The S-Classes That I Raised

Chapter 578: Show (3)

I tried to trigger the earring’s barrier skill right away. But the skill didn’t activate. What the hell, is this Chatterbox’s doing?! Panicked screams tore through the air, bullets rained down in bursts, and one grazed my arm. There were way too many eyes on me, but I was still wondering if I should use Grace.

Crack!

A bullet slammed into the white mask. In an instant, cracks spiderwebbed across it and it shattered to pieces, falling away. Blood ran down from one eye as Chatterbox lifted his head. The cameras were still rolling. It wasn’t hard at all to imagine how he must look to the crowd, bleeding and standing in front of me to protect me; I could picture it way too clearly and I hated it.

Viiiiing–

Barrier skills blossomed all over the stands. Hunters he’d had on standby, for sure. With this many high–rank Hunters gathered, he had all the excuse he needed. At some point the helicopters had become three, and they poured bullets down onto the barriers. Over the deafening gunfire, Chatterbox turned back to me. His lips, stained even redder by the blood running down, curved into a smile.

The floor cracked, lights blew. A bow appeared in Chatterbox’s hand. So he was going to personally take down the helicopters and play hero too, was that it?

“You’ll help me, right.”

The bow ended up in my hand instead. My molars clenched on reflex. Still half shielding me with his body, Chatterbox whispered,

“Now, aim.”

With countless eyes watching, I had no choice but to do as he said. He’d even handed me the weapon; if I hesitated now, everything I’d done up to this point would go to waste. I raised the bow and aimed at the helicopters. But unlike a magic gun that only needed enough mana, this weapon also needed the user’s stats.

“…My Magic stat is low.”

Even with the earring boosting it, I was only around high–level C–rank. Barely brushing against B–rank at best.

“It’s plenty to destroy a normal helicopter. But that alone would be unimpressive, so.”

Supporting me as if to keep me steady, Chatterbox put his hand on the back of my neck. At the same time, the Mana Inscription burned hot.

“…!”

The air turned razor sharp. At least, that’s how it felt. My vision blurred, but everything around me became even clearer to my senses. The mana density in the air was thin. But I could still track every movement within it.

“…Urk.”

Fifty–three thousand, seven hundred seventy–nine people. The audience, the staff, the orchestra, the people inside the helicopters, all of them came into sharp focus. No – they all came crashing down on me at once, in a chaotic torrent.

My stomach lurched. Bile climbed my throat. Chatterbox used his other hand to lift my slack bow arm back up. The sooner I finished this, the sooner he’d let go.

I focused on the bow, on the helicopters, on the bullets raining down. Information about the bow’s magic flowed into me. I could use physical arrows, but it was also possible to condense mana and fire that instead. And the number of mana arrows I could launch at once depended on the user’s ability – on total mana and mana control.

I bit my lip hard. With Grace’s help, I flooded the bow with mana. At the same time, I spun that mass of mana out thin and fine, like drawing silk from a cocoon. It turned out to be surprisingly easy. If the old me had been looking at mana with the naked eye, now it was like staring at it through a microscope.

Vmmmm–

To my senses it felt slow, but in reality, in less than ten seconds, mana filled the bow. Blue–tinted mana formed into an arrow on the string and shot forward.

The condensed mana streaked through the night sky. It soared past the helicopters, climbing higher, then froze in place.

Clang–!

With a sound like shattering glass, it exploded. Into hundreds of pieces.

Hundreds of blue streaks rained down like a shower. But not a single one of them touched the barriers guarding the stands. They curved midair, spearing into bullets and shells, bursting them apart.

Boom! Ba–boom! Boom!

Blue light and red flames tangled and splashed across the dark sky. Every attack was intercepted midair, and at the end, the mana arrows slammed into the three helicopters. Helicopters aren’t mana–imbued items, and I don’t know a thing about their structure. But I knew, instinctively, exactly which parts to destroy.

The helicopters wouldn’t fall in a way that might overwhelm the barriers. Instead, up in the air—

Kwah–boom!

They blew apart. All three of them shattered in sequence, scattering fragments. The bow slipped from my hand. Nausea surged up. My mana sense, sharpened to a painful edge, dulled again, and dizziness crashed over me like a brutal hangover. For a second, it felt like I blacked out.

Chatterbox caught me as I sagged. Thunk, thunk. The lights that had gone out under the hail of bullets flared back on, like they’d been waiting for their cue. The giant screen was cracked in several places, but it still showed us clearly.

Chatterbox laughed soundlessly. It made me want to throw up for an entirely different reason.

“Everyone.”

He must have flicked his wireless mic back on, because Chatterbox’s voice filled the circular stadium, low and clear. The barriers disappeared and the audience looked at us.

A sudden attack. Chatterbox, who didn’t hesitate to reveal the face he’d hidden all this time as he protected me. The shattered mask and the dramatic reveal of a blood–smeared face. The bow handed to me – to an F–stat. The arrows of light that blocked every attack and wiped out the enemy in an instant.

Chatterbox didn’t speak again. In the silence, the air slowly began to tremble. And then—

Waaaaaah–!!

A roar exploded. A cheer.

“Han Yujin!”

“Chatterbox!”

Excited shouts echoed around us. The people out there weren’t actually any different from the ones who got hyped watching my personal streams. But instead of my mood rising with them, all I felt now was this cold, sinking heaviness.

Up until now, even if Chatterbox had set the stage, I’d moved by my own will, my own choices. But this performance, from beginning to end, was prefab. It wasn’t mine. These cheers weren’t praise I deserved.

It didn’t make me happy like it used to.

“You should smile.”

Chatterbox switched his mic off and whispered.

“Toward the people who love you.”

“…Isn’t this a breach of contract?”

“It’ll only make you dizzy for a moment. There won’t be any long–term side effects.”

Just like he said, my wavering vision stabilized and the pounding in my head eased up. Strength returned to my body, enough for me to stand on my own two feet. As I straightened up, the cheers grew even louder. I stared blankly at the crowd for a moment, then lifted the corners of my mouth. I smiled.

Even if it was a rigged show, at the end of the day, it was goodwill pointed at me. There might even be people out there who’ve been rooting for me all along, regardless of today.

‘…Chatterbox is the problem.’

I forced my tightening expression to relax.

“Hunter Han, are you hurt anywhere?”

Chatterbox held the mic out to me. I wanted to flip him off so badly.

“No, thanks to you.”

The crowd quieted for my answer, then erupted into another wave of cheers. Chatterbox beamed. The bastard really did have an annoyingly good–looking face. Of course he did – that makes it easier to win people over. Like it or not, people are suckers for a pretty face.

“I’m fine as well. Ah, thank you.”

A staffer below the raised stage tossed him some wet wipes and a potion, which he caught. He wiped the blood from his face and healed the wound, then self–consciously touched his cheek. Like he’d never imagined his face would end up revealed this way. Shameless to the core. It’s not even his real face.

“I’m not used to this, so you’ll have to excuse me.”

He pulled out a new mask from who–knows–where and put it on. The crowd made disappointed noises.

“Now then, before we move on to our next guest– it seems one has already arrived.”

At his gesture, a spotlight shot up into the sky. Something red appeared in the night air. A familiar monster – a Flame Horned Lion. I could see Yuhyun on Peace’s back.

“Hunter Han Yuhyun!”

Chatterbox clapped, saying my little brother must have rushed over as soon as he realized his Hyung was in danger. The audience clapped along and cheered. With a stiff, frozen expression, Yuhyun jumped down. Blue willow leaves fluttered under his boots as he landed in front of me. He was in formalwear, sword already drawn in his hand, and there was a faint killing intent around him. His black eyes, tinged with red, flicked coldly to Chatterbox, then turned toward me.

“Hyung.”

“I’m not hurt. I’m fine. Just got a little startled, that’s all.”

We couldn’t afford any missteps here. I spoke with my eyes and opened my arms wide to pull my brother into an exaggerated hug.

“You came all this way so fast because you were worried about me! Thanks, little brother!”

Applause followed. In my arms, Yuhyun let out a short sigh. I could feel some of the tension in his body easing.

“It was staged. For sure. He probably never meant for you to get hurt.”

I whispered to him.

“What about the others?”

“…We figured Chatterbox might teleport them, so I came alone first.”

Right, if he was willing to teleport them, that’d be fastest. With Noah gone, the only one who could get here on his own was Yuhyun. Peace could easily carry three or four people, but the more passengers he had, the more his speed would drop.

“Hunter Han Yuhyun’s seat is over there. We’d even prepared a dramatic entrance for you, what a shame.”

Chatterbox motioned to one side of the wide stage. I whispered for Yuhyun to go sit, and he reluctantly nodded.

“Keep Peace with you.”

As Yuhyun stepped back, Peace shrank down and settled by my feet. Chatterbox left him alone at least. When Yuhyun jumped down from the protruding stage, the lower platform shifted to a dark blue glow. Some of the lights were still dead from the gunfire. Dark–blue–lit dry ice rolled out over the floor, and a chair rose up in the spot reserved for him. The design was both imposing and sleek.

“Hunter Han Yuhyun’s outfit was supposed to be a uniform, but your current look suits you just as well.”

…I barely stopped myself from asking what he’d planned to put Peace in.

‘This infuriating crazy bastard.’

Yeah, if I were just a regular viewer, I’d absolutely be glued to Channel Chatterbox. Chatterbox snapped his fingers, and a staffer tossed something up to me.

“A police cape and hat for the Flame Horned Lion. We designed them to minimize discomfort.”

…Damn it. It felt like I was losing, but I still took them. I wanted to see Peace in a police cap live too. The cape was cute. Really well made. The gold fringe and edging looked expensive. Light, soft fabric, too.

– Grrr.

When I set the cap on Peace’s head and draped the cape over him, the crowd went wild.

“Next up, our overall number two!”

Boom–boom–boom, grand music rolled out and the Breaker guild emblem filled the big screen. The music picked up tempo, and at the end of the stage where I’d appeared, the lights converged and a gust of wind swirled as Moon Hyunah showed up.

“Hunter Moon Hyunah!”

In a black racing suit, astride a hulking bike. Wow, Chatterbox, seriously, wow… In front of Hyunah, a path unfolded with crackling SFX, shaped like a mass of tangled thornbushes. She glanced up at me. I gave a small nod to say I was okay, and she revved the engine and shot forward. She followed the path for a bit, then—

Screeeech–

She jerked the bike sideways, jumped off it mid–slide, and with one arm, shoved it like she was throwing it.

Kwah–bang!

The bike slammed into the lower part of the big screen and sparks flew. Hyunah just ran a hand through her tousled hair like nothing had happened and walked over to her spot. A chair appeared for her. Her blank face split into a grin that showed her teeth. Without a word, she hooked herself onto the high chair, perching on it. The screen, lower half blasted away but still working, showed her clearly.

“Breaker!”

“Breaker!!”

The crowd, silent just a moment ago, erupted into wild chants.

‘She probably did it partly to blow off steam from how annoying Chatterbox’s staging is, pretending it’s performance.’

Still, honestly? It looked cool as hell. When Hyunah lifted a hand slightly toward the audience, the cheering got even louder.

“Overall rank three, Hunter Noah Luhir, is unfortunately not present at the moment. So next, from outside the top ranks, the contestant who collected the most gold coins!”

Heavy music rolled in. The screen darkened as a gold guild emblem appeared. The stage turned golden too, and a swarm of drones shot up into the air. Cra–boom! With thunder SFX, the drones flashed in the shape of lightning, and below them, Seong Hyunjae appeared. He wore a black suit with a coat whose upper part was cut like a short cape – something I’d never seen on him before. His gloves were pitch black, making his faded hair and golden eyes stand out even more.

“Hunter Seong Hyunjae!”

He tipped his head back to look at me, then up at the glittering drones.

“Special effects, huh.”

He must already have a mic on, because his low voice came through clearly. And then—

Krrr–crash!

Real lightning struck. Golden current burst upward, branching like a massive tree and swallowing the drone swarm. The sky flashed violently and the drones went boom, boom, disappearing without a trace. Lightning that had shot up dozens of meters vanished all at once, and Seong Hyunjae took a step forward. A beat later, a lightning–shaped path lit up the floor.

Once he sat in his seat, he glanced back up at me. I silently mouthed a question.

‘Where’s Gyeol?’

He gave a small shrug. Hey, where’d you ditch the kid?

“Our most popular Hunter team!”

Chatterbox’s introduction continued. Waves crashed across the full screen. A bright–blue sea split down the middle, and an ice pillar rose between them. The music that followed was… okay, I’d heard that one a lot. The stage turned blue and white, and Yerim and Chief Song appeared.

“Park Yerim, Song Taewon – Team Ye–Song!”

“Ye!”

“Song.”

Oh, he barely hesitates now. Chief Song, you’re doing great. Next to the stone–faced Song Taewon, Yerim waved happily at me, then spun around. Without needing any of Chatterbox’s extra effects, ice burst in the air with sharp pops.

“Hello, everyone!”

The audience answered Yerim’s bright greeting with a roar. An ice–crystal path formed, but Yerim went ahead and made a brand–new trail of ice with a loooong sweep of her power. Jagged ice spires shot up everywhere, catching the colored lights and glittering spectacularly. Chief Song walked down the middle of it in silence.

‘Chief Song’s outfit is the same as always, huh?’

Yerim, on the other hand, was dressed like a prince out of an old French palace painting. Or maybe a boy knight. I was suddenly very curious what costume they’d picked out for Song.

“Yes, I love you too!”

She must’ve caught the stream showing I was okay while waiting backstage, because thankfully she didn’t look weighed down by worry. I really needed to stop making her worry so much.

One by one, the others appeared too. Liette made her entrance loud enough to feel like she’d break the stage, while Evelyn’s was relatively calm. Gyeol showed up on his own; petals showered down around him, and his seat was shaped like a huge flower. The whole stadium even filled with a sweet floral scent. He seemed very pleased with his special effects and fluttered along his path, showing off.

The main focus of the show was how everyone came on stage. After introductions and ranking announcements, it wrapped up with short interviews for each of us. Once the closing remarks were over, Chatterbox leaned in and murmured to me,

“I’ll be counting on you until the very end.”

The next one would be the final game, he said, smiling.