s head, widened her eyes.

“Yerim? Chief Song! You two look the same!”

Park Yerim waved cheerfully and Chief Song Taewon dipped his head slightly in greeting.

– Kyaaaaaaa!

‘Aaaagh, my paw pads! My palms! No, right now they’re paw pads!’

Branches jabbed my paw pads. So did rocks and cars. It was like stepping on a spilled box of building blocks. Good thing I had Grace, otherwise all four feet would have been covered in blood. Even now I was getting scratched up.

I stretched my body out, trying to step only on the flattest ground I could find.

‘My stats are still F–rank, so it’s hard to handle this huge body…’

If I were the real Transcendent Delroux, I’d have crunched not just cars and trees but even buildings underfoot. But I was only big. Any random Hunter could come over and shove me and I’d topple right over.

‘Perfect transformation into Delroux possible.’

At least on the surface, I’d feel like a Transcendent. With a presence so overwhelming no one would even dare to come at me.

└ What the heck is HYJ, was he secretly a demonic beast???

└ No wait lol, is Beast–Daddy actually a beast dad now lolol, maybe he really is Peace’s bio–dad

└ Is Han Yujin a hero or what T_T lolol, he just zoomed off and transformed

└ └○┐Never in a million years would I have guessed…

– Grrrrrrrr.

What the, I can’t talk. When I hit OK on the message saying the skill’s info might be exposed, it looked like the viewers got to see Delroux’s form exactly as it was. Even if they couldn’t feel the pressure.

– Kyarrk, krrrk.

└ Oh, subtitles popped up

Apparently my voice was being subtitled on the stream.

└ Anyone understand what’s going on? I don’t, but HYJ, just do everything you want

└ Wait, wasn’t HYJ F–rank…?

[Everyone, this skill is basically a ‘paper tiger.’ My stats are still F–rank right now! My paw pads hurt like crazy! Ah, who left a motorcycle lying around in a place like this.]

└ It really is Chief Han lolololol

└ Han Yujin is huge so he’s huge–cute!!

└ Super strong Yujin has let out a mighty roar

└ Giant white kitty!!!! Cats will rule the world!!!!!!

[I am not a cat, I am a very dangerous demonic beast. Seriously.]

A Transcendent, okay. But the chat was full of cats. Delroux might have originally been a cat, but he became a Transcendent by eating a dragon! He wasn’t just any cat! The item name even said lynx.

└ See, this is why group projects are a social evil, a perfectly normal person turned into a cat

└ I’ll adopt Han Yujin, please contact me

└ Wait, if Yujin’s like this, can he talk with Peace??? Hurry hurry where’s Peace, I need to see Cat–Yujin and Peace meowing at each other T_TTTTT

No, I’m growling right now. I have never meowed.

[Everyone.]

I looked at the chat window and spoke.

[Slaves are not affected by information blocking.]

And Seong Hyunjae still had a chance to speak.

[Please tell them this: that I want a joint victory.]

It would’ve been even better if Seong Hyunjae had spoken first and Gyeol still had his chance left. But surely he wouldn’t try to wreck things here. We were in the same boat. Seong Hyunjae knew even better than I did how important it was for Hunters to manage their image.

└ Lol the chat is bustling

└ A common enemy is always the best glue. The problem with S–ranks is they’re strong enough they don’t need to team up

Exactly. If you can handle something solo and there are prizes on the line? Of course you think, Why bother cooperating.

└ But doesn’t this mean Chief Han can’t share the win?

└ Is he going to sneak in at the end like, I just came back from the bathroom~

└ I haven’t given up yet, Han Yujin can do it, protect my 100,000 won!!!

Well, I could slip back in with like ten minutes left. But if a terrifying monster appears and everyone joins forces, and then the guy who was off on his own tries to swoop in late to pick up the leftovers… there’d be people who rebelled. Even if I popped up after like, Actually, I was the one doing this! when everything was over. I couldn’t risk ruining it at the last minute. And I didn’t even know if mid–game entry was allowed.

[The Magnates have begun protecting the slave!]

[Time remaining 1:00:00]

That was when the message window appeared. Good, they’d managed to come together. They’d have to hold out for a whole hour, so it would be good if I occasionally threatened them a bit, but with my stats…

“Hyung.”

– …Grrng?

Yuhyun’s voice came. From the side of my body opposite the plaza, where I blocked everyone else’s view. Where was he?

“I’m here.”

I felt a hand touch near my ear. I turned my head slightly and saw my little brother.

– Kyang.

“What are you doing, running off on your own.”

Yuhyun’s brows tilted slightly as he spoke. Peace came up too and buried his face deep into the fur along my side.

“They’ve started guarding the slave, so why are you the only one out here.”

He sounded disgruntled.

“You said something different. Want me to go and stop them?”

No, hey. Wait. Not being able to talk was frustrating. Thankfully, instead of heading toward the plaza, Yuhyun let out a small sigh.

“I know what you’re trying to do, but…”

That’s my little brother! I almost stuck my tongue out to lick him but stopped. I was neither cat nor dog.

“I’ll cooperate, since I owe you.”

Still sounding displeased, Yuhyun came closer to my mouth.